Community

Cerro Coso has been teaching classes remotely for over 23 years, in fact one of the first in the state to offer an entire degree online.  But, not everyone from the college was prepared for the sudden transition to a fully remote workforce due to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus.

The work of the college has not come to an end as departments and programs seek to engage with students face to face, but from a distance.  Registration for the Summer and Fall semesters begins April 14, 2020.  Class schedules are now available online at www.cerrocoso.edu.

A virtual Open House with a number of sessions has been scheduled week of April 20^th that will include counseling, financial aid, Access Programs, Career Center, admissions, Promise, athletics and more.  A complete list of upcoming Zoom sessions is available on the college website at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/event/virtual-open-house

Connect with admissions staff and students to learn more about academic opportunities, applying to Cerro Coso, and campus life.

No special equipment is necessary to attend, all that is needed is a computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

Cerro Coso Community College is your local community college.  Offering associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer, job skills certificates, and workforce training. Cerro Coso offers something for everyone.  Call a counselor today at 760-384-6219.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is much like the rest of the country’s educational institutions, when it comes to the next steps and decisions for its campuses in regards to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Within the past two weeks alone, the college has been reminded (many times) that nothing is certain and that planning for uncertainty is not easy. “It is a challenge to balance preventive measures to avoid escalation and on the other preserving to the greatest extent possible the opportunity for students to complete classes, while maintaining critical learning and student support services,” said Heather Ostash, Vice President of Student Services.

Responding rapidly to the health threat associated with the Covid-19 outbreak, the college closely monitored the crisis, taking precautions, evaluating thresholds, developing contingencies, and staying vigilant to minimize future disruptions to instruction and student services.

Prior to the Governor's orders to shelter in place on March 19th, Cerro Coso had already suspended classes the week on March 16 – 20 to provide instructors time to shift their on-ground classes into a virtual format. Trainings for students, instructors, and staff were already being conducted via alternative delivery modes for both instruction and services.

As conditions for the Coronavirus continued to spread rapidly, classes at the college resumed on Monday, March 23 with almost all of its face-to-face classes transitioned into the online environment. Student services (counseling, advising, financial aid, admissions and records) and learning support services (library and learning assistance center) have also been moved over into remote delivery. The college is still maintaining face-to-face instruction in a very small number of courses that are abiding by the department of public health’s protocols for group gatherings and physical distancing. Instruction in the prisons was moved to a correspondence type delivery.

Proctoring has been cancelled for the semester, and a technology needs survey was conducted and the college is working to provide students with the technology they need to take their classes online.

Cerro Coso is now virtually open for students and the community utilizing a variety of formats to communicate including email, telephone, Zoom, Skype for business, and web forms. “It’s not ideal,” said Ostash, “but it’s necessary. It’s ‘business unusual’ for us all.”

“I’m very proud of how quickly our leadership team, faculty, staff, and students responded and made the transition,” said Cerro Coso President Jill Board. “Knowing that the situation is fluid for us all, we must remain flexible. Above all else, the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and communities will remain our top priority.”

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso on-ground classes will be CLOSED from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20 to allow faculty time to transition to alternative learning formats. All other services and supports will remain OPEN.

We now have one confirmed case of the Coronavirus in a non-resident in Kern County. There are no known cases of Coronavirus in Inyo or Mono counties at this time.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

On Tuesday, March 17th the Core Ensemble will perform the chamber music theatre work Ain’t I a Woman! in the Cerro Coso Lecture Center at 6:30 p.m.

Chamber Music Theatre is unique performance format developed by the Core Ensemble featuring a marriage of theatrical narrative to chamber music performance.

Shinnerrie Jackson portrays multiple characters while interacting with the onstage musical trio of cello, piano and percussion of Byron Sean.

Ain’t I a Woman! celebrates the life and times of four powerful African American women: renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter, and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the Deep South, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age, and contemporary concert music by African Americans.  Ain’t I a Woman! is a joyful exploration of the trials and triumphs of  four passionate and accomplished women.

