President's Update
March 2026
Dear FRCC Community,
As I attended Achieving the Dream’s annual DREAM conference this week, I found myself sitting in the audience with a full heart. March is Women’s History Month, a time when we honor the women whose courage shapes our world. And there at the podium in Portland, one of those women was right in front of me.
Our Gateway to College student Nubia Garza has been named one of just eight DREAM Scholars nationwide—and she is the only one still in high school. Listening to Nubia share her story, I felt the quiet strength and grace that she carries so naturally. She spoke not just with resilience, but with a kind of hope that refuses to be dimmed. In that moment, I realized she has become one of my women of impact—someone whose spirit I will carry with me long after this month ends.
Nubia’s story is a fantastic reminder that history isn’t only written in textbooks. It’s written by young women who rise, who persist, who dream boldly—and who show us what is possible when we believe in our own voice. Her journey shows what happens when we meet students where they are and give them the support to go farther than they ever imagined.
I'm incredibly proud of her, and I invite you to read her inspiring story.
Top Stories
FRCC Nursing Programs Ranked #1 in Colorado
FRCC’s nursing programs are setting the standard in Colorado. In 2025, both the Larimer and Westminster Campus nursing programs earned the #1 Registered Nurse program ranking in the state from NursingExplorer.com—a national resource that helps students compare nursing programs across the country.
This ranking reflects more than academic excellence—it demonstrates measurable impact on student success and community health. Our graduates consistently pass licensure exams at exceptional rates: 98.93% at Larimer Campus and 98.1% at Westminster Campus over the past three years. They enter the workforce prepared to deliver high-quality patient care while securing family-sustaining careers.
At a time when Colorado faces a critical nursing shortage, FRCC is helping healthcare providers maintain staffing and strengthen patient care across the state. This is what workforce development looks like when it's done right.
Employee Spotlights
Jaren Seid
When economics faculty member Jaren Seid talks about teaching, one thing stands out: He loves the moment students connect classroom learning to the world around them.
"When students have that 'aha' moment, when they see how economics explains inflation, housing markets, or consumer behavior—that's what makes this work meaningful," says Jaren, who serves as lead economics faculty for the college’s Larimer, Boulder County and online programs.
Beyond the classroom, Jaren has led research on open educational resources and now co-facilitates FRCC's AI Academy, helping faculty explore artificial intelligence as a teaching tool. In his own classes, he teaches students to use AI as a learning partner, not just an answer generator.
After 15 years at FRCC, what keeps him here? "Front Range provides opportunities to explore your interests while being part of an institution focused on student success. That balance is what makes community colleges special."
Spread the Word
Voices 2026: Seeking Students to Share Their Stories
Every FRCC student has a story—and every single one matters.
Voices 2026 is our college’s storytelling program, designed to highlight the resilience, determination and impact of our students and alumni. We are inviting graduating students to apply and share their experience.
Do you know students who are: First-generation? Working parents? Career changers? TRIO scholars? Have they received scholarships, mentorship or community support that made a difference on their path?
Their story could inspire future students, strengthen our community and showcase the power of education across Colorado.
Encourage the remarkable students you know to apply to be part of Voices 2026 by filling out this form: FRCC Commencement 2026 Voices Program Survey.
Selected participants may be featured on the FRCC website, social media and during our May Commencement celebrations.
Applications close March 13, 2026. Help us get the word out so our students can let their voices be heard!
Scholarship Reviewers Needed | March 9
The FRCC Foundation is looking for 250 volunteer scholarship reviewers to support our students. Reviewers will evaluate up to 20 applications, all online from the comfort of your home.
With more than 1,624 scholarship applications already started, we need enough reviewers to ensure three reviews per application—a critical step in making fair, thoughtful scholarship decisions. This is a powerful way to learn firsthand about our students’ stories and see the direct impact of your support.
The reviewing period opens March 9 and closes March 20, so the time commitment is finite. Please volunteer to help get our scholarship funds out to deserving students!
Sign Up Here
Tools & Resources
Supporting Our Latine Students Through Spanish Language Training for Employees
As FRCC advances toward Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, we're making measurable progress in how we support and connect with our Latine students. A key part of that work is expanding the number of employees equipped to communicate effectively in Spanish—building trust, enhancing access and creating more welcoming campus experiences.
