Santa Barbara City College's 2020-2021 Report to the Community

2020-2021 REPORT TO THE

COMMUNITY

Report to the Community

CONTENTS

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Excellence in

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Extended

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Student

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Physical Education and

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Connecting

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Equity, Diversity and

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Outstanding

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Covid-19

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Stand-Out

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Commencement

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Artistic

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Facts About

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A Message from Our

Education Success

Community Faculty

SBCC Staff Triumphs

Learning Athletics Inclusion

Resilience Making History Santa Barbara City College

Foundation

2020-2021 Report to the Community |

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Excellence in

EDUCATION

MACKENZIE SCOTT GRANTS SBCC THE LARGEST GIFT IN ITS 112-YEAR HISTORY – $20 MILLION SBCC and the SBCC Foundation announced in June that a $20,000,000 gift was received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. As a community college dedicated to the success of every student, SBCC will use this unrestricted gift to advance its mission in bold new ways. In her post announcing the gift (one of 286 totaling $2,739,000,000), Scott wrote, “Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for two- and four-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved.”

According to Dr. Utpal K. Goswami, Superintendent/President of SBCC, “This visionary gift could not have come at a better time. These funds will empower us to implement transformational initiatives that will shape our community college of the future and provide the margin of excellence that we seek.”

SBCC Foundation CEO Geoff Green said, “This gift is an act of incredible generosity, and due to its unrestricted nature, a demonstration of tremendous trust in our community’s college.

It reinforces the importance of providing quality higher education that is accessible to everyone.”

The news came at a time when SBCC – and all of the nation’s community colleges – are facing a serious enrollment decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraging students to resume their studies is a top priority since a large percentage of students have been financially impacted by the pandemic, forcing many to drop their classes. This timely gift will provide significant resources for helping the college meet these challenges.

SBCC AMONG BEST IN NATION SBCC continues to be recognized for its academic excellence by such organizations as Value Colleges, Grad Reports, Nursing Process.org, Optimal Guide to Online Schools, California Online Colleges and Excelencia in Education. Niche named SBCC as the #1 community college in California, and Best Value Schools ranked SBCC #2 in the nation. For the second year in a row Intelligent.com named SBCC among the top 10 best community colleges in the U.S. — in addition to receiving top rankings for its medical coding and photography programs.

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Excellence in

EDUCATION

MATH TUTORIAL LAB RECOGNIZED AS FINALIST FOR EXAMPLES IN EXCELENCIA In August 2020, Excelencia in Education — an organization that works to accelerate Latino student success in higher education — announced that SBCC’s Math Tutorial Lab was named a finalist for the 2020 Examples of Excelencia. Of the 112 national submissions from 24 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., the SBCC program was one of six at the community college level recognized for its leadership in effectively serving Latino students.

SBCC’s Math Tutorial Lab provides a computer lab for students to receive individual tutoring in all math and

statistics courses through faculty and peer tutors. The Math Lab serves as a transformational space where collaboration, culturally relevant approaches, and academic and social support empowers diverse learners — a significant number who are Latino — to achieve their academic goals.

As of Fall 2019, when compared to Latino non-program participants, Latino program participants passed 23 percent more of their math courses at the end of the semester.

Since 2005, Excelencia in Education has received over 1,000 program

EXEMPLARY PROGRAM AWARD The WELL, SBCC’s Student Health and Wellness Services Center, was honored by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors with an Exemplary Program Award for 2020-21. Since 2019, the WELL has had an interactive virtual presence, which allowed for a smooth transition to offering all services remotely during the pandemic.

The Board of Governors applauded The WELL for “seamlessly transitioning its in-person program to a virtual platform, resulting in approximately 6,000 students finding resources and services on its website from January to October of 2020.”

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2020-2021 Report to the Community |

submissions, recognized over 300 programs and awarded $2 million to programs making a difference for Latino students. As one of the 2020 finalists for Examples of Excelencia, SBCC joined a national community of practitioners committed to Latino student success.

Elizabeth Imhof, Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science and Co-Director of the Title III Grant, added, “We are honored to receive this well-deserved recognition for the work of all of the dedicated faculty and tutors who make the Math Lab a national model for student centered best practice.”

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Student

SUCCESS

EZEKIEL CONTRERAS FORREST RECEIVES BOARD OF GOVENORS STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARD Santa Barbara City College student Ezekiel Contreras Forrest has been awarded one of three Board of Governors Student Leadership Awards, initiated for the first time in 2021. The awards were presented by Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and two student members of the California Community College Board of Governors at the opening of the General Assembly for the Student Senate of the California Community Colleges on Friday March 26.

The Board of Governors established the Student Leadership Award in 2020 to celebrate visionaries enrolled in the California Community Colleges (CCC) who are demonstrating the highest level of commitment to student leadership and helping to realize the goals and objectives laid out in the CCC Vision for Success.

A former foster youth, Ezekiel has a 4.0 GPA (including 10 onboarding process of new students, with a focus on marginalA+’s), has been on the President’s Honor Roll every semesized students. ter, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and will According to EOPS Counselor Camila Acosta, “Everything be completing his final semester at SBCC with a triple major, that Ezekiel does at Santa Barbara City College serves the graduating in May with plans to transfer to a four-year university greater community because, as a California Community College in Fall 2021. During his time at SBCC, Ezekiel established student and leader, he is helping to develop and mold our the Filipino Cultural Club, worked as a student ambassador future leaders. Ezekiel is an exemplary student and young man, for international students, served as and truly embodies the California Community a peer mentor for Extended Opportu“Ezekiel is an exemplary College Chancellor’s Vision for Success in nity Programs and Services (EOPS) student and young man, action.” and Guardian Scholars, and worked When asked what this award means to and truly embodies the in Enrollment Services where he has Ezekiel, he said, “I am truly honored to receive California Community helped other students navigate the this amazing award, and while it is a great enrollment and financial aid processes. College Chancellor’s Vision personal recognition, I’d like to attribute it to Additionally, as a member of Associall of the amazing people that have helped me for Success in action” ated Student Government, he worked — Camila Acosta, EOPS Counselor progress throughout my educational journey at with the vice president of the Board SBCC. Without our community’s unwavering of Governors, the Chancellor’s Office love and support, I doubt that I would’ve had and college administration to find equitable solutions in distribthe opportunity to lead in the spaces that I have. I want to thank uting the Student Success Completion Grant. Ezekiel has all of my professors, counselors, mentors, friends/family, and also played a vital role in aiding Guided Pathways faculty and fellow members of the community for all of the amazing work staff to update college policies and procedures related to the that they do to uplift and empower students every day.”

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Student

SUCCESS

SBCC FILM STUDENTS CREATE WORKS THAT TOUCH PEOPLE’S HEARTS, BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY

Film student Benny Chen

Film student Justin Usami

When setting out to create his first film, the goal of film production student Benny Chen and his cast and crew was “to produce a high quality, festival-worthy film that can connect and touch people’s hearts.” His short film, “Sunshine in the Rain,” does just that.

A story of lost love and courage, “Sunshine in the Rain” was chosen to be an official selection at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City and the Amsterdam World International Film Festival. It was also named as a finalist for Best Short Feature at the Vancouver Independent Film Festival.

In February, it received awards for Best Student Film and Best First-time Director from Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS (LACA). Then in March, the Los Angeles Film Awards named “Sunshine in the Rain” the Best Narrative Short Film, Best Drama, and finalist for Best Picture. Benny also won for Best First-time Director.

In an interview with SBCC’s student newspaper, The Channels, Benny said, “Filming, to me, is a tool to help broken hearts.”

One of the members of the “Sunshine in the Rain” crew was pre-production associate producer Justin Usami. In addition to working on Benny’s film, Justin was selected to be a contestant in the SBIFF 10-10-10 Screenwriting and Filmmaking Mentorship and Competition. 10-10-10 is a five-month filmmaking mentorship program for ten high school and ten college students who create ten films to be shown on the final day of the festival.

