Mar 04, 2026 Board Meeting

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THE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026 REGULAR BOARD MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.

AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO INTO ROLL CALL. BOARD PRESIDENT.

DOCTOR DOM.GREEN PRESIDENT. BOARD VICE PRESIDENT ZURICH LEWIS IS ABSENT.

BOARD CLERK. DOCTOR SHIN LIU HERE. TRUSTEE JAMES CODY BIRKEY IS ABSENT.

TRUSTEE. MARIANA. PACHECO. PRESIDENT. TRUSTEE.

MARIANA. RIOS. TRUSTEE. DOCTOR. SANDRA. SALAZAR.

STUDENT TRUSTEE GUSTAVO SANCHEZ IS ABSENT. AND PRESIDENT SUPERINTENDENT PIERRO HERE.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY DOCTOR SALAZAR.

[1.02 Pledge of Allegiance]

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO 1.03 AGENDA ORGANIZATION.

[1.03 Agenda Organization]

[1.04 Comments from the Audience]

COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND 20 MINUTES PER TOPIC.

IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE SPEAKER AT THE CONCLUSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THE BOARD MAY ASK STAFF TO REVIEW A MATTER OR MAY ASK THAT A MATTER BE PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, HOWEVER, MAY NOT DISCUSS OR TAKE LEGAL ACTION ON MATTERS RAISED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS THE MATTERS ARE PROPERLY NOTICED FOR DISCUSSION AND LEGAL ACTION. FINALLY, BE ADVISED THAT COLLEGE PERSONNEL AND PROCESSES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP ELIZA OILS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I'M HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS BEEN ASKED TO VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF NON-RENEWAL, OF MY CONTRACT AS DEAN OF COUNSELING FOR THE 2627 ACADEMIC YEAR.

PURSUANT TO SECTION TEN EIGHT OF MY EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, I AM ASKING ON THE RECORD BEFORE DEPLOYMENT, RECOMMENDING PEOPLE TO RENEW MY CONTRACT BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT AN ARGUMENT.

SECTION EIGHT AUTHORIZES NON-RENEWAL, WHICH I NOTICE IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING OF MISCONDUCT BEFORE COMPLETION OR A DETERMINATION OF UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE.

THE RECOMMENDATION OF AN ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH DOCUMENTED RECORDS OF PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING FORMAL EVALUATION, MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, AND THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

I ASK THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER THIS COMPLETE BODY OF EVIDENCE AND HAVE SHARED A FOLDER WITH AN ITEM FOR EACH SESSION.

THE 2024 MANAGEMENT 60 EVALUATION SURVEY AND COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE REFLECT OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE RESULTS.

ACROSS ALL EVALUATIONS, 70% OF ALL PATIENTS WITH RATINGS OF UNSATISFACTORY EVALUATORS DESCRIBED THEIR LEADERSHIP AS TRANSPARENT AS AN EQUITY EVALUATION FOR THE 2223 2425 ACADEMIC YEAR MEDICAL PATIENTS.

THAT MEANS 2 OR 3 EVALUATIONS BY BOTH SIDES, AND SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT ISSUED ON 2324 ACADEMIC YEAR WAS FORMALLY REBUTTED DUE TO ABSENCE OF EVALUATION STANDARDS AND THE IMPROPER USE OF APPROVED WORK RELATED ACTIVITIES AT PERFORMANCE, AS WELL AS THE LAST DOCUMENT AS PART OF THE OFFICIAL REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE BASED ON A SINGLE EVALUATION, ONE THAT. IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH BEST PRACTICES IN HIGHER ED.

YOUR THE PRINCIPAL PERSONALITY AND CONSEQUENTIAL EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS.

IN THE 2025, A LETTER OF REPRIMAND WAS ISSUED RELATED TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE SYSTEM.

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HUMAN RESOURCES SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THAT STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO ME.

INDEED, REPRIMAND WAS ACTUALLY INCORRECT AND FORMALLY REDACTED.

AND FROM FROM THE RECORD, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT WHEN THE INSTITUTION DISCIPLINARY RECORD ITSELF REQUIRED FORMAL CORRECTION BY HUMAN RESOURCES, THE EVIDENTIARY FOUNDATION FOR THAT DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND ANY RELIANCE UPON IT, IS NOT FOR ITS NON-RENEWAL, IS MATERIALLY UNDERMINED THROUGHOUT THE DEGREE PLAN AND ROLLOUT.

MY ACTIONS WERE GUIDED BY ONE PRIORITY ENSURING STUDENTS RECEIVED ACCURATE EDUCATIONAL PLANS AND THAT COUNSELING FACULTY WERE PROPERLY INFORMED WHILE SYSTEMS AFFECTING PREREQUISITES, FINANCIAL AID INTEGRATION AND MAJORS UPDATES WERE BEING RESOLVED.

WHEN I ASSUMED THE ROLE OF DEAN OF COUNSELING SERVICES FOUR YEARS AGO, THE DIVISION HAD CYCLED THROUGH 16.

I AM PROVIDING CONTINUITY AND STABILITY IN THIS INSTITUTION WHICH IS NEEDED UNDER MY LEADERSHIP.

THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT HAS ACHIEVED OUTCOMES THAT DIRECTLY ADVANCE GUIDED PATHWAYS DIVISION 2030 AND THE COLLEGE STUDENT FIRST FRAMEWORK.

THE COUNSELING DIVISION HAS EXCEEDED THE COLLEGE GOALS OF COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT AT PLANS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS, ACHIEVING A 90% COMPLETION RATE FOR FIRST TIME STUDENTS.

THE TRANSFER ACADEMY PARTICIPATION HAS GROWN FROM 225 STUDENTS TO 428 STUDENTS.

WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE FIRST COLLEGE FIRST GENERATION WEEK, AND WE ALSO HAVE LAUNCHED AND ESTABLISHED THE FIRST COHORT OF MEN OF COLOR.

WE ALSO HAVE LAUNCHED ALL DAY EXPRESS COUNSELING, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHICH HAS IMPLEMENTED AND PROVIDED SAME DAY STUDENT ACCESS, GENERATING 1300 TO 1800 STUDENT CONTACTS PER MONTH.

A DEDICATED SPACE WAS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR AND SECURED FOR PUENTE AND M-A-J-A PROGRAMS. THE EVALUATION AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS REFERENCED ABOVE OCCURRED OCCURRED WITHIN A BROADER CONTEXT THAT INCLUDED MY NEED TO TAKE APPROVED MEDICAL LEAVE DUE TO DOCUMENTED HEALTH IMPACTS FROM ONGOING WORKPLACE CONDITIONS.

THE LEAVE WAS MEDICALLY SUPPORTED AND PROPERLY DOCUMENTED.

THE TIMING OF ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS RELATIVE TO PROTECTED MEDICAL LEAVE IS A FACTOR.

THE BOARD SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE AS IT CONSIDERS THIS VOTE.

THERE IS NO DOCUMENTED PATTERN OF PERFORMANCE FAILURE, THERE IS NO INSTITUTIONAL HARM AND THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIATED MISCONDUCT.

WHAT IS A RECORD OF INSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT ACHIEVED UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS WITH A REBOOTED EVALUATION? A PARTIALLY REDACTED REPRIMAND IN A DEPARTMENT THAT IS STRONGER, MORE STUDENT CENTERED, FOCUSED ON EQUITY, AND DEFINITELY A LITTLE BETTER THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

I AM THEREFORE, RESPECTFULLY AND DIRECTLY ASKING THIS BOARD TO DENY THE NON-RENEWAL RECOMMENDATION ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND TO VOTE TO RENEW MY CONTRACT FOR THE 2627 ACADEMIC YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE INSTITUTION AND STUDENTS.

I AM PROVIDING A COPY OF MY REBUTTAL AND THE DOCUMENTS SPOKEN ABOUT IN THIS DOCUMENT.

IN THE FOLDER FOR EACH OF YOU. SO THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE SELENA FISHER COMING TO THE PODIUM.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND CAMPUS COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS SELENA FISHER, AND I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS DEPARTMENT CHAIR OF COUNSELING.

AND TO SHARE THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK HAPPENING FOR OUR STUDENTS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DOCTOR ALISA HOYOS IN THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT.

LAST YEAR, WE EXCEEDED AND MET OUR GOAL OF OVER 80% OF COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT EDUCATIONAL PLANS BEING COMPLETED AND ARE ON TRACK TO DO SO THIS YEAR.

THIS IS NOT JUST A METRIC. IT REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO WE NOW HAVE, WHO NOW HAVE A CLEAR PATH DEFINED GOALS AND ROADMAPS TO ACHIEVE THEM.

