[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 50 (Friday, March 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO FOOTHILL COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 17, 2023

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Foothill College on 
being named the Best Community College in America by Niche and Stacker. 
Foothill is located in Los Altos Hills, California, and has been a 
pioneer in higher education since its founding in 1957. Foothill 
College democratizes higher education by offering 191 degrees and 
certificates to students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. More 
than 13,000 students are enrolled each quarter across the institution's 
learning settings, which include online classes, field sites, and its 
beautiful campus. More than 60 percent of students are minorities, 45 
percent of enrollees are 25 years or older, and women represent more 
than half of those enrolled.
  The values of the College underpin everything it does: honesty, 
integrity, trust, openness, transparency, forgiveness, sustainability, 
and excellence. Trust and openness are evident in the sterling review 
one Junior wrote about Foothill:
  ``The professors show that they care for their students by being 
flexible to meet with students one-on-one and they are very big on 
advocating for diversity within their classrooms [. . .] Most 
importantly, the professors provide students with the information of 
almost every resource that is available to us such as tutoring, mental 
health services, and financial aid resources.'' (Niche)
  Foothill College maintains its excellence by continuously measuring 
its accessibility, student success, pedagogy, and learning climate. The 
Financial Aid Office delivers on its mission to make a college 
education attainable for every student through the Foothill College 
Promise, two years of free tuition for first-time, full-time students. 
Student Services creates an inclusive learning community by working 
with professors to provide personal translation services in 12 
languages, including American Sign Language. A survey of recent 
graduates shows that 85 percent of students who studied Careers in 
Technical Education got a job in a field similar to their academic 
focus, and 57 percent of students who entered the work force after 
community college secured a living wage. Foothill is pushing the 
boundaries of community college education by offering a bachelor's 
degree in Dental Hygiene, and a new bachelor's degree in Respiratory 
Therapy starting in 2024.
  Our Nation's Veterans have made Foothill College their home. Working 
hand-in-hand with the Veterans Resource Center, servicemembers explore 
careers and become part of the local community. Many transfer to a 4-
year college or begin working, empowered by the tools Foothill College 
has given them.
  For all these reasons and more, Foothill College has earned the 
distinction of `The Best Community College in America'. As a graduate 
of a community college myself, I know how valuable a community college 
education is. How proud I am that the home of Foothill College is 
California's 16th Congressional District where it is a jewel in the 
crown of the District that I am so privileged to represent.

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