Let’s Chat IVC!

Imperial Valley College’s latest Virtual Town Hall, hosted by President Dr. Lennor Johnson, provided key updates on enrollment growth, strategic initiatives, and recent policy changes affecting students and the campus community. The event also featured guest speakers offering legal and citizenship resources, followed by a live Q&A session.

Key Highlights

Campus Updates & Strategic Priorities

Enrollment Growth: A 4.5% increase in enrollment, thanks to expanded outreach and student support.
Program Expansion: Growth in 8-week courses, dual enrollment, and the introduction of a Bachelor’s Degree Program.
Student Resources: Expansion of Open Educational Resources (OERs) to reduce textbook costs and efforts to improve online course success rates.
Campus Development: Plans for student housing and the launch of a new wrestling program.
Long-Term Goals: Aiming for 10,000 FTES by 2030 and increased foundation funding to support students.

Executive Orders & Federal Policy Updates

Dr. Johnson addressed recent executive orders and policy shifts, including a temporary freeze on federal funding and changes to immigration policies. The college is actively monitoring funding disbursements and ensuring compliance to safeguard student resources.

Guest Speakers & Legal Resources

Marisa Perez, Lead Program Coordinator for Higher Education Legal Services (Jewish Family Services): Provided a Know Your Rights discussion, outlining protections and resources for students and their families. For more information on these recourses visit: here
Cesar Guzman, “The Citizenship Guru”: Offered guidance on the citizenship process, noncredit courses available at IVC and shared available resources for those seeking naturalization. To learn more about the Spring 2025 free citizenship classes click here.

Unanswered Questions & Responses

While we couldn’t address all the questions that were raised during the Q&A session live, we have compiled responses to those we weren’t able to get to during the virtual meeting.

Imperial Valley College is committed to creating a supportive, student-centered environment by removing obstacles that limit access and success for historically underrepresented students. Our focus is not only on fair treatment but on ensuring that every student receives the resources and support needed to thrive. Through thoughtful policies, inclusive teaching practices, and comprehensive student services, we emphasize meaningful action—because student success is our mission, and fairness is our guiding principle.

While the recent executive orders initially created uncertainty, including a temporary freeze on federal funding, that freeze has since been rescinded. At this time, we are not experiencing immediate funding cuts. However, we remain proactive by closely monitoring federal funds, scrutinizing expenditures, and preparing for potential policy shifts that could impact our financial outlook in the future.

Contact Information, Resources & Meeting Materials

Below are key contacts, resources, and materials from the February 28 Virtual Town Hall to help students and campus community members access support and stay informed.

Meeting Materials

Watch the Full Recording – Catch up on the discussion, campus updates, and Q&A session.
Download the Presentation PDF – Access key slides, strategic priorities, and shared resources from the session.

📌 Legal Support Services Discussed

For guidance on Know Your Rights, legal protections, and immigration resources, discussed during the meeting reach out to:
Higher Education Legal Services (Jewish Family Services)
CALL: (858) 637-3345 | EMAIL: HELSIMMIGRATION@JFSSD.ORG
For more KYRs, Family Preparedness guides, and school/ community resources:
🌐 www.jfssd.org/immigrationresources

📌 Citizenship Assistance

For assistance with the citizenship process and available resources, contact:
Cesar Guzman, Instructor for IVC’s Non-Credit American Citizen Courses
Email: cesar.guzman@imperial.edu

📌 Additional Resources & Support

For further assistance on topics discussed during the town hall, please refer to the Downloadable Presentation or connect with the appropriate department. If you need help finding the right contact, feel free to contact us.

We encourage students and staff to use these resources and stay engaged as we continue working together to support our campus community. Stay tuned for details on the next Virtual Town Hall—updates will be posted here soon!