Top 10 NewsCenter stories of 2022

Four students look a laptop while sitting on the grass in the Mesa Quad

Top 10 NewsCenter stories of 2022

December 6, 2022 | Char O'Connor - San Diego Community College District

In 2022 the San Diego Community College District had many changes in leadership, including two new presidents. As our campuses opened up so did the number of events held in person. There were more than 900,000 users and 3.5 million page views on our website this year, with 150,000 of those views in just our NewsCenter. Our news coverage this year included in-person graduations, walking in the Pride Parade, student support and more. Here are the top stories from NewsCenter in 2022:

No. 10- vice chancellor of facilities

Portrait photo of Joel Peterson — Joel Peterson, Ph.D.

In February the SDCCD announced that Joel Peterson, Ph.D., would be the new Vice Chancellor of Operations, Enterprise Services, and Facilities following the retirement of Chris Manis in 2021. Dr. Peterson started the new position on April 1. The announcement received 811 page views.

Dr. Peterson oversees facilities and construction for one of California’s largest community college districts. In addition, he is responsible for the SDCCD Police and completion of the district’s $1.6 billion bond construction program.

He said, “I could not be more pleased to be joining Chancellor Cortez’s exceptionally talented leadership team and a flagship community college district known for its excellence.”

No. 9 - Black Student Success week

A Poster for Black Student Success week Black Student Success Week was held virtually from April 25-29, 2022. This year’s theme was A Vision for Black Student Success: Creating a New Landscape to Succeed. There were 1,051 page views on the coverage of events offering group discussions on advocacy, equity, and student support. The 2022 Black Student Success Week focused on new approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed at California Community Colleges as we recover from the pandemic.

No. 8 - emeritus programs

Faculty member Remi Dalton with colorful artwork behind her — Remi Dalton, MFA, is an Emeritus program faculty member at the San Diego College of Continuing Education

The Emeritus Program at the San Diego College of Continuing Education allows adults 55 and older to take courses at no cost so they can learn another creative skill. From nutrition to arts, retirement, and more, SDCCE’s Emeritus program offers hundreds of free classes specifically designed to support older adults maintain independence, rejoin the workforce, and actively engage in the community. New to the program this year is the Law and the Retiree curriculum series, which gives an overview of legal topics in areas of healthcare, insurance, housing, and retirement. The article promoting the Emeritus Program for the Spring 2022 semester received 1,306 page views. Learn more about the Continuing Education Emeritus Program.

No. 7 - Return to work

The first NewsCenter article of 2022, with 1,425 page views, was a message from Chancellor Carlos O. Cortez and the Board of Trustees announcing that due to a surge in COVID cases, the District's 4,645 full-time and part-time employees would be required to work remotely for the first two weeks following the winter break. Upon return to campuses and the District Office, employees and students would still be required to wear a mask. The mask requirement at all SDCCD facilites will be lifted on December 19.

NO. 6 - Pride parade

5 district employees gather for a group photo at the pride parade After a two-year hiatus, the Pride Parade returned to San Diego. Although there were Pride Week events during COVID-19, unfortunately there was no parade. In 2022, SDCCD employees were thrilled to get back together and celebrate San Diego Pride again in person. The parade is one of our most well-attended events of the year. After two years away, the sign up announcement to join the District in the parade was very popular and garnered 1,607 page views.

No. 5 - Mesa College president

Dr. Ashanti Hands portrait photo she is wearing a white and blue blouse — San Diego Mesa College President Dr. Ashanti Hands

The San Diego Community College District began a nationwide search for the next president of San Diego Mesa College after Dr. Pamela Luster announced that she would be retiring after serving 11 years in the position. Coverage of the Top 3 finalists received 1,774 page views, while the announcement naming Dr. Ashanti Hands as the next president received 1,247 for a total of 3,021 page views.

Since 2016, Dr. Hands had served as vice president of Student Services at Mesa College. She joined the college in 2008 where she held positions as dean of Student Affairs, acting dean of Student Development and Matriculation, and acting vice president of Student Services.

Following the announcement of her new role she said, "I am humbled to be selected for the presidency of the very college I have called home for more than 14 years. The ability to live my purpose of creating conditions that matter for students to succeed at a college so deeply committed to equity and excellence brings me immense joy. I am excited to continue the great work we have started at Mesa College and look forward to the bold, courageous, equity-minded ways we will show up for our students, each other, our district and community.”

No. 4 - classes begin

Our coverage of the beginning of new semesters received 3,563 page views in 2022. These articles typically offer employees and students helpful information and share important dates related to the start of classes. Approximately 45,000 students were enrolled in a mix of online, in-person and hybrid courses this fall. Intersession classes will begin on January 3, 2023 and the spring semester will begin January 30. Enrollment for these sessions is currently open.

No. 3 - applying for the san diego promise

Six students wearing promise t-shirts stand in a group outsite in the Mesa Quad. Trees and foliage are in the background The free tuition program, The San Diego Promise, began as a pilot program in 2016 with an initial cohort of 186 students. Since then, the program has served 10,232 students, welcoming over 2,500 new students in the 2022-23 academic year. Besides covering the cost of enrollment, the San Diego Promise also provides book grants, counseling, and hands-on support to help students develop an educational pathway leading to their career goals. The SDCCD starting taking applications in January 2022 for students looking to join the program for the upcoming fall semester. The announcement for when we would start taking applications received 977 page views. The article in July reminding students of the August 22 deadline to apply got 2,843 page views with a total of 3,820 page views from students interested in the program.

NO. 2 - College of Continuing Education president

Dr. Tina King in her office — San Diego College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King

The free adult education offered through San Diego College of Continuing Education is one of the best kept secrets in San Diego. The college serves approximately 30,000 students annually. When Dr. Carlos O. Cortez became Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District in 2021 his position as president of the College of Continuing Education became vacant and a search for his replacement was launched.

Kay Faulconer Boger, Ed.D. served as the acting president for the 2021-22 academic year. There 4,655 page views on coverage of the new leadership that would take the helm in Fall 2022. An article about the top candidates netted 2,274 page views, while the article that announced Dr. Tina M. King as the new president received 1,935 page views, not to mention record engagement on social media.

A profile article featuring Dr. King after taking on her new role received 449 page views. In the article she shared how honored she was to join the leadership at the college, "We are the people’s college. That is what I love about SDCCE, it’s heavily rooted in community, social justice, and activism.”

No. 1 - registration

Registration is one of the busiest times for our district. Students are looking up key dates and connecting with counselors to make sure their educational plans are on track. Preparing for each new semester is a top priority for our students, which is why it was our most in-demand coverage with 8,467 page views in 2022.
Register for Spring 2023