Governing Board Meeting Highlights
At the October 21, meeting, the Governing Board:
- Announced a correction out of the Sept. 16, 2008, closed session: In the matter of Cliffe v. GCCCD, a motion to appeal the Superior Court decision failed on a vote of 2-3.
- Welcomed new full-time faculty members: Daniel Clauss (Exercise Science), Jamie Gould (ASL interpreter), Cindi Davis Harris, Ed.D (English), Shawn Hicks (Mathematics), Pearl Lopez (EOPS Counselor), Scott McGann (Economics), Angela Nga Ngo (Nursing), Daniel Sullivan (CVT), Virginia Young (Spanish).
- Recognized Edda Temoche-Weldele as Grossmont College’s 2008-2009 Distinguished Faculty Award Honoree for outstanding contributions in teaching and exceptional academic leadership.
- Heard Chris Hill thank ASGC for their recent trash pick-up in the neighborhood.
- Heard Brad Tiffany thank Chris Hill for the Academic Senate’s recent resolution that that expressed appreciation for all who were involved with implementing Grossmont’s new online registration system.
- Heard Governing Board member express appreciation to staff for their work on the budget.
- Governing Board President Bill Garrett asked Chancellor Suarez what might be required if the Board wished to declare Jan. 2, 2009, as a holiday for all District employees.
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.
Bronze At Culinary Olympics
Joe Orate, Grossmont College Culinary Arts coordinator, took a group of Grossmont College students to Erfurt, Germany, to compete in the International Culinary Olympics, considered one of the world’s most prestigious culinary events. Grossmont received a Bronze Award in the team category. Competitors included thousands of chefs from 52 countries. Grossmont College is one of only two community colleges in the U.S. that participated in Germany with the other one in Michigan. It was our third time for Grossmont students to compete in the Culinary Olympics following overseas trips in 2000 and 2004. In 2004, Grossmont’s students received “diplomas of excellence,” compared to this year’s Bronze award.
TOP2008-2009 Distinguished Faculty Award Honoree
Edda Temoche-Weldele, Spanish instructor at Grossmont since 1988, has been selected as Grossmont College’s 2008-2009 Distinguished Faculty Award Honoree for outstanding contributions in teaching and exceptional academic leadership. Since she set foot on campus in 1988, the energetic and enthusiastic Edda has allotted extra time in her schedule to extend her service at Grossmont to include serving on numerous committees. She has served on committees relating to strategic planning, program review, awards and recognition, faculty search and orientation, and special events, including chair and co-chair of the Professional Development Committee and world arts and cultural events. In addition, she also has been successful in preparing grants that have bolstered academic resources resulting in improved student learning outcomes. In the classroom, Edda has been an innovator in curriculum. With a focus on a communicative approach to language teaching, Edda has developed oral proficiency tests, created articulation transfer models and written cultural components that have helped countless foreign language students. She also created a new course on Spanish and Latin American cultures. Her involvement in campus life, love of teaching and support of students made Edda an obvious choice.
TOPCOLD CASE
San Diego Police believe a 37-year old case murder is now solved thanks to a department intern. Cold case homicide intern Gabrielle Wimer took on the case, retrieved finger prints and submitted them into a fingerprint database. Wimer is a student at Grossmont College and reports, “It’s a great feeling, you know, to just be able to solve a puzzle that’s meant a lot to someone for a long time.” The suspect was arrested in Texas for the murder and is in jail awaiting extradition to San Diego. Gabrielle flew to New York City to appear on the Today show October 23 to share her breakthrough and to represent Grossmont College to the nation!
TOPPartnership With Scripps Health
The Grossmont College School of Nursing has announced a workforce partnership agreement with Scripps Health that includes a $958,000 enrollment growth grant to help the college expand its ability to train future nurses. Under the agreement, Scripps Health’s grant will support the Grossmont College nursing program over the next three years with the hiring and retention of nursing faculty. In turn, Grossmont College will provide special educational opportunities for Scripps employees who are interested in entering the nursing field and have met the admission requirements. During the past three fiscal years, Scripps Health has allocated approximately $784,000 to Grossmont College’s School of Nursing to help cover costs associated with clinical instruction.
TOPACCJC Accreditation
On Nov. 5, Grossmont College will welcome back two members of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation team who visited our campus in 2007 -- Dr. James Hottois, Superintendent-President at Palo Verde College, and Dr. Ronald Harlan, Dean of Instructional Services at Glendale Community College. During their visit, they will address four recommendations from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The recommendations to be addressed: #1. Diversity in hiring; #2. SLO progress; #3. Streamlining the institutional planning process; and #4. Excellent working relationships across the District.
