President/CEO Message
November 5, 2020
Campus Community,
Today was a busy day for me. I had several Zoom meetings and had the opportunity to chat with many employees and student workers. As mentioned during the President/CEO Message - October 26, 2020, I utilize Cranium Cafe to interact with employees, student workers, and students. At the Tuesday, November 17, 2020, Compton Community College District Board of Trustees meeting, I will be making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees to approve an agreement with ConexEd for January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023. This will ensure we can continue to provide online student services through Cranium Cafe for our students. In the future, all Compton College and Compton Community College District Departments will be utilizing Cranium Cafe.
Also, I wanted to remind you that next week Wednesday, November 11, 2020, is the Veteran's Holiday, no classes will be held, and the campus is closed. The President/CEO Message - November 5, 2020, includes COVID-19 information and other campus-related updates.
Compton College COVID-19 Update
Los Angeles County's current risk level is Tier 1 (widespread), according to California's "Blueprint for a Safer Economy." As of November 4, 2020, there were 1,843 newly recorded confirmed cases in Los Angeles County. The county now has a total of 313,526 reported cases (including cases reported by Long Beach and Pasadena Health Departments). For more information, go to http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/data/index.htm. According to the Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan, Compton College continues to operate at Level Four - Severe Infection Rate.
Essential Employees Work Schedule
The Essential Employees Work Schedule for Monday, November 9 through Friday, November 13, 2020, is posted online here. The schedule will be updated every Thursday for the following week as employees continue to gradually return to campus.
Eventual Return to Campus
It was brought to President/Cabinet's attention this week, that there might be employees who wish to return to working on campus versus telecommuting. With your manager/supervisor's approval, you may request to be added to the Essential Employees Work Schedule. Please note, you will be required to submit COVID-19 test results every month to the Office of Human Resources, in addition to following the entry to campus protocol (temperature check and online wellness questionnaire). If you would like to be added to the schedule, please contact your manager/supervisor, who will then email the approved request to the Pandemic Coordinators (rbox@compton.edu, rjames@compton.edu, hparnock@compton.edu, and rsasser@compton.edu). As noted above, the work schedule is updated every Thursday for the following week; once an individual is added to the schedule, they remain on it until they are removed.
Compton College 2021 Commencement Ceremony
As mentioned in the President/CEO Message - September 28, 2020, I mentioned that a decision needed to be made by today, November 5, 2020 regarding whether or not commencement will be in-person or held virtually. I discussed the ceremony during the October 29, 2020 Virtual Student Forum, and the Consultative Council had a conversation about the ceremony at their November 2, 2020 meeting. I received creative feedback from both students and employees. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Compton College telecommuting until further notice, the Compton College 2021 Commencement Ceremony will be held virtually on Friday, June 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The virtual ceremony, which will be a pre-recorded commencement ceremony, will include keynote speeches, 10-15 second videos from each graduate, 10-15 second videos from faculty, and video messages from the Compton CCD Board of Trustees. If you have any additional recommendations about the virtual commencement ceremony, please forward those recommendations to Andree Pacheco, Director of Student Development and Athletics, at apacheco@compton.edu.
Tartar Focused and Directed Pathways to Completion Committee (Guided Pathways)
In the President/CEO Message - September 10, 2020, I mentioned each Tartar Success Team would receive $10,000 to support student success activities. The first Tartar Success Team to submit its funding request was the Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Division, which is available here. On November 3, 2020, I approved this request with some clarifying questions regarding panelists and professional experts' stipends. I look forward to receiving the other Tartar Success Teams Proposals.
Earlier this week, I was recently reminded about the Tartar Success Team swag request. Last year, I asked for a Swag Subcommittee to be established and that each Tartar Success Team would receive a one-time budget augmentation of $5,000 from Guided Pathways funding to purchase Tartar Success Team swag during the 2020-2021 year.
Finally, in October 2020, the Community College Research Center at Teacher College, Columbia University, released "Funding Guided Pathways A Guide for Community College Leaders," which is available here. Hopefully, you are aware I am interested in implementing all of our Guided Pathways programs and services at scale, where all students are receiving the academic and student support services to complete their educational goals successfully.
Achieving the Dream Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool
Compton College has joined Achieving the Dream (ATD) for the 2020-2021 year, a growing network of more than 220 colleges in 43 states dedicated to improving student success. We ask the faculty, staff, and managers/supervisors to complete the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool to inform this work. This self-assessment helps colleges identify strengths and areas for improvement in each capacity area of the ATD framework, including Engagement and Communication, Strategy and Planning, Policies and Practices, Leadership and Vision, Data and Technology, Equity, and Teaching and Learning. The assessment asks a broad range of college stakeholders to assess their institution's capacity using four levels from minimal to exemplary.
Compton College faculty, staff, and managers/supervisors are invited to contribute to the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool. The tool will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and will guide the college in our work with ATD over the next three years. You can access the survey here, and please complete the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool by Tuesday, December 1, 2020. For individuals who complete the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool, your name will be included in an opportunity drawing, where four employees could win $200 each.
Final Thoughts
These last few days have been tough for many of us as we wait for the 2020 Presidential Election results. In general, elections elicit many feelings and reactions, including uncertainty, anxiousness, and a sense of powerlessness. Please allow yourself time to reflect on what is happening. I suggest you find activities (not Zoom work meetings) or other things to focus on and keep your mind from dwelling on the current situation. Take a break between your Zoom meetings, chat with your colleagues via Cranium Café, or take a walk.
Finally, regardless of the 2020 Presidential Election outcome, our students need us more now than ever before. We must continue to support them through their educational journey at Compton College. I truly believe every student is a success story, and with our help, we can help our students create their stories.
It is truly an honor to serve as the President/CEO of Compton College and Compton CCD. Please be safe, and finally, tomorrow is Friday.
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
