Trustees Geysil Arroyo, Mary Graham, Craig Milgrim, Bernie Rhinerson, and Maria Nieto Senour and Student Trustee Natalia Trinh all shared their concerns for the situation in Ukraine, and hope for a swift resolution. They appreciate that there will be support group opportunities provided to students and employees so that they may be able to voice their concerns and feelings. The trustees all attended the February 17 meeting of the Trustee Advisory Council (TAC), where consultants from MIG. Inc. sought feedback to assist with the District strategic planning process. They encouraged everyone to provide input throughout the process, particularly during the upcoming charrettes.
Geysil Arroyo
Trustee Geysil Arroyo said that she is excited to hear about students getting back to campuses. She reported that she was pleased to learn about so many Black History Month celebrations at the colleges, and that she is looking forward to Women’s History Month in March. She said that she appreciated that the Academic Senate presidents mentioned the process of returning to campus, and thanked them for thinking about students and moving forward in a graceful way. She said that earlier this month she participated in legislative meetings with Congressman Juan Vargas and a representative from the office of Congressman Mike Levin, where there were positive conversations about necessary support for students’ basic needs and passage of the Dream Act. Trustee Arroyo and the rest of the trustees also participated in the interview process for a new president of the College of Continuing Education.
Mary Graham
Trustee Mary Graham thanked those who spoke during the meeting and shared various concerns. She said she appreciated and reinforced a comment made by Student Trustee Natalia Trinh about student government not just being a valuable experience, but fun, as well. She said that in addition to the legislative meetings Trustee Arroyo mentioned, she and other trustees also attended meetings with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and Congressman Scott Peters, where trustees discussed a variety of federal community college priorities. Trustee Graham reported that she is participating in the Chancellor Investiture planning subcommittee and looks forward to sharing more information soon. She reported that the Chancellor’s Evaluation subcommittee, which will be sending out surveys regarding performance and encouraged those who receive them to complete them.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim thanked Trustee Trinh for her updates about student government and said that he has fond memories of getting to spend time with those campus organizations and looks forward to doing so again as the colleges reopen. He said that he is advancing work with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Queer Alliance to help improve the sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) questions on the CCC Apply application.
Bernie Rhinerson
Trustee Bernie Rhinerson also indicated he thought the legislative briefings were productive. He said that he is working on developing a scholarship program with the California Masonic Foundation based in San Francisco for incoming students going into the trades, and he will be reaching out to Miramar College President Wes Lundburg to find a match for a possible partnership.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that she attended the legislative briefings.
Dr. Carlos O. Turner Cortez
Chancellor Carlos Cortez reported that on February 28, the San Diego Business Journal will recognize City College President Ricky Shabazz as one of the region's Top 50 Black Leaders of Influence, and that on Thursday, Mesa College President Pam Luster received the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award from the Association of California Community College Administrators. He reported that earlier this month, Miramar Student Trustee Edward Borek and others did an excellent job during an interview with KPBS on the new pass-no pass grading policy. Chancellor Cortez reported that College of Continuing Education Foundation’s Executive Director Laurie Coskey secured two grants for the District to develop a strategic housing development plan, and gave special thanks to the San Diego Foundation and the Lucky Duck Foundation for their gifts of $30,000 to the SDCCD. He said the search for the president of the College of Continuing Education has advanced, and the new president is expected to be announced sometime in March. Chancellor Cortez reported that on February 16, San Diego lost local legend and dear friend to the SDCCD, Dorothy Smith, who served on the San Diego Unified School District School Board and more recently helped to chair efforts to raise funds for the renovation of the historic theater at the Educational Cultural Complex. He said that February18 was the deadline for state legislators to introduce bills in this, the second year of a two-year session, and that the District will remain active in its advocacy efforts. Chancellor Cortez also shared his report with Joel Peterson, who has been selected as the District’s next vice chancellor of Facilities Management.
