Dear Students:

My warmest welcome to you all! All of us at SBCC are excited to have all our returning students back and to greet our new students. As we begin a new academic year, I feel very proud, positive and enthusiastic about our college and our mission because almost every day I see the profound impact our college has on so many students and the significant contribution we make to our community and the state.

Amidst the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, last year we had an exceptional comprehensive visit for re-affirmation of our accreditation; provided additional fiscal support to categorical programs (such as EOPS, DSPS, Matriculation) which have suffered greatly from state budget cuts; continued to strengthened the fiscal status of the college; developed applications for multi-million dollar federal grants; engaged in new partnerships and collaborations; celebrated our centennial; received many individual and program awards; and, most importantly, served and helped succeed a record number of students. In 2009-10, we enrolled 1,158 full-time equivalent students above the enrollment level the college is funded by the state. This translates in over $5.2 million of unfunded enrollments.

As a premier community college, our focus on the success of each student needs to be constantly strengthened and reinvigorated through innovations, strategies and programs that provide our students new or enhanced opportunities to achieve their educational goals. This academic year, our talented faculty and staff will develop and launch a combination of programs which will provide options for accelerated completion of basic skills, degree and transfer requirements.

State Budget Impact on Student Classes and Services

As many of you know, all California community colleges have faced many challenges in the past two years due to budget cuts from the state. Due to a strong commitment by our Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff, coupled with sound fiscal management, SBCC is one of the strongest and best colleges in the entire system. Without monthly reimbursements from the state, many of our fellow California community colleges are struggling. Some have borrowed heavily, laid off or furloughed employees, significantly reduced classes, or cut entire terms and programs in order to survive.

At this time, we still do not have a budget from the state. Due to our collective hard work, we have secured our fiscal basis as a college to ensure that we can continue to offer as many classes as possible and enrollment options to many more students than the state is funding us. We will offer more classes than budgeted in spring 2011, will add more counseling and tutoring hours starting this fall semester, and will have longer hours of operation for our student services.

Providing More Opportunities for Transfer

A number of activities and agreements are developed state-wide and at SBCC in order to help our students successfully transfer and complete their four-year year degrees.

• The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, Senate Bill 1440, is currently going through the legislature process and there is great support for this bill. We expect it will be signed into law this academic year. This legislation is expected to go into effect on fall 2011. It guarantees community college transfer students with a 2.0 GPA admission to a CSU campus at junior status while also granting them an associate degree.

• SBCC has signed an agreement with Brandman University to offer Brandman’s Early Advantage Partnership (EAP) program. Through this program, students at SBCC will be admitted to Brandman’s Santa Maria campus while still attending SBCC and taking transferable coursework in a number of specific programs including: Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Development, Legal Studies, Liberal Studies, Organizational Leadership, Psychology, Social Science and Sociology. The EAP program also includes Brandman’s new Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree offered online and at the Santa Maria campus. In addition, SBCC students will have access to Brandman’s enhanced cooperative academic and student services. The arrangement will allow students to lock in their academic catalog giving them the ability to transfer all completed coursework as outlined in the agreement. Brandman University will waive all application fees for students participating in the EAP program. Please talk with our counselors in our Transfer Center if you are interested in this new program.

• During the month of September, students can submit an online Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) form to seven out of the ten University of California campuses. If all conditions of the TAG are met, students will be guaranteed admission to University of California except for UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and UCLA (priority admission consideration through the honors certification). If you are interested, please stop by the SBCC Transfer Center for more information.

• SBCC and California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) are entering into a new partnership. CSUCI will offer a four-year bachelor’s of science degree in business at the SBCC campus beginning in fall 2011.

More New Developments

• New Courses: Examples of new courses this fall include: “Using Your iPhone,” “Social Networking for Business,” “Ecological Restoration and “Math Immersion Program at SBCC.” A complete list is available in the Fall 2010 Schedule.

• Human Presence Environment: In June, 53 faculty and staff members attended an on-campus five-day workshop on the use of human presence tools for online, hybrid and Web-enhanced campus-based classes including use of Skype and video production and editing. The infusion of technology into instruction and student services is a priority in order to provide a richer experience for all of our students, particularly students enrolled in fully online or hybrid classes.

• La Playa Stadium: For those who take Physical Education classes or use the stadium for personal activity, you will be happy to find a newly resurfaced track and field. The work was done and completed over the summer, thanks to Measure V tax bond dollars.

It is an exciting time to be at SBCC. As we enter the second century in the life of our college, the demand for what we offer – an exceptional and affordable higher education and comprehensive services – has never been greater. Our college provides a first, second, third, or lifelong chance for many who otherwise would not have any educational opportunity. We are confident in our future and look forward to the next 100 years of stellar history. On behalf of all of us at SBCC, I wish you great success this fall semester.