Governing Board Meeting Highlights

At the May 19, meeting, the Governing Board:

  • Heard Governing Board President Bill Garrett comment about Grossmont College’s “Student of Note” ceremony that featured inspirational stories about students who overcame adversity before graduating.
  • Heard Trustee Deanna Weeks mention the impressive Grossmont College “Walk of Fame” ceremony featuring the induction of El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco.
  • Heard Trustee Mary Kay Roskinsi recognize Classified School Employees Week.
  • Heard Chancellor Cindy L. Miles note that the recent Grossmont College Foundation golf tournament raised $16,000, and Dr. Mary Leslie will be presented with the Workforce Development Professional of the Year by the San Diego Workforce Partnership, along with recent news media coverage for Grossmont College. She also said budget outlook can be described as either “awful” or “worse.”
  • Heard Grossmont Student Trustee Dan Lewis express appreciation for the opportunity to serve (Dan has been accepted to the University of Arizona). Also expressing appreciation was Toku Hankin, 2008-2009 ASGC president. Christopher Enders was introduced as incoming Student Trustee.
  • Approved a modification to the District’s contract with Strata Information Group for management of the Information Systems Dept.
  • In Staff Communications, Board Members heard about reports to the Classified Senate from Dr. Pam Amor on accreditation and Dr. Tina Pitt and Tim Flood on feedback for communicating procedures.
  • Heard Academic Senate President Dr. Chris Hill announce faculty support for reducing textbook costs. She also mentioned the recent Photo San Diego event.

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.

San Diego’s Best

Grossmont College, once again, has been nominated as the Best Local College in this year’s San Diego Union-Tribune 2009 Readers Poll. But, now the voting begins. Everyone is encouraged to vote for Grossmont College. Votes can be casted online between May 23 and June 7 at www.SignOnSanDiego.com (no paper ballots this year). All voters will be automatically entered to win a drawing for cash prizes. The grand prize is $2,009. “San Diego’s Best” voting will be conducted in about 100 different categories, including “San Diego’s Best Local College.” Grossmont has been selected as “San Diego’s Best” in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. So, let’s make it a “high-five.” Results will be revealed on Aug. 2.

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Summer School Enrollment

As of Friday, May 15, headcount for summer is up 6.5% and in units 7.4%. The first four-week session runs from June 15-July 9th; the six-week session runs from June 15th-July 23rd; and the eight-week session runs from June 15th-August 6th.

  Summer 2009 Summer 2008 Count Variance %Variance
Headcount 4,756.0 4,466.0 +290 +6.5%
Units 21,241.0 19,777.5 +1463.5 +7.4%
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Athletic Program Review

The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) has completed its every-five-year review of the Grossmont College Athletic Program. The CCCAA commended the Athletic Program on standards relating to compliance, eligibility process, staffing, educational planning and matriculation, citizenship, gender equity, accounting procedures and demographics. The report said Grossmont has maintained viable programs that permit academic and athletic achievement in an atmosphere of integrity.

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Survey Results

A recent survey of East County businesses revealed that 74 percent of respondents said they were aware that various instructional programs for their employees are available through Grossmont College. The course topics mentioned most frequently included computers, marketing and management and office skills, and 83 percent of respondents said they would be interested in having a Grossmont College course or program offered at their worksite. The survey was completed as part of the college’s strategic planning efforts and was facilitated by Dean Darlene Spoor of Community Learning.

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Phi Theta Kappa Donation

The Grossmont College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honors society, recently raised more than $700 from a two-day sale on campus of homemade baked goods. The money will help pay for a new display case containing military service medals at Veterans Hospital in La Jolla, along with several dozen, small throw blankets for hospital patients. The display case is expected to be installed sometime this summer, according to PTK member Cynthina Zamarripa.

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Facilities Update

  • Electrical consumption in kilowatt hours at Grossmont has been declining the past two years, according to a recent study from SDG&E. Energy usage is expected to continue declining because new building and remodel projects are designed to be energy efficient. While energy usage has decreased, unfortunately, power costs have continued to climb.
  • The Health and Physical Sciences Complex construction area is expanding for trenching work. Excavation of the trenches is scheduled for completion prior to the start of finals. The trenching will occur on landscaped areas, and will not impact nearby sidewalks.
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Recent Honors

Pamela Abuka, Student Services Specialist in the Job Placement Center, recently served as “President For A Day,” after winning a raffle held at January’s Convocation. Pamela assisted Dr. Cooke at the College Recognition Awards Ceremony and attended the College Leadership Council meeting.

