Special Report to the Public:
Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson thanked those who made public comments, San Diego Mesa College President Ashanti Hands, and all those who provided campus presentations. She reported that she attended an event at City College organized by Students for Justice in Palestine with American labor organizer and advocate Chris Smalls.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he recognized that it is counterfactual to equate Anti-Zionism with antisemitism. He shared that Transgender Day of Remembrance will take place November 20, and he complimented College Police for engaging in Safe Zone training and applaud efforts to become better educated in order to keep LGBTQIA+ students safe. He also thanked Chancellor Gregory Smith for a statement he made during his Town Hall on November 5 regarding the need to protect LGBTQIA+ students.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith reported that on November 12, the House of Representatives passed a federal funding bill through January 30, 2026, which included, under the Department of Agriculture, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through September 30, 2026. He noted that backpay will start being sent to those federal employees who were not paid during the shutdown.
Chancellor Smith reported that he has traveled for work 24 days since October 1 and recognized that along the way the District has been receiving national recognition in the work it does; he commended those employees on the ground doing the hard work to support students. He acknowledged Vice Chancellor Joel Peterson who was attending a San Diego Business Journal event where he was receiving recognition as a Veteran Leader of Influence in San Diego, and Vice Chancellor Susan Topham and her team for their work on Credit for Prior Learning, which earned the colleges recognition as Mapping for Articulated Pathways (MAP) Colleges of the Year by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Jeremiah Palomino
Student Trustee Jeremah Palomino reported that San Diego City College held multiple workshops to assist students in their transfer applications and hosted a Veteran Appreciation event to bring together students, staff, and service members. He shared that San Diego Mesa College will host its Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week from November 17-20 to highlight basic needs challenges and connect students with campus resources. The week will culminate with a Thanksgiving Feast. He said San Diego Miramar College hosted a Fall Fest event on October 30 to provide students with a space to find community through club involvement.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of November 13, 2025, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
- Announced for Closed Session that the Board approved the termination of the employment of a classified employee at San Diego Community College District, as required under Section 88013(b) of the California Education Code; and approved the disciplinary action of expelling a San Diego City College student #103012-599-5630-25, from all colleges, campuses, programs, sites and activities of the San Diego Community College District.
- Conducted a campus meeting in a hybrid format with San Diego Mesa College that welcome remarks from President Ashanti T. Hands, Associated Students President Jeremiah Palomino, Classified Senate President Ayana Woods, and Academic Senate President Mary Gwin. The campus meeting focused on the theme Rooted in Purpose, Grounded in Equity, and Growing Together, and included presentations on accreditation by Dean Hai Hoang, Outcomes Coordinator Liza Rabonich, and Academic Senate President Mary Gwin; on adult learners by Dean Tara Hardee Teodoro; on Study Abroad opportunities by Dean Leslie Shimazaki and faculty member Dora Schoenbrun-Fernandez; on Capturing the Spirit of Mesa by director Krista Stellmacher and student Maritere Rodriguez; and on flourishing in community by students; on Impactship by Darrin Phillips. Closing remarks were provided by President Hands.
