President/CEO Message
November 30, 2020
Campus Community,
Welcome back! We only have two weeks before the fall 2020 semester ends. I am excited the fall semester is coming to a close and wanted to say thank you for all your hard work and dedication in support of our students' success. In partnership with Sunrise Produce, we distributed 109,800 pounds (54.9 tons) of fresh produce, dairy, and protein to our students and community members over the past three weeks. I am genuinely appreciative of this partnership and the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees, Compton College employees, employee family members, and our community partners for supporting the food distribution. We have been in contact with Sunrise Produce to continue this partnership in December 2020 and into 2021. More information on the potential extension of the partnership with Sunrise Produce will be included in a future President/CEO Message.
The President/CEO Message - November 30, 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." On November 30, 2020, there were 5,150 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 400,919 reported cases (including cases reported by Long Beach and Pasadena Health Departments). For more information, go to publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index. According to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan, Compton College continues to operate at Level Four - Severe Infection Rate.
Pass/No Pass Grading Option
Consistent with the Resolution and California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Executive Order 2020-12 - Temporary Suspension of Various Specified Grade-Related Regulations Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, Compton College will provide the Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading option for fall 2020. Students have until Friday, December 4, 2020, to select the Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading option for fall 2020.
Students are strongly recommended to speak with a Counselor to discuss the options for taking a course Pass/No Pass and the impact it may have on their academic standing, admissions, financial aid, and transfer to a four-year university. Students should note that the California State Universities and University of California systems are no longer accepting the Pass/No Pass grade option. To discuss which option is best for them, students can Chat with a Counselor online here.
Winter 2021 Enrollment Update
As of today, November 30, 2020, Compton College has generated 140 FTES for the Winter 2021 term. Our fill rate is currently 36%, and our seats filled is 1,169. The Winter 2020 Enrollment Report is available here.
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI)
In the President/CEO Message - August 31, 2020, and the President/CEO Message - November 19, 2020, I discussed the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI). As you may recall, in July 2020, Compton College applied for assistance from a mini-Partnership Resource Team (PRT) to strengthen its professional development opportunities in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion matters. The proposal was approved, and along with technical assistance, Compton College will receive up to a $75,000 grant in seed money towards the effort. The mini-PRT virtual visit was held today, November 30, 2020. The mini-PRT was led by Dr. Pamela Luster, President of San Diego Mesa College, and included Brenda Johnson, Dean of Student Services, Berkeley City College; and Dr. Eileene Tejada, English Instructor/Academic Senate President, Napa Valley College.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be reviewing the menu of options and curated recommendations presented by the IEPI mini-PRT and discuss how to embed the diversity, equity, and inclusion elements into our professional development plans. We will provide updates on the Compton College mini-PRT in future President/CEO Messages.
President/CEO Virtual Student Forum
The next Virtual Student Forum is scheduled for Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. You will have the opportunity to join via Zoom and ask me questions. Student login information is available here.
#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.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting
The next meeting of the Compton CCD Board of Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 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.
5th Annual Compton College Holiday Celebration
As a way to celebrate the holidays virtually and show appreciation to all employees, the annual Holiday Celebration has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2020, from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom Meeting. I sent the Zoom link and passcode, along with the invitation to all Compton College faculty, Classified staff, and managers/supervisors on November 29, 2020. Please check your @compton.edu email.
Final Thoughts
I tried not to work too much this weekend. However, I had an essential follow-up item from a previous Consultative Council meeting. I tweeted an invitation to a potential keynote speaker for our Friday, June 11, 2021, Virtual Commencement Ceremony. You can see the response to my tweet here. I hope you enjoy the tweet and the response. More details will be provided in a future President/CEO Message sometime during the winter 2021 term.
Finally, as the number of COVID-19 cases in California and Los Angeles County continues to rise at an alarming rate, please protect yourself and your family, and be safe.
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
