The fall semester began August 17, 2020 for NOCE and August 24, 2020 for Cypress College and Fullerton College. With distance education and remote instruction and student services in place, the 2020-21 academic year is not off to its typical start; however, faculty and staff are working hard to provide students with the safe, quality education they deserve.
Faculty, staff, and students may not physically be together on campus this fall, but many campus traditions, including Opening Day events, continued online. Each campus came together virtually to celebrate the start of the new academic year!
Opening Day Events |
NOCE - August 14, 2020 |
Cypress College - August 21, 2020 |
Fullerton College - August 21, 2020 |
Chancellor Cheryl Marshall welcomed employees to the 2020-21 academic year:
NOCE's annual back-to-school event, themed Cultivating and Celebrating Growth, was on Friday, August 14, 2020. One hundred ninety-six faculty and staff heard from President Valentina Purtell as she presented the "State of NOCE;" met new employees; and congratulated employees receiving service and special awards, as well as employees named NOCE's 2020/21 Colleagues of the Year. Event attendees also viewed a video celebrating student achievement during these unprecedented times. Fullerton College Anthropology Professor and NOCCCD Fellow Dr. Leonor Cadena wrapped up the event with a keynote presentation on Creating an Equity-Minded Culture.
Cypress College followed suit the following Friday on August 21, 2020. Opening Day began with an engaging pre-show featuring faculty interviews, campus updates, and entertainment. The event introduced new employees, celebrated campus awards, and concluded with a panel of Black faculty who discussed their personal and professional experiences with racism.
Also on Friday, August 21, 2020, Fullerton College's Fall Convocation covered important updates on topics related to anti-racism, COVID-19 response and planning, enrollment trends, Classified Recognition Awards, construction updates, and recent successes in student support services and distance education. Speakers included President Greg Schulz, Classified Senate President Marwin Luminarias, Faculty Senate President Kim Orlijan, Vice President of Student Services Gilbert Contreras, Vice President of Administrative Services Rodrigo Garcia, Interim Director of Institutional Research and Planning Joseph Ramirez and Distance Education Director Darnell Kemp. The event gave more than 500 Fullerton College faculty and staff the opportunity to reflect on how far the campus has come since its March 2020 closure and how the campus is continuing to address student needs this fall. Click here to view the full event.
The campuses look forward to Opening Day events each school year, and this year's virtual events brought just as much excitement and school spirit into the new academic year as ever before.