WHEN STUDENTS HAVE DIRECTION, THEY PERSIST. THEY GRADUATE THEIR CHANGE.

THERE'S CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES AND OFTEN FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS WHAT STUDENT FIRST LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION.

WE ARE. WE ARE DESIGNING SYSTEMS AROUND ACCESS, CLARITY AND COMPLETION.

EVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPRESENTS A COMMITMENT THAT A STUDENT WILL NOT NAVIGATE COLLEGE ALONE.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNSELORS ARE TEACHING FACULTY.

IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING COUNSELING SERVICES, WE TEACH COUNSELING COURSES THAT HELP STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE COLLEGE, CLARIFY THEIR ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS, DEVELOP SKILLS NECESSARY FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS, AND ULTIMATELY TRANSFER IN OUR CLASSROOMS. WE GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PLANNING, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. THEY WORK. THIS WORK EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE AND HELPS THEM TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEYS.

WE ARE NOW THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR BELLFLOWER PROJECT, BRINGING COUNSELING DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS AND REMOVING BARRIERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN

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FROM THIS VERY BEGINNING OF FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF A STUDENT'S JOURNEY, THEY ARE GUIDED, SUPPORTED, AND SEEN. WHEN STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, THEY SUCCEED.

OUR EXPANDED DUAL ENROLLMENT COUNSELING, SUPPORT AND COUNSELING COURSES REFLECT THE SAME COMMITMENT.

WE ARE REACHING STUDENTS WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

DEMYSTIFYING THE MYTHS OF COLLEGE. BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN HELPING THEM CONNECT EDUCATION TO CAREER AND TRANSFER GOALS EARLY.

WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR STUDENTS TO STRUGGLE. WE ARE INTERVENING EARLY AND INTENTIONALLY.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MEN OF COLOR COUNSELING COURSE, AN EQUITY CENTERED EFFORT FOCUSED ON BELONGING, PERSISTENCE, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE OPENED OUR UP SPACE SPECIFIC FOR OUR PATIENT POPULATIONS.

THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE STRUCTURED SPACES, MENTORSHIP, CULTURAL RESPONSIVE GUIDANCE, AND FELLOWSHIP.

THESE EFFORTS RECOGNIZE THAT ACCESS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH.

STUDENTS MUST ALSO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG. THE LAUNCH OF DEGREE PLANNER HAS EMPOWERED STUDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR ACADEMIC FUTURES WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE, WHILE ALLOWING COUNSELORS TO HAVE MORE DEDICATED TIME AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION THAT IS MORE PERSONALIZED TO THEIR SUCCESS.

WE HAVE ALSO EXPANDED EXPRESS COUNSELING, PROVIDING TIMELY, IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

BECAUSE WHEN A STUDENT ASKS FOR HELP, THE ANSWER IS IS SIMPLY WE'RE HERE.

NONE OF THIS MOMENTUM HAS HAPPENED BY CHANCE.

IT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE STEADY COMMITMENT LEADERSHIP OF OUR DEAN OF COUNSELING, DOCTOR HOY'S FENCES, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

SUSTAINED STUDENT SUCCESS REQUIRES SUSTAINED LEADERSHIP.

STABILITY ALLOWS US TO DEEPEN INITIATIVES, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS, AND CONTINUE INNOVATING WHILE KEEPING STUDENTS AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION.

JUST AS OUR STUDENTS RELY ON A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO STAY ON TRACK, OUR DIVISION RELIES ON CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE TO GUIDE US THROUGH PROGRESS AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THIS WORK. OUR COUNSELORS SHOW UP EVERY DAY WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE.

WE LISTEN. WE ADVOCATE. WE PROBLEM SOLVE. WE CELEBRATE VICTORIES BOTH BIG AND SMALL.

WE BELIEVE IN OUR STUDENTS SOMETIMES BEFORE THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. AND WE DO THIS TOGETHER.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ACROSS OUR DIVISION AND ACROSS CAMPUS.

STUDENT FIRST IS NOT A SLOGAN IN COUNSELING. IT IS A STANDARD THAT GUIDES THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

IT LIVES IN EVERY APPOINTMENT, EVERY CLASSROOM, AND EVERY MOMENT THAT WE ARE WITH THE STUDENTS.

AND WE REMIND THEM THAT THEY BELONG AND THAT THEY MATTER.

THE PROGRESS YOU SEE IN COUNSELING TODAY IS IN PARTNERSHIP.

WE'VE BUILT THE SYSTEMS, WE'VE IMPROVED AND THE STUDENTS WE'VE HELPED STAY ON TRACK.

THIS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND CLEAR VISION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.

MOMENTS LIKE THIS MATTER BECAUSE DECISIONS ABOUT LEADERSHIP SHAPES THE STABILITY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PROGRAMS WE RELY ON TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AND TO SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS HELPED OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED.

CONTINUING CONTINUITY AND LEADERSHIP IS CRITICAL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR STUDENTS AND FOR THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BUILT TOGETHER.

WE RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO DECLINE THE RECOMMENDATION AND AND VOTE TO RENEW THE CONTRACT FOR DOCTOR HOY'S FENCES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS.

WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE, AND THIS WAS SIGNED BY 24 FULL TIME FACULTY MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER, CAROLINE ROMERO.

GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT ABOUT THE COMMENTS AND SORRY.

I WANTED TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT BECAUSE I TAKE THE CONCERNS AROUND THE CREATION OF ETHNIC STUDIES VERY SERIOUSLY.

OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, MY OFFICIAL FULL TIME ON CAMPUS.

MY FOCUS HAS BEEN EXPANDING THE DISCIPLINE'S PRESENCE ON CAMPUS.

ETHNIC STUDIES, WHICH ENCOMPASSES CHICANO STUDIES, ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, AND NATIVE INDIGENOUS STUDIES, IS ONE OF THE FEW DISCIPLINES THAT IMPACTS OUR DAILY LIVES BEYOND SPACES OF ACADEMIA AND BEYOND TRADITIONAL THEORIZING.

IT IS EVER EVOLVING AND DEMANDS CONTINUOUS COMMITMENT TO PRAXIS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO EXPANDING THE DISCIPLINE, MY ROLE INCLUDED LOOKING AT THE CURRICULUM THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS WITHIN CERRITOS COLLEGE AND REVISING THE CURRICULUM TO REFLECT PRINCIPLES OF ETHNIC STUDIES.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO CURRENTLY HOUSE ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULUM SUCH AS SPANISH, ENGLISH, POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SOCIOLOGY. ONE IN HOPES OF MAKING SURE THAT THIS CURRICULUM CAN BE OFFERED UNDER THE DESIGNATED DISCIPLINE,

[00:15:06]

THIS HAS ALLOWED ME TO MAKE MANY RELATIONSHIPS VERY FAST AND WAS ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY QUICKLY.

IN SOME CASES, I NOW HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAD INITIATIVES THAT ALREADY EXISTED ON CAMPUS, SUCH AS THE EXCELENCIA COMMITTEE, WHICH ORGANIZES LATINO HERITAGE MONTH, DIA DE MUERTOS CELEBRATION AND GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS.

I NOW HAVE THE HONOR, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HELPING AND ORGANIZING THE PIERRO WEEK THAT WE HAVE ON CAMPUS THIS YEAR, ALONGSIDE PREVIOUS YEARS AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PREVIOUS YEARS ORGANIZERS.

THIS IS ALL TO SAY THAT WE ARE IN AN ACADEMIC SETTING.

THERE IS THIS RECOGNITION THAT ETHNIC STUDIES GOES BEYOND THESE SPACES.

I HAVE ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY AND WELCOMED THE STRESSORS OF THE DISCIPLINE, KNOWING THAT I PERSONALLY DO NOT HOLD ANY OWNERSHIP OVER IT.

ETHNIC STUDIES IS MEANT TO BE COLLABORATIVE, AND IN WELCOMING THAT COLLABORATION, WE CAN NOW OFFER CLASSES UNDER ETHNIC STUDIES THAT WERE CROSS-LISTED WITH THE DISCIPLINE, BUT NOT OFFERED UNDER THE DISCIPLINE ITSELF.

WE HAVE CREATED NEW CLASSES LIKE MEXICAN PHILOSOPHY THROUGH COLLABORATION AS WELL, AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE MORE CLASSES.

ON TOP OF THAT, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE DISCIPLINE'S PRESENCE WITH THE SUPPORT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS, FACULTY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS. JUST LAST WEEK, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THIS BECAUSE WE WORK REALLY HARD ON IT.

MENCIA GOT THEIR FUNDING APPROVAL FROM AIHEC AND WILL BE GOING TO SAN ANTONIO FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHICANO CHICANO STUDIES CONFERENCE.

