Board Highlights 01/28/25

Presentations: Presentations were given on the District Goals for Improvement in Student Achievement for each campus and an overview of the 2025-2026 Governor’s Budget Overview.

Highlights from the District Goals for Improvement in Student Achievement: 
Vice Chancellor, Educational Services & Technology, Dr. Cherry Li-Bugg, introduced Dr. Gabrielle Stanco, District Director, Research, Planning and Data Management, who reported on a Fall 2024 survey on students’ feelings of belonging, connection, and engagement within the District. On a scale of one to seven, students rated their experience at an average of above six. In response to how easy campus resources are to be accessed, 80-90% responded that they found resources very easy to access. Both results are statistically significantly higher than the national norm. The goals for student success across the campuses are to support students on their path to complete associate degrees, CCCCO approved credit certificates, noncredit CDCP certificates or high school diplomas, transfer to the UC or CSU system, and to close the equity gaps within all metrics for underrepresented students.

Bryan Ventura, Cypress College Director, Institutional Research and Planning, reported that the following measures have been taken to support student goals: increasing the number of no-cost Fall courses from 295 to 495, increasing peer tutoring by 34%, targeted email campaigns (with a 65% open rate), the creation of a Caring Campus Guide, 300+ student support and engagement events/workshops, Affinity Group Engagement events, the Charger Experience Program, adding Student Success Advocates staff, and various student check-ins.

Daniel Berumen, Director, Institutional Research and Planning at Fullerton College, reported on the following successful programs: Promise Program, Student Success Advocates, Program Maps, Starfish, Affinity Center Openings, HSI Transformation Team, Guided Exit Project, and the Aspen National Transfer Institute. 

Dulce Delgadillo, NOCE Director, Institutional Research and Planning, reported that the campus has implemented a system to auto-award students who qualify for, but do not apply, for a CDCP Certificates. They have also hired a full-time counselor solely focused on transition. She also highlighted student transition activities which include: Dream Your Future Conference, College Tours, College Prep Workshops, and close collaboration with Fullerton College and Cypress College to facilitate transitions.

2025-2026 Governor’s Budget Overview: The report was given by Fred Williams, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Facilities, and Erika Almaraz, Executive Director, Fiscal Affairs.

The California state budget is projected to be higher than the last year’s by about 8%. The increase reflects higher projected State revenues and cost reductions from the previous year. All three campuses show an increase in FTES at period one compared to the prior year. In March 2025 there will be a formal budget presentation to the Board of Trustees including overall fiscal outlook and Fiscal Health Risk Analysis. In May 2025 there will be a report on the Governor’s 2025-2026 May Revision to the Budget.

The presenters noted that changes in the budget may come once the impact of the LA fires is known and Williams assured the Board that all campuses within the District have fire insurance and are not expected to lose it. 

BOARD ACTIONS

At its first regular meeting of 2025, the Board of Trustees acted on agenda items, including those highlighted below.

• Trustee Evangelina Rosales was sworn in following her absence due to illness from the December meeting. Following her swearing in, she thanked the Trustees for the opportunity to be the Board President in 2024, and thanked everyone for the behind-the-scenes work involved in each Board Meeting.
• Trustee Mark Lopez was legally sworn into office by Judge Shawn Nelson.
• The Board approved Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland for another four years of service from 2024-2028 and a salary increase. Trustee Ryan Bent congratulated Dr. Breland and stated that he believes that the District has the best Chancellor in the state.

Human Resources: Approvals were given by the Board for the retirement of Phyllis Mays-Larson from her position as Instructor, Chemistry at Cypress College and Julie Angevine from her position as Administrative Assistant I from Cypress College. Approval was also given for Cypress College to hire Paaras Chand as a Computer Science Instructor and Laura Andrade as Instructional Assistant, Career Planning/Counseling. Fullerton College was approved to hire Shireen Ady as Health Education Coordinator, Carlos Delgado as Campus Safety Officer Coordinator, and Mohammad Maiden as Administrative Assistant I, Humanities. NOCE was approved to hire Emely Barrera as Special Projects Coordinator, DSS. The District was approved to hire Larry Lacides Vernaza as Custodial Services Manager, Julianne Leggin as District Director, Risk Management & Workplace Safety, and Nancy Valera as Accounting Technician. Shaunna Fisher was promoted to Administrative Assistant III, Foundations and Karla Zamorano to Administrative Assistant III- Instructional Support Services. Congratulations to all!

