September 2024

portrait of coastline college president dr. vince rodriguez

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE


I wish to express my thanks and gratitude to the people who helped with the planning, implementation, and participation in activities during the month of September. We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) week, and kicked off our work on our institutional self-evaluation report (ISER). As a minority-serving institution with the dual designation of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and AANAPISI I appreciate how we embrace our diversity, learn about each other’s culture, and celebrate these special occasions. It was great to have onsite and online events. We have highlighted a few events in this newsletter.


This month we also began drafting our ISER for our next accreditation cycle. If you are not on any of the writing teams, you should anticipate having drafts of the report shared with you and all constituency groups throughout fall 2024 and early spring 2025. The college will submit our final report to the Board of Trustees in spring 2025 for their review and feedback. A peer review team from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) will receive the report in late summer 2025 and will visit our college in early fall 2026. I am happy to report that there has already been substantial progress on sections of the report.


We continue to do well on outcomes such as enrollment, student success, and operational effectiveness. Thank you to all members of the Coastline team for your work on these and other assignments, projects, and tasks.


Sincerely,

Vince Rodriguez, Ed.D.

President, Coastline College

group of excited coastline employees who helped set up the fiesta en el barrio event gather for a photo striking fun and silly poses

CELEBRANDO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH:

FIESTA EN EL BARRIO & PAINTING WITH COCHINILLA


The courtyard at Coastline's Westminster-Le Jao campus was transformed into a vibrant celebration for National Hispanic Heritage Month, adorned with festive papel picado and Coastline College dolphin-themed piñatas. Organized by Javier Alcala, Claudia Mojica, and Carlos Amescua, the events “Painting with Cochinilla” and “Fiesta en El Barrio” brought the sights and flavors of Latin America to Westminster, attracting over 130 students and guests, including Trustee board member Mary Hornbuckle.


Attendees enjoyed a delightful paleta cart featuring more than a dozen flavors, along with an aguas frescas stand that highlighted the rich culinary traditions of various Latin American countries. The menu offered a diverse selection of dishes: empanadas from Argentina, papa rellena and pastelitos de guayaba from Cuba, pupusas from El Salvador, arroz con pollo from Peru, tacos de papa from Mexico, and arepas and tequeños from Venezuela.


The event aimed to immerse attendees in the authentic flavors, colors, and sounds of Latin American culture while fostering a sense of community and understanding of our diverse neighbors to the south. Each student received a passport to sample the delicious offerings, creating a memorable cultural learning experience. The beautifully decorated space reflected traditional styles, made possible by the hard work of our dedicated team of volunteers.


Check out additional Hispanic Heritage Month photos on Coastline's Flickr!

eager students sign up for their passport to discover a variety of latin cuisine options
coastline dolphins smile as they receive their delicious samples from portos bakery
coastliners participating in the panting with cochinilla event and working their paintings
coastliner claudia mojica helps serve delicious latin cuisine to excited coastline students
coastliner luis morales poses with the paleta cart
promotional graphic for coastline's ethnic studies panel including headshots of each featured speaker

COASTLINE HOSTS HISTORY & PURPOSE OF ETHNIC STUDIES PANEL


Coastline College recently hosted an engaging virtual panel discussion titled “Why Ethnic Studies? A History and Purpose of Ethnic Studies in California.” Over 50 faculty and staff members attended the event, which was moderated by Coastline College Ethnic Studies professor Carlos Escobedo.


The panel featured a distinguished lineup of experts: Dr. Bucket Manyweather, Interim Director of the Black Unity Center at San Francisco State University; Dr. Alberto Pulido, Department Chair and Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of San Diego; Dr. Ziza Delgado Noguera, Associate Professor and Chair of Ethnic Studies, Chicanx/Latinx Studies, Social Justice Movements, and Women of Color Feminisms at Fullerton College; and Dr. Alexandro Gradilla, Associate Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at California State University, Fullerton.


The discussion offered valuable insights into the history, pedagogical approaches, and best practices for implementing Ethnic Studies programs. The event aimed to shed light on the critical role and evolving landscape of Ethnic Studies within California’s higher education system.

FINANCIAL AID UPDATE:

CHANGES TO 2025-26 FAFSA RELEASE SCHEDULE


The Department of Education (ED) has announced changes to the 2025-26 FAFSA release schedule due to ongoing issues with the 2024-25 FAFSA Simplification. While October 1 is traditionally the date the FAFSA becomes available, this year ED will implement a **phased rollout** starting on October 1, with a full launch by December 1.


