Weekly News Brief | August 19, 2022
From the Office of Chancellor John Weispfenning, Ph.D.

Yesterday, I announced a relaxation of indoor masking requirements (beginning August 26) and a return to five-days-per-week on-site support, services, and operations (beginning September 6). This follows weeks of improving COVID-19 indicators in our surrounding communities and changed public health guidance.

I acknowledge that there is still risk of negative outcomes, especially for those with other health complications. Unfortunately, we missed the opportunity as a world and a nation to stop COVID-19 from becoming endemic. Absent a novel scientific breakthrough, COVID-19 will continue to be with us at some base level for the rest of our lives.

This is not an unusual development over our history. We humans live with many dangerous diseases that our immune systems and medical knowledge have adapted to combat. With vaccines, boosters, medications, and new therapies, COVID-19 is beginning to follow the pattern set in our fights with various other viral and bacterial scourges.

None of this diminishes today's valid concerns about COVID-19. Increasingly, combatting the spread of the disease is a matter of choice rather than mandate. Our personal responsibility is not lessened, it is increased. We must be vigilant to not unnecessarily expose others to the virus – using the various choices available to us.

Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I never imagined being asked to make decisions that had such an immediate effect on the health of students, faculty, and staff. All of us have stepped up to this challenge in ways unimaginable to our younger selves. I am appreciative of all you have done to support each other. Please continue to show care for those around you as our shared new normal takes shape.

Be well,

 John

John Weispfenning, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Report from the Board of Trustees

On Wednesday, August 17, the Board of Trustees met in regular session. Trustees determined that conditions allowed for the resumption of in-person Board meetings beginning September 21, the second meeting of that month. Agendas and notices will be prepared to appropriately indicate the return to in-person formats.

Vice Chancellor Andreea Serban provided a report on student debt forgiveness. More than 15,000 students benefitted from an expenditure of some $4 million in one-time federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. The use of the federal funds for the purpose of debt forgiveness was allowed by the American Rescue Plan (2021). All students whose debt was forgiven have received notice from their college. Additionally, the Coast District and each college publicized the debt forgiveness. Trustees lauded the forgiveness program as a clear benefit to students and means of reengaging students who may have stopped attending during the pandemic. The Board asked that a follow-up report be provided during the second meeting of September. Trustees further adopted the Coast District's Emergency Conditions Recovery Plan, noting the Board's engagement in managing changing enrollment trends.

Further addressing student basic needs, the Board approved agreements between Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and all three colleges. Following a presentation by Vice Chancellor Drinkwine, trustees also adopted a five-year construction plan of projects that could be viable for future state funding and those that might become eligible.

Trustees noted that this was Chancellor Weispfenning's last meeting in the role, celebrating his service and congratulating him on his retirement. The Board then adjourned in memory of Bob Wetzel, retired faculty and volleyball coach at Orange Coast College, and Patrick McMaster, longtime friend of the Coast District.

College News

Schedule

Chancellor's Schedule, Week of August 22
Dr. Weispfenning is in the District, Monday through Friday