Staff Report

Allan Hancock College students will get the chance to earn $10,000 next fall in exchange for completing 450 hours of volunteer service with local nonprofits and government agencies under a new state program.

Hancock is one of 45 colleges and universities selected to participate in the new California College Corps, a service-based college opportunity program that seeks to help California college students pay for school, reduce student debt and serve their communities.

“We are very excited to take part in this new and promising program,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “The California College Corps will offer Hancock students yet another opportunity to change their odds while they gain valuable experience and make a difference in their community and state.”

The College Corps, set to launch this fall, will provide participating students with service opportunities in critical issue areas such as climate action, K-12 education and COVID-19 recovery. Students who complete a year of service will receive $10,000, which includes a $7,000 stipend and a $3,000 education award for completing 450 service hours.

The 45 campuses participating in the program represent University of California, California State University, community college and private university systems. All were selected as program participants via a competitive grant application process. Other Central Coast colleges participating in the program include Cuesta College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Hancock will provide information to students regarding how to qualify and apply for the program later this spring via the college’s website and student’s myHancock email. To learn more about the California College Corps program, visit https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/californiansforall-college-corps.

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Redistricting is the process of reviewing and redrawing district trustee area lines every 10 years, based on the United States census data, as required by California State Education Code Section 5019.5. At a September 2021 meeting of the board of trustees, Redistricting Insights representative Matt Rexroad provided a brief overview of the redistricting process and a status report of the district’s existing trustee areas.

The public has previously been provided opportunities for input at public meetings held during the September, October, and December 2021 board meetings. Based on input from the board over the course of the fall semester, staff and the redistricting consultants developed 12 different maps, with version 12 constituting the board’s stated final preferred map.

As part of the board’s Jan. 11 regular meeting, the district will hold a final public hearing to provide an additional opportunity for public comment regarding the redistricting of the trustee area boundaries.

The meeting will be held in the boardroom at Hancock’s Santa Maria campus, with limited attendance to observe social distancing guidelines. Members of the public are invited to attend virtually via Zoom. The Zoom link for the hearing will be available via the meeting agenda at www.hancockcollege.edu/board/book or by emailing ccamacho@hancockcollege.edu.

To provide a public comment during the meeting, please register to do so by email ccamacho@hancockcollege.edu. Comments will be accepted until the end of the meeting’s public comment section. Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker.

To learn more about the redistricting process and view the redistricting maps, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/board/redistricting.

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The recent passing of football icon John Madden impacts not only the National Football League but also on the Central Coast. Some may not realize Madden played offensive tackle at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and was the head football coach at Allan Hancock College for several years.

His wife Virgina (Fields) Madden is from Los Alamos and the couple were married in Santa Maria in 1959, according to their wedding announcement in the Santa Maria Times. 

Madden started as assistant coach at AHC during their 1960 football season. During that season, Hancock football had a perfect season and won the state title. He spent a total of four years at AHC before going to San Diego State as their defensive coordinator, and eventually onto the Oakland Raiders.

“Coach Madden was a very special part of Hancock football history which players and coaches remember fondly,” said AHC Athletic Director Kim Ensing. “Our hearts are heavy, and we express our sincere condolences to his family.”

Madden passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the age of 85, according to the NFL. 

“Nobody loved football more than Coach. He was football. He was an incredible sounding board to me and so many others. There will never be another John Madden, and we will forever be indebted to him for all he did to make football and the NFL what it is today,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement. 

Madden was head coach of the Oakland Raiders for 10 seasons and lead them to their first championship in Super Bowl XI. He was the youngest coach in NFL history to eclipse the 100-win mark when he achieved the feat at the age of 42, and Madden remains the winningest coach in Raiders history. He also holds the best winning percentage by an NFL head coach (minimum of 10 seasons) at .759, according to the NFL. 

After he retired from coaching in 1979, he spent another career as a broadcaster as his voice was equal to that of Vin Scully’s, synonymous with the game. He retired from broadcasting in 2009. 

Aside from coaching and broadcasting, Madden is also known in the gaming world for his Madden NFL video game series which started in 1988. Electronic Arts has sold more than 250 million copies of the Madden NFL series, according to the NFL. 

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Allan Hancock College is one of only 30 colleges nationwide nominated for the prestigious 2022 Bellwether Award. The annual awards are part of the Community College Futures Assembly, a consortium that identifies and supports best practices and innovative programs in higher education. The Bellwether Awards are widely regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious recognitions for community colleges.

Hancock is one of 10 colleges nationwide nominated in the Planning, Governance and Finance category, which recognizes programs or activities that improve efficiency and effectiveness within a community college. The nomination for Hancock recognizes its automatic degree and certificate awarding program, which allows Hancock students to automatically receive a degree or certificate when all academic and credit requirements are satisfied. Previously, Hancock students had to apply for degrees and certificates.

