OCTOBER 7, 2021
BOARD REPORT
SPECIAL REPORT TO THE PUBLIC Trustee Geysil Arroyo reported that she and the other trustees attended the Trustee Advisory Council meeting on September 30 and heard from local stakeholders in the community, as well as a presentation from Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Susan Topham and Dean of Online & Distributed Learning Brian Weston about the various course formats to be offered post-COVID-19. She also said she attended the October 1 press conference at the Educational Cultural Complex where it was announced that the College of Continuing Education secured $35 million in funding from the State of California to restore the historic ECC Theatre thanks to the efforts of Senate pro Tempore Toni Atkins and other local government officials. Trustee Mary Graham said that she was unable to attend the ECC press conference, but recognized that the community has long awaited such a transformation of the theater space. Trustee Graham also recognized that the state’s community college baccalaureate program would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of former SDCCD Board Member and State Senator Marty Block who championed the legislation, and acknowledged Chancellor Emerita Constance Carroll and others for their efforts, as well. Trustee Bernie Rhinerson reported that the ACCT Leadership Congress is being held October 13-16 in San Diego and 1,000 trustees from around the country will attend the event, which will allow for the SDCCD to highlight its colleges and the San Diego area, including a welcome dinner at City College on October 12. He said that during the conference, he and fellow Trustees will give presentations on the District’s response to COVID-19 and entrepreneurial education; in preparation for this, he met with a Miramar College student who launched Cromchies, a healthy wafer cookie business, with the help of the Miramar REC Innovation Lab that is current supporting 42 student companies, some of which will be featured on Shark Tank. Trustee Maria Nieto Senour reported that the October 1 press conference was well attended by local officials including former Board Member and current Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, Assemblymember Chris Ward, and Senators Toni Akins and Ben Hueso, and said she appreciated the story of some found boxes of photos and awards that led Chancellor Cortez to launch the fundraising campaign. She also expressed delight over the passage of AB 927 and said it will provide community colleges the opportunity to offer much-needed degrees to people who otherwise may not have gotten a bachelor’s degree.
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)
Chancellor Carlos Cortez reported that AB 576 (Maienschein), which would allow community colleges to offer closed classes on military bases, and AB 927 (Medina), which would make permanent the baccalaureate pilot and expand four-year degrees across the state system have been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria visited the Homelessness Program for Engaged Educational Resources (PEER) at San Diego City College, shortly after the City of San Diego renewed funding for the program. Mesa College has been awarded their first ANAPISI (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander - Serving Institutions) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which will provide $1.5 million to support underserved Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. Miramar College has preparations underway for their inaugural Equity Conference that will include a keynote address from Chancellor Emerita Constance Carroll. The College of Continuing Education’s Education Cultural Complex held a press conference to announce a $35 million grant to renovate the historic theater, which was made possible by California Senators Toni Atkins and Ben Hueso along with Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez, Chris Ward, and Akilah Weber. He also shared that he attended the October 2-4 National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship’s Board of Directors meeting and annual conference at the Mall of American near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He shared that he met family members of George Floyd and visited George Floyd Square and is optimistic about a potential partnership with the new George Floyd Global Memorial. Next week, the District will serve as the host institution for the fall 2021 Congress of the Association of Community College Trustees, which will convene in San Diego. ACCT will recognize Margaret Lamb, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, with the 2021 Pacific Region Professional Board Staff Member Award for her exemplary service, and is nominated for the national award. The award will be announced publicly during the ACCT Leadership Congress. He also offered special thanks to City College students Rebecca Webb and Francisco Hernandez for their contributions to today’s college presentation.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Student Trustee Victoria Owusu announced that the City College Associated Student Government (ASG) voted to increase its scholarship fund from $7,000 to $10,000, add more feminine product dispensers to campus restrooms, and increase the number of water dispensers around campus. She reported that Mesa College is working on Homecoming plans, as well as Homeless and Hunger Awareness and Restorative Justice weeks; and that its Associated Students (AS) elections are now closed. At Miramar College, she reported that the ASG partnered with the campus Equity Summit, October 28-29, for a Student Art Contest and scholarship in honor of Chancellor Emerita Constance Carroll; the ASG is working on organizing in-person, outdoor events for Fall Fest and Indigenous People’s Day; and ASG President and Student Trustee Edward Borek acknowledged the District for helping raise $5,000 for the September 23-25 AIDS Walk & Run. Student Trustee Owusu also reported that at the College of Continuing Education, the Associated Student Body (ASB) is preparing to hold an election, and they are highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month on social media. She also reported that at the United Student Council it was shared that the ACCT dinner will be held at City College on October 12, and that the District has created studentfocused videos relating to the opening of financial aid applications for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California DREAM Act.
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