Justin also received the Outstanding Student Award for 2021 from the Film and Media Studies department at SBCC. His professors applauded him for embracing each assignment with creativity, thoughtfulness and criticality, noting his passion and talent for telling important stories in a thoughtful and insightful manner.

Looking ahead to his future, Justin says he would love to direct a mini-series about the Japanese American 442nd Infantry Regiment that fought in Europe during World War II. “That’s the dream.”

With film and media ever-present in our world today – whether in movie theaters, on television screens, on handheld devices, or online – SBCC film students such as Benny Chen and Justin Usami are well-poised to play important roles in society’s future.

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Student

SUCCESS

COMPUTER SCIENCE TEAM PLACES FIRST AT PROGRAMMING COMPETITION At the Southern California International Collegiate ProgramOther SBCC teams also competed successfully at the ming Contest (ICPC) held online on Feb. 27, 2021, SBCC won event, outranking teams from universities and colleges located the top honor for two-year colleges. throughout the Southern California region. Their members The ICPC is an extra-curricular, competitive programming included Monica Aguilar, Jordan Ayvazian, Christian Foley, competition which provides college and university students Berkelly Gonzalez, Jack Jebef, Jacob Lee, Patrick Maher, Gina opportunities to interact, demonstrate and McCaffrey, Dylan Moon, Riley Peterlinz, improve their teamwork, programming and Vanessa Ponce, Dillon Rooke, Wyatt “I am very proud of these problem-solving process. In addition to Spivak, Ethan Stucky and Leyla Zokhidova. outstanding young computer The ICPC challenges three-person hosting regional contests, the ICPC is a global platform that allows academia and scientists. It was an honor student teams to solve a set of eleven industry to shine the spotlight on — and programming problems in five hours. This and privilege to see their raise the aspirations of — the next generyear, 70 teams from 15 institutions in the hard work and team spirit ation of computing professionals as they Southern California region competed in a come to fruition.” pursue excellence. fully-online contest. The competition’s first SBCC’s top scoring team, SBCC

— Stephen Strenn, Computer place team, from UCSD, solved all eleven Yellow, took first place honors among problems in five hours.

Science Professor two-year schools in the competition. The “I am very proud of these outstanding team — consisting of Jaden Baptista, Daniel Schaffield and young computer scientists. It was an honor and a privilege Qimin Tao — outscored multiple teams from a number of four to see their hard work and team spirit come to fruition,” said year universities, including California Institute of Technology Stephen Strenn, computer science professor and coach.

(Cal Tech), UC Irvine (UCI), UCLA, UC Riverside (UCR) and “SBCC students’ success in pitting themselves against UC San Diego (UCSD). students from world-class universities is a testament to the hard work, determination and intellect of our students.”

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| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Student

SUCCESS

SIX THEATRE ARTS STUDENTS AWARDED SARA EVELYN SMITH SCHOLARSHIPS In December, the Theatre Arts Department announced the winners of the Sara Evelyn Smith Monologue Competition. These talented students competed with monologues over a Zoom format and were awarded $1,000 each for the 2020-21 school year.

The Sara Evelyn Smith Scholarship competition is judged by faculty members of the Theatre Arts Department and Anne Smith Towbes, who was a past member of the SBCC Foundation Board and instrumental in establishing the scholarship in 2001.

The winners of this year’s scholarships were Marianne Paculba, Ida Wadman, Maria Lopez, Henry Alper, Haoyu Wang and Isaac Hernandez.

The Sara Evelyn Smith Scholarships in Theatre Arts were established in honor of a very special woman who spent over 50 years in theatre arts education. She acted in numerous productions, taught theatre in the Detroit, Michigan, school system, and directed musical shows and youth theatre productions for most of her life.

THE CHANNELS STAFF WINS 13 AWARDS AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE At the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) Spring 2021 National Media Conference, the staff of our student-run news site, The Channels, walked away with 13 awards, including the General Excellence award.

Out of nearly 43 online community college publications, The Channels won awards for stories and photos, receiving recognition for photography, opinion, critical review and editorial writing.

Ryan P. Cruz, the editor-in-chief of The Channels, received an honorable mention for the Opinion Writing contest and won fourth place in the Social Media contest. Staff Writer

Kiki Reyes and News Editor Jacob Frank also received honorable mentions for the on-the-spot Feature Writing and News Writing contests. Opinion Editor August Lawrence won second place in the Opinion Writing contest. Photo Editor Desiree Erdmann won several awards for photos published over the previous year.

“I’m very proud of the staff at The Channels,” said Josh Molina, advisor of The Channels. “They have worked diligently, aggressively and passionately to cover news during this difficult time of the pandemic.”

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Connecting

COMMUNITY

FILM FESTIVAL HOSTS FREE DRIVE-IN THEATRES FOR SAFE VIEWINGS The 36th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival chose Santa Barbara City College’s oceanfront parking lots as the location for its two drive-in theaters for safe, socially distanced, in-person viewings of films. The festival, which ran from March 31 to April 10, screened more than 80 films in-person, entirely free.

“It’s imperative we bring a sense of hopefulness to 2021, but in the safest way possible,” said Roger Durling, SBIFF’s executive director, in a statement. “A virtual component was a given, but experiencing movies in socially distanced cars and being by the ocean felt oh so perfectly Santa Barbara, California.”

VIRTUAL STORYTIME FOR CHILDREN During a time when so many children in our community have had to remain at home, the Sigma Chi Eta Communication Honor Society created the Storytime Project, providing a way to share the love of reading with the younger members of our SBCC family and the community beyond. Throughout the Spring semester, various students and members of faculty and staff read and recorded fun and culturally-=inclusive stories that were then posted on YouTube. Children and parents who tuned in for SBCC Storytime were also eligible to enter to win a copy of some of the wonderful books that were read.

Communications Professor Donte Newman, Ph.D reads Sulwe virtually.

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Connecting

COMMUNITY

The SBCC Food Pantry team of staff and students pose for a group photo after a successful free food distribution.

FOOD PANTRY TEAM DOUBLES THEIR OUTPUT TO MEET GROWING DEMAND Since the pandemic began, the SBCC Food Pantry team noticed an increase in demand for their free food distributions. As a result, the team of 14 staff and students got to work.

The Food Pantry team doubled their output and started hosting two food distributions per week, giving out more than 4,800 pounds of pre-packed boxes of food weekly. Over the last year, the team has distributed more than 102,000 pounds of food to the SBCC community.

The boxes from The Food Bank of Santa Barbara County include milk, yogurt, cheese, hotdogs, chicken, fruits and vegetables; and the Food Pantry purchases extra staple items to add to the boxes such as beans, rice, pasta, canned goods and bread. In addition to food items, SBCC’s student wellness program The Well has donated hygiene and feminine kits to distribute.

“It gives me great pleasure to be part of such an important task at SBCC,” said Equity Student Programs Advisor Alondra Lazaro Gonzalez. “There is no better way to nurture our community than to provide food during these uncertain times.”

NURSING STUDENTS VOLUNTEER AT FREE FLU SHOT CLINICS When the Public Health Department called for volunteers to help administer flu shots at several free clinics it was hosting throughout the county, students enrolled in the final semester of SBCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing Program were eager to be of service. Between Sept. 27 and Oct. 13, 2020, they attended flu clinics at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Lompoc High School, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Carpinteria and Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

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2020-2021 Report to the Community |

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Outstanding

FACULTY

’STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS’ WITH BOTANY PROFESSOR MATT KAY For Botany Professor Matt Kay, that famous saying is not only an invitation to pause, reflect and appreciate the world around us, it was also an integral part of class assignments he created to take students away from the computer and get out into the natural world — an especially important activity during this past year when teaching and learning meant staring at a screen for hours at a time.

Like so many faculty members who transitioned to online instruction during the past year, Matt had to confront the limitations that a virtual environment presented to his subject, which requires students to see, examine, touch – and, yes, smell – flowers, plants and trees.

In addition, he missed the classroom interaction and rapport that builds when students and instructors gather together in person.