Christopher Fallarcuna was selected as the 2008-2009 Grossmont College Orthopedic Program Student of the Year. The honor includes a grant to attend the National Association of Orthopedic Technologists annual symposium.

The San Diego Women’s Foundation has awarded $43,720 to Grossmont’s Office Training Program (OPT). The funds will be used for staff salaries and placement costs. Special thanks to Trustee Weeks for connecting us with these resources!

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Spring Sports Report

  • Men's Swim and Dive once again finished first in the Pacific Coast Conference and advanced to the State Championships where they placed 6th.
  • Baseball finished second in the Pacific Coast Conference, one game behind Palomar College, which is ranked #9 in the nation. Grossmont received a playoff berth, but was knocked out by Long Beach City College in the first round.
  • Women's Fast Pitch advanced to the State Semi-finals and they were eliminated by Mt. Sac.
  • All Griffin sports programs are done for this academic year.
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Recent Events

  • A video crew from Kanda University of International Studies, Chiba, Japan, recently visited the campus to interview international students about life at Grossmont.
  • The 10th annual College Recognition Awards ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon, May 14, in the Student Center. Awards were presented for Academic Rank, Faculty Tenure, New Degrees, Books and Article Publications, Teaching Excellence Awards, Vice President Support Staff Recognition, Faculty and Staff Retirees, KUDOS and Club Advisors. Edda Temoche-Weldele was recognized as Distinguished Faculty and Sue Gonda for President’s Leadership Award. Innovator Awards were presented to ASL instructor Jennifer Carmean and Chris Hill and Shirley Pereira for Institutional Planning, and the Science Festival committee members were recognized. The Grossmont College Foundation also presented Tim Flood with the Commitment to Service Award.
  • Corrections Academy graduation was held last Friday, May 15th in the Main Quad.
  • Grossmont College was one of 55 rest stops for the 2009 Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 15th. Other educational institutions participating with rest stops included UCSD, CSU San Marcos and Miramar College. Other rest stops were hosted by non-profits, city governments, bike shops and companies.
  • The Students of Note ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon, May 16, in the Student Center. Students were honored for overcoming adversities.
  • The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale presented “Puerto Rico,” on Sunday, May 17, at the East County Performing Arts Center.
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Upcoming Events

  • Grossmont College and District employees will celebrate the year-long efforts of alternative commuting and the end of off-site parking with an ice cream social from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 21, in the Exercise Science and Wellness Quad.
  • A fund-raiser for the Grossmont College Music Department scholarship fund will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at Anthology in Downtown San Diego. Performing will be Grossmont instructors, including Derek Cannon, Paul Kurokawa, Steve Baker and Justin Brinnell. Also performing will be student Jose Serrano, guitarist and songwriter. Admission is $20 per person, or $10 for faculty and staff.
  • Cardiovascular Technology Dinner Celebration, 6 p.m., May 29, Tom Ham’s Lighthouse restaurant on Harbor Island.
  • The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale will present “Middle East Meets West,” on Friday, May 29, at St. Peters Chaldean Catholic Church, 1627 Jamacha Way, in Rancho San Diego. Admission is free, although an offering will be taken. The event benefits Iraqi Chaldean charities.
  • Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., June 2, Main Quad.
  • Commencement, 5:30 p.m., June 3, Main Quad.
  • Respiratory Therapy Dinner Celebration, 6 p.m., June 4, Admiral Baker Clubhouse in Mission Valley.
  • OTA graduation, 5:30 p.m., June 5.
  • OPT graduation, 6:30 p.m., June 5.
  • LeTour de Grossmont, a 2.2-mile fund-raiser walk/run benefiting the Howie Hawver Foundation, will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 7. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. at the flagpole. Hawver is the long-time women’s soccer coaching who was diagnosed with ALS disease in December.
  • Middle College High School graduation, 5:30 p.m., June 8, Main Quad.
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Letters to the President