By Dianne Anderson

What it takes to get students in the door of the Long Beach City College campus is something that Dr. Ennette Morton knows firsthand.

As a first generation college graduate, she knows the life changing impact of the advocates who have helped her along her education path.

“You don’t get here by yourself. I’ve had a lot of help getting me to where I am today. It’s something I feel strongly about, helping the next generation get through the process,” she said. “That’s what drives me is being there for people just like there were people for me,” said Dr Morton, recently elected to the Long Beach Community College District Board, Area 4.

Even for older students entering higher education, she feels the process can be daunting. One main concern is strengthening support for the growing evening student population.

Many have to work while carrying a full load.

“They’re working or have family obligations. Evening classes are the time they can attend. It’s important to encourage that and nurture those students coming in the evenings, “ she said. “I’d love to make sure they continue to have accessibility, [that] they feel connected to the school just as much as students in traditional daytime hours.”

Dual enrollment is another priority for LBUSD K-12 schools. Students can complete their foundational math and English college credits by the time they graduate high school, which helps them develop a collegiate mindset, and get familiar with LBCC campuses.

“It helps acclimate them to the college space and systems, and helps with the cost because they’re able to get through community college a  little faster as they come in with units already earned,” she said.

Recently, LBCC’s Pacific Coast Campus was rebranded as the Trades, Technology, and Community Learning Campus (TTC). Now, there are more opportunities for those wanting apprenticeships in electrical engineering, and other fast-tracked trades.

Bond Measure AC is also set to positively impact both campuses, she said, allowing classroom renovations that will bring more technology, and expanding classroom support for faculty, staff and students.

Across the nation, the past few years have seen an overall decline in Black students at colleges and universities, but she said students from underrepresented communities should take priority, along with advocacy, access and financial aid.

Making students aware of the many free resources is important. For qualifying students, LBUSD high school graduates who enroll at LBCC in the Fall semester immediately following high school graduation can have their enrollment fees covered for two years.

With an extensive background in higher education administration,  Dr. Morton serves the Long Beach City College Advisory Group and the California Cultural Historical Endowment Board. In the past, she’s also held various administrative and executive capacities at Pepperdine University, UC Berkeley, and California State University, Long Beach.

Among her leadership roles, she also served as commissioner and Co-Chair of the Long Beach Commission on Youth and Family, and a statewide commissioner on the California Cultural Historical Endowment Board. Her political advocacy includes service as an Emerge CA alumna, and volunteer recruitment scout with Close the Gap California for gender equality in the California legislature.

Dr. Morton anticipates working with administrators to make sure faculty students and staff get what they need.

Understanding the fine print of policy can help move the machine.

“I understand how higher education processes work, and [that] I’m asking the right questions and following along with what the administration is doing. That could be a big learning curve for others, but that’s my background,” she said.

Yet another priority of her campaign is the Long Beach College Promise because it supports all students from middle to high school, offering a smooth transition to LBCC and on to Long Beach State University.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m serving on the Youth and Family Commission and it’s all going to come together and allow me to extend the advocacy and support for the students.”

For more information on LBUSD Dual Enrollment, see
https://www.lbcc.edu/post/dual-enrollment-student

Long Beach College Promise
https://www.longbeachcollegepromise.org/