His strategy for meeting the challenge was to assign activities that moved students away from the computer and out into nature. Once outside, they were instructed as to what to look for, to take photos, to draw pictures and diagrams, and to make notes (in longhand) in a lab notebook. Work had to be submitted via computer, but with special software, the hand-drawn log notebook entries were converted into Portable Document Format (PDF) where Matt could review them and return them to students with

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his own hand-written comments. In order to humanize the experience as much as possible, he also gave his lectures synchronously – rather than pre-recorded – so that he and the students could converse and exchange ideas in real time.

Matt’s story is just one of many about faculty who found creative ways to deliver instruction and keep students engaged during an unprecedented time. He credits institutional support, essential training provided by the Faculty Resource Center and the sharing of experiences among his faculty colleagues for “helping us all make lemonade out of this COVID lemon.”

Outstanding

FACULTY

JENNA ROLLE CONSULTED BY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Thanks to the efforts of Earth and Planetary Sciences instructor and paleobiologist Jenna Rolle (and her colleague Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, Ph.D.), the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) took us back in time millions of years with the popular dinosaur exhibit “Prehistoric Forest” that ran from Feb. 17 through April 25, 2021. Rolle and Hoffman, responsible for drafting the plaques that accompany the animatronics, sought to convey the fact that paleontology is dynamic, with researchers constantly updating what we know about the history of life.

One question people ask is, “Will the Museum’s T. rex ever get updated with feathers?” Although T. rex-specific feather impressions are lacking, Rolle noted that there is evidence for primitive feathers among the larger group of dinosaurs to which T. rex belongs. Paleontologists don’t yet know whether all these species maintained feathers throughout life, or only kept them as juveniles. “I like to wonder whether they looked cute and cuddly like little chicken chicks or silly and dorky like owl chicks,” mused Rolle.

PHYSICS PROFESSOR MIKE YOUNG IS A YOUTUBE SENSATION Years ago, physics professor Mike Young started to video his lectures and post them to YouTube so that students could review them after class. As time passed, he started to get emails from students across the country, and then from across the world: Korea, England, Middle East, India, etc.

One person asked if she could link some of them to Mystery Science, a K-5 resource. Professor Young’s video lectures have surpassed a million views and continue to grow in popularity.

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FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR 2020-2021 Each spring the Faculty Recognition Committee announces the Faculty Excellence Awards for the past academic year. Deserving full-time, adjunct and noncredit faculty are nominated by their peers for contributions to their departments, their students and the college. There were eight awardees this year.

Bonny Bryan, English

Tricia Mautone, Adult High School/GED

Ana Garcia, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Guardian Scholars

Jim Mooy, Music

Matt Kay, Biology

Wendy Peters, Academic Counseling

Sean Kelly, Astronomy

Shawna Sweeny, HIT/CIM

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Stand-Out

SBCC STAFF

VAQUERO VOICES PODCAST: BUILDING COMMUNITY ONE STORY AT A TIME A shining light of the school year was the growing popularity of the Vaquero Voices podcast, an entertaining look at the college from the voices of its own staff and faculty. Hosted by Webmaster Hong Lieu and Senior Admissions Tech Akil Hill, the podcast invites different staff members to discuss their departmental roles at the college; food preferences in the form of favorite restaurants or home cooking; and current preferences in culture/pop culture, including movies, books, podcasts, etc. In a year that forced the vast majority of SBCC staff and faculty to work from home, the podcast has provided a unique opportunity for fellow employees to become further acquainted with one another.

Since the pilot in June, 2020, Hong and Akil have served up episode content as diverse as its guests: from shared experiences growing up around gang culture to strong opinions on the Marvel Universe franchise. Both hosts felt that a vehicle to encourage rapport among departments and groups from all three campuses was exactly what the college community needed. “I definitely believe in giving people a platform where they can communicate and express some of their experiences, what they’ve been through and how they ended up at city college,” said Akil. “I think sometimes we get lost in the sauce where it’s easier to talk about what people’s differences are. I think it’s also good for us to highlight the similarities. The reality

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of it all is that we have more in common than we actually think we do.”

A theme that’s come up with a number of podcast guests, while discussing what led them to SBCC, has been how overcoming their own educational struggles has made them uniquely qualified to mentor students who find themselves in similar situations — a good thing, noted Akil. “We have 18-year-olds, we have students who are returning, we have single mothers — the whole gamut. When we assist our students there’s a relatability that helps us reach our diverse student populations. They can see themselves in that particular person.”

To date, the podcast has featured guests in the areas of student services, scheduling, and general administration, all of whom have revealed truths about themselves that their coworkers might not have known. Random examples include sourdough bread baking as a hobby, obsessions with Disneyland and BTK, and decisive knowledge on where to find the best taco in Santa Barbara. Noted Hong, “Adding the food and culture pieces is a way to flesh out the entire picture. In a work setting we tend to hang onto our work identities, but when you think about it, that’s probably five percent of who you are as a person. It’s definitely good to have those other pieces.”

Hong and Akil plan to continue Vaquero Voices well into the 2021-22 school year and beyond.

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Stand-Out

SBCC STAFF

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Emma Cruz, Administrative Assistant for the School of Extended Learning, was named Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year for 2020-2021. Known for “jumping into new challenges enthusiastically” and developing processes to better serve students, Emma is an integral part of the Career Skills Institute (CSI) and the Vitality Older Adult program. During COVID-19,

RESOURCE CENTER STAFF PREPARES FACULTY FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION

she could be found on two to three Zoom meetings

In the wake of the pandemic, the Faculty Resource Center (FRC) played an important role in preparing SBCC Faculty for distance education. The small team of Robert Brown, Jeff Barnes, Karen Shannon and Laurie Vasquez, trained a total of 390 faculty members from March to August to accommodate the switch to online learning.

The team was able to accommodate the demand by using Zoom to train larger groups of faculty at once. They also created online resources and training videos to help smooth the transition.

The FRC team’s hard work did not go unnoticed. They were awarded the 2020 Faculty Excellence Award by the Faculty Recognition Committee and the Academic Senate.

“This was a great and unexpected honor,” said Robert Brown, Director, Instructional Technology, and Co-Director, FRC. “It was a joy working with so many faculty members in a short amount of time, and we got to know a lot more about different departments’ needs in moving to fully online.”

As the FRC continued this work, they created School of Extended Learning specific trainings, which helped bring more than 80 non-credit faculty members up-to-speed as well.

Robert explained, now that the majority of faculty members know the online platform, they can focus training on other topics like variable assessments and equitable online practices.

“I am very proud of the Faculty Resource Center as a group,” said Brown. “Our team works very hard to provide a lot of different skills and training to SBCC. We are looking forward to coming back to campus and bringing new topics as well as deeper dives into existing training sessions we provide, and we will continue to offer assistance and workshops over zoom as well. We also look forward to working with faculty in the future in making online and hybrid courses more accessible and equitable.”

a successful learning experience. According to her

at the same time, working her magic to ensure that students and faculty had everything they needed for co-workers, “Emma Cruz is an invaluable asset to SBCC; she brings integrity and passion to serving others – a trait that cannot be taught, but a skill that anyone who works with people needs.”

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR In the highest honor that peers can bestow, Student Finance Manager Nicole Hubert was named the 2021 Administrator of the Year. According to those who submitted her nomination, Nicole “embodies management qualities that set the bar high for others,” including “excellent interpersonal skills, creative ideas, passion for her role,” in addition to being fiscally savvy and a positive role model.

An employee of the college since 2015, Nicole is responsible for the Cashier’s Office, financial recordkeeping, budgets and accounts. A proven leader who is highly respected by her staff, she is recognized for her student-centered and equity-based practices, for ensuring that the college maintains a forward-thinking mindset, and for creating a collaborative environment.

Nicole’s dedication to her team, her colleagues across campus and our students is a prime example of stellar leadership qualities from which SBCC has and will continue to benefit from.

