Governing Board Meeting Highlights

At the November 18, meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Approved on consent Jan. 2, 2009 as a day of recognition and holiday for all District employees.
  • Tentatively scheduled chancellor interviews for Dec. 11-12.
  • Affirmed disciplinary action of a Grossmont College student in closed session.
  • Trustees congratulated Sunny Cooke on her Women in Leadership award from the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and a successful Grossmont College Foundation fund-raiser.
  • Trustee Deanna Weeks noted a recent San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper article, published on Monday, Nov. 3, that highlighted Grossmont’s Office Professional Training (OPT) program and the need for vocational programs at community colleges.
  • Trustee Bill Garrett acknowledged a meeting held earlier in the day at Griffin Gate with Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-La Mesa).
  • Student Trustee Dan Lewis mentioned that students raised $300 for the EOPS/CARE Holiday Party for children and that 30,000 chop sticks were placed in lawn areas on campus to illustrate that 30,000 children under age 5 die every day due to poverty.

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.

Accreditation

Two members of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation team visited our campus on November 5th. The team addressed four recommendations from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The recommendations that were addressed: #1. Diversity in hiring; #2. SLO progress; #3. Streamlining the institutional planning process; and #4. Excellent working relationships across the District. The visitors expressed their appreciation for the enormous amount of work done by t he college and district to address the four areas. But, given the current climate for accreditation, they urged us to continue to make steady progress in these areas. Their assessment will be sent to the commission for action at its January 2009 meeting.

In addition, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission has recommended accreditation for the Grossmont College School of Nursing. The initial accreditation is the first step in the process toward securing a five-year accreditation, which is expected to be announced in January.

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Career Expo

Our 30th annual Career Expo was held Nov. 19. More than 120 exhibitors were available to network with job seekers, who were encouraged to dress to impress and bring copies of their resume. Presenting sponsors included AGSC, Grossmont College Foundation, Sharp HealthCare, UPS and Wells Fargo.

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Recent Fundraising Results

The Grossmont College Foundation raised $130,000 at its Dinner Auction and Gala, held Oct. 25 at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa. About 340 people attended and enjoyed a reception, silent auction, dinner, a live auction and live entertainment showcasing Grossmont College performers. “Imagine the Possibilities” was this year’s theme. Co-chairs were Judy Garrett, Grossmont College Foundation board member, and Beverly Wight, Grossmont College evaluations advisor and counselor.

The Creative Writing Department raised $5,500 at its “Rock The Page,” an all-day creative write-a-thon fund-raiser on Saturday, Nov. 8. Proceeds from the event will be used to pay for the college’s Literary Arts Festival, to be held April 20 to May 1, 2009. About 70 attendees spent the day writing in four genres, including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and drama.

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Upcoming Performances, Exhibits

  • The Music Department will present “Mass in Blue” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 8086 Broadway in Lemon Grove. This performance will feature the Grossmont Master Chorale, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, soprano Renee Calvo and sacred choral music from the Catholic Liturgy.
  • The Dance Department will present “Breaking Boundaries” at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7.
  • The Theatre Arts Department will present “Stop Kiss” in the lab Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, November 20th and 21s, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 22nd.
  • The Hyde Art Gallery will present “Critical Landscapes by Kim Stringfellow,” an exhibit consisting of photographs and physical artifacts depicting the harsh environment of the Salton Sea, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 18. Her exhibit shows the harshness and destitute conditions facing individuals who have attempted to settle on the fringes of civilization.
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Fall Sports Report

  • Coach Brian Harvey of the Men's Water Polo team recently earned his 500th career coaching victory with his ninth consecutive Pacific Coast Title. The team is 32-4, ranked # 6 in the State and headed for play-offs.
  • The Grossmont Griffins football team’s record was 3-2 in conference and 5-4 overall heading into last Saturday’s game against Saddleback.
  • In Women's Water Polo, the Lady Griffins under Head Coach Larry Larsen were the runner up in the PCC Championships with a record of 16 -13. The team earned a play-off berth.
  • With their 4th place finish in last week’s Pacific Coast Conference Championship Race, the Women’s Cross Country team qualified for the Southern California Championships in Bakersfield.
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Recent Honors and Recognition

  • A conversation took place on November 18th with Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-La Mesa), as arranged by the Districtwide Legislative Strategy Committee.
  • Our campus participated in the Great American Smokeout this week on Thursday, Nov. 20, as we approach January 1, 2009 for a smoke and tobacco-free campus.
  • Dr. Sunny Cooke was gratified to be honored by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce with a Women In Leadership award in the education category. Other winners included Sheila Dine (business), Claire Carpenter (non-profit), Brig. Gen. Angela Salinas (government), Lesia Cartelli (healthcare) and Monica Zech (media, art & culture). San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was the keynote speaker.
  • Two adjunct instructors with Business Office Technology were recently honored. Edna Prigmore has received lifetime honorary recognition in the California Business Education Association and Karen Fox has been honored for her legislative efforts.
  • The Associated Students of Grossmont College (AGSC) recently presented a bronze double-eagle statue to the Grossmont Veterans Affairs Office to commemorate Veterans Day in honor of American veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice.
  • Grossmont’s Foster Adoptive and Kinship Care Education Program is a partner with the County of San Diego Adoptions Agency. The County recently was honored with the 2008 Adoptions Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its support of adoptive families.
  • James Foran, Culinary Arts, participated for his fourth consecutive year at the recent “Celebrate the Craft” fund-raiser held at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. The event matches local growers with many of San Diego’s most acclaimed chefs. Foran created a dessert using melons grown on a Temecula farm. Proceeds benefit Slow Food, an international organization dedicated to promoting ecologically sound food production.
  • Rick Griffin, interim director of the College and Community Relations Office, was a recipient of a business writing award from the San Diego Press Club at its recent Excellence in Journalism Awards program. It was his four consecutive year and seventh out of the last eight to win a San Diego Press Club writing award.
  • Roxane BenVau, Media Librarian, was co-presenter of a workshop, “ Information Literacy Teaching and Learning Strategies Faculty Love” at the California Library Association Annual Conference, held in San Jose in November. Roxane is currently serving a second term as secretary of the California Library Association Academic Section.
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