Share: According to an email sent by PCC’s Superintendent-President, the Pasadena Police Department and campus police arrested a student in a class on Tuesday evening for concealing an “Airsoft-type weapon and a pocketknife with a long blade.” The student was in a math class in the C-building and campus police were alerted to the situation through PCC’s Lancer Anonymous Tip Reporting System, according to PCC spokesperson Alex Boekelheide. “If you’re not able to use your phone, like if you’re in class or something comes to …
How much cash will the district’s third failed winter cancellation cost?
Share: After an agreement had been made to bring back the winter intersession for the 2023-2024 academic year, the college and the on campus Faculty Association (FA) have yet to come to a settlement number for legal fees and lost wages for the last couple years, according to a FA email sent in late May. This is the first time that PCC has had the winter intersession on the academic calendar since 2021. The Faculty Association has accused The District of negotiating in “bad faith” …
PCC chooses interim superintendent-president, will start in mid-July
Share: At the June Board of Trustees meeting, the Board selected Dr. Jose Gomez as the interim Superintendent-President while conducting the process to search for a permanent Superintendent, according to PCC Spokesperson Alex Boekelheide. The acting Superintendent-President who will serve from June 22 to July 23 is Dr. Laura Ramirez, who, under Dr. Erika Endrijonas, served as the Assistant Superintendent-President, according to Board of Trustees President Sandra Chen Lau. Dr. Gomez will begin serving at PCC following the ratification of his employment agreement in mid-July, …
Superintendent-President commits to new President’s job at SBCC
Share: According to a press release from Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC), Dr. Erika Endrijonas has been selected as their new Superintendent-president. Her employment is pending contract negotiations with the SBCC Board of Trustees, where a formal contract will be presented and voted on at their BOT meeting on June 15. Ongoing contract negotiations between the PCC Board of Trustees and Endrijonas spurred the job search, as accusations about the Board President attempting to invalidate the contract resulted in high legal fees, The Courier previously …
PCC Pride Center receives $10,000 for new support programs
Share: The PCC Pride Center, which serves queer students, is about to go through a revamp, as a $10,000 grant was awarded to the center. According to Enith Reyes, the grant will be used in service to PCC’s students, faculty and staff, and create spaces of intentional diversity, equity, and inclusion. “This program aims to promote the awareness of the sexual and gender diversity at Pasadena City College (PCC) and to make the LGBTQIA+ support network more visible to the rest of our students, staff, …
Altadena community opposes proposed Poly sports complex
Share: In what is likely to be one of the biggest LA County land disputes in 25 years, the community of Altadena and Pasadena private school Polytechnic, are at odds over a 78-acre property. The property has been owned by world famous Nuccio’s Nursery, for almost ninety years and is now where Polytechnic has publicly presented plans to build a sports complex and environmental facilities. Local Altadena group, AltadenaWILD, began in early 2023. As the community that lives closest to the disputed property, they rallied …
Superintendent’s contract negotiations divide trustees
Share: The PCC Board of Trustees is divided over the retention of additional legal counsel and the potential extension of Superintendent-President Dr. Erika Endrijonas’ contract. Endrijonas’ current contract, which extends through 2024, was verified by Resolution 761 in a 5-2 vote on Feb. 15. A contract verifying the employment of Endrijonas for the 2024-2025 academic year remains unconfirmed, leaving her future at the college in question. The resolution aims to cure potential Brown Act violations surrounding the evaluation of the Superintendent-President which occurred in closed …
PCC student who was arrested for knife incident in library expelled in unanimous board vote
Share: Jul. 19: The student who was arrested for wielding a knife in the PCC library in late April faced the PCC Board of Trustees (BOT) in a public disciplinary hearing at the July BOT meeting and was subsequently expelled in a unanimous vote in closed session, according to PCC Spokesperson Alex Boekelheide in a text to The Courier. Boekelheide added that he would not have any further comments on this situation and the expulsion of PCC student Zhuowei Liao. Apr. 29: In an update, …
Board officially recognizes Armenian Genocide in vigil
Share: The Armenian Genocide was over 108 years ago, but Armenians still fight in local communities to have recognition of this killing and deportation of 1.5 million Armenians. Pasadena City College held a vigil in remembrance of those who lost their lives and celebrated the Armenian-American students who attend the institution in a vigil hosted by the Armenian Student Association (ASA). The vigil began with ASA Vice President Andre Dionsyan explaining the history and importance of the day and introducing PCC Superintendent-President Erika Endrijonas to …
Impending law threatens athletic transfers and lifelong learners
Share: The Student Transfer Reform Act, AB-928, passed in 2021 and is going into effect on May 31, leaving community colleges like Pasadena City College (PCC) without lifelong learning and self-development programs, possible cuts to faculty, and harder transfer requirements for student-athletes. This bill established an Intersegmental Implementation Committee to facilitate coordination for Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) to improve student transfer outcomes. PCC has a direct correlation to the bill as the institution provides students with ADTs. The bill was introduced to the governor …