The Messenger – November 2024
Student Success
Winter and Spring 2025 Registration
Winter and Spring 2025 are just around the corner! Compton College’s winter term begins
January 6, 2025, and the spring semester begins Saturday, February 15, 2025, with
the first weekday class beginning Tuesday, February 18 (following Washington’s Day
holiday). Winter online registration began October 22 and Spring registration begins
November 5, 2024.
View the online searchable and PDF versions of both the Winter and Spring 2025 class schedules.
The winter term provides a great opportunity for students to stay on track with their
educational plan and complete up to seven units in five weeks! The winter term is
perfect for helping students graduate sooner, improve their GPA, repeat an essential
course, and lighten the course load for spring, as well as satisfy any prerequisites.
All students are encouraged to register early for the best class selection. Students
may register online at www.compton.edu by clicking on MyCompton. Online registration is available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week and in-person enrollment services are also available by visiting the Welcome
Center in the Student Services Building, Room 114A.
Compton College Accepting Applications for Summer and Fall 2025
Applications for enrollment at Compton College for the 2025 summer term and fall semester
opened online October 1, 2024. Plan ahead and enroll now! As a lower-cost alternative
to four-year colleges/universities, Compton College offers top-quality academics and
is both a gateway to higher education and for some, an alternative to four-year institutions.
Apply online in a few easy steps.
Compton College offers a convenient, affordable education and essential resources
for traditional and non-traditional students—all in an encouraging environment that
provides personalized student support to put you on the road to success. Students
of all ages may earn an associate degree or certificate, transfer to a four-year university
or train for a job. Learn a new trade, make a career change, and acquire or upgrade
skills to re-enter the workforce with training that takes as little as 18 months to
complete.
“Compton College feels like home to me,” said Skyy Sorrell, a business administration
and psychology major who plans to graduate this year and transfer to California State
University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. “So many resources are offered at Compton College
to help students succeed. After only a few interactions with staff and faculty, they
start calling you by your first name—it makes you feel like you belong.”
Compton College offers its students financial, academic and technical support such
as financial aid, tutoring, laptop and Wi-fi hotspot loans, book vouchers, free scantrons
and blue books, free parking permits, and a Metro GoPass for those who need transportation,
one free meal daily at the on-campus Everytable Cafe, $20 each week in farmers’ market
vouchers, and referrals for those with housing insecurity.
Compton College’s summer 2025 sessions begin June 23 and July 7, 2025; the fall 2025
semester begins on August 23, 2025. Apply online, 24 hours per day via the Compton
College website www.compton.edu.
Compton College’s Five-Year Report to the Community
Highlights Continued Student Success
“Compton College has been instrumental in my professional journey throughout higher
education,” said Compton College alumnus Anthony Onwuegbuzia, who went on the earn
both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology at California State University,
Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). “As a proud alumnus, I must continue to pay it forward and
encourage others to pursue their educational journey.” Onwuegbuzia’s story is just
one of the many successes highlighted in Compton College’s recently published Five Years of Success: Report to the Community. He now works at the CSUDH Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic
Institute as the administrative coordinator and is a part-time lecturer in the Africana
Studies department at the university. He is most proud of his work with the Dymally
Fellows Program, a youth leadership program designed to empower youth to be politically
conscious and involved, entrepreneurially competent and productive, and to become
responsible future political and business leaders.The accomplishments of outstanding Compton College students are featured in the report, along with important student success indicators, such as increased numbers of students earning degrees and certificates; higher percentages of transfers to four-year colleges and universities; addressing students’ basic needs; and Compton College’s recent reaffirmed accreditation status for seven years. To help offset the cost of higher education, financial support for students has also expanded. In the past five years, more than 450 Compton College students have received a total of $176,200 in scholarships. Over the last five years, Compton College has awarded 4,303 associate degrees and certificates, and 1,735 students have transferred to four-year colleges and universities. The top transfer destinations for Compton College students include California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Dominguez Hills; and the University of California, Irvine.
