Three Cerritos College Employees Honored with Innovation Excellence Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2017

Media Contact: Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 653-7878

NORWALK, Calif. – April 27, 2017 - Faculty and staff at Cerritos College were selected for the prestigious 2016 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award by the League for Innovation in Community Colleges.

The awardees include Dr. Bob Livingston, professor, business administration, Yvette Tafoya, EOPS assistant director, and Andrea Wittig, executive assistant to the president.

The annual, national award annually celebrates outstanding contributions and leadership by community college faculty and staff.

Dr. Livingston was recognized for his leadership in developing an Open Education Resources (OER) project in 2008 to reduce textbook costs for students. The Business Administration Department successfully expanded the College’s OER coursework to 3,200 students each semester at a savings of over $300,000. More than 80% of the students taking courses in the Business Administration Department save an average of about $100 per course, saving students over $1 million per year. The College has a goal of saving that amount per semester in the future. The project received the Online Learning Consortium’s Digital Learning Innovation Award in 2016.

Ms. Tafoya was honored for her leadership in providing support to former foster youth to ensure their successful transition from foster care to independent living, and improve college access for current and former foster youth. She established the College’s Leaders Involved in Creating Change (LINC) program that provides support and resources to foster youth to be successful in college and beyond. The College currently supports approximately 90 foster care youth in the LINC program.

Ms. Wittig was selected for her contribution to the College’s new Accelerated Instruction in Math and English (AIME) program, which closes the academic attainment gap to help students complete their remedial, college-level math and English courses faster. The program allows students to move from their basic skills courses to transfer/college level math and English in one academic year by instilling good study skills in students.

The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college environment.

About Cerritos College: Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently averages 23,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

-END-