Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to share that I will be participating in the swearing-in celebration of more than 3,000 students this Friday for the statewide launch of the first-ever #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Fellows. Fresno State is one of three California campuses participating in the virtual launch party with Governor Gavin Newsom and California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday.

Over 70 Fresno State students have signed up for the Central Valley College Corps program, and we are proud to sponsor this effort in collaboration with Fresno City College.

I will have the privilege of addressing the Governor and state leaders, along with campus leadership from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UCLA, about the importance of service-learning and our Central Valley College Corps program. I’m so proud that Fresno State is a national leader in service-learning — our campus completed over 1.34 million hours of service! The total economic impact of that service is estimated to be $48.3 million, which elevates our community and provides valuable experiential learning opportunities for our students.

The first ever #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Fellows will each dedicate 450 hours during the academic year to tackling the most significant issues facing our state. This is the first statewide service program open to AB540 Dreamers, and students will earn up to $10,000 to help pay for college. Throughout California, more than 3,000 fellows will work in their communities to tutor and mentor low-income students, distribute meals to those facing food insecurity, and take climate action.

Central Valley College Corps is working with 14 community benefit organizations, many of whom will join me on Friday, to provide meaningful service and learning opportunities for our Fellows. Our inaugural class of Central Valley College Corps students are incredibly bright, talented and capable and I am so excited to cheer them on this Friday as we take an important first step in our collective effort to improve our communities together.

Visit Fresno State News to learn more about the College Corps program.

Go ’Dogs!

Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President