TOPGrossmont College Foundation Gala
Excitement is building for the Grossmont College Foundation’s seventh annual fund-raising dinner auction and gala this Saturday evening, Oct. 25, at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa. It will be a marvelous evening of fine food, entertainment and support for the Grossmont College Foundation. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner starting at 7 p.m., live auction and live entertainment showcasing Grossmont College artists. “Imagine the Possibilities” is this year’s theme based on the College’s obligation to our students to “imagine the possibilities” of their futures. Co-chairs are Judy Garrett, Grossmont College Foundation board member, and Beverly Wight, Grossmont College Evaluations Advisor and Counselor.
TOPCongressional Debate On Oct. 28
As part of our Political Economy Week, Oct. 27-31, Grossmont’s Political Economy Department will host a debate featuring the three candidates for the 52nd District U.S. Congressional seat from 7 to 9 p.m., on Oct. 28, in the Student Center. The debate between Duncan D. Hunter (Republican), Mike Lumpkin (Democrat) and Michael Benoit (Libertarian) will be moderated by John Mercurio, Grossmont College instructor. Debate attendees can park on campus for free in Lot #7 after 6 p.m. The 52nd District covers much of East County, part of inland North County and some of the city of San Diego. Our Political Economy Week will feature more than 30 activities, including lectures and discussions.
TOPBig Bad Wolf Trial
The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf,” a play for young audiences, at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 25, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Stagehouse Theatre. Admission is $5. This delightful comedy deals with intriguing guilt-and-innocence questions, such as: Is the wolf a villain or victim? Are the three pigs innocent or at fault? Can you trust the jurors, who include Little Miss Muffett, Little Red Riding Hood, Old King Cole, Jack and Jill and Little Bo Peep? And who is the surprise witness at the end? Come and find out.
TOPArt Department Faculty Exhibition
Artwork created by faculty members of the Grossmont College Arts Department will be on display through Oct. 30 at the Hyde Art Gallery. Everyone is invited to view the exhibition of approximately 35 pieces from 32 different art department instructors. The exhibition represents the various disciplines that exist within the Grossmont College Art Department, including photography, jewelry, painting and drawing and ceramics and sculpture. Admission is free. The Hyde Art Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
TOPNCMPR Medallion Awards
Our publications and promotions departments have been honored with Medallion awards at the recent National Council of Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 6 conference. NCMPR, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges, represents marketing and PR professionals at community and technical colleges. “Spend Summer With Us,” our newspaper ad promoting 2008 Summer School, received a first-place Gold Award. We also received four Silver and two Bronze awards.
TOPRHORC Event
The Regional Health Occupations Resource Center, hosted at Grossmont College, will present the San Diego Health Care Interpreting (HCI) Partnership Convening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at Griffin Gate. The Convening objectives will include learning about the current HCI partnership model in the Bay Area, address questions or concerns about participation in the HCI partnership in San Diego and to learn how an HCI partnership can improve access, safety and quality of healthcare.
TOPASGC Events
The Associated Students of Grossmont College (ASGC) is hosting a traditional marriage debate from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23 in Griffin Gate. On Thursday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Main Quad, a Halloween event will be held featuring games, club booths and food. AGSC also is organizing Spirit Week, Nov. 10-13, leading up to the football game vs. Saddleback on Nov. 15.
TOPLetters To The President
TOPMore Honors And Recognition
- More than 45 private and public colleges and universities were represented on campus at the Transfer Center’s annual College Transfer Day on Oct. 8.
- Christi Vicino, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director, has been nominated and chosen to serve as Vice-Chair on the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Education Council.
- Janet Castanos, Dean, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Science, English, spent the past two weeks in Ecuador with members from Rotary International District #5340.
- Michael Perez Jr., EOPS/CARE Counselor and Foster Youth Liaison, and Lauren Castillo, Financial Aid Advisor/Foster Youth Liaison, discussed the EFFORT (EOPS Financial Aid Foster Youth Outreach & Retention Team) program at an Oct. 9 meeting of the California State Foster Parent Association.
- Michael Copenhaver, Director of Financial Aid, facilitated a presentation on our EFFORT program to representatives from Los Angeles City College on Oct. 10.
- About 60 high school students from the CHAMPS (Community Health and Medical Practices) program were hosted on campus on Oct. 7 by Health Professions and EOPS.
- The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra and Grossmont Master Chorale performed “The Viennese,” a selection of classical romantic favorites from Vienna, this past Sunday afternoon at the East County Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Sunita V. Cooke