Chancellor's News Brief

This week, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable strides we have made in workforce development across our district. Your dedication to equipping our students with the skills and experiences needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market is remarkable.

I’m particularly proud of the recent achievements across our district that highlight our commitment to workforce development.

Coastline College made history as the first community college in the nation to be recommended for Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education authorization by the Department of Education, empowering students to progress at their own pace based on their ability to demonstrate a mastery of specific skills or knowledge.

Golden West College was selected as one of only 12 community colleges in a state initiative to increase enrollment in associate degrees in nursing, addressing the urgent need for skilled healthcare professionals. Their new Certified Nurse Assistant Program also received approval from the Department of Public Health to begin enrolling students and GWC’s Automotive program hosted representatives from 60 Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) programs from across the nation for their annual conference. The Honda PACT program offers automotive technician training that enables student to become Honda and Acura certified technicians

Orange Coast College signed a partnership with the US Coast Guard to develop a recruitment pathway and a Direct Enlistment Lateral Entry Program. Students who complete an associate degree in the Professional Mariner Program or an associate degree in Culinary Arts will have their course work pre-approved by the Coast Guard allowing them to enter at a higher pay grade. Earlier in the month, OCC’s Culinary Arts Program won a silver medal at the 2024 American Culinary Federations National Student Team Competition bringing more attention to their prestigious program.

As we continue to support our students in their journey toward meaningful careers, I encourage you to reflect on the impact your work has on their lives and futures. Every program you develop, every lesson you teach, every piece of guidance you offer helps to build a stronger, more capable workforce that will benefit not only our local community, but society as a whole.

With gratitude,

Dr. Whitney Yamamura
Chancellor

On Wednesday, August 7, the board meeting once again saw the Trustees handling the fundamental business of the district. Nearly every board meeting the consent calendar is adopted by the Trustees in a single vote, a quiet last step to the hard work of the colleges and district.

At this meeting, the consent calendar included student trips to Sacramento and Washington DC for advocacy, math and science class trips to local aquariums, and a series of athletic competitions.

The lists of special projects that were approved to take place on the campuses showed the scale of our work – basic needs education and support, civic engagement events, music and dance productions, and OCC’s Annual Science Night.

Items 10 through 13 on the consent calendar all referred to the efforts employees are taking toward their professional development, through the approval of institutional memberships in a variety of department and discipline-specific networking and informational opportunities, in-house staff development, and the work of classified professionals on their individual educational journeys.

The end of the consent calendar allows the Trustees to maintain their charge of fiscal oversight by the approval of personnel and purchasing.

The meeting closed with Board Members acknowledging all the work being done on behalf of students and was adjourned in memory of Armando Vasquez-Ramos, a colleague of Trustee Moreno. Vasquez-Ramos was a faculty member at CSU Long Beach and President/CEO of the California-Mexico Studies Center.

At Orange Coast College, the library has a small public space for selling books donated to the Friends of the Library. Historically, it has been a cash only process, but more students don’t carry cash because of the many ways to transact money digitally. Working with the OCC Foundation, the Friends Bookstore implemented an online transaction that is super simple for anyone to pay for the books they purchase. Just snap the QR code, fill out the form, and you are on your way. The same QR code will be used to allow payment for books at the semi-annual Friends Book Sale in the library each Fall and Spring. A small change, but a significant step into the future.

Please send examples of persistent innovation, by which I mean having a good idea and then putting in the hard work to make that vision a reality. The more examples submitted, the better I can highlight your successes in future letters and in the community!

This year marked the California Community Colleges 11th Veterans Symposium, bringing together faculty, administrators, and staff from across the system, as well as representatives from CSUs and UCs. The event aimed to support student Veterans and military-affiliated students by sharing knowledge and showcasing best practices from student Veterans Centers from across the state.

On the first day, the symposium featured a student Veteran panel, which included Coastline student Veteran Jon Reuker. The second day highlighted a breakout session focused on Coastline College’s Hope Heroes Program. The program assists incarcerated Veterans with resources, school supplies, and book vouchers, aiding their educational goals as well as helping them reintegrate back into the community upon release. Veteran Services Coordinator Tom Boscamp and Veterans Resource Center staff member John Bruning were in attendance to provide valuable insights into the program.

On August 5 the City of Huntington Beach announced plans for a new partnership with Golden West College aimed at addressing the rising needs of students requiring essential resources, particularly housing services. More than 100 students at GWC identified as homeless or at-risk for homelessness during the 2023-24 academic year, double the number from the previous year (2022-23).

Starting this month, the Huntington Beach Homeless and Behavioral Health Services department will host in-reach hours on GWC’s campus every second and fourth Tuesday from 1–2 p.m. During these sessions, students can collaborate with City Social Workers to connect with local resources or receive referrals to the Huntington Beach Navigation Center.

This initiative aims to provide GWC students with direct access to vital services, ensuring they receive the necessary support to thrive academically and personally. By working together, the City of Huntington Beach and Golden West College are dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where students can achieve their educational goals without the added burden of unmet basic needs.

GWC’s on-campus food pantry, “The Stand,” provides free groceries, hygiene products and case management services to all enrolled students. During the 2023-24 academic year, The Stand served a total of 1,700 students in more than 21,000 unique visits. Additionally, during that same time period 360 students received hygiene products, household items, or clothing, and 233 students benefited from case management support, highlighting the demand for comprehensive aid.

Orange Coast College culinary arts students won a silver medal at the 2024 American Culinary Federation’s National Student Team Competition in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 17.

OCC’s Hot Food Team represented the Western Region in the ACF National Championships and competed against four other regional teams. The team cooked a four-course meal in 90 minutes with no gas and limited electric appliances.

“OCC has a long tradition of success with the student hot food team competitions,” said OCC culinary arts instructor Chef Davina Dunner. “We are so proud and excited for our students, who are continuing a legacy started in 1996.”

This is the first team to compete for OCC since 2018. The competing five-member team comprised of Team Captain Claire Arredondo, Blanca Granados, Morgan Downie, Genisis Mascareno, and Monique Robinson. Team coach and culinary arts instructor Chef April Thompson is no stranger to ACF’s National Student Team Competition, who competed in 2018 for OCC.

OCC’s Hot Food Team earned a national title in 2005 and several regional titles.

Chancellor, Week of August 12
Dr. Yamamura is in the District, Monday through Friday.