Public Comments:

During this section of the meeting members of the community are allotted three minutes to speak to the board members on whatever topics they want. There were over 50 speakers during this section, amounting to over three hours of comments.

With a heavy attendance, multiple athletic coaches spoke about higher wages for assistant coaches. One coach, Jesse White, FCC’s interim track and field head coach and cross country head coach, said that he also part time coaches at a high school and gets paid more there even though he puts more hours in at FCC.

Sam Brookshire, a part time faculty at FCC, talked about the 50% law and told multiple stories she received through email about part time faculty who felt they were being underpaid. This law requires all California Community Colleges districts spend about 50% of its current general fund on the salaries and benefits of classroom instructors.

Three different housing development representatives spoke up to try and partner with SCCCD to bring affordable housing to students near Fresno City College in the Downtown Fresno area. During the meeting, SCCCD contracted with Servitas, student housing developers from Texas, to bring affordable housing to the FCC campus. 

Action taken by the board:

All actions during the SCCCD meeting were approved unanimously.

• May is now recognized as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage month within the district.
• May is also recognized as mental health awareness month.
• May 17, on all SCCCD campuses is now recognized as an international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. 
• Assembly bill 1400, the expansion of bachelor’s of science in nursing to 15 California community colleges, according to Jill Wagner, the SCCCD communications consultant. The bill was first introduced by assemblymember Esmerelda Soria. 
• Assembly bill 648 allows community colleges to not follow the local zoning regulations when it comes to renting/owning land for students, teachers or staff housing. Pilot schools will be chosen by the state chancellor’s office, according to Wagner.
• The week of May 26 will be known as classified school employees week throughout SCCCD. 

Deputy Chancellor 

Christine Holt was announced as the new deputy chancellor. Deputy chancellors are the chancellors’ right hand person- they take over when the chancellor is busy, according to the SCCCD website. Another role is if the Chancellor is out, the deputy chancellor will sub in for that position until they return. 

Holt has been the chancellor of the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, since 2021. Her term will be July 28, 2025 through June 30, 2028. 

“I am delighted to be here. I’m delighted to serve. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves,” Holt said. 

Persistence Rates:

According to the student persistence (fall-to-spring) compiled by State Center Community College District, persistence is the amount of students who stay enrolled from fall to spring at the same college, excluding those who graduate or transfer. This is an overview of Fresno City College according to those rates and explained by Kim Armstrong, the interim FCC president on May 6 during a SCCCD Board of Trustees meeting. 

• Over 50% of students at FCC are taking online classes.
• Over all persistent rate for FCC is 65%
• Female students are persisting higher than male students by 11%
• First time students are persisting better than non first time students by 4%
• Barriers:
  • Students are having difficulties with online utilization 
  • 50% law: This law requires that the district spend about 50% of its current general fund on the salaries and benefits of classroom instructors.
  • Fear of defunding in federal programs
  • Complexities with navigating many resources