Chancellor's News Brief

I would like to share some insights from this week’s study session held during the Board of Trustees meeting, where the impactful regional projects undertaken by our District’s Educational Services and Technology Division were presented by Stephanie Feger, Program Director, Career Education & Workforce Development, and Dr. CJ Bishop, Senior Research Analyst.

State Chancellor, Board of Governors, Coast CCD emphasizes the need to increase the number of students earning a living wage.

To support our students, as well as those in other OC districts, these projects leverage technology by using geospatial tools to help them explore various career education programs, the associated wages, and potential career paths, while also connecting them with employers.

1. OC Works: This suite of online tools helps individuals in Orange County to make informed decisions about their education, job, and career paths. Key features include:

• Sector Explorer: Provides easy to use real-time labor market information for various industries and direct mappings to related programs offered by community colleges to train for each respective industry.
• Skills Explorer: Helps users match their skills to potential careers.
• Map of Employers: Visualizes the regional job market, giving students a better understanding of local employment opportunities.
• Living Wage Calculator: Calculates the cost of living in different areas, ensuring students can make informed financial and career decisions.

These initiatives reflect our commitment to not only support our students but also to contribute to the economic development of our region. By harnessing the power of geospatial technology, we are paving the way for a brighter future for our students and the communities we serve.

I want to thank you for your continued dedication and support as we move forward with these essential projects. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of our students and the broader community.

With gratitude,

Dr. Whitney Yamamura
Chancellor

At Wednesday’s Board meeting, students from Orange Coast College took advantage of the opportunity for public comment to speak about their experience in the Marine Science department and more specifically with the Dennis Kelly Aquarium. Faculty members, Karen Baker and Jeff Armstrong, spoke about the growth of the program over the last ten year – from one class in 2013 to 14 in 2024, and from one AS degree to two AS degrees and three certificates with two more in the pipeline for approval – Dr. Baker gave much of the credit for the growth to their Instructional Associate, Rip Profeta, who is a 45 year employee of OCC. Along with Karen and Jeff were many of the students from the program of which 4 spoke. Each of them speaking of the personal impact the program had made on them including some very vulnerable admissions about what it meant to find their place of belonging within the program.

Keeping on the theme of belonging, Coastline’s Dr. Leighia Fleming presented on Coastline’s Basic Needs Program. Dr. Fleming shared how the program works to live up to its mission of removing the burdens placed on students to navigate multiple systems, process, and eligibilities. Giving the extraordinary example of the success of their book voucher program. 72% of the 455 students served in the Basic Needs Center used that program which provided over $50,000 in an academic year.

The regular business of the meeting included ratification of various special events, field trips, financial agreements, and hirings and was adjourned a little before 6:30pm at which point the trustees returned to closed session to finish its work for the evening.

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!

Please save the date for the Eighth Annual California Community Colleges' Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW) on October 14 – 18, 2024.

This year Coastline, Golden West and Orange Coast have partnered to host a series of “USAW” events for the Coast District Community, following this year’s theme: Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible. Throughout October, The Coast District will offer events, workshops and training sessions that highlight policies, resources and the experiences of undocumented students. Together, Coastline, Orange Coast and Golden West College are committed to supporting all students in their pursuit of higher education. Join us in empowering and supporting our students by participating in and sharing these events:

• Monday, October 14 | Student UndocuSocial - Arts & Crafts | 11 am – 1 pm
• Tuesday, October 15 | Know Your Rights by CHIRLA | 2 pm – 3:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 16 | UndocuStartup Bootcamp #1 - Entrepreneurship Series | 12:00 pm –1:30 pm
• Thursday, October 17 | UNDOCUADVOCATE TRAINING | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Faculty/Staff/Administration Only Event
• Friday, October 18 | Empowering Your Career: Job Search Strategies for Undocumented Students | 4 pm – 5 pm

To register for these events, please visit the Coast CCCD Undocumented Student Action Week website.

In addition, the California Community College’s Chancellor’s office will be offering a series of virtual webinars from 9 am – 10 am starting Monday, October 14 through Thursday, October 17. You can register and learn more by clicking on https://www.cccco.edu/Students/Support-Services/Special-population/Undocumented-Students/Undocumented-Student-Action-Week .

Join us at the District Office on October 23 for FREE health screenings (bone density, derma scan, glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol) and FREE flu and/or Covid shots*! Make an appointment today to secure your spot, but walk-ins are welcome.

All District benefit eligible employees, retirees, and their enrolled dependents may participate in this event. (Classified, Confidential, Faculty, Managers, Part Time Faculty, Retirees)

For more information, visit: https://documents.cccd.edu/Human%20Resources/Benefits/2024HealthExpoCCCD.pdf.

*Those that want to get their free flu and/or Covid booster must use their District medical plan coverage.

