Governing Board Meeting Highlights

During the January 16th Governing Board Meeting:
 

	Jim Austin, Vice Chancellor Business Services, announced his acceptance of a new position with the Mira Costa Community College District. Austin’s work on behalf of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District was lauded by members of the Governing Board, Chancellor Suarez, as well as Dean Colli and Gerri Perri.
	Chancellor Omero Suarez praised efforts to increase FTES, including marketing and outreach activities, and noted the strong enrollment patterns at both colleges.
	Dr. Colli detailed Grossmont College priorities in relation to implementation of the Adopted Budget in a special report to the Governing Board.  He reviewed the assumptions that were the targets for planned expenditures back in September. Next, Dr. Colli reviewed the allocation strategies and steps taken to distribute available resources, based on the need to fund faculty replacements, absorb costs generated by new buildings, and provide additional classified staffing. He described the college processes in fiscal decision making. In closing, Dr. Colli noted the following fiscal challenges given the erratic nature of state funding: Achieving targeted FTES base, requiring funding for promotion and outreach and funding for sections to address new audiences; The need to increase the ratio of full-time/part-time faculty; Need to provide long-term classified staff stability in critical areas; Need to move from one-time funding strategies to ongoing budget allocations to provide budget stability in program areas; Ongoing needs for facility repair and remodeling not covered by Prop R; Reduce reliance on block grant/categorical expenditures; Address significant underserved need for professional development for all employee groups.

Other Governing Board Highlights appear in The Courier, which was distributed electronically and is available in hard copy in the Campus Mail Room.

General Session Welcomed Replacements of 2 Administrators
and 12 Faculty for Spring, 2007

In addition to welcoming new administrators John Colson and Agustin Albarran, Staff Development Week's General Session introductions featured the opportunity to officially greet 12 replacement faculty, including two nursing instructors. Dr. Colli reported that appointments for another two faculty replacements and one new faculty position in the Nursing program have also just been identified, which brings us to five recent hires in this high demand area.

Dr. Colli thanked the members of the Governing Board for attending the General Session and acknowledged President Alexander’s welcome. A busy flex week calendar was planned by our Faculty Professional Development Committee. Dr. Colli noted that we look forward to a busy and productive spring semester.

Enrollment Projections Strong

We are heartened by a consistent positive enrollment pattern for Spring 2007. As of Tuesday, January 16, we have headcount up 4.5 percent and total units up 4.8 percent, compared to the same enrollment dates for last year at this time. Thanks to our faculty chairs and coordinators as well as our deans for developing new opportunities for students with the addition of new sections. Examples include the additional Biology 120 and Chemistry classes, which Dean Jerry Buckley reports are full. We will continue with our successful approach to helping wait-listed students find their way to open seats during this coming week. Our off-site classes at Helix High School are also popular. The final week of the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center outreach will conclude Saturday and Sunday. Nancy Davis reports the Adult Re-entry Orientation Sessions held January 3 and 4 were very well attended.

Science Laboratory Building Grand Opening

A campus committee has been hard at work planning the Grand Opening of the Science Laboratory Building that took place January 17. This special occasion, which came with some surprises and lots of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ as tours proceeded through this exciting new facility. Kudos to Jerry Buckley, the faculty and staff of the Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science departments, and Tim Flood for extraordinary service to bring this building on line. The Science Lab Building will help students access critical classes and provide badly needed dedicated space for laboratory support.
 

Presidential Search Status

With the assistance of Chancellor Suarez, Board President Alexander, Ben Lastimado and Amber Green from Human Resources, and Foundation Director Ernie Ewin and Dr. Dean Colli as Search Committee representatives, we have enhanced our search process by securing the services of an executive search consulting firm, Community College Search Solutions (CCSS). We will be assisted by CCSS consultants Drs. Jim Walker and Kevin Ramirez, who met with those of us who were involved in retaining the firm and again with the Presidential Search Committee. I am confident that our renewed efforts will result in an appointment of a new president, who will hopefully be in place July 1.

Grossmont College Art Faculty Jennifer Bennett
Featured in ARTWEEK

The work of Jennifer Bennett, a member of the Grossmont College Art department faculty, is featured in the current issue of ARTWEEK, a monthly publication with national distribution. Bennett and Robin Bright’s work is also the subject of a new exhibition at the Hyde Art Gallery. Please join us there for the opening event January 30, 7 – 9 p.m. According to ARTWEEK, “(their) paintings explore ideas of potential, simplicity, energy and ruin. Concerned with communication and how we relate one thing to another, each artist attempts to reconsider form, material and content to suggest various ways of understanding what we see.”

Security Management Curriculum and Security Academy
Promoted in Industrial Security Publication

Thanks to AOJ department chair Dr. P.J. Ortmeier and industry representative Herb Thompson, all six of the new Homeland and Security Management courses were publicized in the December issue of the San Diego Chapter Newsletter of the American Society of Industrial Security International. New online classes in Security Management lead to a certificate in this hot new field.

Grossmont College to Lead Regional Tech Prep Coordination

We have just received word of a grant award by the California Department of Education, in the amount of $461,000, that will support Grossmont College’s efforts with regional community colleges and high school partners to develop courses of study for six industry clusters. The 14-month program will begin April 1. Congratulations to Fred Allen, Senior Dean of Business & Professional Studies, and to Natalie Ray, Tech Prep Coordinator, for landing this important grant.

Sandia Tuttle Receives ITC Award for Outstanding
Distance Education Faculty

Grossmont’s Sandia Tuttle will receive the Instructional Technology Council (ITC) award for Excellence in Distance Education at a special recognition luncheon as part of the Council’s annual conference in February. Sandia, an adjunct instructor in the English department, works in the English Writing Center and teaches English 120 online.

Office Professional Training Program Graduation

The Office Professional Training (OPT) Program Graduation was held Thursday, January 18. Congratulations to Dr. Mary Leslie and the dedicated OPT faculty and staff for supporting the development of another cohort of OPT success stories. It was a heartwarming event that  celebrated the accomplishments and bright futures of 18 program completers from the Fall semester.

Designated Smoking Areas Identified, Awareness Campaign Planned

As part of the college role in implementing the Governing Board’s new Smoking Ordinance, Tim Flood’s staff has been busy preparing the eight designated smoking areas. Tim and Susan Herney have also been developing elements of a public awareness campaign to help inform students, staff and the general public about the new ordinance. Click on image to enlarge map.