September 2025 Update

Happy October!

September felt incredibly slow, yet quick at the same time. Some highlights from September include attending our beautiful Scholarship Awards Ceremony, meeting with Fresno State leadership to discuss a new pathway opportunity for our students, stopping by the Rainbow Welcome, Welcome Black, and Transfer Day events, and attending the Honors Advisory and President’s Asian American Advisory meetings. Erin Lane also invited me to her class to observe her students dissecting sheep brains. This was slightly nauseating, but mostly fascinating. I loved watching all of them get more comfortable with what they were doing. A few students mentioned they are now considering neuroscience because of this class.

Below are some highlights from a few of our Student Services departments. I hope everyone has a fabulous October and enjoys the cooler weather!

Basic Needs & Resources

Crush Pantry

  • The Crush Pantry had a busy month during September!
    • Crush Pantry: 1,307 visits
    • Crush Cupboard Snack Stations: 2,614 visits
  • Food for Thought: Students Learn About CalFresh Support
    • The Crush Pantry team has been actively increasing awareness for students concerning CalFresh—a federal program that offers monthly grocery benefits to eligible individuals and families. Students interested in learning more or applying can visit the Crush Pantry or make an appointment with a Student Success Coach at the Basic Needs Center for personalized assistance.
    • In recognition of CalFresh Outreach Week, Basic Needs will host a series of events from October 27-31. Stay tuned for more details!
  • Farmers Market
    • Thank you to everyone who joined us at this month’s Farmers Market! We were thrilled to see 215 students and community members come out to pick up fresh and free groceries. This month’s market featured a wide variety of items, including loaves of bread, bagels, hot dog and hamburger buns, cauliflower, carrots, and cabbage.
    • We are grateful for the continued support that makes it possible to bring healthy and accessible food to our campus community.
    • Mark your calendars! Our next Farmers Market will take place on Thursday, October 16. We can’t wait to see you there!

Fall Clothing Swap Party: Supporting Our Parenting Students

  • In honor of Student Parent Awareness Month, Clovis Community College’s Basic Needs Department is partnering with the Crush Clothing Closet and the Child Development Center to host a Parent & Caregiver Clothing Swap on Friday, October 3, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the CDC.
  • This family-friendly event is part of the Parent Success Initiative, which aims to build a stronger sense of belonging for student parents, connect them to resources, and support their families throughout their academic journey.
  • Student parents, caregivers, faculty, and staff are invited to swap and shop gently used children’s clothing (infant to youth sizes), enjoy dinner, and access helpful community resources. Guests can visit the Crush Pantry, meet Crush, and participate in games, as well as win some giveaways, including tickets to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Syctron Freeplay Arena.
  • As part of our outreach, student-parent appreciation booklets have been distributed to offices around campus to raise awareness and honor this population of students.

Student Success Coaching Update

  • This semester, our Student Success Coaches have been busy bringing support directly to students through Pop-Up Coaching and workshops.
  • At our Farmers Market, coaches were on site to meet students where they are—offering quick conversations about success strategies, time management, and available campus resources. Students also had the opportunity to schedule one-on-one coaching appointments for more in-depth guidance tailored to their goals.
  • In addition, our coaches have been leading workshops titled “Beyond the Classroom: Basic Needs & Retention Services.” These interactive sessions, offered to both EOPS students and the wider campus community, highlight the essential services available to help students stay on track academically while ensuring their basic needs are met.
  • As one student shared, "The basic need presenters were effective, present, and sincere. They answered questions on the spot. Their delivery was the most effective delivery thus far. For the first time in a long time, questions and support were available easily."
  • Through these efforts, our coaches are making it easier than ever for students to connect with personalized strategies and the resources that support their overall success. If you'd like a presentation for your class or group, please fill out our Basic Needs Workshop request form.