Since 1993, the Core Ensemble has toured in every region of the United States and internationally to Australia, England, Russia, Ukraine, and the British Virgin Islands. The Core Ensemble has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, The Palm Beach County Cultural Council and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music,

In celebration of Women’s History Month the performance is FREE and open to the public.  Parking will not be enforced during the event. 

Contact the Public Relations Department at 760-384-6262 for more information.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Foundation Seeks to Make Promise Program Sustainable and More Robust

On Thursday, March 5, 2020, the Cerro Coso Community College (CCCC) Foundation will host a President’s Circle brunch from 9 to 10 a.m. in the College Community Room located on the third floor of the Main Building.

Guests will be given an opportunity to hear first-hand from Cerro Coso student leaders showcasing their extraordinary work.

The President’s Circle ensures and expands the College’s ability to advance education opportunities for future leaders. The CCCC Foundation is active in many areas and always pursuing new partnerships, its main focus is making the Cerro Coso Promise Scholarship Program sustainable and more robust. Launched in 2018, the Cerro Coso Promise Scholarship offers qualified full-time students the opportunity to receive $1,000 per semester for 2 years to help with tuition, books, and fees regardless of household income. “When a student attends community college only part time their chance of completing is 19%. If they attend full time their chances are 61%,” said President Jill Board. “This scholarship is intended to encourage full-time enrollment and to offset costs so students can graduate within the 2 years with little to no debt.”

The President’s Circle is the CCCC Foundation’s annual giving leadership society.  With a gift of $1,000 or more, members make a powerful statement about the value of a community college education by directly supporting students in the Cerro Coso Promise Program. Membership in the President’s Circle sends a positive message to the community and inspires others to follow the lead of its members. 

“Perhaps you recently hired one of our graduates to work in your business, taken a community education class, or you are one of our many alums and friends that have enjoyed attending CCCC performances or athletic events. Regardless of your affiliation with Cerro Coso, you are invited to become a member of the President’s Circle,” said Board. Donors to the President’s Circle share a deep appreciation for the role that the college and its graduates have played in shaping the community and the region. “These alumni, friends, business, and community leaders provide crucial support to the college and our students,” concluded Board.

President’s Circle members are given special recognition and sponsorship in various campus activities. Members are also invited to special college events that showcase the impact of their annual gift, like the President’s Circle brunch.

Please RSVP to Amber Reed at 760-384-6262 to reserve your spot at the President’s Circle brunch. Parking will not be enforced during the event.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is pleased to announce that 250 students have made the President’s List for the Fall 2019 semester. This includes 58 students from the Indian Wells Valley area, 118 from East Kern, 45 from the Eastern Sierra Bishop and Mammoth area, 18 CC Online students from various locations, and 11 from the Kern River Valley. This list is comprised of all students who achieved a grade point average of at least 3.75 while earning a minimum of 4.0 grade points within the fall 2019 semester. It is the goal of Cerro Coso to recognize students who have significantly excelled in their academic studies. “The presence of students with high academic standards serves as an inspiration to both faculty and students alike,” stated Jill Board, President of Cerro Coso Community College.

Cerro Coso Community College is proud to honor the following students for making the President’s List for their scholastic achievements during the fall 2019 semester:

