ASCCC President’s Update | August 2025

A Warm Welcome to the 2025–2026 Academic Year

Our Faculty Leadership Institute (FLI) held June 12-14 in Burlingame, CA and co-hosted with the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), focused on strengthening student-faculty partnerships, shared governance, and faculty capacity in advancing academic and professional leadership across our colleges. From dynamic general sessions, a superhero sighting with keynote, Dr. Khalid White, to practical, hands-on breakouts, we centered participatory governance, mentorship, legislative advocacy, academic freedom, and equity as cornerstones of our work.

This year’s FLI program featured a collaborative and future-facing agenda, including sessions on artificial intelligence, dual enrollment, budgeting, all centered on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, and Accessibility. We celebrated faculty completing the Faculty Empowerment and Leadership Academy (FELA) in a culminating convening, highlighting the accomplishments of the 2024-25 mentees. FLI culminated in mock resolution development and debate, giving participants experiential insight into ASCCC’s governance processes. I am grateful for the powerful energy and shared purpose brought by all who attended.

Congratulations 2024-2025 FELA Mentees:

The 2025 ASCCC Curriculum Institute, held July 9–12 at the Ontario Convention Center, brought together faculty, students, classified professionals, and administrators for a dynamic and timely exploration of curriculum through the theme To Boldly Explore: Equitable Curriculum in an AI Universe. This year’s hybrid event featured in-person and virtual participation, offering attendees access to pre-sessions, five general sessions, and eight breakout sessions. The program was intentionally designed to promote equity-minded, student-centered curriculum and governance practices, with sessions organized into thematic pathways reflecting varying levels of experience, from foundational to advanced.

The institute spotlighted critical topics including the role of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning, trauma-informed curriculum design, student engagement, and inclusive governance. Attendees were invited to consider tools to strengthen Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming, advance practices centered in IDEAA and support student voice in curriculum processes. One standout session explored healing-centered approaches that foster belonging, while another featured strategy for building agile CTE pathways aligned with Vision 2030. The institute also provided important updates related to Title 5 regulations for Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs, including admissions criteria, unit caps, and local equivalency practices.

This year’s Curriculum Institute emphasized collaborative dialogue, featuring interactive breakout formats and faculty-driven discussions to foster meaningful engagement. From artificial intelligence to legislative shifts, participants explored the future of curriculum with a clear focus on equity, access, and innovation. The ASCCC Curriculum Committee, which led the development and planning of the program, ensured a timely and forward-thinking experience aligned with systemwide priorities.

These events reflect the field’s unwavering dedication to shared governance, equity-minded practices, and student-centered innovation.

In this forthcoming academic year, the ASCCC renews its commitment to academic excellence, equity-driven governance, and meaningful collaboration across all segments of higher education. This update provides highlights from recent statewide efforts and sets the stage for the work ahead.

As we move through the final stretch of summer and prepare for the start of a new academic year, it’s important to recognize that August is National Wellness Month. This is a timely reminder for faculty to prioritize self-care and mental well-being. Whether you're wrapping up summer projects, engaging in professional development, or finalizing fall course planning, we encourage you to intentionally carve out time to rest, recharge, and nurture your wellness. Your health and well-being are essential not only for sustaining the incredible work you do in and out of the classroom but also for modeling balance and care for the students and colleagues you support every day.

Raising Awareness: Canvas and OpenAI Partnership and Implications for CCC Faculty

On July 23, 2025, Instructure (Canvas LMS) announced a global partnership with OpenAI , unveiling a new integration that embeds advanced artificial intelligence capabilities directly into the Canvas learning management system. This development has significant implications for teaching and learning across higher education, including California’s community colleges.

While the ASCCC supports innovation that enhances student learning and safeguards educational integrity, we are increasingly hearing concerns from faculty statewide about the lack of transparency and communication surrounding this rollout. The integration of AI tools into platforms that directly shape instruction, assessment, and course design raises critical questions regarding academic freedom, pedagogical autonomy, data privacy, and the responsibilities defined in Title 5 around academic and professional matters.

