San Mateo, CA — Following a record number of applications, the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) awarded 1,593 scholarships this month to students at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College.

Totaling more than $2.2 million, this year’s awards represent the largest scholarship distribution in District history, a 36% increase from 2025. Of the 2,026 applications received, 1,454 students were selected for scholarships recognizing financial need, academic achievement, and student potential.

“This year’s record number of applications reflects both the extraordinary determination of our students and the growing need for financial support,” said Rosanne Foust, Chair of SMCCC Foundation Board of Directors. “These scholarships do more than ease financial burden: they open doors, expand opportunity, and help our students stay on track to achieve their goals.”

The number of scholarship applications across the District increased by 63% compared with 2024, with growth at all three colleges. College of San Mateo received 884 applications, Skyline College 665, and Cañada College saw the largest increase, with 477 applications submitted, underscoring the growing demand for scholarship support across the District.

“Receiving these scholarships helps me support my education financially and eases the burden on my parents. It motivates me to keep working toward my goals without having to worry so much about finances,” said Georgina Bijasa, a pre-nursing major who was awarded the Susan Duckworth Memorial Scholarship and the Massole-Schroter Scholarship.

Each college hosted a campus-specific scholarship awards ceremony and a donor–student reception, offering supporters a meaningful opportunity to connect directly with the students whose educational journeys they help make possible.

While SMCCCD’s Free College program offers one of the best values in higher education, tuition and fees represent only a small portion of the actual cost of attending college. Donor support and scholarships  help bridge the gap.

“Scholarships like these make the difference between a student who stays enrolled and one who doesn’t,” said Chancellor Melissa Moreno, J.D. “This record distribution is a reflection of our community’s generosity and our collective commitment to making sure students have what they need to succeed.” 

Scholarship awards are placed directly in students’ hands and distributed through each campus’s Financial Aid office.

Many of these scholarships are made possible through generous community support, secured by the SMCCCF, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing student success and supporting innovation across the District’s three colleges.

Media Contact: Milagros Yoch, Marketing and Communications Manager, SMCCC Foundation, (650) 378-7322 or yochm@smccd.edu.    

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The San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation (SMCCC Foundation): The SMCCC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting students within the San Mateo County Community College District through scholarships and programs. The District includes Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of local community leaders, the Foundation’s primary aim is to promote student success by encouraging innovative and exemplary programming. As a key provider of scholarships, grants, and financial aid, the Foundation plays an essential role in empowering students and strengthening educational programs across the District. 

To learn more or make a gift, visit https://foundation.smccd.edu/.

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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.  

District colleges awarded three times as many associate degrees as last year, while three campuses marked some of their largest commencement gatherings in years. 

San Mateo, CA — San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) celebrated the achievements of 3,264 graduates last week during commencement ceremonies held across its three colleges. College of San Mateo opened the festivities on the morning of Friday, May 22, holding its ceremony for the first time at the Plaza of the Sun adjacent to its planetarium. Skyline College followed that same afternoon, and Cañada College closed out the celebrations on the morning of Saturday, May 23. Each ceremony drew some of the largest commencement crowds the colleges have seen in years. 

The Class of 2026 collectively earned 4,805 awards, including associate degrees—three times the number awarded last year—certificates, and bachelor’s degrees. Among this year’s graduates, 1,649 were first-generation college students, 1,024 were Promise Scholar Program participants, and 139 were veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The class also included 208 international students representing 42 countries, 184 TRiO participants, 148 DACA/Dreamer/AB540 students, and 29 foster youth. Graduates ranged in age from 16 to 78, and 1,444 earned academic honors. 

“This graduating class represents everything our District stands for: access, opportunity, and the transformative power of public higher education,” said Wayne Lee, President of the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. “The energy at all three ceremonies last week was extraordinary, and it was a privilege to celebrate these students alongside their families and communities.” 

Chancellor Melissa Moreno, J.D., echoed that sentiment. “Watching thousands of students cross the stage last week was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Many of these graduates balanced jobs, family responsibilities, and coursework to reach this moment, and their perseverance is a reflection of both their determination and the support systems our colleges have built around them.” 

The college presidents reflected on what this year’s ceremonies meant for their campuses and communities: 

“This year marks a memorable milestone for CSM. For the first time ever, we hosted our 104^th commencement ceremony at the Plaza of the Sun, surrounded by the beauty of our campus, our planetarium, and the San Francisco Bay. Our graduates were quite literally sitting among the stars and planets as they looked toward the horizon and the next chapters in their journey,” said Manuel Alejandro Pérez, Ed.D., President of College of San Mateo. 

