San Diego Community College District

Special Report to the Public:

Geysil Arroyo

Trustee Geysil Arroyo reported remotely and voted remotely while battling COVID. She reported that on June 15 she attended the College of Continuing Education commencement, and participated in the July 16 Pride Parade alongside students and District employees. She reported that she has been working with Trustee Craig Milgrim on the Board Self-Evaluation Subcommittee ahead of the July 22 Board Retreat. Trustee Arroyo thanked the public commenter, saying it is important to hear from the community.

Mary Graham

Trustee Mary Graham reported she has divided feelings over recent Supreme Court decisions. She reported that she, Chancellor Carlos Cortez, and Trustee Maria Nieto Senour attended the July 15 ribbon cutting ceremony at the Fahari L. Jeffers Elementary, which she said was a wonderful opportunity to honor a significant figure in the community. She also attended the Pride Parade, which she reported was a joyful event filled with pride, even when many potential challenges may come in the near future.

Craig Milgrim

Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he had a great time participating in the Pride Parade, where he was joined by both Chancellor Cortez and College of Continuing Education’s Richard Weinroth while riding in a parade car. He also reported that he attended with Chancellor Cortez the opening of the Hillcrest Youth Center, supported by The San Diego LGBT Community Center.

Bernie Rhinerson

Trustee Bernie Rhinerson reported that over the past four weeks his family, including his wife who was hospitalized, has been recovering from COVID. He stated that the pandemic is not over and encouraged others to think of those in the community who are threatened from exposure. He said that he is thankful he is both vaccinated and boosted. Trustee Rhinerson also reported that he missed being at the Pride Parade this year, an event he said he always enjoys participating in. He reported that in relation to his advocacy for entrepreneurship programs throughout the District, he has written an article focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion as a pathway for students of color and disadvantaged students to be successful to be published in August in the Voices for Educational Equity. He reported that he was pleased to find in his mail a postcard from the District promoting the fall semester and said he appreciated the design and that it is the kind of information that will really help prospective students and boost enrollment.

Dr. Maria Nieto Senour

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she attended the Pride Parade, calling it exhilarating. She also reported that Chancellor Cortez brought to her attention that City College astronomy professor Lisa Will was recently interviewed by KGTV about the importance of the new images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and commented about the importance of having such expertise in the District. Trustee Senour said that, based on a suggestion from the Director of DSPS Poppy Fitch and with the support of her colleagues, she would like a resolution drafted for an upcoming Board Meeting in support of women’s rights.

Dr. Carlos O. Cortez

Chancellor Carlos Cortez started his report by recognizing Ashanti Hands and Tina King, the new presidents of Mesa College and College of Continuing Education respectively, who both started in July. He shared that City College President Ricky Shabazz is leading efforts to bring a delegation of students and employees to the University of Cape Coast in Ghana this fall for the All African Diaspora Summit. Students and employees from Mesa College and College of Continuing Education also will participate. He congratulated five students from City and Mesa colleges who were recognized for their work in the 2021-22 International Literary and Art Awards by the League for Innovation in the Community College. He announced that Miramar College received a $2.5 million grant from the State of California, sponsored by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, to build out veteran services on campus, and that the Employee Training Institute administered by the College of Continuing Education secured a $1.2 million contract with SDG&E to administer their arborist training program. Chancellor Cortez acknowledged Disability Pride Month in July, and he recognized that for the first time in several years, SDCCD Police were permitted to march with the District in the San Diego Pride Parade. He recognized the employees, students, and community members who sit on the Police Advisory Committee, and congratulated former SDCCD leader, Julianna Barnes, on her appointment as chancellor of the South Orange County Community College District.

Continuing his report, Chancellor Cortez recognized California Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley, who will retire on August 1. He also shared that AB 1719 (Ward), which would allow community colleges to access federal housing dollars to build housing for lower income employees, is moving to the Appropriations Committee in the California State Senate. Lastly, he said he has heard concerns from dozens of employees about the use of District email and said that work is underway on a policy to better manage employee access to distribution lists. 

Allen Kuo

Student Trustee Allen Kuo reported that San Diego City College’s Umoja program will hold a Student Leadership Summit from August 4-6, and will also sponsor an upcoming student trip to Ghana. He reported at Mesa College, the EOPS Summer Readiness PERG 120 course started and aims to assist students who historically have been underserved, incoming high school graduates, or students impacted by COVID; and two summer sessions have been held to serve more than 100 Promise students and help them prepare for college. He also reported that the Mesa College Pride center launched the LGBTea newsletter, supporting LGBTQIA+ students, and that the college’s Mesa Tutoring and Computing Centers (MT2C) have been conducting in-person and online tutoring sessions throughout the summer. Student Trustee Kuo reported that on August 17, Miramar College will hold a Jets Kick-Off on-boarding event for new students. He also shared that everything is going well with summer classes at the College of Continuing Education.

