Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19, 2026
President Ronald Reagan officially established Martin Luther King Jr. Day on November 2, 1983, annually marking the third Monday of January as a federal tribute to the civil rights icon. Although the bill was introduced merely days after Dr. King’s 1968 assassination, it required 15 years of relentless advocacy to secure federal approval and wasn't observed by all 50 states until 2000. Now recognized as a National Day of Service, the holiday empowers Americans to honor Dr. King's legacy through community volunteerism.
The overarching theme for 2026, as led by The King Center, is "Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way." Dr. King’s legacy is rooted in the "Beloved Community", a vision of a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love for one's fellow human beings.
This holiday is also known as "A Day On, Not a Day Off". The King Center provides ways to get involved:
Spring Convocation Day is January 23, 2026!
We are excited to welcome everyone back on January 23, 2026, to our Spring Convocation Day! Spring Convocation Day schedule. Please note, Convocation Day will commence at 8:30 am at the Weed Community Center located at 161 E. Lincoln Avenue, in Weed. Lunch will be served at the College of the Siskiyous Weed Campus Student Center (Building 1) at 12:00 pm.
Stay Connected
Signs of winter are here. Be prepared and 'stay in the know.' Sign up today for COS Connect. This is a free system used to notify students and staff of emergency-situations, campus closures, or general information. To sign up click on the COS Connect button located on the COS homepage in the footer and follow the directions to sign up. Need help, send an email, call the office, or stop by for a chat.
Holiday Craft Fair
The 28th Annual COS Holiday Craft Fair was held December 5 and Saturday, December 6 at the COS Weed Campus in the Gym. Thank you to all who came out and supported our event.
Come Join Our Team
We are looking for new volunteers to join the Eagle's Nest team. Volunteers work as cashiers, screening items as they come in, price merchandise, repair items, research antiques, etc. There is never a dull moment at the Eagles Nest. We are also looking for student workers. If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering or working as a paid student worker, have them call (530) 938-4663 or stop by the Eagle’s Nest Shop to speak with Angel Keen, Shop Supervisor.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
January 2026
February 2026
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The Business Office continues to make progress toward finalizing the 2024–2025 audit. Auditors are now expected to attend the February Board of Trustees meeting to present the audit report, allowing adequate time for all required submissions to the appropriate agencies.
The department is also in the process of recruiting for an Account Clerk II/Cashier position, with plans to fill the vacancy in early to mid-March.
In addition, budget development for the upcoming 2026–2027 fiscal year is underway. Training sessions for budget managers will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Student Housing Complex - Following the Board of Trustees’ contract award to Modern Builders Inc. at the December 9th meeting, an initial construction meeting was held on January 13, 2026, to discuss the project and timeline needs. Information and updates regarding the project will be posted on the new Construction Projects webpage as it becomes available. New features such as an inquiry form and daily/weekly updates and photo album will be added to the page later this spring.
Theater Arts & McCloud Hall - This project is currently in the final State review phase. We anticipate opening the project for final bids in February 2026 as we move toward a modern, air-conditioned performance space.
Academic Department Relocations – Due to the start of construction at the Weed Campus, several programs/classes have been relocated:
Note: Instructor offices in McCloud Hall and the Theater Arts building have also been relocated, as has the Weblinks office. Phone extensions have not changed. The Faculty Production Center is now located in the Science Building (103).
Employee Resources - While a dedicated staff lounge is currently unavailable due to space reallocations, the CSEA and Faculty employee boards remain accessible in Life Science 108.
Safety Training - Our maintenance and custodial teams completed specialized lift training this month. This training ensures our crews utilize the latest safety protocols and proper body mechanics to maintain campus facilities safely.
Safety Spotlight: Electric Portable Space Heaters – When the weather turns cold, it can bring a chill into our workspaces. Portable space heaters have become a popular way to supplement heating in your office or workspace. If you plan to use portable electric space heaters, make sure to follow these tips and recommendations.
