President Thayer’s Board Report for July 22, 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 July 22, 2025
2024-25 Enrollment Reaches 12,180 FTES, up 23% from Pandemic Low
This summer’s enrollment remains strong and is now largely locked in as critical census dates have passed. For the term, the FTES generated is currently 1,237.7, an increase of 17.11% compared to last summer’s 1,056.9 FTES.
Overall enrollment (the number of seats taken) is at 10,602, an increase of 14.22% compared to last summer, while headcount (the number of actual individual students enrolled) is at 6,964 for an increase of 12.49%. The fill rate (percentage of seats taken compared to the total available) is at 91.5%, essentially flat compared to last summer.
For fall, Cypress College is off to a strong start to reach its 5% 2025-2026 growth target. FTES is currently at 4,469.8 and headcount is at 11,864. Classes are already at a 70.7% fill rate. All three metrics are significantly ahead of last year’s numbers. Because this year’s enrollment period began during the spring semester, the percentages of change are dramatic compared to the prior fall semester. For example, headcount is up 99.6% and FTES is up 82.04%. These numbers will level out as the start of the semester nears.
2024-2025 Enrollment Recap
The final FTES reported to the state chancellor’s office on the 320 report was 12,180, well in excess of our enrollment goal of 11,600 and 23.4% higher than the college’s lowest FTES recorded during the pandemic (in academic year 2021-2022). The 2024-2025 number is also 10% higher than the prior year’s FTES submission, 21.8% greater than the 10,000 mid-sized college designation threshold, 13% above the hold harmless baseline (2017-2018), and 4.8% above our pre-pandemic number (2019-2020).
As enrollments grew, student success also increased. Student success rates reached 73.5% in 2024-2025, up a full percentage point over the prior year and 2.6% greater than the 2022-2023 academic year.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Dual Enrollment FTES also grew to 444 FTES, up 45% from the prior year’s 307 FTES.
Our second year of participation in the California Virtual College resulted in a net gain (meaning more students from other colleges enrolled in Cypress College courses than Cypress College students enrolling at other colleges) of 123 students versus 47 in the prior year, a year-over-year increase of 162%.
Cypress College Community Supporting Lifeguard Isaiah Osorio
Former Cypress College men’s water polo student-athlete Isaiah Osorio recently sustained a life-altering spinal injury while working as a Seal Beach Lifeguard.
“A 4.0 student and future UCLA Bruin, Isaiah has always embodied excellence in and out of the pool,” said Wes McCurtis, Cypress College’s athletic director and associate dean of Kinesiology. “We invite the Charger community to come together in support of Isaiah and his family during this difficult time.”
“At Los Alamitos High School, Osorio earned varsity letters in water polo and swimming, alongside four Academic All-American honors, before continuing his athletic and academic journey at Cypress College and earning an acceptance to UCLA,” the Orange County Register reported.
The GoFundMe effort for Isaiah is nearing its $170,000 goal. According to the most-recent update, he has transferred to Craig Hospital in Colorado to begin his road to recovery. At the hospital, Isaiah will receive the specialized care and support he needs, according to the post.
Family Seeks Justice for Legacy Alum, UC Berkeley Grad Keron Thomas
Keron Thomas, a beloved Legacy Scholar alumni, was tragically killed when his motorcycle was struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding on the 5 Freeway in the early morning hours of June 24, 2025.
Keron was a 2020 Cypress College graduate and Legacy Program scholar who was mentored by Trustee Ryan Bent. Keron was recognized as the Legacy Male Scholar of the Year in 2020, a charter member of the Cypress College A²MEND program, and a recent graduate from UC Berkeley.
Keron’s family is asking for public support to locate the driver of the vehicle believed to have caused the accident. More information is available on the Justice for Keron Instagram page.
Keron graduated from UC Berkeley in May with plans to attend law school.
“He was one of the top students in the 2019–2021 Legacy cohort, earning the Legacy Male Scholar of the Year award and a scholarship for his outstanding achievements,” said Regina Rhymes, professor and chair of the Sociology Department. “Keron worked closely with many of us and was a vital part of our community. Under the mentorship of Ryan Bent, he secured an internship through the NOCCCD Scholarship program. All of us who had the privilege to know and work with Keron are devastated by his loss. His mother is deeply broken by this tragedy, and our hearts go out to her and the entire family.”
