Governing Board Meeting Highlights
At the September 16, meeting, the Governing Board:
- Announced closed session’s vote to not appeal a court decision regarding Cliff v. GCCCD litigation
- Heard Trustee Deanna Week comment favorably about the recent grand opening of the Exercise Science & Wellness Complex and the groundbreaking of the Health/Physical Sciences Building at Grossmont.
- Heard Trustee Greg Barr express appreciation about employees riding shuttle buses from Gillespie Field to the campus and District offices. Academic Senate Chris Hill noted the camaraderie between college and District employees who ride the shuttle.
- Heard Student Trustee Dan Lewis acknowledge Clubs Fair, Constitution Week and the recent display in the Quad commemorating the domestic terrorist attacks on 9/11/01.
- Considered the Board Self-Evaluation Summary Report and heard Board President Bill Garrett say that it would assist in goal-setting for next year.
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.
Budget Update
The state budget is expected to be signed by the Governor any day now. Current information indicates the state budget is likely to offer the opportunity for 2% enrollment growth funds, 0.68% COLA and categorical funds held at the 07/08 level. There is also some indication of a partial property tax backfill for 07/08 in the range of $75 million (the shortfall was actually $92 million in 07/08). And the competitive Cal Grant program is not eliminated.
Once a budget is signed, indications are that the payments may be initiated from the state within a week or so. There will be an open Grossmont College Planning and Budget Council meeting Thursday, September 25 from 3-5pm in Griffin Gate. All those interested in learning more about the 08/09 Grossmont College budget, the streamlined planning process and an accreditation update are welcome to attend.
TOPAccreditation Visits
Our Association of Community Colleges and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) accreditation site visit will be Nov. 5 (one day only). Our first follow-up report is due Oct. 15, which will be followed by a site visit by a two-person accreditation team, Dr. James Hottois, Palo Verde College and Dr. Ron Harlan, Glendale Community College. Our first report will focus on four recommendations relating to diversity and equity, SLOs, integrated planning and enhanced relationships and communications.
At the recent Governing Board meeting, Trustee Deanna Weeks, who served on one of the accreditation committees, commented about the “extremely productive” effort.
In addition, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission will be involved in a site review of the Grossmont College School of Nursing, Oct. 27-29.
TOPFaculty/Staff News
- Carlos Alberto Contreras, History, recently successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation at UCLA. The title of his dissertation: “Bankruptcy to NAFTA: Mexico’s Foreign Policy Opens to the World, 1982-1994.”
- Mark Goodman reports the birth of his son in Thailand, Benjamin Goodman.
Enrollment
We are proud to announce that Census Day headcount for Fall 2008 Semester was 18,206, which is the second highest headcount in the College’s history! We had 732, or 4.3%, more students than we had on campus last fall! Our highest headcount was 18,241 in Fall 2002. We also recorded 3.2% growth in units compared to last fall. I want to repeat my gratitude to our faculty and staff for working so hard to accommodate so many students. We couldn’t serve all these students given budget and other constraints without a concerted and heroic effort. Special thanks to our Student Services and Tech Mall staff for effectively dealing with the added complications of a new registration system and the need for every student to have a new college ID.
TOPHealth/Physical Sciences Building
We held a very successful groundbreaking of our new Health/Physical Sciences Building last Friday. This two-building, 52,000-square-foot complex will house health professions programs (nursing, occupational therapy assistant, respiratory therapy, speech language pathology assistant, cardiovascular technology and orthopedic technology). A physical science lab, rooftop astronomy lab, two computer labs, and a large lecture hall for health seminars, guest speakers and combined class lectures are other features of this comprehensive facility which completes the college’s science quad area. An open courtyard will connect this building with two existing science facilities. Projected completion is Spring 2010. The Health/Physical Sciences Building is one of several capital improvement projects made possible by the passage of Proposition R, the $207 million bond measure approved by East County voters in 2002.
TOPFall Scholarship Awards Breakfast
Our annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast was held last Saturday. The event was presented by the Grossmont College Foundation and Grossmont College Scholarship Department. Each semester, scholarships are awarded to a number of students. To be considered for one of these awards, students must submit an application, which includes a statement about their educational goals and objectives and academic transcripts from the College. These scholarships are competitive and based on a selection process established by the Grossmont College Scholarship Advisory Committee and any additional criteria established by the sponsor. In all, 36 students were awarded scholarships that exceeded $18,000.
TOP"STUDENTS FIRST" Parking Campaign
We are well underway with our year-long “Students First” parking campaign, which is designed to provide as many on-campus parking spaces as possible for students. Many GCCCD employees are using the Gillespie Field parking lot and riding the shuttle buses. Many others are using other means to get to work, including carpooling, bicycles, and rides from spouses, relatives and friends. During our first week, our students served free coffee to bus riding faculty, staff and administrators. Coffee sponsors included Grossmont Schools Federal Credit Union, Grossmont College President’s Office, Grossmont College Foundation, ASGC and Starbucks Fletcher Hills. The “Students First” campaign involved months of planning which emerged through our collegial consultation process through the Parking Alternatives Taskforce, Facilities Committee and Planning and Budget Council. Parking information can be found on Grossmont’s website at: www.grossmont.edu/faculty_staff , or the District’s website at www.gcccd.edu/faculty.staff/onsite_parking_grossmont_colle.htm. Thank you again for everyone’s assistance and cooperation while our new three-story parking structure is under construction. To keep spirits high, each afternoon, we award a prize to anyone participating in the effort to keep parking open for students.