Here are the key details:


1. Phased Rollout – Starting October 1

  • The rollout will initially include a small group of students and schools.
  • This phase allows ED to identify and resolve any issues before a wider release.
  • More students will be gradually added to the testing group throughout the phased rollout.


2. Full Launch – December 1

  • By December 1, the FAFSA will be available to all students.
  • The full launch will include all features, allowing for complete form submission and processing.


Per ED, this phased rollout approach aims to ensure a smoother FAFSA experience by addressing potential issues early. The goal is to prevent extensive disruptions when the form becomes fully accessible to all students on December 1.

dolphin graphic with text "traveling dolphin recipient of the month"

CONGRATULATIONS TO YESENIA GONZALEZ, TRAVELING DOLPHIN WINNER FOR SEPTEMBER!


Classified Senate is pleased to announce that Yesenia Gonzalez has been awarded the Traveling Dolphin Award for August 2024. Yesenia was nominated by prior recipient Alison Carlock, who shared the following:


It is my pleasure to pass the Traveling Dolphin Award to Yesenia Gonzalez, Student Services Program Coordinator in the EOPS & CalWORKs office. I know firsthand the taxing workload of this position, as I served in the role before my current position. It has been amazing to see Yesenia truly “level up” both the CalWORKs and CARE programs, leveraging technology to streamline the onboarding process for students while still showing genuine care and support throughout the process. Additionally, she is recruiting for a Coastline Student-Parent Club, providing an opportunity for parenting students to find community and a sense of belonging with their peers. Ever thoughtful and curious, Yesenia has sought ways to apply innovative new ideas to complex issues, helping further break down barriers for the students in her programs.


Please join us in congratulating Yesenia!

promotional graphic for storyline featuring the two covers created for the magazine. one cover features a collage of cute, "kawaii" asian inspired artwork, and the other cover features a stylized portrait of a beautiful, young, and stylish african american woman

LIVE NOW! ENJOY ISSUE NO. 6 OF STORYLINE


The sixth issue of StoryLine - Coastline's Online Arts & Letters Magazine - is now live! Please take a break from your afternoon grind and pour yourself a cup of inspiration. Here's just a sampling of the work included from talented Coastline students and faculty:

  • Original art by Chloe Alonzo and Cathy Breslaw
  • Non-fiction by Kyla Mello and Desiree Aguilar
  • Photography by Jessica King 
  • Poetry by Michaela Davis and Thomas Napela
  • Short fiction by Stephanie DeLucas and Teresa Conboy
  • And much, much more!

 A plain-text, accessible version of the magazine is embedded in the published magazine.


Check it out today!

promotional graphic for undocumented student action week including a variety of monarch butterflies in front of an illustrated body of water

COMING SOON:

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT ACTION WEEK


Get ready to celebrate the Eighth Annual California Community Colleges' Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW) on October 14 - 18, 2024!


This year, Coastline's Dream Resource Program has partnered with the undocumented student programs at Golden West and Orange Coast Colleges to host a series of 'USAW' events under this year's theme: Education and Career UndocuDreams Made Possible. California Community Colleges enroll the largest population of undocumented students in the nation, and our dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators play a crucial role in supporting their success. Join the Coast District and the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office in participating in these informative and collaborative events aimed at building a supportive campus ecosystem for undocumented students.


Register here (Events Tab): CCCD Undocumented Students Action Week 2024

Promotional graphic for the upcoming navigating identity and leadership event featuring a portrait of dr. angel gonzalez

UPCOMING EVENT:

NAVIGATING IDENTITY & LEADERSHIP - A CONVERSATION WITH DR. ÁNGEL GONZÁLEZ


Join us on National Coming Out Day for a transformative workshop in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and LGBTQ+ History Month, featuring Dr. Ángel González, an esteemed Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration and Leadership. As a queer, non-binary, and Latinx individual, Dr. González brings a unique perspective to the discussion on cultural and identity navigation. Hear Dr. González share their personal journey as a first-generation college student, detailing how their family and community played a pivotal role in their educational path and highlighting the importance of student advocacy and activism. In this space, you are invited to embrace your full self, find your voice, and connect in community with your Dolphin family! After the workshop, join Student Mental Health Services for follow-up group meetings to continue the conversation.


EVENT DETAILS:

Friday, October 11th

5:30pm - 7pm (PDT)

Online via Zoom - Register to Attend


Questions? Contact Alison Carlock at acarlock@coastline.edu.

Coastline College | 11460 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 | (714) 546-7600 | coastline.edu