State of the College Spotlights Cerritos College’s Role in Lifting Students and Community for Success
Cerritos College hosted its 2022 State of the College on October 12. President/Superintendent
Dr. Jose L. Fierro highlighted the College’s efforts to transform the lives of students
and its positive economic impact on the community it serves.
Dr. Fierro shared the advocacy efforts the College is making at the state level. Currently, Trustee Marisa Perez serves as the President of the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) Board, and Dr. Fierro serves as the President of the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) Board. Trustee Perez and Dr. Fierro are championing student equity and seeking strategies that lift students and their families out of poverty and into the middle class at the state level.
Also highlighted was the College’s role in adding value to the communities it serves. Cerritos College has aligned its renowned career technical education offerings to meet industry and community needs and enhance its workforce development efforts for numerous years, helping residents across the region apply their education as a means to break the cycle of poverty and financial inequality to improve their lives.
Cerritos College awarded a record-breaking 5,167 degrees and certificates in the 2021-22 academic year. The College has a proven record for increasing success rates among students – especially first-generation students from underrepresented backgrounds – through innovative programs. The College’s robust academic support programs including the award-winning Cerritos Complete promise program, Teacher TRAC, and the Early College/dual enrollment programs accelerate student completion.
The College also boasts holistic basic needs support services to ensure students'
educational success. The Falcon’s Nest opened this year to provide a free campus food
pantry, clothing, hygiene support, emergency aid resources, and housing resources,
including The Village, California’s first community college housing project exclusively
for homeless students. The Metro GoPass was also launched this year to provide affordable
transportation access.
Three current and former students, all first-generation college students of color, shared the challenges they faced, their experiences at Cerritos College, and how the College’s support system, including these programs and dedicated faculty mentors, has helped them navigate their education.
Dr. Fierro also provided updates on the College’s Facilities Master Plan and construction projects. Campus upgrades are key to creating the best student learning environment and providing quality education, and are also vital to the future of the region’s economy.
“Education is crucial for our residents to increase their social mobility. As your community college, we will continue to find new opportunities to meet the needs of our students and our community,” said Dr. Fierro.
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