President Schilling’s Board Report for February 22, 2022
The following is a report to members of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees
Presented by Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D.
on February 22, 2022
Although enrollment continues to be a challenge, students are back on campus and accessing our services. Our new Legacy and Puente centers are actively being used, and enrollments in our Health Sciences and Kinesiology/Athletics, which mostly have in person classes, are trending up 6.5% and 12.5% respectively. Our online courses vastly outnumber our in-person classes, based on student enrollment demand – 72% online to 28% on campus – and our fill rates and retention for our online classes are trending above our in-person classes 82% to 71%. So, what to make of these data? We believe that students are asking for the flexibility of online offerings, with the high-touch experience of on campus services and engagement spaces where they can connect with their peers and faculty. We will continue to monitor these trends and try not to make simple decisions as we study and gather more information on what our students need and expect to be successful.
Cypress College will be participating in the Healthy Minds Student Survey, which will collect data in three critical areas: mental health needs, mental health utilization and help-seeking, and resilience and coping. We will also be adding some custom questions on food and housing insecurity, and financial support to better understand our students’ needs. This survey will be going to all students in April and will be another way to inform our decisions regarding how we can continue to offer a rich academic environment, while providing much-needed support for students. We will share these survey results when they are completed. Our thanks to Marla McBride and Anna Spencer-Lonetti for their help compiling this survey.
Cypress welcomed Dr. Laura Rendon to the college on February 17. Dr. Rendon developed and introduced Validation Theory in 1994, which underscores the importance of validating students and supporting their critical needs. Dr. Rendon is professor emerita at the University of Texas-San Antonio, and has held faculty and administrative appointments at several universities. She is part of a network of public speakers affiliated with SpeakOut-The Institute for Democratic Education and Culture. She earned a doctorate in higher education administration at the University of Michigan. Referencing her theoretical framework, she discussed how we can continue to help our students succeed during these difficult times. Thank you to Dr. Paul de Dios for bringing this important speaker and presentation to our college!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Cypress College; University of California, Irvine (UCI); and California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) a $1.5 million partnership grant over three years. The grant will be used at the three campuses to encourage underrepresented students to consider studying data science and prepare them for careers in STEM fields. The collaboration will fund the creation of the CADET (California Data Science Experience Transformation) Program, which will help better prepare students for careers in math, statistics, and computer science. Once students complete the internship portion of the program, they will receive a stipend of $5,000. This grant will also fund the creation of two new courses at Cypress College that will be transferable to UCI and CSUF. Kudos to STEM(2) Director Yanet Padilla and District grant director Lisa King for their work partnering with our four-year partners on this grant.
The Chargers are off to a great start to the spring season. Read about all our sports programs in depth. Here’s the latest:
- The Cypress Women’s basketball team is 15-10 and 7-3 in conference. Next up is Santa Ana on February 25.
- The Cypress Men’s basketball team is 14-10 and 6-6 in conference. Coach Drew Alhadeff earned his 100th victory as Head Coach of Cypress with a win over Golden West College in early February. Congratulations, Coach Alhadeff! Next up is Riverside on February 25.
- The Cypress Women’s Softball Team are off to a hot start and are focused on winning another CCCAA State Championship. They are currently 6-0 and take on Santiago Canyon on February 23.
Please join us for an upcoming game of your choice. Fans are welcome to attend indoor games with proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Masks are required for all games – indoor and outdoor.
Cypress is proud to co-sponsor the Grads to Be Programs Hosting UndocuAlly Educators Training Series, a series of events with Fullerton College in support of our undocumented students. The UndocuAlly Educators Training Series is composed of three trainings designed to inform, train, and equip district staff, faculty, managers, and the community on how to best support undocumented students and students in mixed-status families. Click on the dates below to register for each session. Participants only need to attend one training date for each part.
Part 1 – Foundational Knowledge: An Introduction to the Undocumented Community
February 15 at 3–5 p.m. | February 25 at 1–3 p.m.
Part 2 – Effective Strategies: Supporting and Working with Undocumented Students
April 1 @ 1–3 p.m. | April 4 @ 3–5 p.m.
Part 3 – Taking Action: Understanding Undocumented Student Rights
April 29 @ 1–3 p.m. | May 5 @ 3–5 p.m.
Support Cypress College on Amazon Smile. The Cypress College Foundation has begun our annual scholarship application process. Students can now apply online; last year we doubled the number of students applying and receiving scholarships. You can also support our Foundation by putting your Amazon purchases to work toward a good cause by designating the Cypress College Foundation as your charity of choice. The Cypress College Foundation supports students through scholarships, emergency assistance, book loans, and more.
Cypress College is proud to announce that we are now a chapter college for the African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND). This organization focuses on addressing the success of our African American male students in the California community colleges. Cypress will be sending 20 students, five faculty members, and four administrators to the A2MEND Summit in Los Angeles March 3-4. Our own Chancellor, Dr. Breland, is a Board member. Five faculty and students will be attending the pre-conference for women on March 2. Thanks to former VPI Lee Douglas, LaRon Armstead, Virgil Adams, and Troy Davis for their work applying for, and organizing, our participation in A2MEND on behalf of our students.
Celebrate Black History Month at Cypress College by participating in this series of virtual events examining and celebrating the Black experience throughout the month of February. This year’s theme is “The Souls of Black Folk: Being Black in the 21st Century.”
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!