Week of January 29, 2024

Hi Clovis Fam,

Hope you all had a good weekend. As I hope most of you did, I am asking that you keep those in your thoughts and prayers who may have recently lost a loved one and who may be experiencing other challenges in their personal lives. As we talk about checking on students, let us also check on each other to make sure each one knows that as a family we do care. The culture and climate that I appreciate here is that we care. We recognize that as humans, we may not be able to leave outside issues and concerns at the door when we come to work. Let us recognize and appreciate each other and be understanding if we are experiencing difficulties in our home and personal lives that may impact how we are doing at work. Compassion, Empathy and Love resonate when I think of the Clovis Spirit.

I started my week on Sunday. I missed church but I had my gospel playing while driving to Sacramento for the Legislative Conference and to meet with our legislators. I left my house at 6 a.m., and I got to the conference just in time to park my car, register, and check into the hotel. On the way there I saw lots of cars with 49er flags just flying in the air. 😊 My first session was called Implications of the 50% Law in Education. This was important as we prepared to have direct discussions with our legislators about our needs and concerns as a District. I then attended the General Session - A conversation with the Segments Leaders of the California State University and the California Community Colleges with Mildre Garcia the Chancellor of California State University and Sonya Christian, the Chancellor of California Community Colleges. There was a lot of discussion about the Nursing BSN and capacity to fill nursing seats and jobs. After, I attended the session called Exploring the Landscape: A comprehensive Federal Update on Policies, Regulations, and Initiatives. We discussed challenges and opportunities as well as the state budget and federal grant opportunities. Then, I attended the General Session – Community College Budget and Fiscal Update. This was presented by key legislative staff and representatives from the California Administration on the 2024-2025 Budget. There was no new information presented then what Vice President Lorrie Hopper sent out college wide. We ended the day’s sessions with the African American California Community College Trustees and Administrators Association caucus meetings.

On Monday morning, I started the day at 8 a.m. with the California Community College Women’s Caucus meeting. They provided breakfast 😊, and I began the day at the Amplified Women’s Voices for our Community College’s: Building Your Advocacy Strengths session. I had to leave early from this session to meet everyone and go have lunch with Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula. We talked a lot about CTE and nursing shortages. We also talked about the Ag Tec grant and the 50% law. I was joined by Chancellor Goldsmith. Dr. Buckley, Trustees Ikeda and Parra and Student Trustee Reyes.

I then discovered that I lost me driver’s license and was worried that if I did not find it I would not be allowed in to see our legislators. After much panic, I was informed that they did not need to check IDs. Whew! It would have been a shame to have driven 3 hours, missed church, and prepped for the meeting, and not be able to get in.

So, after going through security, I met with Senator Grove’s staff as she was still on the floor voting. We talked about our CTE programs, our new building, and I got into a debate with Dr. Buckley about who was purchasing the better piano - them or us. I talked to Senator Grove’s staff about the 50% law as well as on a different note about my experience making blankets of love with Cameron and his high school students and all the fine work young people are doing to take care of victims of sex trafficking in our area.

We then went to meet with Assemblymember Jim Patterson. Dr. Buckley, Trustee Reyes, and I were late arriving due to leaving Senator Groves’ office late. The Chancellor and Trustees Ikeda and Parra had already started talking to him about the BSN nursing program, CTE programs, and the 50% law. On the way out, I noticed a typewriter behind him. He told me that it was a 1928 Underwood that his daughter had given him. On the typewriter, there was a piece of paper that was typed with the following sentence: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” The sentence was the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens’ historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities. As we talked, he started to say that this reflects politics. Then we both decided that it also reflects life as we see it today. What a timeless phrase.

I then drove home, mind you without my license. As paranoia set in, knowing that I was driving a rental car with no hard copy registration and no license, I drove slower and safer than I have ever driven in my life! Motorcycles and cars were definitely coming for me! But I did not stop until I got to the Enterprise in Clovis, returned the rental, and got into my own car where at least I had some type of insurance and registration cards. Boy, was I glad to be home.

