Annual Report Highlights

New mural offers historic perspectives of the greater AAPI+ community

In October, SBCC unveiled a newly-painted mural at the Campus Center, dedicated to Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (AAPI+) heritage in the U.S. The project was conceived, designed and painted via a partnership between SBCC’s Asian American, Pacific lslander-plus (AAPI+) staff and faculty group; the SBCC Asian Student Union; and Twin Walls Mural Company. The mural serves as a visual reminder of the importance of the AAPI+ community on and off campus. AAPI+ Mural Press Release

50 Years of Study Abroad

In October, SBCC and the SBCC Foundation hosted a celebration commemorating the 50-year anniversary of its Study Abroad program, which has afforded college students the invaluable opportunity to visit and learn in countries outside of the U.S. Close to 100 SBCC faculty members have served as program directors for the trips and have developed curriculum and agendas for the excursions. Study Abroad Press Release

Melissa Menendez, Ph.D., receives Hayward Award for Excellence

English professor and founder of the ¡Raíces: First Year and Beyond! program at SBCC, Melissa Menendez, Ph.D, was awarded the prestigious Hayward Award for “Excellence in Education” by the Academic Senate of California Community Colleges (ASCCC) in March and is the 11th SBCC Faculty and first latina at SBCC to receive the prestigious award. Menendez was selected along with only three other community college faculty members statewide.

Menendez, who has taught English at SBCC since 2006, was chosen for her commitment to the campus community through her leadership within the Raíces program, for which she is a mentor to both students and staff. Raíces was developed by a Title V HSI Grant awarded to SBCC in 2021 by the U.S. Department of Education, and serves SBCC’s current Hispanic student population of 41.6 percent.

Through her work in the classroom as well as creating programs to support Latiné students through Raíces and its student support initiatives, Menendez has worked to create an environment where minority groups on campus can thrive and succeed. 

“It comes from those experiences that I had growing up and from wanting to change what higher education can be,” Menendez said. “So that it truly is more inclusive and not just a word that’s used but an actual space that provides institutional support so that all students can thrive and not just survive.”

SBCC Nurses Take Care in the Workforce

SBCC School of Nursing programs are top ranked in the nation and graduates achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination) this past March, 2024. The variety of nursing programs and skilled faculty and staff help produce our region's nurses as Cottage Health and Sansum Clinic, now part of Sutter Health, hire 80 percent of SBCC Nursing Program graduates — creating a stronger, local workforce pipeline caring for those in need. Thank you, to the incredible students, faculty and staff, in addition to our community partners.

First-ever GAYpril on campus celebrates PRIDE and the LGBTQ+ community

The Center for Equity and Social Justice at SBCC Pride Center hosted the first ever GAYpril on campus, withevents centered on visibility and inclusiveness to LGBTQ+ Vaqueros, spanning from a panel discussion titled “Conversation about Wellbeing,” the raising of the first ever PRIDE Progress Flag on campus, and several other impactful events. Because the academic year ends before June — the national Pride Month — SBCC organizes GAYpril events and activities during the month of April for all students to celebrate.

Basic Needs and wellness are priorities on campus

In April, SBCC hosted a Basic Needs and Wellness Fair to provide students access to community agencies and wellness support. The event featured 13 community agencies and 19 SBCC departments/programs and had more than 400 attendees. In addition, from 2023-24 the Basic Needs Centers on SBCC’s Cliff, Schott and Wake campuses hosted more than 32 thousand visitors and provided more than 154 thousand pounds of food to students, staff and faculty.

Family Engagement Resource Fair provides community fun for all

The Family Engagement Resource Fairs in April provided free family-focused events filled with delicious food, activities, and resources for families in greater Santa Barbara. As a preventative measure led by County of Santa Barbara (COSB) Probation, events happened county-wide at Allan Hacock campuses and Santa Barbara City College. Community partners included the COSB, COSB Probation Department, COSB Social Services, COSB Public Health, COSB Behavioral Wellness, Allan Hancock College, SBCC and many others.

560 Local High School Students Register at SBCC Promise Rally

In April, SBCC hosted and enrolled more than 560 South Santa Barbara County high school Seniors at the first ever SBCC Promise Registration Rally. The event provided the visiting high school students the resources needed to enroll at SBCC for the Fall ‘24 semester as SBCC Promise students. The Seniors were bused in from Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, Carpinteria, Bishop Diego, La Cuesta and Alta Vista high schools. Promise Registration Rally Press Release

New Chumash signage installation educates and informs campus community

In May, SBCC and the Chumash Signage Project committee unveiled the Chumash Signage Project, a new installation added to the West Cliff Campus bluffs. The series of educational signs cover a wide range of topics from history, language, and art as well as more recent history of colonization and the ways Chumash people continue to resist and thrive. Chumash Signage Press Release