The spring 2023 grand opening of the $25.2 million, 34,000-square-foot Student Services Building indicates significant progress made in construction projects and facility improvements in the past few years. The Student Services Building serves as a one-stop location for enrollment services and includes administration offices, enrollment services, assisted learning spaces, and computer labs to help current and future students apply and register for Compton College courses. Additional projects completed during this period include the openings of Instructional Buildings 1 and 2 replacing the old “row” classroom buildings on campus built more than 60 years ago. Compton College is dedicated to delivering a quality education, career training leading to good-paying jobs, and vital student support services and resources for students, veterans, and working adults served by the Compton Community College District.
The Compton College: Five-Year Report to the Community was mailed to every household within the Compton Community College District – just one component of the District’s community outreach plan.
Read the full report online.
Compton College Receives Funding, Joins Partnership Dedicated to Increasing Health
Care Career Opportunities in the Community
Implementing the vision of Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson (CA-65), the Compton Community Health Professions Partnership, established in September 2023, now includes grant funding designed to help students access the education, training
and support needed to pursue careers in health care professions.
In May 2024, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) awarded Compton College
a $450,000 grant to create a pipeline of community partners that leads to careers
in health care by strengthening existing educational programs, addressing the disparities
in health care access, and improving educational attainment for greater Compton area
residents. The grant is made possible through the Los Angeles Regional K-16 Education
Collaborative Grant Program. The collaborative aims to improve enrollment, persistence
and degree completion of underrepresented students in fields that lead to increased
economic mobility, starting with streamlined pathways to health care, engineering
and computer science careers, by enhancing dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and
work-based learning.
Compton College joins Compton Unified School District (CUSD), CSU Dominguez Hills,
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), St. John’s Community Health,
and Kedren Health in the partnership. Though each partner has been working independently
to recruit, enroll, and train students in the Compton community for health care professions,
their efforts have been largely contained within their organization. The Compton Community
Health Professions Partnership brings all groups together to collaborate and find
solutions that work for all.
“Through this important partnership, we can specifically address the health care
needs of people of color – particularly those in low-income communities – who need
to be able to move beyond crisis-oriented health care so they can be more proactive
and in better control of their health,” said Assemblyman Mike Gipson (CA-65).
Read more about the partnership and grant funding.
Alum Success Story: Dennis Masias
“When I was younger, I never thought education was for me. As a high school freshman,
I hated school, but realized I needed to finish high school. In the summer of 2011,
my mom drove me to Compton College to enroll. She said, ‘Get out of the car and go
figure this out!’” said Dennis Masias, a 2014 graduate of Compton College who now
works at the very same college in the MESA/STEM Center inspiring students to complete
their educational goals.
Masias is a first-generation college graduate who was raised by a single mother. He
turned to his grandfather and uncle for guidance with life’s challenges. Although
he is an introvert, he has a personality that people gravitate toward and is open
to opportunities that might come his way. He used these qualities to his advantage
by building a network of those who could help him during his uncharted journey into
higher education. He transferred to California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design
in June 2018.
“Compton College is where I finally found a true sense of belonging,” says Masias.
“It’s a place where I could truly be myself. Faculty and staff saw potential in me
that I didn’t see. He took advantage of all the resources and student services offered
to help him be successful. He found faculty/staff mentors. He helped establish and
served as president of the Brothers2Brothers Club at Compton College. He became a
student ambassador so he could give back by helping other students navigate college
life and Compton College resources he had benefited from. He enrolled in the First
Year Experience (FYE) program and liked it so much that he became a peer mentor for
FYE in his second year. “I believe Compton College is a great starting point for any
student. I have personally built so much on that foundation since first setting foot
on campus.”
His ties to Compton College run deep and he has stayed connected as a student, a student
worker, a tutor, a graduate, a volunteer, and finally as an employee giving back to
students. Masias serves as a program specialist for the MESA Program in the MESA/STEM
Center at Compton College, a position he was hired for in July 2023.