“I am extremely proud of this nomination as it recognizes the extraordinary efforts of our staff and faculty who created the auto-awarding program,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Hancock is dedicated to student success, and the automatic degree and certificate awarding program allows our students to reap the rewards of their hard work and graduate, transfer or successfully enter their careers sooner.”

As a Bellwether finalist, Hancock will undergo a rigorous final round of review at the 28th Annual Community College Futures Assembly Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Each nominated college will provide a 60-minute presentation on its program to a national panel composed of skilled practitioners and thought leaders in their category.

“The Bellwether College Consortium prides itself on identifying and celebrating replicable, scalable and results-based programs and models and disseminating these highly lauded examples of institutional success to peer institutions,” said Bellwether College Consortium Director Dr. Rose Martinez.

Prize winners will be announced in February 2022. To learn more about the 2022 Bellwether Award, visit www.bellwethercollegeconsortium.com.

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Staff Report

Hancock College is seeking public input on the redrawing of area boundaries for the district’s Board of Trustee elections.

Every 10 years, following the release of federal census data, local governments and school districts are required to readjust their election areas to ensure balanced voting districts. During the redistricting process, the Board of Trustees will invite the public to participate and share their perspectives on how their neighborhoods are best represented.

“ Our Board of Trustees is responsible for governing the district and ensuring we provide the highest quality educational services for our students,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “It is critical that we hear from residents about how the Board of Trustees can adequately serve their community and ensure the diverse nature of our region is well represented.”

The district is required by state and federal law to follow certain redistricting criteria, including keeping populations as equal as possible, protecting minority voting rights, keeping trustee areas contiguous, and to the extent possible, preserving communities of interest.

The Board of Trustees received several map scenarios based on these criteria and utilizing the 2020 census data on Oct. 12. The board will further discuss these scenarios and welcome public comment at upcoming meetings. It is anticipated that the board will narrow down the map options to a draft proposal in January 2022 and adopt a final map in February 2022. The first elections utilizing the new maps will be held in November 2022.

To view the map scenarios and learn more about the redistricting process, please visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/board/redistricting.php. In addition, prints of the redistricting map scenarios are available for public viewing in the college’s Boardroom, located in building B on the Santa Maria campus.

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Allan Hancock College is encouraging students to earn additional college credits by enrolling in short-term fall classes starting Oct. 11.

Registration is underway for more than 70 short-term fall classes in English, sociology, art, business, history, viticulture and more. Many of the classes are offered online and can be completed in just eight weeks. The short-term class offerings also include classes that meet only once and others that meet on the weekends.

Several of Hancock’s short-term fall classes also meet the general education requirements for students attending UCSB and Cal Poly. UCSB students can view a list of open classes at https://bit.ly/shorttermUCSB. Cal Poly students can view a list of eligible classes at https://bit.ly/shorttermCalPoly.

Students taking short-term classes can earn between 0.5 and 3 units depending on the class. Registration is now open and continues until the day before a class starts. 

Hancock’s Community Education is also offering short-term noncredit classes starting Oct. 11. Offerings include Conversation for Beginning ESL, Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint, and classes in a new Childcare License and Preparation program. To view a full roster of available Community Education classes, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/communityed.

A full listing of the short-term credit classes is available at www.hancockcollege.edu/shortterm. Registration is ongoing and short-term classes begin Oct. 11.

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Staff Report

Allan Hancock College is expanding access to a college education thanks to a new program that will pay tuition and fees for all full-time students.

The Hancock Promise Plus covers the full cost of tuition and fees for all full-time students beginning this fall and continuing through the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. The program applies to all full-time students, including first-time, continuing, returning, transfer, international and Concurrent Enrollment/College Now! students, regardless of their residency.

“Over the past year, we recognized the impact the pandemic had on many of our students,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “With the Promise Plus program, Hancock is helping change the odds for students by offering a path back to stability. This is not only a great way to support our students, but it’s also an amazing investment in our community.”

Students who enroll in 12 or more units and take at least one in-person class are eligible to receive the Promise Plus. To take advantage of the new program for the fall 2021 semester, students simply need to apply for admission to Hancock, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application and accept the Promise Plus award through the college’s online student portal. 

The Promise Plus is an expansion of the college’s popular Hancock Promise program, which provides the first year of college at AHC free of tuition and fees. That program, which is restricted to recent high school graduates within the Allan Hancock Joint Community College District boundaries, will continue alongside the Promise Plus, which covers all other full-time students not eligible for the original Promise program.

“The Promise Plus provides an incredible opportunity to a wide range of students no matter where they are in their educational journey,” said Hancock Associate Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services Nohemy Ornelas, Ed.D. “This program offers them a chance to start, continue or restart their education without the cost of tuition being an obstacle to that important goal.”

