Caring Campus: First day of fall classes at PC

The two words on Lurdes Bolanos' Porterville College shirt said it all: “Caring Campus.”

PC showed it is indeed a caring campus by rolling out the welcome mat for new and returning students during the first day of fall classes on Monday morning. There were numerous information booths in the campus quad on Monday covering virtually every educational opportunity for virtually every kind of student in the PC Quad. And students could also pick up a cup of coffee and a donut before heading to class.

Freshman Pedro Aispuro stopped at the Disability Resource Center booth to ask Bolanos how to get to his class. Bolanos is the Disability Resource Center program manager. The center works to provide whatever services and resources students with disabilities need.

To show the Disability Resource Center is committed to providing everything a student needs, Bolanos provided an eye cleaning kit for Aispuro's glasses. Aispuro said he plans to major in engineering.

Aispuro has a slight stuttering problem and while it was much worse when he was younger he has been able to control his stuttering to where it's much less now. “Just to get started here and then I'll make my way to a four-year school,” said Aispuro about his plan.

Right next to the Disability Resource Center booth was the Rising Scholars booth for students who have been incarcerated or have been in the justice system. There are Rising Scholars programs at more than 80 of the state 116 community colleges.

“We know recidivism reduces drastically if they get an education,” said Dean of Instruction Michelle Miller about those who have been incarcerated.

Miller said the program is non-judgmental. “There's no judgment,” she said.

“They're coming. They're asking questions,” said Miller about those interested in Rising Scholars. “They may not say they've been in jail.”

“We encouraged them to take a flier and get a hold of us in the privacy of their homes,” said Rising Scholars program manager Curneisha Osborne.

Across the way was Arnold Trevino of Fresno State's Project Rebound which works with Rising Scholars. Trevino is Fresno State's Project Rebound outreach coordinator. Project Rebound is at 19 of 23 CSU campuses.

In May, 2023 there were 208 Project Rebound graduates from CSUs, including 40 who earned their master's. In May 2024 there were 280 Project Rebound graduates from CSUs. In May 2024 there were 46 Project Rebound graduates, including seven who earned their master's.

“It's a win-win,” said Trevino, stating while Project Rebound students earn their degrees, “we get safer neighborhoods.”

Trevino stated the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has reported recidivism has declined from 66 percent to 33 percent for Project Rebound students. “As a result of our program numbers are going down tremendously,” Trevino said.

He added about those who earn their master's, “Once you get your masters, there's zero chance of going back,” stating no students with a master's through Project Rebound has returned to jail.

Trevino spent 25 years in prison before entering PC in 2012 and graduated from PC in 2014. He went onto graduate from Fresno State and earned his master's in social work from Fresno State, becoming a Dean's Medalist and graduating as the No. 1 student from the College of Health and Human Services.

Kimberly Espinoza, PC's professional expert for student life, was at the booth providing information on all the student organizations and clubs PC offers. It was still early in the morning so not that many students came by but Espinoza expected more students as the morning progresses. “I think a lot of students are trying to figure out where their classes are right now,” she said.

PC has a number of student run clubs, including the MECHA and Native America Clubs, of course their Veterans Resource Center for veterans returning to school; and pickleball and Esports clubs.

Nick Griffith, PC's Career and Technical Education director, was in the campus quad helping out any way he could. “I'm just here floating around,” he said.

“We like to make sure we're doing everything we can to welcome the students and make sure they have everything they need.”

The financial aid booth provide all the information available for what financial help and resources were available to students, including students experiencing homelessness.

The library/innovation center also had a booth on its large number of resources it offers, including help with laser scanning and 3D printing, just two of the many features of its Makerspace. The Makerspace even includes something on drone flight safety.

“Whatever you can make you can take with you, too,” said Audrey O'Bannon, a PASS Leader. A PASS Leader is a student who has succeeded in a specific course who serves as a role model for other students.

PC also offers tutoring from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday in the PC Learning Center. Tutoring is also available, beginning at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and all day Friday through Sunday. In addition, PC has a field trip set for Friday, September 20 to UC Merced for STEM majors and other students if space is available on a first come, first serve basis.

The California Mini-Corps which serves migrant students had a booth as well. The program places migrant students in elementary and middle schools to help other migrant students.

PC's Welcome Week continues every day through Thursday with the information booths in the PC Quad from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be activities including games, music and plenty of PC Swag from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. every day through Thursday.