President's Office
October 8, 2025
1. Impacts of Federal Government Shutdown
As the shutdown extends, we are carefully assessing what this means for our students and programs. Federal Financial Aid will continue—since they are funded through mandatory and carryover appropriations—but many of the staff who support those systems have been furloughed. This means deferred responses from Federal Student Aid offices and potential delays in related processes. We are monitoring these developments closely and will share updates as soon as we have them.
We recognize that some groups of students may feel these effects more directly than others. Our Veteran students and those served by the Disability Resource Center (DRC), who rely on timely federal communications or agency verifications, may face particular challenges during this period. We do have a small number of students that are certified but not receiving benefits. We are caring for these students by reaching out to our philanthropic partners and insulating them from being dropped. Foothill’s team is ready to assist anyone experiencing disruption or confusion; we are ready to make sure that no student is navigating this uncertainty alone.
2. Welcoming Dolores Huerta for Undocumented Student Success Week
We are honored to welcome one of the great civil rights leaders of our time, Dolores Huerta, to Foothill College on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. This very special program, held from 10 a.m. to noon in the Smithwick Theater, is by invitation only for our Foothill–De Anza district community and other invited guests. Attendance is RSVP only, so please reserve your spot early using the provided link below.
This keynote is part of Undocumented Student Success Week and Latiné Heritage Month and will be complemented by a variety of workshops and resources throughout the day. We encourage every member of our community to participate as together we create a just, safer, and more equitable campus experience for all. RSVP required.
3. Budget Town Hall–Come and Learn about Community Supporting Funding
On October 16, Foothill College will host an important Budget Town Hall that addresses our transition to a Basic Aid/Community Supported funded district. If the term “Basic Aid” is new to you, it occurs or kicks in when the local property tax revenue and student fees in a community college district exceeds the total funding that the state would have provided, as calculated by the state funding formula.
If joining us in person isn’t possible, a Zoom Webinar link has been provided to ensure everyone in our community can participate. This gathering is an opportunity to discuss our financial outlook under this revenue stream.
When: October 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. Pacific
Where: Foothill College Room 8338 and online via Zoom
Zoom Webinar Link: Join the Budget Town Hall
4. Foothill College Named 2025 Pathway Champion
I am thrilled to announce that Foothill College has been recognized AGAIN as a Pathway Champion of Placement by the Campaign for College Opportunity. This honor acknowledges our outstanding leadership and expertise in providing equitable campuswide pathways for students in transfer-level math completion. The Pathway Champion Award celebrates our commitment to breaking down barriers and opening doors for all students—work that is foundational to our mission and our culture at Foothill.
The official recognition ceremony, featuring Deputy Chancellor Dr. Rowena Tomaneng, will be held virtually on October 23 from 10:00–11:30 a.m. as part of National Transfer Week. We invite everyone to join in this virtual celebration. Register for the event.
5. Thank You for a Spectacular Hall of Fame Event!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and celebrated at our sold-out Alumni Hall of Fame event on October 4th! The evening, emceed by Dr. Laurie Scolari, was a tremendous success, honoring five extraordinary alumni and one remarkable community member.
The turnout, energy, and generosity reflect the spirit of Foothill College, where high impact learning and community support truly flourish together. The evening was unforgettable and could not have been possible without our community sponsors, the FHDA Foundation, Simon Pennington, Antoinette Chavez, Leigh Howell, Chris Custer, Beverly Bagalso, our wonderful ASFC students who staffed the dinner, and countless more people that stepped in and up.
If you would like to browse more pictures of the event--from the mural tour led by Jordan Fong and the reception held on the Smithwick courtyard, to the dinner and program held in a spectacularly transformed dining hall--please enjoy this photobook.
We are proud to announce that our fundraising goals far exceeded expectations; every dollar raised will go directly to fuel our signature experiential learning programs.
Yours in service,
Kristina
Dr. Kristina Whalen
President, Foothill College