San Diego Community College District
Citizens’ Oversight Committee
2010 A Message from the Chair
W
e are more than a third of the way through the San Diego Community College District’s $1.555 billion Propositions S and N construction bond program. More than $550 million has been expended to date, resulting in the completion of nearly 40 voterapproved projects. New in 2010 In 2010, the District marked the completion of several projects. These include City College’s new Career Technology Center (CTC) and a major renovation of the “P” Building (now called the Health, Exercise Science and Athletics Building); the Mesa College Design Center and nearby transit center; and the Humanities & Arts and Math & Business buildings at Miramar College. These buildings are providing state-of-the-art academic and vocational training environments that are invaluable to students as they transition to fouryear campuses and new careers. The status of all active projects is shown on the back page. Clean Audits for Eight Straight Years Financial Performance Audits have been performed as required by state law since the inception of the bond program. Each audit has consistently verified that bond fund expenditures were spent efficiently on the projects approved by San Diego voters. Once again, the SDCCD received Standard & Poor’s highest bond rating of any California community college. Monitoring activities performed by the C.O.C. include budget reviews, design presentations, and regular reports on program progress. A redesign of the public website was completed this year to enhance transparency. A Program Performance Review will be developed for 2011. A detailed summary of the 2010 activities and meeting materials are available at http://public.sdccdprops-n.com. As always, your attendance and participation at C.O.C. meetings is welcome and encouraged. Sincerely,
George W. Hawkins
Propositions S & N Annual Report
Career Technology Center Opens
Students describe as the “Harvard of Community Colleges”
T
he Career Technology Center opened for classes for the fall 2010 semester as the new home of City’s Nursing, Cosmetology and Photography Departments, providing five floors of new classrooms, labs, studios and other space to allow for the expansion of these in-demand programs. “There is so much more learning happening here,” says Cosmetology Dean Sylvia Leon. “Our students used to have to go to several locations for instruction. Now we’re all under one roof and everything we need is right here.” Student esthetician Sojeila Cast says the new building is used as “a bragging point” with clients. “Everything is new and beautiful and state-of-the-art. Our clients feel like they are in a real spa.” “This is the Harvard of community colleges,” she adds. Cosmetology Senior Ray Zapata, a Navy veteran and a married father of two, values the extra space. “We love having our own stations. You feel like you’re already in a salon.” Zapata, a former Navy barber, also appreciates CTC’s sustainable features. “The natural lighting makes a huge difference with haircuts and makeup. We can see everything with far greater detail and accuracy.” The building’s smart design, including sustainable materials like terrazzo flooring, and the nation’s largest vertical solar panel array, led to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Cosmetology Professor Sudie Phillips credits the new facility for helping students earn a 100 percent passage rate on their state boards in December. “They were so well-prepared and we received many positive comments from the board as a result.” Kim Shafer, an Associate Professor of Cosmetology says the new facility is key to developing a highly-trained workforce. “Students trained here will have so many doors to open,” says Shafer. “San Diego voters gave them a golden key.”