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Artistic

TRIUMPHS

ATKINSON GALLERY RECIPIENT OF $100,000 GETTY FOUNDATION GRANT In January 2021, the Atkinson Gallery was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Getty Foundation to prepare for the next edition of the region-wide arts initiative “Pacific Standard Time: Art x Science x L.A.” scheduled to open in 2024. The Atkinson Gallery joins a diverse community of 45 cultural, educational and scientific institutions whose projects will explore the intertwined histories of art and science — past and present.

“Pacific Standard Time” is an unprecedented series of collaborations among institutions across Southern California.

In each, organizations simultaneously present research-based exhibitions, publications, performances and public conversations that explore and illuminate a significant theme in the region’s cultural history.

The Atkinson project, “Cosmovisión Indígena: The Intersection of Indigenous Knowledge and Contemporary Art,” is a partnership with the Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Office of Art and Culture, with the support of Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project/ Proyecto Mixteco Indígena Organización Comunitaria (MICOP) and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Whereas Mesoamerican dyeing and weaving are often categorized as crafts, that designation obscures the scientific and technical knowledge those processes require. Focusing on the production of traditional red dye (carmine) from the cochineal insect, “Cosmovisión Indígena” will trace the history, science, and contemporary uses

of the cochineal dye-making process, while exploring the mythology, ritual and storytelling used to preserve and pass on this traditional knowledge. The project will establish an art lab and learning garden in Santa Barbara as well as a community research space in Oxnard, serving members of the Mixtec, Zapotec, and other indigenous communities from Oaxaca, Mexico, who have settled throughout Ventura County. There, younger Oaxacan-American artists will be able to learn the science, technology, and art of dyeing and weaving from experienced practitioners. The final exhibition will display pieces created in both sites alongside curated artworks by contemporary artists and community members.

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Artistic

TRIUMPHS

THEATRE ARTS SAFELY OVERCOMES SOCIAL DISTANCING OBSTACLES Over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year, the Theatre Group created an innovative way for performers and audiences to continue to be able to share an evening of inspiring theatre.

In November, the Theatre Group at SBCC presented “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” a loving tribute to musical theatre, with songs from some of Broadway’s most beloved shows performed by a talented cast. Rehearsals for the show were held outside and cameras were borrowed from SBCC’s Film Production department to film in the Garvin Theatre, where plexiglass shields were used and no more than four actors were on stage at a time. The use of age-old film techniques made it appear as if the entire cast of 15 performers assembled on stage together for a rousing finale.

The Fall student production of Sophocles’ Antigone employed a new format of video performances by actors all over the world participating. Retaining all of the rich emotional impact of Sophocles’ original text in a marvelously contemporary translation, the production used a visual style inspired by graphic novel design elements.

Wrapping up the Spring semester, the Theatre Arts Department compiled stories written by the SBCC community, students, staff and faculty, and created three separate performances of personal, touching, humorous and interesting stories presented via online streaming.

According to department co-chair Katie Laris, “We always tell our students how important it is to be flexible, adaptable and tenacious. This period has really tested our ability to live out those traits.”

BIG BAND HOSTS VIRTUAL CONCERT In October 2020, the SBCC Lunch Break Big Band became the first school band in the world to present a live concert of a large ensemble with each member participating synchronously – and safely – from their homes.

Plans for this concert and five others began when large gatherings were suspended. Seeking ways to surmount that obstacle, Assistant Professor of Music Jim Mooy and Music Department LTA James Watson discovered Jamulus, a software that enables musicians to do live rehearsing, jamming and performing virtually. Previously, it was impossible for musicians to play together online because of the time lapse that occurs while audio streams travel to and from each musician, preventing rhythmic precision.

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A Message from

OUR FOUNDATION A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDATION

Since 1909, SBCC has offered students of all ages the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Whether seeking a degree or certificate, new skills or a new start, generations of students have come to our community’s college to find their path.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic made that path far more difficult for many. Long-standing inequalities were laid bare for all to see. Not everyone has access to WiFi and appropriate technology for remote learning. Some of our most critical community workers are undocumented and have no access to public relief funds. Thousands of students do not have access to a quiet place to study and learn at home. The need for better and more affordable childcare options is pervasive.

This is where our work comes in. SBCC prides itself on meeting students where they are, and that commitment requires remarkable flexibility and innovation which cannot always be supported by the available public funds. Community colleges receive an exceedingly small percentage of the private gifts made to higher education each year – barely 2%, despite educating nearly 50% of all college students in the United States.

But look at what those visionary donors make possible at SBCC: more than $1 million in scholarships annually, 5,000 SBCC Promise students in the first five years, and summer bridge programs that support students facing complex obstacles. Now imagine what would be possible if that 2% became 5% or 10% or 25%. The simple fact is that donated dollars go furthest at community colleges.

Last fall, the largest private gift in the history of community colleges was made to 34 colleges – specifically those in the regions of California that have the lowest higher education degree attainment rates. The Pritzker Family Foundation made a 20-year $100 million commitment to support scholarships that cover basic needs as well as educational costs and emergency aid for students. Then this spring, MacKenzie Scott made record-setting unrestricted gifts to seven California Community Colleges including $20 million to SBCC. These generous gifts are game changers for many institutions. Equally importantly, I believe they serve as a signal to others that our community colleges are deserving of this level of investment. The evolution of giving to our community’s college has been generations in the making, and it has been led by those donors who have long known the value of an SBCC education. I believe that the eyes of the nation (and philanthropy) are following their lead and turning toward our community colleges.

As we look back on the past year, I am proud of the work we’ve done together, and I know that better days lie ahead. It is an honor to work alongside this dedicated community of educators, staff, volunteers, fundraisers, and donors – all pulling in the same direction and dedicated to meeting every student where they are. Thank you for your partnership.

Gratefully,

Geoff Green, CEO SBCC Foundation

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| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

SBCC FOUNDATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2021

N. Scott Vincent, President Laurie Ashton, J.D., Vice President Edward “Ted” Friedel, Vice President Jeff Pittman, Treasurer Kandy Luria-Budgor, Secretary Frank Tabar, Member-at-Large Sarah de Tagyos Graciela Montgomery Pedro Paz, Ph.D. Michelle Lee Pickett, J.D. Wendy Read, J.D. Frank Schipper Ex-Officio Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D. Robert K. Miller Pamela Ralston, Ph.D. Patricia Stark Raeanne Napoleon Carson Mitchell

Emeritus Members Silvio Di Loreto (in memoriam) Stan Fishman Jane Habermann Perri Harcourt Len Jarrott Morrie Jurkowitz Steve Lew Peter MacDougall, Ed.D. John Romo Suzi Schomer Michael Towbes (in memoriam)

Investing in Our

COMMUNITY

SBCC PROMISE In Fall 2016, the SBCC Foundation launched the SBCC Promise, an ambitious effort to make our community’s college accessible and affordable to all local students who have recently completed their secondary education within the SBCC district. Since its inception, some 5,000 students have benefited from the SBCC Promise.

The SBCC Promise is a national leader in that it is comprehensive (covers all required fees, books, and supplies), robust (covers two full years), and open access (not restricted based on past academic performance). Eligibility is determined by a student’s high school location or residence, year of graduation, and commitment to the SBCC Promise eligibility requirements (sbccpromise.org).

Research on college achievement correlates a student’s chance of success in college with early enrollment, full-time student status, and access to academic counseling and support. The SBCC Promise is specifically designed with this in mind by requiring all three. It is also an exemplary model of a public/ private partnership, as 100 percent of the funding for the SBCC Promise is privately raised from donors to the SBCC Foundation.

The SBCC Promise reinforces our community college’s commitment to our local community, and strengthens our region’s economy, neighborhoods, and families.

Whether a student wishes to pursue a trade, earn a certificate, complete an associate degree, or transfer to a four-year institution, SBCC is the place and the SBCC Promise provides a pathway.

COVID-19 EMERGENCY GRANTS – ONE YEAR LATER On March 30, 2020, less than two weeks into the statewide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SBCC Foundation launched its COVID-19 Student Emergency Grant Fund. This was the largest emergency grant program in the Foundation’s history and among of the first response funds deployed anywhere in the country.

