Our 45th year is well underway. I hope you enjoyed the Convocation August 15 and that staff development week provided opportunities for many to learn more about a wide-range of subjects. Congratulations to Mary Rider, who was named Distinguished Faculty 2005-2006. Mary will be recognized throughout the academic year.

We are determined to seize every opportunity to grow enrollment to meet our goals. The next opportunity is Second Eight-Week classes. We have more than 80 class sections scheduled to begin the week of October 17-21. Please encourage students to visit the web to see the complete listing, including four new general education classes recently added by the Humanities and Social Science departments. Even if desired classes appear to be full, please suggest that students sign up for the priority wait list AND go to the first meeting of the class. Experience tells us that they will probably be accommodated.

Kudos to Phi Theta Kappa, the ASGC and the Athletic Department for their efforts to raise funds to be contributed to the Rescue Task Force Hurricane Katrina relief mission. The ASGC matched individual donations as well as the proceeds of a fund-raising campaign at the football game September 17. To date the Grossmont College family has contributed more than $6,000 to the effort, which continued through September 30.

Please join me in a warm welcome to our new faculty, who will be introduced to the Governing Board at the October 18 meeting in The Griffin Gate, and to Roger Owens, our new Dean of Communication and Fine Arts, who will be profiled in an upcoming edition of Campus Scene.

Don’t forget to save the date for the Grossmont College Foundation Gala, October 29, at Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. Faculty, staff and a guest are each entitled to special discounted prices. The theme is Lights, Camera…Achieve. Dress is ‘cocktail attire’ and the mood will be celebratory! I invite you to join us for a superb silent auction, a delicious meal, and Grossmont camaraderie as we honor our students, business partners and alumni Walk of Fame inductees.
 

Ted Martinez, Jr.