Read Dennis Maisas’ full story online.
Alum Success Story: Tre Willingham
“There are not many people of color in the field of physics, and I am working to break
that barrier,” said Tre Willingham, a 2021 graduate of Compton College who went on
to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics at California Polytechnic University, Pomona,
and has completed one year of graduate studies.
Willingham was recently accepted to the Ph.D. program in applied physics at the University
of California, Irvine where he began the next phase of his studies this fall. “I’m
looking forward to diving into this new academic journey and continuing to pursue
my passion for physics,” he said.
Driven to succeed via persistence and discipline, Willingham likes to share his passion
for physics with younger students who may be interested in following a similar path.
In order to stay connected to Compton College, he has served as chief engineer on
the Compton Comet Rocket project and teaches workshops in chemistry and physics hosted
by the Compton College MESA/STEM Center. Housed at the Stanbeck-Petegrave Liquid Rocket
Lab, the rocket project originally began several years ago with a group of Compton
College STEM Club students who were competing in the Base 11 Space Challenge. The
project has now morphed into other teaching and learning opportunities for local students
to work in a thriving lab with robust equipment.
Find out more about Tre Willingham’s achievements.
Alumna Seeks to Uplift Others with Her Cosmetology Skills
Compton College 2024 graduate Anaise Miller views her ability to care for others as
a gift from God. She cherishes the joy she finds in her role as a hairstylist and
the calm that comes from helping someone navigate tough times. A lifelong Compton
resident who grew up in a family of hairstylists, Miller sees her work as an opportunity
to blend her creativity with her desire to uplift others, helping them to look and
feel their best. And though her life is fulfilling – she is a proud mother of two
young children and an accomplished stylist – Miller always dreamed of furthering her
education.
So, she enrolled at Compton College and began a successful educational journey that
required dedication and resilience. In 2024, she graduated with honors, earning an
associate degree in cosmetology with a minor in sociology. Looking back, she remembers
her time at Compton College as a series of blessings: “Every day was a highlight for
me. Just having the chance to be there was a gift.” She was particularly proud to
make the Dean's List and is deeply thankful for the support she received along the
way.
“My success at Compton College was made possible by the belief and care of the staff,”
she said. “They listened to me and stood by me through thick and thin. From guidance
with financial aid to tutoring and supporting me during my doubts, it felt like a
true partnership. I couldn’t have achieved this without the dedicated professors and
counselors who helped me pursue my dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree.”
Read more about Anaise Miller’s experience online.
Compton College Facilitates Artistic Student’s Dream of Becoming an Animator
Growing up in Compton, Jonathan Ramirez, a 2022 Compton College graduate, was interested
in art throughout his younger years in school. He found many ways to be creative with
class assignments and other projects.
After high school, he decided to put his artistic skills to work and enrolled in a
technical college to become a drafter and designer. He was taking classes, drawing
blueprints for homes, and creating 3D models using AutoCAD, Revit, and other computer
software. But when the college he was attending unexpectedly shut down, he lost all
his earned credits and had to start again.
“Before the college closed, I spoke to one of my teachers,” Ramirez said. “He told
me since the school was closing, I had another opportunity to start fresh and do what
I really love to do. Which brings me to my start at Compton College.”
It turned out that Compton College was the right place. He enrolled as an art major,
graduated in 2022, and now is on the path to earning a bachelor's degree in studio
arts at California State University, Fullerton. Ramirez said that starting at Compton
College gave him a chance to advance at his own pace, learn art techniques, and show
his work. He continues to enjoy his studies and feels prepared for university work
as he works toward a career in animation.
Continue reading Jonathan Ramirez’s story online.
Facilities News
CCCD to Host Grand Opening Ceremony for Instructional Buildings 1 and 2
The Compton Community College District will host a Grand Opening Ceremony for Compton
College’s all-new Instructional Buildings 1 and 2 on Tuesday, November 19 at 3:30
p.m. on the north side of campus closest to the Greenleaf Boulevard entrance. All
are invited to attend this event, and free parking is available in Lot F off of Greenleaf.
