By Ivan Cazares
The East Los Angeles College community can communicate what they want from the college’s next president with Los Angeles Community College District representatives on Monday.
The discourse will take place during a town hall meeting in multipurpose room 201 in the Campus Center from noon to 2 p.m.
Francisco C. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Community College District chancellor, will host the free event, which is open to the public.
It is an opportunity for the community to share their opinions and learn about the selection process. Campus wide free parking will be provided.
A selection committee will be formed and vote on who will take on the position, which will be highly coveted among community college administrators said Jeffery Hernandez, member of the ELAC Senate Executive Committee during an interview earlier in the semester.
“The next president will have to continue our forward-thinking approach to enrollment. Something that all community colleges are struggling with is enrollment,” Hernandez said.
“It’s going to take a visionary leader in guided pathways, and one who’s collaborative with faculty and staff (to fill the position).”
Hernandez said there is a demand for more online courses as well as short term classes from both incoming high school students and returning students looking to “get things done.”
“Before (Former ELAC President) Marvin (Martinez), it seemed like the number of transfers always stayed the same. It almost didn’t matter how many students we had,” Hernandez said.
“Now, year after year we’re sending thousands of students into universities and future careers. That’s amazing and something I’ll always be grateful for and find important as a community member,” Hernandez said.
He said the next president will have to be an innovative individual that can continue the progress made by previous presidents in enrollment and transfer rates.
The new president will become the leader of a growing college on its 75th anniversary with more than 40,000 students.