Chancellor’s Newsletter – June 2023

A Note From YCCD’s New Chancellor, Dr. Pan

With much pride and excitement, I assumed the role as the new Chancellor of Yuba Community College District (YCCD) on June 15, 2023. Knowing that my appointment by the District Board of Trustees in April this year came after almost a two year search, I feel even more intensely the honor as well as the weight of the position. I thank the members of the Board and the broad communities for their trust and confidence in me to lead an expansive rural district that comes with a unique set of opportunities and challenges. 

I was attracted to this leadership opportunity at YCCD because it has a long history of supporting and improving educational attainment and economic development of its diverse communities. I am inspired by the commitment to educational excellence, collaborative problem solving, and innovation from the faculty and staff.  Those are values that resonate deeply with those of mine, and I am inspired to lead, in the coming months and years, by inclusive and equitable leadership, intentional collaboration, and shared commitment to excellence in every aspect of YCCD’s operations.  

In joining the YCCD and the north Central California communities, I bring a diverse set of administrative experiences, track records, and skills from having held leadership positions at six different community college districts, both rural and urban. The common thread across all these institutions has been my deep and lasting passion for advocating and ensuring student success.  In an era of accelerating changes, YCCD has an obligation to ensure that equitable access and affordability to quality higher education always remain front and center across our communities within the eight counties it serves.   

Under the direction of our seven elected trustees, in partnership with our talented and dedicated faculty and staff, my leadership team and I will remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work; we will seek opportunities to strengthen existing and foster new partnerships with business, educational, governmental, and civic organizations; we will develop niche educational and workforce training programs that are responsive and relevant to the needs of local economy. 

YCCD is founded to serve the communities. The quality and reputation of its education and training is built not only by those who teach, learn, and contribute daily on our college campuses, but also by the support of friends, supporters, and community partners year after year.  Together, we can and will make YCCD more student ready, community ready, and future ready. We all have a stake in its future. 

I am thrilled to join YCCD and the communities it serves. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to meeting and establishing meaningful connections with both faculty, staff, and students on college campuses but also with friends and stakeholders in the community. I look forward to launching YCCD to new heights with all of you. 

Sincerely,  
Shouan Pan, Ph.D. 

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District Office News

As a reminder, the District transitioned into a 4-10’s schedule during the summer and business is closed on Fridays.  

On June 8th the Board of Trustees congratulated the 2022-23 retirees with a reception. Retirees who attended in person said a few words about their time with the District and were presented with a plaque to thank them for their dedication. Retirees who were not in attendance, will receive their plaque in the mail.  

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Woodland Community College News

Congratulations to the MESA student team who, under the leadership of Dr. Lorena Navarro, took second place in the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) is led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF). More details at AACC. The team developed the Location Emitting Emergency Ring using GPS tracking, live audio feed and a panic switch to provide safety in a discrete package. Once activated, a signal is sent to family, friends or loved ones, allowing them to locate the user and bring them to safety. In the national competition, at Washington DC, the project was the first among all entries from California and second in the nation! The students’ accomplishments demonstrate their commitment to academic excellence and using academic learning to solve real-world challenges. 

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Yuba College News

Yuba College’s 2023 graduation video is live on the college’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb1yfTlUe8s. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success! 

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YCCD Foundation News

The next Foundation Board of Directors Meeting is on August 2, 2023 at 3:00 pm. Agendas will be posted in Board Docs.   

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—– We are hiring! Visit our hiring webpage for more information. —–

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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. 

Vision: Our vision is to empower our students and strengthen our communities by providing equitable, student-centered learning opportunities. 

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Would you like to have an event highlighted in a future newsletter? 

Email dwilliam@yccd.edu for consideration.