TOPInstitutional Planning
I want to briefly mention that as part of streamlining our planning process, as specified in our recent accreditation findings, we are committed to have planning linked more closely to allocation of funds. We have begun communicating with key college constituencies about our emerging shift in the planning process. With higher numbers of students and fewer dollars to serve those students, our decisions on how and where to expend resources are more crucial than ever. Therefore, our three areas of focus for the 2009-2010 school year will be: (#1) Student Learning Outcomes/Student Outcomes (learning and service outcomes that will be assessed to address impact to students); (#2) Basic Skills (assisting students with the skills necessary to succeed in a college-level work); and (#3) Workforce Development & Partnership (developing innovative partnerships and linking with community resources in order to help prepare students for lifelong career success in the labor market). Much work has been done to date, and follow-up will continue.
TOPGrossmont College Foundation Gala
I want to invite everyone to attend our annual Grossmont College Foundation Gala on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Hilton San Diego Resort on Mission Bay. “Imagine the Possibilities” is the theme. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, entertainment and auctions. A donation to the Grossmont College Foundation directly supports students through scholarships, educational equipment and supplies, educational programs and improvements to activities.
TOPTransfer Agreement With Kanda Institute Of Foreign Language
Janice Johnson, our articulation officer, recently hosted a visit by a representative of the Kanda Institute of Foreign Language (KIFL) from Tokyo, Japan. This visit was to finalize an agreement between the two institutions that will facilitate the transfer of KIFL students to Grossmont College. Under this agreement, students complete their first year of college work at KIFL. Then, they are admitted to Grossmont and enroll in their second year of courses. Upon completion of these courses and all other graduation requirements, the students are eligible for an Associate Degree. Concurrently, KIFL will recognize the completion of Grossmont coursework and award their equivalent degree (senmon shi) to these students. The foundation of this agreement is the articulation of KIFL courses with Grossmont courses.
TOPLibrary Display Depicts Work Done By Grossmont's Youngest Students
This semester the library has a display of the art created by children at the Grossmont College Child Development Center. Instructor Judy Canedy, who teaches in the Infant Toddler Room, had the idea for the display. As an early childhood teacher, Judy is a firsthand observer to the developmental process that is depicted in the early drawings of children: scribbles to circles to actual figures that represent the child’s world. Judy thought others on campus would like to see some of the art created by these little Van Goghs. The display is on the first floor of the Library on the north and south entrances. Stop by when you get a chance to enjoy these refrigerator masterpieces.
TOPCulinary Arts Dinners
Grossmont’s Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Culinary Arts Department will host every Thursday, from Sept. 25 to Nov. 20, a five-course dinner prepared by students who are enrolled in the Culinary Arts program. The dinners start at 5:30 p.m. and the cost is $15 per person. Proceeds will be used for travel expense funds so that Grossmont students can attend the Culinary Olympics this fall in Germany. Space is limited and some dates may already be fully booked. Reservations can be made by phoning Michele Martens in the ROP office at (619) 644-7549, or by e-mail at michele.martens@gcccd.edu. The dinner features soup, salad, entrée, dessert and coffee service.
TOPRecent Television Coverage
We recently hosted two “live” TV broadcasts with two different morning TV shows. Segments on KUSI featured our cheerleaders, Gizmo the mascot and our women’s basketball and volleyball teams. A few days later, KSWB-TV featured Project Success, OPT, Grossmont College Foundation, Women’s Basketball, Nursing, Cardiovascular Technology and Respiratory Therapy.
TOPConstitution Week
We are currently in the midst of celebrating Constitution Week with several special events. The purpose of the week is to promote education and understanding of the constitution and to celebrate the principles of liberty and many other benefits of our Federal Constitution and American citizenship.
Among the activities at Grossmont: Hosted a “Heroes BBQ” honoring fire fighters and police officers; throughout the week, a Constitution Wall was on display just outside the Student Center where everyone was invited to write their thoughts, feelings, comments, artwork and essays on what the Constitution means to them; the History Film Series, in conjunction with the Political Science Department, hosted a screening of and discussion on Gentlemen’s Agreement, and Pocket U.S. Constitutions were made available, courtesy of ASGC and Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s office, and distributed by sons of the American Revolution in period attire. Constitution Day was Sept. 17, in celebration of the ratification of the Constitution of the United States signed by 39 delegates at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.
TOPLetters To The President
TOPUpcoming Events
- Thursday, Sept. 25, 7-9 p.m., Griffin Gate: A Celebration of Banned Books with host Joe Medina, English Instructor. The evening will celebrate noted authors whose genius has enriched our literary lives. Banned Books Week 2008 (Sept. 27 to Oct. 4) is the 27th annual celebration of the freedom to read.
- Tuesday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. Student Center: Candidates Debate for 52nd Congressional District with Duncan D. Hunter (Republican), Mike Lumpkin (Democrat) and Michael Benoit (Libertarian).
Fall Sports Report
- The Grossmont Griffins football team began the 2008 season with a 31-14 victory against San Diego Mesa.
- Men’s Water Polo competed in the recent Golden West tournament. They are 4-1, 1-0 in conference play (PCC).
- Women’s Water Polo competed in the recent SDBK Tourney. They are 2-3, 0-1 in conference play (PCC).
- Women’s Volleyball is 0-2, losing to volleyball powerhouses Cuesta College and Chaffey.
- Women’s Soccer were the tournament champions in the “Duel in the Desert,” an annual tournament hosted by Victor Valley Community College. They are 3-0-1. The tie came against Santiago Canyon who was a state finalist in 2007.
- Women’s Cross Countrycompeted last Friday in the Palomar Invitational.
Dr. Sunita V. Cooke