- Heard public comment from Monica Romero who spoke on behalf of the Management Association; seven people who spoke on behalf of freedom of speech; students Samantha Romero and Daniel Villegas requested additional resources; and Nathan Resch spoke in support of establishing a process to approve and update the Measure HH Bond Program Project Prioritization, development, and implementation process. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Mona Alsoraimi reported on three resolutions from the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges (ASCCC) fall plenary including a resolution titled Faculty Counselors and Student Education Plans, which addresses AI concerns on the ethical and workforce implications. Another resolution clarifies the Academic Senate’s role in oversight of dual enrollment programs. A third resolution pertains to the disaggregation of data on Middle Eastern and North African students. She concluded her report with an update on an event organized by the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter. The AS is working on a resolution on sustainability and is asking that all events on campus eliminate single-use plastic. Mesa College AS President Mary Gwin thanked everyone for participating in the campus meeting and shared that five faculty members attended the ASCCC fall plenary and thanked Mesa President Ashanti Hands for supporting their participation. She also thanked Vice President Isabel O’Connor for approving faculty release time. She reported on a resolution pertaining to ethnic studies programs. She concluded by calling attention to “La Linea,” a new exhibition at the college art gallery and acknowledged the work of gallery director/professor Alessandra Moctezuma. Miramar College AS President Rodrigo Gomez complimented Mesa College for its inspiring work. He shared that the AS met and made substantial progress on its mission/vision statement. He highlighted a resolution on AI literacy from the ASCCC fall plenary that he says provides a helpful definition. On behalf of College of Continuing Education AS President Richard Weinroth, he concluded by calling attention to a resolution affirming noncredit faculty expertise in noncredit curriculum and pathway development. Mesa College Classified Senate President Ayana Woods provided a report on Miramar College’s Classified Senate including that a fall thank you-gram fundraiser is underway and that the Classified Senate will participate in the County’s Workplace Step Challenge in January. The focus this semester is on professional development opportunities. The Mesa College Classified Senate has also been busy. Classified Professionals have pursued professional development around AI and academic integrity. They held an office decorating contest in conjunction with the Associated Students during homecoming and a successful food drive for the campus childcare center. The fall fundraiser is underway called “Pals with a Purpose” that supports the Classified Senate scholarship and professional development fund.
- Adopted revisions to Chapter 1 – The District, Chapter 2 – Board of Trustees, Chapter 3 – General Institution, Chapter 6 – Business and Financial Services, Chapter 7 – Human Resources Board Policies; and conducted the first reading of revisions to Chapter 3 – General Institution board policies with approval to proceed with the next steps of review.
- Established December 18, 2025, as the annual organizational board meeting; and reviewed the 2025-2028 Student Equity Plans for City College, Mesa College, Miramar College, and the College of Continuing Education.
- Authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs; with San Diego Workforce Partnership, Inc. for the Healthcare Registered Apprenticeship Program (HRTP) at City College.
- Adopted a resolution establishing a process to approve updates to the Measure HH Bond Program Project Prioritization, development, and implementation process.
- Accepted grants from the US Department of Education for the Hispanic Serving Institution grant at City College, the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) program districtwide and the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program districtwide; from the Foundation for California Community Colleges for Program Pathways Mapper implementation at Mesa College; and from the California Student Aid Commission for the Miramar Cal Grant Baccalaureate program.
- Received a quarterly report of the budgeted expenses to actuals, and approved the 2025-26 First Quarter Financial Report.
- Awarded an RFB for a Districtwide agreement for Reprographic and Specialty Paper to Complete Office and Kelly Spicers, Inc.; amendment number two CCS Fundraising LLC Professional Services Agreement for districtwide fundraising campaign consulting services; and a cooperative agreement with Astute Business Solutions for the implementation services related to the PeopleSoft Supplier Contracts module.
- Awarded bids for Work category 09E - Terazzo for the ECC Theatre renovation project; for the City College Science Building AHU1A/1B Hot Water Coil Replacement Project to ACCO Engineered Systems, Inc.; for Districtwide Access Control Integration and Upgrade Program to Convergint Technologies, LLC; and for Site Access Clearance Check Services to Secure Brand Management.
- Entered into a contract with The Kya Group to rejuvenate the field of play at the discus/javelin field at Mesa College; and awarded a Technical Support Services contract to provide further development and oversight on the Measure HH Bond projects by the Cumming Group, Project Management Organizations (PMO).
- Heard an update on the Emergency Action taken pursuant to PCC 22050 to repair of water damage caused by a clogged sewer system on the fourth floor of the LRC Building at Mesa College; and to repair and replace fencing, landscaping and a greenhouse near the Harry West Gym at City College.
- Approved purchase orders, contracts, and change orders completed during October 2025; new or revised courses and programs; the District’s Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after November 14, 2025.