Chancellor's Message

July generally finds us awaiting the ratification of a state budget.   This year, however, the budget was passed by the legislature on July 7 and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on July 11 - very early, by past standards.

More importantly, community colleges fared well this year. I am especially pleased that there will not be a fee increase for our students. Statewide, community colleges are set to receive a 9% increase in spending and an estimated 10.46% share of Proposition 98 for community colleges, the highest since 1991-92.

The budget does include $30 million in equalization funding.   Of that, our district will receive $1.172 million, bringing our total equalization funds to $4.3 million in year two of the three year installments promised in last year's budget.   This money is needed to rectify the budget disparity that provides less funding to Coast colleges per student than its neighboring college districts.

The initial budget proposed by the Governor in January included a shift in STRS retirement costs from the state to the local level.   That proposal would have cost our District $1.2 million.   I am happy to report that shift was not a part of the approved budget.

Highlights of the 2005-06 budget include:

• Restoration of $31.4 million vetoed from district base apportionments last year
• 4.23% cost-of-living adjustment for the general apportionment and selected categorical programs
• 1.76% growth for selected categorical programs
• $30 million for credit equalization
• $20 million for career technical education
• $10 million to increase nursing enrollment and equipment
• $10 million to reimburse districts for mandates
• $1 million for the California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS) program
• $15.6 million to backfill any shortfall in 2004-05 property taxes, with the unused balance available for credit equalization
• No student enrollment fee increase
  

We will continue our advocacy efforts in support of the full funding for equalization in the 2006-07 fiscal year. In addition, we are gratified that as we begin this new fiscal year, our students will not have to endure another fee increase, that our colleges will benefit from a larger share of Prop. 98 funding and that we there will be no STRS shift.  

KOCE Update

In June an appellate court overturned the sale of KOCE to the KOCE Foundation.   The appeal was filed by Daystar, a Dallas-based company that submitted a bid during the initial request for bids in 2002.   The station has been run by the KOCE-TV Foundation since the sale and now holds the FCC license to operate the station.

The ruling to overturn the sale directs the District to either retain the station or place it up for sale once again.   Daystar has petitioned the appellate court for a rehearing asking the courts to award KOCE-TV to them immediately.

The District has also petitioned the Appellate Court for a rehearing, and voted July 20 to authorize legal counsel to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court if the petition for rehearing is denied.

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Classroom Improvements Underway at Coast Colleges Thanks to Measure C

A new student computer lab, upgraded athletic facilities and a remodeled state-of-the-art student center are just some of the Measure C-funded construction projects that were completed by the close of the 2004-05 fiscal year at the CCCD colleges.   Just 2 ½ years after taxpayers approved the general obligation bond measure, other major facilities projects are well underway, including Coastline's new Westminster Learning Center and a retrofit of Orange Coast College's seismically unsafe library to accommodate new classrooms and instructional space.

The colleges have worked quickly to launch bond-funded projects in light of the rising cost of construction world-wide.   These projects include making safety upgrades on buildings, classroom improvements, technology improvements, and constructing new facilities in order to meet the forecasted increase of students who will attend community college.   "We have made tremendous progress on our construction program and will continue to move forward to ensure our students have the facilities and the technology they need in order to succeed in furthering their education," said Chancellor Ken Yglesias.

In September 2004, Orange Coast College completed a remodel of its 50-year-old LeBard Stadium by installing an artificial surface called FieldTurf and bringing it into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act.   The field plays host to football games and soccer matches for OCC, GWC, and local high school teams.   OCC also completed a brand new artificial-surface soccer field north of the stadium.   This new field will not only save money on maintenance costs, it will also reduce injuries to the players.   A new student parking lot that can accommodate 500 additional vehicles was completed just in time for the fall 2004 semester.   The lot is located adjacent to the new District transportation facility that opened June 2005.   The transportation facility houses the Environmental Health and Safety department as well as the District transportation department which provides transportation to students and student athletes' district wide.

At Golden West College, students are now able to enjoy the renovated student computer lab, writing center, and disabled students lab which was redesigned for better student access.   All the equipment was upgraded with the latest technology.   Golden West also completed the renovation and expansion of their existing Student Center incorporating a study area with internet access and a more flexible interior for better traffic flow and more efficiency.

Coastline Community College will soon have a new place to call home.   The current Huntington Beach-Westminster Center location will soon be replaced by the new, two-story, 42,000-square-foot Westminster Learning Center located at 14120 All American Way in Westminster.   The center is currently under construction with a Fall 2005 completion date and an expected December 2005 move-in date.   The new center will feature 21 classrooms, three computer labs, and one science lab with classes beginning Spring 2006.

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COC grad wins photo awards at Orange County Fair

OCC Grad Wins Photo Awards at Orange County Fair
 
OCC graduate Fernando Mallory has been entering the Orange County Fair photography competition for the past four years…without ever coming close to sniffing a ribbon or medal.

That is, until this summer.

The former Orange Coast College student hit the jackpot this year when he captured not one, but two first-place fair awards!

"I was delighted when I received word that I was a winner this year," he says. "Frankly, I was completely amazed. This is a huge thrill."

The 49-year-old Tustin resident received first-place awards in both the black and white and color landscape categories of the fair’s amateur photography division.

