Mt. SAC President Martha Garcia hosted the Fall 2025 President’s Town Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and shared an array of updates on the college’s volatile financial outlook, construction progress, campus police and safety and expanding its student support services such as basic needs and mental health support.

The event in Founders Hall, which was also livestreamed, emphasized the administration’s commitment to the college as they navigate through major institutional changes.

Moderated by the newly appointed Vice President of Student Services, David Forgues, who explained that the purpose of this meeting was to provide a space to listen, reflect and engage as a campus community. Participants were invited to submit questions through comment cards, where college leaders were said to respond back with transparency, honesty, clarity and helpful information to foster trust and mutual understanding.

Garcia then opened the meeting by reaffirming Mt. SAC’s promise to maintain open communication and involve students and employees in decisions shaping the college’s future.

Budget Outlook

Administrators presented a cautious financial picture shaped by California’s projected $12 billion state deficit for the 2025–26 fiscal year. While the state did not implement major cuts to community college programs, Mt. SAC faces delays in receiving state funds, rising operational costs and continued gaps in funding for instructional equipment and deferred maintenance.

Vice President of Administrative Services Joe Dominguez outlined the effect of the Student-Centered Funding Formula deferrals, which will push more than $11 million in expected revenue to next fiscal year. The college also reviewed its projected fund balance and long-term fiscal risks tied to inflation and state revenue volatility.

Measure V Projects and Campus Construction

Dominguez also reported progress across Mt. SAC’s largest Measure V bond projects. Major updates included:

• The concrete structure of the new Technology and Health Building has been completed, with interior electrical, mechanical and plumbing installations underway.

• The new Library, approved for $50 million in state funding, is moving through the final design coordination phase.

• The Welcome Center project has received design feedback and is now refining cost estimates.

Mt. SAC recently completed its first $250 million issuance of Measure V bonds, drawing strong investor interest.

Campus Safety

Chief of Police and Campus Safety Kelli Florman provided updates on department operations, including the opening of a new Campus Safety substation in building 410, room 1085-A, located across from the Express Stop convenience store.

The space is designed to give students a private, accessible location to meet with officers or file reports without traveling to the campus police station located in building 23. Officers will be present intermittently throughout the day, and Florman said that “if the door is open, you’re welcome to stop in.”

The college recently updated its patrol fleet by repainting and refurbishing three existing vehicles into black-and-white units commonly used by regional law enforcement. Florman explained that the shift is intended to help the campus community more easily distinguish sworn police officers from non-sworn personnel during calls for service. Sworn officers will now operate the black-and-white fleet, while non-sworn staff will continue using the familiar all-white vehicles already in service.

Forgues also reported that body-worn cameras and tasers remain a priority as an alternative to non-lethal prevention strategies among sworn officers and also to help strengthen accountability and transparency.

Campus safety personnel members have collectively attended more than 70 campus events this calendar year to emphasise a deliberate shift toward increased visibility and community engagement.

“We’re not there to do enforcement or police work,” Florman said. “We’re there to hang out as members of the campus community and it’s been very fun for me especially to get out from behind my desk and attend all the fun events.”

AR-15 Review

A central discussion of the town hall focused on campus safety and the ongoing review of whether sworn campus police officers may eventually be authorized to carry semi-automatic AR-style rifles.

Administrators reiterated with great emphasis that the college has not purchased the rifles and remains in a continued evaluation stage.

“So in the review of the police rifles, we’re looking at similar sized districts or campuses,” Dominguez said. “Our chief has done some due diligence and additional research of policy and implementation of police rifles to sworn police officers in California.”

Florman said the department is studying safety practices in use at other colleges.

“We’re looking at other colleges and policies that other colleges have and looking at best practices in the policing community to best protect the campus,” Florman said.

She explained that Mt. SAC will meet or exceed all state training standards required for California law enforcement officers.

“So there is certain training that California law enforcement officers are required to have,” Florman said. “In a two year training cycle, they have to take 24 hours of various topics. Of that, four hours have to be firearms training. Four hours of that have to be used for force laws and deescalation training. Two hours has to be strategic communication which also goes toward deescalation. In addition to that, just firearms training. There’s supposed to be regular qualifications to make sure officers can hit the target for example. We are going to meet the best standards for training looking at what the standards are for the state of California.”

Dominguez added on to that statement and emphasized that any decision they make will go through Mt. SAC’s campus government process.

“With the participatory governance here at Mt. SAC, we’re being inclusive and transparent with our school safety committee, with the student government and other committees to provide updates and communication as we go through the process,” he said.

Culture of Care

Garcia highlighted the college’s “Culture of Care” initiatives.

These include finalizing the Participatory Governance Handbook, the opening of new El Centro building and the Pride Center location, expanding campus lighting upgrades and strengthening the Student Safety Ambassador program.

From April 2025 to September 2025, Safety Ambassadors have assisted with approximately 239 escorts and attended to 25 hazard reports.

Student Support Services Expansion

Vice President of Student Services Melba Castro outlined expansions to student services, including:

• Basic Needs Resource Navigators offering peer-to-peer support for food insecurity, childcare and housing referrals.

• The Mountie Fresh Food Pantry continues biweekly food distributions.

• Increased mental health services and the introduction of new clinicians.• Expanded medical services, health education and wellness workshops through Student Health Services.

Mt. SAC 2035

During the final Q&A portion of the event, President Garcia was asked: What accomplishment from this past year are you most proud of?

She responded with “the completion of ‘Mt. SAC 2035,’”the college’s new institutional plan.

Garcia said the plan is intentional and centered on healing, student engagement with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.

She emphasized that the plan reflects Mt. SAC’s commitment to rejecting all forms of discrimination and “-isms,” especially at a time when the country is politically divided and public discourse has grown to an all time high.

Its completion is especially meaningful to her because she said that it reflects the college’s determination to model respect and maintain a culture rooted in humanity, compassion and belonging. She added that its significance lies not only in its goals but in what it represents: a shared commitment to ensuring every person at Mt. SAC feels they belong.

“We at this campus are committed to ensuring that we continuously every day contribute to a culture of care, to a culture of respect, to a culture, frankly, of love for humanity,” Garcia said. “That is the greatest accomplishment, to have been able to achieve that alongside all of you.”

Looking Ahead

This Town Hall’s purpose was stated by leadership to continue to reinforce Mt. SAC’s focus on transparency, accountability and collaborative planning as the college prepares for long-term financial challenges, major campus construction and the evolving landscape of campus safety as Mt. SAC prepares for its next stages of growth.

Garcia concluded the meeting encouraging continued engagement and inviting students, faculty and staff to participate in future forums.