As faculty leaders, we must ensure that these kinds of developments are not only acknowledged but also thoughtfully discussed within the framework of participatory governance. To that end, the ASCCC has formally reached out to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

As this technology continues to evolve, the ASCCC emphasizes the need for meaningful collaboration and inclusive dialogue to support faculty and students alike. We stand ready to engage with system partners, technology providers, and local leaders to ensure that innovation in AI serves not supplants the educational values and the role of faculty in shaping learning environments.

Faculty across the state are encouraged to stay informed and connected as this conversation unfolds. The ASCCC will continue to advocate for transparency, accountability, and faculty voice in all technology decisions that impact teaching and learning in our colleges.

Disciplines List Updates Approved by the Board of Governors

In alignment with Resolution 10.01 F16, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) facilitates an annual, faculty-driven process to review and revise the Disciplines List. This inclusive and transparent process includes formal hearings during our Fall and Spring Plenary Sessions, along with thorough vetting through the ASCCC's consultation and governance structures in partnership with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

During the 2024–25 cycle, two formal hearings were conducted at the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Plenary Sessions to evaluate proposals submitted by discipline faculty across the state. As a result of this collaborative process, the following revisions were recommended and approved by the ASCCC delegate body:

• Addition of Brewing, Fermentation, and Distillery Sciences– a timely, workforce-responsive discipline that reflects growing academic and vocational interest across the state.
• Revision of Art– to ensure alignment with current academic standards and evolving degree offerings.
• Revision of Physical Education (Adapted)– to better articulate the qualifications needed to effectively support and serve students with disabilities.

At its July 2025 meeting, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors formally adopted Resolution 2025-21, approving these updates to the Disciplines List. These revisions not only honor the expertise of our faculty but also enhance our capacity to respond to emerging fields and evolving student needs.

May 31–June 1 | ASCCC Executive Committee Orientation – Monterey Marriott

As many Spring terms were winding down, the ASCCC hosted its 2025 orientation for new and returning Executive Committee members. This gathering reaffirmed our mission and values while centering equity-minded governance, leadership accountability, and the responsibilities of statewide academic service. The weekend included intentional reflection on the “why” of faculty leadership, team-building, and strategic preparation for the year. Executive members were invited to share their “why” and their mission in a one-minute presentation in any feasible modality. The committee members shared poetry, song, dance, art and parts of their humanity in relation to their commitments to supporting faculty across the state. This team has magic beyond student service.

Faculty Workgroups and Intersegmental Collaboration

Common Course Numbering (CCN) Development and Faculty Engagement: (CCN) Phase III

In June 2025, the CCN Faculty Workgroups (CCNFWs) reconvened to advance alignment on 47 courses across 18 disciplines. These workgroups were tasked with finalizing CCN course templates that reflect the needs of both students and faculty across California’s public higher education systems. Several groups continued efforts begun during Phase II, with faculty providing consistent leadership throughout.

Each workgroup was designed to include up to 12 faculty from California Community Colleges, with intersegmental representatives from the CSU, UC, and independent institutions. ASCCC communications supported systemwide nomination and appointment processes while raising awareness of ongoing survey and engagement efforts. Please see the Phase III Convenings, Disciplines, and Courses spreadsheet for a downloadable list. 

Intersegmental Survey Efforts

Faculty input remains central to this process. The ASCCC launched pre- and post-convening surveys to ensure inclusive, informed development of course templates:

• Pre-Convening Surveys closed April 15, 2025.
• Post-Convening Surveys will open August 18, 2025, and close September 29, 2025.

Results from both surveys will be shared with discipline-specific workgroups to ensure the final templates reflect faculty voice and support seamless transfer and articulation.

Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact

June 17 | Norco Rising Scholars Graduation

The event celebrated educational access, student resilience, and the transformative power of opportunity through education. This joint ceremony recognized students earning associate and bachelor’s degrees through Norco College, Coastline College, Cuesta College, Palo Verde College, and Pitzer College partners in the transformative work of the Rising Scholars Program.

Part of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Rising Scholars Network, the program at Norco serves more than 600 incarcerated students each year, offering access to high-quality higher education and a pathway to renewed purpose and opportunity. The ceremony was a powerful reminder of the role education plays in rehabilitation and reintegration.

