Appreciation And Advocacy As We Close The Academic Year

Dear Colleagues,

As we draw to a close this Academic Year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your hard work, commitment, and resilience. Whether in the classroom, behind the scenes, or in direct support of our students and programs, your efforts continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

At Pima, we are not only focused on delivering high-quality education and student support—we are also actively engaged in advocacy efforts that protect and advance our mission.

At the state level, our Government Relations team has worked diligently with peer institutions to advocate for critical investments in Adult Basic Education, Dual Enrollment, and to safeguard our STEM and Workforce Development funding. These efforts are essential to maintaining the opportunities we provide for Southern Arizona.

At the federal level, we’ve been especially focused on proposed changes to student aid, including potential limitations to the Pell Grant and revisions to student loan programs. Alongside our national partners, we’ve been working to ensure that the voices of community college students and institutions are heard by our elected officials. These changes could have a direct and adverse impact on college access and affordability, especially for the students we serve.

We encourage all who support the mission of community colleges—faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and partners—to make your voices heard. Reach out to your colleagues, local businesses, and elected representatives to share how important Pell and other aid programs are to ensuring access to higher education and our community's workforce development efforts.

Amid these challenges, I want to underscore that Pima Community College has made a deliberate choice not to raise property taxes or tuition during this time. This decision reflects both our commitment to affordability and our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency. We are working hard to steward public resources wisely while delivering high-quality education and services to our community.

As we head into the summer months, please continue to stay informed. Any important updates will be shared with the college community, and our C3 Office FAQ page (located under MyPima > Employees > C3 Office) will be updated regularly with relevant information and resources. If your questions aren’t addressed there, please reach out to your Campus Vice President or Brian Stewart, Chief Cultural Impact Officer, at bstewart@pima.edu.

Thank you again for your dedication to our students and our shared mission. I wish each of you a safe, restorative, and meaningful summer.

With gratitude

Jeffrey P. Nasse, Ph.D.

Chancellor