Given this focus, it should be no surprise that a recent survey showed that San Diego voters strongly support the District, as well as San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges. In addition to giving each of these institutions high marks, voters believe the District has a need for additional funding to ensure it can continue to provide all students with an equitable and inclusive learning environment.
To illustrate some of the important ways the District is moving toward this goal, we have created a board game that includes several key initiatives. Many of these initiatives are the result of the District’s recent strategic planning process. Others have been underway for years and are now paying dividends. In board games, as in real life, not every move is forward. Sometimes it is necessary to take a step or two backward in order to proceed. With skill and determination, however, progress is undeniable.
Thank you for joining us on this important journey!
Working together for a common goal
A fresh group of leaders is driving progress and change across the District. Nine members of the 13-person Chancellor’s Cabinet were hired in the past three years, with two college presidents and three vice chancellors coming aboard in just the last year. Each is deeply committed to achieving equitable outcomes and there is a renewed sense of unity amongst the District’s executive leadership team. What’s the next big thing coming to the District? That remains to be seen, but the Cabinet will likely be in the middle of those efforts, working collaboratively to achieve a shared vision.
SOLID FOUNDATION
Equity efforts
All three of the credit colleges are now designated as Minority-Serving Institutions
and recipients of U.S. Department of Education funding. This includes both Hispanic-Serving
Institution grants and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving
Institution grants. HSI institutions (City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges) have at least
25% Hispanic enrollment. AANAPISI colleges (City and Mesa colleges) have an enrollment
makeup of 10% Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander. While not eligible
for federal funding, College of Continuing Education remains one of the most diverse
institutions in California.
Reopening of campuses
SDCCD’s four colleges are more vibrant as students continue return to in-person classes
and activities. This will be helpful to each college’s efforts to build community
and provide students with the services they need to be successful.
Rebuilding enrollment
City, Mesa, and Miramar college enrollment was collectively up 4% (compared to spring
2022) for full-time equivalent students while College of Continuing Education was
up 22% in enrollment.
Record Promise enrollment
Thanks to the work of SDCCD college Promise coordinators and District Outreach, enrollment
in the San Diego Promise free tuition program is on pace to set new records. The District
recently expanded the Promise program, allowing many more students to be eligible,
and an increase in registration is already being seen for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic
year.
Zero-cost textbooks
More than 5,500 classes with free or low-cost textbooks are offered at the district’s
four colleges. In 2022-23 alone, SDCCD students were able to save over $3 million
in educational costs.
FREE SPACE
Thanks to an increase in state and federal funding, plus private philanthropy, now more than ever, students throughout the District are free to be their true selves thanks to campus spaces created for them. This includes centers for the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, Dreamers, former foster youth, and basic needs centers that provide students access to free food and clothing, and more.
BUILDING BLOCKS
State & federal grants
In the past year, the SDCCD has received a number of grants spearheaded by local representatives.
Rep. Scott Peters awarded a Community Project Funding grant totaling $975,000 to expand
districtwide programs for zero-textbook-cost courses using digital materials that
are free to students. Assemblymember Brian Maienschein showed support of Miramar College’s
student military population by advocating for a $2.5 million grant from the state
of California to upgrade the campus Veterans Resource Center. Reps. Sara Jacobs, Scott
Peters, and Juan Vargas secured $3.4 million in funding from the U.S. Congress to
better serve LGBTQIA+, former foster youth, and undocumented students throughout the
District.
Affordable student housing
In a 2020 #RealCollegeSurvey, 64% of City College students reported that they experienced housing insecurity in the prior year — 8% above the national rate. This alarming trend was one of the reasons the community college became one of 75 in California to receive a state planning grant, totaling $344,000, to conduct a feasibility analysis for affordable student housing on campus. As a result, a proposal was made for a 186,000-square-foot, 613-bed facility on the corner of 16th and B streets where the previous Child Development Center resided.
Restored financial footing
A high priority of the Board of Trustees has been establishing a 16.67% fiscal reserve (two months of operating expenses) which is recommended by state fiscal and accrediting agencies. This allows the District to weather California’s unpredictable state budget. As recently as the 2017-18 academic year, those reserves were just $6.5 million or 2.2% of expenditures. However, through prudent financial management, as well as the commitment of District employees, the District is projected to end the 2022-23 academic year with a $50 million reserve, or 16% of operating expenses.
Possible 2024 bond campaign
The Propositions S and N bond construction campaign transformed the District’s colleges with state-of-the-art facilities and new instructional equipment. Importantly, the propositions increased opportunities for local students to attain a college education at a reasonable price. In spite of the many improvements made over the past 20 years, much work remains to repair outdated deteriorating classrooms, labs and college buildings. As such, efforts are underway to determine if a new bond campaign could address areas of need.
SPOTLIGHT
New baccalaureate programs
The District is making significant progress in expanding the baccalaureate degrees
available to its students. Building on the success of Mesa College’s Health Information
Management degree, City College recently was approved to offer a 4-year degree in
Cyber Defense and Analysis and Miramar College has received provisional approval for
a degree in Public Safety Management.
STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY
Student advocacy
At the heart of the District’s mission is student success, and there’s no better way
to tell those stories than from the students’ perspectives themselves. Read more about
recent student trustee involvement.
Corporate Council reboot
Industry and education leader Kay Faulconer Boger, Ed.D, was charged with facilitating
stronger connections between the District’s industry partners, its academic programs,
and alumni by working directly with more than a dozen representatives that make up
the SDCCD Corporate Council.
District strategic plan
Nearly 10,000 members of the public and the District community provided input that
helped shape the SDCCD’s future mission, vision, and direction. The six-month project
was developed into a 2023-2030 strategic plan that will guide the District in accomplishing
six key goals to help ensure success for all students while expanding efforts to achieve
diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all areas.