Governing Board Meeting Highlights
At the July 21, meeting, the Governing Board:
- Approved the entire agenda on consent.
- Heard Trustees express appreciation to employees who accepted the early retirement incentive offer. Twenty-nine employees accepted the offer, including 14 faculty members (eight from GC and six from CC).
- Heard Governing Board President Bill Garrett and Trustee Alexander acknowledge a meeting that was held on Monday, July 20, with members of the Districtwide Strategic Planning & Budget Council to discuss strategic planning and goals.
- Heard Trustee Barr report that he recently hosted District employees at his home, and the meeting produced a list of questions that related to budget and District matters.
- Heard Trustee Roskinsi welcome Jim Mahler, president, AFT Guild, Local 1931.
- Heard Chancellor Miles mention GC’s record-breaking summer school enrollment, parking structure ribbon cutting on Aug. 17, recent budget forums and upcoming youth basketball camp and photography workshops.
- Heard Chancellor Miles also say that student fees are expected to rise from $20 to $26 per unit for the Fall 2009 semester, and that the 09-10 Districtwide budget will likely face another $5 million in reductions.
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.
Dr. Cooke Assumes Temporary Leadership at Cuyamaca College
With the acceptance of the early retirement incentive, Dr. Cristina Chiriboga is retiring as Interim President of Cuyamaca College. Her last official workday will be Friday, Aug. 28. During a four-month transitional period (September through December), until a new president can be appointed, Chancellor Miles has asked Dr. Cooke to step in temporarily and assume the leadership responsibility at Cuyamaca College, while also continuing as President of Grossmont College. In a campuswide e-mail, Chancellor Miles said, “The temporary appointment of Dr. Cooke makes a significant cost-saving contribution to the district’s funding as we continue to implement budget reductions in the face of this serious economic downturn. The ability of our remaining staff to carry on under challenging circumstances, including temporarily sharing a president, is greatly appreciated.”
TOPEarly Retirement Incentive
The Governing Board ratified the classified and academic personnel retirements under the Early Retirement Incentive offer. Among the 29 employees, 13 were from Grossmont, including eight faculty, three classified and two administrators. The Grossmont employees included:
Faculty
- Eduardo Alvarez-Vargas, Instructor, Economics
- Bob Chow, Instructor, Math
- Tom Gamboa, Instructor, Cross-Cultural Studies
- Carmen Hernandez, Instructor, Spanish
- Leilani Holmes, Instructor, Sociology
- Peg Hovde, Instructor, Math
- Donne Leigh, Counselor
- John Schmidt, Counselor
Staff
- Howard Davis, Custodian
- Ingrid Dempsey, Multi-Media Technician, Senior
- David McDade, Financial Aid Assistant, Senior
Administrators
- Jim Fenningham, Dean, Counseling
- Brad Tiffany, Dean, Admissions & Records
Reentry Center Program
GC’s Adult Reentry Program recently hosted “Your Turning Point is Now,” an informational meeting for adults interested in returning to school to reenter the workforce, learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade their skills for a job promotion. Speakers included students who have successfully returned to the classroom, including OPT graduate Lydia Mills, nursing graduate Cheryl Menard, and Vern Torres, a veteran and current Orthopedic Tech student.
TOPRecord Summer School Enrollment
As expected, we set a 48-year record for the highest-ever enrollment for summer school. Headcount on summer census day was 9,115, compared to 8,425 in 2002. In a comparison between summer 2009 and summer 2008, headcount was 24 percent higher and 27.5 percent higher in units. A second four-week session began July 13 and will end Aug. 6. A recent San Diego Union-Tribune story, published on July 9, featured photos of crowded GC summer classes. The story said “higher enrollment, fewer courses equal `unprecedented’ summer.”
TOPParking Structure Ribbon Cutting on August 17th
Everyone is invited to share the excitement and attend the ribbon cutting for our new parking structure on Monday morning, August 17. It promises to be a beautiful summer morning for the festivities, which will be held outdoors on the top of the parking structure. The views of the foothills and the mountains will be picturesque. A continental breakfast will be served beginning at 7:30 a.m., with the ceremony to begin at 8 a.m. (The Fall 2009 Convocation program will begin at 9 a.m. in the Student Center.) Among the planned grand opening festivities: remarks from campus representatives and students, as well as a special checkered-flag ribbon cutting and vintage cars on display.
TOPASGC President Marc Valenzuela Appointed as Student Senate Representative
Marc Valenzuela is a Regional Senator for the Student Senate of California Community Colleges. This weekend was their first meeting, and they elected their executive council and appointed members of the Senate to various state shared governance groups. Marc was appointed by President Reid Milburn to be the Student Senate Representative to the Board of Governors. He will attend all Board of Governors meetings to observe and testify if needed. Grossmont College will be well represented at the state level. Along with President Milburn, Marc is responsible for keeping the Board up-to-date on issues of the Student Senate and issues affecting the 2.6 million California Community College students.
