Fullerton College Student Volunteer: Please state your name, occupation and the office you are running for.

Paulette Chaffee: My name is Paulette Chaffee, and I am an educator. I am running for North Orange County Community College District Trustee Area 6.

Student Volunteer: How frequently do you visit Fullerton College, Cypress College or North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE) to meet students, faculty and staff and learn about their needs? Can you provide an example?

Chaffee: I am on campus three or four times a month. This past week, I participated in the SALSA Festival in the STEM building. I try to attend every Faculty Senate meeting and Classified Senate meeting to learn about the issues facing these groups of educators. I also attend Associated Students meetings. I went to their meet-and-greet in August and helped with KinderCaminata a couple of months ago, in April, I believe.

During KinderCaminata, kindergarten students from Anaheim and Fullerton came to campus to learn about college and picture themselves attending one day. It was so much fun. I love it. I go to as many campus events as I possibly can.

Student Volunteer: What would you do to ensure students in your area feel represented when the board makes decisions?

Chaffee: We have a student representative on the Board of Trustees, which is one way to get student input. Another way is to go onto campus, as I do, and talk with students during lunch breaks or whenever I can to find out what their concerns are.

Student Volunteer: In your opinion, what are the most important ways to increase enrollment and encourage students to attend Fullerton College?

Chaffee: I think one of the best ways to encourage enrollment is through the dual-enrollment program, which allows high school students to take college courses. When they graduate from high school, they already know about Fullerton College. They may have taken online or on-campus courses and feel familiar with the college.

Another untapped source of students is Fullerton’s older population, including retirees who could take classes in Spanish, German or drone technology. This is a group of people who would be more than happy to come and be part of the campus.

Student Volunteer: How do you think colleges should approach the use of artificial intelligence in curriculum, teaching and student work?

Chaffee: AI should be used as a tool to help students learn, but students should not simply use it to write their term papers or prospectuses. They should use it to assist them, not take over the assignment.

There really needs to be a class for every Fullerton College student on AI and its appropriate use and misuse. Teachers also need guidance and paid training sessions on using AI appropriately. That should be a paid class for teachers to take.

Student Volunteer: Who has contributed to your campaign, and who endorses you?

Chaffee: I am endorsed by Lou Correa, Tom Umberg, Derek Tran, Vicente Sarmiento and Doug Chaffee, along with many of my friends. I am also endorsed by the Orange County Employees Association and many other groups within Fullerton.

I have lived in Fullerton since I was 5 years old and have served on four different boards in the community. My friends and the people who have endorsed me are the primary sources of my campaign funding.

Student Volunteer: Community college students are adults, and faculty members generally decide what and how to teach. Where do you draw the line between the board’s oversight responsibilities and faculty decisions about courses and curriculum?

Chaffee: Faculty members are the ones who should make those decisions. The Faculty Senate has a curriculum subcommittee. Faculty members know their areas of study and establish course guidelines and determine what is taught within those guidelines.

The board should provide oversight of what they establish because faculty members are the experts in their fields of teaching.

Student Volunteer: What are your thoughts on Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoing Assembly Bill 713, which would block paid campus jobs for undocumented college students?

Chaffee: I have not read the bill thoroughly, but I believe every student at the college should have the opportunity to work and earn money for books, supplies and everything else.

Student Volunteer: Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694, which allow community colleges to add up to 12 new bachelor’s degree programs beginning in 2028. How should community colleges approach creating bachelor’s degrees while continuing to support transfer, certificate and career technical education students?

Chaffee: Bachelor’s degrees at community colleges should be in specialized areas, such as the programs established here in drone technology and autonomous vehicles. They should not duplicate programs offered at institutions such as Cal State Fullerton or Cal State Long Beach.

They should offer courses and degrees that are not available at those institutions within the geographic area.

Student Volunteer: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Chaffee: I am so excited to be in this race and to be doing work with Fullerton College.

A year and a half ago, I teamed up with six other individuals to organize a Dining for Dollars event. In one night, we raised $31,000 for Fullerton College scholarships.

I believe no other candidate has done this type of work. No other candidate attends Faculty Senate meetings, Classified Senate meetings and all the events on campus.

I was there for the opening of the 300 Building, and I serve on the oversight committee for Measure J. Some of the bond money from Measure J went toward rehabilitating that building, so I am involved in a lot of work here at Fullerton College.

I love it. A Chaffee scholarship was established here for Fullerton College students in 2011, and my husband and I contribute to it every year.

Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.

Fullerton College Hornet Interviews can be seen on the FCHornet YouTube channel under Meet the Candidates 2026.