More than 4,000 fraudulent student applications for the spring 2026 semester have been identified at El Camino College, according to a presentation delivered to the Board of Trustees on February 18th by Acting Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. Kristina Martinez.
The discovery comes as the college continues to utilize LightLeap AI, an artificial intelligence software first implemented for the spring 2025 semester, to improve the accuracy of enrollment figures. Martinez stated that the AI is now preventing fraudulent applications from entering the system, resulting in a more “natural curve of enrollment” than in previous years.
The issue of fraudulent applications is widespread among California community colleges. According to reporting by The Union, 116 community colleges across the state have adopted LightLeap AI to combat the problem. Director of Public Information Kerri Webb noted that colleges employing the technology are seeing significant reductions in fraudulent enrollments, not only at El Camino but across the system.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Carlos Lopez indicated that El Camino College is in a stronger enrollment position this year compared to last, when fraudulent enrollments were more prevalent. The college currently has approximately 6,800 full-time equivalent students (FTES) and is aiming to reach 7,305 FTES for the spring 2026 semester.
Accurate enrollment numbers are critical to addressing El Camino College’s current budget deficit, which Chief Technology Officer Loic Audusseau estimates at roughly $4 million. Audusseau, in a budget presentation to the board, explained that deficit management depends on meeting projected FTES targets, continued state funding through Proposition 98, and maintaining strong expenditure control.
According to Audusseau’s presentation, failure to meet these conditions could lead to budget restrictions affecting hourly staff, student workers, bulk orders, conferences, travel, and potentially a hiring freeze. The administration is actively implementing “recurring, monitoring, reconciliation, and corrective mechanisms” to identify and address budget variances early on.
El Camino College approved a $54,000 subscription for the LightLeap AI Fraud Detection Module on March 10, 2025, covering usage through March 3, 2026, according to reporting from eccunion.com.
The Board of Trustees also received an update on the stalled remediation and construction efforts for the Chemistry building, pending approval from The Division of the State Architect’s office. A $168,000 contract with MDC Engineers was approved to reform more than 10 fire alarm panels at ECC, creating a unified network for all panels.
The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. On Wednesday, March 18, in the Kenneth A. Brown Board Room in the Administration Building.
