Bill aims to expand the pool of registered nurses by allowing select community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.

San Mateo, CA –  Governor Newsom has until September 30 to sign a new bill into law creating ten baccalaureate nursing programs at community colleges across the state. San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) supports SB 895 by Senator Richard Roth because it would help address California’s nursing shortage.  

“Addressing California’s nursing shortage is not just a priority; it’s a necessity for the health and well-being of our communities. The Governor’s signature on SB 895 would mark a transformative milestone for our community colleges and the students we serve,” said SMCCCD Board of Trustees President John Pimentel.

California is suffering from a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs). In 2018, more than 85% of hospitals in California reported that the demand for RNs was greater than the available supply—a public health crisis that has not improved and has instead been exacerbated by the global pandemic. 

District Chancellor Melissa Moreno notes, “By enabling a bachelor’s degree in nursing, this legislation empowers community colleges to address critical healthcare workforce shortages and provide a direct pathway to advanced education and career opportunities for students. This change enhances healthcare quality in our communities and opens doors to rewarding careers, ultimately driving economic growth and improving lives.” 

Historically, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) has been the basic credential requirement for employment as an RN in a healthcare facility, and four-year institutions have traditionally awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. However, the healthcare workforce requirements are changing, and hospitals increasingly prefer and require a BSN degree. According to a 2021 Health Impact report, 18% of California hospitals surveyed stated that a BSN was required for employment—twice the percentage noted in 2017—and 54.3% of hospitals reported a preference for hiring nurses with BSN degrees. 

SB 895 (Roth) bridges the nursing gap in the State by utilizing existing ADN programs at community colleges to address the lack of capacity in public, four-year nursing schools. With the difference between an ADN and a BSN being only an additional 30 units of upper-division, major coursework, several ADN programs are well positioned to expand their offerings to BSN degrees.  

SB 895 (Roth) establishes a sustainable and cost-neutral path forward for community colleges to meet the community and workforce demand for more nurses. 

Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu

A public ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held Thursday, October 17, at 4 pm in Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay, CA – September 24, 2024. College of San Mateo (CSM) proudly announces the grand opening of its Coastside Educational Facility in Half Moon Bay, an extension of the CSM main campus that will provide expanded educational opportunities and career pathways for the Coastside community for all current and future students, especially our Latinx, Chinese, and Migrant Farm Worker communities. This initiative is part of CSM’s continued commitment to advancing equity and fostering economic mobility through education. 

The Coastside Educational Facility, approved by the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Board of Trustees, was established to address the unique needs of the region’s vital and underserved populations. The new facility will provide various services designed to empower the local community and create pathways toward post-secondary education and living-wage careers.

Key programs and services that will be offered at the Coastside Educational Facility include: 

• Language and Literacy Development: Specialized classes aimed at improving English proficiency and literacy to help participants succeed academically and professionally. 
• Access to Higher Education: College preparatory courses and support programs to ease the transition into post-secondary education and provide students with the resources they need to thrive. 
• Career Training: Industry-aligned vocational programs designed to equip students with the skills needed for living-wage careers in local and regional industries.
• Academic and Career Counseling: Personalized guidance from dedicated counselors who will support students throughout their educational journey and help them navigate career opportunities. 
• Community Partnerships: Collaborations with local organizations and employers to connect students with real-world work experiences and job opportunities that enhance their career prospects. 

SMCCCD Trustee Dr. Lisa Petrides shares, “As a longtime resident of the Coastside, I have seen firsthand the vital role that the Latinx and Migrant Farm Worker communities play in our region’s economy and culture. The Coastside Educational Facility is a direct response to the barriers that the Coastside faces in accessing higher education. By offering tailored programs and services, we will provide pathways to greater opportunities, which will have a lasting, positive impact on our community. As programming develops, we may see additional offerings responsive to ongoing input.”