The debut of the Promise Plus program comes as the college is currently registering students for in-person fall classes. Fall classes start on Aug. 16. The college is currently hosting in-person registration assistance events at its Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center every Monday and Tuesday from 2-6 p.m. through Aug. 10.

To learn more about the Promise Plus and apply for the program, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/promiseplus. To register for fall classes, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/fall.

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Staff Report

Allan Hancock College’s public affairs and communications department and campus graphics department took home multiple awards from the statewide Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) for their work promoting the college.

The departments received seven total awards during CCPRO’s annual awards ceremony, held virtually in May. The accolades include first-place awards in the categories of short-format promotional video, best logo design, best magazine, and best promotional campaign. The department also took home second and third place awards in the areas of local application of a statewide campaign, promotional campaign and novelty advertising.

“With most of our students taking classes remotely over the last year, being able to reach them in engaging and creative ways has never been more important,” said Hancock Director of Public Affairs & Communications Lauren Milbourne. “I am incredibly proud of the work that we did to continue providing our students and our community with important information and encouragement during a challenging time.”

Several of the first-place awards were tied to Hancock’s Centennial Celebration. Those included a short promotion video for the opening of the college’s time capsule featuring AHC’s “Spike” mascot, a wine label designed for a special Centennial sparkling wine made by the college’s winery and viticulture students, and the overall promotional campaign for the Centennial Celebration itself, which ran over the full 2020 academic year.

The college’s annual glossy magazine, Community News, earned a first-place award. The 2021 issue of the magazine focused on how the college and its students responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This magazine definitely serves as an appropriate commemorative piece that recognizes what Allan Hancock College accomplished during the pandemic,” one contest judge wrote.  

The departments also received second-place awards for the county-wide “Protect. Respect. Wear Your Mask” and “#YouGotThisAHC” campaigns.

The statewide Community College Public Relations Organization is a professional development and service organization that seeks to promote excellence in California’s community college public relations and related professions. The organization serves as a central resource of information and provides counsel and assistance relating to the advancement of community colleges statewide and the professional growth of its members.

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Generous donors changed the odds for Allan Hancock College students in 2021, by donating a record-breaking total to hundreds of them through the Allan Hancock College Foundation Scholarship program.

This year, 358 students will receive 465 scholarships totaling more than $561,000. In lieu of the foundation’s annual scholarship banquet, recipients utilized Zoom to meet and thank their donors in a safe and socially distanced format.

“Year after year, our scholarship program provides critical support and affirmation for Hancock students as they continue their studies,” said Hancock Executive Director of College Advancement Jon Hooten. “Thank you to all our donors – longtime supporters and new donors alike – who invest in the potential of these students.”

Hancock Class of 2021 graduate Rafael Valdovinos received the prestigious Marian Hancock Scholarship. Named in honor of the late wife of Captain G. Allan Hancock, the $10,000 scholarship is awarded to one outstanding student each year who exemplifies service to the school, scholastic achievement and personal conduct. Valdovinos is the 56^th student to win the Marian Hancock Scholarship since 1967.

Valdovinos, a first-generation college student, graduated from Hancock with a psychology degree and plans to transfer to Brandman University in the fall. Valdovinos hopes to earn a master’s degree in social work and pursue a career in helping people struggling with addiction, incarceration and mental health issues. As a full-time Hancock student, Rafael also committed his time to volunteering at the Los Prietos Boys Camp, became a member of the college’s Beyond Incarceration Greater Education (BIGE) Club and worked as a tutor for the Beyond Barriers Re-Entry grant program.

“My goal is to share my own experience and to empower those impacted by systemic barriers, mental health disorders, substance use disorders and incarceration,” said Valdovinos. “I humbly credit my success to my advocates, family and friends for helping me on my journey.”

A scholarship committee comprised of 15 Hancock faculty, staff and foundation board members chose this year’s recipients from nearly 1,000 applications. The Allan Hancock College Foundation has been a resource for thousands of Hancock College students since 1977. The foundation has raised funds over the years that have changed lives through education by touching every aspect of the college’s life, including scholarships, programs, projects and faculty and staff development.

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Registration for summer and fall 2021 classes is open at Allan Hancock College.

This summer, Hancock is offering more than 200 classes that run for six-to-eight weeks starting June 14. The college is offering nearly 1,000 fall classes starting Aug. 16. Tuition fees are set by the state at $46 per unit for California residents.

Hancock will continue to support students in summer and fall with a wide array of support services including financial aid, emergency funds for pandemic-related hardships, tutoring, laptop and textbook lending, zero-cost textbook classes, and more.

Students with questions about registration and available student services are encouraged to take advantage of the AHC Welcome Center, where they can chat live online with helpful Hancock staff. The Welcome Center is available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more about summer and fall classes, and to register for classes, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/summerfall.

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