Week of August 12, 2024

Good morning!

Welcome to fall semester at Clovis...I'm glad you're here! We're starting off strong: AC3 is open for classes, and we begin today having exceeded our fall enrollment target! New students and returning students will be filling the classrooms and the hallways. I'm sending you all good wishes for a smooth and happy first day of the semester.

Thank you for all your participation in last week's activities and meetings. Welcoming back those who were away for the summer months is always exciting! I spent my time in both on-campus and off-campus events, beginning with the Clovis City Council meeting last Monday. In addition to Convocation and Opening Day, I also had the pleasure of welcoming hundreds of new students during Clovis Crush Days! Thanks to Dean Gurdeep Hébert, Outreach Director Emilee Slater, Director Maricarmen Figueroa, and their staff for these well-organized and energizing events! It was especially wonderful hearing from Clovis Crush alumni speak about their experiences as students here. Two of the three have transferred to Fresno State, and the third left the area but has returned and is currently working as a resident physician at St. Agnes Medical Center. These three provided powerful testimony for the work that you all do every day.

I also had the pleasure of providing a welcome to Central Valley residents interested in careers in Nursing. Thanks to Ryen Hirata and his vision for the Nursing Day that has grown from one information session and 30 students to three information sessions, hundreds of potential students, and local universities and industries tabling at the event to provide residents with information on careers. This was a very informative session for the students, some of whom may come to us to complete their GE and some of whom may attend other institutions but who will have gotten their start through this event.

Contractors will be putting finishing touches on AC3, so thank you to the residents of that building for their ongoing patience. The elevator will be available starting Tuesday, 8/13. Classes have been moved to first floor classrooms for today only (with the exception of a couple, which did not require relocation). Please watch for ongoing updates about the building.

All of the events and the wonderful energy from last week promise a good start to the semester! I look forward to seeing you. Have a great week!

Monica Chahal, Ed.D.