Governing Board Meeting Highlights
At the August 19, meeting, the Governing Board:
- Accepted the recommendations of the fact-finder concerning the 2006-07 and 2007-08 bargaining.
- Heard Governing Board President Bill Garrett express appreciation about the comments at the recent Convocation of Academic Senate President Chris Hill, who encouraged the faculty to remain proactive in offering assistance to students.
- Heard Chancellor Omero Suarez express admiration at the announcement that Grossmont College has been selected by the readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune as the “San Diego’s Best Local College” for 2008. It is our fourth time in the past six years that U-T readers have voted for Grossmont College as “San Diego’s Best” (previous winning years were 2003, 2004 and 2007).
- Heard Academic Senate and CSEA representatives voice support for our “Students First” campaign that involves the effort by faculty, staff and administration to leave enough spaces for students on campus while the new parking structure is under construction during the next year by parking off-site at Gillespie Field, starting on the first day of school.
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.
Off-Site Parking
Monday morning was the launch of our “Students First” off-site parking program. I understand there is a reasonable level of anxiety associated with this change in our routines, but I appreciate the support of all employees. My sincere gratitude for your assistance in helping our college get through this challenge. “Students First,” which has involved months of planning, emerged through our collegial consultation process through the Parking Alternatives Taskforce, Facilities Committee and Planning and Budget Council. The parking information can be found on Grossmont’s website at: www.grossmont.edu/faculty_staff, or the District’s website at http://www.gcccd.edu/faculty.staff/offsite_parking_grossmont_colle.htm.
TOPSpecial Events
Professional Development Flex Week has seen its share of special events, including Convocation on Monday (08/18), Adjunct Faculty Office Workspace ribbon cutting on Wednesday (08/20) and the grand opening celebration for the Exercise Science & Wellness Complex on Friday (08/22). At Convocation, David Roche delivered a humorous, witty and authentic keynote speech. My thanks to Edda Temoche-Weldele and Judd Curran who served as co-chairs of the Faculty Professional Development Committee. The adjunct faculty office workspace is located in the Stagehouse Theatre building, on the east side. Two of the three separate rooms each have four workstations, and a third room has eight workstations, complete with phones, fax machine and photocopy machine. The two-building ESW Complex features new coaches offices, locker rooms and weight training and exercise rooms, as well as new shower rooms, classrooms and film room.
TOPEnrollment
Many thanks to our college’s staff for working hard to keep our enrollment strong! We anticipate the numbers will stabilize with a projected increase of 2 or 3 percent in headcount. We spent part of this summer working out the bugs on the new web-based registration system, which features a secure web interface where students will be given a new I.D. number to replace the use of a Social Security number. In addition, the new system enables students to print unofficial transcripts and grades, check and print schedules, register for and drop classes during the registration period, search for open classes, view fees and payments made, update contact information and purchase a parking permit and AGSC Benefit Card, all in a more user friendly Windows based environment. My thanks to our A&R and Tech Mall staff members who are providing students with registration assistance in the Tech Mall.
Below are enrollment comparisons for Fall 2008 as compared to Fall 2007:
| Fall 2008 | Fall 2007 | Count Variance | %Variance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 14,938.0 | 14,231.0 | +707 | +5.0% |
| Units | 140,389.5 | 133,289.5 | +7100 | +5.3% |
Parking Structure
Construction has begun in Lot #5 on our new three-story parking structure, which will feature 1,432 spaces and a new 3,200-square-foot office for the campus police. Yesterday, Tuesday (08/26), we had our first major concrete pour. Construction completion is scheduled for June 2009. The parking structure, which is another Proposition R project, is part of a facilities master plan designed to accommodate 20,000 students, which the college expects to reach by 2015 (or perhaps sooner!).
TOPCardiovascular Technology Receives $100,000 Grant
I am proud to announce that the Grossmont Healthcare District has approved at $100,000 grant for our Cardiovascular Technology program. The grant will assist in the recruitment and retention of qualified faculty and, thus, ensure the continuation of the two-year program, which was founded in 1972, and boasts about 1,750 graduates. Grossmont College grads are currently working in more than 90 percent of the available cardiovascular-related jobs in San Diego County. Grossmont’s CVT program, the first to be accredited in the nation, is the only comprehensive program offered at the community college level in the state. The majority of Grossmont grads work in the clinical area, while others work as department managers, teachers, medical researchers, authors and applications specialists.
