5 Things to Know Weekly Update

November 17, 2025

photograph of gwc president meridith randall. Meridith is leaning against a railing with her hands crossed in front of her. She's wearing a dark sweater and top and glasses, and is standing in front of large windows.

Dear Colleagues:

Well, it was not QUITE the massive storm that was predicted, but the campus still got soaked and there is more rain to come this week. Fortuitously, we did not have outdoor events planned last week and this week should be fairly light also. We have just three weeks of the semester left to wrap up faculty prioritization, take a first look at requests for resources in Annual Plans, and make sure we have a good sample of online courses using RSI. Overall, I hope you feel as I do that we have put processes in place that work well for us (with some tweaking) and that we can leave for the holidays without feeling that many projects are left undone.

Meridith

This week is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, coming on the heels of a pause in CalFresh/SNAP payments for hundreds of our students. Thanks to quick action by our Foundation and Equity department, we were able to get about $15,000 in donations to help those most in need. Please encourage students to attend events this week and learn about resources available to them.

Last week, we were able to take advantage of our annual sponsorship of the HB Mayor’s Breakfast to check in with partners from the Chamber, Fire Department and Police Department, and I used the occasion to thank the community for supporting us, now and in the future. When we attend events like this, we almost always come away with praise for the College and ideas for new collaborations.

A group of eleven adults stand together smiling in a large meeting room at a State of the City event. They are dressed in business and business-casual attire, standing in front of an easel sign recognizing Golden West College as the title sponsor. An American flag and a large projection screen are visible in the background.

At long last, we should see some action on the Gothard side of campus as we prepare for our massive solar project. I know that I will be shifting to park over on the Goldenwest side for the next six months….hope many of you will join me! There will be a groundbreaking on December 1 at 2 p.m. - make sure to mark your calendars. Also, if you would like to hear more about the project, banners will be going up on the fencing as well.

Thanks to Linda Ju-Ong and her team, we are focusing on developing a type of “emeritus” program through noncredit offerings that will serve more of the adult population in our community. As I told a potential donor, we have made great progress serving high school students – now we are turning our attention to the older and retired population. Stay tuned for more information as we move forward.

I will be on campus all week (and gone next week), checking in with VPI Jen on RSI for accreditation, helping(?) plan Spring Summit, tasting food from potential foodservice providers along with some staff and students, and attending a session on Compassionate Listening on Wednesday.

GWC Mission Statement

Golden West College provides culturally affirming educational opportunities for our students and community to achieve upward mobility. Our academic excellence, exceptional student services, and community partnerships empower students to achieve personal and academic goals and contribute toward an inclusive and equitable society.