The Messenger – April 2026
Student Success
Spring Midterm Classes Begin April 18
The second 8-week spring semester classes begin Saturday, April 18. Students wishing to pick up a class or two are encouraged to register now. Check the online searchable schedule for the most up-to-date list of classes with seats available.
Compton College is Accepting Applications for Summer and Fall 2026
As you share college updates with students, families, and community members, please
note that applications are still being accepted for enrollment at Compton College
for the 2026 summer sessions and fall semester.Key dates to share: registration for summer 2026 classes opens April 14 and fall 2026 priority registration begins April 28. Summer classes begin June 22 and fall classes begin August 22, 2026. Prospective and returning students can complete the steps to enrollment online.
Compton College serves traditional and non-traditional students through associate degree and certificate pathways, transfer preparation, and workforce training. For community members exploring career-focused options, our Career Education programs provide training in high-demand fields, with some programs that can be completed in as little as 18 months.
2026 Commencement Ceremony: New Location
Compton College will hold its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 12, at 6:00
p.m. at a new location: the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, located on the California
State University, Long Beach campus at 12550 N. Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach,
CA 90840. Free parking will be available in Lot G11 and in the Pyramid Parking Structure. There is no limit of guests per graduate, and no tickets are necessary. However, seating is on a first come, first served basis and there is no saving of seats. Please visit Compton College’s 2026 Commencement page for detailed information.
For guests unable to attend the Commencement Ceremony in person, it will be live-streamed on Compton College’s YouTube Channel, which is also accessible via a link from the college website.
Graduate Information Sessions
Please share with eligible graduates: all commencement details will be provided through the Virtual Grad Information Sessions (there is no rehearsal). Graduates are encouraged to attend one or all sessions scheduled for May 21, May 28, June 4, and June 11 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom (Meeting ID and passcode will be listed on the Commencement web page soon).Caps/Gowns and Class of 2026 Grad Packages
Class of 2026 Grad Packs are now on sale at herff.ly/compton. To guarantee delivery by June 1, graduates must place their orders by May 3 or stop by the campus Bookstore (Building R) to place a cap and gown order in-person. The last day to purchase a Cap and Gown in the Bookstore is Thursday, June 11. The on-campus Bookstore is open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Saturday and Sunday).2026 Spring Nursing Graduates Honored at Pinning Ceremony June 9
Compton College will host a Nursing Pinning Ceremony on Tuesday, June 9, at 6:00 p.m.
in the Gymnasium to celebrate the group of students who will graduate with associate
of science degrees in nursing. The ceremony is open to the public and parking is available
in Lot A from the Artesia Boulevard entrance to campus.“California is facing a worsening nursing shortage, and it is estimated Los Angeles County could face a shortage of 11,000 nurses by 2035,” said Compton College President Keith Curry. “Compton College has strong nursing and biomedical science programs and a state-of-the-art Allied Health Building complete with a simulation lab. We hope to continue to inspire and educate a new generation of leaders in nursing and other medical professions.”
Compton College’s Nursing Program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Compton College student nurses are supported by counseling, opportunities to further their education and referrals to jobs in the community. Upon completion of the program, graduates earn an associate degree and are ready to take the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN). Visit the Compton College Nursing Program webpage.
In addition, Compton College also offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program to accommodate students looking to pursue careers in allied health and technical fields and fill the gap in employment of much-needed health care workers. The eight-week course prepares students for entry-level health care worker positions in a long-term care skilled nursing facility. More information on Compton College’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program page.
Compton College Alumnus Training for a Career in Marine Robotics
Moira Iñiguez, Compton College 2025 graduate and mechanical engineering major at California
State University, Los Angeles, is interested in underwater robotics. “I’m committed
to conservation efforts when it comes to the ocean and ocean life,” said Iñiguez.
