5 Things to Know Weekly Update

February 17, 2026

GWC President Meridith Randall stands in front of the campus lawn wearing a traditional Vietnamese áo dài in green and gold, with trees, campus buildings, and an American flag visible in the background.

Dear Colleagues:

It’s in the books: UVSA Tet Festival took place on campus this past weekend and was a success! Of course, it would not have gone so well without the extra (sometimes superhuman) efforts of many of you and your generosity in moving events, helping out, etc. And it was delightful to see so many of you at the event, often with your children (see CJ Bishop’s son below). I am very much hoping this will become an annual event and that we will find ways to improve it as we go. Enjoy the pictures below and trust that the grass will come back stronger!!!

Meridith

A baby sits in a stroller on a grassy lawn at an outdoor event, holding a bright green textured ball. The child wears a mustard-yellow bib and striped pants, with festival attendees visible in the background.

Thomas Truong and Tonya Tran stand smiling in front of a Golden West College step-and-repeat backdrop at a Tet Festival celebration. They wear traditional Vietnamese áo dài—one in bright pink and the other in gold—with decorative graduation caps, fans, and floral accents displayed above them under a canopy.

Children wearing colorful traditional Vietnamese costumes perform a drum routine on stage, holding drumsticks and playing large and handheld drums during a Tet Festival celebration.

Attendees gather on a grassy campus quad during a Tet Festival celebration, sitting on tiered lawn steps and walking among colorful red and yellow vendor tents. Crowds fill the outdoor space, with booths, food vendors, and festive decorations visible throughout the scene.

One down, several to go – February is full of critical events. On Thursday, we will have the Spring 2026 Summit/Flex Day. Here’s a link to the website with all of the information that you need: Spring Summit website.

Remember that it is a blackout day (no remote work) and that we will close offices, too, to ensure that everyone has a chance to attend. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and will be followed by an opening session with HSI keynote speaker Saul Flores. In addition to sessions for faculty, the day will also include breakout sessions tailored specifically for classified professionals and managers.

AND…we are coming up on our accreditation visit on Tuesday, February 24. There will be two opportunities for EVERYONE to interact with the team: an Open Forum from 12:30-1:30 in Forum I, and the very brief Exit Report from 3:15-3:30, also in Forum I. Please come to one or both if you can.

Promotional graphic for a Golden West College Open Forum with the ACCJC Peer Review Team, scheduled for Tuesday, February 24 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Forum I. The flyer explains that the session allows the college community to share comments during the accreditation site visit and notes that senior leadership will not be present.

Promotional graphic for a Golden West College Exit Report with the ACCJC Peer Review Team, scheduled for Tuesday, February 24 from 3:15–3:30 p.m. in Forum I. The flyer explains that the session will provide a brief, high-level summary of observations from the accreditation site visit and is informational only.

If you haven’t downloaded the new app yet, it has a convenient way to see events (visit the GWC Mobile App website to find links to download the app for both iOS and Android).

Some important upcoming events you might find on the GWC App: Financial Aid night is on 2/18 starting at 4:30; our fabulous softball women play on Thursday (2/19) at 2:30, followed by our fabulous volleyball men at Noon on Friday (2/20); and Club Expo will be on 2/24 in the Quad (rescheduled from 2/18 due to weather!).

Some comings and goings: Terrie Becker has almost reached the one month mark with us as Associate Dean/Director of Nursing, and Alex Miranda officially retired on Feb. 3. Danny Johnson is overseeing the Social Sciences Division for Spring 2026 while we look for a replacement dean. We wish Alex all the best.

My week has me in Culver City on Tuesday, finishing up a Partnership Resource Team stint with West LA College; at the Board meeting on Wednesday, which will be the last for Trustee Prinsky before she steps down; and standing in front of you on Thursday morning with a yet-to-be created PPT about the state of the college. 😊 See you then.

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.