According to the District’s facilities master plan, Instructional Buildings 1 and
2 are part of a new academic village that will include a third multi-story instructional
building in the future.
Instructional Building 1 is a 28,845-square-foot, state-of-the-art instructional building housing classrooms
for Compton College. This building replaced a portion of the former “Row Buildings”
on campus. The building houses 9 classrooms, 4 computer labs, 15 offices, 1 lounge/breakroom,
2 workrooms, custodial and storage rooms, and restrooms. Smart classroom technology
includes wireless access points throughout the building and portable device-charging
stations. The $22.3 million Instructional Building 1 was made possible through the
2002 Measure CC bond and state capital outlay funds. Instructional Building 1 officially
opened to students for classroom instruction in Fall 2021.
Instructional Building 2 is a 30,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art instructional building to house classrooms
for Compton College. The building houses 15 classrooms (including computer labs and
2 flexible classrooms), a study/reading room, 12 faculty offices, support rooms (including
a lactation room), and multi- and single-use restrooms. Smart classroom technology
includes wireless access points throughout the building and portable device-charging
stations. The $25.6 million Instructional Building 2 was made possible through the
2014 Measure C bond and state capital outlay funds. This will be the official opening
of Instructional Building 2 during fall 2024.
Compton College’s Student Housing Architectural Firm Wins Design Award
Architectural rendering of Compton College student housing project (courtesy of HPI
Architecture).
The Compton Community College District is pleased to announce the facility design
for Compton College’s future student housing was recently honored with a 2024 award
of merit in the project design category by the Community College Facility Coalition.
The professional design award will be presented on November 7, 2024 to the architectural
firm HPI Architecture led by President Lawrence Frapwell, and the Compton Community
College District.
“The skyrocketing cost of housing in California adds extra financial burden to college
students when they are trying to focus on academics and job training with the goal
of making a better life for themselves,” said Keith Curry, president/CEO of Compton
College. “Providing student housing on the Compton College campus will help remove
one barrier to students completing a college education. Student housing eases commuting
and transportation issues while also nurturing a sense of community.”
The Community College Facility Coalition Professional Design Awards are presented
annually at the coalition’s conference, in conjunction with the California Community
Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In addition to outstanding architectural design, awards
are given based on merit, honor, and excellence. Each project recognized incorporates
outstanding institutional features that enhance the community college learning environment.
“HPI is excited to collaborate with the Compton Community College District on designing
an award-winning student housing complex that supports housing-insecure students and
meets their basic needs,” said Frapwell. “Aligned with Compton College’s vision, the
complex will offer an affordable, welcoming environment conducive to academic and
social pursuits. It will be more than just a place to sleep; it will foster memories,
relationships, cultural education, and a live/learn environment that enhances recruitment,
retention, and lifelong student success.”
Learn more about the award-winning project.
District News
CCCD Board Meeting Scheduled for November 19
The next meeting of the Compton Community College District Board of Trustees is scheduled
for Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 212, located in the Student Services
Building at 1111 E. Artesia Boulevard, Compton, CA 90221.
All regular session Board meetings are open to the public. Closed session begins at
5:00 p.m.
The Board Agenda is posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting. Agendas are posted
on the BoardDocs website under the “Meetings” tab at: https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/compton/Board.nsf/Public.
Compton Community College District 2024-2025 Final Budget Approved
At its regular meeting on September 10, 2024, the Compton Community College District (CCCD) Board of Trustees approved the 2024-2025 CCCD Final Budget. The 2024-2025 Final Budget may be viewed online.
“We are proud to approve a budget that not only addresses our immediate needs but also strategically plans for the future,” said Barbara Calhoun, Board of Trustees president for the Compton Community College District. “This budget reflects our commitment to providing quality education and ensuring the financial stability of Compton College.”
