Information technology administrators at Pasadena City College have been recognized with two awards for their outstanding achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic, a statewide trade group announced recently.
The Chief Information Systems Officers Association of the California Community Colleges and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office named PCC the recipient of the “Technology Focus Team Award” for the college’s system that provides apps to students studying at home.
Known as AWS AppStream, PCC’s virtual learning environment allows students to download key applications, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Maya, and AutoCAD, on an as-needed basis. The system enables students to continue their learning without requiring the use of high-end computer systems or paying additional fees.
The system is a crucial part of the college’s ongoing remote educational operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a separate announcement, CISOA also recognized PCC with the Technology Planning Team Award for work on the college’s Technology Master Plan. This strategic planning document prioritizes college investments in technology over the next five years.
“The coronavirus pandemic turned our world upside down, but our Information Technology Services team did fantastic work keeping our college open,” Erika Endrijonas, PCC’s superintendent/president, said in a news release. “The team moved quickly to get equipment to students and faculty, develop solutions to keep information moving, and maintain an exceptional quality of service throughout this entire period. The CISOA awards today are just the cherry on top of an amazing year of achievements.”
Said PCC Trustee Linda Wah: “It’s never been clearer that technology is a vital part of any educational experience. Our college has to continue innovating and iterating to make sure students have every support they need to succeed. I’ve been so pleased with the collegewide effort, led by Information Technology Services, that is giving us a strategic plan to drive us forward.”
PCC’s Information Technology Services department is led by Associate Vice President and Chief Information Office Candace Jones, who joined the college more than two years ago. Prior to overseeing a team of 32 in Pasadena, Jones worked for the University of California Office of the President and Pepperdine University.
CISOA brings together information technology administrators from all 74 California Community College districts to share best practices, tackle common issues, and provide professional development to college leaders across the state.
The awards will be formally presented to the college in a ceremony at the CISOA Virtual Technology Summit, Feb. 8-11. For more information, visit cisoa.org.
PCC Receives 2 Statewide Awards