“Our 58th Commencement was a celebration of the strength, resilience and sense of community that define Cañada College. Watching our graduates cross the stage — more than half of them first-generation college students — surrounded by their families and loved ones, was a powerful reminder of our mission to empower students to transform their lives,” said Kim Lopez, President of Cañada College. 

“Commencement is the moment when all the work becomes visible—the late nights, the sacrifices, the determination to keep going. Seeing our graduates reach this milestone reaffirms my belief that access to high-quality, affordable education remains one of the most powerful ways to keep options open and raise long-term ceilings for our students and our region,” said Nathan Carter, Ph.D., President of Skyline College. 

The ceremonies capped a landmark year for the District, which has seen enrollment grow 24 percent since launching its Free College program in 2023. SMCCCD is also in the process of constructing an $86 million student housing complex at the College of San Mateo campus, set to open in 2028. 

View the 2026 Commencement Ceremonies:  

• Cañada College Recording | Photo Album 

• College of San Mateo Recording  

• Skyline College Recording  

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

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. 

The San Mateo Community College District is constructing a 316-bed student housing complex on the College of San Mateo campus.

WHAT: 
San Mateo Community College District (SMCCCD) will break ground on its approved student housing project on April 27th, advancing efforts to address college student housing insecurity. Since 2020, the District has strategically invested time and resources to compete for and secure state funding for its students across its three campuses (Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Skyline College). The project grant application was submitted in late 2022 and ranked fifth among 21 community college districts statewide, earning funding in the 2023-2024 state budget. 

The $86 million project includes $67 million in state funding and $19 million in local District funds. After completion in 2028, the District will be able to provide secure below-market-rate housing, along with access to health counseling, a basic needs food pantry, and other essential resources for its students to succeed academically. 

“Our students cannot succeed in the classroom if they are worried about where they will sleep at night. This housing project is about more than beds; it’s about dignity, stability, and opportunity,” said Melissa Moreno, J.D., SMCCCD Chancellor. “By providing safe, affordable on-campus housing alongside support services, we are helping students stay on track.”

The groundbreaking marks a major milestone in the District’s ongoing commitment to advancing equity, expanding access, and supporting the educational and career goals of its students. SMCCCD continues to remove barriers and create pathways for student success across San Mateo County.

WHY:
San Mateo County College District serves over 30,000 students, many of whom face significant economic challenges, with 29 percent being low-income and 58 percent experiencing some type of housing insecurity, according to a 2018 Districtwide survey. In one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation, the lack of affordable housing continues to be a hurdle to student success, with many students considering leaving school due to rising housing costs. 

WHEN:
Monday, April 27, 2026 
9:00 AM

WHERE:
College of San Mateo
1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402
Event: Parking Lot B (entrance on the east side)
Parking: Parking Lot A
Campus Map

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

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. 

Rotating Venues are Part of the District’s Efforts to Foster Community Engagement and Collaboration.

San Mateo, CA – The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) will hold its board meeting on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the San Mateo County Office of Education (101 Twin Dolphin Dr., Redwood City, CA 94065). Building on the success of prior offsite meetings in East Palo Alto, Daly City, and Half Moon Bay, this location was chosen to engage residents of central San Mateo County. Community members can attend in person or virtually via Zoom to learn about the District’s educational pathways and opportunities.

At the meeting, the SMCCCD Board of Trustees will receive an update from San Mateo County Office of Education Superintendent Marco Chavez. The Board will also recognize former Superintendent Nancy Magee for her contributions to the county’s educational community, and will honor the District’s Classified Employees of the Year.

“Meeting at the San Mateo County Office of Education reflects the strong partnership between our institutions and our shared commitment to serving the students and families of San Mateo County,” said Wayne Lee, President of the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. “We look forward to a meaningful evening of recognition and collaboration.”

SMCCCD invites all interested community members, families, community groups, and prospective students to attend this meeting to learn more about the District’s initiatives and partnerships.

For more information about the meeting, including virtual attendance options and the meeting agenda, please visit the District’s Board meeting portal page.

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

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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.   

District’s offer includes salary increases for full-time faculty and significant compensation gains for part-time faculty 

San Mateo, CA — Following one year of negotiations and the conclusion of recent impasse mediation, the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) has shared its latest contract proposal with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 1493, which represents faculty across the District’s three colleges: Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. 

The District’s proposal, totaling over $31 million, reflects its commitment to fair compensation and recognition of the critical role faculty play in advancing student success. 