Natalia Trinh
Student Trustee Natalia Trinh reported that the Miramar College Associated Student Government wrapped up Senate elections with all positions filled. She said that Miramar College held various events throughout Black History Month, including a March 22 on-campus event where 200 students in attendance enjoyed a free lunch and jazz concert. She reported that the deadline for Miramar-specific scholarships was extended to March 14 and FAFSA and California Dreamer applications must be filed by the end of February. Student Trustee Trinh said that City College is hosting Black History Month student forums with City College President Ricky Shabazz and Student Trustee Victoria Owusu on February 23, and the City Women Rock summit will take place on March 8. She reported that at Mesa College February 24 was the last day of Club Rush, and a lot of students applied to participate in the Associated Students (AS), where elections were held on Wednesday. The AS also is in the process of planning spring commencement celebrations, and that scholarship applications that were due February 17 are now being reviewed.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of February 24, 2022, which was conducted in a virtual format, the Board of Trustees:
- Heard public comment from Mesa College chemistry professor and Department Chair Donna Budzynski who shared from the college’s Chemistry Department a statement of concern regarding the District’s requirement for vaccine boosters in order to enroll in in-person class during the fall semester. AFT Guild President Jim Mahler who thanked the Board and the District, particularly the Chancellor's Cabinet, for approving a request by the AFT to extend through June 30 medical benefits for adjunct faculty scheduled to have their benefits terminated on February 28 due to a lack of active assignment. Newly elected City College Academic Senate (AS) President Maria-Jose Zeledon-Perez introduced herself and thanked the Board for the opportunity to share remarks. She reported that City College is celebrating Black History Month with an amazing lineup of events, and that Black history should be celebrated throughout the year. On April 21, the college will host its Student Research Symposium and on March 23 and 24 its annual Social Justice Conference. Otherwise, the college continues to provide excellent mental health programming events for students. Mesa College AS President John Crocitti said discussions are underway about how to transition back to on-campus senate meetings with consideration being given to some type of hybrid format. He said a lot will depend on if the state of emergency ends on March 31 in which case they would likely return to face-to-face meetings. Miramar College AS President Laura Murphy said the college is working on how to get back on campus to serve students. In response to events taking place in Ukraine, the college is trying to support its students and employees with an open forum which everyone is invited to participate in. She said the college will widely publicize the event.
- Conducted the first reading of revised Chapter 2 – Board of Trustees Board Policies, as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency following comments by Margaret Lamb.
- Adopted a resolution allowing for virtual meetings pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e), as amended (AB 361).
- Approved the appointment and employment contract of Joel Peterson as vice chancellor of Facilities Management.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs following comments by Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham.
- Heard reports from Propositions S and N Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) Vice Chair Leslie Bruce, and COC member Rosalie Schwartz on the 2021 Annual Report for Propositions S and N; and on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 2020-22 from Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Greg Smith, Deans Shelly Hess and Krystal Henderson, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Research Natalia Córdoba-Velásquez Alarcón, District Committee for Community, Inclusion & Diversity Chair Jamila DeCarli, and faculty members Norrell Martinez, Janue Johnson, Judy Patacsil, and Richard Gholson.
- Approved change in tuition for nonresidents from $307 per unit to $304, and the $100 application fee to be maintained for international student applications following comments by Executive Vice Chancellor Bonnie Dowd.
- Authorized an agreement with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Approved the appointment of Anchi Mei (nominated by Trustee Geysil Arroyo) and Dean Aragoza (nominated by Trustee Maria Nieto Senour) to the Trustee Advisory Council.
- Approved the appointment of Shakerra Carter, vice president Student Services of the San Diego College of Continuing Education, as a representative on the San Diego Adult Education Regional Consortium (SDAERC).
- Entered into agreements with Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Auxiliary Organization for the Strong Workforce Program College-based Marketing project and Pathway Navigation project at Continuing Education.
- Accepted a grant from the California Department of Education for the California State Preschool Program at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Entered into a service agreement with Chula Vista Electric for electrical upgrades at Continuing Education’s Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) and Mesa College; and a consultant agreement with Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc. to provide planning and design services for the Continuing Education ECC theater and community/museum room renovation.
- Approved purchase orders completed during January 2022; the District’s Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool for the period ending December 31, 2021; the 2021-22 Second Quarter Financial Report; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after February 25, 2022.