Governing Board Meeting Highlights - April 18, 2006
 

	Governing Board members honored Classified Employees Week by passing a resolution noting the contributions of the “classified professionals to quality education."
	Student trustees received plaques in appreciation for their service during the past year.
	Governing Board voted to waive student parking fees for the Summer 2006 term.

Additional Governing Board meeting highlights appear in The Courier, which was distributed electronically May 24. Additional hard copies are placed in the Campus Mail Room.
 

Events Bring Celebratory Close to Academic Year

As Grossmont College marked the end of its 45th year, we had ample opportunity to celebrate student success and honor the continuing contributions of our present and past graduates. Special thanks to Rick Kirby and Dr. Ezequiel Cardenas, Grossmont College alums, for sharing their insights and wisdom as commencement speakers, and to student Andrew Valle, for yet another memorable student commencement address. Thanks also to our governing board members Deanna Weeks and Rick Alexander as well as Chancellor Suarez, President Perri and Grossmont College Foundation incoming President Dittrich for their participation, and to the commencement committee for a job well done.
 

Emergency Enunciator Test and Evacuation Drill

The College’s Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) has been working to orchestrate tests of the Emergency Enunciator System which will alert occupants of classroom and offices when an emergency occurs. First, we conducted a pilot test of the system itself during Spring break. With the help of Gafcon, we developed directional maps which were placed in each classroom or office to help building occupants know the appropriate route and relocation site in case of an evacuation. Then, we combined another Enunciator System test with an all-campus evacuation drill. Next, we plan a full-scale drill and emergency simulation during the fall semester. I really appreciate the creative and diligent work of the Committee and the cooperation of both students and employees. We believe we have accomplished much to advance our preparedness for emergencies with these tests.
 

Retirees Sail Into Retirement in Style

We thank the Grossmont College Foundation for coordinating the “Sailing into Retirement” send-off for retiring district employees. More than 100 guests helped celebrate at the event held at the Marina Village.

 

Ernest Ewin Named Interim Executive Director, GC Foundation

Ernest Ewin is no stranger to Grossmont College or to the GCCCD, having recently served as chair of the Prop R Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). A Grossmont College graduate himself, Ernest took the reins of the Foundation as Interim Executive Director as Howard Kummerman transitioned to a new position. We welcome Ernest to this new role.

Grossmont Lands One of Two State "Quick Start" Projects
to Improve Allied Health Pipeline

Thanks to the perseverance of our Tech Prep counselor Natalie Ray, Grossmont College has won one of just two “Quick Start” grants funded by the Governor’s 2005-2006 budget to improve linkages between vocational and career technical curricula for middle and high schools and community colleges. The $450,000 grant will provide opportunities for middle and high school students to enhance career awareness of health care job opportunities and develop a stronger foundation in science subjects with the ultimate goal of increasing the pipeline of students entering allied health careers. This grant, entitled Regional Allied Health and Science Initiative, is a collaborative effort that will involve our Regional Heath Occupations Resource Center (RHORC) as a key participant.
 

New Partnership Between CSIS and Novell will Benefit Students

Novell Corporation authorized Grossmont College as a Novell Academic Training Partner (NATP) to teach Linux and other Novell Technologies. Instructors will receive access to cutting-edge software and our students will have new opportunities to delve into some of information technology’s most advanced networking and security solutions. By aligning with Novell, we can give students the competitive, diversified edge they need to launch successful IT careers, and as a training partner, we receive substantial discounts on software and authorization to use official Novell course materials. Best of all, our students benefit by earning a course-completion certificate and have the option to pursue further certification.

 
Vice President Peter White Named to Statewide Panel

The Chancellor of the System Office of the California Community Colleges has named Vice President of Student Affairs Peter White to the Implementation Oversight Committee for the California Community Colleges System Strategic Plan, representing chief student services officers. According to Chancellor Mark Drummond, the IOC is comprised of a “distinguished and diverse group of community college stakeholders and partners.”

 

AOJ Outreach Efforts Cultivate Growing Interest in Forensics

Tina Young, a recent addition to the full-time AOJ faculty, participated in an event for more than 200 middle and high school science teachers held at the Ruben H. fleet Space Center. She held a forensics science workshop to “educate the educators” on how to incorporate forensics science into the classroom. Tina reports that the interest was phenomenal and that there is a new organization, High School Teachers of Forensic Science, offering a link to their website for our program. She invited several of the teachers, new to the field of forensics, to take our evening forensic technology class in the fall to enhance their own skills.

In addition three AOJ students majoring in Forensic Technology participated in the San Diego Science Alliance’s “Expanding your Horizons” program which included 600 girls in the 8th to 10th grades. The reception given the AOJ students indicates that there is much interest and enthusiasm for forensic science.
 

Joint Outreach Effort Begins June 17 at Parkway Plaza

Together with Cuyamaca College, we will be staffing an outreach table at the Parkway Plaza Center for ten weekends beginning June 17, 12 noon to 6 p.m. We will be helping new students apply and enroll for classes.
 

Enrollment Figures

Registration data for the 4-, 6- and 8-week Summer Sessions continue to lag behind Summer ’05 comparable data by 1 to 2 percent, depending on the day. As reported earlier, strategies include enhanced promotion, adding to the schedule in high demand offerings and direct contact with students, both on campus and by phone.

