San Diego Community College District

Special Report To The Public:

Geysil Arroyo

Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked those who supported her with letters of recommendation for the Board’s appointment, as well as her fellow Board of Trustees candidates for participating in the appointment process. She said that she is looking forward to learning from her fellow Board Members and supporting students through the work she will do while serving on the Board.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham said that she recognizes the complex issues surrounding the hiring of College Police, and acknowledged that the Board will welcome and take seriously the recommendations put forth by the College Police Review Task Force when they are ready. She encouraged people to attend and ask questions during the upcoming Chancellor Candidate Forums that will take place at 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during February 22-25. Trustee Graham attended the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) virtual National Legislative Summit from February 8-10 during which she and other District representatives met with multiple legislators who she said genuinely expressed concern for the overall well-being of students and employees of the District and asked how they could be of help during and after the pandemic.

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he appreciates concerns being voiced by the public and others regarding the College Police Review Task Force and the hiring of College Police officers and has shared some of his personal concerns with Chancellor Constance Carroll. He also welcomed Trustee Geysil Arroyo to the Board and thanked everyone who participated in the process to fill the vacant seat for Area E. He reported that the next process to focus on will be the selection of a new Chancellor and he encouraged people to get involved in the various opportunities along the way to express their opinions, especially at the upcoming public forums. Trustee Milgrim said that he recently passed along information to Chancellor Carroll regarding efforts within the scientific/STEM communities to emphasize civics and humanities education. He also wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year, the Year of the Ox, which was February 12.

Bernie Rhinerson

Trustee Bernie Rhinerson thanked members of the Chancellor Search Committee who worked with him and Trustee Mary Graham, and also encouraged people to submit questions and comments for the upcoming public forums. Trustee Rhinerson reported that he also attended the ACCT virtual National Legislative Summit and thanked Chancellor Constance Carroll and Communications and Public Relations Director Jack Beresford for helping set up meetings with local congressional representatives. He said that those District representatives who were in attendance advocated for various ways to help students through the pandemic, including making short term Pell Grants available to career technical students and others who are struggling. He also reported that he has been reflecting upon how many legislators voted against the certification of the election, as well as not supporting impeachment, and made a conscious decision not to attend briefings from those who don’t support democracy and the Constitution during the ACCT event. Trustee Rhinerson was also instrumental in the crafting of a statement of condemnation from the ACCT the day after the Capitol insurrection. 

DR. Maria Nieto Senour

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she also attended the ACCT virtual conference and during a meeting with Congressman Scott Peters, was moved by his personal experience on the gallery floor and recognized the trauma experienced by all those present in the Capitol on January 6. Trustee Senour said that she served on the San Diego Police Department Review Board and she believes reform is necessary and supports the need for mental health coverage, but also recognizes that there is a need for police protection on the District’s campuses, and she said it is important to be thoughtful and thorough when it comes to making changes.

Dr. Constance M. Carroll

Chancellor Constance Carroll reported that the recent Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit was well attended by members of the SDCCD Board of Trustees and District/Colleges leadership team, affording opportunities to meet with members of Congress to advocate for community college needs. The Chancellor discussed several items of legislation that were proposed by the SDCCD. She indicated that the bill by Assemblyman Jose Medina to expand community college baccalaureate programs will be filed on February 16, following which Dr. Carroll will initiate the statewide advocacy effort; that Assemblyman Brian Maienschein will author the bill to permit community colleges to claim apportionment for classes taught on military bases; and that Assemblyman Chris Ward has authored and filed the bill (AB 421) to put noncredit Career Development and College Preparation (CDCP) courses on the Census Date track. Chancellor Carroll addressed the issues raised regarding the College Police Review Task Force, noting that she and others respect the work of the task force and that all of their preliminary recommendations have been approved, with minor changes.  She indicated that the 4 officer positions that are being filled are only half of the 8 positions that are vacant, and are being filled because of the fact that 8 vacancies would jeopardize safety at this time. The Chancellor announced that The San Diego Foundation has made another major gift, honoring Dr. Carroll, to benefit the San Diego Promise: $100,000 in outright funds and $100,000 in matching funds.

Sanam Azai

Student Trustee Sanam Azai welcomed Trustee Geysil Arroyo to the Board. She reported that Associated Student Governments (ASG) on all campuses are starting the spring semester by working on projects to increase student involvement. She also reported the ASGs voiced disappointment in the hiring of more College Police officers.

BOARD ACTIONS

At its regular meeting of February 11, 2021, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:

- Held a campus meeting in virtual format with San Diego Miramar College that included a welcome and greetings from President Wesley Lundburg, presentation emcee Claudia Cuz, Associated Student Government President Sanam Azai, Academic Senate President Laura Murphy, and Classified Senate President Sean Young; a presentation on Building a Shared Space: Moving Together Toward Equity by Clarissa Padilla, Monica Demcho, Tarlease Jones, Aimal Fazil, Nessa Julian, Donnie Tran, and Laura Gonzalez; a presentation on Going Remote with Equity in Mind by Jesse Lopez, Laura Gonzalez, and Bill Pacheco, and a presentation on What’s Next at San Diego Miramar College byLisa Brewster, Nessa Julian, and Clarissa Padilla; and closing remarks from President Wesley Lundburg.

- Heard public comments from the AFT Immigrant Student Support Committee in support of defunding Campus Police and institutionalizing Immigrant Student Centers throughout the District. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Masahiro “Masa” Omae welcomed Trustee Geysil Arroyo to the Board and shared his congratulations with Miramar College on its presentation. He reported that the City College Graphic Design program had received international recognition and that the college’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program was expanding its services to veterans. AS President Omae said he was proud of the college’s support of Black History Month which included an interview by City College President Ricky Shabazz on KUSI News. He reported that his colleagues were concerned about the decision to hire four new police officers in spite of the College Police Review Task Force’s recommendations and the implications of that decision. Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy expressed her thanks to those who listened to the college’s presentation and said the Academic Senate is closely following several issues including the College Police Review Task Force’s recommendations. She reported that the Curriculum Committee is addressing issues of racial bias and that the college is working to establish a Faculty Equity Coordinator position and an Equity Office. Mesa College AS President Elect John Crocitti read a letter from the Academic Senate strongly condemning racist, hateful statements made against Chancellor Constance Carroll following her January 7 message regarding the violent attack on the Capitol. The Academic Senate’s letter endorsed Chancellor Carroll’s leadership, while thanking her for fulfilling her responsibilities by offering her informed perspective on events of importance to the District and broader community. He shared that the AS had passed a letter supporting immigrant students and a letter supporting the defunding of the SDCCD Police, while noting the issue of defunding police was passed with considerable dissent.
Administered the Oath of Office to Geysil Arroyo as administered by Principal of McKinley Elementary Deb Ganderton.

- Conducted the first reading of revised Chapter 2 – Board of Trustees Board Policies as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency following comments by Margaret Lamb. 

- Consideration and adoption of the Board Vice President title for Geysil Arroyo as Vice President for Public Health Advocacy for the period of February 11, 2021, through January 2, 2022, pursuant to Board Policy BP 2305 Annual Organizational Meeting.

- Approved change in tuition for nonresidents from $290 per unit to $307, and the $100 application fee to be maintained for international student applications following comments by Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Dowd.

- Authorized agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupations programs.
Accepted a grant from the Association of American Geographers for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Award Number 20131418: Encoding Geography at San Diego Mesa College; and from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) Program at Miramar College.

- Approved various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after February 12, 2021; the revised 2021-2022 College and Continuing Education Academic Calendars; and the 2020-21 Second Quarter Financial Report.