Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 968 on June 29, 2026, permanently authorizing San Mateo County Community College District’s (SMCCCD) Free College initiative and removing its scheduled 2028 sunset date. The bill was authored by State Senator Josh Becker and coauthored by Assemblymembers Diane Papan and Marc Berman.
Education News
Jul 6 2026
May 19 2026
College of San Mateo students and faculty earned major recognition earlier this month at the 16th Annual Community College Honors Research Symposium hosted at Stanford University, showcasing the strength of CSM’s Honors Project learning community and its growing reputation for undergraduate research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and transfer preparation.
Apr 6 2026
A program through the San Mateo County Community College District is leading students affected by the juvenile justice system into higher education, an over-decade model for interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline throughout the state.
Mar 10 2026
College of San Mateo was recently honored by Stanford University with its Community Partnership Award, recognizing CSM’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program’s impactful collaboration with the Stanford Community College Outreach Program (CCOP) and its commitment to expanding STEM opportunities for community college students.
Feb 9 2026
Making free college a permanent program in the San Mateo County Community College District took another big step in the current legislative cycle through Senate Bill 968 that seeks to break cost barriers to education for county residents.
Aug 19 2025
Cost is often a major consideration when choosing a college. And with tuition rates continuing to rise every year — not to mention all the other expenses related to attendance — many would-be students are unable to afford a university education. That’s even more of a concern this year as lots of people deal with financial struggles caused by significant inflation.
Aug 19 2025
At College Futures Foundation, we believe that aligning postsecondary education for economic mobility is an important piece of the puzzle if we want a robust, inclusive economy in California.
Aug 14 2025
In California, about 2.1 million students attend community college per year. Comprised of 73 districts and 116 colleges, California’s community college system is the largest in the nation. While individual community colleges may vary in quality and affordability, a new study has identified seven in California as delivering the best education at the lowest price.
Aug 11 2025
A total of $818 million in facilities improvements has been identified at the San Mateo County Community College District’s three campuses and officials are discussing strategies to pay for them — including a potential ballot measure as soon as next year.
Apr 21 2025
On April 15, 2025, College of San Mateo (CSM) proudly celebrated nine distinguished faculty members who achieved tenure, a significant milestone marking their exceptional commitment to teaching, student success, and institutional excellence. The tenure celebration, held on campus, provided an opportunity for colleagues, administrators, and families to recognize the achievements of these faculty members.