Over the course of four weeks, the Foundation distributed over $2 million to 2,335 SBCC students. These grants, providing up to $1,000 per student, offered emergency financial support so that students – many of whom had suddenly lost jobs – could cover basic expenses,

stay enrolled in school, and make the transition to remote learning.

One year later, the Foundation conducted a survey of grant recipients to learn how they were faring. We learned that 67% of Emergency Grant recipients who responded were still enrolled at SBCC during the Spring 2021 semester, 9% had already graduated, and 8% had transferred to a four-year college or university. 16% had left school for another reason.

Students shared their experiences and made it clear that emergency funds that allow students to cover basic needs are an important tool in responding to crises.

2020-2021 Report to the Community |

Thank you to the nearly 100 donors who supported this effort!

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Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS

MEETING THE MOMENT THROUGH VIRTUAL ADAPTATIONS The Foundation has responded to the pandemic by experimenting with new events and communication tools, providing opportunities for the community to engage remotely with college leaders, faculty, students, and alumni.

SPRING FORWARD! GALA The SBCC Foundation’s Spring Forward! Gala was originally planned for May of 2020. When the pandemic hit, the Gala was reinvented as a virtual event and held on October 1st. Tickets were free, and registration was open to all. Thanks to generous sponsors, donors, and participants, the Gala was a huge success – over 250 people attended, and the event raised more than $300,000 to support SBCC and its students! Watch the Gala online at: sbccfoundation.org/spring-forward-gala.

CAMPUS CONVERSATIONS In the early days of the pandemic, the Foundation launched a series of virtual gatherings called COVID Conversations: How SBCC is Meeting the Moment. These online get-togethers featured updates from campus leaders on how they were adapting, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

In fall 2020, the series was reinvented as Campus Conversations, offering informative discussions on timely subjects while showcasing excellence at SBCC. Watch the recorded sessions online at: sbccfoundation.org.

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE The President’s Circle provides the core support that makes the Foundation’s work possible through annual gifts of unrestricted funds. Since members have been unable to attend in-person events, the Foundation presented Surviving COVID at Home, an email series with fun, helpful resources from SBCC faculty to promote well-being during the pandemic. Topics ranged from outdoor activities – exploring the geology of our coastline, planting a sustainable garden – to writing exercises, recommended sites for streaming theater, self-care tips, and cooking videos from the culinary arts program.

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| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS

FOUNDATION FACTS In fiscal year 2020, the SBCC Foundation distributed a record $8,167,592

SBCC Promise $2,552,761

31%

Scholarships and Book Grants $800,092

COVID-19 Emergency Grants $2,050,602

25%

10%

Student Support Programs $1,775,023

22% 12%

Disaster Response and Recovery $989,114

$4

$0.97 $3

Millions

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS $2

$2.65

$1

The bar graph to the left shows all funds raised by the SBCC Foundation for the fiscal year 2020 by gift type (audited).

Dollars are in millions. Total: $4,167,828

$0.55

$0 Unrestricted

Restricted (all types)

Restricted (Disaster Response & Recovery)

NET ASSETS BY FUND TYPE The pie chart below shows the SBCC Foundation’s net assets of $58 million by fund type as of June 30, 2020 (audited).

3% 89%

8%

Permanently Restricted Endowed Funds $51,965,684 Temporarily Restricted Non-Endowed Funds $4,388,979 Unrestricted Funds $1,691,538

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Extended

LEARNING

BACK-TO-WORK PROGRAM FOR RAPID CAREER TRAINING AMID COVID-19 SBCC School of Extended Learning announced the free Back-to-Work program in February 2021. The program was created as a rapid solution to help unemployed Santa Barbara County community members secure employment. Back-to-Work participants receive training, grant funding, job search support and more.

Back-to-Work classes feature intensive eight-week training tracks for Personal Care Attendant, Construction Technology, Green Gardener, Contact Tracer and Office Administration Support. Students become certified after completing the course requirements, attending classes and passing exams. Students also receive $200 weekly grant funding and additional funding for childcare, if eligible.

The program is free to eligible students, as are all class supplies. Each career track requires 30-32 hours per week in classes, delivered online; students are loaned a Chromebook,

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Hotspot for Internet access and headphones. In addition to the training classes, students receive customer service skills training and customized course electives to meet their academic needs, as well as career counseling and job search support plus tutoring and ESL support as needed.

This entry-level training can lead to both employment and a jumpstart on earning an SBCC credit certificate of achievement or associate degree.

This year, Extended Learning is serving over 6,500 local adults with career skills and life enrichment classes in Adult High School/GED, Bilingual GED, Bilingual Computer Skills, Career Skills, Noncredit ESL, Health and Safety, Home Economics, Older Adults, and Parenting.

The Back-to-Work Program is funded by Santa Barbara City College, CARES Act, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title II, and the Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium.

| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Extended

LEARNING

THE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AND A NEW BEGINNING As a teenager Greigary Fingerle did well in most of his high school classes and gained attention in the regional surfing circuit – but a crumbling family life left him virtually on his own, unequipped to make school a priority. Things got worse when an accusation against him landed him in State prison.

Motivated and determined to get his life back together upon his release, Greigary arrived at the Wake Campus to register for the Adult High School Program.

“I got enrolled right away,” he said. “No one was judgmental, they just wanted to help me succeed.”

Supported by the Extended Learning team, Greigary blazed through the Adult High School program in three months, and earned the diploma that made him eligible for the SBCC Promise. His experience in Adult High School gave him the confidence to manage a full schedule and explore a future in media, public relations, government or law.

“It’s been a long road,” he said. “I’m just so happy to have the opportunity to go to school to learn and grow, and figure out who I am and what I’m interested in. I’m so grateful to Adult High School for being so accepting of me.”

THE REWARDS OF THE PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT PROGRAM After losing her mother, Gina Moreno’s path to caregiving began when her church asked her if she could help take care of a lady named Lucy. “I said yes, I’ll give it a try. I did and it made me feel really good to be taking care of someone, like I wish I could have for my mom and my dad. It just kept me going.” Since then, Gina has been there for people that need help.

In December 2020, Gina completed the four-month Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program at School of Extended Learning.

Although the graduation festivities could not be in-person, Gina and her classmates celebrated with their Certificates of Completion and the knowledge that they were well-prepared to enter or advance their health care career.

Gina recommends the program to beginners and more experienced caregivers.

“If you want to start taking care of people, it’s a class that you can learn from and grow,” she said. “Helping others makes me feel like I have a purpose. It is the next step of my journey to become a reflection of who I admire.”

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Physical Education and ATHLETICS STAFF PRIORITIZE STUDENT WELLNESS DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES The Covid-19 pandemic was difficult enough for students and faculty in traditional classroom settings, but for SBCC’s athletics and physical education programs, it presented more than its share of challenges.

The initial Covid-19 outbreak in mid-March of 2020 abruptly cut that season and all competition short. As the pandemic progressed and health mandates continued to limit in-person instruction, athletic competition was incrementally halted to what ended up being more than a year — a disappointing situation for the college’s 20 sports teams and 375-plus student athletes. Similar frustrations were experienced by athletes at the more than 100 two-year colleges comprising the California Community Colleges Athletics Association (CCCAA), who mandated ceasing athletic competition to keep students safe and healthy, in accordance with State health protocols.

With the campus closed to most in-person learning, 30 instructors and six staff members from SBCC’s Physical Education department found creative ways to conduct outdoor and indoor courses online, while students got used to exercising at home via lessons from their computer screens.

But the Athletics and Physical Education staff and faculty felt strongly that students needed outdoor P.E. and athletics back — for the benefit of their bodies and minds. Long story short: They made it happen.

Said Kathy O’Connor, P.E./Health/Dance Department Chair and Athletic Academic Advisor, “We realized late Spring (2020) when we were shut down that not only the physical health of our students was now at risk but, even more importantly, their mental and emotional health. And the data proved this point.