“As a future mechanical engineer, I would like to be a voice in the industry for marine
conservation.”She is focused on completing her bachelor’s degree now and upon graduation would like to get work experience within the ocean engineering, or adjacent, industry. She may consider pursuing a graduate degree in the future, possibly in a related specialized field. “Even if I can’t participate in the more exciting engineering projects directly, such as robotics, I would like to be a voice in the room where a design team is making a decision about whether to go with an easier option or a more complicated option that would be better for the health of our oceans.”
She is on her way to making her career dream a reality. Focused on physics, Iñiguez graduated from Compton College with an associate degree in general sciences in June 2025 and transferred to Cal State LA the following August. Read More
Compton College is Among the First Designated as California Black-Serving Institution
Compton College was recently designated a California Black Serving Institution (BSI), recognizing the college’s ongoing commitment to supporting and advancing the success of Black and African American students, as well as all students in our diverse community.Compton College is one of 31 college and university campuses statewide to receive the initial Black Serving Institution designation, which is valid for five years, through 2030.
“We are excited to receive this important recognition,” said Dr. Keith Curry, President/CEO of Compton College. “As an institution of higher education, we are dedicated to improving outcomes for all post-secondary students, with a commitment to serve every student, including but not limited to Black and African American students. This designation affirms our efforts to create an environment where all students feel supported, valued, and empowered to achieve their educational goals.”
Juanita Doplemore, president of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees, added, “The Black Serving Institution designation highlights Compton College’s leadership in removing barriers and improving outcomes for students. We are proud to be recognized as one of the first cohorts of colleges and universities to achieve this designation, and for our work in fostering student achievement and belonging.”
Compton College is dedicated to the holistic development and success of all students, including but not limited to Black and African American students. With a well-established Black and Males of Color Success Initiative, outreach at area high schools and community events, professional development, and other programs, the college has become a preferred destination for Black students, a place where they feel certain that they are cared for, understood, and met with culturally relevant practices in their higher education endeavors.
Compton Community Health Professions Partnership Receives $1.78 Million Grant from the Broad Foundation
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has awarded $1.78 million to support the Compton Community Health Professions Partnership (CCHPP) over the next three years. Established in 2024, CCHPP is a collaborative
initiative focused on strengthening health career pathways and addressing the shortage
of qualified healthcare professionals in Los Angeles County.The grant will fund key roles across partner institutions to coordinate the work, expand work-based learning, and increase access to health career pathways for the Compton community: a Research Analyst at Compton College, an Administrator at Compton Unified School District, a Program Partnership Analyst at CSU Dominguez Hills, and a Program Manager at Charles Drew University.
Over the three-year grant period, CCHPP aims to:
- Engage 1,000+ students through outreach, dual enrollment, and clinical experiences, with a target 75% persistence rate among CCHPP cohorts.
- Establish new apprenticeships and clinical training sites with local hospitals and clinics to provide additional work-based learning opportunities.
Canvas and Online Class Support for Students
Compton College’s Distance Education (DE) Department offers all students assistance with Canvas and online classes. Canvas is the online learning platform used at Compton College. Students use Canvas to access course materials, submit assignments, take quizzes, view grades, and communicate with instructors. Login to Canvas via MyCompton. The DE team provides assistance with Canvas navigation, online course questions, and offers a quiet place for students to study.In-person support and distance-learning guidance are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Vocational Technology Building, Room VT 212A. Students may also check out a laptop for use while working in the office and must return it before leaving.
The Distance Education Department can be reached at distance_ed@compton.edu or by phone at (310) 900-1600, extension 2265.
There is also an updated and helpful Online Tools web page for students with detailed instructions for MyCompton, Canvas, Microsoft 365, and Student Digital ID Cards.
Compton College Library Bookmark Design Contest
The Compton College Library will soon feature some new designer bookmarks, made by
our favorite designers – Compton College students! Currently enrolled students are
invited to create an original bookmark design inspired by the theme: Compton College
Coyotes. Entries currently being accepted through April 26, with a limit of one design
per student.Once the contest deadline is reached, qualifying submissions will be forwarded to a jury panel comprised of Compton College librarians and art faculty. The jury panel will choose the top five designs, and on May 4 they will be available to view on the Library homepage, in person at the Circulation Desk inside the Library, and on the contest website. From May 4-10, campus voting will be open for Compton College students, faculty, and staff to pick their favorite design; votes may only be submitted once.
