Persistent innovation has long been part of the Coast story. But innovation is not a goal in itself. The real question is why we innovate. At Coast, the answer is simple: we innovate to better serve students and the greater community.

That focus on students shapes innovation across the district. Coastline College's leadership in cybersecurity and the expertise of its faculty are preparing students for high-demand, high-paying careers in a rapidly changing field. At Orange Coast College, faculty are expanding literature offerings to include more culturally relevant authors and texts, helping students see themselves in the curriculum and validating their place on campus in ways that Dr. Laura Rendón identified as critical to their growth and academic success. At Golden West College, innovation is helping remove a financial burden that affects many students.

Today, more than 70 percent of Golden West College's academic programs are Zero Textbook Cost, significantly reducing expenses for thousands of students. This is another example of faculty-powered innovation. Identifying, evaluating, and sometimes creating quality, no-cost learning materials requires considerable time and expertise. The persistence behind this work is considerable, but so is its impact on students.

For many students, textbook costs create difficult choices. When asked what they would purchase if they did not have to pay for textbooks, one student responded:

"more school supplies – I really needed a keyboard attachment for my iPad but I... [bought] a $70 history book instead."

For another student, the benefit was straightforward:

"I would be able to pay all of my bills."

These student responses help explain why initiatives such as Zero Textbook Cost matter. For some students, the savings can be invested in technology, supplies, and other resources that support learning. For others, they can help cover basic living expenses and lower financial stress. By reducing textbook expenses, Golden West College is helping students direct their resources where they are needed most so they can focus on studying.

That is the kind of innovation that matters most: innovation that removes barriers, expands opportunity, and supports student success. When innovation is guided by the needs of students, especially those facing economic barriers, it becomes more than change for the sake of change. The purpose of innovation is not simply to do things differently, but to ensure that Coast remains an engine of economic advancement and social mobility for our students.

With gratitude,

Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.

CCCD LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Hello Coast Colleagues,

We are excited to reconnect the Coast Community College District LGBTQ+ Affinity Group and invite employees from Coastline College, Orange Coast College, Golden West College, and the District Office to join us!

An Affinity Group, similar to an Employee Resource Group (ERG), is an employee-led space where colleagues with shared identities, experiences, and interests can connect, build community, and support one another.

Our LGBTQ+ Affinity Group welcomes LGBTQ+ employees and allies and aims to:

Build connections across our colleges and District
Share resources and professional development opportunities
Create opportunities for community and collaboration
Strengthen support for our LGBTQ+ employees and students

Interested? Complete our short interest form below. Whether you want to help organize, attend when you can, or simply receive updates, there is a place for you.

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Interest Form

We look forward to building a stronger Coast community together!

Warmly,

CCCD LGBTQ+ Affinity Group

Deployment of the District-Wide Transcript

We are pleased to share that effective July 1, 2026 we have deployed the district-wide transcript which replaces the individual college transcripts. This change was initiated by a request from the Golden West College Academic Senate and was subsequently discussed across the District through various participatory governance committees including all three Academic Senates and the District Consultation Council.

The district-wide transcript eliminates the need for current students or former students to request separate transcript from each college in the District and pay for multiple transcripts; it improves clarity, efficiency, and equity in how student academic records are used, benefiting everyone from individual learners to the broader educational community. A district-wide transcript also makes it easier to share with other colleges and universities, and employers. In 2025-26 alone, 9,644 students enrolled in at least two colleges in the District.

In addition, as part of this project, we have added the ability for third parties to request a transcript directly if approved by the student. This facilitates faster delivery of transcripts to other colleges and universities, and employers. This has been a complex project which involved a district-wide team which has worked diligently with the vendor Parchment for six months to implement this change.

Transition from BoardDocs to Diligent Community

We are moving to a new governance management software for our Board of Trustees meetings, as well as many of our campus committees. This change is necessary because our current software, BoardDocs, is being phased out by its developer and replaced with a new platform, Diligent Community.

BoardDocs will no longer be accessible starting on July 15, 2026. All information previously available on BoardDocs will be migrated to Diligent Community by July 15 and be accessible there going forward.