Chancellor Staff Comments: Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland reported on his attendance to the CCLC Annual Legislative Conference where resources were given for colleges to support undocumented students.

NOCE President, Valentina Purtell, reported that a training was held on the latest NOCE flex day which focused on how to create safe spaces and belonging on campus which was well attended and positively received. The NOCE student headcount has increased 13% from last year and registration is up 20%. In celebration of Lunar New Year, students have been receiving red envelopes that contain chocolate coins and registration information inside.  On February 6, NOCE will host the Black Joy Festival featuring music, dancing, and history presented by the NOCE Ghana Delegation. The school’s Disability Support Services’ WISE program (Work, Independence, Self-Advocacy, and Education) published a newsletter titled “WISE n’ Shine” for the first time in Fall 2024, following collaborative efforts between students and staff.

Fullerton College President, Dr. Cynthia Olivo, reported that Fullerton has been fully reaccredited for the next seven years on top of receiving an accommodation for their “culture of collaboration.” The theme for this Friday’s Fullerton College Convocation is “A Hornet Horizon.” The Ghana Delegation will do a presentation to celebrate Black History Month among numerous other events planned to educate and entertain attendees. Fullerton College Mathematics Teacher, Scott Malloy was mentioned in a recent PBS news hour as Mark Rober’s (Head Engineer of CrunchLabs subscription science lab) favorite former teacher. On February 4, there will be a Lunar New Year celebration on campus complete with refreshments and dragon dancers.

Cypress College President, Dr. Scott Thayer, reported that enrollment numbers continue to exceed pre-pandemic numbers. Total enrollment is up 6% and headcount is up 7%. He invited everyone to the Cyber Patriot event on January 30. The Cypress College graduation rate has remained above 80% and has been fully accredited for another seven years. He closed out his report by acknowledging the passing of Cypress College Campus Safety retiree, Brenda Maitlen.

RESOURCE TABLE

District Management Association President Karla Frizler shared that DMA has been working with new CSEA President Elaine Loayza, and that DMA is seeking a new president elect for 2025.

The Fullerton College Academic Senate President, Bridget Kominek, reported that a workgroup is drafting the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan for Fullerton College and invited everyone to a kickoff meeting at the Cruz Reynoso Building. She expressed her pride at the accommodation Fullerton received and reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to serving all students through any federal changes.

California School Employees Association President Elaine Loayza expressed that it is an honor to serve as the new CSEA president. She held her first CSEA planning meeting with more member involvement and plans to further facilitate CSEA members’ understanding of their contracts. 

BOARD REPORTS

NOCE Student Trustee Robert Johnson shared that NOCE “Cares for LA” campaign was started to help victims of the LA fires. He thanked Dr. Breland for inviting him to the CCLC Conference and Trustee Barbara Dunsheath for being his mentor. Since his appointment, he has been working with President’s Office Executive Assistant Julie Schoepf to create a Student Trustee Handbook for NOCE. Over 200 students attended the three welcome events that NOCE held in early January. The Rising Scholars program hosted meet-and-greet events to inform students about resources available to them.

Fullerton College Student Trustee Sharon Kim reported that the “Welcome Week Block Party” will be held next week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Wednesday. The first Student Senate meeting of 2025 is coming up on February 4, and she read out a statement from the Associated Student Senate in support of DEIA’s importance and which pledged that the Senate will work to support the students to the best of their abilities. 

Trustee Mark Lopez attended his first Fullerton Museum Board meeting and thanked his fellow trustees for the appointment. He also attended the Fullerton College Art Department closing ceremony event with Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland, and the CCLC Conference where he learned about new ways to support students.

Trustee Evangelina Rosales officially welcomed Student Trustee Robert Johnson and Trustee Mark Lopez to the Board and wished everyone a happy new year. 

Board President Jeffrey Brown attended the CCLC conference and learned that the District is “ahead of the curve” on many issues. He acknowledged the worry and fear from the public around federal changes that may affect the District and reaffirmed that the District is dedicated to protecting students, faculty, and staff, and the mission of equity and education.

NEXT MEETING

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the NOCCCD Board of Trustees will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Anaheim Union High School District Board Room.

Board Highlights is produced by NOCCCD Public & Governmental Affairs as a summary of the Board actions and reports. It is not intended as a replacement of the official minutes of the Board meeting. For more information on the NOCCCD Board of Trustees, please visit the website.