With the support of our administration we were able to provide in-person physical education classes to over 600 students each semester. Our offerings ranged from the typical fitness and sports classes to our surfing and kayaking programs. We were able to use Los Banos Pool for swimming classes in addition to our ocean swimming and hiking classes. We did daily health screenings and surveillance testing of our students and staff and we had no transmission of Covid on our campus.”

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“From an athletics standpoint, we knew there would be no competition statewide in the fall (2020),” noted Athletics Director Rocco Constantino. “That immediately turned our attention to providing our student-athletes the opportunity to practice and be around their teammates and classmates in person. By that point into the pandemic, we were very well aware of the mental health implications of having students stay in complete isolation. We knew that was important to students, and in my conversations with them, we realized just how important that was. I can’t thank Dr. Goswami enough for the opportunity to allow our students this opportunity. It was probably more beneficial to them than we actually realize.”

“Covid has highlighted the critical need for a health and physical education-based curriculum as part of the college course offerings,” said Ellen O’Connor, Associate Athletics Director, Life Fitness Center Director and P.E. instructor. “We have provided physical activity courses using both in-person and remote learning platforms. Students in our classes describe, in great detail, the profound role that their health and/or physical education activity course has played to manage their stress, improve their sense of wellness, and provide a sense of accomplishment during uncertain times.”

| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Vaquero Athletic

HIGHLIGHTS

DAVE LOVETON IS SOLE INDUCTEE IN 2021 SBCC HALL OF FAME This year, award-winning Sports Information Specialist Dave Loveton has been honored as the sole inductee of the Class of 2021 SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame.

Loveton, who passed away in April 2021, was with the Vaqueros family for 15 years. He will be honored at a virtual event this year for his dedication to the Santa Barbara sports scene, the CCCAA and keeping SBCC a leader in sports information.

In January, Mike Robles, the Director of Sports Information for the CCCAA, said, “Dave is truly one of the top sports information professionals in the CCCAA. The volume of information he produces is impressive, but not as much as the quality. His coverage of SBCC Athletics is thorough, he’s a tremendous writer and he is steadfast in his primary goal of putting the spotlight on the Vaqueros’ student-athletes, coaches and teams.”

Loveton left a legacy at SBCC by transforming the Sports Information Department and adapting with the times. As schools

started to utilize websites and social media, Loveton was always sure SBCC was a leader in those areas.

Throughout his career, Loveton was always a champion of the players and coaches he covers.

Upon being selected for the Hall of Fame, Loveton said, “I love going to the games, it keeps me young. I love City College sports, keeping statistics and making sure everything is done right. My office is on top of La Playa Stadium and it’s one of the most beautiful views in America with the palm trees and Pacific Ocean in the background. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Loveton will be honored along with the SBCC Vaqueros Hall of Fame Class of 2020, which includes former players Jesse Orosco (baseball), Don Ford (basketball), Tim Tremblay (football), Cindy Banks (track & field), Kieran (O’Leary) Roblee (volleyball) and coaches Ed DeLacy and Kathy O’Connor, along with the 1983 State Champion Men’s Volleyball Team.

SBCC LANDS A RECORD FOUR TEAMS AS CCCAA STATE SCHOLAR WINNERS SBCC has gone where no Vaqueros have gone before as a record four athletic teams have earned the state’s No. 1 academic distinction for their respective sports. The Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Water Polo and Women’s Tennis teams earned the State Scholar awards from the CCCAA for the 2019-20 season. SBCC’s previous record for State Scholar teams was three, set in 2017-18. The four Vaquero teams were honored on March 31 as part of the annual CCCAA Convention.

The Scholar Team Award is the highest academic award given annually by the CCCAA. All team members must have

excelled academically with a total GPA of 3.0 or higher and the award combines excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship.

“This is the first time we have had as many as four teams receive this award, which is the highest academic award a team can receive from the state,” said Director of Athletics Rocco Constantino. “This makes six straight years where at least one SBCC team has been named a Scholar Team Award Recipient in their sport. Only one team throughout the state per sport receives this honor.”

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Equity, Diversity and INCLUSION TRUSTEES CONDEMN POLICE BRUTALITY AND AFFIRM BLACK LIVES MATTER Board Resolution 18 AFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT FOR BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SANTA BARBARA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: That the Board does hereby condemn police brutality and affirms that Black Lives Matter.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board reaffirms its commitment to improving the educational success of our Black and African American and other disadvantaged Students. The District will work collaboratively with our students, faculty, staff, and administration, in a focused institutional effort to identify and remove barriers and use available resources to increase the educational success of these students and foster an environment where all students feel welcome, respected, and valued while learning through the free exchange of ideas across a diversity of learners (SBCC Core Value).

FACULTY REQUIRED TO COMPLETE ‘ONLINE TEACHING WITH AN EQUITY MINDSET’ CLASS TO TEACH ONLINE Research shows that online courses can widen the already-existing opportunity gaps that disproportionately impact our most marginalized students.

As of Fall 2020, all instructors wishing to teach online at SBCC were required to complete Online Teaching with an Equity Mindset, an asynchronous and self-paced three-hour training that covers a variety of best practices for equitable online teaching. The training was developed by Carrie Hutchinson from the Communication Department and Clara Oropeza from the English Department in Spring 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic which forced all courses at SBCC to be offered entirely online.

From this training, both experienced and new online instructors across all disciplines took away specific, actionable practices that allowed their courses to be more accessible, inclusive and effective.

There is a version of Online Teaching with an Equity Mindset customized for credit as well as non-credit faculty. Anyone wishing to take the training can contact carrie.hutchinson@sbcc.edu for access.

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| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Equity, Diversity and INCLUSION

NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION SELECTED Dr. Anselmo Villanueva joined SBCC in the spring as the new Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Dr. Villanueva has enjoyed a long career in education at all levels, from preschool through graduate school. His career has been dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, especially ensuring access to education by students who have been traditionally underrepresented, marginalized or otherwise disenfranchised from the system.

Dr. Villanueva has held similar positions in diversity, equity and inclusion for the Eugene Public Schools in Oregon and for Pacific Resources in Education and Learning (PREL), a non-profit educational agency based in Hawaii. He has served as adjunct professor at Lane Community College, University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Pacific University, and Northwest Christian University where he developed and taught courses in ethnic studies, teacher training, cross-cultural counseling and international studies.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Dr. Villanueva has deep roots in the local community. He is currently coordinating a

research project documenting the history of the Filipino and Filipino-American experience in Santa Barbara, which dates back to the 1780s. After attending local schools and graduating from San Marcos High School, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). From there he earned a master’s degree in bilingual education at the University of Southern California (USC), and then went on to pursue a doctorate in multicultural education at the University of Oregon.

Dr. Villanueva has consulted with numerous public and educational agencies in the area of the recruitment, retention and promotion of a diverse workforce.

He has served on several boards and commissions and values developing relationships with the community. He mentors many young college students and young professionals, especially those from diverse backgrounds. Although not a native speaker of Spanish, he is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Q&A WITH STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT, CARSON MITCHELL What have been the Associated Student Government’s main equity goals this year?

The main equity goal of the ASG has been ensuring all students have access to the resources and support necessary to be a successful student leader. The ASG has historically been a program where those who had access to participate and have their voices heard in college governance have been those who can afford to put in the demanding work without compensation.

Often times, our most disproportionately impacted groups of students are those who may be interested in student governance, but have to face the choice between getting involved and a second or third job.

Resultantly, our most important goal is not just ensuring all voices are able to be present at our table, but also that they feel empowered and encouraged to share the insights they possess about their experience and the experiences of students like them. This will be the key to the ASG becoming a far more effective governing body.

How have you taken steps to accomplishing those goals?

Our initiatives to start making progress toward accomplishing these goals have taken a wide variety of forms over the past year. We’ve hosted virtual events for Undocumented

Student Week of Action and Health and Wellness, and other events such as a Student Town Hall and a voting accessibility event, among others.

We consistently collect feedback to see how students are being affected by the current climate of the college ensuring that our initiatives have their desired impacts. We produce resolutions and advocate in the various campus committees for student needs, especially financial aid and relief - a big effort of ours has been trying to get the ASG on a work-study/stipend schedule.

