Mary Graham
Trustee Mary Graham reported that she, along with Trustee Craig Milgrim, have been meeting regularly as the Chancellor Search Subcommittee and will hold an official kick-off meeting on June 27 with more updates forthcoming. She said that she attended all of the college commencements; the Special Study Session on Achieving Education Mission-Oriented Policing, thanking Vice Chancellor Joel Peterson and Police Chief Joseph Ramos for their presentation, and noted a grant was not obtained for counselors recommended by the Police Advisory Committee and urged that hiring those positions be a District priority; and the special Board/Cabinet meeting on May 30 and June 1 Board Retreat where she thanked Helen Benjamin for facilitating both.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim welcomed the new Student Trustees who were sworn in during the meeting and encouraged them to contribute early and often. He said that he participated in the pride flag raising event at the District Office and thanked all who made it possible. He recognized the positive step the District made on June 15 to update PeopleSoft to allow employees to adjust their preferred name and gender preferences, a step toward being more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, and recognized Acting Chancellor Gregory Smith for stating that “we acknowledge there will be errors and we commit to working quickly to correct them and prevent repeat errors” in the new efforts. Trustee Milgrim said that in the past he has been in support of drafting a land acknowledgment to be read at District events, and now that each college has its own land acknowledgment, he would like the support of the Board for an official resolution.
Dr. Maria Nieto Senour
Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that she attended many events mentioned by her colleagues, and additionally on June 15 attended the Zoom event with Drs. Thekima Mayasa and Judy Sundayo and Professor Starla Lewis in celebration and acknowledgment of Juneteenth.
Gregory Smith
Acting Chancellor Gregory Smith stated that on June 15, the state legislature voted to approve the 2023-2024 budget, noting that there now would be a series of negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom in anticipation of him signing a budget by July 1. He noted that a lot remained to be figured out, but a thorough analysis of what is known about the budget and how it will affect the District will be presented in the meeting by Vice Chancellor Kelly Hall. He stated that the District is still watching AB 91, which would offer in-state tuition to individuals with a demonstrated financial need and living within 45 miles of our border with Mexico, and AB 634, which would change attendance accounting and result in greater funding for career development and college preparation courses. Also of note is AB 1400, which would provide pathways for California community college students to transfer to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He said the District and its colleges will send letters of support on behalf of this legislation. Acting Chancellor Smith thanked all of those that work on advocacy on behalf of students and the District, stating that a lot of that work goes unseen, but is appreciated.
Acting Chancellor Smith expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step in and participate in the college commencement ceremonies, scholarship ceremonies, and classified professionals service awards, stating that the responses that he has received from sharing his story have touched him. He stated that the commemoration of Juneteenth provides an opportunity to acknowledge the terrible history of oppression and violence against people and communities of color in this country, and to celebrate the perseverance of those who have endured systemic and racial oppression, adding that we will not let tomorrow look like yesterday. He shared a personal story of a teacher who helped him understand the profound lesson that “not everyone experiences the world the way you do.” The California Community College Chief Information Systems Officers Association routinely awards 15 $1,500 scholarships each year to students from member districts who are studying the fields of computer science and computer information. This year, three of the 15 awards went to District students Joseph Berry and Clarissa Cheng from Miramar College and Sofia Lopez-Orraca from Mesa College. He thanked Mesa College Academic Senate President John Crocitti for his moving words about the impact that faculty have on students, which, he said, help to remind us all why we’re here. He concluded by wishing everyone a happy, restful, and rejuvenating summer.
Diego Bethea
Student Trustee Diego Bethea reported that City College held a flag raising ceremony in recognition of Juneteenth with President Ricky Shabazz and Vice Presidents John Parker and Marciano Perez in attendance; the Associated Students Government held a retreat on June 13 and focused on recruitment for the 2023-2024 academic year; and a pride flag raising ceremony was held June 2 to celebrate the start of Pride Month. He said that Mesa College’s Black Studies Department and Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion and Equity held a Juneteenth acknowledgment event on June 15 via Zoom and that the college collaborated on a Juneteenth event held June 16 at San Diego State University. Student Trustee Bethea said Mesa College CalWorks will host a June workshop series for selfcare including an event on June 20; and the Mesa Pride Center hosted various Pride Month events throughout June. He reported that at Miramar College the campus would be closed on Fridays from June 9 through August 11, and the Dreamers Center would be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. He said Miramar College identified a theme, “Cultivating a Campus of Care,” for the upcoming year, and that the ASG elected nine senators and three executive officers. Student Trustee Bethea said College of Continuing Education hosted a signature tree planting event on May 31 to recognize Arbor Day; a pride flag raising ceremony on June 1; and will host a Juneteenth celebration of freedom at noon on June 20 at the Educational Cultural Complex.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of June 15, 2023, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced the following actions from Closed Session that the Board denied the appeal of the administrative determination of a Title 5 complaint; approved the termination of employment of a Mesa College classified employee; approved the disciplinary action of expelling a Mesa College student; and approved the tentative agreement with the AFT Guild Local 1931 faculty unit for 2023-26 assessor bargaining agreement.
