President/CEO Message
March 15, 2021
Campus Community,
This morning, while I read the Inside Higher Education article titled, Reopening, With Equity, I contemplated the reopening of Compton College. I pondered how colleges and universities can address equity concerns as students return this new "normal." I am hopeful you are sharing your thoughts with your Division Chair, manager/supervisor, or administrator about the Eventual Return to Campus Planning. We have to take into account the needs of students and the health and safety of students and our employees. We are conducting much research and having conversations about the Eventual Return to Campus Plan and planning for the fall 2021 semester. Please note, summer 2021 courses will be offered online, and a decision regarding fall 2021 instruction will be made by April 1, 2021. The President/CEO Message - March 15, 2021, includes COVID-19 information and other campus-related updates.
Compton College COVID-19 Update
Los Angeles County's current risk level is Red Tier (substantial), according to California's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy." On March 14, 2021, there were 644 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 1,210,265 reported cases (including cases reported by Long Beach and Pasadena Health Departments). For more information, go to http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm.
As California's blueprint for reopening loosens restrictions on activities based on the level of spread of COVID-19, Compton College will now operate at Level 3 - Moderate Infection Rate according to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan. This decision aligns with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health "Protocol for Institutions of Higher Education" and assists the College in its preparation for a gradual reopening of the campus. As noted in the March 11, 2021 President/CEO Message, Compton College has not experienced an on-campus positive COVID-19 case in over six weeks, therefore we can begin to plan for the return of additional programs and services to campus, in anticipation of Los Angeles County continuing to ease restrictions.
Spring 2021 Enrollment Update
As of today, March 15, 2021, Compton College has generated 1,246 FTES for the spring 2021 semester; the fill rate is currently 55%, and our seats filled is 8,269. The Spring 2021 Enrollment Report is available here.
Student Communications
The Compton College Admissions & Records Office sent an email today to students who received a letter grade of D, F or W in the spring 2020 semester. Students are encouraged to submit an Excused Withdrawal (EW) petition to Admissions & Records so that any non-passing grade can be changed to an EW. EWs will not affect students’ grade point average (GPA) and do not negatively impact their completion ratio. Students must email the completed petition and their personal statement directly to admissions@compton.edu by December 10, 2021 for the spring 2020 semester. Students who require assistance filling out the petition may use Drop-in Counseling or Schedule an Appointment with a counselor.
FREE Resources Available for Spring 2021 Students
It's not too late to apply for free resources for the spring semester. Laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, calculators, meals & food vouchers, housing referrals, headsets, and financial assistance are available to currently enrolled students via the Student Resources Form, available here. Edquity emergency grants are available to those students who have experienced financial hardship and expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to apply for a grant or free resources, go to www.compton.edu/studentservices/student-equity-program/student-resources. Questions? Send an email to tartarsupport@compton.edu.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The Compton CCD Board of Trustees' next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, 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.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned in the President/CEO Message - September 10, 2021, I want to encourage you to review the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting Agendas. Each month, the information section of the board agenda includes the Board of Trustees Goals, updates on programs and services, District financial reports, and information on the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee. The current and previous board agendas are available online at https://www.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf; click 'Enter Public Site." The following financial information is available for review in the Information Items section, each month:
- Compton Community College District Budget to Actuals Fiscal Year 2020-2021
- Compton Community College District Cashflow Analysis for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
- Compton Community College District Five-Year Fiscal Management Plan
Dr. Abdul Nasser, Vice President of Administrative Services, and I are closely monitoring the finances of the Compton CCD and provide information to the Compton CCD Board of Trustees monthly. Hopefully, you have time to review the documents listed above.
In closing, we are in week 5 of the semester, and time is moving fast. Please hold 1-2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, open on your calendars. During our quarterly Tartar Talks, we will also host a "Compton College Zoom Picture Day." Full-time faculty, Classified staff, and managers/supervisors will receive a Compton College t-shirt in the mail to wear during the virtual Picture Day in the coming weeks.
Please be safe and have a wonderful week.
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