IT WAS A. IT WAS A BIT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US DO THAT, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS COLLABORATION.

MY DOOR HAS BEEN AND WILL REMAIN OPEN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW OUR PRESENCE HERE ON CAMPUS.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER JOHN MACIAS.

AGREEING EVERYONE TO THE BOARD AND TO PRESIDENT PIERRO.

I'LL JUST MAKE THIS BRIEF STATEMENT HERE. SO BECAUSE OF COURSE IN RESPECT TO EVERYONE'S TIME HERE BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THE BOARD, TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, ESPECIALLY TO MY COLLEAGUE CAROLINE ROMERO, WHO AND I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE A LOT SOONER GIVEN THE WHOLE SITUATION, OF COURSE, THE WHOLE DISCOURSE OVER THIS ISSUE OF ETHNIC STUDIES.

PART OF THE REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T REALLY. SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND EVEN FOR. FOR CAROLINE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY ATTENDING TO OUR CLASSES AND OF COURSE, MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PRESIDENT PIERRO SENATOR MULLINS OR PRESIDENT, SENATOR MULLINS AND OF COURSE, VICE PRESIDENT FRANK NIXON AND TRYING TO DEAL WHAT'S BEST FOR ETHNIC STUDIES.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ETHNIC STUDIES AND THE CHICANO STUDIES DEPARTMENT, IN PARTICULAR, WHICH CHICANO STUDIES PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR, ARE IN VERY GOOD HANDS WITH PROFESSOR CAROLINE ROMERO.

SHE'S DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB IN MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT.

AND IT'S AND, OF COURSE, ALL THESE NEW DISCIPLINES. THAT, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN BESTOWED UPON HER. THERE IS, OF COURSE, INCREASING DEMAND FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES FOR CHICANO STUDIES WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND I ASSURE YOU, BECAUSE I WORK CLOSELY WITH CAROLINE AND OF COURSE BEING OF COURSE, SHE WAS HIRED ON, WE'RE IN THE SAME DIVISION AND OF COURSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HER AND THE WHOLE TRANSITIONING AND OF COURSE IN HOW TO RUN A DEPARTMENT.

I WILL TELL YOU FIRSTHAND. I MEAN, SHE'S DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB. SHE'S FOUND SOME REALLY GREAT INSTRUCTORS AND SHE CONTINUES TO DO SO. AND SO LIKE I SAID, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AS THE BOARD ITSELF REALIZE WHO YOU HIRED IS SOMEONE REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY. RIGHT. I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH A SORT OF A TRANSITIONAL PHASE.

IT'S A BIT OF GROWING PAINS, BUT LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. ETHNIC STUDIES, CHICANO STUDIES, ALL THESE DISCIPLINES THEMSELVES.

WE'RE ENTERING INTO A NEW CHAPTER. IT'S EVOLVING.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE'S BEEN MUCH DEBATE AND DISCUSSION ABOUT ETHNIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT. AND OF COURSE, THIS PURPORTED COLLAPSE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UPON THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS WHOLE COLLAPSE CAMPAIGN, AS I PUT IT, REALLY POTENTIALLY COULD RUIN THE REPUTATION OF THE COLLEGE.

THE ETHNIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT AND ALSO MY DEAR COLLEAGUE FOR CAROLINE ROMERO, AND I'M NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT ANYMORE.

BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU ALL THAT THERE'S NO COLLAPSE.

WE'RE AIMING TO EXPAND ETHNIC STUDIES AND ITS RELATED DISCIPLINES ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUS. THE DOOR TO COLLABORATE IS OPEN, AS CAROLINE POINTED OUT. ANYONE WHO REFUSES TO COLLABORATE IS FREE TO DO SO.

BUT THE IMPORTANT THING THAT I WANT TO LET YOU, THE BOARD KNOW, IS THAT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO PROFESSOR ROMERO.

EVEN TO MYSELF, BECAUSE THE LAST POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE HERE IS THAT FOR ETHNIC STUDIES, ALONG WITH CHICANO STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING OUT. AND I DO WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CHICANO STUDIES. THEY'VE ESTABLISHED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. AND OF

[00:20:04]

SO AGAIN, WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE'RE DOING THIS STUDENTS FIRST INITIATIVE ITSELF, IT BASICALLY SHOULD BE OFFERING THE CLASSES AND OF COURSE FINDING THE RIGHT INSTRUCTORS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CAL STATE, LONG BEACH AND THE CHICANO STUDIES DEPARTMENT ITSELF. THEY'VE BEEN REALLY EAGER TO WORK WITH US. WE'RE TAKING A GROUP OF STUDENTS, MET THE STUDENTS, SOME OF MY STUDENTS AS WELL, TO CERRITOS TO SHOWCASE AN EXHIBIT THAT THAT I MYSELF WAS ONE OF THE ADVISORS ON, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE PROFESSORS AT CHICANO STUDIES WHO WAS AN ADVISOR ON ON THAT EXHIBIT THERE AT RANCHO LOS CERRITOS.

AGAIN, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT ETHNIC STUDIES ITSELF IS IN THE RIGHT HANDS.

RIGHT. AND SO ANYWAYS, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY CONCERNS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

AND I DO THANK YOU ALL. OUR FINAL SPEAKER FOR THIS EVENING IS GOING TO BE LYDIA ALVAREZ.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR FIERRO AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

I'M LYDIA ALVAREZ, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH, AND I'M HERE TO REVISIT THE REQUEST FOR SPACE TO DISCUSS FULLY AND ROBUSTLY THE TOPIC OF CHICANO STUDIES DEPARTMENT.

ETHNIC STUDIES HERE AT CERRITOS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ON FRIDAY AT DOCTOR FIERRO'S INVITATION.

WITH ONLY 30 MINUTES SCHEDULED AND AT LEAST TEN ATTENDEES EXPECTED.

WE RECOGNIZE THE LIMITATIONS OF THE TIME AVAILABLE FOR DISCUSSION.

ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE NOT INVITED, SOME ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES WILL NOT BE REPRESENTED AND WE HOPE THERE WILL BE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE INCLUSIVE AND ROBUST CONVERSATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.

PERHAPS THE UPCOMING BOARD STUDY SESSION WILL PROVIDE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO MORE FULLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, INCLUDING CONCERNS RELATED TO INSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER IN A COLLEGIAL AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT.

THANK YOU. OKAY, THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AT THIS TIME, I'LL SHARE A STATEMENT.

AFTER LISTENING CAREFULLY TO RECENT COMMENTS REGARDING ETHNIC STUDIES AT CERRITOS COLLEGE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR COLLEGE, OUR STUDENTS, AND FOR THE PASSION YOU BRING TO THIS WORK.

THAT PASSION REFLECTS HOW DEEPLY THIS COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROFESSOR CAROLINE ROMERO'S LEADERSHIP IN CONTINUING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHICANO STUDIES, NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES, AND ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAMS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MOMENTS OF CHANGE CAN BRING FRICTION, AND THAT STRONG CONVICTIONS OFTEN LEAD TO INTENSE CONVERSATIONS.

AT THAT SAME TIME, WE ALSO BELIEVE DEEPLY IN PROFESSIONALISM, EXPERTISE, AND SHARED COMMITMENT OF CERRITOS COLLEGE FACULTY.

OUR EXPECTATION AND OUR CONFIDENCE IS THAT TOGETHER, THIS COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE BUILDING PROGRAMS THAT REFLECT BOTH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

WHEN WE ALIGN OUR PASSION WITH COLLABORATION, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE PROGRAMS THAT NOT ONLY SERVE OUR CURRENT STUDENTS, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN CERRITOS COLLEGE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE TO ESTABLISH ETHNIC STUDIES AT CERRITOS COLLEGE.

THE AFRICANA STUDIES, CHICANO STUDIES, ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, AND NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAMS DID NOT EMERGE OVERNIGHT.

THEY EXIST TODAY BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATION, SCHOLARSHIP, AND ADVOCACY OF FACULTY WHO BELIEVED IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE DISCIPLINES FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK DOCTOR NATALIE SARTON, DOCTOR.

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CARLOS RC, DOCTOR JAMES MCDAVID, DOCTOR LISA BOUTIN.

AND I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCED ANYONE'S NAME.

THEIR PASSION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT HAVE HELPED BRING THESE PROGRAMS TO LIFE HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE, AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE THANK THEM AND WE RECOGNIZE THEIR WORK BEFORE THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY.