Indian Wells Valley area

• Christian Acosta
• Bryce Amster
• Athena Baca
• Noah Bailey
• Alicia Bautista-Montoya
• Marilyn Boadt
• Crystal Cane
• Maria Chaco
• Jessica Cliff
• Anastasia Dean
• Kathleen Delacruz
• Michael Doerr
• Ali Duke
• Gavann Karissa Freiberg
• Torin Fuller
• Emma Gilmartin
• Andres Gonzalez
• Jacob Gregory
• Anthony Guishard
• Alexander Harmon
• Amanda Harris
• Ryan Hartwig
• Morgan Hastings
• Garret Homer
• Ruby Horta
• Emily Hunsaker
• Lili Jones
• Mikayla Jones
• Satori Kalie
• Jacob Kelley
• Alyssa Kozloski
• Jennifer Kunz
• Cameron Lager
• Ngu Lwin
• Ryan Mckinney
• Emily Meadows
• Melody Metz
• Wolf Milheim
• Lorena Moreno Aguilar
• Emily Osborne
• Mary Piatt
• Jonathon Podlewski
• Luciana Poka
• Annika Ramon
• Melissa Reinke
• Cherish Rindt
• Muhammad Sami
• Misty Siebert
• Martin Stone
• Preeti Sundaramurthi
• Matthew Tidball
• Mary Clare Torres
• Abigail Voigt
• Matthew Weir
• Jewelie Willard
• Lauren Zajicek
• William Zirger
• Lauren Zissos

East Kern–Edwards, Mojave, Rosamond, Cal City, Tehachapi, Lancaster

• Modesto Alcala
• Victor Alvarado
• Antonio Alvarez
• Edward Anauo
• Jeffery Avant
• Theodis Barley
• Arthur Bates
• Edgar Bedolla
• Marc Betita
• Eric Bounvongxay
• Jeffery Bromfield
• Nicole Cabrera
• Jose Calderon
• Glen Calzadilla
• Jamarea Campbell
• William Castro
• Jahmal Coleman
• Jose Delgado, Jr.
• Darrian Dennis
• Scott Downen
• Dorothy Edwards
• Miguel Enciso
• Jacquline Endsley
• Noah English
• Sara Eskelson
• Alejandro Espinoza
• Leonardo Estrada
• Manuel Franco
• Daniel Garcia
• Troy Gilder
• Roderick Glover
• Airam Gomez
• Luis Gonzalez-Chavez
• Joseph Gutierrez
• Cami Hales
• Ernesto Hernandez
• Danika Hipp
• Deron Hollins
• Steven Honma
• Barrett Howard
• Melissa Islas
• Dimitri James
• Robert James
• Andrew Jewett
• Sergio Jimenez
• Delonte Johnson
• Joshua Judson
• Alyssa Keesee
• Michael Kelley
• Sokhean Keo
• Seph Kinder
• Andrew King
• Tyler King
• Raji Kitchen
• Patrick Larmour
• Jason Lattier
• Jehonathan LeBlanc
• Nicole Lemons
• Derric Lewis
• William Long
• Cesar Lopez
• Pablo Lopez
• Donnell Marin
• Jessica Martin
• Gabriel, Martinez
• Kenneth Massey
• Troy McDonald
• Larry Miles
• Hendrix Montecastro
• Sarah Montero
• Michael Muns
• Jason Myszkowski
• James Newsome
• Dung Nguyen
• Long Nguyen
• John Nunez
• Theresa Oaks
• Eric Oceguera
• Martin Pizano
• Claudiu Ponoran
• Anthony Ramos
• Kateri Rausch
• Dean Raya
• Tiffany Rea
• Charles Rector
• Steven Reed
• Dontae Reid
• Andrew Reynolds
• James Riley
• Anthony Robles
• Valeria Rocha
• Kristen Rodriguez
• Kaitlyn Rowell
• Jahaziel Sanchez
• Uziel Santos
• Robert Serrano
• Jermell Stewart
• Shawn Stubbert
• Carey Thomas
• Marquis Thomas
• Donn Thompson
• Michael Thornton
• Jeremy Tiongson
• Jose Valencia
• Thue Vang
• Allison Vankirk
• Joseph Vigilante
• Daniel Villalpando-Ayala
• Kevin Walsh
• Juan Ward
• Royce Warner
• Brittany Williams
• Collins Williams
• Joshua Wilson
• Steven Wilson
• Dustin Wingard
• Jared Yaffe
• Jason Young