SMCCCD Chancellor Melissa Moreno shares, “One of our priorities over the next few years is to embed our colleges into the communities we serve. The CSM Coastside Education Facility is one such example, where it reduces transportation barriers so prevalent to our students on the Coastside and aligns with this community’s needs.”

The Coastside Educational Facility will serve as a hub for academic and career development, connecting students to opportunities that foster individual growth and regional workforce development. CSM is committed to breaking down barriers to education and ensuring that underserved populations have access to the resources they need to thrive.

“This facility is the result of a collaborative effort among the Board of Trustees, community leaders, local businesses, and CSM’s dedicated team,” said Dr. Manuel Alejandro Pérez, President of CSM. “We are thrilled to open a campus that reflects our commitment to equity and inclusion, empowering the Coastside community by providing the education and training needed for success in today’s economy. This is an exciting moment for the college, and we look forward to seeing the transformative impact it will have on our Coastside families and partners.” 

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the Coastside Educational Facility located at 650 Mill Street, Suite #101, Half Moon Bay, on Thursday, October 17, at 4 pm. The public is invited to attend. For more information, please visit: https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/coastside

About College of San Mateo: College of San Mateo (CSM), part of the San Mateo County Community College District, is a leading community college in San Mateo, California, committed to providing an accessible, high-quality, and liberatory education. With a focus on equity, inclusion, and academic excellence, CSM empowers students to achieve their full potential and make lasting generational impacts. CSM offers a wide range of academic and vocational programs, fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment.

Media Contact: Eddie Flores, Public Information Officer, College of San Mateo, 650-574-6538 or FloresE@smccd.edu

Changes would require four-year higher education institutions to improve accountability and transparency in admissions. 

San Mateo, CA – September 19, 2024.  The California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1780, authored by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) aiming to eliminate legacy and donor preferences in admissions at the state’s private and nonprofit colleges. The bill now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature to become law. 

If signed into law, California will join four other states in making legacy preferences illegal for both public and private institutions. Given California’s significant national influence as the most populous state and home to the largest number of college students, supporters believe this legislation will serve as a crucial corrective to last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that banned the use of race as a factor in admissions, except for military colleges. 

San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Board of Trustees President John Pimentel said, “Our doors are open to all without regard to legacy relationships, economic ability, race, or past academic performance. We offer a high-quality pathway for students to get ahead by affordably starting their journey to a four-year college degree or by completing professional certification programs that on average, increase earning potential by 30% or more.” 

He continued, “This is especially true now that we have Free College for all San Mateo County residents. Our colleges serve over 30,000 students annually – 46% of whom are first-generation college students for whom legacy admissions are not available.  SMCCCD offers these students, and every resident of our County, the first rung on the ladder of economic and academic success.”  

SMCCCD Chancellor Melissa Moreno echoed these sentiments, adding; “Community colleges have always leveled the playing field in higher education. Students who come to us are from diverse backgrounds with many life struggles who overcome their challenges with the support we provide on their path to a four-year institution.” 

Each year, over 3,000 San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) students successfully transfer to four-year institutions thanks to structured transfer agreements, academic support, and counseling. According to the Social Security Administration, completing a bachelor’s degree results in approximately an additional $1 million in lifetime earnings potential and better job prospects than a high school diploma. By accessing four-year institutions through community college, students gain opportunities for well-paying careers and long-term economic mobility, ultimately enhancing their quality of life. 

“I am proud that our local community colleges offer upward mobility and higher learning at a fraction of the cost charged by institutions that consider legacy in their admissions process,” said Pimentel. 

The bill, if signed by the Governor, would become effective next year. 

Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu

Construction project changes will now require the Board’s consent approval to improve accountability and transparency.

San Mateo, CA – September 4, 2024 – The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) Board of Trustees was informed at last week’s regular board meeting about a District plan to implement a change in how it oversees bond-funded projects. Bond project revisions will now go to the Board for consent approval with the first list of revisions being brought to the next September 11, 2024 regular meeting.

