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President's Office

President's 12345 Message from Kristina Whalen

April 17, 2024

(1) Commencement 2024.

After lots of input and student surveys, Graduation 2024 will take place on Friday, June 28th at 10 a.m. in the Library Quad. Under the leadership of dean Catalina Rodriguez, this year’s graduation includes several thoughtful changes to ensure a more meaningful commencement for graduates and their families. In addition to the different time, the ceremony aims to be more concise and student focused.
Graduates note how important it is for them to have staff and faculty in attendance. With regard to the latter, last year 39 faculty members attended the main commencement ceremony. This number differs from the stated goal that “it is desirable to have approximately one half of the contract and regular faculty staff attend commencement exercises each year.” This year let's double that number!

(2) FAFSA Simplification Rollout.

The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been anything but simple. The delays, glitches, and resulting downturn in financial aid applications have all been chronicled in the press. What does this mean for Foothill College? We are still determining its impact. At Foothill we have experienced our own software and vendor challenges (recently resolved) and have just begun to upload applications. While solving these problems, our Financial Aid and District ETS teams have been champions of collaboration. But we won’t know for a little while if we are experiencing the widely reported downturn in FAFSA applications. Stay tuned.

(3) MIPC meets on April 19th.

This Friday, the Mission Informed Planning Council (MIPC) will convene in 1901 and zoom. You will find the agenda at the MIPC website.

(4) Budget Town Hall.

Please join Chancellor Lambert on Tuesday, April 30 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. for a Budget Town Hall via Webinar.

(5) Black Student Success Week- April 22- 26.

Be sure to check the blkstudentsuccess.com website for links to all the virtual statewide events. These include:

  • Daily webinars hosted from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., called The Black Hour
  • Daily small group discussion forums from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., called The After Party
  • A virtual advocacy day on Thursday, April 25, 2024, called The BlackOut
  • Daily student-centered webinars hosted from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., called The Student Hour

Locally at Foothill College we have our own rich slate of programming for BSSW, all themed around Building a Better Future Together: The Urgency is Now. Show up for our Black students by attending one these events.

Yours in service,
Kristina

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