We are halfway through the fall semester. The campus is already planning for our end-of-the-semester events and the holiday season. I am excited to share with you some of our latest achievements and campus celebrations at Cerritos College.
Cerritos College Ranks 19th Among the Nation’s Top 100 Schools for Hispanics.
We are thrilled to be ranked 19th amongst the nation’s top colleges and universities on the number of associate degrees awarded to Hispanic students, according to the Hispanic Outlook on Education magazine. Several years ago, our team began to focus on creating a community college that serves the whole student. Our programs, such as Puente, Cerritos Complete, and Falcon’s Nest, allow our diverse students to focus on their educational goals, while we provide the support they need. It is exciting to see the results of these efforts – in just one year, our ranking increased from 28th place! I can’t wait to see how much more we will increase next year.
2023 Student Convocation Hits the Throttle for Racing to Completion.
This month, I had the great opportunity to speak with our students at the 2023 Student Convocation. This year’s theme, racing to completion, focused on how Cerritos College works to ensure our students graduate faster. I was excited to share our main goal with them, to graduate 50% of our students within five years – more specifically, to tell them about the changes we are making now to create clear and concise pathways and provide them with educational plans that show how to graduate on time. I can’t wait to hear from more of our students about how we can continue to innovate new ways to support their success.
Celebrating Diversity: Latinx Heritage Month, Undocu Week of Action, and OUTober.
Earlier this month, we recognized Latinx Heritage Month with a luncheon featuring our excellent dance department and a documentary on the Mendez v. Westminster case. For those who are unfamiliar with the case, I encourage you to watch the documentary. This case laid the groundwork for fighting against racial inequality in education. Without this case, Brown v. Board of Education may not have occurred. We also celebrated the Undocu Week of Action and the LGBTQ+ OUTober with workshops, panel presentations, and an open house. I look forward to the many more events we have on campus to celebrate our diverse community.
Open enrollment for our spring 2024 semester begins this month. I invite you to visit our website and see our various courses this spring. Save the date for our 2nd Annual Community Event, a Meet and Greet with Franco Falcon and Santa Claus on December 2.
