Chancellor’s Newsletter – December 2023

District Office News 

The YCCD Board of Trustees and Chancellor wishes you
Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year!

District Closures 
Winter Break from December 22 through January 1 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 15 

Special Topics Zoom Series 
The next session titled “In Preparation for Successful YC and WCC 2025 Reaccreditation” will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.  

On the Special Topics Zoom Series website you can find schedules and Zoom links, feedback form, and recordings of previous presentations. 

Chancellor’s Open Door  
As a reminder, Chancellor Pan will be on campus, monthly, to meet and interact with faculty, staff, and students who would like to stop by during the “Open Door” period. Below are the upcoming dates/times. No appointment is necessary.  

 

Sutter County Center, District Office – Chancellor’s Office 

Thursday, January 11, 2024

From 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

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Lake County Campus, Location Room #211

Friday, January 12, 2024

From 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

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Yuba College, Staff Lounge

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

From 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

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Colusa County Campus, Location TBD

Monday, January 22, 2024

From 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

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Woodland Community College, Academic Senate Office

Thursday, February 1, 2024

From 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

 

Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies Coming in the New Year 
Yuba College Building 800 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 at 9:00 a.m. Tours will be provided after the ribbon cutting for anyone who would like to walk through. 

Woodland Community College Performing Arts and Culinary Arts Facility ribbon cutting is scheduled for Friday, January 19, 2024, from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. A short program will be followed by a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility. 

2024 Board Meeting Calendars 
The 2024 Regular Board Calendar and Board Sub-Committee Calendar are updated and can be found linked here.    

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Yuba College News 

Congratulations to the Yuba College’s Men’s Basketball Team on their championship in the Kris Kringle Tournament and to Coach Doug Cornelius on achieving his 500th career win! Coach Cornelius has made history for the college and continues to builds a program centered on excellence for his student-athletes.

Happenings around the college 
12/ 21: Women’s Basketball vs. College of Marin, 5:30 p.m. 
12/21: Men’s Basketball vs. College of Marin, 7:30 p.m. 
1/10: Women’s Basketball vs Merritt College, 5:30 p.m. 
1/10: Men’s Basketball vs. Merritt College, 7:30 p.m. 
1/17: Men’s Basketball vs. Los Medanos, 6:00 p.m. 
1/17: B800 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, YC-Marysville, 8:00 a.m. 
1/19: Women’s Basketball vs. Contra Costa College, 5:30 p.m. 
1/19: Men’s Basketball vs. Contra Costa College, 7:30 p.m. 
1/ 22: First Day of Spring Semester 
1/26: Baseball vs. College of the Siskiyous, 1:00 p.m. 
1/26: Women’s Basketball vs. Solano, 5:30 p.m. 
1/ 26: Men’s Basketball vs. Solano, 7:30 p.m. 
1/ 27: Baseball vs. College of the Siskiyous, 11:00 a.m. (Double Header) 
1/30: Baseball vs. FLC, 1:00 p.m. 

Full Yuba College sports schedules are linked here.  

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Woodland Community College News 

YCCD welcomes the new WCC President, Dr. Lizette Navarette! Dr. Navarette will officially begin on January 8, 2024.  Dr. Lizette Navarette is a passionate student-centered leader with nearly two decades of experience in higher education and local government.  As Executive Vice Chancellor at the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, she leads the Office of Institutional Supports and Success which includes college finance, facilities planning, institutional effectiveness, and government relations.  She is responsible for formulating policies that determine the distribution of over $13 billion in local assistance and capital outlay funds to the state’s 73 community college districts, professional development which advances student success, and coordinating state and federal matters for the system. From October 2022 to June 2023, Dr. Navarette served as interim deputy chancellor.  She previously served as the vice chancellor of College Finance and Facilities Planning and was the first woman to hold that position. Navarette has also served as the vice president of the Community College League of California, Associate Director of Regional Relations for the University of California Riverside, and as the Youth & Education Coordinator for the City of Riverside.  

Dr. Navarette has an extensive history championing student success, affordability, and equitable educational opportunities for all students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from UC Riverside, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of La Verne, and a doctorate in education from UC Davis. In 2021, Dr. Navarette earned the United Nations Global Education for All award for her research on working adult learners. Navarette is a proud first-generation graduate.

WCC Soccer Update
Congratulations to the WCC Men’s Soccer Team who in their first season are the Bay Valley Conference division champions! Also, a special congratulations goes to Andres Olmeda for being awarded Coach of the Year!

 

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Fiscal Update

Annually, LAO releases the Fiscal Outlook ahead of the upcoming budget season to provide the Legislature with their independent estimates and analysis of the state’s budget condition for the 2024-25 planning. This year’s report highlights three key points: 

  1. 1.Serious Budget Deficit: Due to a substantial revenue decline in 2022-23, the state is grappling with a significant budget deficit. LAO estimates that, undercurrent laws and policies, the Legislature will need to address a $68 billion budget shortfall in the upcoming budget process. 