THE BOARD IS EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THESE FOUR DISCIPLINES AS INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE SAME DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE THAT HELPED BUILD THESE PROGRAMS WILL ALSO GUIDE THEIR NEXT CHAPTER.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL NOT TAKE ACTION REGARDING CURRICULAR OR PROGRAMMATIC MATTERS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PROGRAMS UNDER FACULTY LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND TO THE MISSION OF CERRITOS COLLEGE.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SECTION 1.05 REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM CONSTITUENT

[1.05 Reports and Comments from Constituent Groups]

THANK YOU, DOCTOR WILLIAM MIDDENDORF, CC F PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. DOCTOR FIERRO COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR AWESOME FACULTY WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THEIR SABBATICAL PROJECTS TONIGHT. SABBATICAL IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ACADEMIC LIFE.

IT GIVES FACULTY MEMBERS A CHANCE TO STEP BACK FROM THE DAILY ROUTINE AND FOCUS ON THEIR RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENTS.

AND ULTIMATELY, THIS BENEFITS OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COLLEGE AS A WHOLE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REPORTS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR. MEYENDORFF. NEXT. ORLANDO LOPEZ.

NO REPORT. TONIGHT WE ALSO HAVE DOCTOR NARGIS.

RECKON. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ACME VICE PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU FOR PRONOUNCING IT PROPERLY. I HAVE SOME FLIERS HERE THAT I WANT TO HAND OUT, AND I THINK ANDREA HAS SOME AS WELL.

IF YOU COULD JUST PASS THEM DOWN THE TABLE. HONORABLE TRUSTEES, DOCTOR FIERRO.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOCTOR NARGIS RAKAN, AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ACME, WHICH IS THE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION AND ALSO AS THE DEAN OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE.

IT IS TRULY MY HONOR TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS WE OPEN THE CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS IN MARCH. MARCH IS NOT JUST A MONTH ON THE CALENDAR.

IT IS THE TIME WE SET ASIDE INTERNATIONALLY WITH INTENTION AND PURPOSE TO REMEMBER, TO HONOR AND TO CELEBRATE THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SHAPED THIS NATION, THIS COMMUNITY, AND THIS INSTITUTION. IT IS TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PROGRESS HAS NEVER BEEN HANDED TO US.

IT HAS BEEN DEMANDED, FOUGHT FOR, AND EARNED BY GENERATIONS OF WOMEN WHOSE VOICES REFUSE TO BE SILENCED.

THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME IS WOMEN TRANSFORMED THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS THE COVER THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER.

THE COMMITTEE CONSTRUCTED THIS AND IT IS ON OUR WEB PAGE, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND IT'S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE AS WOMEN OF CERRITOS COLLEGE ARE GOING TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT SO THAT WE ARE ALL HEARD.

THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL THEME. AS I SAID, WOMEN'S WOMEN TRANSFORM THE FUTURE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE.

TO THE WOMEN WHO. AT CERRITOS COLLEGE EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR COUNSELING OFFICES, OUR LABS, OUR HALLWAYS. WOMEN ARE EDUCATING AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION.

THAT WORK IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, AND AMONG ALL OF US AS THE DEAN OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, I AM PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS FIRSTHAND THE SCHOLARSHIP, CREATIVITY, AND COURAGE THAT OUR STUDENTS,

[00:30:01]

THE DISCIPLINES WE HOUSE ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE, ANTHROPOLOGY, CHICANO STUDIES, ETHNIC STUDIES, HISTORY, SOCIOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES ARE THE VERY FIELDS THAT HAVE GIVEN VOICE TO WOMEN'S STORIES FOR CENTURIES.

OUR PASSION FOR EQUITY, HISTORY AND STORYTELLING IS WHAT MAKES CERRITOS COLLEGE A PLACE WHERE EVERY STUDENT CAN THEMSELVES BE REFLECTED IN WHAT WE TEACH AND WHAT WE CELEBRATE.

THIS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THE TRADITION WITH RENEWED COMMITMENT.

THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH, CERRITOS COLLEGE HAS PREPARED A MEANINGFUL AND EXCITING LINEUP OF EVENTS, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS AHEAD.

I ENCOURAGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO PARTICIPATE, AND TO BRING A CLASSMATE TO A COLLEAGUE, A NEIGHBOR, OR A FRIEND AND TO ENGAGE FULLY WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

THE SHORT VERSION OF THE SCHEDULE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT COLORFUL FLIER, AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.

I HOPE THAT YOU WILL MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND JOIN US FOR THE MANY EVENTS THAT, AS YOU CAN AND WE ARE WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE YOU THERE.

NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT DEDICATION, SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ORGANIZE AND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MONTH'S PROGRAMING.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR FIERRO AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.

THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS WORK AND TO THIS COMMUNITY MAKES EVERYTHING WE DO HERE POSSIBLE.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM, WHETHER THEY ARE STUDENTS OR JUST BEGINNING THEIR JOURNEY, OR A FACULTY MEMBER SHAPING YOUNG MINDS. A STAFF MEMBER HOLDING THIS COLLEGE TOGETHER, OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO CAME OUT IN SUPPORT.

IN SUPPORT. WE YOU ARE PART OF THIS HISTORY AND YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS TO ALL OF US.

AS A GREAT POET AND ACTIVIST, MAYA ANGELOU ONCE REMINDED US, EACH OF US CARRIES THE HOPES AND DREAMS AND THE RESILIENCE OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE.

AND THIS MONTH, LET THAT LET THAT BE THE HONOR OF OUR INHERITANCE AND TO PLAY IT FORWARD.

WELCOME TO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AT CERRITOS COLLEGE AND LET'S MAKE IT UNFORGETTABLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M SORRY. WHO WHO MADE THE ARTWORK FOR IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

YES. SO EVERY YEAR WE COME UP WITH NEW ARTWORK, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ON A JACKET THAT WE HAVE FOR DOCTOR PIERRO.

SO HE WILL SHOW IT TO YOU. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COLOR.

AND AS I SAID, EVERY YEAR WE MAKE A NEW ONE THAT WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE COLORS AND THE THEME.

SO THIS IS WHAT THE COMMITTEE CHOSE. YEAH. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH. OH, THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE SHE LEAVES, IF I CAN.

YES. SO I LOVE THAT I'M GETTING THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND I ALREADY MISSED AN EVENT.

I DON'T KNOW, TODAY WE HAD THE EVENT WHICH IS AMAZING.

SO I'M LOOKING AT OUR WEBSITE. WHERE IS THIS CALENDAR? I JUST SEE IT LISTED ON MAY 4TH. I MEAN MARCH 4TH, BUT WHERE CAN I FIND IT? SO IT SHOULD BE ON THAT WEBSITE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD SCROLL DOWN OR I DO THAT ON IT.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WRITE THAT ON THE ON THE. IT'S A TAB TO THE LEFT SIDE.

THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS THE ACTUAL BOOK WITH ALL THE EVENTS.

SO HERE'S THE FULL SCHEDULE. AND THEN AS YOU CLICK THROUGH EACH OF THE EVENTS, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER FLIERS WITH ART THAT'S DESIGNATED AND IT HAS ALL THE EVENTS EXPLANATIONS. SO YOU COULD FLIP THROUGH AND FIND ALL THE ONES IN ORDER AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.

OKAY, TAKE ME BACK AGAIN. I'M AT THE MAIN WEBSITE.

I'M HERE LITERALLY IN THE COMPUTER ON THE MAIN WEBSITE.

WE'RE ON THE MAIN WEBSITE. AM I GOING TO FIND THIS? I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SEE YOUR SCREEN. SO I THINK SO, YEAH.

ANDREA, CAN YOU LOG INTO THE MAIN SCREEN AND THEN KIND OF LEAD ME THROUGH IT? IS IT W W W. W H N. YEAH.

IT COULD BE. I JUST KNOW I TYPED WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

THERE'S NO LINK TO THE MAIN PAGE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING. SO I WOULD GO THROUGH THE A THROUGH Z INDEX.

UNDER W. SO GO TO THE W AND WOMEN'S GENDER STUDIES.

NO WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. OKAY. IS THERE ANY WAY TO PUT A LINK RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING? WE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO THAT. YEAH. SO I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE SEARCH FOR IT OR GO BACK TO THE FIRST PAGE.

YEAH. THE THING. IS IT ONE OF THE FLASHING? YES, IT'S ON THE MAGAZINE.

[00:35:07]

SO YOU CAN JUST SHOW ME. SO YEAH. SO THERE'S THE MAIN WEBSITE, RIGHT? THIS IS WHAT THIS IS THE MAIN PAGE HERE. OH, AND IT CHANGES PERIODICALLY ON ITS OWN.

THE LONGER YOU STAY. BUTTONS ON THE SIDE. SO YOU CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ON THE DIFFERENT EVENTS.

THANK YOU CHELSEA. OKAY. AND OUR STUDENTS KNOW THIS, OF COURSE.

