Chancellor's News Brief

This is Hispanic Heritage Month. We celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Latine communities. In doing so, we want to send a simple message to students, faculty, staff, and administrators whose culture is recognized this month, as well as their allies: you are valued, you belong here, and your lived experiences deserve to be honored. Coast Colleges is committed to recognizing and uplifting the communities we serve. This observance provides an opportunity to reflect on the value Latine students bring to our colleges every day. It also reminds us that creating a sense of belonging is central to our mission.

Dr. Laura Rendón's Validation Theory is a helpful guide to our work. She has shown that students are more likely to succeed when they feel seen and valued. One way to foster that sense of validation is to reflect and incorporate the experiences that shape our students' lives.

That commitment is reflected in the fact that all three of our colleges are proud Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The HSI designation reflects more than enrollment data. It is an acknowledgment of our role in expanding opportunity for communities that have not always had equal access to higher education, whose students have not always seen the same success in the classroom. Students arrive at our colleges with different life experiences, and it's our responsibility to ensure those experiences are embraced as part of campus life.

Hispanic Heritage Month is being marked by educational programs and cultural celebrations across Coastline College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College. These events are a great opportunity to engage with each other and elevate the communities that enrich our campuses. They also help strengthen the sense of belonging that is so important to student success.

With gratitude,

Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.

P.S. One last bit of exciting news, and a preview of the next message: For the first time, all three colleges have been awarded highly competitive Strengthening Institutions Program grants from the U.S. Department of Education in the same year. Together, these awards bring $9 million over five years to Coast Colleges and, once again, reflect the extraordinary work happening every day across our district.

Walktober is a fall-themed walking campaign and employee wellness challenge held during the month of October to encourage physical activity, build workplace community, and improve health.

• Learn more at the Wellness Committee's Coast Navigator page.
• Sign up for Walktober on the Coast Thrives App.
• For help with the Coast Thrives App.
  
  

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

Check out our first "Coast Colleges in a Minute," featuring Trustee Elizabeth Dorn Parker, and learn about the gremlins that still hang around Orange Coast College.

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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.

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

Visit https://cccd.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/Subscribe.aspx to select the meetings you want to receive notifications about. Diligent will automatically send you an email when the agendas for those meetings are available.

We’ve updated our Public Records Request webpage with a newly redesigned portal that makes it easier for the public to learn about the records request process and submit a request.

Help spotlight the incredible work happening across our campuses by submitting examples of persistent innovation, moments when an idea grew into an achievement through dedication, creativity, and follow‑through. Large or small, recent or ongoing, every example helps highlight the meaningful progress being made. Let's celebrate these successes together!

Coastline College's dual enrollment program brings college coursework to high school students on their own campuses. On Sept. 25, it also brought about 40 Fountain Valley High School students to the Getty Center in Los Angeles to tour "Instante/revelación: Moments in Mexican Photography," a bilingual exhibition that offered a timely way to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.

For a Hispanic-Serving Institution, dual enrollment is one of the most direct ways to open the door to higher education. Students earn college credit before they graduate from high school, with Coastline College faculty working alongside their high school instructors.

The trip was organized by Fountain Valley High School teacher Zoe Seals and Coastline College faculty member Angela Gomez-Holbrook, mentor professor and professor of record for the students' digital media publication course. The students study how design and layout shape a message, and the exhibition showed them those principles at work in telling stories of Mexican history and culture.

Among the works on view, Lola Álvarez Bravo's 1950 photograph "En su propia cárcel" (In Her Own Prison) invites reflection on barriers and opportunity. Its theme connects directly to the purpose of dual enrollment.

The visit let Coastline College students see their coursework reflected in a major museum exhibition, and it gave them a direct connection to Mexican art and culture during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The visit let Coastline College students see their coursework reflected in a major museum exhibition, and it gave them a direct connection to Mexican art and culture.

Golden West College will host its inaugural Chrome for College Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the College's yearlong 60th Anniversary celebration. The event is free and open to the public, with activities and entertainment planned for the whole family.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of classic cars and custom vehicles, along with live music, food vendors, awards, family-friendly activities and opportunities to explore GWC programs and community resources. "Whether you're a car enthusiast or simply looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday with family and friends, there's something for everyone,” says Foundation Director Jen Mower.

The event also supports a good cause. Proceeds from vehicle registrations and sponsorships will benefit GWC's Spring 2027 Latine Graduation Celebration, helping provide commemorative stoles, cultural programming and other expenses for participating graduates.

Chrome for College will take place in Parking Lots H, I and J on the GWC campus. Admission and parking are free, and all ages are welcome.

For more information, visit goldenwestcollege.edu/foundation/car-show.

Orange Coast College will welcome thousands of elementary and middle school students to campus for the 27th annual Community Science Night on Friday, October 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. Attendees can look forward to an action-packed evening filled with exploration, discovery and hands-on STEM learning.

As one of OCC’s most anticipated community traditions, Science Night features faculty showcasing their academic programs through interactive, hands-on experiments and experiences. Participating departments include chemistry, marine science, astronomy, geology, engineering, health science, biology, and many more. Activities will take place across nine campus buildings and various outdoor spaces.

“Science Night is an exciting opportunity for everyone in the community to experience science first-hand,” says OCC Dean of Math and Sciences Heather Dy. “We hope you’ll join us and explore the wonders of the night sky, microorganisms under the microscope, our rocketry program, and many more hands-on activities.”

Throughout the evening, attendees can explore the OCC campus, including the Dennis Kelly Aquarium, Planetarium, and Horticulture Gardens. Popular and unique activities include the touch tank at the Aquarium, tours of the Aquaponics Lab, planetarium shows, an excavation and artifact exhibit, robotics demonstration, fun engineering activities, and the ever-popular volcano demonstration. Additionally, OCC’s Telescope Farm will have several telescopes available for visitors to gaze at the night sky, weather permitting.

Generously supported by the Jennie V Foundation, the event is free to the general public and attendees can receive a complimentary hot dog and chips while supplies last.

For more information, visit the Community Science Night website. You can also view a recap video from Community Science Night in 2024 on the OCC YouTube channel. To view a photo gallery of previous Community Science Night events, please visit OCC’s Flickr.

What: OCC Community Science Night

When: Friday, October 9, 2026 – 5-8 p.m.

Where: Orange Coast College — Planetarium and surrounding buildings, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Admission: Free

Parking: Free parking is available in Lot E (Merrimac Way and Fairview Road) and Lot H (Adams Avenue and Fairview Road), Costa Mesa

Chancellor, Week of October 5

Chancellor Yamamura is in the District Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Vice Chancellor Andreea Serban is acting chancellor on Wednesday.