The Messenger – January 2024
Student Success
Registration is Open 2024 Spring Semester
Registration is currently in progress for the spring 2024 semester at Compton College.
Saturday classes begin Saturday, February 10, and weekday classes begin Monday, February
12. Students may register for spring classes online, 24 hours per day via MyCompton
on the Compton College website www.compton.edu.
Enrolling at Compton College gives students access to a complete menu of support services
to aid in their success. All students enrolled during the 2023-2024 school year will
receive a FREE student parking permit, one FREE meal per day at the Everytable Café
on campus, and $20 per week in vouchers to use at the Farmers’ Market hosted on campus.
In addition, Compton College provides financial, academic, and technical support for
those in need such as financial aid; tutoring; book vouchers; free laptop, headphones,
and Wi-fi hotspot loans; free Metro GoPass for transportation; and referrals for those
with housing insecurity.
Steps to Enroll
For students who need to apply for admission, the Compton College online application
may be completed in a few easy steps. Students may complete the Steps to Enrollment
from the comfort of home or visit the Admissions Office on campus for in-person assistance.
Visit the Steps to Enrollment web page for more information and guidance: www.compton.edu/start-here/.
Virtual Steps to Enrollment workshops are available Monday through Friday: www.compton.edu/steps-to-enrollment/virtual-steps-enrollment.
In-person and online counseling appointments to complete Step 4 – Educational Planning
are available Monday through Friday by appointment or express drop-in counseling here:
www.compton.edu/admissions-aid/counseling/.
The Spring 2024 schedule of classes, in both digital and searchable formats, is available
on the Compton College website at www.compton.edu/admissions-aid/ClassSchedule.
Cash for College Fair – January 27
Compton College will host a Cash for College Fair on Saturday, January 27, from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Little Theater on campus. This event is open to the public and
check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Receive hands-on support to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA,
CADAA, and Chafee applications. Attendees should come prepared by first creating a
Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at studentaid.gov. Those who plan to attend the Cash for College Fair should RSVP online.
For more information about this event and a list of what to bring, Click here.
Students Encouraged to Apply for 2024-25 Financial Aid
Some of the most notable changes to the financial aid application process include:
- About 610,000 more students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants. Additionally, Pell recipients will receive more aid and nearly 1.5 million more students will receive the maximum Pell Grant, which is $7,395.00.
- Applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 application questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants will need to complete as few as 18 questions, taking less than 10 minutes.
- New to the application is “contributor” – anyone required to provide information, a signature, and consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA; this can include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a stepparent. Contributors are not financially responsible, but their information will be used to determine the student applicant’s eligibility for federal aid.
- The applicant’s completed FAFSA information can be sent to up to 20 colleges, career schools, or trade schools.
When applying, students will be asked to enter a school code for the college they wish to attend and receive financial aid.
- For the FAFSA, visit www.studentaid.gov and use Compton College code 042817.
- On the CADAA, visit https://dream.csac.ca.gov and use Compton College code 04281700.
Compton College Accepting Applications for Summer and Fall 2024
Applications are now open for enrollment at Compton College for the 2024 summer sessions
and fall semester. As a lower-cost alternative to four-year colleges/universities,
Compton College offers top-quality academics and is both a gateway to higher education,
and for some, an alternative to four-year institutions. Apply online in a few easy
steps: http://www.compton.edu/apply/
The 2024 summer sessions begin June 17 and July 1, and the 2024 fall semester begins
August 24.
Compton College offers a convenient, affordable education and essential resources
for traditional and non-traditional students—all in an encouraging environment that
provides personalized student support to put you on the road to success. Students
of all ages may earn an associate degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year university
or train for a job. Learn a new trade, make a career change, and acquire or upgrade
skills to re-enter the workforce with training that takes as little as 18 months to
complete.
Opportunities to Enroll at Compton College with Limited Cost!
Compton College Promise: Get Your Enrollment Fees Waived
Dual Enrollment for High School Students
Local high school students can save time and money through Compton College’s Dual
Enrollment program, where students can earn college credits for free to get ahead
with their higher education plans. All high school freshmen in surrounding communities
are encouraged to take advantage of this new “12-in-4 Program,” which offers students
a convenient pathway to earn a minimum of 12 college credits (3-4 classes) by the
time they graduate from high school in four years. In addition, all local high school
students can take Dual Enrollment classes at any time during their high school years.
Contact your high school counselor to inquire about the Dual Enrollment application
process!Compton College offers three types of no-fee Dual Enrollment courses for local high school students:
- Afternoon College (courses offered at high school sites after the regular school day) for all local districts served by Compton College.
- For Compton and Paramount Unified school districts, AB 288 courses provide access to Career Education and/or university transfer pathways.
- Compton Early College and Paramount College and Career Access Pathways, partnerships with Compton Unified School District and Paramount Unified School District where students can earn both a high school diploma and two years of college credit toward an associate degree simultaneously.
Compton College Scholarship Application Open for 2024-25 Academic Year
The application period for Compton Colleges 2024-2025 scholarship program is now open
and students are encouraged to submit their scholarship applications through February
29, 2024.
The online application is available at www.compton.edu. On the homepage, students must first log into MyCompton and then select “Scholarship
Application.”
Scholarships are beneficial to students trying to offset the cost of a college education.
Scholarships do not need to be paid back and are awarded based on specific qualifications,
talents, or merit often without regard to financial need. Current students may apply
online for multiple scholarships with just one application.
In 2023, Compton College and the Foundation for the Compton Community College District
awarded academic scholarships totaling $39,000 to 21 students. Many of the scholarships
fully cover the cost of enrollment fees, textbooks, and supplies.
Scholarships are available to students across all academic disciplines and 24 categories,
including students working toward a certificate in Career Education programs, Dream
Act students, Formerly Incarcerated Students in Transition (F.I.S.T.) program participants,
first-generation students, women re-entering college, and more. Students who are already
receiving benefits through the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and
Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) programs may also apply for a
scholarship. For a list of Compton College scholarships and eligibility criteria,
please visit https://www.compton.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/on-campus-scholarships.aspx.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better and at least six graded units of Compton
College coursework are required for all scholarships. For information about the Compton
College scholarship program, contact the Financial Aid Office at 310-900-1600, ext.
2935 or email financialaid@compton.edu.
Compton College Alumna is a Successful Local Entrepreneur
When life gave her lemons, Karneisha Christian-Stewart literally used her father’s
recipe to make lemonade —building a thriving beverage business in Compton called Pucker
Up Lemonade Company. The Compton College alumna now also sells her many flavors of
lemonade, iced tea, and infused waters at the Certified Farmers’ Market hosted on
campus every Wednesday. “While I had never participated in other farmers’ markets,
I feel the community is so fortunate to have Compton College in our backyard,” she
said. “It was a no-brainer to participate in the farmers’ market on campus given my
long relationship with the college.”
She began her three-decades-long affiliation with Compton College at the age of 14
when she landed a job at the college’s Financial Aid Office through a state-funded
summer youth employment program in the early 1990s. Being an ambitious and self-direct
teen, Christian-Stewart pushed herself to finish high school early. While still in
high school, she dually enrolled at Compton College to take an Algebra class she needed
to fulfill a graduation requirement.
She continued her connection with Compton College by enrolling full-time in 1993,
joining the women’s basketball team her first year, and taking advantage of all the
college had to offer. “Being at Compton College was easy and comfortable for me,”
she said. “Having worked in the Financial Aid Office, I was familiar with faculty
and staff, and I liked being involved.” During her sophomore year, she joined the
Associated Student Government as commissioner of activities which helped her develop
important skills that facilitated her entrepreneurial spirit such as leadership, teamwork,
collaboration, and event planning. She graduated with an associate degree and transferred
to Concordia University in Irvine where she majored in behavioral science and anthropology.
She also attended Maxine Waters Employment and Training Center, as well as Southwest
College to train to become a nurse.
“Compton College has played a major role in my life,” said Christian-Stewart. “The
college definitely prepared me to transfer to a four-year university and prepared
me for life because as a young teen, I was able to work alongside and study with mostly
adult learners at Compton College. I was influenced by a wide range of people, backgrounds,
experiences, and knowledge.”
Associated Student Government President Completes Dymally Student Fellowship
Compton College student Crystal Moore is one of 10 student leaders selected for a
2023-2024 Dymally Institute Fellows program in partnership with California State University,
Dominguez Hills. The Dymally Student Fellowship program, founded by Mervyn Dymally
– former California lieutenant governor, congressman, and legislator – exposes students
of color to careers in politics and social justice. The Dymally Fellows program provides training for current and future leaders and facilitates international travel for students of color to help expand their worldview and higher education ambitions. This year, the fellows’ academic curriculum will focus on leadership training, advocacy, social and political engagement, mental and behavioral health and wellness, and economic development. Moore and the other Fellows have or will travel to different locations in California, Howard University in Washington D.C., and South Africa for conferences and educational opportunities. “I applied for a Dymally Fellowship in search of identity and came out identifying as a leader,” Moore said.
Moore, a non-traditional student and mother of one, currently serves as Compton College’s Associated Student Government president (ASG) for the 2023-2024 academic year. She is pursuing a double major in nursing and psychology. In the future, she would like to work as a nurse practitioner specializing in forensics and mental health. She is on track to graduate from Compton College with associate degrees in June 2024 and would like to transfer to Hampton University in Virginia, which offers a doctorate program in nursing and is designated as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
“Caring for others is instinctual for me,” said Moore about her major and career choice. “My father was diagnosed with colon cancer when I was in my early 20s and I was his caregiver before he passed away. I have been taking care of people most of my life.”
