WE DID IT TOGETHER!
As of Jan. 1, 2023 COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL BE FREE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. NO TUITION, NO ENROLLMENT FEES, NO HEALTH OR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FEES.
BOOKS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND PARKING ARE FREE
John Pimentel, Trustee
San Mateo County Community College District
(Area 5: Redwood City, North Fair Oaks, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park)
Photo by Leah Worthington, RWC Pulse
In 2020, I stood to serve on the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees in order to bring tuition-free community college to every resident of our County…
Two years later, I’m proud to announce, our Board of Trustees has delivered on that goal.
Through a collaborative team effort involving the hard work of our college staff, effective advocacy by many students, local organizations, community leaders, and elected officials, and with the effective leadership and powerful influence of our representatives in Sacramento Sen. Josh Becker (author of SB 893) and Assemblymembers Marc Berman and Kevin Mullin (co-authors) — we got it done!
John Pimentel
“I believe that free community college is the most effective and efficient investment that government can make to support economic equity.”
Photo by Sierra Lopez/Daily Journal
In The News
“Newsom signs bill to allow San Mateo County residents attend community college for free”
Staff
San Mateo Daily Journal
A bill to allow all San Mateo County residents to attend community college here for free was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“It was a team effort and hopefully it will have a great impact for people in our county who may not have otherwise gone to college,” said John Pimentel, a member of the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees, who was one of the main proponents of the legislation.
“Lawmakers close in on free college for thousands”
John Pimentel Op Ed
San Mateo Daily Journal
Sacramento lawmakers have the ability to make community college free for thousands of San Mateo County students. State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, authored and Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, and Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, have co-authored Senate Bill 893 which allows the San Mateo County Community College District to use existing local funds to reduce or eliminate the cost of attendance and cover other educational expenses for students in need such as text books, housing and transportation.
“San Mateo County students rally for free community college”
Sierra Lopez
San Mateo Daily Journal
“Dismantling the large and rising wall of college costs and breaking down barriers to access is a top priority for our board,” Pimentel said, lauding Vice Chancellor Mitch Bailey for his work in developing and lobbying for the bill.
“I believe community college is the most efficient and effective investment of government resources to achieve social and economic equity.”
“The push for free community college gets a major showing, as hundreds call on Newsom to sign Becker's SB 893”
Leah Worthington
Redwood City Post
"Dismantling the large and rising wall of college costs and breaking down barriers to access is the top priority of our board," said John Pimentel, a member of the district's board of trustees and fervent supporter of the bill.
According to Pimentel, who attended San Joaquin Delta Community College in Stockton, community college was free at the time. "Unfortunately in 1985, tuition was first implemented at community colleges statewide. It was a sad day," he said.”
“Bay Area college district’s ‘free college’ program waives enrollment fees”
Staff
The Mercury News
The program will be used to create “opportunity for families who are typically not landowners and who are first generation college students to enhance lifetime earnings and enable intergenerational wealth creation through higher education,” Pimentel said.
Special Announcement
I am starting a PAC to support local and state candidates, ballot measures and public policies which enhance equity in California and reduce the economic wealth gap through thoughtful economic growth.
I stand for a Tuition-Free SMCCCD
Here’s why…
Consistent with the California Master Plan for Higher Education, California’s community colleges charged no tuition until 1985. That year I helped organize a statewide community college student association to fight the advent of tuition. We lost. Since then, tuition has risen to $46/unit and now it costs about $1,500 per year in tuition alone to attend SMCCCD full-time.
When books, technology, transportation and living expenses are included the full cost of attending SMCCCD can exceed $15,000 per year.
I believe this is too much and it discourages potential students from taking the step to advance their education, improve their earning prospects and grab hold of the first rung of the ladder of economic opportunity.
I have recommend (include link to the letter I sent to the Board) the Board show compassion and long-term vision by directing staff to make plans to reduce total cost to attendance, double the Promise Scholars Program and devise tuition-free rapid workforce retraining offerings.
Waive 2020-21 tuition for all San Mateo County residents who are economically under-resourced, first-generation college families
DOUBLE the Promise Scholars Program from 2,000 students to 4,000 students and expand the eligibility criteria to qualify for financial assistance to accommodate more working families to enable more full-time student participation
Immediately initiate a rapid job retraining program to quickly retrain service industry workers displace by COVID shutdowns
Create opportunity
My top priority is reducing the District’s past focus on commercial enterprises such as privately operated gymnasiums and recruiting international students. Instead we will be laser-focused on serving local students, so they may grab hold of the first rung on the ladder of upward economic mobility.
Read more…
Enable equity
I’m passionate about protecting and expanding the path to economic success created by community colleges. I want to make sure every self-motivated person in San Mateo County, especially those who are from disadvantaged communities and first-generation college families, has the same opportunity I had.
Read more…
Demand transparency
If I am elected, you can be certain there won’t be golden parachutes with $1.2 million contracts for no work, and there will be no question that proceeds from voter-approved bonds will be spent only on projects that were promised to voters.
Read more…
Get Involved
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> Sustainability and renewable energy leader
> Public servant
> Student success advocate
John attended community college in Stockton, CA; transferred to UC Berkeley; and completed Harvard Business School. He was a leader in California state government and became a successful entrepreneur in the renewable energy and sustainability field developing wind, solar, ethanol, and water projects in the private sector.
John is passionate about creating opportunity to attain social and economic equity by removing barriers to accessing community colleges, especially for those from disadvantaged communities and first-generation college families.
During these challenging times, John proudly led the movement for a tuition-free SMCCCD for all San Mateo County residents.
John’s solutions:
Create opportunity
Enable equity
Demand transparency
What are your thoughts on how to improve our SMCCCD?
John wants to hear from you. Share your ideas on how to improve the lives of all our students. Let’s work together to deliver opportunity for all.
“I am committed to protecting and expanding the path to upward economic mobility created by community colleges.
I want to make sure every self-motivated person in San Mateo County, especially those from disadvantaged communities and first-generation college families, has the same opportunity I had.”
— John Pimentel
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