NOCCCD Board Meeting Highlights for July 23, 2024

Board Actions

The Board of Trustees acted on agenda items, including those highlighted below.

Finance & Facilities: The Board approved a general citation increase for parking violations at the Anaheim Campus from $32 to $37 starting in fall. Vice Chancellor Fred Williams explained the increase will be on par with the citation fees at Cypress and Fullerton colleges.

Finance & Facilities 

Representatives from ForeFront Power gave the Board of Trustees an update on its progress on Fullerton College’s parking lot 5 project, where they are installing solar canopies. Part of the District’s Environmental Sustainability Plan, the solar canopy project was originally expected to save $1.89 million in energy savings over 20 years. Despite increased costs since 2022, projected 20-year savings have risen to $2.78 million. ForeFront representatives said the project is two weeks ahead of schedule.

The Board approved an agreement with Pathways of Hope to provide services at North Orange Continuing Education and Cypress College from Aug. 12, 2024 through June 20, 2025. Pathways of Hope is a non-profit focused on combating hunger and homelessness in Orange County. By partnering with Pathways of Hope, Cypress College and NOCE can better support students who struggle with basic needs.

Human Resources

The Board approved the retirement of Raine Hambly, Associate Dean I of Career Technical Education at NOCE, and the promotion of Flor Huerta from counselor to Dean of Counseling and Student Development at Fullerton College. The Board also approved the following new hires: Carlos Aguirre, Director of Academic Support Programs at Fullerton College; Julie Shields, Pharmacy Noncredit Instructor at NOCE; and Anna Spencer-Lonetti, Manager of Mental Health Services at Cypress College. Congratulations to all!

General

The Board reviewed and suggested edits to the District’s Mission, Vision, and Values statement, which was originally drafted by a District Consultation Council workgroup formed in spring 2022. In May, the Board sought to include more positive language, clarify unclear terms, reorganize the values, and add mentions of education. The Board plans to review again.

Reports

Chancellor's Report

Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland met with Board President Evangeline Rosales and student trustees Sharon Kim and Katie Wong to review the Board agenda as part of the student orientation. He also attended new CEO orientation with Cypress College President Scott Thayer and hosted a Morning Meetup with District staff, where each department shared highlights. Dr. Clift Breland also announced the Vision 2030: Noncredit Summit, hosted by NOCE on Oct. 3-4 at the Westin in Anaheim, focusing on access, inclusion, and transforming communities through noncredit education.

Campus Reports

North Orange Continuing Education President Valentina Purtell, Fullerton College President Cynthia Olivo, and Cypress President Scott Thayer commented on the following events and activities:

• NOCE Updates
  • In planning the Noncredit Summit, NOCE is busy securing sponsorships, speakers, and guests for the event.
  • NOCE finished the academic year with a 29 percent increase in full-time equivalent students.
• Fullerton College Updates
  • Fullerton College welcomed new Interim Vice President of Student Services Elizabeth Martinez.
  • Fullerton College finished the academic year with a 7 percent increase in enrollment, and a 9 percent increase for summer enrollment; more than 1,700 students visited the campus during orientation days with two more sessions to go.
  • The new Hornets Resource Center opened. It houses the welcome center services and basic needs services, which will be led by Katarina Barela-Perez.
  • The Applied Engineering Club, which clinched the NASA MINDS competition in spring, visited the Kennedy Space Center as part of their prize.
  • The international student program director traveled to Sri Lanka, Korea, and Thailand to recruit students at international fairs.
  • Fullerton College is negotiating a drone technology partnership with the city of Fullerton, supported by funds secured by Rep. Michelle Steel.
  • President Olivo requested prayers for the recovery of two members of the Fullerton College family: Baseball Coach Chad Baum who was recovering from an auto accident; and former President Rajen Vurdien, who was also hospitalized and is on the mend.
• Cypress College Updates
  • Cypress College anticipates fall enrollment to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
  • Summer full-time equivalent student enrollment is up 21 percent; overall enrollment is up 16.5 percent.
  • More than 1,000 students have attended Charger Experience orientation and registration workshops.
  • Twenty-four Cypress College students graduated from the Toyota Technician Training & Education Network (T-TEN) program. All the students are already employed at a Toyota or Lexus dealership.
  • President Thayer announced former Associated Students President Arjun Ayyappan completed the Stanford Law Scholars Institute and will attend the university in the fall. Ayyappan was the first community college student ever to be invited to the program.

Resource Table Reports

District Director of Public and Governmental Affairs Kai Stearns announced the recipients of the North Star Awards, which is given to employees who were nominated by their peers for their commitment to student success, customer service, and creating safe spaces for diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism work. The winners are: Stephanie Teer, Project Director of Dual Enrollment at Cypress College; Rena Martinez Stluka, Director of Admissions and Records at Fullerton College; Denise Mora, Coordinator of the Career Resource Center at NOCE; and Kashu Vyas, Executive Director of Fiscal Affairs for District Services.

As new District Managers Association President, Karla Frizler addressed the Board for the first time. After a brief introduction, she reminded employees District-wide to enter anonymous nominations for District managers who are doing a great job. DMA will also host a District Management Leadership Retreat on Friday Oct. 18.

CSEA President Pamela Spence reported that the executive board is looking for members to sit on District hiring committees and shared governance committees. The next CSEA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Board Reports

Cypress College Student Trustee Wong reported Associated Students partnered with the OC Action advocacy group to lobby for the passage of Senate Bill 299, which would pre-approve registration for eligible, unregistered people who interact with the DMV. AS is also gearing up for events aimed at educating students about the organization and how they can be a part of it.

Fullerton College Student Trustee Kim said Associated Students and Student Life are partnering to host Welcome Week beginning from Aug. 26 aimed at promoting college services, including the Transfer Center, The Hanger clothing closet, and student clubs. The college also formed an interclub council that aims to represent all student clubs, promote club activities, and ensure all clubs are educated about rules and regulations.

Trustee Brown echoed the sentiments of an editorial in the Los Angeles Times that advocated for community colleges and the role they play in student success.

Trustee Dunsheath reported her attendance at the Chancellor’s Consultation Council, where Chancellor Sonya Christian established a gender equity work group and announced legislative updates that affect community colleges; and is soliciting feedback from all stakeholders regarding its Career Educational Master Plan.

Board President Rosales said she enjoyed being part of the student trustee orientation and congratulated students taking summer classes.

NEXT MEETING

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the NOCCCD Board of Trustees will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 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 Board of Trustees web page.