Special Report to the Public:
Mariah Jameson
Trustee Mariah Jameson reported that she attended the Trustee Advisory Committee meeting on May 1, the Honors awards ceremony at Mesa College on April 30,the theatre renovation groundbreaking ceremony at the Educational Cultural Complex on May 8, and the Right of Passage Ceremony at Miramar College on May 14. She thanked those who recently offered her condolences.
Marichu Magaña
Trustee Marichu Magaña reported that she attended a couple of conferences and various affinity group celebrations in the past month. She announced that, while she lives in Mira Mesa, one of her roles as a Board Member is to learn about all the communities she serves, and she requested that people reach out to her with event invites to give her the opportunity to attend and learn more.
Craig Milgrim
Trustee Craig Milgrim said that he discussed with Chancellor Gregory Smith the opportunity to support legislation to expand the Promise Program to part-time students and encouraged everyone to donate to the San Diego Promise program directly in support our local students. He reported that Jesús Martín Gallegos-Muñoz, whom he appointed to the TAC in 2022, is now chair of the committee. He reported that he attended three college Lavender celebrations and plans to attend the celebration at Mesa College next week, and he commended the students for bravely being public about who they are even in the face of potential danger due to harmful rhetoric from the current administration. He encouraged the District to design more outreach programs to help inform LGBTQIA+ students of their rights. Trustee Milgrim reported that, during the May 13 event at College of Continuing Education, an immigrant student shared that when she arrived at the SDCCE campus she saw a Pride flag, which made her feel welcome and communicated to her it was a place where she could belong. He acknowledged the meeting was the last for the 2024-25 Student Trustees and presented Dalia Ramirez (City College); Zora Williams (Mesa College); Hailey Hua (Miramar College); and Haydee Zuniga (College of Continuing Education) with plaques commemorating their service to the Board and District.
Gregory Smith
Chancellor Gregory Smith reported about a number of proposals coming out of the Budget Reconciliation Process at the Federal level including one that would increase the number of units necessary from 24 to 30 to qualify as full time and from 6 to 7.5 to qualify as part time for a Pell Gant, which would greatly impact community college students who aren’t able to carry a full course load; a proposal for cost sharing that would charge higher education institutions a portion of defaulted student loans; and one that would eliminate STAR TRIO, which would set a worrying precedent under Title III of eliminating other minority-serving programs like Hispanic Serving Institutions. At the state level, on May 14 Governor Gavin Newsom presented his May budget revision that was a tale of two budgets: On the Prop 98 side there are additional revenues and there is discussion on how the monies will get invested, in addition to an announced 2.3% COLA; outside of Prop 98, there is a budget shortfall of about $12 billion that has to be accounted for. He noted that a proposal for the shortfall would shift nearly $500 million over three years for community colleges to fund transitional kindergarten, and while the District supports that program, it disagrees with asking the community college system to pay for it. There will be a lot of messaging to legislators around that proposal in a short amount of time ahead of the legislature having a budget framework by June 15 and approved by June 30. Chancellor Smith reported that the unanimous, bipartisan support of AB 1433 reaffirms the importance of noncredit education, and he said that on the agenda are resolutions in support of three additional bills including AB 695, providing students who are deported in-state tuition while they complete their studies; AB 1035 that would expand the Promise Program to include baccalaureate degrees; and AB 1400 that would allow community colleges to pilot a program for nursing baccalaureate degrees. Chancellor Smith reported that a budget memo from the Department of Education mentioned the SDCCD in a line item that would eliminate a program called the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education and mentioned $1.2 million received by the SDCCD from Congressmember Sara Jacobs to fund campus Pride Centers. The line item cited those funds as wasteful spending within a program that was designed to support innovation and could be replicated across education to improve student outcomes, which is exactly what those centers do.
He pointed to two legacies left behind by former Trustee Bernie Rhinerson: Measure HH and the creation of the term “Smile Season.” Chancellor Smith reported he made it a point to attend every scholarship event, affinity group celebrations for students, and recognition events for employees at yearend, not only to support those student and employee groups, but to let the community know the District is fully committed to continuing the events even under threat of loss of Federal funding, and he commended the Board for its support, as well. He said he attended the ECC theatre groundbreaking ceremony and recognized the importance of that space to the surrounding community, and he noted several agenda items that emphasize the importance of hiring local companies to support bond projects. Chancellor Smith reported that he will attend the District’s first 2024-25 commencement ceremony being held at Miramar College on May 16. He announced that later in May, along with San Diego Unified School District, the SDCCD would be part of a San Diego Regional Housing Finance Authority to build affordable housing projects across San Diego to benefit the community, noting students and classified professionals specifically.
Haydee Zuniga
Student Trustee Haydee Zuniga reported that San Diego City College’s Associated Student Government held Spring Spirit Week between April 21 to April 24, with events like shirt decorating, planting, and the first-ever school dance; San Diego Mesa College held its 2025 Scholarship Ceremony on April 30; San Diego Miramar College’s LEAD office, in partnership with the PEARL program, hosted the Asian American, Pacific Islander Achievement Celebration on May 7 to honor graduates with featured guest speakers including Councilmember Kent Lee, Chancellor Smith, and Mayor Todd Gloria; and San Diego College of Continuing Education held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $50-million renovation of its historic theatre at the Educational Cultural Complex on May 8, noting the space has been a symbol of arts and culture for nearly 50 years.
BOARD ACTIONS
At its regular meeting of May 15, 2025, which was conducted in-person, with online participation available, the Board of Trustees:
Announced the following actions from Closed Session: the Board denied the appeal of an Administrative Determination of a Title 5 Complaint; and approved the disciplinary action of expelling a San Diego College of Continuing Education student #051525-602-3894-25, from all colleges, campuses, programs, sites and activities of the San Diego Community College District.