Eastern Sierra– Mammoth Lakes & Bishop

• Gwendolyn Anderson
• Madalyn Batchelder
• Makenna Batchelder
• Freyja Chacanaca
• Quinn Contaldi
• Moncerrath Cruz
• Emma Dardenne-Ankringa
• Lizetta Dardenne-Ankringa
• Emily Deleo
• Raymond Escobedo
• Catherine Gacho
• Edgar Galvan Rosas
• Joaquin Garcia Barajas
• Ricki Jarmon
• Katelyn Jones
• Samantha Jones
• Kekoa Kailiawa
• Makenna Kumlue
• Kendall Lach
• Isla Lackey
• Annie Lanancrain
• Aidan Le Francois
• Celia Leal
• Earl Lent
• Noa Lish
• Ismerai Lopez Pantoja
• Jared Mahler
• Marcos Manriquez
• Melissa Mcintosh
• Karlina Mosher
• Jarett Paperny
• Keely Podosin
• Elizabeth Quezada
• Mariah Ramirez
• Lynn Regelbrugge
• Ryann Ritchie
• Sophia Schuldt
• Margaret Schweizer
• Jack Slovacek
• Bailey Sokol
• Austin Talamantes
• Sharon Vecchiarelli
• Priscila Yanez
• James Ybarra
• Salinthea Ybarra

CC Online–Various Locations

• Rubya Alailefaleula
• Julia Barnum
• Ian Beaumont
• Sierra Dorney
• Enrique Franco Martin
• Kristy Hargrave
• Melissa Islas
• Shaunn King
• Rhona Mcchesney
• Jamie Mcmanaman
• Julio Ornelas
• Pantaleon Pangelinan
• Ezrah Ponce
• Michael Rekeraho
• Cathryn Thurm
• Saul Valle
• Sarah Watson
• Destin Yent

Kern River Valley–Lake Isabella, Kernville

• Tricia Aguirre
• Jessie Beeler
• Kirsten Blackburn
• Hannah Clairday
• Daniel Freier
• Morgan Green
• Margaret Leiterman
• Kelly Martin
• Colette Nicod
• Leslie Sparks
• Casey Wagner

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is paying tribute to the significant contributions of generations of African Americans. In 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Rev. Jesse E. Moorland set out to research and bring awareness to the largely ignored, yet crucial role black people play in American and world history. The son of former slaves and the second black person to receive a degree from Harvard University, Carter Woodson understood the value of education. He also felt the importance of preserving one’s heritage and, upon his urgings, the fraternity Omega Psi Phi created Negro History and Literature Week in 1920. In 1926, Woodson changed the name to Negro History Week. He selected the month of February for the celebration as a way to honor the birth of two men whose actions drastically altered the future of black Americans. They also hoped to educate African American people about their cultural background and instill them with a sense of pride in their race.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

College students spend more than $1,000 on books and supplies every year, according to a 2018 College Board study, but a program at Cerro Coso Community College is making those costs less daunting.

Open Educational Resources (OER) allow students to save money on textbooks by providing free online resources.

Cerro Coso was one of 26 California Community Colleges and 19 CSUs to receive a grant to save students money by empowering professors to adopt high quality, free, and open educational resources for course materials.

The second round of AB 798 Textbook Affordability/OER grant funding has made a tremendous impact on reducing textbook costs as faculty replace expensive textbooks with OERs. Second round funding allowed 101 class sections to convert to OERs, affecting 2,974 students for a total savings of $428,178.

Combined with round 1 grant funding, a grand total of 146 class sections adopted OERs to reduce or eliminate textbook costs; 4,281 students were impacted, collectively saving students a total of $603,004 in textbook costs between Fall 2016 and Fall 2019.

Cerro Coso’s goal is to further increase OER adoptions in additional courses and save students even more money.