 

Grossmont Career Counselor is Member of State Community College System Office Advisory Committee

Peggy Shepard is a member of the State System Office Career Development Advisory Committee, which recently co-sponsored a Community College Workshop in conjunction with the San Diego Educational Consortium. Peggy chaired the event, attended by nearly 50 counselors from all community colleges in the county, and which included panels on transfer options for students. The Consortium is an outreach coordinating committee for many of the private higher education institutions in our region. As a result, Grossmont is frequently invited to participate in business-based educational fairs throughout the county.

 

Arts Council Awards Scholarship in Honor of College Foundation

The Grossmont College Arts Council has initiated a new “Best of Show” scholarship in the name of the Grossmont College Foundation. This was done to show appreciation for the great partnership between the Foundation and Council, resulting in the recent joint fundraising effort, “A Fine Arts Affaire”.
 

Foundation Mini-Grants Growing in Popularity

Howard Kummerman reports that the Foundation awarded 12 individual mini-grants to on-campus entities during the past year. Mini-grants provide up to $500 in support of special initiatives or needs documented in brief proposals by the applicants.
 

Brad Daluiso Golf Classic Another Success
for Foundation Fundraising

On Monday, 5/8, more than 100 golfers competed in a tournament at Sycuan Resort to help support Grossmont College Athletics and the many programs funded by the Grossmont College Foundation. Dinner and awards program were sponsored by Wells Fargo. Other sponsors included Mesa Distributing, Dr. Howard Dittrich, Windmill Farms and Viejas Enterprises.
 

Park Village School Sends Fourth Graders to College

For one afternoon, approximately 70 fourth grade students from Park Village Elementary School got an early college science experience. They were treated to classroom demonstrations and discussions with Grossmont College faculty. Science faculty who assisted coordinator Cary Willard included Martin Larter, Chris Hill and Philip Blanco. Blanco conducted a set of demonstrations to illustrate the joy of scientific discovery and to explain how Galileo proved one of his theories. The young students were eager and engaged, and quite curious about college life. One visiting student even inquired about the quality of the food in the cafeteria!
 

Grossmont and Cuyamaca Counselors Hold Joint Retreat

A half-day retreat held at Mission Trails Conference Center provided the opportunity for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges counselors to get to know each other better and to discuss effective strategies for assuring seamless access for students at and between both colleges. Counselors report that it was a most successful event and should be held on a regular basis.

New Instructor Ron Norman Invited to Introduce Major Speaker
at Systems & Software Tech Conference

Computer Science & Information Systems instructor Ron Norman has a strong background and contacts in the systems and software industry. He has just returned from a presentation where he introduced Grady Booch as the Stevens Award Lecture on Software Development Methods at a Systems and Software Technology Conference. Norman says, “This opportunity to introduce this industry luminary to 2,000 attendees, mostly from the Department of Defense, was a great honor for me.” Norman’s travel was supported by the conference sponsor.
 

Grossmont/Cuyamaca Speech & Debate Team Wins Again

Congratulations to our joint Grossmont-Cuyamaca Speech and Debate Team for their great showing in a recent tournament held at Palomar College. A total of 17 competitors brought home eight awards, included a first place in persuasive speaking for Grossmont’s Cedrina Austria. Congratulations to all student participants and coaches Roxanne Tuscany and Nancy Jennings, too.
 

Scholarships Galore!

Our Grossmont College scholarship office reports that non-campus-based scholarship awards continue to grow. At the end of the 2002-2003 academic year, a total of $176,000 was awarded to students from outside agencies. By comparison, so far in 2005-2006, we have nearly doubled that amount to $343,000. Thanks to Michael Copenhaver, Director of Financial Aid, and Jacqueline Thomas, Scholarship Specialist, for their good work to generate this support for our students.
 

More Medals for ROP Culinary Arts Team

Congratulations again to our ROP Culinary Arts team for an impressive three bronze awards from the Professional American Culinary Federation. These honors were earned in very tough competition during the 2006 Food and Wine Expo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Most panels were comprised of international judges. Winning entries included Cold Food Buffet Platter; Five Course Plated Meal; and Wedding Cake. Here’s your chance to learn how: Our ROP Baking and Pastry Class still has available places in the upcoming summer class! Enroll now.
 

ASGC Elects New Officers for 2006-2007 Academic Year

The ballots have been counted! Congratulations to next year’s ASGC officers:
Sierra Seevers, President; Cindy Valenzuela-Diaz, Vice President; Jennifer Spaulding, Controller; Dianna Sekowski, Director of Publicity; Adam Paul, Director of Campus Activities; and Cathy Keyes, Student Trustee.
 

Athletic Update

Congratulations to Briley Ochs who has been named the California Community College Women’s Diver of the Year, and to Adam Bellistri, Dive Coach of the Year. The Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams have just recently competed in state playoffs. Yui Shimizu and Alyse Tyson won the women’s state tennis championship in doubles, and Yui Shimizu was second in the singles championship. The baseball team has advanced to the semi-finals round of the state championship play-offs.