Cerritos College Celebrates Community College Month

The Cerritos College Board of Trustees joined statewide efforts to declare April as Community College Month. The Board adopted a resolution to celebrate the achievements and contributions of community colleges. Community College Month raises awareness of the critical role community colleges play in providing students with access to an affordable, quality education.  

The California community college system makes up the largest entity of higher education in the country, serving 2.1 million students. It is an essential resource for the State of California, its people and the economy. 

At Cerritos College, student success continues to increase. Last year, the College honored its largest graduating class in the campus’ history for the fourth consecutive year with more than 5,000students receiving degrees and certificates. The College also covered two years of tuition for 1,800 local high school students through its  California Promise Program  Cerritos Complete. The program increased its one year of free tuition to two years, serving over 2,500 participants, to date. 

As COVID-19 spreads across the nation, community colleges have increased their efforts to assist students and the communities they support more than ever before. Campuses serve as a vital lifeline to help supply basic food, housing, mental health, and financial needs. At Cerritos College, the Foundation established a Student Emergency Fund to help students who are facing a financial crisis. The College is also hosting drive-thru food distribution events to help students and community members in need of food and resources amid the COVID-19 crisis.  

“Cerritos College and California community colleges provide quality education that gives underrepresented students the opportunity to improve their social mobility into the middle class. We are committed to providing innovative education experience that gives our students the best opportunity for success," said Cerritos College Board of Trustees President Marisa Perez. 

“Our communities are being challenged now more than ever before. We strive to meet our students' basic needs, including access to food, housing, transportation, and other services while students seek education and vital workforce training,” echoed Cerritos College President/Superintendent Dr. Jose Fierro.