NOCCCD Board Meeting Highlights for May 14, 2024

Board Actions

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

Finance and Facilities

The Board voted to review and receive the following quarterly reports for the quarter that ended on March 31, 2024: the District’s Quarterly Financial Status Report, the Quarterly Investment Report and the Irrevocable Retiree Benefits Trust Report.

Human Resources

The Board approved the retirement of Merina Nunez, Accounting Specialist for the District, effective June 28. Congratulations on your retirement!

The Board also approved the hiring of new personnel: Heba Mostafa, EOPS Student Service Specialist at Cypress College; Farzaneh Hedayati, Special Projects Director for the Student Support & Resource Team at Fullerton College; and Lisa Tran, Administrative Assistant I for Student Equity and Success at Cypress College. Welcome aboard!

General

The Board adopted Resolution No. 23/24-23, in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, as well as Resolution No. 23/24-24, declaring the week of May 19 as Classified School Employee Week.

Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Technology Cherry Li-Bugg presented to the Board a draft version of the updated District Mission, Vision, and Values statement, which had been formed over the last two years by a Districtwide workgroup with input from constituents across the District. Trustees had edits and suggestions at the meeting, and the Board agreed to further review the statement at their upcoming retreat before bringing a final version back for adoption.

The Board approved Fullerton College’s recommendation to fly commemorative flags identified by the College’s Diversity Advisory Committee. The committee identified four cultural, heritage and history flags and the respective dates when the flags will fly:

• First week in June, Pride Month, the Inclusive Intersex Progress Pride Flag.
• Second week in June, Caribbean-American Heritage Month, the Caribbean-American Heritage Month Flag.
• Third week in June, Juneteenth, the Pan African Flag/Black Liberation Flag
• Throughout July, Disability Pride Month, the Disability Flag.

Reports

Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland introduced Cypress College President Scott Thayer who gave the State of the College presentation, “We Take This Journey Together.” The presentation included several wonderful highlights, including the upward trend of enrollment toward pre-pandemic levels. With nearly 11,000 students enrolled, Cypress boasts 875 students enrolled in the Charger Experience Promise Program, and 959 high school students in the dual enrollment program.

Thayer also introduced Associated Students President Arjun Ayyaddan, who holds the distinction of being the first community college student ever to be selected for the Stanford University Law Scholars Institute, and the first Charger in nearly 15 years to be accepted into Stanford. Ayyaddan gave a brief presentation to the Board, explaining his journey through Cypress College, and how the experience has molded him into a confident student ready to attend one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

Chancellor Breland then introduced Fullerton President Cynthia Olivo, who recognized the College’s Applied Engineering Club for clinching the NASA MINDS competition for their radio identification (RFID)-based system, a handheld system they designed to assist astronauts locate lost tools in space. Their project bested 28 other entries from four-year universities across the country. They earned a cash prize and a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 10-member team includes Shahmir Ahmad, Jaime Alvarez, Raymond Chbeir, Brandon Marcus, Sumiran Mishra, Alex Montes, Adrian Munoz Gallardo, Sagar Shah, Rodrigo Timis and HyungJoo Yoon.

NOCE President Valentina Purtell and Fullerton College President Cynthia Olivo commented on the following events and activities:

• NOCE and the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges hosted the inaugural Noncredit Institute, “Stepping into California’s Vision 2030: A Noncredit Journey” on May 2 and 3. Attendees shared best practices, were inspired to be creative and received practical tools and resources
• Twenty Student Board Members and the Executive Director from the Student Senate of California Community College visited NOCE on April 19 to attend a workshop.
• Commencement and Student Success celebrations were held on May 17 to close out NOCE’s 50th anniversary year.
• Fullerton College’s student debaters beat Cal State Fullerton’s team at the 37th Blumer Forensics Tournament. Congratulations to Gabriel Hood, Samuel Eng, Abdon Hernandez, Andrea De Avila, Emily Evert and Maddison McDonnell.
• The Hornets Softball team clinched two games to head to the State Championships (which they won!)
• Fullerton College hosted the "Vision 2030: Success with Equity, a Dual Enrollment Convening" with Fullerton Union High School District and in collaboration with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.
• Kash Amos and Student Trustee Chloe Serrano received the Leader of the Year award from Associated Students. Amos will serve as student speaker during commencement.
• Fullerton College will launch the Siempre Fullerton podcast

Vice Chancellor Irma Ramos reported the Employee Health and Wellness Fair was a success with about 200 employees attending. Also, participants in the Leadership Academy gave their project presentation and graduated from the Academy.

District Management Association president Treisa Cassens announced DMA gave out four $750 scholarships to two distinguished students per campus. Congratulations to Student Trustee Serrano and Kash Amos from Fullerton College, and Arjun Ayyaddan and Prabhjot Repal from Cypress College!

Board Reports

Student Trustee Chloe Serrano reported Associated Students elections concluded and the new student trustee for Fullerton College will be Sharon Kim. The FC AS Banquet was held and the Students of Distinction were named, and Student Trustee Serrano’s Day in the Life video, which featured her work with the Board, was posted to Instagram.

Student Trustee Jesse Ramirez congratulated CC AS President Arjun Ayyaddan for his acceptance to Stanford, and reported another Charger is waiting to hear back from Stanford as well. Cypress College also held is AS Banquet and End of Year Carnival.

Trustee Jacqueline Rodarte congratulated the student trustees and NOCE for its new animal care program. She reported a fundraiser for the Fullerton Museum on May 25 where the proceeds go to stipends for students who intern at the museum. The museum is also hosting Pride Fest on June 1.

Trustee Jefferey Brown reported attending the Community College League of California (CCLC) conference and attended great sessions, including one where there was discussion surrounding the potential of Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing programs being offered at community colleges and another about Prop. 209 and DEIAA initiatives.

Trustee Barbara Dunsheath recognized the passing of Anna Piercy, longtime Anaheim Union High School District trustee and former Cypress mayor. Dunsheath also attended the CCLC conference and enjoyed a session on a culturally responsive higher education curriculum tool, and announced she was elected as first vice president of the California Community College Trustees Board.

Trustee Stephen Blount reported attending the CCLC conference and congratulated the Fullerton College Forensics Team for their victory in the Blumer Forensics Tournament.

Trustee Ryan Bent congratulated Gil Contreras on his new job as President of San Bernardino Valley College and thanked him for years of service.

Board President Evangelina Rosales thanked Fullerton College for giving its students the space to compete for the NASA MINDS competition and emphasized the importance of nurturing students’ ideas. She also attended the AI Symposium at Cypress College, and congratulated the Leadership Academy graduates, as well as the leadership who coordinated the program.

The Board adjourned in memory of AUHSD Trustee Anna Piercy.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the NOCCCD Board of Trustees will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, at the Anaheim Union High School District Board Room.