YEAH. THEY KNOW. ACTUALLY, YOU WILL LAUGH, BUT THEY CAME TO ASK US FOR THEIR OPINION ON THE WEBSITE AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, GO AND TALK TO THE STUDENTS BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE.

OKAY, AWESOME. I LOVE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I LOVE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT LOOKS LIKE AN AMAZING SET OF EVENTS FOR THE MONTH.

I WAS SCANNING THEM. 25TH OF MARCH, WHICH IS OUR LUNCHEON.

AND YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO COME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

IT'S ALSO LINKED ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE. ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SECTION TWO OPEN SESSION AGENDA ITEM 2.01 INSTITUTIONAL PRESENTATION.

[2.01 Institutional Presentation: 2024-2025 Sabbatical Leave Reports]

SO THAT'S JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.

ACTUALLY I'VE CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVES. AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR STUDENTS EASTER MIGHT LIGHT ON.

THANK YOU. YEAH. SORRY. SO THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR STUDENTS WOULD BE LEARNING ABOUT. AND ONE OF THE CERTIFICATES THAT I WROTE DURING MY SABBATICAL LEAVE PROJECT.

SO WITH MY SABBATICAL PROJECT, I WAS OBVIOUSLY APPLIED AND GRANTED APPROVAL FOR THE 24, 25 ACADEMIC YEAR. AND I WANT TO JUST SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS OF MY EXPERIENCE.

SO I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE OBJECTIVES OF MY SABBATICAL.

THE METHODS AND PROCESS AND DISCUSS THE OUTCOMES WITH YOU ALL.

SO THE KEY OBJECTIVE WAS TO CREATE THREE NEW CERTIFICATES FOR THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT PROGRAM IN THE AREAS OF AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION. AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THOSE AREAS, I JUST WANTED TO SUMMARIZE THEM FOR YOU HERE.

AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION REFERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SYMBOLIC SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY USED TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION WITH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED OR NO VERBAL SKILLS.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT WOULD BE PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO IMPLEMENT BASIC BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES IN EDUCATIONAL AND CLINICAL SETTINGS. AND EARLY INTERVENTION WILL FOCUS ON DELIVERY OF CHILD AND FAMILY CENTERED PRACTICES AND SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS. SO THE OVERALL UNDERLYING MISSION OF THE CERTIFICATES WAS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS OF THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY FIELD. INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS IN THE JOB MARKET AND ENHANCE JOB SKILLS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. SO MY METHOD AND PROCESS WAS TWOFOLD.

IT CONSISTED OF RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION AND CONSULTATION.

SO I THERE WE GO. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH. I STARTED WITH A LIST OF TEXTS THAT PROVIDED CURRENT RESEARCH AND APPLIED PRACTICES FOR THE CERTIFICATE AREAS. SO THIS IS A LIST OF THE, THE BOOKS THAT I READ OVER MY YEAR OF SABBATICAL.

AND SO I STARTED WITH A LIST AND THEN I ADDED ON MORE BASED ON THINGS THAT THE CONSULTANTS THAT I WORKED WITH SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT I FOUND.

BUT DEFINITELY A LOT OF READING WENT INTO THAT YEAR.

[00:40:01]

SO THERE'S A LOT OF AMAZING COLLABORATION. SO THE I COLLABORATED WITH THE AUGMENTATIVE FOR THE AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION CERTIFICATE.

I COORDINATED WITH DOCTOR ELENA DUCHOVNY FROM CAL STATE EAST BAY.

SHE IS A SPECIALIST IN AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS, AND ACTUALLY CREATED AN INTERDISCIPLINARY AAC PROGRAM AT THE MASTER'S LEVEL BETWEEN SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY STUDENTS, AND ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME TO OPEN THAT CERTIFICATE UP TO NOT JUST SPEECH PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT STUDENTS, BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE EMBARKING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION CAREERS AS WELL.

IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION CERTIFICATE GROUP, THERE WAS SHARON OH, WHO'S AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR HERE AND A SPECIALIST IN EARLY INTERVENTION. SHE OWNS SHARED PEDIATRIC THERAPY WITH OFFICES IN NORWALK AND GARDENA.

SO SHE'S LOCAL AND SUPPORTS OUR STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAMS AS WELL.

NORAH DELGADO, SHE RUNS TALK TO ME, BILINGUAL SPEECH THERAPY IN MONTEBELLO AND HUNTINGTON PARK.

SO SHE WAS ALSO A REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT, THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN OUR BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REALLY BECAME A COMMITTEE.

WE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT FOLKS. LISA STRINGER, WHO IS A MASTER LEVEL BEHAVIORAL ANALYST AND SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSULTANT.

SHE CONTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM.

RICHARD GARCIA AND A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST WITH BEHAVIORAL FOCUS FROM MONTEBELLO UNIFIED.

HE CONTRIBUTED AS WELL. AND WE ALSO HAD TWO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, STEPHANIE VINT AND AMY BEYER, WHO WORK WITH SHARON O. AT SHARE PEDIATRIC THERAPY.

AND THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US LOOK AT BEHAVIOR FROM A SENSORY PERSPECTIVE AND LOOKING AT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, AND THAT IS ALL INCORPORATED INTO THE CURRICULUM.

SO HERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OUR GROUPS TOGETHER.

AND WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR ZOOM MEETINGS AND, AND SO WE HAVE OUR EARLY INTERVENTION FOLKS UP IN THE RIGHT HAND CORNER.

SHARON AND NORA AND THEN THE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS.

AND THEN ELENA WITH OUR AAC. AND THEN I ALSO DID SOME INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION.

SO WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOLKS. CYNTHIA ALEXANDER, WE'RE USING ONE OF HER COURSES INTO THE AAC CERTIFICATE AND THEN ALSO COLLABORATING WITH KIMBERLY ROSENFELD IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE COULD CREATE STACKED AND INTEGRATED CERTIFICATES SO THAT STUDENTS WHO WERE GOING FOR A SPECIAL EDUCATION PATHWAY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME OF THE CLASSES THAT RELATED TO THEIR CERTIFICATE.

AND WE INCORPORATED THOSE INTO THE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND THE AAC CERTIFICATE.

SO REALLY TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAREER PATHS AND INTEGRATING THOSE, THOSE PIECES SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE TOO MANY EXTRA COURSES.

AND THEN ALSO CHILD DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE INCORPORATING ONE OF THEIR CLASSES INTO THE EARLY INTERVENTION CERTIFICATE.

SO THE PROCESS OF CREATION, THE CURRICULUM IT WAS DEFINITELY A DYNAMIC PROCESS.

WE STARTED WITH BACKWARD DESIGN. YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN AND, AND WHAT DO WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO AT THE END OF THESE CERTIFICATES? I RESEARCHED THE RELEVANT CONTENT THROUGH THE BOOKS AND TALKING WITH THE EXPERTS SYNTHESIZED AND EVALUATED THAT INFORMATION AND ADJUSTED.

SO WE MAPPED BASICALLY CONTENT THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO OBTAIN THOSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES BASED ON WHAT WE RESEARCHED AND DISCUSSED.

AND THEN I WROTE DRAFTS OF THE CERTIFICATES AND THE COURSES, AND THEN WOULD GET FEEDBACK FROM THE EXPERTS, REVISE AND THEN REPEAT AS NEEDED. SO THE OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT, WE NINE NEW COURSES WERE WRITTEN OVER THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR, THREE COURSES PER CERTIFICATE CREATION OF THREE STACKED AND INTEGRATED CERTIFICATES WITH EXISTING CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES IN COORDINATION WITH WHAT'S ALREADY EXISTING IN MY DEPARTMENT WITH SLP ASSISTING AND SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THE AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATES ARE GOING TO BE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS WHO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS ADDITIONAL TRAINING. SO OUR CURRICULUM HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL CONSORTIUM APPROVAL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STATUS, AND I'M HOPING TO ROLL THESE OUT BY FALL 2027.

WITH NEED TO WORK ON RECRUITING AND GETTING STUDENTS AWARE OF THE PROGRAM AND ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.

SO, BUT I WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

PRESIDENT PIERRO, DOCTOR MIXON DOCTOR RILEY AND HEALTH OCCUPATIONS AND ALSO THE FOLKS THAT HELPED MAKE THE COVERAGE OF MY.

I AM A ONE PERSON DEPARTMENT. I RUN I'M DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY.

[00:45:02]

SO EVERYTHING OPERATED SMOOTHLY WHILE I WAS GONE.

AND VALERIA CHRISTENSEN, WHO IS PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT, SHE TOOK OVER AS DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND SHARON OH TOOK OVER AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN THE MEANTIME. SO AND OF COURSE, MY, MY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, I WAS ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.