Additionally, Keron was selected by LaRon Armstead as a charter member of the Cypress College A²MEND Chapter, attending its annual conference three years in a row and contributing to recruitment efforts.
Keron wrote to Armstead and the Legacy Team upon earning admission to UC Berkeley to study Political Science:
I first wanted to thank all of you for the support and opportunities you selflessly granted me throughout my time at Cypress. Thanks to you and that support, I was admitted to UC Berkeley for Political Science in the Fall of 2022. I know that without all of you this dream would still be a dream, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me make this a reality. All of you do wonders for your students and peers by creating connections, offering endless encouragement, or even by just being an ear for them. I really lucked out when LaRon ran across the entire student center to recruit me. Thanks again to all of you for everything you’ve done.
Going Further Together, Keron Thomas
Keron’s funeral was held at Cypress Forest Lawn on Thursday, July 10.
Cypress College Foundation Hosts Retreat for its Board Members
The Cypress College Foundation held a productive and collaborative planning day on June 27, 2025 to update the organization’s Mission Statement, align guiding principles, and identify initiatives for the coming years.
The retreat also included the Foundation’s Annual Board Meeting, which included approving the 2025-2027 slate of officers, the 2025-2026 board member renewals, the 2025-2026 budget, and the updated bylaws.
Results of the planning session are being consolidated for review at the August Board of Directors meeting.
Thank you to Howard Kummerman, executive director of the Foundation and Community Relations and to the Foundation team for planning the event, and to the Foundation board for their generous donation of time and energy to support Cypress College Students.
Campus Safety’s Craig Lee Selected to College Police Association Board
Congratulations to Campus Safety Director Craig Lee who was recently nominated and selected to the Governing Board of the California Colleges and Universities Police Chiefs Association (CCUPCA). In the role, Lee will represent the Orange County Region.
Lee joined the Campus Safety Office as its director in January of 2022. He has a quarter century of experience in safety roles in higher education, including at Soka University and Chapman University.
CCUPCA was founded in 1982 to represent and promote the interests of safety and security among the public and private institutions of higher education throughout California. For over four decades, the organization has created a single forum for law enforcement and public safety leaders in California’s educational law enforcement agencies.
Retiree, Foundation Board Member Beth Piburn Honored for Service
Retiree and current member of the Cypress College Foundation board, Beth Piburn, was recognized as a Woman of Distinction for Orange County District One by county Supervisor Janet Nguyen.
In addition to serving on the Foundation board, Piburn is also active with the Los Alamitos Youth Center.
Piburn is one of 100 women recognized last month by the supervisor during a ceremony at the Huntington Beach Art Center.
T-TEN Program Celebrates Class of 2025 Graduates
The Cypress College T-TEN program celebrated its 2025 graduating class in an on-campus ceremony on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The class had 26 graduates.
During the event, the students were recognized with the following awards:
- 5 passed ASE L1 Advanced Engine Performance and earned a Scan Tool cable with a value of $500. This cable allows the student to turn their laptop into a scan tool with Toyota software;
- 3 passed ASE L3 Electrified Powertrains earning a $1,500 Fluke Digital Multi-Meter capable of testing hybrid and electric vehicle motors and system electronics;
- 11 students had all 8 ASE certificates in the Master Series tests and earned a T-TEN Graduate jacket; and
- 24 students received a $300 GearWrench set for having completed at least 2 ASEs and all required online T-TEN coursework finished by April 30, 2025.
Three students, Aiden Ray, Kenny Phan, and Nguyen Khuong earned all 8 ASEs, L1, and L3 and their dealers are working with the Cypress College Foundation to provide them with a $2,000 Snap-On gift card. The students will be allowed to purchase at the student price which makes the award worth $4,000.
Michael Klyde, Paul Kelley, Crystal Nava, and Louis Krebs coordinated the event.
The T-TEN program has seated 30 students from their summer Introduction to Toyota Technology course to form the 14th T-TEN cohort, the class of 2027. They will begin their full semester course work in fall 2025.
View the post and play the video.
Buen Cypress! We Take This Journey Together!