2.Unprecedented Prior-Year Revenue Shortfall: Unlike typical budget processes, there are substantial changes in prior-year revenue (2022-23). The state’s adherence to federal tax filing extensions means the Legislature is gaining a comprehensive view of 2022-23 tax collections after the fiscal year has concluded. LAO’s estimate indicates a $26 billion deficit compared to budget act estimates. 

3.Tools Available to Address Budget Problem: Despite the challenge posed by the deficit, the Legislature has various tools at its disposal. Reserves can be utilized, one-time spending can be reevaluated, and alternative approaches for school funding are options to consider. These, along with other strategies, provide the Legislature with the means to address the deficit without significantly impacting the state’s core ongoing service level. 

LAO recommends a comprehensive strategy for the $68 billion budget deficit: 

  • Withdraw Reserves: Utilize $24 billion in reserves, accessible during a declared budget emergency. 
  • Reduce Proposition 98 Spending: Cut General Fund costs by $16.7 billion over three years by lowering school spending to Proposition 98’s constitutional minimum. Tap into the $8.1 billion Proposition 98 Reserve to cover school spending above the minimum in 2022-23. 
  • Reduce One-Time Spending: Reclaim approximately $8 billion in one-time and temporary spending in 2024-25. Identify unallocated funds from prior years for reduction. 
  • Identify Other Solutions: Explore options like cost shifts, revenue solutions, and ongoing spending reductions. Consider pooled loans from special funds. 
  • Reduce One-Time Spending: Reclaim over $10 billion by scaling back one-time and temporary spending, including in transportation, natural resources, and education programs. Withdraw funds committed in previous years to address the deficit. 
  • Identify Other Solutions: Investigate cost shifts, potentially using pooled loans from special funds. Consider revenue increases, as previously implemented in past budget challenges. 
  • Other Spending Reductions: Assess potential reductions in core services, employee compensation, higher education, and the judicial branch. Explore utilizing the managed care organization tax for Medi-Cal costs. 

This multifaceted approach aims to tackle the budget deficit by leveraging reserves, reducing spending, and exploring diverse fiscal measures. 

A $16.7 billion cut to Proposition 98 results in a $1.83 billion reduction for California Community Colleges, translating to a 20% decrease, equivalent to approximately $15 million for Yuba Community College District. 

The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) issued an update on California’s revenue outlook, conveying the following key points: 

  1. 1. Revenue Impact: Recent tax payment delays and economic challenges have illuminated the impact on state revenues. The revenue receipts are anticipated at $26 billion below the 2022-23 budget projections in the State Budget Act, with an estimated prolonged revenue shortfall of $58 billion spanning from 2022-23 to 2024-25. 
  2. 2. Economic Slowdown and Borrowing Costs: Federal Reserve actions aimed at moderating the U.S. economy have heightened borrowing costs and diminished investment, resulting in a cooling effect on California’s economy. Notably, home sales are down by half, and investments in startups have plummeted by over 80%, impacting business funding and expansion. 
  3. 3. Economic Downturn: The onset of a downturn in 2022 is evident in California’s economy, marked by a substantial increase in unemployment and five consecutive quarters of year-over-year declines in inflation-adjusted incomes. 
  4. 4. Impact on Revenue Collections: Recent revenue collections underscore the severe repercussions of the economic downturn, with a 25% decrease in total income tax collections during 2022-23. The gravity of the situation became apparent with the delayed tax payments, mirroring declines observed in past economic crises. 
  5. 5. Risk of Prolonged Weakness: There exists a noteworthy risk that the ongoing economic weakness may persist into the following year, drawing parallels with historical patterns. Previous episodes of downturns similar to the recent one have often been succeeded by additional weakness, highlighting a challenging economic environment. 
  6. 6. Revenue Outlook: Considering the risk of continued weakness, the revenue outlook anticipates almost stagnant collections in 2023-24 following a 20% decline in 2022-23. Growth is expected to resume in 2024-25, with the overall outlook projecting a $58 billion deficit from 2022-23 to 2024-25, attributing $26 billion to 2022-23. However, it is crucial to note that this forecast is highly uncertain, with potential revenue deviations of up to $15 billion higher or lower in 2023-24 and $30 billion in 2024-25. 

YCCD in the news! 
Check out this article from the Appeal Democrat – Yuba Community College District receives A+ credit rating.

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  1. —– We are hiring! Visit our hiring webpage for more information. —–
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  3. Mission Statement: Yuba Community College District provides all individuals in our diverse communities access to high-quality, affordable higher education that is responsive to student needs. Our mission is to inspire and advocate for student success through our passion and commitment to teaching, learning, and social justice. 
  4. Vision: Our vision is to empower our students and strengthen our communities by providing equitable, student-centered learning opportunities. 
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  6. Would you like to have an event highlighted in a future newsletter?  Email dwilliam@yccd.edu for consideration.