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Weekly News Brief | December 8, 2023
From the Office of Chancellor Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.
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It is so difficult to see the news from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A shooting has claimed innocent lives, people are terrified, and a community is forever changed. There is self-preserving instinct to look away. Yet, we must push against the numbing effect of violence. We should never accept that mass shootings are inevitable, nor should we accept turning our public spaces – including our colleges – into fortresses as an acceptable solution. We are asked to do the difficult thing of determining reasonable safety precautions, while moving forward at the societal level to address root causes. Colleges are a forum for tough conversations, and reducing gun violence is a worthy topic.
This week, I was also heartbroken to learn of a tragedy that took the lives of two Golden West College students, Jake Carver and Lance Erskine. These young and bright lives were victims of a drunk-driving crash. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes every day. We cannot become numb and accepting to that compounding tragedy as our status quo either.
I've written a lot about loss this year. In some ways, that is part of leadership. By speaking about pain, by naming it, we open the door for grieving which is a necessary part of healing. Thank you to Orange Coast for naming the grief and mourning together in the memory of Professor Emma "Joey" LaMer. From what I understand, Professor LaMer embraced her students and colleagues as family. It is only fitting that we remember her as family this holiday season.
I would ask that we hold a place in our hearts for those grieving at Orange Coast and Golden West, indeed at Coastline and the District Office, at UNLV, and for all those for whom holiday dinners bring thoughts of loved ones missing from the table.
With gratitude,
Whitney
Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.
Chancellor
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Report from the Board of Trustees
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On Wednesday, November 6, 2023, the Board of Trustees met and adopted a net budget decrease of $629,013 for 2023-2024. This primarily reflects savings of approximately $600,000 from the application of a 6.0 percent increase to management salaries rather than state funded COLA of 8.22 percent. Trustees also approved Board meeting dates for 2024 as well as a revised audit plan. Appointments were made to the Measure M Citizens' Oversight Committee, with Shana Jenkins, Howard Herzog, and Ellen Riley selected to serve.
Vice Chancellor Andreea Serban, Coastline College Vice President Isela Ocegueda, and Orange Coast College Dean Don Carlson presented on apprenticeships. Vice President Ocegueda featured Coastline's Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program along with plans to explore and establish apprenticeship standards in Supply Chain. Dean Carlson reported that while Orange Coast does not have registered apprenticeships, the College does offer academic tracks in fields such as Welding Technology which serve as an entry point for union apprenticeships and job placement.
The Board, along with friends and colleagues, recognized retirees with Bebe Bach (District), Diane De Pretto (District), Lynn Krieger (Orange Coast), and Mark Templin (Orange Coast) present. Trustees celebrated the years of dedicated service provided by each retiree and their exciting new chapter.
The Board of Trustees and Chancellor Yamamura with Lynn Krieger, Bebe Bach, and Diane De Pretto.
The Board of Trustees, Chancellor Yamamura, and President Suarez with Mark Templin.
The Board adjourned in memory of Golden Wes College students Jake Carver and Lance Erskine as well as Orange Coast College Professor Emma "Joey" LaMer.
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Persistent Innovation
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Submitted by Tyler Boogar, Orange Coast College Department Chair, Mathematics
OCC Math Center
With the passing of AB 1705 and AB 705, students are entering transfer level math courses more under-prepared than ever before. Additionally, OCC as a community college, is a place for students from a variety of backgrounds with a diversity of preparation and learning needs. For these reasons, the OCC math department has decided to create a Math Center which will provide additional support for students at the level they need. Students will have access to study space, workshops, study groups, and non-credit math skill courses offered free of charge. The center will be staffed with tutors, professional experts, and faculty and provide curriculum created by OCC math faculty for OCC math students. The center will be located in MBCC on the same floor as the majority of our classes in order to provide easy access for our students and our faculty.
This has been a long process including writing curriculum, creating written and video materials, meeting with vendors and publishers, working with the appropriate campus contacts to install and order new furniture, and working with campus partners to reallocate space. More than 15 math faculty, both full and part-time, have collaborated to make this a reality.
The OCC Math Center's soft launch is in January at the start of the spring 2024 semester. The full launch which will include expanded services and general tutoring will be in August at the start of the fall 2024 semester.
Please send examples of persistent innovation, by which I mean having a good idea and then putting in the hard work to make that vision a reality. The more examples submitted, the better I can highlight your successes in future letters and in the community!
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College News
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COASTLINE COLLEGE |
College Council endorsed Coastline College's Response and Plan for the Climate Study Recommendations on November 28. This was the result of various consultations, town halls, approvals by the shared governance bodies at Coastline, and the hard work of the taskforce members who examined the recommendations and devised the action plan to implement them. Coastline celebrates this achievement in their DEISAA journey and is committed to advancing equity for all students and community members.
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| ORANGE COAST COLLEGE |
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The Orange Coast College Chamber Singers (with soloists and orchestra) will offer one of the very first performances in the world of a new Spanish-language edition of Handel's famous Messiah. The concert takes place on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theater, and tickets are only $10 (with free parking in Lot C). Tickets are available here. A preview is available through the OC Register.
The Orange Coast College Wind Ensemble will host the 23rd annual holiday performance featuring popular Christmas music. The performance, titled "Merry Christmas," will take place on Wednesday December 13, at 6:30 p.m. in OCC's College Center Ballroom "B." Director Dana Wheaton will lead musicians in a program that includes classic works, such as "Greensleeves" arranged by Alfred Reed, "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson, and "A Christmas Portrait" arranged by Jerry Nowak. The concert is free to attend.
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Schedule
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Chancellor, Week of December 11
Dr. Yamamura is in the District, Monday through Friday.
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publicaffairs@cccd.edu
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