Governing Board Meeting Highlights - March 21, 2006
 

• Ken Sobel, president of the Grossmont College Foundation, reported that the Foundation fund provided $135,000 in grants and $10,000 in student scholarships in 2004-2005. The Foundation has established the Wendell Cutting Fund for Students which will provide support to help students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca College in a crisis to continue their education.

• Chancellor Suarez joined Classified Senate Vice President Maggie Gonzales to introduce the revamped Chancellor/Classified Senate Award, which will be given on a quarterly basis. Recipients will receive a $250 gift certificate from Barnes & Nobel, enjoy lunch with the Chancellor and governing board president, as well as an engraved, acrylic trophy.

Additional Governing Board meeting highlights appear in The Courier, which was distributed electronically March 28. Additional hard copies are placed in the Campus Mail Room.

Enrollment

A week ago last Thursday we ‘rolled out’ the arrival of the Summer Class Schedule, combining the announcement with ASGC-sponsored events in the Main Quad. Members of the Marketing and Recruitment Committee helped spread the word by staffing the special booth. Counselors are busy with high school outreach.

The AOJ program maintains a special outreach program which provides a variety of activities, depending on age group, to help spark interest in careers in law enforcement. An example is the Fingerprint workshop for children held in local libraries, and forensic workshops in anthropology, microscopy and fingerprints for elementary school students.

Second Eight Week classes began last week. We have been working hard to remind students of opportunities to add classes that help move them toward their educational objectives. We are also reminding students to attend the first meeting of the class even if they are on a wait list; an opening may have been created by another student whose plans have changed since they initially registered.

Black History Month a Resounding Success

From the World Beat Drummers to Black Storytellers to the Gospel Fest finale, the month of February was full of exciting and informative performances and events. We thank ASGC Vice President Charles Brown for his active role in coordinating the month-long program.

Drumming, Dancing and Presentations Marked the 18th Annual Grossmont College Powwow

Thanks to the enthusiasm and coordination of Tom Gamboa, the annual Powwow drew participants from throughout Indian Country. Following the Grand Entry and the posting of the colors by the American Indian Warriors Association, Rhonda Welch-Scalco, former Grossmont College student and current Barona tribal chief presented a check for scholarships for Indian students, as did representatives of Viejas Tribal organization. It is important to note that Grossmont College ranks 54th nationally by having conferred 1,234 associate degrees to Native American students, as of 2004.

PTK Chapter Earns 5-Star Status Again!

Grossmont’s PTK earned recognition as a 5-Star Chapter again in 2005. The award signifies that the chapter has met the criteria for the Chapter Development award, including standards of quality programming and commitment to chapter goals.

Congratulations to officers Tammy Harmon, Kathy Schwartz, Monica Hernandez, and Andrew Valle, who accepted the award at PTK’s recent Regional Conference. Thanks also to chapter advisor Victoria Howitt, who received an award for outstanding new chapter advisor last semester. Victoria also served as chapter advisor to the Cuyamaca PTK delegation during the recent conference.

Campus Welcomes 15 Teachers-in-Training
from Mexican Colleges

Continuing a five-year tradition, the Grossmont College campus welcomed 15 international students from three teacher-training colleges in the state of Mexico who will perfect their English skills and practice teach in seven local middle schools in the Cajon Valley and Lakeside school districts. It is the only such program in existence between our two countries. When the students return to their home colleges, they will engage in a full year of practice teaching. They will be joined here periodically throughout the balance of the semester by up to five of their supervising professors. Thanks to Peter White for facilitating this innovative program.

New Equipment Helps Update Health Professions Labs

Two Health Professions departments have been able to leverage VTEA equipment grants to replace outdated equipment and to embellish training opportunities. An example, $47,523 VTEA funds are being used to fund the major portion of a new Philips Diamond Select Cardiovascular Ultrasound System valued at $56, 873. The department is currently accumulating additional funds from a variety of sources to purchase an Ultrasound Examining Table to replace an old donated gurney currently in use in the lab. Kudos to Department Coordinator Rick Kirby and Interim Associate Dean for Health Profession, Dr. Mary Callahan for their creative strategies.

