President/CEO Message
May 17, 2021
Last week, Kamilo Ali Curry started a countdown to his summer break. Each day Kamilo reminds me that he is getting closer to his summer break. In the spirit of the countdowns, Compton College is 25 days away from the end of the spring 2021 semester.
California Governor, Gavin Newsom, released his May Revision of the 2021-2022 state budget on May 14, 2021. I am still reviewing all the information, but I can already tell this is a very good budget proposal for the State of California, and in particular, community colleges. The Governor's May Revision includes funding for a new $11.7 million Visual and Performing Arts Building at Compton College. I am so excited about this new facility, which will support our music, dance, performing arts, and film/video programs.
The Governor's May Revision proposes significant one-time and ongoing investments that reflect the Governor's continued commitment to affordability, access, and efficiency in higher education. These investments include making college savings accounts widely available to low-income children; providing grants to advance training and education for workers impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic; promoting learning-aligned, long-term career development opportunities; expanding the availability of affordable student housing; and establishing regional K-16 education collaboratives focused on streamlining educational pathways leading to in-demand jobs.
We will continue to analyze the Governor's May Revision and adjust our 2021-2022 Compton Community College District Tentative Budget Assumptions accordingly. The Joint Analysis - Governor's 2021-2022 May Revision, developed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, Association of Chief Business Officials, the Association of California Community College Administrators, and the Community College League of California, is available here. We will present the revised 2021-2022 Compton Community College District Tentative Budget Assumptions at the next Planning and Budget Committee meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.
The President/CEO Message - May 17, 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 17, 2021, there were 240 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 1,237,411 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.
The 2021 COVID-19 Wellness Check Questionnaire will be updated based on the revised Los Angeles County Department of Public Health "Protocol for Institutes of Higher Education" (effective May 11, 2021) to include "a new loss of taste or smell" symptom and a question as to whether the individual is "currently under isolation or quarantine orders." An additional edit will be made to the timeframe for individuals who have had contact with a known or suspected case from the last 14 days to 10 days.
Summer 2021 Enrollment Update
As of today, May 17, 2021, Compton College has generated 226 FTES for the summer 2021 term; the fill rate is currently 31%, and our seats filled is 1,648. The Summer 2021 Enrollment Report is available here. A variety of eight-week and six-week classes are available for registration, including some six-week classes that start on July 6. Please encourage interested students to sign up as soon as possible. Please encourage interested students to register as soon as possible.
Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 Class Cancellation Policy: May 17, 2021
This afternoon, I shared with the campus community the summer 2021 and fall 2021 class cancellation dates. Below are the dates and criteria used for canceling summer 2021 and fall 2021 classes:
- The first six-week summer session (June 21, 2021 - July 29, 2021) and the eight-week summer session (June 21, 2021 - August 12, 2021) classes with an enrollment of nine or fewer students will be canceled on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
- The second six-week summer session (July 6, 2021 - August 12, 2021) classes with an enrollment of nine or fewer students will be canceled on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
- Fall 2021 semester classes with an enrollment of nine or fewer students will be canceled on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.
Division chairs may request an exception, which the corresponding academic dean will review and approve, or deny on a case-by-case basis using the following criteria:
- The course is a first-time-offer for the term/semester or academic year
- The course is required to complete a pathway, degree, or certificate
The policy complies with the Agreement Between Compton Community College District and the Compton Community College Federation of Employees (Certificated Unit), Article XIV: Workload. Consistent with Article XIV: Workload, the District will continue to monitor and cancel low enrolled classes after the summer 2021 term and fall 2021 semester have begun.
Face Coverings Required on Campus
Per the Centers for Disease Control updated guidelines for face coverings for fully-vaccinated people, the Compton Community College District will continue to follow the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's "Protocol for Institutes of Higher Education" (updated May 11, 2021), which requires all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear face coverings at all times while on campus.
The current version of the Compton College Safe Return to Campus Plan includes guidelines for face coverings, hand hygiene, and personal protective equipment. I have asked the Health, Safety, and Parking Committee to review the health and safety guidelines and make a recommendation regarding the use of face coverings outdoors. Until further notice, all Compton College faculty, Classified staff, managers/supervisors, and students are required to wear a mask on campus.
Facilities Update
We currently have three new buildings under construction on campus, and we have plans for two more! Instructional Building 1 is scheduled to open for fall 2021 classes, and Instructional Building 2, as well as the Student Services Building, will both open before spring 2022. The preliminary plans for the new $45 million Physical Education Complex were approved on April 1, 2021. And as mentioned above, the new Visual and Performing Arts Replacement Project will begin the preliminary planning phase during the 2021-2022 year. More information on the Visual and Performing Arts Replacement Project was included in the Final Project Proposal (FPP) that was submitted to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office in July 2020.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The Compton CCD Board of Trustees' next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 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.
Just a friendly reminder, I want to encourage you to review the Compton CCD 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 board agendas are available online at https://www.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf; click on "Enter Public Site."
Final Thoughts
Friday, June 4, 2021, is our Zoom Free Day, so please do not schedule any Zoom meeting, and most importantly, please do not send me a Zoom meeting invitation for June 4, 2021.
This week is Classified Professional Week, and we have a couple of events scheduled, including "Classified Time with Dr. Curry" on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. If any Classified staff have questions or concerns, want to chat about new programs and services, or provide me with creative input regarding Compton College or Compton CCD, please join this virtual event. Individuals who visit Classified Time will be entered in an opportunity drawing for gift cards. Also, on Friday, May 21, 2021, we will have the "Classified Cafe" from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Classified staff were sent an email communication with the Zoom Meeting information for both events by Professional Development Manager Pilar Huffman.
Last week, Compton CCD Board of Trustees Clerk Barbara Calhoun was elected to the California Community College Trustee (CCCT) Board. Among many objectives, the CCCT Board takes positions on and formulates education policy issues that come before the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the State Legislature, and other relevant state-level boards and commissions. This is a huge accomplishment, as Trustee Calhoun will represent Compton College and the community we serve on the CCCT Board. Please join me in congratulating Trustee Barbara Calhoun on her election to the CCCT Board!
Please be safe and have a wonderful week.
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
