San Diego Community College District

Special Report to the Public:

Sean Elo-Rivera, J.D.

Trustee Sean Elo-Rivera welcomed Student Trustee Destiny Gallegos-Munoz to her first Board Meeting. He shared his appreciation for the efforts being made at the start of the school year to make students feel welcome. Trustee Elo-Rivera recognized President Ricky Shabazz for his August 24 commentary in The San Diego Union-Tribune about community colleges providing diverse employees to the San Diego workforce, and complimented the District on the summer issue of the WE (With Excellence) magazine. He also praised Mesa College for its work to ensure that students have resources available to enable them to learn from home. Trustee Elo-Rivera acknowledged public comments made relating to police funding and social justice, referencing the professional athletes who sat out games on August 26 in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham thanked all who have participated in the Chancellor Search Committee, including Trustee Bernie Rhinerson, who helped draft the Chancellor Profile for the search brochure. She shared that the Board will conduct a national search and will advertise the position widely in order to ensure a diverse pool of candidates.

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he recognizes the difficulty of teaching online as the school year starts and the importance of supporting the efforts of both faculty and students through the process. On August 4, he attended a webinar featuring activist Dolores Huerta and California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis in support of  California Proposition 16. Trustee Milgrim also remarked about and recommended an article he read in The Atlantic about the country’s efforts to stem racism (“Americans are Determined to Believe in Black Progress” by Jennifer A. Richeson).

Bernie Rhinerson

Trustee Bernie Rhinerson thanked his fellow Board Members for sharing their thoughts on the state of the world, and stated that he is proud to be part of a Board and District that are committed to social justice. He also thanked the Chancellor Search Committee members, and Trustee Mary Graham, for their efforts and shared that a student representative will be added to the committee. He attended the virtual national Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Board Retreat over three days in August, noting discussions about the needs of colleges facing COVID-19 and social inequities. Trustee Rhinerson will also be a part of the search committee for the ACCT CEO position. He reported on his continued efforts in advocating for the next COVID-19 stimulus funding from Congress, focusing on changing the funding formula from FTES to headcount, which Chancellor Carroll also continues to advocate for with Congressional representatives.

Dr. Maria Nieto Senour

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said she missed seeing and interacting with people in-person at this year’s virtual college Convocations, and is looking forward to Continuing Education’s Convocation next week. She also thanked everyone for their hard work to adjust to online instruction. Trustee Senour commented that she is proud of how the Board has reacted to major political and environmental issues, emphasizing the commitment to social justice.

Dr. Constance M. Carroll

Chancellor Constance Carroll reported on significant legislation at the State level, which the San Diego Community College District is supporting, especially Proposition 15 (to establish a tax on commercial and industrial properties to benefit education), and Proposition 16 (to repeal Proposition 209 and restore affirmative action in hiring). She indicated that the California Community Colleges Board of Governors’ budget request has been formulated and the SDCCD will be supportive. However, the District will continue to emphasize the need to increase base funding and the need for a budget line item to fund full-time faculty positions. Dr. Carroll indicated that the COVID-19 situation is being closely monitored and discussions are underway regarding the format for spring semester classes, which is addressed in her recent COVID-19 Update #12. Although a final decision has not been made, it is clear that there will continue to be a large number of class sections offered online. Chancellor Carroll commented that a Districtwide College Police Review Task Force has been established to discuss and make recommendations to the District Governance Council. The Chancellor shared her report with City College President Ricky Shabazz. He introduced the college’s new Vice President of Administrative Services, Dr. John Parker, who made comments following his welcome by the Chancellor and Board members.

Destiny Gallegos-Munoz

Student Trustee Destiny Gallegos-Munoz reported that the first Associated Student Government meetings of the school year had been held at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and that City Associated Students members are adjusting to online learning.

BOARD ACTIONS

At its regular meeting of August 27, 2020, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:

Heard public comments from 12 individuals relating to SDCCD police involvement in local protests and funding of the department. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Paul Alexander shared that the college is off to a good start and that he proud to be part of a college with such a strong relationship between administrators and faculty. He reported that the college’s faculty is looking at the deeper impacts technology is having on the learning process. He also thanked Chancellor Carroll for her action to postpone the hiring of a new police officer and for initiating a police review process; Mesa College AS President Manuel Velez reported that the college is off to a smooth start and thanked Vice President of Instruction Isabel O’Connor for her leadership role in engaging faculty. He added that he is proud to work for a district that values social justice and a college that has addressed issues of racial injustice at a time when when Black men continued to be killed by police.

He concluded by thanking Chancellor Carroll for postponing the hiring of a new police officer position and establishing a process for a thorough review; Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy shared that faculty are working hard to assist students and that for the first time the college has a professional development coordinator in place which is making a positive difference. She also indicated that the college is addressing many of the same issues that were expressed by her colleague AS presidents and that data is being used to inform discussions of equity. She concluded by thanking the Board for its efforts in these areas; and Continuing Education AS President John Bromma shared that Continuing Education begins the fall semester next week and that he has been impressed with efforts by the institution in making the transition to online learning.

- Adopted a resolution in support of Proposition 15: The California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2020.

- Heard a report from Vice Chancellor of Student Services Ramon Knox and Presidents Ricky Shabazz, Pamela Luster, and P. Wesley Lundburg, on African American Student Transfers; and from Vice Chancellor of Student Services Ramon Knox on Fall 2020 Enrollment.

- Entered into agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.

- Adopted the 2020-2021 Memorandum of Understanding with the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) formalizing the educational partnership relationship between SDCCD and SDUSD featuring comments by Vice Chancellor of Student Services Ramon Knox.

- Accepted grants from the U.S. Department of Education for Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Programs at City and Mesa colleges; from the Angell Foundation for the Fostering Academic Success and Transitions (FAST) Scholars at Mesa College; and from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the School Communications Interoperability Grant Program (SCIGP) at Continuing Education.

- Entered into a sub-grant agreement with South Orange County Community College District for the National Science Foundation STEM Core Expansion Project at Mesa College.

- Entered into agreements between Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Auxiliary Organization and Mesa and Miramar colleges, and Continuing Education for Strong Workforce Programs (SWP); between the Foundation for California Community Colleges Professional Services and Mesa College for the Guided Pathways Regional Coordinator; and authorized a subcontract agreement between the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges and City College for the SWP.

- Ratified the appointment and contract of employment of Dr. John Parker as Vice President of Administrative Services at City College.

- Ratified Approved purchase orders completed during the months of June and July 2020; the District’s Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool for the period ending June 30, 2020; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after August 28, 2020.