The Mission of the California Community College

California Ed. Code 66010.4.

(a) (1) The California Community Colleges shall, as a primary mission, offer academic and vocational instruction at the lower division level for both younger and older students, including those persons returning to school. Public community colleges shall offer instruction through but not beyond the second year of college. These institutions may grant the associate in arts and the associate in science degree.

(2) In addition to the primary mission of academic and vocational instruction, the community colleges shall offer instruction and courses to achieve all of the following:

(A) The provision of remedial instruction for those in need of it and, in conjunction with the school districts, instruction in English as a second language, adult noncredit instruction, and support services which help students succeed at the postsecondary level are reaffirmed and supported as essential and important functions of the community colleges.

(B) The provision of adult noncredit education curricula in areas defined as being in the state's interest is an essential and important function of the community colleges.

(C) The provision of community services courses and programs is an authorized function of the community colleges so long as their provision is compatible with an institution's ability to meet its obligations in its primary missions.

(3) A primary mission of the California Community Colleges is to advance California's economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training, and services that contribute to continuous work force improvement.

(4) The community colleges may conduct to the extent that state funding is provided, institutional research concerning student learning and retention as is needed to facilitate their educational missions.

Read the Skyline College Mission - Vision - Values

Senate Statements

Instruction at Skyline College

Instruction at Skyline values and reflects multicultural perspectives. The term "culture" is used broadly and encompasses gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, and disability. Curriculum includes course content, pedagogy, methods of instructional delivery and rigorous examination of student success, as well as student equity issues, in all Skyline course offerings.

Course content shall include new multicultural contributions and perspectives in every discipline area and encourage opportunities for interdisciplinary studies.

Pedagogy shall incorporate recent research on diverse teaching styles and a practice of respectful accommodation of student's diverse learning styles.

Instruction shall include all modes of delivery, including face to face and mediated means of communication.

In course content, pedagogy, and instructional delivery, faculty members' disciplinary diversity shall be encouraged.

Instruction at Skyline is premised on the assumption that student learning is enhanced through active participation in campus-wide events and, thus, seeks to maintain a balance between curricular and co-curricular activities.

Instruction at Skyline reflects community and international perspectives which cultivate faculty and student responsibility for addressing local and global issues, and includes the means to contribute to positive social change through community service and service learning opportunities

Student Services at Skyline College

Student Services at Skyline is the necessary complement to the instructional program. Student Services strengthens our students' progress in their academic and career pathways and enriches their learning experience at the College.

Student Services is based on principles of student access, student support, student success and student equity. These four principles infuse the College's matriculation plan in every area: 

• Recruitment
• Testing and placement
• Financial aid, loans and scholarships
• Health and wellness services
• Counseling and advising
• Tutoring services

Student Services seeks to assess and create a positive climate for all students, campus staff, and visitors to our campus. Student Services works seamlessly with instruction to provide programs that serve special student needs, including providing institutional support to assist in student development.

Operations at Skyline College

Our organization promotes policies and practices in Operations that promote the values of a comprehensive community college. Effective functioning of Operations is built on cross-cultural communication, which values its diverse campus staff and embraces a diverse student population.

Facilities at Skyline College

Our buildings and grounds, as well as their routine maintenance and repair, and facilities capital improvements, create a supportive campus climate for all campus staff and students.

In addition to providing a physical plant, which is welcoming and conductive to the interaction of all members of our college community, our buildings, grounds, walkways, signage and lighting are safe and accessible to all campus community members.

Governing Board at SMCCCD

Our Board serves as a role model for cultural competence and enacts its commitment through providing leadership in establishing policies, which support the work of our richly diverse college and district personnel and our colleges' students. The Board advocates openly in behalf of cultural pluralism, which embraces race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, and other communities

The Board considers its commitment to diversity in the allocation of resources to support policies it establishes for our Colleges and District Office. The Board asks equal measure from the Colleges and District Office, and holds accountable our faculty, staff, and administrators for implementation of its commitment to inclusiveness

The Board expects that employees commit themselves to professional development activities, which foster cultural inclusiveness and cross-cultural sensitivity. It requires that employees promote our District's respect for diversity in their work on the campuses and District Office, as well in their work in the communities we serve.