Governing Board Meeting Highlights
At the October 16, 2007, meeting the Governing Board:
- Learned about Fall ASGC activities, including recent tryouts for mascot GIZMO, from ASGC President Wendy Hutson;
- Received the Gafcon Quarterly Management Report;
- Adopted a Resolution in support of the Community College Funding Initiative;
- President Rick Alexander and Trustee Greg Barr each expressed appreciation to Dr. Cooke and the planning committee for the Kickoff Ceremony for the Exercise Science and Wellness Complex Remodel;
- Approved the construction bid for Grossmont College’s Parking Structure Phase 1, Relocation of Utilities;
- Ratified the award of the contract for Grossmont College Food Services Operations to Sodexho Campus Services.
Other Governing Board highlights will appear in the Courier which is distributed electronically from the District Office. Hard copies are available in the Mail Room.
Grossmont College Prepares for Accreditation Site Visit
As we face the home stretch before the AACJC-WASC Accrediting Team’s visit October 22, I would like to thank our entire campus community for helping us move forward with this challenging, yet invigorating task. For more than two years, we have focused on development of the Self Study, and have learned much about ourselves in the process. We are confident that the process will show that our analyses are accurate and our institution worthy. Special thanks to the Accreditation Steering Committee co-chairs, Pamela Amor, Chuck Passentino, and Bonnie Price.
View the 2007 Self Study. You will be required to login to access the information.
TOPParking Alternatives Plans Focus on Putting Students First
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For the past several years, our college has been engaged in analysis of a myriad of parking alternatives to mitigate the parking need identified in the Facilities Master Plan.
As we begin Phase 1 of the new Parking Structure in Lot 5 and anticipate the impact of construction in early spring 2008, our College Community has considered ways to accommodate and to offset the temporary loss of parking.
I am very proud to report that our planning is based on the commitment to “Put our Students First” in order to preserve student parking to the greatest possible extent. For the balance of Fall, 2007, everyone’s needs will be accommodated by shifting some spaces from the construction site in Lot 5 to the Soccer Field and Perimeter Road.
Our message to our students is: We’re making space for you. With this strategy, we will be preserving the income stream from student parking permits and showing our students and our community that we do put students first. We anticipate that we will also maintain our FTES throughout construction, generate good will, and present a united ‘can do’ model.
College Transfer Day and Career Expo Present Opportunities Galore
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Congratulations to the Transfer Center and the Student Development Services for hosting outstanding events to help students learn more about opportunities that await them. On October 10, more than 45 college and universities were represented in the Quad to meet with students about transfer.
October 17th, we hosted the annual Career Expo, which is now approaching its 30th year at Grossmont College. Please join us in the Main Quad to see more than 100 exhibitors and employers interact with our students.
College Marketing, Publications, and Promotional Pieces Win Regional Awards
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Earlier this year you approved title changes for our employees in three departments: Graphics, Word Processing, and Photography. Now those three departments, plus Instructional Design Technology, are collectively known as ‘Creative Services.’ According to Kats Gustafson, Dean, Division of Learning and Technology Resources, the titles reflect designations consistent with current industry practices. Drop by and meet the Creative Services team in the Library.
Speech & Debate Team Takes Third Place Sweepstakes Award
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We’re off to another fabulous year for the joint Grossmont-Cuyamaca Speech and Debate Team, with a third place Sweepstakes Award in Limited Entry Division at competition held at Concordia University earlier this month. Three first-time novices competed in the tournament. Our team will be hosting the Griffin Invitational Speech/Debate Tournament November 10 & 11.
Banned Books Celebrated
Kudos to our English Department for their attention to issues surrounding ‘banned books’ through the celebration of popular fiction during the annual campus event, held September 29- October 6. Readers included students, community members and faculty and was coordinated by Joe Medina. Grossmont College faculty presenters included Nadra Farina-Hess, Tony Ding, Joan Ahrens and Dr. Theresa Ford.
TOPThe Fall Theatre Season in Full Bloom at Grossmont College Stagehouse Theatre
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I hope you had an opportunity to attend our production of Neil Simon’s Rumors which just completed its run at the Stagehouse Theatre. Don’t miss the next production, LOVE LETTERS, which opens November 8.
