San Diego Community College District

The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is hosting a four-day, virtual conference for more than 200 high school counselors in the region to learn more about the abundance of programs offered by the SDCCD and steps needed to enroll.

“We wanted to create a space where educators and community partners who are preparing students to enroll at a community college can get all the information they need about navigating the application process for admission, financial aid, and the tuition-free San Diego Promise,” said Shakerra Carter, the SDCCD’s Dean of Outreach and Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator. “Everyone will have various opportunities to ask questions and engage and network with SDCCD faculty, professional staff, and administrators to help their students be successful. The response has been wonderful and we’re hoping this can be the start of an annual program.”

Titled “SDCCD Week: A Virtual Conference for K-12 Educators & Community Partners,” the two-hour daily event kicks off Tuesday, December 8, at noon via Zoom with an overview of campus highlights and programs at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and San Diego Continuing Education. That will be followed December 9 with an overview on enrollment and educational planning; on December 10 with a presentation about student support programs and services, including the San Diego Promise; and December 1 with a presentation on career education programs.

Chancellor Constance M. Carroll and campus presidents are scheduled to welcome attendees at the December 8 kickoff session at 12:15 p.m. The entire conference will be recorded and shared on the SDCCD website at the conclusion of the week to ensure accessibility.

Most counselors and community partners who have registered for the program work with the San Diego Unified School District, which has built a strong partnership with the SDCCD over the years. Governing boards for both districts meet annually, and both San Diego Unified and the SDCCD collaborate on a growing dual-enrollment program that included more than 5,100 students in the 2019-20 academic year, an 86 percent increase from 2016-17.