President Thayer’s Board Report for June 24, 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 June 24, 2025
Summer Enrollment Up Across all Metrics, 19% in FTES Generation
As we pass the census date for the majority of courses, Cypress College’s summer enrollment is up all four major metrics.
The primary metric of full-time equivalent students (FTES) is up 18.61% compared to summer 2024 for an increase of 196.3 FTES.
Overall, there are 6,990 individual students, up 886 or 14.52% compared to last year. The increase in seats filled is 1,465 or 15.83%. In total, courses are 91.9% full for summer 2025.
Enrollment is up across all age groups as well — notably by 449 students in the 19 and younger category.
Fall enrollment switched to an earlier timeline this year — allowing students to select courses prior to summer break.
This change means that reliable year-to-year comparisons aren’t yet available. However, Cypress College has already enrolled 3,839.5 FTES for the upcoming fall term, with 9,904 individual students having enrolled.
These numbers appear to put Cypress College on solid footing to surpass the fall 2024 enrollment metrics.
Campus Celebrates Juneteenth Freedom Day with Ernest Bridges
The Cypress College campus community came together to celebrate Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, with a virtual gathering in advance of the Juneteenth holiday.
The event featured keynote speaker Professor Ernest L. Bridges, a dynamic educator and retired professor from Fullerton College and California State University, Fullerton. As a respected Umoja elder, mentor, and community advocate, Professor Bridges has inspired generations of students through his commitment to education, equity, and empowerment.
“This meaningful event offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on the history of Juneteenth while engaging in thoughtful discussions about freedom, independence, and justice, past and present,” said Professor Regina Rhymes, the coordinator of both the Sociology Department and the college’s Legacy Program.
In addition to the keynote, participants engaged in breakout group discussions on pressing contemporary topics such as:
- Allyship with Undocumented Workers
- The evolving meaning of freedom and independence across communities
- Shared experiences of resilience and resistance
Cypress College Foundation Board President Scheetz Hosts Scholars
Curtis Scheetz, a Cypress College alumnus who currently serves as president of the Cypress College Foundation Board of Directors, hosted an on-campus lunch on Monday, June 16, 2025, in honor of students who received the scholarships he funds.
At this year’s Scholarship Awards, Scheetz presented $111,000 in awards to 86 students. Monday’s lunch was an opportunity to get to know some of those scholars on an individual level since personal connection is important to Scheetz.
Scheetz is a 1976 graduate of Cypress College Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Program who went on to found Total Environmental Management, Inc. in 1985 as a way to provide emergency and temporary HVAC services after identifying a need in the industry at that time. In 2018, he was honored by Cypress College and the Cypress College Foundation as the Alumnus of the Year.
As he began his transition into retirement from TEM, and always searching for new challenges, Scheetz reconnected with Cypress College because of the impact that his faculty — Ron Trulock and Wayne Freeman — had on his career and on his life. In addition to his generous philanthropy, he is a strong advocate for Cypress College where he helps with both fundraising and promoting of the school’s stellar HVAC program.
Curt and his wife, Jill, an interior designer, are approaching their 48th wedding anniversary. They are the proud parents of two children, Curtis and Natalie, both of whom live with their families in the Southern California area.
Transfer Prep Academy Courses with Partner UCI Ready to Launch
Eleven Cypress College students are participating in the UCI Transfer Prep Summer Academy, which launches on July 7, 2025. The first-time program, which also includes students from Fullerton College, is a partnership with UCI to boost transfer from the NOCCCD campuses to UCI.
As part of the program, the students have enrolled in ETHS 131 — African-American History II. The course runs through July 21 with the final week spent on campus at UCI.
The UCI Transfer Prep Summer Academy is a residential program that invites community college students to immerse themselves in the vibrant life at UC Irvine while participating in a 3-unit course from their home campus.
The broader goal of the program is to help foster successful transfer for Cypress College students to UCI.
OC Register Features Fashion Show, Effort of Journalism Student Pineda
Last month, the Orange County Register featured the work of Journalism Program student Freya Pineda, who led an event to showcase how fashion serves as a form of communication. Pineda, who serves as president of the Fashion Club at Cypress College, led the group’s first-ever fashion show.
The goal of the May 8, 2025 event was “to highlight how fashion can serve as a form of communication,” Pineda told the OC Register.
“It has become an outlet for self-expression,” Pineda was quoted by the reporter Gabrielle Gillette. “To let someone know you’re the kind of person you are without orally explaining or going into detail on your identity.”
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!