THIS WAS TRULY A PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME.

I JUST, I WAS IN MY HAPPY PLACE CREATING CURRICULUM AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DOING THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CERTIFICATES, I'M HAPPY TO TO ANSWER THEM OR, YOU KNOW, PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET AND, AND DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ON THE BOARD HAVE A QUESTION FOR US? I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I LOVE THE VISUAL ABOUT THE BOOKS.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE STACK OF BOOKS THAT I HAVE TO GET THROUGH, BUT I HAVEN'T LIKE YOU DID.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWCASING THAT I'M A VISUAL PERSON AND THAT IN TERMS OF THAT.

SO YOU DID SAY THAT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? BUT WHO ARE THE STUDENTS THAT WOULD TAKE THESE CERTIFICATES? SO THEY COULD BE STUDENTS WHO ARE EMBARKING ON ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN EDUCATION.

THEY COULD BE ALSO RETURNING STUDENTS. SO MY ALUMNI FROM THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY PROGRAM OR TEACHER TRACK STUDENTS COULD BE TAKING THESE.

SO AND THEN IT WOULD BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO ANYBODY WHO'S WORKING AS, SAY A SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I REALLY WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO TAKE THESE CLASSES BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING KIDS AND THEY GET VERY LITTLE TRAINING.

SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND EVEN FAMILIES WOULD BE WELCOME TO, TO, TO TAKE SOME OF THE CLASSES WITH THE A C CLASS, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THESE AND HELPING FACILITATE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT WE DEVELOPED WAS FACILITATION OF, YOU KNOW, HELPING USERS USE THIS.

AND SO THAT'S A WHOLE SKILL SET IN ITSELF. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO HELP ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING USE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE WITH THE KIDS ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS YOU KNOW, WITH AND ALSO SLP ASSISTANTS WERE WITH THEM FOR A FRACTION OF THEIR DAY AND THEIR WEEK.

AND THESE ASSISTANTS REALLY NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT TO USE THESE CONSISTENTLY TO HELP GROW THEIR LANGUAGE.

RIGHT. I GET IT BECAUSE I DO HAVE STUDENTS, I AM A TEACHER THAT DO RECEIVE SPEECH SERVICES, RIGHT? BUT THEY DO GET THEM LIKE 30 MINUTES A WEEK OR ETC..

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE WEEK THROUGH YOUR CERTIFICATES.

INTERESTING. THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NO OTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. WHILE WE ARE PREPARING FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, I PRESENTATION.

I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHRISTIAN BROWN, CHAIR OF THE SABBATICAL COMMITTEE.

CHRISTIAN. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD AND DOCTOR PIERRO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO PRESENT THE SABBATICAL RESEARCH THAT I CONDUCTED OVER THE 2425 ACADEMIC YEAR.

AND OF COURSE, FIRST STARTING OFF BY THANKING THE BOARD AS WELL AS COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY SENATE, THE SABBATICAL LEAVE COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS ACADEMIC SABBATICAL.

WHAT EXCITES ME MOST ABOUT THIS WORK WAS ARE THE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR STUDENTS.

DUE TO THE WORK AND ALSO THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE IN ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE SHORTAGE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES AND IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

SO WHAT I'LL DO IS GO THROUGH EACH OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SABBATICAL AND THEN SUMMARIZE THE OUTCOMES AS I SPEAK TO EACH OBJECTIVE.

SO THE FIRST OBJECTIVE WAS TO INTERVIEW FORMER STUDENTS REGARDING THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE RELATED EXPERIENCES IN OUR PROGRAM.

AND A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS THAT I PARTICIPATED IN A STUDY THAT LOOKED ACROSS THE STATE AT OUR ENTRY LEVEL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. AND THEY NOTICED IN THAT STUDY THAT IT WAS IRENE ORNELAS, WHO IS THE PI ON THAT? SHE NOTICED THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABILITY IN A LOT OF THE ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAMS. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT SHE ASKED ME AND THIS I PARTICIPATED IN THIS STUDY IN 2023 WAS, WHAT ARE YOUR STUDENTS DOING AFTER THE PROGRAM? AND I DID NOT HAVE DATA TO SPEAK TO THAT. AND SO IT REALLY THE THE IDEA BEHIND THE SABBATICAL STARTED BACK IN 2023.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY IT WAS REALLY GREAT HEARING ALL THE DIFFERENT TESTIMONIALS I HEARD FROM STUDENTS FROM THE PROGRAM.

SO I WAS ABLE TO INTERVIEW 38 STUDENTS, AND 76% OF THEM ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD IN ROLES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT,

[00:50:04]

AND THEN THE OTHER 24% OF RESPONDENTS ARE EITHER UNEMPLOYED.

BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, PURSUING ADVANCED DEGREES IN DISCIPLINES SUCH AS PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, COUNSELING, SOCIAL WORK, OR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.

AND SO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN REALLY KIND OF SEE THE, THAT OUR PROGRAM MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

AND THEN THESE ARE SOME OF THE SAMPLE SAMPLE DATA FROM THE RESPONSE FROM SOME OF THE RESPONDENTS.

SO MAURICIO IS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CASE MANAGER AND HE SAID IN THE PROGRAM, MY INTERNSHIP SERVED ME WELL.

IT HELPED PREPARE ME FOR MY CURRENT POSITION. AND I GOT REALLY HANDS ON EXPERIENCE RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. AURORA BAYEN, WHO ACTUALLY IS NOW WORKING FOR OUR PROGRAM AS OUR WELLNESS COACH, STUDENT AMBASSADOR.

AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WELLNESS COACH GRANT THAT WE ALSO RECEIVED AS PART OF THE SABBATICAL.

BUT SHE SAID, I LEARNED SO MUCH IN THE PROGRAM, SUCH AS ACTIVE LISTENING, LEARNING TO STEP AWAY, KNOWING YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES, AND USING A PERSON CENTERED APPROACH. AND WE HAVE PATRICIA, WHO WORKS FOR LA COUNTY AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND SAID, I LEARNED A LOT IN THE PROGRAM THAT I NOW USE IN MY JOB, SUCH AS LISTENING FOR UNMET NEEDS, HARM REDUCTION, CELEBRATING CLIENTS, SMALL BABY STEPS, NOT BEING AFRAID WHEN YOU ARE IN THE NITTY GRITTY, AND HOW TO INTERACT WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON THEMES THAT I SAW IN THE INTERVIEW DATA, THINGS LIKE INCREASING ONE'S SENSITIVITY TO DIVERSITY, DEALING WITH SPECIAL POPULATIONS MEETING CLIENTS WHERE THERE ARE AND A LOT OF PRACTICAL TRANSFERABLE WORK WORKFORCE SKILLS, WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THEM USE THAT.

AND THEN OBJECTIVE NUMBER TWO WAS TO THEN SHOWCASE THIS DATA ON A WEBSITE.

AND SO I DECIDED TO USE OUR OWN CERRITOS COLLEGE WEBSITE TO INCLUDE ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS.

AND THERE ARE, THERE'S A SCROLL ON THE WEBSITE I THINK THANKFUL FOR SAMUEL CHAVEZ WHO ASSISTED WITH THAT.

AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS TO INSPIRE THOSE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE GOING INTO THE PROGRAM.

BECAUSE IT DOES DOCUMENT WHERE THEY'RE WORKING NOW. AND AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I GET FROM STUDENTS WHO REACH OUT IS LIKE, WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS CERTIFICATE? AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS TO ANSWER THAT.

AND ALSO TO INSPIRE SOME OF OUR CURRENT STUDENTS OBJECTIVE NUMBER THREE WAS TO DEVELOP QUANTITATIVE SURVEYS THAT SERVE AS PROGRAM ENTRY AND EXIT ASSESSMENT TOOLS.

I'M A RESEARCHER BY TRAINING. AND SO I FIGURED IF I WAS GOING TO COLLECT ALL THIS DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM AND HOW WE CAN UNDERSTAND IF WE'RE MEETING INDUSTRY TRENDS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THIS A SUSTAINABLE PROCESS.

AND SO I WORKED WITH ERPG, I DEVELOPED THE SURVEYS THROUGH THE SABBATICAL AND THEN AFTERWARDS HAVE WORKED WITH ERPG TO TO PROGRAM THESE INTO QUALTRICS. AND SO THE GOAL OF THE SURVEY IS TO ASSESS STUDENTS GOALS PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM.

