Governing Board Meeting Highlights

At the March 17, meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Welcomed new chancellor Cindy L. Miles to her first board meeting. Dr. Miles expressed gratitude “to all of you for putting your faith in me. It’s been a marvelous 12 days.”
  • Heard Grossmont Student Trustee Dan Lewis report that AGSC will assist with the Grossmont College Science Festival on Saturday. Also, five students from Grossmont participated in the recent “March in March” held in Sacramento.
  • Heard Trustee Lewis also reported that some students have expressed disappointment about some of their fellow students not observing the campuswide no-smoking policy.
  • Heard Board President Bill Garrett said it was “absolutely fantastic” that Grossmont will receive $190,000 in federal funds for nursing equipment. In the past five years, Grossmont has received more than $520,000 in federal earmarks for the nursing program.
  • Congratulated Sue Jensen of Project Success on her program’s recognition as one of 15 exemplary “Practices With Promise.”
  • Heard President Cooke report on the recent day-long Leadership Planning Retreat, accreditation progress and the Science Festival on Saturday, which is scheduled to be on live TV by KUSI-NEWS.
  • Approved out-of-state travel to Ohio, Missouri and Oregon for Grossmont and Cuyamaca speech and debate students to compete in forensic tournaments.

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.

Federal Dollars Allocated to Grossmont College

We are pleased to report that President Barack Obama has signed the $410 billion appropriations bill that funds the federal government through the end of fiscal year 2009, and it includes $190,000 in the bill for Grossmont College nursing simulation equipment. This ensures our nursing program has the equipment needed to move into our new building.

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Culinary Arts Dept. dinners continue on Thursday

The Culinary Arts Dept. is continuing to host on Thursday evenings from now through May 14th a five-course dinner prepared by culinary students. Cost is $15 per person. Funds will help raise money for travel expenses for students to compete in state and national culinary competitions, as well as maintain kitchen equipment and purchase supplies.

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Science Festival to begin on Friday With Live TV Broadcast Saturday

Students of all ages are invited to experience hands-on scientific demonstrations and view exhibits that celebrate science in our everyday lives at our Science Festival on campus on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21. Families with students of all ages are encouraged to attend. “Pathways to Tomorrow” is the theme of our Science Festival. Science is infused in everything we do, everyday, so our goal with will be to inspire the next generation of leaders in science. Activities will include telescope stargazing, clips from sci-fi movies, scores of hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, walk-through tours of high-tech buildings on campus and guest speakers. KUSI-TV is scheduled to broadcast live from our Science Festival Saturday morning. A complete schedule of activities is available at www.grossmont.edu/sciencefestival.

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2009 Walk of Fame Award Nominations

The Grossmont College Foundation is soliciting nominations for its 2009 Walk of Fame Alumni Award. Nominees must have completed a minimum of 12 units at Grossmont College, earned a minimum 2.0 grade point average and contributed significant achievements and leadership in their field. Deadline for submission of entries is 4 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Names can be submitted via e-mail to Ernest Ewin, ernest.ewin@gcccd.edu. New honorees will be announced in May. Our Walk of Fame program began in 1989. Among the 18 previous Walk of Fame recipients are medical researchers, political advocates, artists, athletes and community leaders.

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Accreditation Update

Our accreditation teams are busily working on team drafts, which are due April 1, and will be integrated into one draft document. Then, the draft report will be circulated to college governance groups for input in late April and all of May. Final edits are due June and July with web posting to follow. The final version will be submitted to the Governing Board for your review at the August or September meeting, with printing and DVD creation to follow. Our follow-up report will be mailed to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) by October 1.

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Strategic Planning

We held a day-long Leadership Retreat on Friday, March 13th, that was part of our work on our 2010-2016 Strategic Plan. Activities at the Retreat included a review of Environmental Scan Data and an overview of both the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis visioning activity. We also held roundtable discussions on Institutional Goals and brainstorming on Institutional Foci. Participation was outstanding.

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Recent honors

  • Kellie Watson of the Lady Griffins softball team was recently profiled as perhaps the youngest student-athlete to make her collegiate softball starting pitching debut. She is age 16. Read about her at: http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=918927.
  • Dr. Sunny Cooke was recently quoted in an MSNBC story about high enrollment at community colleges. Read the story at URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29375476/.
  • Tracy Worthington has been named Nurse of the Year for the Critical Care Department at Scripps Mercy Hospital. Tracy works in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and is a 2003 graduate of our LVN-to-RN program. Dale Beck was also nominated for the same award. Dale also works in MICU with Tracy and is a graduate of our LVN-to-RN program. Our nursing graduates are definitely making a real difference in our community.
  • Chris Hanson has been elected Spring 2009 Semester president of the Student Veteran Organization at Grossmont. Chris, a native of Keller, Texas, spent seven years in the U.S. Navy. He welcomes donations to the Grossmont SVO scholarship fund that will benefit veteran students. Donations can be made through the Grossmont College Foundation.
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Upcoming Events

  • The Theatre Arts Department will present “Metamorphoses,” a play adapted from the classic Ovid poem, on March 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. at the Stagehouse Theatre. Admission is $10 per person and $9 for military and seniors. No one under age 10 will be admitted.
  • The Hyde Art Gallery will present an art alumni exhibition from March 16 to 26, featuring 23 alumni artists and more than 40 pieces, including ceramics, paintings and photography. The opening event reception is scheduled to be held on the last day of the exhibition, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
  • The Cajon Valley Union School District’s 2nd annual Career Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, here at Grossmont. Approximately 2,400 eighth graders will be on campus throughout the day.
  • We will host the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast on Friday, April 3, at the Student Center. Breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. About 150 people are expected to attend.
  • The Grossmont College Health & Wellness Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Main Quad.
  • Grossmont College Foundation Brad Daluiso Golf Classic will be played on Friday, May 8 at Sycuan Resort. Everyone is invited to play, including duffers. Price for a foursome is $800.
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Spring Sports Report

  • Both Men's and Women's Swim and dive are 1-0 in conference and the men took first place in the Chaffey Invitational beating out perennial power house Riverside College.
  • Women's Tennis is in first place with a conference record of 4 -0.
  • Women's Fast pitch is 15 -3 overall and 4 -0 in conference, ranked #6 in Southern California.
  • Baseball is 16 -5 overall and 5 -2 in conference and tied for first.
  • Men's Volleyball is 2 - 1 in conference play.