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Delta College to fly Progress Pride flag for first time

STOCKTON – �Ӱ���Ƶ will fly the Progress Pride flag for the first time during the month of June, an effort to both celebrate the College’s LGBTQIA+ students and employees while also recognizing that there is still work to be done to stem discrimination in our society. Delta’s Board of Trustees recently approved a resolution declaring the month of June as Pride Month, and determining that the College will fly the Progress Pride flag for the entirety of the month of June every year. The first flag-raising will be celebrated at 12 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 in front of the DeRicco Building, on the Pacific Avenue side of campus. The public is welcome to attend. "The Delta College Pride Coalition, a group of LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff, put together this resolution to celebrate and promote LGBTQIA+ visibility at Delta College," said Professor Kirstyn Russell, co-president of the Coalition. "The Progress Pride flag signals to our LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty that they are valued and a part of the Delta community." "We are so excited to see the Progress Pride flag fly," said Dr. Melissa Neal, also co-president of the Coalition. The recent resolution recognizes the movement toward...

Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson chosen as Delta College’s 12th superintendent/ president

STOCKTON -- The �Ӱ���Ƶ Board of Trustees has entered into contract discussions with Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson to become Delta’s 12th superintendent/president. She will be the first Latina and the first woman of color to serve in that role. A former English professor with nearly three decades of community college experience, Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson has been serving as Delta’s acting superintendent/president since September 2021.Lisa Lawrenson "I am truly honored to have been selected to serve Delta College and the community as its next superintendent/president," said Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson. "I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees, as well as community and campus leaders to provide excellence in education and workforce training in support of economic development in our region." “After a comprehensive search, Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson rose to the top,” said Board of Trustees President Dr. Charles Jennings. “Her background and experience have prepared her for the tremendous responsibility that lies ahead. She has proven her commitment to student learning and success. We really feel she’s the right person at the right time to move the college forward as we grow and serve our community." Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson has served in a variety of roles...

Delta College seeks bond oversight committee members

STOCKTON -- �Ӱ���Ƶ is searching for members of the public to serve on a committee that provides oversight for the College’s taxpayer-funded Measure L bond. The Citizens’ Oversight Committee is key to ensuring that the $250 million bond, approved by voters in 2004, is being spent properly. Applications are open until April 1 or until committee vacancies are filled. Candidates are invited to apply in the following categories: One member of a taxpayers’ organization. One senior citizen who is active in a seniors’ organization; One person who is active in a support organization for Delta College; and One member of the community at large. Members must reside within Delta College’s district, which includes most of San Joaquin County and portions of Calaveras, Sacramento, Solano, and Alameda counties. Committee meetings are held on one Thursday evening during February, May, August, and November. Measure L has been critical as Delta builds new facilities while also upgrading older buildings on the College’s main Stockton campus. The Committee’s role is to review and report on the proper expenditure of bond money. The Committee also ensures that bond money is spent only on the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities...

Delta College's accreditation reaffirmed by commission

STOCKTON — �Ӱ���Ƶ's accreditation has been reaffirmed by an independent peer-review commission, reinforcing the value of Delta and its commitment to continually improve and better serve tens of thousands of students each year. The decision came this week from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Peer-review accreditation is critical to the success of any college and its students. Accreditation assures the public that a college meets certain standards, that the education earned is of value to a student, and that employers and other colleges and universities can accept a student’s credentials as legitimate. “The reaffirmation of accreditation is great news for Delta College students and the greater community, because it indicates Delta meets the high standards expected of an institution of higher education,” said Acting Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson. “On behalf of the entire Delta College community, I’d like to thank the Commission for their time and helpful observations, as well as the many Delta College employees who worked hard to ensure that our accreditation would once again be reaffirmed.” The decision comes almost two years after a peer-review team visited Delta to gather first-hand information about how...