Studies show that reducing textbook costs allows student to move through their programs quicker because they can afford to take more classes instead of paying for costly textbooks. Some students avoid taking a class due to the cost of the textbook or attempt to complete a class without purchasing a textbook.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Thanks to the community’s support, Cerro Coso’s first “Hunger Free” Food Drive was a huge success.

“I want to personally thank everyone for their support and donations to this year’s ‘Hunger Free Food Drive’ to help stock the Hunger Free pantry for college students this spring,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman. “The generosity of the community far exceeded our expectations and is a blessing to our efforts to ease food insecurities among our students.”

For many students today, food insecurity is just a few missed paychecks away. A 2018 study found that 36% of college students are experiencing hunger and lack stable housing. During an Ohio State University 2017 study on Collegiate Financial Wellness, it was discovered that 58.7% of Cerro Coso students worry about not having enough money for food to get them through the month. Feeling insecure about where to find the next meal can have huge psychological and academic effects on college students, including poor physical and mental health and a decrease in completion, persistence, and credit attainment rates.

Tackling hunger is a big job. The Hunger Free Campus program at Cerro Coso was created to address food insecurity among students. 

“Generous donations like these go a long way in the college’s efforts to see that no student should have to learn on an empty stomach. We are so thankful,” concluded Bachman.  

Picture Caption: Cerro Coso students (l to r) Francis Yu, Audra Elroy and Marisol Fuentes collect food items for the college’s Hunger Free food pantry.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

All Cerro Coso Campuses will be CLOSED Monday, January 20, 2020 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday!

The beginning of the spring semester starts Tuesday!

Online Classes: Students can begin logging into full-term, online classes after noon on Friday, January 17. You must login by 8:00pm Pacific time on Tuesday, January 21, or you will be dropped from the course to allow waitlisted students to be added.

To log in to your online class: Go to insideCC (or insidePC, or insideBC, depending on your email address extension), or visit www.cerrocoso.edu/login for a tutorial on logging in to your class on the Canvas learning management system.

On-Campus Classes: You must attend the first class meeting if you are registered or on the waitlist for an on-campus class, or you will be dropped from the class or waitlist. Full-term on-campus classes begin the week of January 21, 2020.

Bookstore: If you have not already done so, visit the on-campus or online bookstore for texts and materials: http://cerrocosocollegebookstore.com/

Navigate: Let Navigate help you stay updated on important deadlines, events, and activities; explore majors and careers; schedule your classes around the rest of your life, based on your preferences; and register with ease. All at no extra cost to you!

Financial Aid: If you have applied for financial aid, check on your status and additional information needed through insideCC. Login using your full school assigned email address and Banner PIN. Click on Financial Aid in the black bar across the top on the right hand side. Contact Financial Aid if you do not see the Financial Aid link.

Scholarships: The CCCC Foundation offers more than $100,000 in scholarships each year. Applying is easy.

Parking Pass: Ridgecrest campus students remember to get your parking pass.

LRC Closure: Ridgecrest Campus. Due to the earthquakes, the Learning Resource Center is temporarily closed for repair. In the meantime, you can access Library Services in EW 207 & 210. The Learning Assistance Center, with tutoring and access to computers, is temporarily moved to Gym 407, and exam proctoring and make-up exams are in Gym 405. Additional workspace and computers are located in MB 217, MB 218, and the Student Center (MB 115). See this map for locations. For displaced faculty, please check the online directory.

Campus Maps: Maps for each campus are available on the campus webpages. For example, maps for the Ridgecrest/IWV campus are on the Ridgecrest/IWV campus page.

College Assigned Email:  Please check your college assigned email regularly. A Student Need To Know newsletter is sent out via email every week to keep you informed of all the activities happening around campus.  

Student Employment Outreach: January 23 and February 4, 2020 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ridgecrest Campus Main Building Entrance for information on work study opportunities.  Or contact the Career Center more information available at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/career-center

Welcome to the Spring 2020 semester at Cerro Coso Community College!

View on the Cerro Coso College website.