Lake Tahoe Community College celebration with State of the College Address

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Community leaders, faculty, staff, and students filled the Duke Theatre at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) on Thursday for the annual State of the College Address.

The theme for the day was "Gratitude" and the college's Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco walked everyone through a few challenging years that included COVID, the Caldor Fire and evacuation, and a winter that provided endless snowstorms over and over again.

As the snow finally melted, the rain stopped and the sun shined bright for graduation, a "collected deep breath" could be taken as the transformation of the campus could be appreciated.

DeFranco celebrated accomplishments of this year including new facilities opening, or almost completed, groundbreaking on a new dormitory, the 30-year anniversary of Board Trustee Kerry David, and new faculty and staff team members.

The three President's Service Award winners for the year were also celebrated: Students Geego Ocampo, Astraea Marion, and Shakti Medina.

Highlights

New Construction & Remodeling/Modernizing Projects

LTCC broke ground in August 2023 on a nearly $40 million, 100-bed, on-campus housing facility project located on the south side of campus. It is projected to open in July 2025. This residential living facility will provide affordable housing for income-qualifying, full-time students.

The Remodel For Efficiency (RFE) construction project, funded by local voters through Measure F and through state funding, is wrapping up. New part-time and full-time faculty offices and collaborative workspaces are now open, along with a new technology classroom – the largest on campus, which can serve as one large classroom or convert into three smaller ones. Art labs are also complete. Completely refurbished science labs will open shortly, and a brand-new Main Building entrance and courtyard will be completed during the Fall quarter. The new equipment storage facility behind the gym is nearing completion as well.

Grant Monies Awarded

The Juvenile Justice Expansion Grant will deliver $1.5 million over five years, allowing LTCC to educate 70 students housed in the juvenile justice system with the hopes that they will attend LTCC or another California community college upon their release.

Developing Hispanic Serving Institute Grant will bring in $3 million over five years, allowing LTCC to expand student success throughout their various Meta Majors, programs, and degrees outside of STEM, focusing on low-income and Latina/o/x students. LTCC was awarded a STEM-related HSI grant a few years ago, and that money is already serving students pursuing those particular academic programs and degrees.

In all, LTCC was awarded $7 million in various grants to support student services and success, and LTCC’s Forestry and Fire programs.

50th Anniversary Celebration: March 2024 – September 2025

Multiple events for college employees, key partners, and the South Shore community are being planned.

Collaborative work on a new college logo, mission, and vision statement are part of the work.

LTCC Growing

There are 30 more staff members than there were at the college 10 years ago. Enrollment is up! LTCC has a 24 percent increase in enrollment this fall compared to Fall 2022. The state budget dollars LTCC receives now is 116 percent larger than 10 years ago, going from $13 to $28 million. The total budget, including non-state funding, is 312 percent higher. In that 10-year period, the average salary per employee almost doubled. Grant funds in 2019 were about $1 million and will be $7 million in 2023. The college now has a great deal more resources, allowing it to provide significantly more support services to students.

Partnerships

LTCC is partnering with the Ski Run Park in South Lake Tahoe and providing the new climbing boulder. The Ski Run neighborhood is home to the college's current housing property as well as home to many students.

The college is a partner with Clean Up The Lake and provides interns with the underwater trash removal group. LTCC adopted a mile of the shore at Lakeview Commons.

Tahoe Transportation District - the college is a centrally located partner for electric buses and provides two charging hubs at the entrance to campus.