Orange Coast College has been awarded nearly $6 million as part of a multi-year investment from the Samueli Foundation, aimed at enhancing workforce development programs and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) transfer pathways. This funding supports OCC’s mission to prepare students for high-demand careers and facilitate successful transitions from community colleges to four-year universities.
The investment will expand the existing workforce development initiatives and introduce new programs that focus on equipping students with critical job skills. BY reinforcing its “career academy” model, OCC will enhance its Allied Health Academy and establish new trade and maritime academies. These programs are designed to raise awareness among students about diverse career opportunities while providing essential training for roles in vital industries, such as a healthcare and skilled trades.
“The Samueli Foundation’s monumental investment in community colleges recognizes the vital role we play in uplifting communities and expanding opportunity through education,” says Angelica L. Suarez, President of Orange Coast College. “This grant will enable Orange Coast College to strengthen a seamless STEM pipeline from high school to university, opening doors for future innovators. We are also proud to serve as a key partner in a four-institution regional partnership that amplifies our collective impact and builds stronger pathways for students to transfer and thrive in STEM fields. Together, we are advancing student success and the prosperity of our broader community.”
In addition to workforce development, the Samueli Foundation’s investment will bolster STEM transfer initiatives at OCC, empowering more students to transition successfully to four-year universities. As part of a collaborative effort involving community colleges in Orange County, this funding will focus on increasing the number of STEM students transferring to institutions such as Cal State Fullerton. By expanding access to research opportunities, mentorship, and internships, OCC aims to support students who may otherwise face financial barriers to completing their STEM degrees.
Orange Coast College has a rich history of supporting STEM student achievement through a STEM academy cohort program, on-campus student research program and dynamic learning spaces like the Planetarium, Chemistry Building and Aquaponics Lab. Orange Coast College will use the funding to launch its new STEM Accelerator program, which expands on proven, student-centered strategies, including cohort-based STEM learning, intentional STEM support programming, a variety of experiential learning opportunities, expanded supports like Supplemental Instruction and faculty-led co-curricular activities, to improve success and build engagement in STEM as a career. This funding will provide expanded access to paid research opportunities, internships, peer mentoring, and STEM counseling to uplift STEM transfer and degree completion rates.
"Investing in STEM and broader educational attainment has always been a focus of the Samueli Foundation, given that math and engineering are at the heart of our founders’ personal stories of success. However, these investments broaden our historical approach and introduce a new set of essential partners. We have exceptional community colleges in Orange County—four of them have been recognized by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program as among the top community colleges in the nation for student outcomes. These institutions are gateways to opportunity for diverse, often underserved students,” said Lindsey Spindle, president, Samueli Family Philanthropies. “By investing in colleges’ capacity and expanding student supports, we help strengthen pathways to high-demand, living-wage careers. We envision an Orange County where opportunity is more evenly distributed, allowing for even more young professionals to set roots and prosper here.”
The funding will not only enhance the educational infrastructure at Orange Coast College but also significantly impact the local economy by supporting the development of a knowledgeable workforce prepared to meet the needs of the industries in the region.