AND THEN THE EXIT SURVEY IS TO MEASURE STUDENTS EXPERIENCES UPON COMPLETION, ASSESS WHAT THEIR FUTURE GOALS ARE AFTER THE PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GOING DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE OR ARE THEY TRANSFERRING TO FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES OR ARE THEY WHATEVER ELSE PATHWAY THEY MIGHT DO? AND THEN ALSO TO CREATE A DATABASE FOR STUDENTS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN A NEW STACKABLE WELLNESS COACH CERTIFICATE.

AND I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST IN JUST A MINUTE.

OBJECTIVE NUMBER FOUR WAS TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR ONE OF OUR, TO ONE OF OUR FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITIES.

AND SO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I PONDERED WAS WHEN STUDENTS FINISH OUR PROGRAM DO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE DEGREE? RIGHT. BECAUSE PSYCHOLOGY IS SUCH A BROAD DISCIPLINE.

AND HOW CAN WE CLARIFY THAT PATHWAY FOR THEM? AND SO CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS HAS A BACHELOR OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM.

AND WHEN WE, I WAS INVITED TO MEET WITH THEM IN THEIR TORO HEALTHWAY HEALTH PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND NOTICED AN INCREDIBLE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN OUR PROGRAM AND THEN THE COURSES OFFERED AT IN THEIR PROGRAM. AND SO WE ARE, WE'VE FINALIZED CONVERSATIONS ON WHICH COURSES THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT AS IN THEIR PROGRAM FOR THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREE. SO IT KIND OF STREAMLINES THE, STREAMLINES THE PROCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE SORT OF A FAST TRACK INTO CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS. THAT'S IF THEY GET ACCEPTED, RIGHT? THEY ALSO HAVE A WELLNESS COACH TWO PROGRAM.

WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR WELLNESS COACH ONE PROGRAM.

SO AGAIN, ANOTHER SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM OUR COLLEGE TO A FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION.

AND THE LAST OBJECTIVE WAS TO EXPLORE STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.

AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO, I APPLIED FOR AND WAS FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE A $200,000 GRANT.

THAT WAS FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND INFORMATION. AND THIS IS BEING USED TO DEVELOP A WELLNESS COACH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR LOCAL CERTIFICATE.

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKER CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THEY CAN THEN TAKE THEIR COURSES AND THEIR FIELD WORK HOURS AND APPLY TO THE STATE TO BECOME A CERTIFIED WELLNESS

[00:55:06]

IT'S ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. SO WE'RE REALLY SORT OF ON THE FOREFRONT OF ROLLING OUT CERTIFIED WELLNESS COACHES.

AND THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT POSITIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE CERTIFIED WELLNESS COACH WEBPAGE THAT IS THROUGH HCAI.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED CERRITOS COLLEGE HERE.

AND SO I'M WORKING WITH THE WELLNESS COACH TEAM IN DEVELOPING THAT PROGRAM, WHICH IS FULLY GOING TO LAUNCH IN FALL 2027.

AND I WANTED TO END WITH THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS AND WELLNESS COACHES.

YOU KNOW, IT, THEY DO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND CERRITOS COLLEGE HAS TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A ROLE AS WELL IN BUILDING OUT THESE PIPELINES FOR STUDENTS.

THAT WILL THEN LEAD TO A CAREER IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

SO I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE FACULTY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM AND THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, THE PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE GROWTH AND WHERE IT IS TODAY.

SO THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WELL, I THINK I HAVE A SILLY QUESTION, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK IT ANYWAYS.

SO THERE'S A POPULARITY NOW OF LIFE COACHES. IS THAT LINKED TO THE BEHAVIORAL COACHES.

YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT OR THESE LIFE COACHES OR JUST IS THERE ANY CERTIFICATION FOR THEM? OR DO THEY JUST GET A CARD AND SAY, I'M A LIFE COACH AND I CAN ASSIST YOU IN BETTERING YOURSELF, RIGHT? I MEAN, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, IT'S LIKE THERE'S PEOPLE DOING IT.

THERE'S, THERE'S MANY TERMS OUT THERE TO, TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS FOR THE LIFE COACHES, WHAT DISCIPLINE ARE THEY COMING FROM? RIGHT? BECAUSE THESE ONES ARE SPECIFIC TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

SO SPECIFICALLY LIFE COACHES, I THINK COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE BROAD, A LITTLE BIT MORE GENERAL, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE WHERE THEY'RE EMPLOYED. THE WELLNESS COACH PROGRAM THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR OR WORKING WITH POPULATIONS THAT ARE 25 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER AND PRIMARILY EMPLOYED IN SCHOOL SETTINGS AND COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO THOSE ARE THAT MAYBE DIFFERENTIATES FROM WHERE LIFE COACHES ARE EMPLOYED.

YEAH. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP GROWN UPS, NOT, NOT, NOT YOUNG STUDENTS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY, NEXT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CONSENT ITEMS AND WE WILL TAKE ITEMS FROM SECTION THREE.

[3. Consent Items - Office of Academic Affairs]

[4. Consent Items - Office of Business Services]

[5. Consent Items - Office of Human Resources]

[6. Consent Items - Office of Student Services]

DOES ANYONE WANT TO PULL ANY OF THE CONSENT ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA? OKAY. SEEING NONE, CAN I GET A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. OKAY. AND NOW WE'LL GO INTO ROLL CALL.

ARE WE OKAY? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES. I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT IF THAT IS OKAY.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT WITH US HERE AT CERRITOS COLLEGE TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES, TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND TO ALLOW FOR CLEARER PATHWAYS FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS THEY EMERGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION. SO I DO WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

WE HAVE A VERY WONDERFUL EVENT THAT WE HOST TWICE A YEAR WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE OUR K12 PARTNERS COME OUT, AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL TIME TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND JUST TO SEE HOW WONDERFUL.

GET DATA TO SEE HOW GREAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE DOING IN OUR LOCAL DISTRICTS.

SO HAVING THESE MOU ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS JUST WONDERFUL BECAUSE I'M SEEING THAT WE'RE DOING EVEN MORE.

WE'RE OFFERING EVEN NEWER OPPORTUNITIES, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

OKAY. WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO. OH, I DO APOLOGIZE.

WE HAVE CONSENT ITEMS. SECTION SIX. SO WE WILL VOTE ON THAT SEPARATELY.

OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ITEM 6.01 ONLINE FACULTY STIPENDS FOR THE JUSTICE SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

[01:00:07]

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO SECTION SEVEN ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS.

[7.01 Consideration of Adoption of Resolution 26-0304B in Recognition of Women's History Month]

GOOD EVENING. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY DESIGNATES MARCH AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND AFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTION ACROSS HISTORY, CULTURE, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC LIFE. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ESSENTIAL ROLES WOMEN HAVE PLAYED IN MAJOR SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS AND IN BUILDING COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS THROUGH LEADERSHIP, SERVICE AND ADVOCACY. THE RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGES BOTH ACADEMIC PROGRESS WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED AND THE ONGOING DISPARITIES DISPARITIES IN LEADERSHIP REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE NATION WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION.

IT EMPHASIZES THAT WOMEN MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE CERRITOS COLLEGE WORKFORCE AND ARE CENTRAL TO STUDENT SUCCESS, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IT COMMITS THE COLLEGE TO HONORING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH THROUGH MEANINGFUL PROGRAMS, AS SHARED ALREADY WITH YOU, AND TO ADVANCING EQUITY REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT.

I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES BECAUSE YOU DID RECEIVE THE FLIPBOOK WOMEN IN THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH, IS ACTUALLY SPONSORED BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND WE WILL HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE EVENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE. WE WILL VOTE ON ITEM 7.01 IF I CAN GET A MOTION. MOTION SECOND. THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM. KNOW THAT WE HAD A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE HAVE ITEM 7.02 CANDIDATES FOR C.C.C T BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026.

[7.02 Candidates for CCCT Board of Directors – 2026]

SO IF I CAN GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR APPROVAL.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE WILL GO INTO A ROLL CALL VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NOT LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ONE OF THE LAST ONES. SECTION EIGHT.

YES. REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM DISTRICT OFFICIALS.

[8.01 Reports and Comments from District Officials]

NO REPORT. THANK YOU. DOCTOR. I'M SORRY. I WENT TO THIS SATURDAY.

I WAS AT THE FIVE K TLC EVENT IN DOWNEY. THE EVENT ACTUALLY WAS SOLD OUT AND IT RAISED FUNDS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.

SO IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE THERE AND PARTICIPATE ON BEHALF OF THE COLLEGE.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR LIU. OH MARIANA. AND I THINK DOCTOR FIERRO AND I.

OH, YEAH. DOCTOR GREEN, WE ATTEND SOROPTIMIST FUNDRAISING EVENT.

AND GUESS WHAT? FACEBOOK WILL SHOW YOU OLD MEMORIES.