In 2025, through a first-of-its-kind initiative led by the college’s Enrollment Management & Student Success (EMSS) division, FRCC began offering free Spanish Level 1 and 2 for Professionals courses to strengthen the cultural and linguistic capacity of our student-facing teams. By removing financial barriers and prioritizing these roles, the program immediately enhanced the college’s ability to engage students and families in more inclusive and meaningful ways.
Building on its success, the initiative has expanded collegewide through a partnership with Organizational Development & Human Resources, the Hispanic-Serving Institution Task Force and Continuing Education. Launched in February, the expanded 10-week program includes six cohorts and 90 employees across all three campuses, strengthening collaboration and equipping our workforce to better serve FRCC’s evolving student population.
This investment advances the college’s strategic priority of cultivating a Vibrant Culture by deepening cultural competency, expanding inclusive communication and reinforcing our commitment to student success.
College Updates
FRCC Is One of Six Colleges Nationwide Helping Improve Community College Bachelor’s Degrees
FRCC is helping shape the future of community college baccalaureate education. We've been selected as one of only six Lead Colleges nationwide by the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA) to define what high-quality bachelor's degree programs should look like at community colleges.
This designation positions FRCC as a national model for excellence, innovation and equitable student success. Through this initiative, we'll test CCBA's new Quality Framework for Community College Baccalaureate Programs and provide feedback to help improve bachelor's degrees across the country, expanding affordable education options and addressing local workforce shortages.
FRCC will leverage this framework to elevate our already high-performing Bachelor of Science in nursing completion program, strengthening equity-driven student supports and embedding continuous improvement across program design and delivery. The result will be baccalaureate programs that are rigorous, relevant and intentionally built to help students thrive in today’s evolving economy.
Around FRCC
Building the Pack: New Alumni Series Strengthens Community & Connection
- Thursday, April 9th, 2026
5 – 7 pm
Prost Brewing Company, 351 W 104th Ave Unit A in Northglenn
Register Here > - Thursday, August 13th, 2026
5 – 7 pm
Odell Brewing Co, 800 East Lincoln Avenue in Fort Collins
Chancellor DeSanctis Visits FRCC Campuses
FRCC was honored to welcome Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Chancellor Dr. Marielena DeSanctis to our campuses for a collegewide engagement focused on our shared vision for student success, workforce innovation and community impact.
Throughout the day, the chancellor met with students, faculty, staff and college leadership and toured key learning spaces that reflect FRCC’s commitment to access, excellence and opportunity. Each campus showcased a unique part of the FRCC story, from strengthening pathways to student success, to advancing innovative workforce programs aligned with Colorado’s future.
These conversations reinforced the important role community colleges play in expanding access to education and preparing students for meaningful careers. The chancellor’s visit highlighted the strong alignment between FRCC’s strategic direction and the broader vision for CCCS.
We are proud to continue advancing our mission and shaping the future of community college education in Colorado.
FRCC Participates in Advance Longmont Economic Summit
On Tuesday, February 24, the Longmont Economic Development Partnership brought together 200 regional business leaders, investors and community partners for the 2026 Advance Longmont Economic Summit. The morning focused on how storytelling, data and place-based strategy can drive local economic growth, highlighting the growing intersection of film, creativity and business development as the region prepares for the Sundance Film Festival's relocation to Boulder.
FRCC's participation in the summit reinforces our commitment to transformational partnerships and our role as an education and workforce anchor in Longmont's evolving economy. As the region positions itself as a hub for innovation and creative industries, FRCC continues building pathways that connect students to emerging opportunities and strengthen the communities we serve.
Believe it or not, registration for our summer and fall semesters opens next week—an important moment in each student’s journey. This is often when decisions are made that shape momentum, confidence and progress toward completion.
You play a critical role in that moment. Whether through a conversation, a reminder or simply encouraging a student to connect with their advisor and plan ahead, your engagement makes a difference. I encourage you to help students explore their options, review their progress in Navigate and take the next step toward their goals.
The summer and fall class schedules are already available online. Priority registration begins Monday, March 9, and registration opens to all students on Monday, March 16.
Thank you for the role you play in helping our students persist, complete and realize their full potential. This is how we transform lives—together.
With Gratitude,
Colleen Simpson, EdD
President
Questions?
Larimer Campus
303-555-1212 | email us
Boulder County Campus
303-555-1212 | email us