The budget is based on the information currently available from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The 2024-2025 Compton District Final Budget was developed with the anticipation that Compton College will be funded for 5,980 Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES). Compton College will offer 1,474 course sections to meet our FTES goal.
The 2024-2025 Compton District Final Budget includes a 1.07% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA); filling five faculty positions; one-time augmentations/enhancements totaling $630,000; and $400,000 for the future cost associated with the Compton District Personnel Commission.
Additionally, the 2024-2025 Compton District Final Budget includes the following expenses to address Compton District's long-term liabilities: Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) payment of $250,000; California Public Entity Pension Stabilization Fund State Teachers' Retirement (STRS)/Public Employees' Retirement (PERS) fund payment of $200,000 to address future STRS/PERS obligations; and the line of credit repayment of $781,841.25.
The proposed 2024-2025 Compton District Final Budget maintains a reserve above the minimum 10% level as required by Compton Community College District Board Policy 6200 – Budget Preparation.
CCCD Publishes Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Annual Report
The Compton Community College District (CCCD) Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee’s 2022-2023 Annual Report was presented to the CCCD Board of Trustees at its September 10, 2024 meeting.
The Annual Report is available on the CCCD website.
As outlined in the Education Code Section 15278, the role of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee is to “inform the public concerning the District’s expenditure of revenues received from the sale of bonds authorized by the voters.” The committee comprises a cross-section of citizens who have volunteered their time to represent various constituencies and fulfill the committee’s responsibilities.
As outlined in its bylaws, the committee has met regularly to review expenditures, tour campus renovations, and ask questions. The 2022-2023 Annual Report documents the results of these activities and serves to fulfill the basic tenets of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee’s charter.
Within this report is the independent audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, performed by the accounting firm CWDL. The committee examined and reviewed this audit, the results of which are contained in the Annual Report.
The CCCD grounds are improving and changing, thanks to funds from the 2002 Measure CC and 2014 Measure C general obligation bonds and State Capital Outlay funds. The Annual Report includes a list of construction and renovation projects either in progress or completed during 2022-2023. New construction incorporates energy conservation measures and modern technology and equipment.
The Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee 2022-2023 Annual Report, as well as information about the role of the committee and meeting agendas may be viewed on the CCCD website: https://www.compton.edu/district/citizens-bond-oversight/index.aspx.
Other News
Remember to Vote on November 5!
Voting at Compton College
Compton College is an official Los Angeles County Vote Center, which makes voting extra convenient. Cast your vote in person in the Multipurpose Room (Bldg. Q) on:
- November 2-4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- November 5, 2024, (Election Day) from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Vote by Mail: All registered voters in Los Angeles County will receive a Vote by Mail ballot. Return your ballot by mail (no postage necessary), at any participating Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box location starting October 8, 2024, or at any Vote Center in L.A. County.
- Vote In Person: Early in-person voting at Vote Centers begins October 26, 2024. Vote Centers provide modern features to make voting safe, easy, and convenient. They also serve as Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box locations.
- Completed Ballots submitted in person must arrive by 8 p.m. on November 5, 2024, and mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 5, 2024.
Giving Tuesday Fundraising Campaign
As we approach the end of the year, we would like to invite you to make a one-time charitable donation to the Foundation for the Compton Community College District (CCCD).Giving Tuesday – December 3, 2024 – is a global day of giving and the perfect time to consider a tax-deductible donation to student success. Your generous support on this day can help us reach our goals and make a significant impact on students’ lives.
Any amount will make a difference to our students.
The mission of the Foundation for the CCCD is to benefit the Compton Community College District, its students, and the community. Through partnerships with individuals and corporations, the Foundation provides financial support, scholarships, and other needed resources to enhance the academic environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Here’s how you can help:
- To make a one-time donation, you may submit a Donation Pledge Form to the Foundation Office, located in D-29.
- If you would like to establish a scholarship to assist our students with the cost of attending Compton College, please use the Scholarship Agreement form. The form can be downloaded and emailed to the Foundation at foundation@compton.edu, or printed and delivered to D-29.
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