Delta's economic impact calculated at $570M

STOCKTON -- Delta College pumps more than $570 million into the local economy each year in the form of alumni earnings and spending, while also supporting nearly 6,900 jobs in the community, according to a recent economic impact study. It's long been known that Delta plays a critical role in the community, helping thousands of students each year transfer to four-year universities or launch new, living-wage careers right out of Delta. This is the first time, however, that the College has been able to quantify its beneficial impact in dollars and cents. In addition to the overall $572.3 million annual economic impact, the study found that: For every $1 invested in the College through state and local funds, taxpayers get $1.20 back in added tax revenue and public sector savings; For every $1 spent by students on their education, students get $4.70 back in lifetime earnings; and For every $1 spent by society as a whole through all college and student costs, society gets $8.80 back in added state revenue and social savings. Significantly, the study also notes that the average associate degree graduate from Delta College will earn $8,700 more per year than those with high school diplomas or...

Taxpayers to save $3.5 million after bond refinanced

STOCKTON — Delta College's latest Measure L bond refinancing initiative, finalized this week, will lower property taxes and save the community approximately $3.5 million in future debt payments. The $69 million refinancing addressed portions of the District’s Series 2015A GO Bonds. No new money was generated as the bonds were sold solely to benefit taxpayers. Approved in 2004, the Measure L bond was the first major investment in Delta’s facilities since the Stockton campus was established in the early 1970s. Major completed projects include the signature Science and Math Building, the DeRicco Student Services Building, the renovated Goleman Library, and many others. The refinancing, approved by Delta College trustees in March, is the latest in a series of efforts to save taxpayers money. Taxpayers across the College's service area have funded the bond, including residents in San Joaquin County and parts of Alameda, Calaveras, Sacramento, and Solano counties. "We remain deeply grateful to voters for their generosity in approving Measure L, and we want to do everything we can to be good stewards of their resources. That's why we're so pleased to have completed this refinancing which will result in millions of dollars in savings for our taxpayers," said Delta...

Another round of savings for Measure L taxpayers

STOCKTON -- Taxpayers are expected to save between $3 million and $4 million after the Delta College Board of Trustees this week approved refinancing portions of the voter-approved Measure L bond. It's the latest in a series of moves to ensure that the public's money is being spent as efficiently as possible. In 2018, the College announced that it would save taxpayers about $20 million by paying off the last installment of Measure L money over a shorter period of time. A separate refinancing in 2020 was expected to save taxpayers an additional $5 million to $7 million. "The Board's latest action this week will lower the interest rate on our bond payments and save millions more," said Delta College Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani. "We remain deeply grateful to voters for their generosity in approving Measure L. A vote for this bond was also a vote for our students, and when they succeed, our entire community succeeds." Approved in 2004, the Measure L bond is the first major investment in Delta’s facilities since the Stockton campus was established in the early 1970s. Major completed projects include the signature Science and Math Building on the northeast corner of campus, the DeRicco...

Commission reaffirms Delta College's accreditation

STOCKTON — The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has voted to reaffirm Delta College's accreditation, underscoring the value of Delta and its commitment to continually improve and better serve thousands of students each year across the region. The June vote came after a team of experts from colleges across California reviewed Delta’s self-evaluation report, visited the College for three days in March, and recommended the reaffirmation of Delta’s accreditation. Peer-review accreditation is critical to the success of any college and its students. Accreditation assures the public that a college meets certain standards, that the education earned is of value to a student, and that employers and other colleges and universities can accept a student’s credentials as legitimate. "We are pleased and grateful that the Commission voted to reaffirm Delta's accreditation," said Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani. "The peer-review team of experts reviewed hundreds of pages of documents and spent many hours on Delta's campus meeting with College representatives. We are thankful for their diligence and for their findings, which confirm that while there is still work to be done, Delta is on the right track." The Commission found that Delta exceeds standards when it comes to creating and encouraging...