The following meeting groups will be affected by this change:

Audit & Budget Committee (Board Committee)
CCC Academic Senate
CCC Curriculum Committee
CCC Foundation
CCC Program & Department Review
District Foundation
District Student Council
Enterprise Corporation
GWC ASG
GWC Foundation
Legislative Affairs Committee (Board Committee)
Main Governing Board (Board of Trustees)
Naming Committee (Board Committee)
OCC Academic Senate

Access Diligent Community here:
https://cccd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal

Coastline Opens Hispanic Heritage Month With a Chinelo Celebration

Coastline College opened Hispanic Heritage Month with a celebration of the Chinelo tradition of Morelos, Mexico. The event drew more than 70 students and employees to the Student Services Center in Fountain Valley.

Comparsa Santa Rosa Chinelos performed in the tradition's embroidered robes and masks. Between dances, members explained how the tradition began in 19th-century Morelos, when Indigenous communities shut out of the wealthy's Carnival celebrations. The dance, known as el brinco, is a hopping step meant to be joined, not watched.

Administrative assistant Javier Alcala took that to heart. He suited up in a full Chinelo outfit and danced alongside the comparsa, mask and all. It was the highlight of the afternoon.

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Coastline serves a large Latine student population, and many of those students take classes online. That is why events like this matter. Coastline's campuses and Student Services Center give students who learn from home a place to meet one another and see their culture celebrated at their college.

The event was sponsored by Coastline Student Equity, Camino Coastline and ASPIRO, Coastline's Latine employee affinity group.

People are invited to see the Chinelo outfits on display in the Student Services Center lobby in Fountain Valley.

GWC Theater Presents: Take Me Out Oct. 9-18

Golden West College Theater Arts will present Richard Greenberg’s award-winning Take Me Out Oct. 9–18 in the Mainstage Theater. Directed by Martie Ramm, the comedy-drama is set in the world of professional baseball and follows superstar center fielder Darren Lemming, whose decision to publicly come out as gay sends shockwaves through his championship team. What follows is a funny, provocative and deeply human story exploring friendship, prejudice, masculinity, loyalty and the courage it takes to be yourself.

A Tony Award winner for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Take Me Out features an 11-member cast led by Samuel Hanke as Darren, Ian Pedersen as Kippy and William Dawley as Mason. Tickets are on sale now at gwctheater.com, with free parking available for all performances in the Gothard Street parking lot.

The production contains strong adult language, mature themes and adult situations and is intended for mature audiences.

GWC Science Nite Returns Sept. 25 for an Evening of Hands-On Learning

Golden West College will welcome the community to campus for Science Nite on Friday, Sept. 25, from 5–8 p.m. The free annual event features hands-on activities and demonstrations throughout campus, giving children and families an opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering and other fields in a fun, interactive setting.

Activities will highlight a wide range of GWC programs, including biology, chemistry, engineering, health sciences, automotive technology and criminal justice. Guests can conduct experiments, explore the night sky, learn about crime scene investigation, check out automotive technology and meet GWC faculty and students along the way.

More than 2,000 people typically attend Science Nite, which is presented in partnership with the Rotary Club of Huntington Beach. The event is free and open to the public, with activities designed for curious minds of all ages.

Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlights: Eric Palacios

It's Hispanic Heritage Month! Orange Coast College is celebrating the stories, achievements and traditions of our Latine community. First up in the Spotlight Series, meet Eric Palacios.

1. What is your role at Orange Coast College?

I am the Student Leadership Coordinator, supporting students within the Associated Students of Orange Coast College and providing leadership development opportunities for all OCC students.

2. What part of your job do you enjoy most?

I enjoy the opportunity to connect with our students and support their leadership growth through student government, clubs and organizations, and as they look for ways to affect change in their communities. The work is also never stagnant. One day I might be supporting students with advising, conflict resolution strategies or programming, and the next I might be setting up canopies for events like the Pirate Involvement Fair! It keeps me on my toes, and I love that no two days are exactly the same.

3. What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?

Hispanic Heritage Month is deeply personal to me and offers a period of reflection on my roots and identity. As the proud child of immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico, I am able to use this time to honor my parents and the sacrifices they made to create a better future for their family.

My parents grew up in poverty, were forced to give up their education, and began working as children before ultimately making the difficult decision to leave their families behind in search of a better future. Their sacrifices have shaped so much of who I am, and Hispanic Heritage Month gives me an opportunity to reflect on where I come from and remind myself that those sacrifices were not in vain.

Learn more about Eric at orangecoastcollege.edu.