SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
BOARD REPORT
APRIL 14, 2016 SPECIAL REPORT TO THE PUBLIC Trustee Mary Graham reported that she attended the César Chávez Service Clubs’ annual Las Mañanitas Breakfast benefit, which she said was excellent. She also attended the 18th Annual César E. Chávez Community Breakfast. Trustee Bernie Rhinerson discussed his attendance at the grand opening of the Mesa College Exercise Science facility, as well as Miramar College’s Scholarship Awards Ceremony, at which he presented the Board of Trustees Scholarship. He also shared that two bills supported by the District via a Board Resolution, AB 1721 and AB 1892 (Medina), which would expand funding for the Cal Grant program, have both been approved by the Assembly Higher Education Committee and are on their way to the Appropriations Committee. This legislation is part of a statewide effort to expand access to community colleges as part of the President’s national “college promise” initiative. Trustee Rhinerson encouraged members of the public to attend a special joint meeting of the San Diego Community College District and the San Diego Unified School District governing boards to be held April 19, 2016, at 5 p.m. at Mira Mesa High School. Trustee Maria Nieto Senour also reported on her attendance at the Mesa College Exercise Science grand opening. She also participated on a panel at the Conversations With Elders event held at Mesa College as part of its Cultural Unity Week activities. Trustee Senour added she was asked to join Mesa College President Pamela Luster in presenting a $40,000 fellowship award to one of the college’s SEEDS (STEM Engagement for the Enrichment of Diverse Students) students, who is also a past recipient of the Board of Trustees Scholarship. Chancellor Constance Carroll reported that on the national level the District was well represented at the annual conference of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Chicago, during which members of the District community made important presentations. While in Chicago, Chancellor Carroll, Vice Chancellor Stephanie Bulger, City College President Anthony Beebe, and Communications Director Jack Beresford visited Naval Station Great Lakes, where the District has a major contract and offers a large number of classes. Trustee Peter Zschiesche emphasized that this location is where San Diegans who enlist in the Navy go to receive training; therefore the District’s efforts here have a very real local impact, despite the distance. In her report on local matters, she complimented Mesa College President Pam Luster on the grand opening of the new Mesa College Exercise Science facility, funded by the District’s bond measures. Dr. Carroll also congratulated Miramar College President Patricia Hsieh on the college’s Scholarship Awards program, which provided $146,270 to more than 100 deserving students. Student Trustee Igor Burgos Maron gave details on various student activities, including a recent presentation by the Islamic Center of San Diego and an upcoming Earth Day event to be held at City College. At Mesa College, students hosted a Professor Appreciation Coffee Cart event and are organizing the Mesa Olympics to be held May 5. He also discussed the College’s “De-stress for the Test” events, activities to help students ease the stresses during midterms. At Miramar College, students are preparing for elections at the end of April and holding social justice presentations every Friday.
The governing board of the San Diego Community College District is composed of 5 elected members and 1 student trustee position. The student trustee position is filled on a rotating basis. BOARD MEMBERS Mary Graham Rich Grosch (executive vice president) Bernie Rhinerson Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D. (president) Peter Zschiesche CHANCELLOR Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D. (secretary to the board) STUDENT TRUSTEES Laura Benavidez Igor Burgos Maron Olivia Light
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 3375 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH SAN DIEGO, CA 92108-3883 619-388-6957
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/sdccd www.twitter.com/sdccd www.youtube.com/TheSDCCD