President/CEO Message
November 12, 2020
Campus Community,
This semester is moving fast, really fast, and maybe too fast for some of us. I am just trying to manage the number of Zoom meetings and trying to find time each day to stay connected to what is happening on campus. I miss being on campus and seeing all of you. I miss walking through departments and programs and seeing what is happening on campus. I miss attending events on campus, and most importantly, I miss seeing the students on campus. I miss hearing from students, their issues and concerns, or hearing their success stories. I know I am not the only one who misses being on campus, and I hope to reconnect with everyone soon. However, we are telecommuting until further notice. I will continue to find new ways to connect with what is happening at Compton College virtually.
Just a friendly reminder, registration for winter 2021 begins on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, and the Winter 2021 Class Schedule PDF is available here. Please encourage your students to register early for winter 2021. The President/CEO Message - November 12, 2020, includes COVID-19 information and other campus-related updates.
Compton College COVID-19 Update
Los Angeles County's current risk level is Tier 1 (widespread), according to California's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy." As of November 12, 2020, there were 2,533 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 330,450 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. According to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan, Compton College continues to operate at Level Four - Severe Infection Rate.
Essential Employees Work Schedule
The Essential Employees Work Schedule for Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20, 2020, is posted online here. The schedule will be updated every Thursday for the following week as employees continue to gradually return to campus.
Compton College Site Visit By Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
In the President/CEO Message - October 15, 2020, I mentioned the Compton College Site-Visit by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The virtual BRN site-visit for the Compton College Nursing Program concluded on November 10, 2020. The school site-visit was for the continuing approval of the Compton College Nursing program. After reviewing our Self-Study Report, and conducting meetings with Compton College Nursing faculty, staff, College administration, our Nursing Education Consultant, Dr. Donna Schutte, has provided us with a Report of Findings. Dr. Schutte's report notes that there are no non-compliance issues and only two recommendations:
- Section 4: Program Administration and faculty Qualifications - Continue development in faculty collaborative efforts in committee work to ensure ongoing curriculum and program development and evaluation consistent with BRN regulation. Develop a method for e-filing of all committee meeting minutes for easy access by all faculty.
- Section 7: Student Participation - Facilitate the consistent representation of students in identified program committees as described in the Nursing Student Handbook. Provide evidence of student participation in committee meeting minutes.
Dr. Schutte also noted that "I appreciate the wonderful work that has been accomplished by Dr. Shirley Thomas, Dr. Linda Thierry and the faculty in insuring program compliance with all BRN regulations and all outcomes/student success with the support and guidance of the Compton Administrative Team."
The next step in the post-approval process is for Interim Associate Dean/Director of Nursing, Dr. Shirley Thomas, and I to attend the January 2021 Education/Licensing Committee meeting and the February 2021 BRN meeting.
Based on the absence of non-compliance findings, the Compton College Nursing program will no longer have to submit quarterly reports on our program to the BRN. Congratulations to the Nursing faculty, Dr. Shirley Thomas, Dr. Thierry, the Nursing Department staff, and the students.
Free Groceries Available for Students via Curbside Pickup
Compton College and Sunrise Produce have established a partnership to provide Fall 2020 Compton College students with a free 30-pound box of groceries. Thank you to the Board of Trustees, faculty, Classified staff, managers/supervisors, and students involved in making today's distribution a success. We provided 1,200 boxes to our students, families, and community organizations. We had less than three days to promote this event, and it was still a success.
Next Thursday, November 19, 2020, another 1,200 grocery boxes will be available for curbside pickup at the east Greenleaf Boulevard entrance, between noon and 5:00 p.m. Students must show their Compton College student ID or a copy of their fall 2020 class schedule and access a vehicle with a trunk or backseat - no walk-ups or motorcycles allowed. The Sunrise Produce Grocery Boxes are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Students should check their @compton.edu emails for more information. All student communications are also available on the Student Communications and Information webpage. Please promote the Sunrise Produce partnership with your classes and students within your programs.
Call for Volunteers for the Free Groceries Available for Students via Curbside Pickup
I am asking for staff and faculty volunteers to assist with distributing the boxes of groceries mentioned above. Please email Student Services Coordinator Oluwatosin Williams at owilliams@compton.edu if you can help us on either Thursday, November 19, 2020, or Wednesday, November 25, 2020, from noon to 5:00 p.m.
Achieving the Dream Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool
As noted in the President/CEO Message - November 5, 2020, Compton College faculty, staff, and managers/supervisors are invited to contribute to the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool. The tool will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and guide the college to achieve the Dream over the next three years. You can access the survey here, and please complete the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool by Tuesday, December 1, 2020.
For individuals who complete the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool, you may enter your name in an opportunity drawing, where four employees will win $200 each. Please complete this form after you finish the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The next meeting of the Compton CCD Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2020. 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.
Compton College Virtual Tartar Talks
I will host our next virtual Tartar Talks on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom Meeting. We will provide campuswide updates during the virtual Tartar Talks, including the 2020-2021 Compton CCD Final Budget, Guided Pathways, COVID-19, 2020-2021, and the Compton CCD Legislative Agenda. The virtual Tartar Talk Zoom Meeting information is available here.
African American Male Education Network Development (A2MEND) Anti-Racism National Dialogue
The next African American Male Education Network Development discussion is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., and is titled "Transitioning from AntiBlackness to ProBlack."The discussion will include Dr. Tommy Curry and Dr. William A. Smith. Compton CCD will provide financial support for employees (including faculty, Classified staff, managers/administrators) and students. If you are interested in participating in this national discussion, RSVP with Pilar Huffman, Professional Development Manager, at phuffman@compton.edu, by Wednesday, November 18, 2020.
#RealCollegeCalifornia Basic Needs Summit: Fostering Resiliency During A Pandemic
The #RealCollegeCalifornia Basic Needs Summit: Fostering Resiliency During A Pandemic, is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2020, via Zoom. As many may recall, in December 2018, we held the first summit at Compton College. If you are interested in participating in the 2020 summit, which is free to #RealCollegeCalifornia members, such as Compton College. The link to register is available here. The keynote speaker for this year's summit is broadcast journalist Soledad O'Brien.
Final Thoughts
In the coming weeks, I have to decide if we should offer the Compton Tartars Athletics Program during the 2020-2021 year. In the President/CEO Message - October 1, 2020, I provided an update on the Compton Tartars Athletics Program and shared their "Resocialization Plan," which is available here. Included in the plan is a budget request of $191,046. I have a meeting scheduled with the South Coast Conference presidents on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, to discuss athletics and potential next steps. As I gather information to decide, it would be beneficial for me to receive your creative input. Please forward your thoughts or recommendations to me via email at kcurry@compton.edu.
Finally, I would like to recognize all the Compton College veterans and salute you for your service to this country and Compton CCD. On behalf of the Compton CCD employees, "thank you."
Please be safe, and yes, tomorrow is Friday!
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