Economic Empowerment Summit

  • The Basic Needs team at Clovis Community College was honored to support the Economic Empowerment Summit, hosted by the Beyond Housing Foundation in collaboration with the Fresno Housing Authority, Southwest Fresno Development Corporation, and CCC. Our team played an active role in the planning workgroup, meeting regularly in the weeks leading up to the event to help shape programming that would bring real value to students, families, and community members.
  • The Summit served as a community outreach event designed to connect participants with strategies and resources to build financial stability and long-term economic empowerment. The tracks included Personal Finance & Financial Freedom, Small Business Resources & Entrepreneurship, Affordable Homeownership & Housing, and Health & Well-Being. These topics directly aligned with the Basic Needs mission of supporting students through housing stability, financial wellness, and holistic student services.
  • Additional highlights included a dedicated childcare room staffed by trained volunteers from Beyond Housing and an engaging Youth Summit led by Roger Brown and Breath of Evolution. Guests also benefited from on-site resources, such as the EECU Mobile Bank Unit, the US Bank Sprinter Van, and Fresno Street Eats food trucks providing lunch.
  • We are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with our community partners on this important initiative and equally grateful to our colleagues—Maricarmen, Director of Student Activities, and Emilee, Director of Outreach, along with her two ambassadors—for stepping in to help ensure guests felt welcomed and connected. Their support reflects the collaborative spirit that makes events like this possible, and we look forward to future opportunities to work together in support of student and community success.

Black & African American Student Engagement (BAASE)

  • The BAASE program kicked off the semester with its Welcome Black event, bringing together over 35 students, faculty, and staff to celebrate culture, connection, and community.
  • Survey feedback was overwhelmingly positive: all students felt welcomed, met someone new, and agreed that events like this strengthen their sense of belonging. The icebreaker was the top highlight, followed by food, giveaways, and learning about the support available for Black students at Clovis Community College.
  • Students shared common challenges, including mental health issues, financial strain, navigating college systems, and a desire for greater representation. They also offered suggestions for future events, including mixers, internship fairs, and professional development workshops.
  • We are deeply grateful to Raising Cane’s for sponsoring two generous giveaway baskets and to our campus community for contributing additional prizes. Special thanks to the faculty, staff, and administrators who showed up in support of our students—their presence made a lasting impact.
  • Welcome Black is held each Fall and Spring semesters and remains a vital tradition that fosters belonging and empowerment for Black students on campus.

Title IX

Title IX is gearing up for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and Deputy TIX Coordinator, Renee Garcia, is bringing in a number of speakers:

  • Thursday, October 2, 10:00am in AC3-202, Fresno Police Department Domestic Violence Unit, Det. Maria Flores & Det. Michelle Vanzant
  • Wednesday, October 8, 10:00am in AC1-150, Tina Rodriguez, Executive Director of Beloved Survivors Trauma Recovery Center
  • Thursday, October 23, 1:30pm in AC3-256, Fresno County Victim Witness Advocates, Anneli Rios & Brandi Razo

Pride Center

  • The Pride Center is complete!! Renee was able to finally frame and place the final print of “Stonewall” in the Pride Center.
  • The traffic in the Pride Center has been consistently busy. At times it can be rather quiet in the Administration Office, so the laughter and conversations taking place are welcomed.

Outreach

  • Outreach is back out in the community bringing in new students to Clovis Community College for the upcoming school year. Some of the things they’ve been up to:
    • The team has already completed application workshops at Clovis High, Buchanan, Clovis East, Clovis North, Gateway, Clovis Online, and Sierra. Over 1,700 applications have already been submitted! The team will now be working on identifying which applications were caught in fraud and which students still need to apply.
    • Senior presentations and weekly site visits also began for students who need follow up or have questions about community colleges.
    • The team has been at many college fairs and community events including the Fresno Area College Night and ClovisFest in downtown Clovis. Upcoming events include the High School Counselor Conference and Career Tech Expo at Chukchansi Park.
    • Campus tours are in full swing with upcoming tours with the new Clovis South and Sanchez Intermediate schools, Buchanan, Clovis East, Clovis High, Granite Ridge, Reyburn Intermediate, Sanger Unified, Fresno High, and more. If you see a tour group, make sure to say “Hi!”

