Times are tough, and everyone is feeling pressure to do more with less. Community colleges have always had to be uniquely sensitive to the changing economic climate and how it affects job opportunities for their students. Being capable of responding quickly to change to offer timely instruction that best serves their students’ needs, while remaining cost effective, is essential.

Cerritos College, a public comprehensive community college located in southeastern Los Angeles County, has a history of innovating to meet institutional needs. In 1993, Cerritos College became one of the first colleges to offer online courses to students. To support ongoing innovation, Cerritos built a solid technology infrastructure, including a homegrown course management system. Building its CMS allowed Cerritos a high level of flexibility and customization, and for a time, the CMS served them well. As Cerritos started to outgrow its homegrown CMS, however, M.L. Bettino, Dean of Academic Affairs at Cerritos College, began researching CMS options. Key selection criteria for the new CMS included stability and scalability, as well as a flexible and customizable platform.