BOARD REPORT AUGUST 26, 2021 SPECIAL REPORT TO THE PUBLIC Trustees Geysil Arroyo, Mary Graham, Craig Milgrim, Bernie Rhinerson, and Maria Nieto Senour all welcomed everyone to the new academic year. They also acknowledged and thanked everyone who submitted public comments, all of which will be read by the Board. Trustee Mary Graham expressed empathy for the stress that faculty and classified professionals are under in starting a new in-person semester while the pandemic continues. Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he continues to attend remote meetings, including one to discuss how the District’s Queer Alliance could help support queer students, as well as faculty and classified professionals, throughout Region X, where SDCCD is located; a meeting with the Office of Child and Youth Success to determine the process of organizing and hiring staff now that it has been funded by the City of San Diego; and a meeting about Boards and Commissions in San Diego; and a Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) meeting on the recall election and vaccinations, and said that he hopes people will vote no in the recall election. He also reported that he had lunch with Trustee Arroyo, as well as with AFT Guild President Jim Mailer and Chancellor Cortez. Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that the Board, to the best of its ability, will work together to serve our students while protecting public health. Chancellor Carlos Cortez recognized the concerns expressed during public comment, and said that the Board and the District’s executive leadership team is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all employees and students. He reported that enrollment for the fall 2021 semester is at 76% of the overall FTES target for the District’s three credit colleges, and that various initiatives, including advertising on billboards, buses and trolleys, outreach and calls to students who have withdrawn since spring 2020, and working with various partners on outreach, are underway to help increase enrollment. Chancellor Cortez commended City College President Ricky Shabazz for leading a delegation of students to Africa, Mesa College President Pamela Luster for her appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Intersegmental Basic Needs Committee, Miramar College President Wes Lundburg for his selection as co-chair of the Strong Workforce Regional Oversight Committee, and Kay Faulconer Boger for her first month of service as Interim President of the College of Continuing Education. He reported that AB 421 (Ward), AB 576 (Maienschein), and AB 927 (Medina) received unanimous support by the Senate Appropriations Committee and will move to the full Senate for a vote. Chancellor Cortez said that he is watching closely the human infrastructure proposal President Biden wants Congress to implement. He also recognized Congressman Scott Peters for his advocacy in helping secure a $975,000 grant for the District through the Congressional Community Funding Project to support the buildout of open education resources. Student Trustee Natalia Trinh reported that the Miramar College Associated Student Government (ASG) will virtually hold its first meeting of the semester on August 27 and include the swearing in of officers, and a call from ASG President Edward Borek for representatives to fill the treasurer position, as well as vacant senate seats. A call to action will take place next week at Miramar College to help increase interest in campus organizations after more than a year of campus closure. Student Trustee Trinh reported that Mesa College held a successful Convocation on August 19, where more than 300 students attended; and that the campus’s welcome week is underway providing information about programs and organizations at the college. She also shared that applications for open AS seats are still being accepted. At City College, she reported that Victoria Owusu was elected as ASG President, and that the campus was hosting various welcome week events.
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 Geysil Arroyo Mary Graham (Executive Vice President) Craig Milgrim Bernie Rhinerson Maria Nieto Senour, Ph.D. (President) CHANCELLOR Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D (secretary to the board) STUDENT TRUSTEES Edward Borek Natalia Trinh
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT 3375 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH SAN DIEGO, CA 92108-3883 (619) 388-6957
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