Food Services continues to experience positive momentum, highlighted by several staffing updates. A new Food Services Assistant, Shelby Woodard, has joined the team and will work weekends to provide expanded food options for resident lodge students.
An additional Food Services Assistant is in the final stages of the hiring process. Recruitment for the morning Cook position has progressed to first-round interviews, scheduled for the last week of January, with the department anticipating a new Cook to begin by March 1.
And just like that, 2025 is over and 2026 is here. This last year was full of successful events, great accomplishments, new hires, student successes, and tremendous professional and personal growth. The Student Services team members are all shining stars. I get to come every day and do a job that I absolutely love and that is because of students and the team that I get to work with. I want to acknowledge them and express my gratitude for their valued contributions to the betterment of the lives of the students at COS.
We want to welcome three new team members to Student Services. We are excited to add:
As we start the new year, I look forward to continuing to build on the progress we have made in Student Services but across the entire campus. We continue to exceed our Strategic Enrollment Management Goals in all three areas of the Student-Centered Funding Formula. This is something we should all be proud of. If that continues throughout this academic year, we are in a strong position to break out of Hold Harmless in the 26-27 year. Woohoo! Kudos to all for making that happen and being part of the great work.
Student Housing closed out the fall semester in December with Resident Assistants hosting their final programs and events that supported student engagement, community connection, and campus culture.
Before the closure of Winter Break, we welcomed a new team member, Mason Duplissie, who has joined Student Housing and Student Life as our new Assistant Director.
Housing is pleased to welcome our next cohort of Police Cadets, and we reopened housing on January 2 for students with supplemental contracts during Winter Intersession. Housing operations continue to run as we prepare for the return of the broader student population.
The Lodges will officially reopen for the Spring term on Wednesday, January 21, and look forward to welcoming students back for another successful semester. Thank you to our campus community for your continued collaboration and support!
The library will be starting Game Nights again on the second Monday of the month throughout the Spring semester (our first will be February 9th). Stop by to learn a new game, play an old favorite, and enjoy refreshments (many thanks to Outreach & Retention for providing food). Game Night starts at 5:30 pm, and all students and employees are welcome.
Fire Technology Program Wraps Up a Strong Fall Semester
November and December 2025 were very productive for the Fire Technology Program, as students and professional firefighters participated in a series of advanced training courses designed to enhance safety, skills, and instructional capabilities within the fire service. 2026 is officially underway and we just completed a successful Burn Week.
Fire Academy Completes Firefighter Survival Course
The Fire Academy successfully completed the intensive Firefighter Survival Course. This training placed cadets in high-stress, realistic scenarios that required them to practice essential self-rescue skills, emergency egress techniques, and rapid decision-making under pressure. From navigating entanglement hazards to performing wall breaching and low-profile maneuvers, cadets learned proven methods to increase their chances of survival in worst-case situations. Instructors noted the cadets’ strong performance and teamwork throughout the course.
Vehicle Extrication and Patient Entrapment Training
Mid-month November 2025, the program hosted a Vehicle Extrication and Patient Entrapment course for Siskiyou County Volunteer Firefighters and Cal Fire. This course is designed to operate hydraulic rescue tools and COS Fire Technology’s brand new Battery-Operated Hydraulic Rescue Tools, stabilize vehicles, and practice removing trapped victims safely and efficiently. The hands-on scenarios emphasized communication, precision, and patient care in complicated situations.
Fire Instructor 1 Course Strengthens Future Leaders
Closing out the fall semester, the Fire Instructor 1 course provided new and aspiring instructors with the foundation needed to teach effectively in the fire service. Attendees developed lesson plans, practiced instructional delivery, and learned methods for evaluating student performance in both classroom and drill-ground environments. The course underscored the importance of leadership, professionalism, and clear communication skills that will serve these future instructors as they train the next generation of firefighters.
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