Have you been able to see your equity work in action yet?

We’ve seen dialogues be engendered around students that we would’ve previously not thought possible. Today, so much more of the college’s focus is around understanding and dismantling the barriers that face so many of our students.

How do you think this will affect SBCC moving forward?

Our hope is that this continuous cycle of critical review and improvement is here to stay for the long run. As we develop our methods of student advocacy and data collection, we intend to leave behind structures for future boards to build upon to enhance the work they do to affect students.

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Covid-19

RESILIENCE

EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS While the Covid-19 pandemic led to the vast majority of classes being moved from in-person to online instruction for the Fall and Spring semesters — and most administrative offices also operating remotely — staff and faculty alike welcomed students via online platforms and found innovative ways to keep them engaged and on-track with their education goals. Incorporating safety and health precautions like masking and social distancing, a handful of career technical education courses met on campus, incorporating mask wearing and other safety precautions , including EMT, culinary, nursing and automotive technologies.

CARES/HEERF FUNDS HELP MITIGATE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 Santa Barbara City College was awarded Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funds to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 for students and the college.

In March, SBCC was awarded nearly $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education to provide federal HEERF/CARES emergency grants to students in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This allowed 2,560 qualifying SBCC students to each receive a grant ranging from $500 to $1,200 in Spring of 2021.

“The federal CARES money has often been the saving grace for our SBCC students; the help that made things move forward rather than falter,” said Maureen McRae Goldberg, Director of Financial Aid. “We have had an outpouring of thanks from the students that benefited from these funds.“ In addition to the emergency funds designated for students, the college was awarded HEERF II funds for institutional recovery of lost revenue. It is anticipated the District will be able to recover approximately $8.4 million of lost revenue, of which, $6.37 million of these funds will be transferred to the college’s unrestricted general fund.

The District plans to utilize approximately $4.8 million of the $6.37 million from the unrestricted general fund for expenditures that will mitigate the impact of Covid-19.

Revenue recovery based on restricted fund operations will be credited to appropriate restricted funds and will be utilized for subsidizing restricted fund operations. [The numbers presented are approximate as the District is awaiting confirmation from its auditors regarding methodology and final year-end revenue figures.]

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Covid-19

RESILIENCE

Becky Bean, Student Program Advisor of The WELL

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS MOVES ONLINE TO MEET DEMAND With the increase in mental health challenges among college students during Covid-19, the SBCC Student Health and Wellness team took the innovative step to convert its in-person programming into an interactive virtual environment to reach the demand.

Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the Health and Wellness team has held around 1,900 telehealth counseling and medical appointments, and more than 70 wellness workshop sessions and overdose prevention trainings. They have also created a digital library of online resources and collaborated remotely with many community partners.

This hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Student Health and Wellness Center, “The WELL” was honored in January by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors with an Exemplary Program Award for equitable practices in a virtual educational environment.

“We are grateful to be a progressive wellness program that has become a beacon of support, healing and innovation for the diverse SBCC community,” said Becky Bean, Student Program Advisor at The WELL. The WELL’s digital model has helped remove the barriers to gaining access to mental health and wellness services for

the SBCC student community. There has been a 138 percent year-on-year increase in utilization of the digital platform since moving the program fully online and the workshops have doubled their attendance.

The Student Health and Wellness team has offered many different types of workshops and support groups since the pandemic began – from DACA, single parent and anti-racism support groups to workshops that related to COVID-19, stress management, skill-building and more.

“It is a joy to recognize our amazing team in the Student Health and Wellness department,” said Laura Fariss, Director of Student Health and Wellness. “Our program met the challenges of this pandemic year head-on, and created dynamic virtual programming and outstanding support for our students.

Becky Bean, Alyson Bostwick, Lacey Peters, Betsy Phillips, Angela Ortiz, Mary Sila, Raquel do Carmo and Brenda Scherlis have worked tirelessly with dedication, creativity, good humor and kindness to care for the well being of our Santa Barbara City College students. I truly believe our Student Health program is one of the best in the California Community College system. I couldn’t be prouder of our team and their accomplishments in this complicated Covid-19 year.”

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COVID-19

RESILIENCE

LURIA LIBRARY A CRUCIAL RESOURCE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND In many ways, Luria Library has been the Covid-19 information hub for the entire campus community. For three semesters since the start of the pandemic, library staff has assembled to offer curbside pick-up of chromebooks and wifi hotspots — as well as providing crucial pandemic-information on emergency grants, working from home resources, wellness services, etc., through its user-friendly website.

We asked Library Director Kenley Neufeldwhat it’s like to run Luria Library during a pandemic.

Back in March 2020 when the college quickly shifted to online instruction, what were the first steps the Luria Library staff took to ensure that students were still being served at that time? What were the priorities?

The library was already well positioned to support students in the online environment. Almost all of our services were already online, so in a real sense it was simply a continuation of what we were already doing. Only with more students requiring online services! That said, we had three priorities at the start of the pandemic. The first was how to provide access to our print textbook collection. This is a heavily used service and we needed to pivot to other solutions. Fortunately, many textbook providers stepped in by making their textbook available during the spring semester. The second priority was getting technology into the hands of students. With the support of the campus IT department, we were able to expand our existing laptop checkout program and also add hotspots to the program. And the third priority is being able to offer research instruction to those classes who wish to incorporate this type of instruction. This was probably the most challenging transition since many faculty across campus were just trying to stay afloat in spring 2020. But we were able to offer this as requested.

When did the Luria Library’s new website launch? Was the idea to launch a new website for the library on the agenda pre-Covid, or did the pandemic spur its inception?

We launched our new website over the 2020-2021 winter break. For us, it is critical to only make changes between semesters since the site has high traffic and many faculty rely upon screenshots and other directions. Plus we have many video tutorials that would need updating. Plans to update the website arose when the campus site was redesigned. Many discussions took place to see how best to incorporate the library resources into the new design and to make resources easily available. We had a “temporary” design in place for when the college made the switch, but we wanted something more customized. We worked with the college and our design firm to arrive at what we have today.

What were/are the priorities of Luria’s newly improved online presence? (user-friendliness, chat feature). Feel free to go into detail on anything of prominence here.

Our priority is always ease of access to the resources and to the library faculty. We wanted two items front and center: Live chat with the Librarian and the OneSearch box that can search all of our collections (both print and online). We know many users may not scroll through and read all the options, so these two items are at the top for quick and easy access. We feel very strongly

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COVID-19

RESILIENCE

about personalized services. We want to hear from students and employees. To this end, we also have the chat service embedded throughout different pages and resources.

Luria Library online has also become a hub to serve students outside of the traditional library platform during the pandemic, i.e. curbside pick up of chromebooks, wifi hotspots... as well as providing crucial pandemic-information on emergency grants, working from home resources, wellness services, etc. Why was it important for Luria to be the chosen outlet for these services?

Our profession is very focused on service and help. Whether this means finding a place on campus or taking a deep dive into a topic for research. It feels natural for us to be an information hub on many aspects of student life. We are skilled knowledge professionals who can take the time to research, evaluate, and share information. We have long done this work. In fact, we have a number of guides created as community resources at https://libguides.sbcc.edu/. Here’s a list of example topics: Autism / Neurodiversity, Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), Elections and Voting, Financial Literacy, Free Resources, Hunger or Homelessness, LGBTQIA2S+, Military Veterans, Parents and Families, Substance Abuse and Recovery, Transitions / Formerly Incarcerated, Undocumented, and Wellness.

How has the staff risen to the challenge of the all-online platform?

For the librarians, they have definitely stepped forward and helped make certain all our services and resources would continue to be available for students. As mentioned above, we have long been working in the online space so this was really simply extending it to all we do. Looking back through SBCC history, the library was one of the first places to provide access to online resources and to provide chat services. For our library staff, it should be said that they’ve worked on campus throughout the pandemic. They have also stepped forward and been willing to directly serve students with our curbside service and online textbook service (by scanning and uploading). Both these services require on-campus work. We all have much admiration for them coming to campus and working directly with students. Above and beyond.

