Los Medanos College is teaming up with other Bay Area community colleges to strengthen academic freedom, equity, and student success through a new regional agreement.

In June, the Contra Costa Community College District’s Governing Board unanimously approved the Bay Area Community Colleges’ Mutual Support Compact. The agreement brings together districts and colleges across the region to share resources, advocate collectively, support students, and faculty in the face of political and social pressures on higher education.

Pamela Ralston, president of Los Medanos College, said she was drawn to the compact because it builds collaboration around values her college already embraces.

“Our district joined the compact, which means our three colleges, Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College, with support by our Board of Trustees, joined,” Ralston said. “As one president in that group, I was interested in the collaborative support with other colleges and districts in preserving academic freedom, our focus on equity, inclusion, diversity, and excellence, and staying committed to serving the needs of our students and our community.”

She added that the compact could create new ways to partner with nearby colleges if federal funding or regulations change. “The compact will likely create opportunities to work more closely with neighboring colleges to serve our region, especially if we experience challenges with the federal government in funding or changing regulations,” she said.

The compact highlights shared principles such as academic integrity, due process, and ethical conduct. It also sets up a framework for colleges to step in and help one another if there are threats to teaching, governance, or operations.

Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh said the compact reflects the region’s shared priorities and builds on existing partnerships.

“The Bay Area colleges have much in common pertaining to our student demographics, our local economy, and our shared imperative to serve and lift our communities by safeguarding equitable, high-quality education,” Mehdizadeh said. “We also recognize that we are stronger together as we utilize a collective approach to meet our goals.”

She pointed to examples like the Bay Area K-16 Collaborative, which focuses on student retention and preparation for high-wage careers. She also noted that several districts are working together to pursue new philanthropic funding opportunities to support minority-serving institutions.

Ralston said she hopes the compact helps students feel supported, especially at a time when federal policy has at times created fear in local communities.

“I hope students will feel seen and supported, especially after President Trump’s executive orders that sowed fear and mistrust among many people in our communities,” she said. “I hope we benefit by building new opportunities at our college and across our region.”

Mehdizadeh said the message is one of reassurance.

“I hope the message received by our students, employees, all stakeholder groups, and our communities is that we are here with them and for them,” she said. “We are committed to upholding our educational values and realizing our vision: to be a leader in educational excellence, advancing equitable student achievement, fostering social mobility, and transforming the communities we serve.”