BOARD ACTIONS

At its regular meeting of July 21, 2022, which was conducted in a hybrid format, the Board of Trustees:

- Announced the following actions from Closed Session the Board approved the execution of the Settlement Agreement in connection with the following litigation: Schaeg, Cassandra v. San Diego Community College District.

- Heard public comment from Thekima Mayasa who expressed her disappointment in the Mesa College Department of Black Studies being pulled into controversy surrounding the cancellation of the planned Chancellor’s Investiture in May and said that the resulting accusatory discourse went against District’s Civility and Mutual Respect policy. Mesa College AS President John Crocitti reported that summer enrollments are strong but that more work is needed to fill fall on-campus classes. He shared concern about the latest variant’s effect on enrollment and said the college is monitoring the situation closely.

- Adopted revisions to Chapter 1 – The District and Chapter 2 – Board of Trustees Board Policies as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency following comments by Executive Assistant Margaret Lamb.

- Adopted a resolution reaffirming that the state of emergency declared by the Board on March 12, 2020, continues and that state or local officials continue to impose or recommend social distancing measures.

- Approved the Districtwide Strategic Plan 2023-2030; and the Joint Board Goals developed during the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees and the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, both following presentations by Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham.

- Approved the two-year occupational review for City, Mesa, Miramar and Continuing Education colleges as mandated by Education Code 78016; career education industry advisory committee members for City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges; and the 2022-23 Student Fee Schedule.

- Authorized an agreement with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs; and with the Neighborhood House Association to provide education, child care, health and social services to Head Start and Early Had Start eligible children and families at City and Mesa colleges.

- Accepted revisions to the 2022 Family Handbook for Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Following a public hearing, adopted the College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) Dual Enrollment Partnership Agreements with the San Diego Unified School District and three public charter schools.

- Heard a report from Vice Chancellor Susan Topham on districtwide grants and contracts activity during fiscal year 2021-22.

- Accepted grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Grant at City College; and, following remarks from Mesa College President Ashanti Hands, from the Angell Foundation for the Fostering Academic Success and Transitions (FAST) Scholars at Mesa College.

- Accepted grants from the Foundation for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges for the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Job Placement Case Management Project, Small Business Virtual Business Incubator Project, Student Retention, Persistence, and Completion Research Investment Project, College-Based Marketing Project, Work-Based Learning Project, and Pathway Navigation Project at Mesa College.

- Entered into master agreements with the Foundation for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges for SWP Job Placement Case Management, Faculty Institute Research, and Work Based Learning activities at Miramar College.

- Entered into a subcontract agreement with the CCCCO Workforce and Economic Development Division for the Citizen Science i3 Project at Miramar College.

- Entered into agreement with the Foundation for California Community Colleges for the California Education Learning Lab at Miramar College.

- Authorized a revised agreement with the CCCCO for the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Grant at City College.

- Adopted Memorandums of Understanding, following remarks from College of Continuing Education President Tina King, with the San Diego Second Chance Program for the Young Adult Reentry Partnership; and with the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation for support services to brain injury survivors at the College of Continuing Education.

- Accepted grants from the Association of Community College Trustees for the District’s participation in the Non-Credit and Credit Alignment Lab; from the California Student Aid Commission for the Golden State Education and Training Grant Program and Learning-Aligned Employment Program at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and from the California Department of Rehabilitation for the districtwide College 2 Career and Cooperative WorkAbility III programs.

- Accepted grants from the California Department of Social Services and from California Department of Education for the operation of Child Development Centers and General Childcare and Development Programs at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Accepted a one-time stipend, in the amount of $600 per child enrolled in a subsidized California State Preschool Program, per Assembly Bill 131 for costs associated with COVID-19, for Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges.

- Authorized travel for students from City, Mesa, and Continuing Education colleges to University of Cape Coast in Ghana from September 16-26, 2022, to participate in the All Africa Diaspora Education Summit.

- Approved various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after July 22, 2022; the mileage reimbursement rate for employees who use their personal car for travel to 62.5 cents per mile; and purchase orders completed during May 2022.