Board Report: August 26, 2021

August 27, 2021 | San Diego Community College District

Special Report to the Public:

Geysil Arroyo

Trustees Geysil Arroyo, Mary Graham, Craig Milgrim, Bernie Rhinerson, and Maria Nieto Senour all welcomed everyone to the new academic year. They also acknowledged and thanked everyone who submitted public comments, all of which will be read by the Board.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham expressed empathy for the stress that faculty and classified professionals are under in starting a new in-person semester while the pandemic continues. 

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he continues to attend remote meetings, including one to discuss how the District’s Queer Alliance could help support queer students, as well as faculty and classified professionals, throughout Region X, where SDCCD is located; a meeting with the Office of Child and Youth Success to determine the process of organizing and hiring staff now that it has been funded by the City of San Diego; and a meeting about Boards and Commissions in San Diego; and a Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) meeting on the recall election and vaccinations, and said that he hopes people will vote no in the recall election. He also reported that he had lunch with Trustee Arroyo, as well as with AFT Guild President Jim Mailer and Chancellor Cortez.

Maria Nieto Senour

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that the Board, to the best of its ability, will work together to serve our students while protecting public health.

Dr. Carlos O. Turner Cortez

Chancellor Carlos Cortez recognized the concerns expressed during public comment, and said that the Board and the District’s executive leadership team is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all employees and students. He reported that enrollment for the fall 2021 semester is at 76% of the overall FTES target for the District’s three credit colleges, and that various initiatives, including advertising on billboards, buses and trolleys, outreach and calls to students who have withdrawn since spring 2020, and working with various partners on outreach, are underway to help increase enrollment. Chancellor Cortez commended City College President Ricky Shabazz for leading a delegation of students to Africa, Mesa College President Pamela Luster for her appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Intersegmental Basic Needs Committee, Miramar College President Wes Lundburg for his selection as co-chair of the Strong Workforce Regional Oversight Committee, and Kay Faulconer Boger for her first month of service as Interim President of the College of Continuing Education. He reported that AB 421 (Ward), AB 576 (Maienschein), and AB 927 (Medina) received unanimous support by the Senate Appropriations Committee and will move to the full Senate for a vote. Chancellor Cortez said that he is watching closely the human infrastructure proposal President Biden wants Congress to implement. He also recognized Congressman Scott Peters for his advocacy in helping secure a $975,000 grant for the District through the Congressional Community Funding Project to support the buildout of open education resources.

Natalia Trinh

Student Trustee Natalia Trinh reported that the Miramar College Associated Student Government (ASG) will virtually hold its first meeting of the semester on August 27 and include the swearing in of officers, and a call from ASG President Edward Borek for representatives to fill the treasurer position, as well as vacant senate seats. A call to action will take place next week at Miramar College to help increase interest in campus organizations after more than a year of campus closure. Student Trustee Trinh reported that Mesa College held a successful Convocation on August 19, where more than 300 students attended; and that the campus’s welcome week is underway providing information about programs and organizations at the college. She also shared that applications for open AS seats are still being accepted. At City College, she reported that Victoria Owusu was elected as ASG President, and that the campus was hosting various welcome week events.

BOARD ACTIONS

At its regular meeting of August 26, 2021, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:

- Heard public comment from Justin Knott who expressed concern about the Board of Trustee’s compliance with civil rights laws and the Brown Act in relation to coronavirus regulations; and from 53 people who expressed concern with returning to work on District campuses while the Delta-variant of COVID-19 continues to increase coronavirus cases. Mesa College Academic Senate (AS) President John Crocitti shared that the college is off to a smooth start, although there is concern about low enrollment. Otherwise, the faculty is excited to see more face-to-face instruction in early 2022. Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy welcomed everyone and said the college is off to a strong start with more classes being offered on campus and that the faculty is adapting well. She said the college is working to enroll more students while maintaining a safe campus environment. She concluded her report expressing her hope the Board will take into consideration the college’s continuing shortage of full-time faculty as more resources become available from the state.

- Heard a report on the College Police Review Task Force from Task Force co-chairs Miramar College President Wes Lundburg and College of Continuing Education Academic Senate President John Bromma.

- Entered into agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupations programs; and with Altus Affiliated Schools (dba The Charter School of San Diego) for the establishment of a dual enrollment pilot opportunity with Miramar College for 2021-2022.

- Authorized subcontract and participation agreements with the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges for Strong Workforce Programs (SWP) Job Placement Case Management at City College, Miramar College, and the College of Continuing Education (CCE); for SWP Regional Work-Based Learning Coordination at Mesa College, Miramar College, and CCE; for SWP Student Retention, Persistence, and Completion – Research Investment at Miramar College; and for Strong Workforce Pathway Navigation and Faculty Institute at CCE.

- Accepted revisions to the 2021 Family Handbook for Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Approved changes to the contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. and Associates signage and wayfinding relating to Proposition N and master planning services at Mesa College; and to contract with the California Department of Education for the Child Care and Development Program at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Consideration of projects to be included in the District’s five-Year Capital Construction Plan subject to revisions and requirements as issued by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) with comments from Chancellor Cortez and Vice Chancellor of Facilities Chris Manis.

- Accepted grants from John Burton Advocates for Youth for the NextUP Program at Miramar College; from the California Community Colleges State Chancellor’s Office(CCCCO) for CalFresh; and from the U.S. Department of Education for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF) section of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act – Minority Serving Institution for City and Mesa colleges.

- Approved purchase orders completed during the month of June 2021; the District’s Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool for the period ending June 30, 2021 and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after August 27, 2021.

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