President/CEO Message
May 10, 2021
Happy Monday! We are coming closer and closer to the end of the 2020-2021 year. I wanted to begin the President/CEO Message with the 2021-2022 Compton College Goals. These overarching goals are aligned with the California Community Colleges Vision for Success, and they will help Compton College administration select priorities for the coming year. These goals also are designed to help the college realize the Compton College 2024 Comprehensive Master Plan and the Institutional Set Goals by 2021-2022. These goals were drafted and vetted by faculty, staff, administrators, the Planning and Budget Committee, Consultative Council, and the Compton CCD Board of Trustees. The 2021-2022 Compton College Goals will be on the May 18, 2021, Compton CCD Board of Trustees agenda for final approval. The 2021-2022 Compton College Goals are available here.
Also, I am proud to announce the graduating class of 2021 includes 502 students earning associate degrees and 187 certificates being awarded. Thank you to the Admissions & Records Office and Counseling Department for their assistance with processing graduation petitions. A special thank you to our one and only, Evaluations Specialist, Felecia Hatten, for outstanding work processing all the 2020-2021 graduation petitions.
The President/CEO Message - May 10, 2021, includes COVID-19 information and other campus-related updates.
Compton College COVID-19 Update
Los Angeles County's current risk level is Yellow Tier (minimal), according to California's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy." On May 9, 2021, there were 248 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 1,235,651 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. Compton College is operating at Level 3 - Moderate Infection Rate according to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan.
Summer 2021 Enrollment Update
As of today, May 10, 2021, Compton College has generated 189 FTES for the summer 2021 term; the fill rate is currently 26%, and our seats filled is 1,381. The Summer 2021 Enrollment Report is available here. The first six-week and eight-week sessions begin on June 21, 2021, and the second six-week session begins on July 6, 2021. Please encourage interested students to register as soon as possible.
Safe to Return to Campus - Student Survey
Students were sent an email today from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness requesting their feedback on the Safe Return to Campus for the fall 2021 semester. Responses are due Friday, May 21, 2021. Students who complete the survey will be entered into an opportunity drawing for a $50 Bookstore gift card.
Mandated COVID-19 Vaccinations in California Community Colleges
As explained in the May 7, 2021 advisory issued by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, community college districts have the authority to mandate COVID-19 vaccines once they are approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
The 2021-01 advisory by Marc LeForestier, General Counsel, states: Although districts may impose a vaccine requirement, whether such a step should be taken will depend on the unique circumstances facing each college district. In addition, the circumstances surrounding the pandemic will continue to evolve, as will recommendations from federal, state, and local health officials. Districts should consult the latest available information when considering vaccination requirements, their implementation, and other mitigation measures.
Currently, Compton CCD does not mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees or students. However, I wanted to share the advisory with you since, over the past couple of weeks, there have been a lot of conversations about mandating the COVID-19 vaccinations at institutions of higher education.
Professional Development Opportunity: Cultural Connections-Asians Belong
Compton College is celebrating Asian Heritage and Pacific Islander month with a one-hour cultural discussion scheduled for Thursday, May 13, 2021, at noon. The event is open to all employees and students and will feature special guest speakers, peace advocate Susanna Yee, and Compton College Assistant Professor/Division Chair Dr. Valerie Woodward. Click here to RSVP.
Classified Professional Development Day
Compton College Classified Professional Development Day is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2021, via Zoom Meeting from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Classified staff, please check your email for a reminder from Professional Development Manager Pilar Huffman, that includes the agenda and the Zoom Meeting information.
Zoom-Free Day Set
As I first mentioned in the President/CEO Message - February 18, 2021, I have been looking forward to a Zoom-free day. And at today's Consultative Council meeting, we approved the Academic Senate recommendation to make Friday, June 4, 2021, a Zoom-free day. No meetings are to be scheduled on that day, and if you have a Zoom Meeting already scheduled on this day, please reschedule. Classes will remain as scheduled on Friday, June 4, 2021, and should not be canceled. This is not a non-instructional day, so everyone is still expected to work on this day, but it is a Zoom-free day.
eLumen Training for Faculty
Compton College faculty are invited to join the eLumen Launch scheduled for May 10-13, 2021. The Outcomes Committee will be providing training on general eLumen navigation and how to input student assessment data. All faculty are welcome to join any or all the training sessions. An email was sent to all faculty last Wednesday by Professional Development Manager Pilar Huffman that includes the complete schedule of training and the Zoom Meeting information.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The Compton CCD Board of Trustees' next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, 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
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be focused on developing the 2021-2022 Compton CCD Tentative Budget. I will be making some critical decisions regarding one-time funding, ongoing funding, and staffing requests for the 2021-2022 year. Our goal is to present the Tentative Budget to the Compton CCD Board of Trustees at their June 15, 2021 meeting. Also, through the Collaborative Governance process, we will share the final Report on the 2021-2022 Annual Planning Cycle at Compton College. A notification will be sent to departments and programs whose funding requests were not approved. For your reference, the Report on the 2020-2021 Annual Planning Cycle at Compton College is available here.
Sometime this week, we anticipate receiving additional information on the Governor's May Revise. Along with many of my colleagues in the California community colleges system, I am encouraged by the projected increase in revenues for the State of California. However, I am very concerned about the long-term fiscal stability of our state. More information on the Governor's May Revise will be included in an upcoming President/CEO Message.
This Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., I will participate in the Compton College Virtual Paint Night, sponsored by the Fine Arts, Communication, and Humanities Guided Pathway Division. Special thanks to all those involved with planning this event, and a special thank you to Compton College Assistant Professor Vanessa Madrid, who will be leading this experience.
In closing, please check the online event calendar for what is happening at Compton College. The online event calendar is available here.
Please be safe and have a wonderful week.
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