June 6 | Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Environmental Equity Education Demonstration Project Faculty Culmination and Curriculum Presentation

On June 6, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) attended the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Environmental Equity Education Demonstration Project Faculty Culmination and Curriculum Presentation. This event showcased an innovative, equity focused curriculum developed by LACCD faculty as part of a districtwide effort to integrate environmental justice into community college education. The ASCCC’s presence reflected its ongoing commitment to supporting faculty, which led curricular innovation and interdisciplinary approaches that center equity, sustainability, and student empowerment.

Explore New/Updated ASCCC Website Resources

To better support faculty across the state, the ASCCC has recently launched new and updated resources on our website. These tools are designed to improve access to important information and strengthen professional learning, governance participation, and curriculum development. We invite you to explore the following updates:

• An updated ASCCC Disciplines List  page with streamlined navigation, historical documents, and proposal submission portal.
• The newly released Cal-GETC Standards 1.3 (2025 Current Version)
• ASCCC Spring 2025 Adopted Resolutions Review the latest resolutions passed by the ASCCC Delegate Assembly, reflecting faculty voice on academic and professional matters.
• An updated ASCCC Resource Library, featuring toolkits and guidance documents organized by topics such as DEIA, curriculum, governance, and legislative advocacy.
• The California Community Colleges: Know Your Rights Resources | ASCCC resource, launched June 10, 2025, offering faculty clear, accessible information about academic freedom, workplace protections, and participatory governance responsibilities.
• Enhanced ASCCC Communities pages, offering clearer descriptions of roles, current rosters, and project updates to foster increased engagement.
• A refreshed Calendar of Events and Meetings to help faculty stay informed about key dates, statewide meetings, and ASCCC-hosted sessions.
• A new resource, Evaluating Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in an Academic Setting, which provides guidance for faculty, colleges, and districts on responsible, equitable, and effective implementation of AI in teaching and learning.
• The ASCCC Professional Development College (PDC), a centralized space offering self-paced courses and resources designed to support faculty development in areas such as curriculum, OER, governance, and equity.
• The ASCCC Legislative Tracker, an interactive tool that allows faculty and stakeholders to stay up to date on state legislation impacting California community colleges, including bill summaries, ASCCC positions, and legislative timelines.

Visit www.asccc.org to explore these tools and support your ongoing work as faculty leaders. We hope these resources will strengthen your efforts on campus and across the system.

Congratulations Dr. James E. Todd

Dr. Todd brings a deep commitment to educational equity, academic excellence, and student-centered leadership. The ASCCC welcomes him into this vital role and looks forward to partnering closely in service to the approximately 2.1 million students who rely on our system to transform their lives and communities.

We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Todd in advancing the academic mission of our colleges, and we extend our best wishes as he begins this next chapter of leadership.

ASCCC Upcoming Events

Stay connected and engaged with professional learning, governance, and statewide conversations. Mark your calendars for these upcoming ASCCC events and opportunities:

• Executive Committee Meeting - August 7, 2025 - 9:00am - August 9, 2025 - 5:00pm | The Westgate Hotel, 1055 2nd Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
• Executive Committee Meeting - September 18, 2025 - 11:00am - September 20, 2025 - 5:00pm | Monterey Peninsula College/Monterey Beach Hotel-2600 Sand Dunes Dr, Monterey, CA 93940
• Executive Committee Meeting - November 5, 2025 - 11:00am - November 5, 2025 - 5:00pm | Hyatt Regency La Jolla-3777 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122
• Fall 2025 Area Meetings - October 10, 2025 | Locations Vary | Connect with local faculty leaders in your region to review proposed resolutions and engage in dialogue ahead of plenary. Open to all faculty.
• 2025 Fall Plenary Session - November 6, 2025 - 8:00am - November 8, 2025 - 5:00pm | Hyatt Regency La Jolla 3777 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 | Join us for three days of general sessions, breakouts, and deliberations centered on academic and professional matters. Saturday hybrid voting available. Registration opens soon.

Looking Ahead

The ASCCC remains steadfast in its mission to elevate the faculty voice, expand intersegmental partnerships, and lead equity-centered policy development. Planning is underway for the Fall 2025 Plenary Session where we will continue to foster bold ideas, strengthen leadership capacity, and advance student-centered change with radical love.

With deep appreciation and in continued service,

Dr. LaTonya L. Parker-Parnell
President, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges & Executive Team