 It
is wonderful to see so many students on campus again for the beginning of
our 42nd academic year here at Grossmont College. Although summer sessions
are always lively, the official opening of the fall semester is an important
ritual. I appreciate the efforts put forward by every counselor and staff
member to make sure our students are served and helped along the way to
their educational objectives. I also appreciate the efforts our faculty have
made to accommodate as many students as possible in their classes.
We have met our enrollment target for the fall semester and must balance
our capacity and the realities of our FTES goals with our desire to serve as
many as possible. Perhaps you saw the KFMB-TV Channel 8 feature on September
4 that showcased our efforts in this regard while receiving less funding per
FTES than 90 percent of the community colleges in the state.
Speaking of achievements, you should know that Community College Week, a
trade newspaper that is distributed nationwide, reports that, based on U.S.
Department of Education data, Grossmont College ranks 81st in the nation in
the awarding of associate degrees. As a result, we are known as a ‘top
producer’ of associate degrees!
Furthermore, we rank 43rd in awarding associate degrees in Administration of
Justice and are 34th in the nation in the number of associate degrees in
Nursing.
Please continue to find ways to cut costs and save precious resources as
we face the uncertain times in the budget year ahead. The Grossmont College
community continues to demonstrate that we earn the trust of our students
and their parents. I am proud that we were named San Diego’s “Best” by the
San Diego Union Readers’ Poll, and am proud that our community values
Grossmont College so highly. Thanks for all you do to keep us focused on
educational success.
Respectfully,
Ted Martinez, Jr.
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