Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo thanked those at City College for welcoming the Board to the campus. She said that it is important for members of the Academic Senate and the public to share their concerns. She reported that on October 12 she attended a San Diego State University Community College Leadership Alumni event and received a copy of “A College for All Californians: A History of the California Community Colleges” edited by George R. Boggs and Lawrence A. Galizio, which had a chapter authored by Chancellor Carlos O. Cortez, as well as a chapter on participatory governance and she encouraged others to read it. She reported that she attended the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) conference October 8-10 in San Diego where she was delighted to see District employees and students, and she attended her first in-person Trustee Advisory Council meeting on October 6. She thanked Student Trustee Diego Bethea for welcoming the Board to his college.
Mary Graham
Trustee Mary Graham reported that she attended the TAC meeting, as well as HACU where she noted the presentation from San Diego College of Continuing Education. She commented that she is troubled to hear that there are people in the District that feel participatory governance isn’t being respected and said she takes the comments to heart. She said that she will seek out the minutes from the Police Advisory Committee for review.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he would like the Board and Chancellor Cortez to consider an Board position on the Police Advisory Committee as an ex-officio, non-voting member, and also increasing the student voice by including student trustees at all future joint board meetings, as well as retreats beginning in 2023. He reported that he has been reviewing the education and facilities plans coming from the colleges, but said he was bothered by the lack of data on the underserved LGBTQ+ community and encouraged the colleges to go back and add that information.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that she was on the San Diego Citizens’ Review Board on Police Practices for a number of years and she believes good policing matters, especially when people are in danger, and said she doesn’t think getting rid of police entirely is the answer. She said that she understands the public comments and sympathizes, but doesn’t have all the answers, especially when it comes to unfairly targeting Black and Brown communities.
Dr. Carlos O. Cortez
Chancellor Carlos Cortez reported that he enjoyed the City College campus presentation, especially hearing from the students and employees who attended the All Africa Diaspora Conference in Ghana, and also recognized President Ricky Shabazz’s persistence in making that journey happen. He reported that he attended the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Conference and a meeting of the NACCE Board of Directors from October 2-5 in Boston, and the HACU Conference where he gave the keynote address at the pre-conference session, and noted that SDCCE President Tina M. King and Palomar College Superintendent/President Star Rivera-Lacey joined him in a presentation during the conference. He reported that Miramar College hosted a press conference where he was in attendance with Assemblymembers Brian Maienschein and Kevin McCarty to celebrate a $2.5 million grant that he secured to support veteran students, and he got to visit the college’s new Veterans Resource Center. Chancellor Cortez reported that on October 12 he, along with Miramar College President Wes Lundburg and Communications and Public Relations Director Jack Beresford met with Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, and he is making arrangements for the District’s legislative advocacy trips to Sacramento and Washington, DC., in the new year, both of which will have students in attendance. Chancellor Cortez recognized City College Vice President John Parker for becoming a Lakin Institute Fellow where he participated in the President’s Round Table, and the City College Nursing Program for earning a fifth place ranking for best nursing school in California by RegisteredNursing.org. He recognized Mesa College for hosting SDSU’s CCLEAD Alumni Group Book signing for George R. Boggs and Larry Galizio. Chancellor Cortez reported that Miramar College will host the second annual Equity Summit, October 27 and 28; the theme this year is "Building Community Through Cultural Humility" and will feature Luke Lara from MiraCosta College. He commended College of Continuing Education Vice President Shakerra Carter, Dean Jessica Leudtke, and Research Associate Jesus Rivas for their presentation during HACU on the experience of binational students in adult noncredit education. Chancellor Cortez recognized the employees who work in student outreach at the colleges and the District who, over the past three years, have worked overtime to re-engage students who opted out and to recruit new students to join our District.