- Administered the Oath of Office to Student Trustees: Diego Bethea (City College), Ixchel Valencia Diaz (Mesa College), Namod Pallek (Miramar College), and Adriana Dos Santos (College of Continuing Education).
- Heard public comment from Kimberly Tapia, president of the Supervisory and Professional Administrators Association (SPAA), who spoke about a need for better onboarding and training of hired supervisors. Mesa College Academic Senate President John Crocitti shared that the Mesa College Research Conference held in May offered an opportunity for students to give oral presentations and poster board presentations. He also mentioned a podcast with Dr. Nellie Tran, a Mesa College graduate who is now a university professor. It was the support of Asian American faculty at Mesa who encouraged her to pursue a doctorate in psychology.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution, Chapter 4 – Instructional Services, and Chapter 5 Student Services (first readings 5/11) board policies as part of a comprehensive six-year review to ensure currency.
- Terminated COVID-19-related resolutions adopted March 12, 2020, September 23, 2021, and June 9, 2022, which declared emergency conditions in response to the threat of the pandemic.
- Adopted resolutions to support the End of Oil Extraction in California as supported by the Associated Student Government bodies at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges following a presentation by students Alessandra Dangio’, Ruby Melchior, and Nicole Santarsiero and comments in support from student trustees Bethea and Pallek; and excusing Trustee Geysil Arroyo from attendance at the June 15, 2023, Board Meeting due to a hardship.
- Following remarks by Acting Chancellor Smith and an in-depth report by Vice Chancellor Kelly Hall, approved the Tentative Budget for FY 2023-24. The total District Budget of $1,288,286,056 includes income, appropriations, and expenses for all District funds. The budget had been reviewed by the Board’s Budget Study and Audit Subcommittee (Trustees Craig Milgrim and Bernie Rhinerson).
- Adopted new or revised courses and programs following comments by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham.
- Authorized an agreement with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Reviewed the results of the 2024 Accreditation Institutional Self-Evaluation Reports (ISER) for City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges following comments by Vice Chancellor Michelle Fischthal; City College Accreditation Liaison Officer/Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Susan Murray; City College Faculty Accreditation Coordinator/Health, Exercise Science and Athletics Faculty and Coach Marco Anzures; Mesa College Accreditation Liaison Officer/Acting Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Hai Hoang; Miramar College Accreditation Liaison Officer/Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Daniel Miramontez; and Miramar College Accreditation Faculty Co-Chair/Articulation Officer Mara Palma-Sanft.
- Accepted grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program at City College; for the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; for the Native American Student Support and Success Program at Miramar College; and for Zero Textbook Costs programs at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.
- Accepted a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the San Diego State University HSI STEM Pathways and Articulation Program at City College.
- Accepted grants from the Foundation for Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges for the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Credit for the Prior Learning Project at City College; and for the Faculty Institute Research Investment project, College Based Marketing project, and the Counselor Institute project at College of Continuing Education.
- Entered into master agreements with Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Auxiliary Organization for the College Based Marketing project, Counselor Institute, and Placement Case Management project at Mesa College.
- Accepted grants from the California Department of Education for the operation of Child Development Centers at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges; and from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the Air Grants Program with the San Diego City College Foundation.
- Authorized travel of students from City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and College of Continuing Education for purposes of intercollegiate team competition, tournaments, approved out of season competition, student leadership, academic program competition, and related activities from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
- Awarded contracts to Complete Office and Kelly Spicers Stores for the purchase of reprographic specialty paper products districtwide; to Selbert Perkins Design for District Branding Services; to 25th Hour Communications for the District website redesign; to E&H General Contracting Inc. for the installation of signage at the Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D., Arts and Humanities Building at City College; and awarded a contract for a professional search firm to assist in the recruitment and hiring of a Chancellor for the District to Academic Search.
- Authorized the use of The Glen at Scripps Ranch as an off-campus facility by College of Continuing Education.
- Authorized an increase in purchase amount of Zero Emission Equipment for groundskeeping at City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges.
- Extended the contract with J. E. Moore at no additional cost for consultant services related to Propositions S and N project through December 31, 2023.
- Consideration of projects to be included in the District’s five-Year Capital Construction Plan commencing FY 2025-2029 subject to revisions and requirements as issued by the CCCCO.
- Approved purchase orders completed during April and May 2023; applications for the Reduced Workload/Early Retirement Program and sabbatical leaves for the 2023-2024 academic year; ratification of reformatted Police Officers Association, Management, Executive Management, and Classified salary schedules for calendar year 2023; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after June 16, 2023.