NOCCCD Board Meeting Highlights for April 14, 2026
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting. The following are highlights of the meeting held at 5:30 p.m. at the Anaheim Campus Board Room.
Chancellor’s Report
Chancellor Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland acknowledged the District’s participation in the recent Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APHE) conference in Anaheim, which brought together more than 1,300 participants.
Presentations
State of the College
Cypress College President Dr. Scott Thayer delivered the “State of the College” presentation, highlighting a focus on student access, support services, and enrollment restoration. He noted that FTES levels are above the 12,000 benchmark, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic levels.
He also provided an overview of student enrollment demographics, noting that the student population is primarily Latinx, followed by Asian students. The College awarded 1,756 associate degrees, 1,993 certificates, and 1,807 associate degrees for transfer.
President Thayer concluded by sharing that more than 13,000 students and families were served through the food pantry, and that the Student Health and Wellness Center provided 47,030 minutes of services across 1,386 visits.
Student Support Services
Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Jennifer Vega La Serna introduced the student support services presentation, delivered by Cypress College Vice President of Student Services Dr. Paul De Dios, Fullerton College Vice President of Student Services Dr. Sonia S. Villegas, North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) Director of Student Equity and Success Debra Perkins, and additional campus representatives.
Board Actions
The Board of Trustees acted on agenda items, including those highlighted below:
- It is recommended that the Board mark its ballot for the California Community College Board of Trustees Board of Directors election.
- It is recommended that the Board receive as information the revised Administrative Procedures in Chapter 3.
Human Resources
The Board approved the hiring of Cypress College Campus Safety Officer II, Israel Cejas; Fullerton College Executive Assistant II, Marisa Cornejo; and Anaheim Campus IT Technician II, Jeancarlo Madrigal.
The Board also approved the retirement of Cypress College CIS Instructor Alireza Moady.
Chancellor’s Staff Reports
NOCE
NOCE President Valentina Purtell reported that, beginning in Summer 2026, NOCE will offer new programs such as Google IT Support, Office Assistant training, ESL for Work, and online high school diploma courses.
She also noted that NOCE faculty leads will host a watch party at the Anaheim Campus for a State Chancellor’s Office professional development event focused on human-centered teaching in the AI era. She concluded by sharing that NOCE will celebrate student achievements at the 2026 Commencement and Student Success Ceremony on May 15 at Cottonwood Church.
Fullerton College
Fullerton College President Dr. Cynthia Olivo shared that horticulture professor Luellen Swayzer secured a $20,000 donation from the Orange County Farm Bureau.
She also reported that the Inter-Club Council is hosting a clothing drive through April 17, followed by a thrift market on April 22, with proceeds supporting student programs and Mercy House OC. Future Hornet Night will also welcome more than 1,000 prospective students and their families to campus in preparation for fall enrollment.
Dr. Olivo concluded by sharing that more than 500 scholarship applications have been received and invited volunteers to assist with the review process through April 27.
Resource Table Reports
Academic Senate
NOCE Academic Senate President Michelle Patrick-Norng reported that faculty leaders attended the ASCCC Spring Plenary in April and will provide an update at the May 5 Senate meeting. Adopted resolutions will be shared once available.
She noted that one resolution aims to strengthen noncredit students’ pathways to credit programs. This includes raising awareness of noncredit rigor, developing student support resources, and expanding the tracking of student outcomes.
She also shared that during the April 7 Senate meeting, senators voted to support a draft joint collaborative consultation understanding aimed at strengthening collaboration across groups.
Cypress College Academic Senate President Jaclyn Magginetti reported on the April 9 Senate meeting, sharing that there are continued discussions on faculty hiring prioritization, a call for volunteers for a Senate bylaws workgroup, and confirmation of faculty emeriti.
She highlighted key themes from the ASCCC Spring Plenary, including the role of faculty in interpreting data to support student success, ensuring that data reflect students' experiences, and discussions on accessibility, universal design for learning, and the state budget outlook. She concluded by expressing appreciation for the contributions of classified professionals.
Fullerton College Academic Senate President Bridget Kominek reported that the Senate is entering the final weeks of the semester and is reviewing key items. These include revising the integrated planning manual, proposing bylaw changes to expand adjunct faculty participation, and aligning Faculty Flex activities with the college’s strategic plan and student equity goals.
She shared that the Senate would consider program review resource requests, and opportunities for faculty to provide input on artificial intelligence. She concluded by expressing appreciation for classified professionals.
United Faculty
United Faculty President Steven Estrada expressed support for CSEA colleagues and raised concerns regarding potential changes to employee benefits.
He reported that negotiations between the United Faculty and the District are ongoing and described progress as slow but continuing. He noted faculty concerns related to workload, including extended day budget discussions, overload scheduling, and emphasized the importance of timely progress in negotiations.
CSEA
CSEA President Elaine Loayza reported on recent negotiations noting that the District’s Job Family Study identified 260 classified professionals working outside their current job descriptions and that approximately 37 percent of employees would receive salary increases, while others would not.
She expressed concern regarding the proposed implementation timeline and the potential freezing of longevity benefits and emphasized that the job study and longevity benefits should be addressed separately. She concluded by requesting that the District reconsider its approach to ensure implementation does not negatively impact classified professionals.
Board of Trustees Reports
NOCE Student Trustee Kristine Nacu shared a student interaction highlighting the need to better support students with prior education and career experience.
She reported that student leaders attended the Women of Color Action Network Summit focused on overcoming barriers and career advancement. She concluded by noting participation in the Student Senate for California Community Colleges General Assembly, highlighting resolutions related to equitable testing practices for ESL students and catalog rights.
Fullerton College Student Trustee Samiy Castillo Bolivar invited the Board to attend the annual LGBTQIA2S+ Summit, held virtually April 15 through 16.
He shared campus updates, including a recent job fair, upcoming GradFest, and FC Night, and highlighted student engagement and access to support services, such as graduation photos. He also reported that student elections are underway and will conclude this week, with results to be shared at a future meeting.
Cypress College Student Trustee Zachary Colinco shared a range of campus events, including a Pride Drag Show on April 24, Wolf Fest on April 22, and the campus garden soft opening.
He concluded by noting that student leaders attended the Student Senate for California Community Colleges General Assembly, where they advanced resolutions related to the communication of student services changes and sustainability practices.
Secretary Mark Lopez reported attending several campus and community events, including a meet-and-greet at NOCE, a campus coffee meeting at Cypress College, and a Cypress College Academic Senate meeting. He also attended a Fullerton College theater production of The Pirates of Penzance and Educators Night at the Fullerton Museum Center, where he visited the Taíno: Alive 1492 exhibit. He concluded by highlighting upcoming community events at the Fullerton Museum Center, including a Women’s Fest and a recent tour of the Fender Gallery.
Trustee Stephen T. Blount expressed support for classified professionals and spoke to the importance of recognizing years of service and contributions across the District. He reflected on the value of classified work and noted that compensation tied to longevity recognizes long-term commitment and service.
Public Comments
Public comments were provided by CSEA representatives, classified staff, retirees, and community members regarding concerns about proposed changes to longevity benefits. Speakers opposed the proposed longevity freeze and urged the District to maintain or grandfather longevity benefits.
Next Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the NOCCCD Board of Trustees will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at the Anaheim Campus.