TOPPhotography Workshops
For the 17th consecutive summer, Grossmont College, the GC Foundation and ASGC have joined with the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) to present a series of workshops featuring notable guest speakers and educators sharing their expertise in photography. A lecture on Thursday evening at the MOPA lecture hall is followed by two, full-day workshops on campus. Amy Stein discussed portraiture photography July 9-11. Travel photographer Mark Edward Harris presented on July 16-18. Christian Z. Anderson will speak on printing techniques using the 19th century platinum process on July 30-Aug. 2. Anderson will teach students on how to do the platinum process at home. For additional information, visit www.grossmont.edu/photography.
TOPReading, Writing, and Recession as Adults Head Back to School
In this depressed economy, the road from a layoff to a new career often goes through a classroom. Many laid-off workers are being forced to make tough decisions about their future as they re-evaluate their version of the American dream. While pursuing a new career is not the easiest thing to do, the Grossmont College Reentry Center is doing its part to provide a variety of resources for returning adult students who are seeking assistance and encouragement about new educational goals and career options. The Reentry Center also acts as a bridge between the college and the community providing referral services, academic counseling and information about admission procedures, transfer programs, self-help programs, financial aid and transportation. Adult reentry students enroll at Grossmont for a variety of reasons, including a desire to learn new skills for a career or lifestyle change, earn a job promotion or because their college career was interrupted years ago because of work or family or economic situation. Other reentry students who did not finish high school now are seeking a college diploma. At last week’s adult reentry orientation, it was standing room only at Griffin Gate. The program featured a panel of successful reentry students and college staff. The transition from old dreams to new realities can be painful, but the Adult Reentry Center is here to help.
TOPGC to Host Criminal Profiling Annual Meeting
The Grossmont College Administration of Justice (AOJ) Department has been selected to host the 10th annual meeting of the Academy of Behavioral Profiling (ABP), an international law enforcement industry trade group. The ABP’s annual meeting, to be held Aug. 8-11 in Griffin Gate, is a training event consisting of four days of lectures on criminal profiling subjects, such as criminal psychology, crime scene characteristics, motive, victimology, ethics, forensic science and crime reconstruction. ABP members will deliver lectures on relevant subjects based on recent casework, research and legal decisions in the field. Forensic, investigative and behavioral science professionals from around the world will be on campus for this prestigious event, which is open to students and the general public. Cost for all four days is $30 for students, and $95 for non-ABP members. For information, contact GC’s AOJ office.
TOPYouth Basketball Camp on Campus
Men’s basketball coach Doug Weber is inviting all boys and girls entering the 3rd through 8th grades to GC’s inaugural youth basketball camp, from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Aug. 10-14. The camp will feature instruction on fundamental skills, group and individual contests and three-on-three tournaments. Cost is $75 per camper, which includes t-shirt, contest prizes and giveaways. Since arriving at GC from Salt Lake Community College in 1998, Coach Weber has won a Pacific Coast championship and Coach of the Year honors. He is most proud that 27 athletes have transferred to four-year universities during the past eight years.
TOPGrossmont College Foundation Gala Details
The Grossmont College Foundation has announced details for its 2009 Dinner Gala and Auction fund-raiser. The Foundation’s eighth annual Gala will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. 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. Judy Garrett, Grossmont College Foundation board member, is serving as event chair. The 2009 theme is “Reaching New Heights With You.” The theme reflects the college’s partnership with the community that assists in the college’s efforts to reach “new heights” in educational excellence, workforce training, scholarship programs and an endless array of new opportunities for students.
TOPOutreach at Taste of La Mesa
GC and CC jointly participated together in community outreach efforts at Monday evening’s “Taste of La Mesa” event held at the La Mesa Community Center. GC’s College and Community Relations Office and CC’s High School and Community Relations Dept., as well as Continuing Education and Special Programs, distributed fall schedules and information to about 350 people who enjoyed samples from about 25 different participating local restaurants.
TOPBudget Communications
Members of our Planning and Resources Council have been busy communicating to our college community the latest information regarding the state budget crisis and the possible impact on our campus. As a means of enhancing communications during the summer months, a list of FAQs has been compiled and distributed campus wide. Topics for the FAQs include reducing sections, early retirement incentive, state IOUs, cost reduction measures and comparisons with other college budgets regarding faculty salary and benefits.
TOP09-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid Stats
Michael Copenhaver, Grossmont College director of financial aid, reports that the number of Grossmont College students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 21 percent higher for a six-month time period from January to June 2009, compared to the same time six-month period in 2008. The FAFSA, the federal government’s instrument for calculating need-based aid, is used by colleges and universities to determine financial aid eligibility for federal and state aid programs. Historically, a majority of the FAFSA applications received by the college are completed during the first half of the year, Copenhaver added. In addition, during the 2007-2008 academic year Grossmont students received $13.1 million in financial aid, and his office is on track to distribute more than $14 million in financial aid during the current 2008-2009 academic year, which will close out in August after summer Pell Awards are disbursed.
Dr. Sunita V. Cooke