SMCCCD Chancellor Melissa Moreno, J.D., is pleased to champion the Board’s focus on continuous improvement and fiscal integrity: “Since becoming Chancellor, our work is focused on improving the way the college district does business and strengthening accountability standards. More frequent and transparent reviews of the District’s progress toward modernizing its facilities is incredibly important as we begin planning for educating the future leaders of San Mateo County.”

To strengthen accountability measures for the Capital Improvement Program bond program, District staff has revised the process for managing, tracking, and presenting to the Board of Trustees all revisions to bond projects, including changes to individual project names, scope of work, project status, and budgets. Chancellor Moreno declared that this process will not include additions of new projects.

“By implementing this enhanced process for presenting bond revision lists to the Board of Trustees, we are making a strong commitment to San Mateo County taxpayers and the District’s Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. This approach will offer more frequent and accessible updates, ensuring that taxpayers can easily track how their investments are being managed and safeguarded,” commented SMCCCD Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Storti.

Historically, changes to bond projects went to the Board only two times a year. Now, the Board will review adjustments in near-real-time.

About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): SMCCCD operates three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, that provide community college educational services to the residents of San Mateo County. The District’s colleges serve over 30,000 students annually and offer the first two years of college-level instruction in various transfer and career-technical programs. The District is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees, with five voting members elected by voters from designated areas of the County and one nonvoting student member elected by students. For more information, see: smccd.edu.

About the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC): The CBOC is responsible for reviewing that bond proceeds from Measure A on the November 2005 ballot and Measure H on the November 2014 ballot are spent only for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of SMCCD facilities (including the purchase of furnishings and equipment) or the acquisition or lease of real property. The CBOC holds quarterly meetings that are open to the public. For more information on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, see: cboc.smccd.edu.

Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu

SMCCCD is the first community college district in Northern California, and the second in the state, to implement a continuous improvement unit.

San Mateo, CA – August 29, 2024 – The San Mateo County Community College District
(SMCCCD) Board of Trustees is proud to announce the creation of a Performance Audit Unit, a
significant step taken at the August 28, 2024, Board Meeting to increase transparency and
accountability within the organization. SMCCCD is now the first community college district in
Northern California to implement such a unit, underscoring its commitment to excellence and
integrity.

The newly established Performance Audit Unit will be instrumental in ensuring that
departments and programs at the colleges and within the District adopt standards for internal
controls to operate efficiently and effectively, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.

The unit will independently conduct comprehensive performance audits as directed by the
Board of Trustees. Trustee Richard Holober said, “The desire to implement a performance audit
function has finally come to fruition. It provides much-needed independent checks and
balances to ensure the District’s ability to report reliable information about its operation of the
organization.”

Melissa Moreno, J.D., Chancellor for SMCCCD, is pleased the Board has adopted this
performance improvement function. “We will set the gold standard statewide for the
community college system by adopting internal controls and security standards based on best
practices in federal public agencies. Our district aims to model transparency and accountability
to the taxpaying public and ensure managed risk and fraud prevention,” said Chancellor
Moreno.

The Audit Unit is perfectly aligned with the Board of Trustees’ newly adopted goals and values
emphasizing transparency, continuous improvement, and accountability. The Board has
committed sufficient funds and recently appointed its first Performance Auditor, Houman
Boussina, who holds an M.A. in Accountancy from San Jose State University and is certified in
four auditing areas—internal auditing, government auditing, fraud examination, and
information systems. Boussina has deep experience developing findings and recommendations
to support continuous improvement in local government settings.

Each fiscal year, the auditor submits an annual audit plan for Board approval and final audit
reports will be shared publicly in board meetings throughout the year. The Chancellor will be
responsible for implementing the audit recommendations. “Our goal is to secure the district’s
operational integrity and promote efficiency and accountability as we educate the future
leaders of San Mateo County,” says Chancellor Moreno.

Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu