Weekly News Brief | October 30, 2020
From the Office of Chancellor John Weispfenning, Ph.D.

Many of us awoke on Monday to the ominous sight of smoke and sounds of emergency response. We in California have become familiar with wild fires. At the same time, the stress felt earlier this week compounded with the ongoing disruptions from the pandemic. Our homes, our places of safe refuge from the virus, were threatened.

I appreciate everyone for once again coming together to be there for our students and communities. Thank you to our public safety, who protect the Colleges and District Office on good and bad days. Thank you to our first responders, including many Coast District alumni, who carried out well-coordinated evacuations and fire response.

I hope we retain this sense of cohesion from dealing with the fires as we enter next week. The elections concluding on Tuesday, November 3, are important. All eligible voters should make their voice heard at the ballot box. We should also remember that we have a wide range of political perspectives represented within the Coast District.

Whatever the results, some may be cheered and others angry or fearful. There is also the chance of a slow count and delayed result on key races. Please keep in mind that how each of us responds will influence how others respond.

In reaction to the fires, we in the Coast District maintained a sense of calm kindness in our dealings with our students and colleagues. I would ask that we extend calm kindness again next week, as we support all eligible voters in exercising their choice and processing the potentially intense emotions connected to the results.

Be well,

 John

John Weispfenning, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Make Your Plan to Vote

Voting is a fundamental right and responsibility for all those eligible. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important for voters to have a plan to vote.

On November 3, 2020, General Election Day, polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by November 3 or turned in at a polling place by 8:00 p.m.

Election information, voter guides, and voter status are available below:

• Students Vote Project
• California Secretary of State
• Orange County Registrar of Voters

All registered California voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2020, General Election. Pursuant to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Elections Code, a vote-by-mail voter may vote in person at the office of the county elections official or at a satellite location established by the county elections official on or before the day of the election. Additionally, those eligible may still conditionally register and vote at their county elections office after the voter registration deadline.

Civic and election information provided by the Orange County Registrar of Voters applies to the county where the Coast District is located. This information may vary by county. Please check the California Secretary of State's website to review voter registration status or find information appropriate to an eligible voter's county.

In-person Voting Begins Today

Orange County Vote Centers are now open for in-person voting. Center locations are available at ocvote.com, including the Board Room at the District Office, the Student Union at Golden West, and Coastline's Newport Beach Campus.

Headlines and Accolades

Orange Coast Speech and Debate Team Excels
The Orange Coast College Speech and Debate team competed in the El Camino Crossman Virtual Tournament, which took place earlier this month. Although competing online is a new venture for OCC's championship forensics program, the Pirates rose to the occasion, with numerous individual awards and a third-place finish overall in a larger-than-normal field of competitors. Read more...

Coastline Dean Recognized for Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Aeron Zentner, dean of institutional effectiveness at Coastline College, was recently honored by the Research and Planning Group, an education focused non-profit formed almost 30 years ago to advocate for and support the use of data and evidence to encourage effective policy and practice within the California Community Colleges. Read more...

Schedule, Week of November 2

Board of Trustees

Chancellor's Schedule