- Conducted a campus meeting in a hybrid format with College of Continuing Education that included an advocacy update on AB 1433, AB 766, AB 1211, and AB 1324 from Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins; welcome remarks from President Tina M. King, Associated Student Government President Haydee Zuniga, Classified Senate President Esther Anthony-Thomas, and Academic Senate President Richard Weinroth; and presentations focused on several college highlights including presentations introduced by Vice President Masahiro Omae, specifically on the Safety, Inclusion, Belonging Task Force by Esteban Alvarado and Sarah Boswell; on Affinity Programs by Franklin Garrett; on LGBTQIA+ Student Success Programs by Lisa Carulli; on the Black Student Success Program by Terry Sivers and student Spencer Love; on the Immigrant Student Support Program by Fatima Mota; on ElevateU by Josue Castro; on the Be Well Program by Janisha Street, Jeremy Garcia, and student Ruth Derice; and on Campus Culture Coaches by Dr. Shakerra Carter, and Deanna Cherry and Ricardo Vidal of R&D Facilitation; and closing remarks from Dr. King.
- Heard public comment from Elizabeth Fee and Marco Guajardo who spoke on behalf of Students for Justice in Palestine regarding an ethical procurement resolution, and Daniel Villegas who spoke in support of the arts and humanities. City College Academic Senate (AS) President Mona Alsoraimi-Espiritu thanked SDCCE President Tina M. King for hosting the campus meeting and said the college was always welcoming and doing important work changing lives. She reported the AS’s AI Workgroup has established a professional learning cohort that has had very positive outcomes. She encouraged the District to pursue more opportunities for this type of innovation. She also shared a letter of appreciation to Chancellor Gregory Smith for his decision not to deploy tasers as well as his support for free speech and the District’s most vulnerable students. She also recognized President Ricky Shabazz for his leadership and commitment to students. President Alsoraimi-Espiritu continued highlighting efforts to decolonize the senate and leading with a student equity lens. She shared a divestment resolution passed by the AS and ASG. Mesa College AS President Andrew Hoffman said that since the last Board meeting all academic senates went to the statewide plenary. About three dozen resolutions were passed and that his colleague Manuel Velez was honored for his work in the statewide senate. He said he also met with California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian to talk about fraudulent enrollment and the need for action. He said the statewide senate did pass a resolution on the topic and that it looks like something positive might happen. He said the college was in the midst of “Smile Season” with many celebrations taking place on campus.
- Adopted revisions to a Chapter 2 - Board of Trustees Board Policy and Chapter 4 - Instructional Services board policies.
- Adopted resolutions in support of Academic Freedom; Assembly Bill 695 (Fong): California Community Colleges Access and Continuity for Deported Students Act; Assembly Bill 1035 (González): Community colleges: California College Promise: fee waiver eligibility; Assembly Bill 1400 (Soria): Community Colleges: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program; asserting the independence and academic freedom of higher education institutions; excusing Trustee Mariah Jameson from attendance at the April 24 board meeting; and to allow for the purchase of three transit vans without formal competitive bidding under the finding of no competitive advantage.
- Approved new or revised courses and programs following a presentation by Vice Chancellor Susan Topham.
- Authorized agreements with healthcare agencies for use of clinical facilities by students enrolled in District health occupation programs.
- Following a public hearing, adopted the Education Protection Account Funding and Expenditure Plan (Proposition 30) for 2024-25.
- Accepted a grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) for the UMOJA Campus Program at San Diego Mesa College and from the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation for the Healthcare Careers program at College of Continuing Education.
- Entered into agreements with Generation STEAM as part of Miramar College’s Biotechnology Outreach; and with San Diego State University Research Foundation to partner with San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego to promote equitable AI education.
- Awarded an RFP for the one-time purchase of respirators for the San Diego Miramar College Fire Academy to All-Star Fire Equipment Inc.; and Notice to Proceed to Kleinfelder, Inc. for DSA Material Testing, Special Inspection, and Geotechnical Services for the ECC Theatre construction project.
- Amended the Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA) with the Michael's Organization for the preliminary development of the San Diego City College Affordable Student Housing Project and corresponding term sheet to enter into a Ground Lease and Development Agreement with the Michaels Organization; authorized engagement with Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. (DBA JLL), for Tenant Representation Services for swing space and other rental and real estate needs throughout the Measure HH Bond Program; and entered into contracts with A1157 Design Solutions, LLC dba Cultura, under an Omnia Partners cooperative contract to procure/furnish and install walls and office furniture In various parts of the I Building at Miramar College.
- Entered into phase 2 and phase 3 with PCL Construction Services to provide construction management services for the upgrades of the San Diego College of Continuing Education Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) Theatre and associated spaces.
Awarded bids for 23 work categories and rejected bids for work categories 01A - survey, 08C - glazing, and 31B - erosion control for the ECC Theatre Renovation Project.
- Received an update on an Emergency Action taken pursuant to PCC 22050 to replace
12kV transformer feeding power to M Building at Miramar College.
Heard a report on the districtwide Honors Program from coordinators Kelly Mayhew and Sarah Pitcher.
- Received a quarterly report of the budgeted expenses to actuals.
- Approved purchase orders and contracts completed during April 2025; the transfer of funds between budget expenditure accounts in the 2024-25 General Fund/Unrestricted Budget; the 2024-25 Third Quarter Financial Report; the District’s Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool; an application for the Reduced Workload/Early Retirement Program for the 2024-2025 academic year; and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term personnel service effective on or after May 16, 2025.