College of the Siskiyous Announces Major Updates: Financial Aid Review, Tobacco-Free Campus, and Fall Registration Open

Weed, CA – College of the Siskiyous (COS) has announced several significant updates affecting students, faculty, and the broader campus community as the institution prepares for the fall 2025 semester.

Financial Aid Program Undergoes Standards Review

The college recently completed a proactive Standards of Excellence (SOE) review of its financial aid programs conducted by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). While the peer review confirmed COS’s ongoing commitment to providing crucial financial assistance to students, it also identified areas of compliance challenges and provided recommendations for improvement.

In response to the review results, COS immediately initiated a Financial Aid Taskforce and contracted with NASFAA to update the college’s Policy and Procedures manual. The institution is developing a detailed corrective action plan that includes specific steps, timelines, and responsible parties to ensure full compliance is achieved and maintained.

“Integrity and adherence to all applicable regulations are paramount to our mission of ensuring equitable access to higher education,” the college stated. “We understand the importance of responsible stewardship of financial aid resources and are fully committed to implement recommended changes swiftly and effectively.”

Campus Goes Tobacco-Free Starting 2026

In a unanimous decision by the Board of Trustees on May 20, 2025, COS announced it will become a 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2026. The transition was driven by a grassroots effort led by a COS Tobacco-Free Workgroup, the Administration and Safety Committee, and California Health Collaborative’s Smoke Free High Country project.

The policy change aims to create a healthier campus environment for all visitors. Amanda Berryhill and Catherine Sievers from the Smoke Free High Country project spearheaded the initiative, and their organization will continue supporting COS by providing quit resources, signage, and education.

Implementation steps include educating students and employees, providing support for those interested in quitting tobacco, and promoting the campus as a healthier place to live, work, and learn. The COS Wellness Center will offer tobacco quit counseling for staff, students, and faculty, while additional resources like the 1-800-NO-BUTTS helpline will be available to the community.

Research shows that tobacco-free campus policies improve physical and mental health among campus attendees, reduce toxic litter, and create a trigger-free environment that better supports those trying to quit tobacco.

New Course Offerings and Academic Updates

For the fall semester, COS is introducing an innovative new course in communications. Jayne Turk, a long-time faculty member, will teach Podcasting & Live Streaming (COMS 2100 – CRN 7241), focusing on technology, content creation, and social media strategies. The course meets Tuesday evenings via Zoom from 6:00 to 8:50 PM and is both AA degree applicable and transferable to CSU and UC systems.

Students enrolling in the podcasting course will need effective computer skills and reliable internet access, with cameras required for participation. While the class is primarily conducted online, students may attend the first week in person at the Weed Campus Distance Learning Center and are encouraged to do so if they’re in the local area.

Statewide Course Numbering System Implemented

As part of a broader California Community Colleges initiative, COS is implementing the Common Course Numbering project (AB 1111) starting fall 2025. This statewide system will standardize course subjects and numbers across all California Community Colleges, ensuring equivalent courses have the same identifier regardless of which college offers them.

Six courses at COS will receive new course numbers and titles:

• COMS 1100 Public Speaking becomes COMM C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking
• ENGL 1001 College Composition becomes ENGL C1000 Academic Reading and Writing
• ENGL 1502 Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking becomes ENGL C1001 Critical Thinking and Writing
• POLS 1001 American Government becomes POLS C1000 American Government and Politics
• PSY 1001 General Psychology becomes PSYC C1000 Introduction to Psychology
• MATH 1050 Elementary Statistics becomes STAT C1000 Introduction to Statistics

This system helps students plan their academic journeys with confidence, particularly when transferring to UC and CSU systems, by simplifying credit transfer between community colleges and reducing confusion about transferable credits.

Fall Registration Now Open

Registration is currently open for fall semester classes at College of the Siskiyous, with classes beginning Monday, August 18. The college is offering face-to-face, remote, and fully online classes this semester, with early registration recommended to secure desired courses.

Students can view the complete schedule of classes online at www.siskiyous.edu and register either in person at the Weed Campus or online at any time. For registration assistance, the Enrollment Services Office can be reached at (530) 938-5500, while the Weed Campus main number is (530) 938-5555 or toll-free at (888) 397-4339.

The college emphasizes that these updates reflect its ongoing commitment to providing accessible, affordable education while maintaining high standards of compliance and student support. Additional updates will be provided to the community as progress continues on these various initiatives.

For more information about any of these programs or services, contact the appropriate department through the college’s main website at www.siskiyous.edu.

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