On Tuesday morning, I awoke in shear panic. I will need my drivers license to go to the many places I drive to throughout my day and my week. Ugh!!! Also, I am flying to Orlando, FL in two weeks for a conference. Ugh this is not good! I do have a passport but decided that I had best go to the dreaded DMV first thing. I spent the first few hours of my day with about 50 of my best friends at the DMV. They actually cheered when I was finally done LOL. Keep hope alive!!!! I actually made it to campus with a temporary driver’s license in time for my 10 am interview meeting. Then met with Academic Senate President Teresa for our standing Academic Senate meeting. It was a short meeting as we talked about ARs that were still being looked at.

On Wednesday, I started my day visiting Herndon as I always enjoy doing. Touching bases with everyone there always keeps me humbled and connected. After, I went to the main campus to review information regarding the interim Dean of Student Services. I then had a meeting with the Chair of the College of the Redwood ACCJC accreditation team, where I serve as the co-chair. After, I met with people who volunteered to provide advisement on the questions and process improvements for the interim Dean selection process. I was thankful that I was able to spend a short period of time seeing and supporting the beautiful art by our own Artist Audia Dixon. I had the honor of seeing some of her work earlier when I visited her show in Fresno. I ended my evening by going to the Soroptimist International of Clovis meeting, where we heard from a guest speaker from the Marjoree Mason Center. She presented on the outstanding number of domestic violence calls to 911 (over 15,000) and how Fresno County has the highest number of calls in all of California. She talked about the needs to accommodate the large number and the increasing need to educate young people of all genders to help with prevention.

On Thursday, I had an all-day ACCJC Peer Review training. Even though it was all day. I was able to step out and briefly go to the Black History Month kick-off celebration and give a welcome. The program looked wonderful, and it was great to see so many faculty and classified professionals in attendance and in support of our students. Sasha Fisher was interviewed by CBS47, and the segment was aired that evening at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Way to go Sasha! Nice job representing Clovis! I want to also let you know that because of my all-day ACCJC training I was not able to accept an invitation from Fresno Councilmember Esparza to attend their Black History Month reception. I want to thank Caryss for going and making sure that Clovis was present and represented. I asked her to be a mini me. If you saw Caryss on Thursday (and if by chance you saw me), Caryss and I both had on royal blue and black. She took her braids out and had curly hair. However, she was not the mini part of the mini me. She is already taller than me and she had heels on!!! 😊 But she looked fabulous (there are pictures of us together) and she represented us well. Much gratitude and thanks to her for going for me. In between my ACCJC training, I also attended a zoom meeting with the DO and consultants to prepare for our community information sessions which we will be launching this spring. The goal is for us, as a District, to provide clear and concise messaging when we are meeting and speaking to community groups such as Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. The consultants conducted a survey and provided us with feedback from the polls. From this information we were informed about what the community stated was their educational priorities.

On Friday morning, I was on a zoom meeting with the Central Valley/Motherlode CEO Board. We had continued discussions about the state budget. No new information was provided. We will wait until the May budget revise to have a better understanding of the state’s financial landscape. The League provided the CEOs with the following talking points to use when talking to our legislators.

  • Gratitude - thank them for all that they are currently doing for our College.
  • Educate - Share our Colleges’ successes.
  • Flexibility - Encourage policy makers to support additional flexibility.
    • Messaging on the 50% law

Advocacy

  • Affordable Housing
  • Cal Grant Reform
  • School Facility Bond
  • Baccalaureate Degree Programs

I spent the rest of the day at the District Office participating in the Affinity Group meeting Part 2 with Monica Chahal, Stephanie Briones, Kirtley King, and Von Torres (who represented CCC).

On Saturday, I attended the African American Historical and Cultural Museum Trailblazer banquet and took faculty, staff, students, and community members. I was informed by Bonnie at about 5 p.m. on Thursday that I was on the program! I was to speak at the beginning of the event with Chancellor Goldsmith to honor the museum’s founder, Jack Kelley.

And, on Sunday I rested. 😊

I hope everyone has a great and restful weekend. Please know that I always leave here thinking of you and the wellbeing of you and your loved ones. We are family here and I value you and hold dear the understanding that family comes first. Take time to hug someone in your family and let them know that you love them and care about their wellbeing. That small gesture can go a long way for both of you.

In service,

Kim E. Armstrong, Ph.D.