President/CEO Message
August 26, 2021
This has been an interesting first week. Some things went as planned and some did not. However, we adjusted, and I felt it was an excellent first week of the semester overall. Enrollment continues to improve, and we will continue to work together to regain our lost Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES). I like many of you, am concerned about our ongoing decline in enrollment. The COVID-19 pandemic affected enrollment for all California community colleges, and the termination of the partnership with El Camino Community College District severely impacted our enrollment in particular. It is imperative that we continue to implement Compton College 2024, Guided Pathways, the Tartar Success Teams, and continue to build new facilities.
This afternoon, I meet with the Community Relations, Educational Partnerships, and Call Center staff to better understand of what is happening with the Outreach and Recruitment Strategies for 2021-2022. We discussed the importance of more of our students enrolling in one more class this semester. More information on the new One More Class - You’ve Got This! campaign is included in this President/CEO Message.
The President/CEO Message - August 26, 2021, includes COVID-19 information and other campus-related updates.
Compton College COVID-19 Update
Los Angeles County's Daily COVID-19 Data webpage reports 3,322 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County as of 6:00 p.m. on August 25, 2021. The county now has a total of 1,391,363 reported cases (including cases reported by Long Beach and Pasadena health departments). For more information, go to publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/. Compton College is operating at Level 4 - Severe Infection Rate according to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan.
Fall 2021 Enrollment Update
As of today, August 26, 2021, Compton College has generated 1,168 FTES for the Fall 2021 term. Our fill rate is currently 54%, and our seats filled is 7,781. Click here to view today's enrollment snapshot.
One More Class - You've Got This!
Next week we will be kicking off the new "One More Class - You've Got This!" campaign for currently enrolled Compton College students. Our goal is to encourage current students to enroll in one more class during this semester. We need your help. Would you please encourage your students to keep the momentum going with their educational goals by enrolling in one more class this semester? A list of open classes is available here.
Students who are enrolled in 12 or more units are eligible for programs such as EOPS and CARE and other financial and student support programs.
Compton CCD Full-Time Equivalent Student (FTES) Hold Harmless Provision
In the President/CEO Message - June 25, 2020, and again in the President/CEO Message - October 19, 2020, I explained that with the assistance of our statewide elected officials and the California Department of Finance, due to our accreditation status and the conclusion of the partnership with the El Camino Community College District, the 2017-2018 California State Budget provided Compton CCD with FTES Hold-Harmless Provision for 5,980 FTES. In June 2020, the provision was extended through 2025-2026. What does the FTES Hold-Harmless Provision mean? Let me keep this as simple as possible. The Compton CCD receives state funds based on 5,980 FTES regardless of actual/reported FTES. Over the past couple of years, we have received additional funding due to the FTES Hold-Harmless Provision. We worked tirelessly to ensure Compton College received this protection. As mentioned in previous President/CEO Messages, we will submit another request this year to extend the FTES Hold-Harmless Provision through 2028-2029.
As mentioned in the President/CEO Message - August 23, 2021, we will develop a plan this year to address the conclusion of Compton CCD's FTES Hold-Harmless Provision. To assist in developing the plan, we are gathering financial information from 2017-2018 through 2020-2021 years related to our current FTES funding versus our FTES funding without the FTES Hold-Harmless Provision. If you have any additional questions regarding the Compton CCD FTES Hold-Harmless Provision, please email me at kcurry@compton.edu.
Now Hiring Student Workers!
The Compton College Call Center is NOW HIRING current students for the morning, evening, and weekend shifts. Help students with the Steps to Enrollment and MyCompton, + answer student questions. Email gbejar@compton.edu for more info.
2021-2022 Compton College Professional Development Calendar
Compton College has an ongoing commitment to providing professional learning opportunities for the faculty, Classified staff, and managers/supervisors to develop the necessary knowledge and skills that are essential to student success. To enhance the professional growth of all employees, the Professional Development webpage provides access to current training and mentoring opportunities, upcoming events, and on-demand training webinars.
All employee groups of Compton College share a universal theme for learning, including equity, diversity, and technology. The 2021-2022 Professional Development Calendar focuses on those topics and provides the necessary resources to enhance the fundamental skills needed to facilitate student engagement, persistence, and success. Click here for the 2021-2022 Professional Development Calendar.
Free Food Drive-In Give Away and COVID-19 Vaccinations - September 1, 2021
The Los Angeles County Supervisor, Holly Mitchell, Second District in partnership with Compton College, the City of Compton, and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Los Angeles County Food Bank, and St. John's Well Child and Family Center are partnering to provide FREE food and COVID-19 vaccinations to current students and members of the community on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Lot F on the Compton College campus. Students and community members should enter from Greenleaf Boulevard entrance. We will have 1,200 boxes of food to distribute, which is available while supplies last; first-come-first-served. Drive-thru distribution only, no walk-ins.
Online Applause Card Nomination Form
Just a friendly reminder, the online nomination form is now available here. Employees, students, and the community may recognize a Compton CCD employee for helping to ensure the success of our students. Complete the online form, and the President/CEO Office will officially recognize the employee who helped you.
2021-2022 Compton CCD Final Budget
The 2021-2022 Compton CCD Final Budget is available online here. The 2021-2022 Final Budget will be presented at the September 7, 2021, Board of Trustees meeting, where a public hearing on the 2021-2022 Final Budget will be held.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The Compton CCD Board of Trustees' next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 7, 2021. The closed session begins at 4:00 p.m., with the open session commencing at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom Meeting. Information on how to access the Compton CCD Board of Trustees meeting is available here.
President/CEO Closing the Loop
In the President/CEO Message - March 1, 2021, and the President/CEO Message - April 1, 2021, I mentioned the establishment of the Compton College Call Center to assist with recruitment and retention efforts for Compton College and that funding would be available through December 31, 2021. With financial support that was included in the California Budget Act of 2021, we will provide an additional $250,000 to support the Compton College Call Center through June 30, 2022, for outreach and retention purposes.
Final Thoughts
As a follow-up to the President/CEO Message - August 19, 2021, regarding the Compton Community College District Credit Rating Update, yesterday, Moody's Investors Service published a press release regarding the credit rating for the Compton Community College District which is available here.
Moody's Investors Service has upgraded the Compton Community College District, CA's general obligation (GO) bond rating to Aa3 from A1 and revised the outlook on the district's ratings to stable from positive. This is a significant accomplishment for Compton College and Compton CCD.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have received calls and emails regarding the COVID-19 booster shot for employees and students who received the COVID-19 vaccine at the St. John's Health Center on campus. We have begun having conversations with St. John's Well Child and Family Center about the booster shot and when it will be available on our campus. As we work through the details, we will provide updates through the President/CEO Messages.
In closing, as mentioned in the President/CEO Message - June 21, 2021, and the President/CEO Message - August 9, 2021, I am in the process of preparing my fall 2021 reading list, which will be released in the President/CEO Message - August 30, 2021.
Tomorrow is Friday, and I hope you don't have too many Zoom meetings. Please be safe!
Sincerely,
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
