President Thayer’s Board Report for February 11, 2025
The following is a report to members of the North Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees
Presented by Cypress College President Scott W. Thayer, Ed.D.
on February 11, 2025
Spring Semester Begins with Enrollment at Post-Pandemic Highs
Cypress College’s spring semester is underway and full of energy as students are filling the classroom, study spaces, and support services. This is the largest group of enrolled students in close to a decade, with enrollment surpassing pre-pandemic and the hold harmless baseline.
As of the first day of the semester, enrollment was up 10% to 42,325 while headcount grew 11% to 15,662. Term FTES is at 5,458 — a number that means the college has recovered from losses experienced during the pandemic.
#OneCypress Theme at Spring 2025 Opening Day
We take this journey together. Those words have been the motto of our campus. They embody the support we give to students and to each other, and the only way we can take this journey together is if we are one: one unit, one community, #OneCypress.
Cypress College President Dr. Scott Thayer led the campus’ Spring 2025 Opening Day ceremony with the #OneCypress call to action. In his words, #OneCypress is “an umbrella for centering our work in a shared vision of student success and wrapping our students in the support provided across the campus.”
NOCCCD Chancellor Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland encouraged attendees to support students who may feel affected by national changes. Dr. Breland noted that NOCCCD would provide resources that would enable wrapping students in that support.
To provide that support, we must also have a shared vision, and to have a shared vision, we must have shared knowledge. In that spirit, Dr. Thayer shared the college’s accolades, which included accreditation reaffirmation for seven years by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). This reaffirmation came with no compliance requirements or any recommendations for improving institutional effectiveness, reinforcing the goal of #OneCypress.
Sometimes, knowing how to create a sense of belonging, or a feeling of #OneCypress, comes from living through an experience. Several members of our District went to Ghana for what became a life-changing experience. Virgil Adams, Gio Hortua, and Jaclyn Magginetti took the stage with Thayer to share what they’ll always remember from the trip, what changed them, what they’re adding to their curriculum because of it, and what story about it they repeatedly tell. To hear them share their experiences, watch the Opening Day video.
Read more about the Opening Day event on the Cypress College website.
APIDA Resource Center Ribbon-Cutting Set for February 19
Cypress College is honored to announce the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) Resource Center. This momentous event will take place on Wednesday, February 19, from 4-6 p.m. beginning at the Cypress College Theater lobby with events at various locations on campus and concluding with the ribbon cutting at the APIDA center.
The celebration will feature a vibrant array of cultural performances and delicious food representing the rich and diverse cultures of the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience traditional music, dance, and culinary delights that highlight the unique heritage of these cultures.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Rowena M. Tomaneng, a distinguished Cypress College alumna and a prominent leader in higher education, as the keynote speaker. She currently serves as the Deputy Chancellor for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Dr. Tomaneng’s inspiring journey and dedication to education and community service make her the perfect choice to mark this special occasion.
Black History Month Launches with ‘Good Trouble’ Theme
Cypress College’s Black History Month events kicked off on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in the Legacy Center. This year’s theme, “Good Trouble,” draws inspiration from the powerful legacy of John Lewis. The event highlighted historical figures who embody the spirit of positive social change and celebrating our community’s unity, history, and enduring legacy.
In addition, there were interactive discussions, a highlight on Black historical figures, and food.
Upcoming events include a presentation by Dr. Chike Akua, Honoring Our Ancestral Obligations: 7 Steps to Black Student Success. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 6-8 p.m., in the Campus Theater. The first 40 registrations will receive an autographed copy of Dr. Akua’s book, titled Honoring Our Ancestral Obligations: 7 Steps to Black Student Success. Register for the event. The additional Black History Month events are:
- Library Display and Resources: Legacy of Good Trouble, February 1–2 in the Library
- “Game Changers: Exploring Black Activism in Sports” Workshop, February 7, 7 m., Gym 2
- Good Trouble, Great Opportunities: Scholarships Workshops, February 11, 18, 25, 3 m., Leg- acy Center HUM-124
- A Day of Recognition and Triumph, February 13, 2:30-4 m., Legacy Center HUM-124
- Honoring Our Ancestral Obligations: Seven Steps to Black Student Success, February 18, 6:30 p.m., Campus Theater
- Speakers Panel on the recent African Diaspora Education Summit, February 19, 3 m., Legacy Center HUM – 124
- Day of Expression featuring Gloria Arjona, February 25, 2-4 m., location to be determined
New Ad to Debut During Sunday’s Championship Football Game
If you’re watching “the big game” this weekend you might be able to catch the debut of a new Cypress College advertisement. The ad will appear on the Fox Desportes broadcast of the NFL championship game for Spectrum Cable viewers in the company’s service area near the college.
The 30-second spot describes Cypress College’s “We Take This Journey Together” philosophy to serving students and committing to their success.
The ad will be posted to the Cypress College website and YouTube channels the day following the game between Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!