San Diego Community College District

Special Report to the Public:

Geysil Arroyo

Trustee Geysil Arroyo acknowledged Earth Day and encouraged people to take appropriate action. She also addressed Tuesday’s guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd in May 2020, and thanked Chancellor Carroll for her message on this topic. Trustee Arroyo said that she participated in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)’s National Capitol Forum held April 13 and 14 which highlighted Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and related legislative priorities, including more equitable funding for HSIs and for comprehensive immigration reform such as the DREAM Act, while also meeting with Congressmembers Juan Vargas and Sara Jacobs alongside colleagues from San Diego State University. She also attended a Progressive Labor Alliance Summit on April 17 where she heard from Mayor Todd Gloria and Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher, as well as several SDCCD employees who spoke throughout the event. On April 19, she attended the “Stars on the Rise” scholarship event for the SDCCE.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham said that she also attended the “Stars on the Rise” scholarship event for the SDCCE. In addition, she participated in the California Community Colleges Tutoring Apportionment Taskforce and thanked Mesa College faculty member Mark Manasse for making sure the group continues to meet. She heard from Dean of Academic Affairs, LaBaron Woodyard, of the State Chancellor’s Office, about the status of a bill that, for the second time, was put forward regarding funding allocations for tutoring services beyond basic skills or transfer-level math or English courses, which she emphasized were an important part of student success. She looks forward to the taskforce’s report, and hopes that the CCC Board of Governors will take action to remove limits placed on using categorical funds for tutoring services counted for apportionment.

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he is in agreement with Trustee Graham’s sentiments on the necessary funding of tutoring programs, as well as Trustee Arroyo’s thoughts about the guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin.  He also thanked Chancellor Carroll for her message about the jury’s decision, adding that it is one step toward accountability, but a long way from justice. As part of Mayor Gloria’s “Back to Work SD” Advisory Committee, Trustee Milgrim said that the mayor called attention to the Homelessness Program for Engaged Educational Resources (PEER) program launched by City College and Trustee Milgrim acknowledged the leadership of President Ricky Shabazz and Vice President of Instruction Tillie Chavez for the program. He also reported that he attended Miramar College’s LGBTQ+ Community Days on April 14 and 15 and said it was a great opportunity to interact directly with students, faculty, staff, and community allies and hopes to have more opportunities to do so again in the future. He reported that on April 22, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill to address anti-Asian hate crimes. Trustee Milgrim spoke about the effort of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to diversify the faculty, but noted that this would also require funding for new faculty, and he is hopeful this will be taken into consideration as the state considers its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.

Bernie Rhinerson

Trustee Bernie Rhinerson said that he echoed all comments by his fellow Trustees, and had nothing further to report.

Dr. Maria Nieto Senour

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that she agreed with comments made by colleagues as well, and reported that she attended HACU National Capitol Forum and looks forward to meeting with Congressman Mike Levin soon after since he wasn’t available for the initial event. She also said that she attended the April 12 Propositions S and N Citizens’ Oversight Committee meeting and thanked the members for their oversight of the nearly completed $1.555 billion bond construction program. She thanked Chancellor Carroll for her hard work in ensuring the passage and implementation of these bonds, which have transformed the SDCCD campuses.

DR. Constance Carroll

Chancellor Constance Carroll reported that this morning, the California Assembly Committee on Higher Education held its legislative hearing and approved the community college baccalaureate expansion bill, AB 927 (Medina), following lead testimony by Dr. Carroll and a graduate from the baccalaureate program at West Los Angeles College. Five strong statements of support were allowed and there were no statements of opposition. The State Chancellor’s Office provided a “tweener” comment to the effect that while they do not officially support the bill at this time, they support its goals and hope to be supportive in the future. The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The Chancellor also indicated that the federal stimulus funding, Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) was moving forward. HEERF II and III will proved almost $100 million to the San Diego Community College District alone. In addition, more funding is anticipated from the state and proposals are currently being developed to shape the allocation.

Sanam Azai

Student Trustee Sanam Azai reported that San Diego Miramar College is continuing with Associated Student Government (ASG) elections, and that San Diego Mesa College has extended its deadline to participate in elections in order to get more student involvement. She said that the San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) hosted a “Stars on the Rise” event where $70,000 in scholarships were awarded to students, and that students leaders at SDCCE are creating upcoming events in support of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, as well as virtual commencement at the end of May.

BOARD ACTIONS

At its regular meeting of April 22, 2021, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:

- Held a campus meeting in virtual format with the San Diego College of Continuing Education that included welcome remarks from President Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Academic Senate President John Bromma, and Classified Senate President Neill Kovrig; a presentation on Online Teaching, Learning, and Student Success from Vice President of Instruction Michelle Fischthal, Professor Diana Vera-Alba, Vice President of Student Services Star Rivera-Lacey, Counselor Sheyla Castillo, and student Armando Carignan Palacios; a presentation on Entrepreneurship and Development from Foundation Executive Director Laurie Coskey, student Debora Green, and San Diego & Imperial Counties Trade Council Business Manager Tom Lemmon; and a special presentation and closing remarks from President Cortez, who announced the launch of a new scholarship in the name of Dr. Constance M. Carroll for SDCCE students transferring into one of the District’s three credit colleges to study in the humanities or social sciences.

- Heard public comments from Mesa College faculty member Claude Mona who asked for arrangements to be made for in-person exams in order to avoid cheating and punishing those students who try to learn honestly. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Masahiro “Masa” Omae thanked SDCCE colleagues for the excellent presentation; shared that the Preparing Accomplished Transfers to the Humanities (PATH) program has created an arts and humanities panel which is providing additional opportunities for students; shared that that college’s Honors program held an Honors Fest to highlight transfer agreements and other aspects of college culture; reported that bimonthly Hunger Action Days continue to be held by the college with more than 100 students participating; said that he participated in taping of college’s virtual commencement ceremony held on Monday at the Saville Theater; and reported that students have selected faculty award recipients. Mesa College AS President Manuel Velez shared that representatives participated in the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Spring Plenary where the theme was “Working Together: Transforming and Decolonizing Institutions.” Mesa College faculty took leadership roles in five of the 48 resolutions passed, including one from all three of the SDCCD credit college senates, for which he thanked President Omae for his leadership. He also reported that the Mesa College AS has established a faculty committee to assist in addressing threats made during recent Zoom events hosted by the college.

- Approved the Board Meeting Schedule for July 2021 through December 2021, with the acknowledgment that the Board will be investigating an opportunity to schedule a Board Retreat with the new Chancellor at a July date to be determined.

- Approved new or revised courses and programs.

- Authorized agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupations programs.

- Accepted a grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the NextUp programs and for the Disaster Relief Emergency Student Financial Aid program at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Accepted grants from the U.S. Department of Education for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF I) section of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Minority Serving Institution funding, for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; from the U.S. Department of Education for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriates Act 2021 (CRRSSA) districtwide and for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and the College of Continuing Education; from the U.S. Department of Education for the Higher Emergency Education Emergency Relief fund II (HEERF II), Minority Serving Institution funding, authorized by the CRRSSA, for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and from the U.S. Department of Education for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III), authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, districtwide and for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and the College of Continuing Education, following comments from Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Ann Dowd.

- Authorized the transfer of funds between budget expenditure accounts in the 2020-2021 General Fund/Unrestricted Budget.

- Entered into agreements with Steinberg Hart to provide facilities master planning in connection with Proposition N at Miramar College; and with Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners to provide facilities master planning services in collection with Proposition N at the College of Continuing Education.

- Approved various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after April 23, 2021.