Lasting pandemic-related changes that will inform library processes going forward?

All the services we currently offer during the pandemic will continue to be available. The only exceptions will be the curbside service and the online textbook service. We will continue to explore options for online textbooks, but options are limited due to copyright and other restrictions. Right now we are focusing on what the physical library will look like once the campus re-opens. As one of the busiest places on campus, with several thousand students each day, we don’t know what we’ll be able to provide in the transition period. But we are hopeful.

General feedback from students on Luria Library’s online services during the pandemic? An example or two?

“I was invited to participate in the SBCC RISC survey and I called out Luria as being the most helpful and accessible department.”

“The addition of the scheduling widget for open hours is so much more accessible than personal email scheduling.”

“The live chat has helped me so many times this semester.”

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Commencement

MAKING HISTORY

’INNOVATORS OF THE FUTURE’ CELEBRATED AT VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT Perseverance. Resilience. These are just two of the qualities demonstrated by the Class of 2021 during a year of unprecedented challenges.

Nearly 1,600 students participated in the virtual commencement ceremony held on May 7, when over 4,300 degrees and certificates were awarded, 608 students graduated with honors and 20 veterans graduated.

The ceremony, conducted in “real time” via the SBCC website and YouTube, opened with a moving video tribute applauding students for accomplishing their goals against overwhelming odds.

The effect that the Covid-19 pandemic had on everyone was a recurring theme in several of the presentation addresses.

Associated Student Government President Carson Mitchell praised his classmates, saying, “You should be

tremendously proud of all you’ve been able to achieve and overcome.”

Superintendent/President Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D., stated, “Education prepares students to deal with adversity, to deal with new circumstances, to deal with new realities, to deal with new information … you’ve learned a lot from what we have been through as a community and as a nation for all of last year.”

Academic Senate President, Dr. Raeanne Napoleon, called the graduates “the greatest class in SBCC history,” and told them to go out and, “participate in the world and make it the one you want to be part of.”

While speaking of the difficulties he and his fellow graduates endured over the past year, Student Commencement Speaker Ezekiel Contreras Forrest was also compelled to say, “The happiness and positivity that radiates off of people

here [at SBCC] is the only thing more contagious in Santa Barbara than Covid.” Identifying what he felt “makes this college so great,” he pointed to “the communal effort that everyone puts forth to see us collectively succeed.”

Voicing hope for what lies in the days ahead, Ezekiel observed, “In all of my classmates I see the promise of a positive and prosperous future … I see the doctors, engineers, creators and innovators of our future.”

The ceremony closed with Executive Vice President of Educational Programs Dr. Pamela Ralston congratulating the Class of 2021, followed by the presentation of degrees and certificates of achievement. The name of each graduate appeared on screen while “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background.

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| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Commencement

MAKING HISTORY

Photo courtesy of Ryan P. Cruz

STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER EZEKIEL CONTRERAS FORREST SBCC’s true leader, scholar and mentor, Ezekiel Contreras Forrest, has been chosen as the 2020-2021 student commencement speaker and those who know him say he couldn’t be more deserving of the honor.

Since his tenure at SBCC, Ezekiel has reached remarkable scholarly achievements, and made a huge impact on the SBCC community, all while overcoming adversities. As a former foster youth, he faced inherent challenges that have fueled his motivation to become independent and succeed in college.

“I am extremely impressed with his academic, personal, and professional accomplishments during his tenure at SBCC,” said Academic Counselor Camila Acosta. “Ezekiel beams positivity.

He has excellent interpersonal, leadership skills and is passionate about contributing to the SBCC community. He is a remarkable scholar, who has worked tirelessly to grow academically and personally.”

Ezekiel has worked two-to-three jobs to support himself while going to SBCC,

while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and will be completing his final semester as a triple major in global studies, anthropology and geography.

In addition to his scholarly accomplishments, Ezekiel’s humble spirit inspires other students, from similar backgrounds, to break the cycle of poverty and reach new heights. He does this through his involvement in campus organizations and programs.

He is member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, he established the Filipino Cultural Club, worked as a student ambassador for international students, is a peer mentor for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Guardian Scholars, he worked in Enrollment Services and is a part of the Associated Student Government.

To help make an impact on the SBCC community, Ezekiel worked with the vice president of the Board of Governors, the Chancellor’s Office and college

administration to find equitable solutions in distributing the Student Success Completion Grant. He has also played a vital role in aiding Guided Pathways faculty and staff to update college policies and procedures related to the onboarding process of new students, with a focus on marginalized students.

“He is a natural leader and was intentional when sharing his lived experiences as a Guardian Scholar student and represented the voices of marginalized students very gracefully,” Acosta said.

In his commencement speech, Ezekiel left the graduates with some words of advice: “Regardless of our appearance, gender, ethnicity or religious background, we all struggle, some of us certainly more than others, but the point is that we must embrace the circumstances that have created us… I implore you to embrace your struggle and use it as your daily motivation to live your life to the fullest.”

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Facts About

SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE Based on headcount numbers for the Fall 2020 Semester

SBCC’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Santa Barbara City College strives to build a socially conscious community where knowledge and respect empower individuals to transform our world.

Dr. Peter O. Haslund, Area 1 Board of Trustees President Kate Parker, Area 7 Board of Trustees Vice President

SBCC’S MISSION STATEMENT

Robert K. Miller, Area 2

Santa Barbara City College welcomes all students.

The College provides a diverse learning environment and opportunities for students to enrich their lives, advance their careers, complete certificates, earn associate degrees, and transfer to four-year institutions.

The College is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, respectful, participatory, and supportive community dedicated to the success of every student.

Veronica Gallardo, Area 3 Dr. Anna Everett, Area 4 Marsha S. Croninger, Area 5 Jonathan Abboud, Area 6 Lilli McKinney, Student Trustee 2020

STUDENTS SERVED

DIVERSE MAIN CAMPUS

Main Campus............................................................................ 9,942 Local High Schools (Dual Enrollment).................................1,709 Exclusively Online..................................................................... 2,528 Total........................................................................................... 14,179 School of Extended Learning................................................ 3,339 (Tuition-free and fee-based courses)

WHERE ARE OUR STUDENTS FROM? In District (Gaviota to Carpinteria)....................................... 5,182 Elsewhere in Tri-Counties........................................................3,763 Elsewhere in California........................................................... 4,216 Out of State.................................................................................. 564 International...................................................................................454 Total...........................................................................................14,179

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SBCC’S VISION STATEMENT

White..........................................................................................46.7% Hispanic.....................................................................................34.7% Asian/Filipino/Pacific Islander................................................ 6.1% African American....................................................................... 2.4% Other..........................................................................................10.1% *Other includes: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Two or More Races, Unknown, and other non-white

ADOPTED 2020-2021 BUDGET (Unrestricted General Fund) Total Expenses................................................................$98,827,822 Total Revenue................................................................$93,892,800

GREAT PLACE TO WORK Full-Time Faculty......................................................................... 242 Adjunct Faculty........................................................................... 511 Staff............................................................................................... 363

| 2020-2021 Report to the Community

Administration

SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE

Report to the Community prepared by

SBCC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS Victor Bryant Acting Executive Director of Public Affairs and Communications

Utpal K. Goswami, Ph.D. Superintendent/President Lyndsay Maas, MBA Vice President, Business Services

Sally Gill Marketing Communications Specialist

Michael W. Shanahan, Esq. Vice President, Human Resources Joyce Coleman Vice President, School of Extended Learning

Amanda Jacobs Marketing Communications Specialist Hong Lieu Webmaster Kirsten Mathieson Administrative Assistant

MAIN CAMPUS 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805) 965-0581

SCHOTT CAMPUS 310 W. Padre St., Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 687-0812

WAKE CAMPUS 300 N. Turnpike Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (805) 964-6853

Office of Communications 721 Cliff Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93109 www.sbcc.edu SantaBarbaraCC SBCityCollege SantaBarbaraCC SBCCOfficial Santa-Barbara-City-College SBCCOfficial