Full-Time Faculty 

Under the District’s proposal, full-time faculty would receive salary increases of 4% in Year 1, 3.5% in Year 2, and 3.5% in Year 3, representing more than 11% over three years.  

Part-Time Faculty 

The proposal also includes substantial compensation improvements for part-time faculty totaling approximately 16.8% over three years. As part of this offer, the District would finally achieve parity for part-time faculty in year three of the contract, reflecting a long-standing priority and shared goal of AFT and the District, resulting in the following: 

• Year 1: 5.5% increase in compensation for part-time faculty. 

• Year 2: Part-time faculty reach 83% parity with full-time pay, an average increase of 5.3%. 

• Year 3: Part-time faculty reach 85% parity with full-time pay, an increase of 6%. 

These parity increases apply specifically to part-time instructional lecture faculty. Part-time faculty in other classifications will receive approximately 5.5% in year 1, 3.5% in year 2, and 3.5% in year 3, totaling more than 12.5% over three years.   

This follows on the heels of a major effort to work toward parity in the prior three-year contract which provided a 22.5% increase to all instructional schedules for part-time faculty.  

“SMCCCD deeply values our faculty and the essential role they play in the classroom and in supporting student success,” said Chancellor Melissa Moreno, J.D. “This proposal reflects our bold effort to date to offer meaningful salary increases based on a new parity framework. If accepted, AFT and the District’s shared goal of parity will finally be achieved.” 

Agreements with Other Employee Groups 

The District’s proposal is consistent with compensation agreements recently reached with other represented employee groups. In recent months, SMCCCD successfully concluded negotiations with AFSCME and CSEA, and the Board of Trustees approved salary increases for unrepresented classified employees and managers. 

What Happens Next

Because the District and AFT have not yet reached agreement, the matter will proceed to fact finding, a formal process under California law in which a neutral panel hears both parties’ positions and issues a recommended settlement. The fact-finding process typically takes several months to complete. The District remains committed to reaching an agreement whether at the bargaining table or through the fact-finding process. 

“Our goal has always been a fair contract that honors the work faculty do every day,” said Chancellor Moreno. “This proposal reflects that commitment, and my first priority is reaching a resolution.” 

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

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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.   

San Mateo, CA — The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) has formally submitted its SB 893 Free College Report, documenting the outcomes of the District’s successful Free College pilot program, as State Senator Josh Becker introduced Senate Bill 968, legislation that would make SMCCCD’s Free College program permanent. 

Established under SB 893 (Becker, 2022) as a five-year pilot, Free College provided SMCCCD with the flexibility to use existing local revenues to eliminate tuition and registration fees for qualifying San Mateo County residents attending Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. The program is currently scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2028. 

The SB 893 Free College Report demonstrates that the pilot has delivered significant and measurable results without the use of state general fund dollars. Since the program launch in 2023, more than 33,500 students have benefited from Free College, and districtwide enrollment has increased 24 percent—three times the state average. The program has also driven strong gains among historically underrepresented students, with more than half of Free College participants identifying as first-generation college students. 

“The data confirms what we hear directly from students every day: when cost is removed as a barrier, access expands and student success follows,” said Melissa Moreno, Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District. “The SB 893 report provides a clear record of impact and the removal of a significant barrier for our first-generation students. When a first-time student attends college, they shape the trajectory of future generations to come.” 

Building on the documented success of the pilot, Senate Bill 968 would remove the program’s sunset date and permanently authorize SMCCCD to continue using its local unrestricted general funds to support students’ total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and targeted basic needs support—without additional cost to the state. 

“As trustees, our responsibility is to steward local resources in ways that deliver real results for students and the broader community,” said Wayne Lee, President of the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. “Free College represents a significant reinvestment in students’ ability to be part of the workforce and contribute to the San Mateo County community.” 

The Free College Impact webpage and linked report describes outcomes beyond enrollment, including improved persistence and completion rates, as well as personal stories that illustrate how Free College has reduced financial stress, expanded career pathways, and strengthened students’ sense of belonging. 

“The SB 893 pilot succeeded because it was grounded in data, supported by our community, and focused on removing barriers,” said John Pimentel, SMCCCD Trustee and architect of the Free College pilot. “Moving forward, SB 968 will provide the stability needed to sustain that success and ensure students and families can plan for the future with confidence.” 

The District is sharing the report with state and local leaders, education partners, and community stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to document outcomes and inform policy discussions related to college affordability and student success. 

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

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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.