She is also dedicated to expanding her knowledge and skill development as a student leader. Moore has held three student council offices during her time at Compton College: commissioner of clubs and activities, treasurer, and ASG president. Through weekly meetings open to all students, the elected ASG officers coordinate student activities, determine how ASG funds will be allocated, and represent student views on important Compton College issues. “I have chosen to serve on ASG throughout my time at Compton College because it is an important organization for student advocacy on campus,” said Moore. “One of our goals this year is to increase community engagement with activities on campus.”
District News
CCCD Board Meeting Scheduled for January 16
The next meeting of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled
for Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Student Services Building, in room
212, at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221.
All regular session Board meetings are open to the public. Closed session begins at
5:00 p.m.
The Board Agenda is posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Agendas are posted
on the BoardDocs website under the “Meetings” tab at: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf/Public.
State and Federal Advocacy Planned for First Quarter 2024
Compton Community College District CEO Keith Curry and the Board of Trustees will
be attending the 2024 Annual Legislative Conference in Sacramento January 26-28, and
meeting with California state elected officials on Monday, January 29.
On February 4-7, Dr. Curry and the Board of Trustees will attend the ACCT/AACC Summit
in Washington D.C. and will meet with federal representatives that week.
The District shares its 2024 Legislative Priorities with elected officials. The 2024 Legislative Priorities were reviewed by the Board at the December 12, 2023 Board meeting.
Facilities News
Instructional Building 2 Opening Soon
The new 30,200 square-foot Instructional Building 2 is a $25 million, multi-story
classroom building at the north end of campus. Instructional Buildings 1 and 2 are
part of a new academic village that will eventually include a third multi-story instructional
building. Instructional Building 2 houses 15 instructional classrooms, two of which
are flexible classrooms that can be sized up or down with moveable partitions. In
addition, there will be a study/reading room, 12 faculty offices, restrooms, and support
rooms, including a lactation room.
These new instructional buildings replace the former “Row Buildings” that were built
circa the 1950s. This new construction is made possible with funds from the District’s
2002 Measure CC facilities bond and State Capital Outlay monies.
Faculty, classified professionals, and the Academic Affairs Office will move into
Instructional Building 2 January 26-29, 2024. The goal is for all faculty and classified
professionals to be in this building before the Spring 2024 semester that begins on
Saturday, February 10.
A grand opening ceremony for Instructional Building 2 will be held on Saturday, April
20 at noon as part of the annual Community Day activities. Currently, during the demolition
of Buildings E and F, the walking path on the south side of Building E will be blocked.
Please use other accessible ADA walking paths around the Student Services Building
for access to spaces on campus. See the Campus Map for accessible pathways: https://www.compton.edu/about/docs/Compton-College-Map.pdf
Other News
Campus Farmers’ Market Celebrates First Anniversary
In November 2023, members of the community celebrated the one-year anniversary of
the Compton College Farmers’ Market operated by Sustainable Economic Enterprises of
Los Angeles (SEE-LA) and hosted by Compton College.
“When Compton College approached us to open up a certified farmers' market on campus,
it was a no-brainer since it aligns with SEE-LA's mission of improving food access
for underserved communities,” said Summer Vernon, Regional Manager, South LA Farmers’
Markets for SEE-LA. “In only a year we’ve seen the incredible impact the market has
had, and we look forward to continuing to provide top-tier, local farm fresh produce
and delicious food to students, faculty, and the community at large.”
The market runs weekly on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. and features popular incentive
programs including the Los Angeles County-supported American Rescue Plan, Market Match.
Market Match makes fruits and vegetables more affordable through a dollar-for-dollar
match on EBT purchases. Compton College also provides an incentive for all students
that provides an additional $20 each week to spend on fresh produce and prepared food.
Students, district employees, and members of the community will have the opportunity
to stock up on affordable, fresh produce straight from the farm.
“Compton College is dedicated to helping support the needs of local communities by
finding the perfect partners such as SEE-LA to offer support and resources,” said
Compton College President Keith Curry. “As an advocate of finding solutions for fulfilling
college students’ basic needs, we are proud to offer enrolled Compton College students
$20 in vouchers to spend each week at the Farmers’ Market on campus to help stock
their kitchens with fresh food items.”
Compton College Farmers’ Market is a partnership between SEE-LA and Compton College
that provides much-needed access to local, farm fresh produce and prepared food to
the Compton community. It is the only market serving the Compton community on a weekly
basis and is one of four Certified Farmers’ Markets in the South Los Angeles region
operated by SEE-LA.
Campus Calendar
| January 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday observed |
| January 16 | CCCD Board of Trustees Meeting |
| January 26 | Last day to drop with a “W” (Winter) |
| January 27 | Cash for College Event |
| February 2 | Last day of Winter term |
| February 5-9 | Campus remains open – classes not in session |
| February 7-8 | Spring 2024 Professional Development Days |
| February 10 | Spring 2024 semester begins |
| February 16 | Lincoln’s Day Holiday observed |
| February 17 | Non-instructional day |
| February 19 | Washington’s Day Holiday observed |
| February 20 | Last day to register to vote in the 2024 Presidential Primary Election CCCD Board of Trustees Meeting |
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