Grossmont College Foundation "It's A New Day Gala" This Saturday, October 20th!
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I am looking forward to greeting you all Saturday evening at what is shaping up to be the best Gala in recent history! We anticipate a record high attendance and incredible auction items, including a Tony Gwynn Hall Of Fame autographed baseball and bat! The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Convention Center.
Art Faculty Exhibition Featured in Hyde Art Gallery
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Congratulations to our Art Faculty for an outstanding exhibition which is currently installed in the Hyde Art Gallery through October 25.
Former Student Wins Literary Awards
Ryan Griffith and Joel Castellaw report that our former student, William Roetzheim, has been writing and publishing a series of plays about great poets. His play, “Frost” about the life of Robert Frost, won the award for Best New Play at the Moondance Film Festival at Universal Studios. It was one of the four finalists out of 250 entries for the Poetry Foundation’s Pegasus Award for Best Verse Drama.
TOPDate Set for Second Annual Science Decathlon for Middle School Students
Dr. Cary Willard, champion of science events for middle and high school students, is organizing the Second Annual Science Decathlon for middle school students throughout San Diego County. The event will be held March 8 at a local middle school site.
TOPChef Joe Orate Wins "People's Choice Award" In Prestigious Culinary Competition
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Chef Joe was invited to participate in the Southern California Chef’s Championship Lobster Competition, sponsored by the ACF Chefs and Culinarians of San Diego, along with Barona Valley Ranch and Resort October 1. Joe was one of just 12 premier chefs in San Diego County competing, against such luminaries as chefs from Island Prime, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine and Roy’s. Congratulations to Joe – “The People’s Choice”
Communication Department Hosts Teaching Summit
The Grossmont College Communication Department hosted a roundtable discussion/workshop on various topics that involved teaching and interaction in the classroom. Dr. Tina Pitt, Interim Vice President Academic Affairs, served as keynote speaker. Topics included: What’s the Good Tech? What’s Going on Out There? What Do You Do? What Did She Just Say?
TOPAdministration of Justice's PJ Ortmeier Leads State Effort to Craft Student Learning Outcomes
Thanks to Dr. P.J. Ortmeier’s leadership as the California Association of Administration of Justice Educators’ representative to the Chancellor’s Statewide Public Safety Education Committee, the organization received a $25,000 Perkins grant. The grant will enable the organization to host a workshop to complete a statewide model for Student Learning Outcomes and Assessments for AOJ core courses. This project continues a project Ortmeier began in 2006. The new grant will also provide participants with the framework to begin the process of integrating basics skills into AOJ courses. Ortmeier reports that several Grossmont College AOJ faculty have been and will continue to be involved in the association’s activities.
TOPEnrollment Update
We began our Second Eight Week session Monday, October 15. It is timely to thank everyone involved in helping our ‘late start’ students find seats in more than 100 class sections offered during this time period. Reports indicate that we are up 21% in second 8-week enrollment this fall over last fall.
It is also timely to thank our academic faculty who endeavored to help us meet our FTES goals throughout this semester by opening additional sections in order to accommodate as many students as possible. Every student who wanted to enroll in Bio 120 was registered as a result of new sections opened. Kudos to those silent warriors in every classroom and discipline who help students get to class and helped us welcome more than 6,500 brand new students this fall semester!
TOPShowcase EOPS/Cal Works Remodel - Open House October 31st
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Please stop by the newly-remodeled EOPS/CalWORKS Department October 31, 1-3 p.m. Our students will be competing in a Halloween Costume Contest, there will be candy and ‘treats’ and opportunities to see the results of the Prop R-funded upgrades, and new space as we serve our ever-increasing EOPS student population.
Other Upcoming Events - Please Join Us
- Somebody Catch my Homework Stagehouse Theatre, October 19 & 20
- Music from Afar Grossmont Symphony Orchestra, October 21, East County Performing Arts Center, 3 p.m.
- Political Economy Week October 29 – November 2
Dr. Sunita V. Cooke