SO I FOUND A PICTURE. DOCTOR FIERRO WAS THE DEALER TEN YEARS AGO.

AND GUESS WHAT? HE DIDN'T AGE. OKAY, THAT'S NOT FAIR.

OKAY, THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LIU MARIANA.

DOCTOR LIU PRESENTED MY FIRST ONE. AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE, ATHLETES.

I ENDED UP GOING TO THE ATHLETES HALL OF FAME IN LAKEWOOD.

AN AMAZING PROGRAM. AMAZING. AND JUST EVERY YOUTH WHO WAS RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SPEECH.

SO IT WAS JUST SO INSPIRATIONAL THAT THEY'RE JUST SO YOUNG.

HUGE SPORTS FUTURES AHEAD OF THEM. AND JUST THE AMAZING IMPACT THAT THEY'RE MAKING.

[01:05:01]

I WAS MORE INSPIRED THAN IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR FIERRO. A COUPLE OF PIECES.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR LIU. THE LAST IT'S BEEN SO BUSY.

LAST ABOUT. I THINK ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO SAN ANTONIO AND MEET TWO TEAMS FROM THE DISTRICT.

THEY WERE THERE ALREADY. ONE FROM AUTOMOTIVE SHOWCASING OR GMC PROGRAM ON THE BELLWETHER AWARD FINALIST. AND THE SECOND TEAM WAS REPRESENTING OUR EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM.

BOTH DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. WE WERE THE ONLY COLLEGE WITH TWO PROGRAMS AS THE FINALISTS.

THE BOTH TEAMS DID A TREMENDOUS JOB. THEY PREPARED THE PRESENTATION WERE FLAWLESS.

THEIR BINDERS WERE FLAWLESS. THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY GOT WERE AMAZING.

AND THE INTEREST IN OUR PROGRAMS IS, IS HUGE.

I WAS, I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY COLLEGES ACROSS THE NATION COMING TO US.

THE INFORMATION OF STEPHANIE AND SASHA TO GET IN TOUCH, TO SEE AND LEARN HOW WE HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING OR EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM. IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT WHEN WE GO PLACES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, OR PROGRAMS ARE RECOGNIZED AT THAT LEVEL AND THAT ARE WORTHY OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO TO TRY TO FOLLOW THE LEAD. SO SOMETIMES WHEN WE ARE LOOKING INSIDE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THINGS SEEM NORMAL.

BUT FOR OTHERS, SEEING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE BUILDING OUR PROGRAMS IS NEW AND DIFFERENT FOR THEM.

SAME THING WITH THE GMC PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM IS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE MODEL THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING STARTED HERE, AND GMC HAS TAKEN NOTE AND IS REPLICATING THAT PROGRAM IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE ONE, THE TWO COMING UP, ONE IN LOUISIANA AND SOMEWHERE IN IN TEXAS.

I FORGOT THE THE TOWN, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE ONE IN LOUISIANA.

THAT IS THE ONLY PROGRAM OF THAT CLASS THAT IS GOING TO BE IN LOUISIANA AND IN TEXAS AND ARE STRICTLY MORAL FROM THE PROGRAM HERE AT OUR COLLEGE. THE HAS BEEN LEADING SO TREMENDOUS WORK BY EVERYONE.

VERY PROUD TO SEE THEM PRESENT AND REPRESENT OUR, OUR COLLEGE.

SATURDAY WE HAVE ABOUT 17 EMPLOYEES GOING TO THE LAKEWOOD FIVE K AND K.

SO WE PUT A TEAM TOGETHER. SO IT'S GREAT, GREAT THING FROM ALL OF US.

WE'LL BE THERE AND WE'RE HOPING PRIMARILY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NEVER. OH, I FORGOT MY OTHER T SHIRT.

DID YOU GET IT FOR ME? PLEASE? THERE IS NEVER A A BAD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOWCASE THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT COLLEGE IS DOING AND AS SUCH, THE ENTIRE TEAM WILL BE WEARING.

SO THE ENTIRE TEAM WILL BE WEARING A CERRITOS COLLEGE SHIRT.

BUT SINCE WE'LL BE RUNNING UP FRONT AND PEOPLE WILL BE SEEING US FROM THE BACK.

IT'S A SHIRT THAT HAS THE NUMBER ONE RETURN ON INVESTMENT COLLEGE WITH A QR CODE THAT LEADS TO A REGISTRATION PAGE.

SO ABOUT 17 EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 20 PEOPLE WEARING CERRITOS COLLEGE MERCH.

AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE GET CURIOUS ENOUGH TO START TO SCAN THE CODES.

GREAT COMMERCIAL. YOU KNOW, YOU CATCH EVERYTHING.

SO I HAVE ANDREA AND CHELSEA TO THANK. RYAN DESIGN THE THE SHIRT IN A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND.

SO IT'S NICE TO WE'RE GOING TO WELL, I GUESS I MESSED UP THE SURPRISE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SURPRISE OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE SHOWING UP WITH THE, WITH THE SHIRT SO THEY CAN WEAR IT WITH THE REST OF US FOR AN EVENT.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THIS IS A. COMMERCIAL BREAK IN BEHALF OF SOME OF OUR PUENTE STUDENTS AND MESA STUDENTS. SO SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT I LIKE CARS AND I LIKE RACING AND SO ON.

SO FOR A LONG TIME I HAVE FOLLOWED SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED THE RED BULL SOAPBOX, RIGHT? SUB SUB BOX RACE, WHICH IS A FUNNY RACE. THE RED BULL ORGANIZES AND PEOPLE BUILD CARTS AND THEY GO DOWN A HILL IN THE CARTS AND THEY HOPE

[01:10:10]

SO SOME OF OUR PUENTE AND MESA STUDENTS PUT A TEAM TOGETHER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GET IN THE RACE.

THE RACE IS GOING TO BE ON MAY 16TH AND THEIR DESIGN FOR THEIR TEAM IS CALLED EL VELLOSO.

AND THERE ARE FOUR OF THEM, STEM MAJORS, OBVIOUSLY.

SO THEY ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME BUILDING THEIR CAR.

THEY ARE THIS IS FOR THE COMMERCIAL PART COMES.

THEY ARE SELLING THESE SHIRTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE BUILDING OF THEIR CAR.

SO IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A SUPER COOL SHIRT TO SUPPORT OUR CERRITOS COLLEGE TEAM OF THE NASA PROGRAM, THE ONLY THING AROUND HERE. ACTUALLY THE QUALIFY FOR THAT RACE.

THEY ARE AT L LOWER DASH VELOSO 25 ON INSTAGRAM OR LET ME KNOW AND I'LL CONNECT YOU TO THEM.

BUT GREAT GROUP OF KIDS AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED TO BE THERE AND I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO GO THERE.

I WAS TRYING TO LET THEM CONVINCE THEM TO LET ME DRIVE, BUT THEY SAID NO.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AND CHEER THEM ON. HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO.

WHAT ARE THEY FUNDRAISING. HOW MUCH? I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL TALK TO THEM. BUT YEAH, THERE. IT COULDN'T BE THAT MUCH.

IT'S A IT'S A CARD THAT THEY'RE BUILDING. AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S GOING TO BE SELF-PROPELLED, BUT THEY HAVE TO DECORATE IT. THAT'S SOMETHING FUNNY.

IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE IT. SO THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD A WRESTLING, MEXICAN WRESTLING RING ON TOP OF THE CAR AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THE HILL.

IT'S HILARIOUS. WHERE IS THIS? IT'S THE SATURDAY, RIGHT? MAY 16TH, MAY 16TH IN LOS ANGELES. MAY 16TH. YES.

I'LL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION. I'M PLANNING TO BE THERE, SO IT SHOULD BE FUN. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR FIERRO. LET'S SEE. THE ONLY REPORT THAT I HAVE IS ALSO THAT I ATTENDED THE SOROPTIMIST EVENT ON SATURDAY. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM BECAUSE THEY MAKE A POINT TO DEFINITELY SUPPORT OUR CERRITOS COLLEGE STUDENTS.

AND SO OUR CERRITOS COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR THE EVENT, AND I DO APOLOGIZE THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE STUDENT'S NAME WITH ME.

DO YOU RECALL THE STUDENT'S NAME? NO. OKAY. SORRY.

ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM DURING OUR NEXT MEETING.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CLOSED SESSION, AND WE WILL HAVE HOW MANY READOUTS?

[9. Closed Session]

INFORMING THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY WILL NOT BE RETAINED IN THEIR CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENT BEYOND JUNE 30TH, 2026. THE VOTE FOR APPROVAL WAS SIX YES ZERO NO.

ONE ABSENT. TRUSTEE BIRKEY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.