"Those two mediums — black and white and color — are as different as they can be," he says. "They’re as dissimilar as French and English! I feel honored to have won in both categories."

His 35-mm photographs were not altered or manipulated in any way.

Mallory’s color photo was taken this spring at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, located near Borrego Springs, Calif. The image featured a dramatic profusion of spring wildflowers. His black and white photo was shot of a statue of Venus at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.

Mallory’s two works are on display this summer at the Orange County Fair — directly across the street from Orange Coast College’s campus — in Costa Mesa. The fair runs through Sunday, July 31.
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ABI CEREMONY Annual ice cream social honors students

ABI Ceremony Annual Ice Cream Social Honors Students

Coastline staff dish out the good stuff.

What could be better than a sunny afternoon with free ice cream? How about spending a sunny afternoon, eating free ice cream, while acknowledging the unbelievable success of 19 remarkable students!?

The 22nd Annual ABI Ice Cream Social was held on Wednesday, May 25th at the Costa Mesa Center and honored the recent graduation of 19 very special students who’ve overcome various obstacles to succeed in Coastline’s renowned Acquired Brain

Injury program. These students, all of which have sustained a brain injury due to traumatic (such as a motor vehicle accident or fall) or nontraumatic (such as a non-age-related stroke, brain tumor or infection) injury, completed a demanding two-year educational program designed to improve their concentration, memory, language abilities, reasoning skills, and help them regain their strength and confidence to reenter the working or academic world.

Dr. Stacey Hunter Schwartz, Chair of the Acquired Brain Injury Department, led the ceremony and presented the students with their certificates. As a special treat, ABI program participants, Cheryl Elliott, Ryan Clem, and Richard W. Kendall, took time to share their personal stories of tragedy and triumph.

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Coastliner's Go The Extra Mile

After four months of training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, the day finally arrived. Sunday, June 5 th Stephani Rogers (from Coastline’s Military Programs department) and Tai James (from Coastline’s Distance Learning department) completed the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. This was Stephani’s 2 nd marathon (she completed the L.A. marathon this past February) and Tai’s first full marathon (she completed the Long Beach Half Marathon last October). Stephani crossed the finish line in 5:46, beating her L.A. time by nearly 40 minutes! Tai was thrilled to just actually complete the grueling 26.2 miles, and crossed over the finish line in 7:19.

Over 20,000 participants from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries competed in the musical marathon.

Stephani and Tai were among the Long Beach Team of 28 who completed the marathon and collectively raised well over $50,000. More than 3500 total Team In Training runners and walkers raised an astounding $12.5 million (net) for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, bringing the eight-year total to $97.1 million (net).

This has been the experience of a lifetime!! Both Stephani and Tai plan on mentoring with Team in Training for future events with hopes of making a continued difference in the fight against blood related cancers.

Please visit http://tai1968.tripod.com for more details, stories and pictures of their TNT experience.
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Albert Gasparian Announced as Dean of Physical Education, Health and Athletics

We are pleased to announce that the Coast Community College Board of Trustees named Albert Gasparian Dean of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics at last night's meeting (June 15, 2005). Albert was hired as the head women's volleyball coach and physical education instructor in 1983.  As the volleyball coach he led the Rustlers to 12 consecutive state titles and 16 championships during his 21 seasons as coach of the Rustlers.

Throughout his career at GWC, Gasparian has compiled an overall coaching record of 509-46, a .917-winnning percentage.  Including a 22-0 season in 2203, he has led GWC to four unbeaten seasons, including identical 27-0 records in 1998, 1999 and 2000.  From 1997 through 2001, his teams ran off a 103-game winning streak.

Gasparian completed his Bachelor's degree in Political Science at UCLA in 1977.  He then obtained his Master's in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific in 1985.

In his new assignment Albert will not only have responsibility for Physical Education, Health and Athletics he will work with Margie Bunten in the areas of Institutional Advancement and Community Relations.

When asked about this appointment Wes Bryan, College President stated, "We look forward to the energy, leadership and winning attitude Albert will bring to these new challenges."

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Anthony Maciel Named as Golden West College's new Director of Technology Support Services

We are happy to announce that Anthony Maciel has been hired as Golden West College's new Director of Technology Support Services. He will begin his new assignment on July 1, 2005, and his first day on campus will be Tuesday, July 5. 

Anthony has more than 12 years of IT experience and has worked for the past 10 years for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He has a bachelor's of science degree in electronic engineering technology from DeVry University and master's in business administration from California State University, Long Beach, where he graduated with honors. He has certification in a number of applications including Microsoft Exchange Server, Windows Servers, Network Security, and Cisco systems.

In describing his leadership style, Anthony stated, "I take pride in creating a pleasant team environment around all my staff.  I am a good listener and through mutual respect, shared vision, constant communication, we develop project plans together and clearly outlined objectives. I empower my staff to be able to make decisions and to get work done."

We welcome Anthony and offer our sincere thank you to John Spiratos and Bobby Ostovarpour for stepping up to the challenges of the last three years as co-directors. They worked hard with a capable staff to restore confidence,
dependability, and service to the campus. The new director will find a competent and dedicated team to support the increasing technical demands of our growing campus.

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