'We stand with you': Words of support from the Delta College Board of Trustees

On Monday, June 8, the �Ӱ���Ƶ Board of Trustees released the following message : Dear Delta College Community, As one body with one voice, we the members of the �Ӱ���Ƶ Board of Trustees declare our anger and frustration over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, the latest in a series of senseless killings of African-American men, women and children that enflames our deep concern over the systemic racism that has permeated this country for centuries. This has to stop. The events of recent weeks are especially painful because we take such pride in the diversity of our College district, including our African-American friends and neighbors, community partners, employees and especially our students. We feel their anguish. It is heartbreaking. We call upon leaders at all levels of our society to step up and begin a dialogue that can lead to real, meaningful answers. As an educational institution, Delta College recognizes and accepts its leadership role in providing classes, resources, opportunities for discussion, and support for nurturing intellectual growth and understanding that leads to recognizing the beauty, diversity and contribution of all ethnic groups in the Central Valley of California...

Taxpayers to save millions after Delta refinances bond

STOCKTON – Taxpayers are expected to save between $5 million and $7 million after �Ӱ���Ƶ refinances its voter-approved Measure L bond this spring. Delta trustees voted unanimously earlier this month to move forward with the refinancing. The decision comes on the heels of a separate action in 2018 that saved taxpayers an additional $20 million. Approved in 2004, Measure L has allowed Delta College to build a state-of-the-art science and math building, establish the first phase of South Campus at Mountain House, and substantially renovate the Goleman Library, among many other projects. “We are forever grateful to voters for approving Measure L, and we are thrilled to refinance and save taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Delta College Superintendent/President Dr. Omid Pourzanjani. “The public’s support for the bond is also a show of support for our students, who work so hard to improve their lives and better the community.” In 2018, the College approved a plan to pay off the final installment of bond money in 10 years rather than 25 years, saving taxpayers $20 million in interest over the long term. The recent refinancing will take advantage of low interest rates to save an additional $5 million...

Delta plaza renamed for activist Dolores Huerta

STOCKTON -- Long revered on the Delta College campus, civil rights advocate Dolores Huerta will soon be honored in a more permanent way. Delta trustees recently agreed to rename the College’s plaza area in honor of Huerta, who grew up in Stockton and graduated from Delta when it was known as Stockton College. Funds are being raised for a plaque memorializing Huerta, with any additional money going to a new scholarship fund in her name. Members of the public are welcome to contribute to this effort. Delta history professors Lynn Hawley and Sarah Seekatz led the effort to rename the plaza. “We are very excited to have a permanent recognition of Dolores Huerta here on campus and are looking forward to a dedication ceremony sometime next year,” Hawley said. "Dolores Huerta has contributed so much to so many in the San Joaquin Valley," Seekatz added. "It’s wonderful to be able to acknowledge that here at Delta College." Born in New Mexico, Huerta spent much of her childhood in Stockton in a diverse agricultural neighborhood. She soon took on a leadership role founding the Agricultural Workers Association, and in 1962 launched the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez. She went...

Measure L bond savings exceed $20 million

STOCKTON — �Ӱ���Ƶ will save taxpayers more than $20 million by paying off the college’s last installment of Measure L bond money over a shorter period of time. The agreement, finalized earlier this year, means property owners will pay a little more now but will save a lot more later. The arrangement is roughly comparable to a homeowner who decides to pay off a 30-year mortgage in 10 years, saving a substantial amount of interest as a result. In Delta’s case, the final installment of bond money will be paid off in 10 years instead of 25 years, saving about $20.3 million in interest. “We are extremely pleased that our recent Measure L bond sale has resulted in significant savings to our taxpayers, and, on behalf of the students of the district, we remain grateful to the voters for supporting Measure L,” said Delta College Superintendent/President Kathy Hart. Meanwhile, Delta’s credit rating has been upgraded from an A-plus to an AA-minus, signifying the college has a “very strong” ability to meet its financial commitments. Approved by property owners in 2004, the Measure L bond is the first major investment in Delta’s facilities since the Stockton campus was...