Governing Board Meeting Highlights

At the January 13, meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Ratified the appointment and employment contract of Dr. Cindy Miles as the new GCCCD chancellor, starting March 1, 2009.
  • Heard Trustees Deanna Weeks and Mary Kay Rosinki report on their attendance at the School of Nursing’s pinning ceremony held Dec. 17.
  • Heard Trustees Rosinki and Rick Alexander express appreciation for the Grossmont College Foundation luncheon held Dec. 12.
  • Heard Board President Bill Garrett on his attendance at the 13th Corrections Academy (CA) completion ceremony held Dec. 19.
  • Heard President Cooke provide updates about Convocation on Jan. 20, recent honors and recognition and on-campus events. In addition, she said that Financial Aid reports that it disbursed approximately $7 million in financial aid in the Fall 2008 semester, and that we are on track to disburse approximately $1 million more dollars this fiscal year, and the number of FAFSA applications increased by 14 percent over the previous fall.
  • Received a donation of $13,334 from the Grossmont Schools Federal Credit Union to the Grossmont College Foundation that will create a perpetual $1,000-per year student scholarship thanks to matching funds from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

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.

Enrollment

Our preliminary numbers indicate that registration is strong for Spring 2009. Below are enrollment comparisons for Spring 2009 as compared to Spring 2008, as of January 13th

  Spring 2009 Spring 2008 Count Variance %Variance
Headcount 16,127 15,201 +926 +6.1%
Units 148,552.0 139,808.0 +8744 +6.3%
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Financial Aid

Our Financial Aid office reports that it disbursed approximately $7 million in financial aid in the Fall 2008 semester. We are on track to disburse approximately $1 million more dollars this fiscal year than last year, and the number of FAFSA applications increased by 14% over the previous fall.

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Convocation on January 20, 2009

As a reminder, our Spring 2009 Convocation on Tuesday, Jan. 20 will begin at 10 a.m., instead of 8 a.m. as originally planned. We are delaying the start of Convocation due to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration scheduled for 9 a.m. that same day. The program, with introductions of Governing Board members, will begin at 11 a.m. The afternoon session will include an important Visioning session for the college. The theme of Spring Convocation and Flex Week is “Innovation.”

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Commencement Speaker on June 3, 2009

I am proud to announce that we have received acceptance from Dr. Dorothy Wiley to be our commencement speaker on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Dr. Wiley is the latest member of the Grossmont College Walk of Fame, which honors Grossmont College alumni who have made significant contributions. Dr. Wiley earned her associate degree in nursing at Grossmont College in 1977. Today, she is an associate professor of primary care nursing at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and a leading authority in epidemiology. She served as one of the principal investigators that led to the development of a vaccine that helps prevent cervical cancer.

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"Forms in Metal", Starting February 10th

To mark the first anniversary of the opening of our new state-of-the-art sculpture facility, the Hyde Art Gallery will host “Forms in Metal,” a group exhibition of contemporary metalwork. The exhibition will feature the work of 17 artists engaged in the production of metal objects of utility, ceremony and ornament. The exhibition will showcase how each artist manipulates metal and makes use of it as a vehicle to convey a wide range of personal experiences, concerns, interests and ideas. The exhibition will run from Jan. 26 to Feb. 26. An opening event is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

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Recent Honors and Recognition

  • San Diego Magazine has announced its “50 People to Watch in 2009,” which is the magazine’s choice for local notables worth keeping an eye on in the coming year. Among the list is Grossmont student Gabrielle Wimer, who was interviewed on NBC’s “Today Show” after she helped crack a cold murder case while working as an intern for the San Diego Police Department. Her work helped identify a fingerprint match and bring the killer to justice some 36 years after the crime was committed. Other people selected by the magazine in its January 2009 issue include professional athletes, TV personalities, CEO, restaurateurs and politicians. Gabrielle also was an honorable mention in East County Magazine’s list of 2008 newsmakers.
  • Grossmont College's 13th Corrections Academy (CA) completion ceremony was held on Dec. 19 in the Student Center, with 56 CA cadets graduating and nearly 300 guests in attendance. Master of Ceremonies was CA Lead Instructor Larry Ingraham.
  • Grossmont College’s School of Nursing held a pinning ceremony on Dec. 17 for 38 new graduates. Established in 1967, the School of Nursing has graduated more than 5,000 nurses during its four-decade history. The nursing program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), and has been recommended for a five-year accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
  • One of our ceramics students, Lila Hackenburg, was selected to have her work on display later this year at Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. The exhibition, called “The Perfect Fit -- Shoes Tell Stories,” will run from June 6, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010. Fuller Craft Museum is regarded as New England’s home for contemporary craft.
  • The KUSI Morning News visited the campus on Dec. 12. Featured were the Hyde Art Gallery and the college’s Music Department. Live interviews were held with Ben Aubert, curator, student guitarist Ben Owens and Ken Anderson and the Gospel Choir.
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Sports Report

Both men’s and women’s basketball have begun playing conference games in the Pacific Coast Conference. Recent win-loss records were 1-0 (PCC), 11-6 (overall) for the women and 2-1 (PCC) and 7-10 (overall) for the men. Last Wednesday, the women played and beat Imperial Valley College and the men played and beat Cuyamaca College. Last Saturday, both Grossmont teams played at Palomar College.

We regret to report that Grossmont College women’s soccer coach Howie Hawver is currently battling ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Hawver is the only head coach the Grossmont women’s program has ever had. In the past 14 seasons, his teams have made 12 state playoff appearances. Hawver also coaches at Patrick Henry High School and with the Crusaders Soccer Club. Several fund-raisers to raise money for medical bills have been held, and more are expected to be held. Checks can be made payable to the Grossmont College Foundation, and write Howie Hawver’s name in the memo line. For more information, visit www.howiehawver.blogspot.com.

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On-Campus Events This Spring

We are planning for a busy semester of special events to be held on campus. Thanks to funding from AGSC, our World Arts and Cultural Committee will help coordinate several events relating to Black History Month, Cinco de Mayo, Literary Arts Festival, The Arabic Club and a presentation from a NASA astronaut in March during Women’s History Month.

  • Women’s basketball vs. Mesa, home game, Jan. 17.
  • Men’s basketball at Imperial Valley College, Jan. 17.
  • OPT Graduation, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 22.
  • Men’s basketball vs. Mira Costa, home game, Jan. 20.
  • Women’s basketball at San Diego City College, Jan. 21.
  • Men’s basketball at San Diego City College, Jan. 22.
  • Women’s basketball vs. Southwestern, home game, Jan. 24.
  • Women’s basketball vs. Mira Costa, home game, Jan. 28.
  • Men’s basketball vs. Miramar at San Diego City College, Jan. 28.
  • Women’s basketball at Imperial Valley College, Jan. 31.
  • Men’s basketball vs. Mesa College, home game, Jan. 31.
  • Inside the Actor’s Process, Stagehouse Theatre, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 6.
  • GC Scholarship Awards Breakfast, Student Center, Feb. 7.
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