The top five designs will be printed on library bookmarks with each student designer’s name prominently featured on the bookmark.
First, second, and third place will all receive Visa gift cards; first place: $75, second place: $50, and third place: $25. Fourth and fifth place will receive college-branded prizes.
Visit the contest webpage to learn more and enter.
Facilities
Congresswoman Maxine Waters Secures $2.05 Million in Federal Funding for Compton College Facilities Improvements
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (CA, 43rd District) has secured $2.05 million in federal Community Project Funding for the Compton Community College District to support critical facilities improvements at Compton College.Included in the federal fiscal year budgets for 2024 and 2026, the funding will support renovations to two key campus facilities: the Math and Science (MIS) Building ($1.2 million) and the Vocational Technology Building ($850,000).
Facilities Update
Student Housing Project
Current status highlights from recent project reporting:
- Residential Student Housing Project – The project will deliver a 250+ bed, three-story modular housing community for low-income and homeless full-time students and their families. All 89 modulars have been delivered, and Bernards completed setting the modulars in place in December 2025. Estimated duration: ~30 months. Approved project budget: $80.3 million.
- Physical Education Complex Replacement – Scope includes demolition of Buildings U, V, W, and Z (pool), soil mitigation, construction of a new gym and pool, and demolition of the old gym (Building X). Project budget: $68.8 million (nearly a three-year project). The Project Budget is $68.8 million.
- Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) – Scope includes demolition of three buildings in the Y-area, construction of a new one-story music and theater building, and structural upgrades to the Little Theater. Sitework is ongoing and Little Theater structural upgrades are underway. Estimated duration: ~18 months. Current project budget: $23.3 million
District News
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees Approves Provisional Appointment for Trustee Area 2
At its March 9, 2026 meeting, the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees
approved the provisional appointment of Dr. Nicole J. Jones to the Board of Trustees,
representing Trustee Area 2.The provisional appointment fills a vacancy created by the resignation of former Trustee Barbara Jean Calhoun, effective February 1, 2026. In accordance with Education Code Section 5092, the Board took action within the required timeframe to ensure continued representation for Trustee Area 2.
The appointment was made through Compton Community College District Resolution No. 03-09-2026A – Provisional Appointment to Fill a Vacancy, approved by the Board of Trustees on March 9, 2026.
Unless a petition calling for a special election, containing a sufficient number of signatures, is filed with the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools within thirty (30) days of the date of the provisional appointment, the appointment shall become effective.
Further information is available in the Office of the President/Chief Executive Officer, located at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221, by calling 310-900-1600 ext. 2001, or on the District website.
Compton Community College District Board of Trustees to Hold Public Hearing on Military Equipment Use Policy
The Compton Community College District (CCCD) Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m., to consider adoption of a Military Equipment Use Policy for the Compton College District Police Department, as required by California Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481). Details, including the proposed policy and related materials, are available on the District’s AB 481 webpage. The Board agenda will be posted 72 hours in advance on BoardDocs.Compton Community College District Board Meeting Scheduled for May 18
The Compton Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room, located in the Administration Building at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221.All regular session Board meetings are open to the public. Closed session begins at 5:00 p.m. The Board Agenda is posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Agendas are posted on the BoardDocs website under the “Meetings” tab.
Key Dates to Remember
| Summer 2026 Registration Opened | April 14 |
| Midterm Classes Begin | April 18 |
| Fall 2026 Priority Registration Begins | April 28 |
| ASG Elections for 2026-2027 Officers | May 7 |
| Last Day to Drop with “W” (full semester) | May 15 |
| Memorial Day Holiday (campus closed) | May 25 |
| Spring 2026 Semester Ends | June 12 |
| 2026 Commencement Ceremony | June 12 |
| Juneteenth Holiday (campus closed) | June 19 |
| Summer 2026 Classes Begin | June 22 |
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