HBCU Tour 2025

  • In partnership with 22-Ways Leadership Academy, twenty (20) students throughout SCCCD will participate in the district-wide Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Tour. The HBCU Tour will take place on October 15-19, 2025, with campus visits to Dillard University, Jackson State, Tougaloo College, Southern University, Southern University New Orleans, Xaiver University, and several cultural excursions.
  • Students will embark on an unforgettable experience. The HBCU Tour’s purpose is to prepare community college students to have qualified options to transfer into a four (4) year university to help students pursue their advanced degree. Students will also be inspired to excel in their academics and successfully meet their educational goals at SCCCD.

Tutorial Center (TC)

  • As we are fast approaching midterms, please remember that the Tutorial Center is here to support all students, faculty, and staff to the best of our abilities. We love visitors, so please walk your students through for a quick tour anytime—no need to call ahead. We are also happy to send a tutor or coordinator, during open hours, to class for a quick update on their services, or they can send a video for online courses.
    • Additionally, if you would like a report of the students from your class who have utilized Tutorial Services, contact ccctutorialcenter@cloviscollege.edu, and they will be happy to set that up for you.
  • In addition to tutoring, the Tutorial Center occasionally collaborates with other departments or groups on campus to bring fun events to our students. In September, the Tutorial Center hosted a raw spaghetti and marshmallow “Tower Building” competition with PODER. It was well attended, and, thanks to the 3D Printing Skills of Matthew Leeper, two Engineering Club students, Julia Taylor and Jack Jackson, took home the trophy.
  • On October 28, from 5-8pm, the Tutorial Center will host “Turntable Night.” The first hour will be an Open Mic, and the last two hours will be Mixing Records with our very own CCC Instructor, Max Hembd. Bring your own vinyl to share and enjoy in the evening!

Financial Aid

  • The 2025 Scholarship Ceremony was a huge success! We awarded 197 scholarships to 154 students, totaling $134,875!
  • The 2026-2027 Financial Aid Application (FAFSA/CADAA) opens 10/1/25. The priority deadline is 3/2/26 if the student is attending a CSU/UC, or 9/2/26 if the student is attending a Community College.
  • The 2026-2027 scholarship application opens 10/1/25, and the deadline is 3/2/26.

Counseling

We have hired a part-time Counselor/Coordinator to facilitate Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). Jennie Garcia, who comes to us with over 13 years of counseling experience, including experience with Veterans counseling and CPL implementation, will be joining our team beginning October 20.

DSP&S

  • Upcoming DSP&S Non-Credit Educational Strategies Classes: Spring 2026
    • ESC 341 Strategies for Academic Success
      • M/T/TH 9:30am – 10:50am
    • ESC 342 Professional Communication
      • T/TH 11:00am – 12:05pm
    • DSP&S and Financial Aid matched up in September where we shared tips on how to refer a student to DSP&S, info on how to save students money through the Learning Disability (LD) Assessment process, and we ate treats!
    • The date has been set for Transition to College (TTC) Night: January 28, 2026.
      We moved up the date to try to better prepare incoming students and their parents.

TRIO Programs, SSS and STEM

  • The TRIO SSS and STEM programs are actively recruiting for the 25-26 cohort.
  • We hosted our Paint Night Fall Social event, which allowed for an evening of fellowship and connection, as we took the time to promote our upcoming fall events.

Veterans Resource Center (VRC)

  • The VRC has been working on bringing resources to our students:
    • The Fresno County Veterans Service Office visited the VRC last week, Thursday, September 25.
    • The Veteran contact from EDD will be in the VRC on Wednesday, October 1 from 11am-2pm.
    • Central California Legal Services will be in the VRC on Wednesday, October 9 from 11am-1pm.

Thank you,
Kira Tippins
Vice President of Student Services