NOCE Mission, Vision & Values

NOCE Mission Statement

NOCE serves our diverse community by providing holistic programs and services that are relevant and accessible to all learners in achieving their goals. NOCE is dedicated to offering a transformative educational experience that builds lasting foundational skills and promotes student success.

NOCE Vision Statement

NOCE commits to enriching lives through education to meet the evolving needs of the community.

NOCE Core Values

  • Accountability - We strive to utilize data-informed decision-making processes.
  • Diversity - We celebrate our diverse community by committing ourselves to an inclusive institutional culture.
  • Equity - We actively address achievement gaps and systemic racism to ensure equal opportunity and access for all.
  • Excellence - We strive for excellence by providing evolving, dynamic, high-quality instruction.
  • Innovation – We challenge the status quo by finding creative solutions.
  • Integrity - We cultivate a collaborative equity-minded culture of mutual respect, honesty, and responsibility.
  • Learning - We commit to offering holistic programs that promote personal and professional growth.

Who We Are

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) has been serving the community since 1973 with free, noncredit educational programs and services to empower our community. Students enroll in NOCE’s noncredit programs to enhance basic skills, gain employable skills, prepare for credit courses, for self‐sufficiency or to enhance civic participation. Noncredit programs offered at NOCE include adult basic skills (High School Diploma and Literacy Programs), English as a Second Language (ESL), U.S. citizenship, parenting, older adults, short‐term vocational, and programs for adults with disabilities.

In addition, NOCE offers a wide selection of community education courses such as Kids’ College and Teen Program, fitness, home decorative arts, business skills and fine/applied arts. NOCE offers adults (18+) the opportunity to earn a high school diploma as well as nearly a dozen career education certificates. Tuition-free noncredit career certificates include the areas of administrative professional, bookkeeping, braille transcribing, early childhood education, electrical technology, funeral service assistant, Google IT Support, management, medical assistant, personal care aide, pharmacy technician, and quality assurance for medical devices.

Who We Serve

NOCE serves more than 15,000 students annually, ranging from preschoolers to seniors, online and at three Center locations in Anaheim, Cypress, and Wilshire (Fullerton) as well as over 75+ community-based locations in partnership with K12 schools, churches, community centers, senior centers, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers. NOCE is proudly accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. NOCE is a stand-alone institution, serving as the noncredit arm of the North Orange County Community College District, which also includes credit-based Cypress College and Fullerton College. Part of the California Community College System, all NOCE courses are approved by the state of California.

History of NOCE

Prior to the creation of the present North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), adult education classes were administered by the Fullerton Junior College District. Forty‐eight students were enrolled in 1930 which, based on attendance records housed at the NOCE Student Records Office, included classes in gymnasium, swimming, machine shop, engineering, art/metal working, Spanish, wood turning, typing, bookkeeping, commercial French, commercial Spanish, accounting, welding, commercial law, lip reading, and college shorthand.   NOCCCD was created in the mid‐1960’s and included adult education. Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) also had an adult education program and for a number of years the two programs operated simultaneously. In 1972/73, NOCCCD absorbed the AUHSD program. Since then, noncredit enrollments have continued to grow, thus proving that there is a need for noncredit education in North Orange County. In 1998, the NOCCCD Board of Trustees renamed adult education to NOCCCD School of Continuing Education and in 2017, renamed the institution to North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE).

North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 

Why is Accreditation Important?

The Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) approves all NOCE programs and classes. Being an accredited institution means that all NOCE courses are approved by the state of California.

All courses are approved by the state of California

  • ACS WASC accreditation validates student transcripts and provides for the smooth transfer of credits from school to school.
  • ACS WASC accreditation opens the door for acceptance into most colleges and universities.
  • ACS WASC accreditation is necessary for applications to certain scholarship programs.
  • ACS WASC accreditation is necessary for certain post-high school work applications.
  • ACS WASC accreditation provides additional benefits for students planning to enter the United States military.
  • For more information, students are invited to visit the Accreditation page of the NOCE website: noce.edu/about/accreditation.

For More Information about ACS WASC:

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges:
533 Airport Blvd, Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: www.acswasc.org

For more information regarding NOCE's accreditation, please visit noce.edu/accreditation or contact accreditation chairs Tina McClurkin at tmcclurkin@noce.edu or Julie Schoepf at jschoepf@noce.edu.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a result of enrolling in and completing a North Orange Continuing Education course, group of courses, or entire certificate program, students can be expected to demonstrate the following: 

  1. Empowerment to be lifelong learners. Students can demonstrate the confidence and courage to learn how to learn as well as appropriate research, study, inquiry and goal-setting skills.
  2. The ability to function effectively within their community. Students demonstrate appropriate effective interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills as well as an understanding of the value of diversity.