• CVS is our partner administrating the boosters. Employees, retirees , and their enrolled dependents who have coverage under the following District medical plans could get their shots at the event: Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield Access Plus HMO, Blue Shield Trio HMO, United Health Care Medicare Advantage PPO.

*Kaiser Permanente wants its members to use Kaiser services and locations for flu and/or covid shots. Our Kaiser HMO and Kaiser Senior HMO folks may find information in the links below:

• Flu Shot - https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/health-wellness/flu
• Covid Shot - https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information

October is Relationship Violence Awareness Month. As we work to end relationship violence, we must embrace the many ways we can heal from violence, hold space for survivors, and center those most marginalized.

Your Baby’s Amazing Brain (YBAB) is a 48-foot traveling, walk-through interactive mobile exhibit designed to showcase the importance of developing minds in babies, infants, and toddlers from birth up to age 5. It features 15 interactive displays in multiple languages highlighting important areas of young minds.

The exhibit will be located in the main quad near the bookstore at OCC

• October 29 – 30, 2024, 11 am – 6 pm
• October 31, 2024, 11 am – 4 pm

Sponsored by the Orange Coast College Foundation and the CCCD Foundation

The "Chocolates of the Americas" event, an immersive exploration of chocolate flavors, recently took place at Coastline's Student Services Center. Nearly 50 Coastline students and staff attended the event, which featured Dr. Diane Stein, M.D., a chocolate maker and educator. Attendees were introduced to the chocolates of the Americas, focusing on the unique qualities of cacao beans harvested from farms in the Rainforest region. These beans are known for producing distinct flavors tied to the specific regions in which they are grown.

During the event, participants were treated to a hands-on tasting experience, exploring the nuances between single-origin farm chocolates. The session aimed to deepen attendees' appreciation for chocolate and its rich history in early indigenous civilizations by teaching them to identify subtle differences in flavor profiles, all while learning about the complex process of chocolate production.

Among the notable guests in attendance were Trustee Mary Hornbuckle and Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, Dr. Diane Fiero, who joined others in enjoying this unique event. The experience left a lasting impression, blending education with indulgence and offering a rare opportunity to savor the richness of Rainforest-sourced chocolate.

Orange Coast College has been selected to receive the Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiative Award from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.

OCC was recognized for its multidisciplinary collaboration in marine science, horticulture, culinary arts, and hospitality. This effort stemmed from a desire to introduce advanced agriculture techniques and led to the creation of the Aquaponics Lab.

At the Aquaponics Lab, marine science and horticulture students work together to produce 300 heads of lettuce with just one bucket of water daily. Culinary arts and hospitality students use the produce at Captain’s Table, OCC’s casual-upscale restaurant. Additionally, the produce is distributed to Pirates’ Cove, OCC’s on-campus food pantry, to help address food insecurity among Coast students.

Established in 2012, the Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Awards are divided into four categories: Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Climate Action Leadership; Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion; Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Innovative Project; and Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiatives.

The Excellence in Energy and Sustainability - Faculty/Student Initiatives award recognizes faculty and students who have excelled in developing sustainability initiatives for their college. The criterion for this award includes the creation of an innovative initiative that institutionalizes sustainability by integrating the initiative into campus operations and student learning or curriculum, engages the community in implementing the initiative, and has measurable results to demonstrate success. Faculty and student collaboration in the creation and implementation of sustainability plans are also eligible for this award.

The award will be presented at the November Board of Governors’ meeting.

Orange Coast College’s Dance Department will present its annual Faculty Dance Concert on Thursday, October 24, and Friday, October 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre.

Under the direction of long-time faculty member José Costas, this year’s Faculty Dance Concert promises to be a diverse and captivating evening of dance. OCC students will showcase their exceptional skills in works choreographed by Coast’s outstanding dance faculty. The concert will feature a variety of genres, including hip-hop, contemporary, tap, Mexican Folklorico, Polynesian and modern dance, highlighting the cultural diversity of the department.

In total, nine dances will be presented on both evenings. Faculty members Rachel Berman, José Costas, Rosa Garcia, Zach Groenewold, Shana Menaker, Marru Mikaelian, Holly-Scheall-Mehling, and Linda Sohl-Ellison have each choreographed dances for the evening.

The concert will also feature a special performance of Zach Groenewold's work from the 2023 Faculty Dance Concert titled “we’re only as sick as our secrets.” This dynamic hip-hop work has been selected as a finalist in the Palm Desert Choreography Festival, where OCC students will perform on November 10 at the McCallum Theatre and compete for prize money against other pre-professional dance groups.

Tickets for the shows can be purchased at the OCC Tickets website: $20 for the general public, and $15 for OCC students and area high school students.

Chancellor, Week of October 21

Dr. Yamamura is in the District, Monday.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Serban is Acting Chancellor, Tuesday through Friday.