Takes You Where You Want To Go!
SMRR endorsed trustees are proud to report that Santa Monica College continues to provide open access to a full range of excellent learning opportunities for all community members, is forging new partnerships with the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Public Schools, and is a leader in sustainability and environmental design.
# 1 in Transfers
For the 16th consecutive year, Santa Monica College is the #1 community college in California for transfers to the UC system. SMC is also the leader in transfers to the UC-California State University systems combined, as well as the #1 transfer school for Latinos to the UC system.
Expanded Career Tech Opportunities
SMC is working to expand career tech opportunities for students who are in or wish to join the workforce. SMC recently received two state grants. The first provides training in the logistics industry, one of the top employment sectors in the U.S. and growing fast. The second, an advanced transportation grant, trains technicians and managers at the Big Blue Bus and Culver City Transit in hybrid technology and alternative fuels.
Partnership with SMMUSD
SMC and SMMUSD have agreed to work more closely together to better meet the needs of current high school students. This past school year about 500 Santa Monica Malibu high school students took one or more classes from SMC. High school students who enroll in classes at SMC can receive both high school and college credits. SMC is also providing two classes this fall for the District’s Community Day students and hosted the SMMUSD management team for their late summer professional development and leadership training.
Global Citizens and Environmental Stewards
SMC has a new initiative to ensure that graduates will be informed and knowledgeable as global citizens and environmental stewards. SMC recently approved an Environmental Audit to promote sustainability in institutional and facility planning, maintenance and operations. SMC also implemented a new smoke-free campus policy this fall and opened the new Humanities and Social Science building, Silver LEED certified and the first LEED certified Community College instructional building in Southern California.
Transportation Management/Big Blue Bus Partnership
SMC purchased a new shuttle lot – the Olympic Lot – which opened for the fall semester and is served by the Sunset Ride, one of several Big Blue Bus service improvements made possible by a new partnership between SMC and the Big Blue Bus. In an effort to decrease traffic congestion and parking woes and to improve access to higher education, SMC pays for students and staff to ride the BBB for no charge. The SMC-funded bus lines are averaging nearly 3,000 SMC riders per day! This innovative partnership enables the BBB to expand services for residents too in hopes of building a more viable, sustainable, and appealing public transit system for everyone.