What’s Next At Yuba? Interview With YC President, Tawny Dotson.

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to interview our college President and find out some of her thoughts of Yuba and some of the things that are upcoming for our college.

First, I asked her if her opinion of the college has changed any since coming here last summer. She said that “the thing that has changed the most is that it’s become more personal”. Dotson continued to say that she has more motivation now with being personally invested in the relationships she’s made with “students and faculty and the staff”.

Next, I asked what we could expect commencement to look like at the end of this semester. President Dotson explained that we will be limited by not having any large in-person gatherings. She did say, however, that there will most likely be a drive-thru component in addition to the virtual aspects of last year’s commencement. Dotson further elucidated that “This year we’ll continue some of the things that went well about that virtual graduation but try and add some additional ideas to make it personal special and meaningful…We’ve got some ideas about some potential commemorative boxes and maybe some murals and photo opportunities and still hoping to incorporate some of that cheering and and having a day where you really mark the occasion.”

I also asked what we could expect in the upcoming semester along with the following summer and fall semesters. According to Dotson, our communities’ rates as they pertain to Covid are doing very well in combination with the vaccines that continue to be distributed. And in this semester, should Covid cases continue to decrease, we will see some return of “hard to convert” courses such as chemistry labs. In the summer and fall, once again if Covid cases continue their current trend, our college will likely move closer to and perhaps move past a 50-50 split of in-person and distance learning classes. She also mentioned that in addition to possible improvement in academics, athletics has a promising future this semester. Yuba College has opted in to phase 2 sports and our baseball, softball, and track and field teams have already returned to in-person athletic activities. Upcoming possible revision of state guidelines could potentially speed up things moving forward as well.

Upon being asked of the physical improvements to the campus itself, President Dotson shared that our campus will have a noticeably different look with the upcoming implementation of a blue and gold color scheme being added to multiple buildings, a mural being added to the theater, and some garden beds on campus receiving some updating and landscaping. Dotson says that many of these changes will be seen by early in the fall semester. Beyond that, renovations to the 800 building and removal of the outdated dorms and portables (buildings 1200, 1300, & 3000s), and less noticeable in-classroom improvements should be evident within the next year or so.

Then, I asked our President what she thought this institution could most improve in the most in the future. She said see wants to see an increase in the culture of “YC proud” that “We’ll continue to refine that, we’ll continue to work on that to, you know, create a sustainable culture for our students and for our employees. But I expect that in the 21-22 year we’ll start to work together to really co-create and use a student success vision.” Dotson further stated that expects to see a continued increase of student input and systematic way of gathering that student voice crucial to understanding the best way to serve students.

Lastly, I asked President Dotson if she had anything she’s like the students of Yuba College to know. This was her response, “You know the biggest thing for me is it’s been a rough year. There’s no doubt. Maybe that’s putting it lightly. But I was optimistic in September you know, I’m just as optimistic if not more now, because I know that that our students have invested in themselves and building a foundation that when this pandemic is over it’s just going to make things, you know, even better. With all of the improvements in the vaccine and the case rates and, you know, our ability to start competing in athletics and seeing things starting to open up, now is the time to really double down our efforts in moving forward making sure that we are… continuing to finish our classes and graduate. Because it’s all going to pay off in the end. And I have just been inspired by the stories that I’ve heard of students who have had to make it all work and I you know feel strongly like…things are getting better and you know their reward is in front of us. And I can’t wait to see it.”