VTEA funding will also purchase a new ventilator which will be used by the Respiratory Therapy and Nursing departments.
 

Nursing Department Receives State of California $175,000 “Capacity Building Grant for Nursing Program Expansion.”

The intent of the grant is for minor building renovations and equipment, which the Nursing Program will use to renovate room 355 and to purchase equipment. Examples include bedside units, simulation equipment, electronic monitoring devises, IV pumps, and other larger items not covered in the current budget.

In addition, we will be admitting an additional 20 students over the next three years for which we will receive $11,000 per student.
 

Science Faculty Help Middle School Students Develop Interest in Science

Members of the Grossmont College science faculty worked with middle school students in Spring Valley and Lakeside to help them prepare for their participation in the recent Science Olympiad. Spring Valley Middle School students placed 10th overall in their first effort.

Jerry Buckley, Dr. Cary Willard, Dr. Martin Larter and Dr. Colli traveled to the schools to visit with the students and their teachers and present certificates to each Olympiad participant. Thanks to Cary and Martin for helping generate interest in the scientific method for our local middle school students.

 
KUSI’s Rod Luck Featured The Departments of Theatre Arts, Dance and Music and the production of SUDS

Rod Luck visited campus recently the morning of March 2 to help KUSI viewers learn more about the inner workings of the musical theatre production, especially the Costume Design Department, and to help promote SUDS which opened in the Stagehouse Theatre that evening. Watch for Rod at 10 a.m. on April 19 when he returns to campus to feature the Health and Wellness Fair.

World Arts and Culture Organization (WACO)
Sponsors Women’s History Month Event

The event March 20th in the Main Quad was sponsored by WACO in honor of Women’s History Month. The two-hour program provided an array of informative presentations as well as performances, culminating with students showcasing regional dress in “Fashion from Around the World.” There is also a showcase of women’s traditional garb on display in the LTRC.

Students Raise $7,000 for CVT Program

Rick Kirby reports that the Cardiovascular Technology Class of 2007 sponsored a "Heart Healthy Walk/Run" February 27 at 6:30 a.m. on the Grossmont College Track and raised approximately $7,000 for the CVT Program. The class officers did an outstanding job organizing the event.

Media Com Students Win Big Awards

Congratulations to Farrah Gross and Sheryl Mills who will receive national awards and recognition for their Radio/Audio productions which were entered into the Broadcast Education Association’s Student Competitions. Sheryl Mills took first place in the newscaster category, going against undergraduate and graduate students from across the U.S. as well as international entries for her Radio News Package: SDSU Campus Safety. Farrah Gross’s mini-documentary received second place in the two-year/small college audio competition. Sheryl Mills also won third place in that competition.

Facilities Update
 

• We are happy to report great progress being made in the Digital Arts and Sculpture
  building construction. Tim Flood reports that the construction is on track for completion as scheduled.

• The Science Building is ‘flying along’ with grading for the storm drains taking place as the scaffolding comes down. We look forward to occupying the building as anticipated during winter break.

• The 500 Building Restroom project is scheduled for completion at the end of April.

• Lot 7 access routing will undergo a new configuration over Spring Break. We will be alerting our students with an outgoing e-mail ‘blast’, as well as the signage about the upcoming changes that has been in place for several weeks.
  

Spring Sports Update
 

• Baseball is currently tied for second place in the Pacific Coast Conference at 5 – 3
  (15-7 overall).

• Softball is also tied for second (4-2) in the PCC.

• Men’s Swimming and Diving is undefeated at 3-0.

• Women’s Tennis is undefeated at 9-0.

• Men’s Tennis (10-1) has only one loss and that was to perennial state powerhouse College of the Desert.

Upcoming Events
 

• Monday, May 8: Grossmont College Foundation Brad Daluiso Golf Tournament, Singing Hills. Check-in, 10 a.m.; shotgun start, 12 noon.