TOPAccreditation
Work is continuing in preparation for a scheduled accrediting visit this Fall by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The day-and-a-half visit by a three-member team is expected after our completed report is mailed to the WASC/ACCJC Commission. The initial integrated draft of the first Accreditation Progress Report is under review. Subsequent drafts will be vetted through the college’s shared governance process during September. Our report is due Oct. 15. The visit is expected to occur between Oct. 19 and Nov. 22. Since our founding in 1961, we have been fully accredited on a continual basis by WASC and we hope to remain so.
TOPParents' Night
On Wednesday, August 6, the Counseling department held its second Parents’ Night of the summer. This event provides an opportunity for the parents of new students to learn more about Grossmont College and the various transfer and degree programs we offer. They also learn about student success strategies and how parents can support their children’s educational goals. The Financial Aid Office also staffs a very popular information table on how students can apply for grants, loans, and scholarships. Approximately 100 parents attended each event. Barnes and Noble and Ross Books also generously provided book vouchers that were given to four lucky parents whose names were drawn at random.
TOPNew Student Advising
After a two semester pilot, the Counseling department has now fully implemented a new student advising process that integrates counseling services, web-based registration, and the computer lab facilities of our Tech Mall. Students who attend these advising sessions are seated at a computer that is logged into Web Advisor. Counselors provide course enrollment information and help students register for their classes and put together their semester class schedule. Any problems or difficulties that occur can be immediately solved on the spot. This ensures that students enroll in all the classes and units they need and that they enroll in classes that are appropriate for their basic skill level.
TOPVisitors From Cleveland
Nory Behana, Child Development Instructor, recently hosted two professors from Cuyahoga Community College, near Cleveland, who wanted to learn more about our Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Care Education Program. This program, based at Grossmont, has been serving San Diego County since 1984. Annually, we offer about 4,000 hours of classes and workshops. Foster parents and people who adopt children from foster care take our classes and workshops held at more than 30 locations all over the county to help prepare them to understand the child protection system and the emotions and behaviors of children who have been abandoned, abused and/or neglected.
TOPRecent Honors
- Tina Young, AOJ Instructor, has been recognized for her volunteer service in National City for teaching police officers how to properly collect and preserve evidence at crime scenes. Her husband, Sgt. Graham Young, and former Grossmont Police Academy graduate Officer Jared Madsen also were honored at the same ceremony with the Medal of Valor and Medal of Courage, respectively, as the result of heroic action in rescuing a driver whose car had driven off the road into a river.
- Christi Vicino, COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) and the Director of our OTA Program, was recently featured in a magazine published by the American Occupational Therapy Association. Noted in the magazine article was our career pathways program with the Grossmont Union High School District that establishes a pathway from local high schools to our college for students interested in healthcare careers.
- Jamie Gassert, graphics coordinator in Creative Services, just received the news that she will appear in the upcoming 120th annual Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2009. An avid horsewoman, Jamie will be the leader of the nine-member equestrian unit. The theme for the 2009 Rose Parade is “Hats Off To Entertainment.”
- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce has recognized Jennifer Newmann, Assistant Dean, Grants and Contracts, for her assistance in its Ethics in Business 2008 event. Jennifer served as one of the facilitators.
- Academic Senate President Chris Hill has received a letter from a recent graduate who expressed appreciation for faculty members Scott Therkalsen and Judd Curran. The graduate, who is age 42, wrote, “I have been in school and have had many professors over the years; both of these instructors took extra time and patience with myself and many others in our classes. They were both accessible for office hours and quick to respond to questions via e-mail…. In a world where teachers are under appreciated, please know that these two have made their mark.”
Letters To The President
TOPUpcoming Events
- Health/Physical Science Building Groundbreaking Ceremony, Friday, September 12 @10 a.m.
Dr. Sunita V. Cooke