Diego Bethea
Student Trustee Diego Bethea reported that City College held a welcome event at its Pride Hub on September 21 where he saw Trustee Milgrim in attendance. He said the college continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through October 15, including the September 29 “Lowriders: Demystifying Stereotypes” event on campus. Student Trustee Bethea reported that City College announced the receipt of a $2 million grant to support Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students, and Veterans Affairs got a full-time counselor. He reported that Mesa College Associated Students will host healing circles for those affected by international tragedies; an October 17 “Embracing the Undocumented Identity through Advocacy” virtual event at the Dreamer Resource Center, along with other events, during Undocumented Student Action Week; an ice cream social with the Black Leadership Fellows on October 12; and is planning for its homecoming tailgate and football game. Between October 4-5, he reported that the college held a Mental Health Fair. Student Trustee Bethea reported that Miramar College held an Academic and Career Pathways Showcase between October 10-13; celebrated Indigenous People’s Day on October 10; and will hold a Fall Festival between October 25-26. He reported that at Miramar College students have expressed concern about the lack of in-person options for various core and required classes. Student Trustee Bethea reported that College of Continuing Education has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with various celebrations and will host a performance at its Cesar Chavez Campus next week.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of October 13, 2022, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Conducted a campus meeting in a hybrid format with San Diego City College that included welcome remarks from President Ricky Shabazz, Academic Senate President María-José Zeledón-Pérez, Classified Senate Vice President Zenia Torres, Supervisory and Professional Administrators Association Site Director Jay Purnell, and Associated Student Government President Diego Bethea; and presentations on Nursing Accreditation by Associate Dean of Nursing Education Dee Armstrong and Professor Erelyn Vinegas; on Murals at City by Dean of School of Arts, Humanities, Communications & Telecommunications Jeanie Tyler, and professors Anna Delgado and Justin Akers Chacón; on High School Outreach by Associate Dean of Outreach and Community Relations Genevieve Esguerra Outreach Coordinator Clarissa Padilla and students Ndikumana Vedasto, Maximus Gastelum, and Lucia Cavallini-Martinez; on Student Services Support by Vice President of Student Services Marciano Perez, Diana Hernandez, Professor Nick Slinglend, and Dean of the School of Health, Exercise Science and Athletics Aaron Detty; on Facilities and Educational Plan by Vice President of Administrative Services John Parker and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Susan Murray; on a recent Ghana trip by President Shabazz, Vice President Parker, Counselor Nesha Savage, Professor Andre Jones, and students Michael Whyte, Kitty Harris, Ezell Matthewson, and Anthony Dramani.
- Heard public comment from City College Professor Darius Spearman who commented on the negative treatment of the unhoused population on the campus, which he said felt like a justification for heavy police presence, and expressed that he would like the District to put a hold on the acquisition of tasers for its police officers. City College Professor Justin Akers commented on the issue of policing at the District, particularly at City College, and voiced concern that shared governance is not being adhered to in this regard. He also asked that the implementation of tasers be halted. City College Professor Octavio Garcia who expressed concern over the lack of transparency in policing throughout the District. City College Academic Senate President Maria-Jose Zeledon-Perez acknowledged the excellent presentation by City College students about the recent trip to Ghana. She also reported on resolutions approved by the AS dealing with the SDCCD Police which have been shared with the Board. Mesa College AS President John Crocitti shared that the AS passed resolutions dealing with the ethnic studies requirement, lifelong learning classes taught as lower division, an audit of technology resources, and to regarding the open enrollment period. He added that another resolution will address masking in indoor areas and that the Area D senate meeting is this Saturday. Miramar College AS President Pablo Martin shared that the college is conducting a survey of employees regarding continued use of masks and that the college foundation held a successful fundraiser. He continued saying that progress has been made removing barriers to students interested in enrolling in the honors program, with its Guided Pathways, and that the college is hosting several excellent events for Latinx Heritage Month.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution and Chapter 5 – Student Services Board Policies (first reading September 29) as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency following comments by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham.
- 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.
- Following comments by Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Dowd about the steps already taken by the district, adopted a resolution directing the
Chancellor (or designee) to revise existing Board policies and administrative procedures
in accordance with the state’s revised recommendation that districts maintain a minimum
of two months of general fund unrestricted reserves based upon general fund operating
expenditures.
Authorized City College’s request to apply for authorization from the Accrediting
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to offer a bachelor of science
degree program in Cyber Defense and Analysis.
- Accepted a Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program – Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education for expanding and improving Latino student success at Miramar College.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs after comments from Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham.
- Authorized an agreement with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District
health occupation programs.
Approved the San Diego City College Facilities Master Plan 2022, Strategic Plan 2022-2029, and Educational Plan 2022 Update following comment by President Ricky Shabazz.
Authorized a Service Agreement with Biocom California Institute for the Southern California Biotechnology Center at Miramar College to implement the AMGEN Biotech Experience (ABE) program for regional high schools.
Approved the 2021-22 Annual Financial Report.
Approved the submission of the SDCCD State Scheduled Maintenance Five-Year Plan (2022-23 through 2026-27) to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office.
Authorized agreements with FacilitySoft to provide software system to maintain and improve Facilities Management’s ability
to manage the costs and budgets of its districtwide construction projects; with Helix Systems to provide hosting management, integration services, and ongoing support and services
to implement and maintain FacilitySoft software.
Entered into agreement with Sightlines, LLC to provide districtwide physical plant existing conditions assessment and analysis.
Heard a report on 2022 Veterans Day activities at City, Mesa, Miramar and Continuing Education colleges, as well as the District Office, from Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham.
Approved travel for City College students to attend 2022 Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Statewide Leadership Conference between October 28-29 in San Diego.
Approved purchase orders completed during August 2022; various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after October 13, 2022; and the 2023-24 and 2024-25 College and Continuing Education Academic Calendars.