Schools
San Diego Community College District: Top 10 NewsCenter Stories Of 2021
It's extraordinary all that we've been able to accomplish given the challenges.
December 8, 2021
In 2021, the San Diego Community College District bid farewell to a chancellor and
welcomed a new one, all while navigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and preparing
to return to offices, campuses, and classrooms. The district and its colleges worked
together to help students and employees have a safe and healthy return to on-site
activities and classes. It's extraordinary all that we've been able to accomplish
given the challenges. Here are the Top 10 stories in NewsCenter for 2021.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Educational Cultural Complex receives $35 million grant - 400 pageviews
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On Oct. 1, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins announced at a news
conference, that a $35 million grant will be used to renovate the historic theatre
inside the San Diego College of Continuing Education's Educational Cultural Complex. Forty-five
years ago, ECC was one of southeastern San Diego’s only centers for education and
arts. Civil Rights leader Coretta Scott King, award-winning artist and humanitarian
Stevie Wonder, and Civil Rights activist and American poet Maya Angelou are some of
the many influential social justice champions who have been part of the history at
this campus. SDCCD Chancellor Carlos O. Turner Cortez is working with the city of
San Diego and state officials to have ECC named as a Civil Rights Landmark Designation.
Read more.
Proposed state budget - 733 pageviews
On May 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom presented his May Revision Budget, representing
his best budget projection since the release of his January Budget Proposal. The governor’s
new budget proposal for FY 2021-22 is $196.8 billion. Using the projected surplus,
coupled with the federal stimulus funding, the governor is proposing to use the $100
billion increase in what he calls “The California Comeback Plan,” which consists of
a solid base budget augmented by “historic investments” in a wide range of organizations,
projects, and initiatives to advance the state’s many missions. Read more.
Emergency grants for students - 752 pageviews
In April, $97 million of federal stimulus money was awarded to support students through
the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. A minimum of $38 million will
provide direct aid payments to help students financially impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic and the remaining funds will support instructional and operational costs
to help the SDCCD cover added expenses due to the crisis. Direct aid to students was
provided for food, housing, childcare, health care, or student fees to allow students
to continue with their education during the economic and health crisis. The SDCCD
and San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, and the San Diego College of Continuing
Education used the remaining funds for additional expenses incurred during the pandemic,
including the costs associated with transitioning to online instruction, purchasing
laptops for students, additional student support services, and impact of lost revenue.
Read more.
More full-time faculty - 849 pageviews
In September, the district announced that an additional 25 full-time faculty would
be hired over the next two years. The new full-time faculty positions are being created
as part of a statewide effort in the California Community College system following
an infusion of $100 million included in the state’s 2021-22 budget. State officials
believe hiring more full-time faculty will assist in achieving the system’s diversity,
inclusion and equity goals while moving the system closer to its target of having
75% of faculty be full-time. The SDCCD is receiving $2.9 million to fund the new positions.
The state stipulates that any new hires must be beyond what the district would have
hired without state funding. Read more.
Student debt forgiven - 999 pageviews
The SDCCD announced in October that it would be forgiving $3.9 million in student
debt for more than 11,454 students at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges using
federal pandemic relief funds. Students who were enrolled in Spring through Summer
2021 will have all their outstanding tuition and related enrollment fees forgiven.
Holds for non-payment will be removed and students will be eligible to enroll for
the January intersession and Spring 2022 semester. Read more.
Gala honors retiring chancellor - 1,385 pageviews
On September 18, the San Diego Community College District honored Chancellor Emerita
Constance M. Carroll. Dr. Carroll retired on July 1, 2021 after serving for 17 years
as the chief executive officer at the district. The "Legacy of Achievement" event
raised $234,416 to benefit San Diego Promise students. The gala featured performances
by the San Diego Mesa College Jazz Musicians, the San Diego Mesa College Choir, and
a special performance of Si, mi, chiamono Mimi by opera singer Candace Bogan. Read more.
COVID-19 Updates - 3,119 pageviews
Our chancellors gave eight updates in 2021 on how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting
districtwide operations. Updates included information on health and safety protocols,
course instruction, hybrid courses, and the gradual return to in-person classes and
business operations. The district will return to full, in-person operations in 2022.
Hybrid and online options will be available. Face coverings will be required for everyone
at indoor locations, and employees and students will be required to be vaccinated
or have an approved exemption before they can enroll in in-person classes.
Baccalaureate legislation passes - 2,213 pageviews
In October, Governor Gavin Newsom signed historic legislation that made permanent
the state’s pilot program allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees
in specific workforce fields not offered by the University of California or California
State University. Assembly Bill 927 eliminates the 2026 sunset date on 15 existing
baccalaureate degree programs and opens the door to as many as 30 new bachelor’s programs
per year at any of the state’s 116 community colleges. Read more.
Fall coverage - 5,665 pageviews
Faculty, classified professionals and managers strived to help bring back as many
students as possible for the Fall 2021 semester. More hybrid courses were offered
in the fall and vaccination records were required for anyone on campus. Our fall coverage
included vaccination instructions, San Diego Promise applications, open registration
and the first day of classes on August 23. Read more.
New chancellor coverage - 5,944 pageviews
Following a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees announced in March that Dr. Carlos
O. Turner Cortez would be the chancellor of the San Diego Community College District,
starting July 1. Dr. Cortez had served as president of the San Diego College of Continuing
Education from 2015-2021. Dr. Cortez has taught consistently for the past 23 years.
He has served as an administrator for 16 years and as CEO for 11 years. Dr. Cortez’s
scholarly achievements and professional pursuits are focused on equity, diversity,
and inclusion not only for students, but also for faculty, professional staff, and
administrators. Throughout his career, Dr. Cortez has elected to work primarily with
underserved, ethnically diverse student populations from low-income communities.
“In conducting its search, the Board of Trustees prioritized selecting an individual
with the skills and experience to lead the district’s strategic planning and action
to meet the current and future challenges confronting its students and communities,”
said Board President Marie Nieto Senour. Read more.
The SDCCD website garnered 3,281,291 pageviews and 778,406 users in 2021, with 19%
of that traffic visiting NewsCenter. Here's some more of our top coverage:
3,414 views - Retirement gala (Photos and Video)
2,300 views - New Chancellor at the SDCCD
2,198 views – ECC Theater receives $35 million grant
2,070 views - Vaccination record deadline
1,834 views - City College unveils mural
1,814 views - Chancellor’s message for fall
1,804 views – City College opens Early Education Center (Photos and Video)
1,710 views - MLK Legacy
1,179 views – Support for online classes
1,607 views - First day of fall classes
1,602 views – Miramar College’s new Emergency Vehicle Operations Center
1,480 views – LEAD San Diego honors Starla Lewis
1,480 views – Veterans Center at Mesa College
1,398 views - New vaccination site at Education Cultural Complex
1,379 views – It’s nice to be back
1,331 views – Mother/Son athletes at Miramar College
1,167 views - City College nursing students give out vaccines
1,061 views – Dr. Shabazz on KUSI discussing Black History Month
1,113 views - Benefits of the San Diego Promise
1,638 – City College - Video | Photo Gallery
1,005 – Mesa College - Video | Photo Gallery
1,630 – Miramar College - Video | Photo Gallery
1,069 - College of Continuing Education - Video | Photo Gallery
1,278 - ACCT Leadership Congress
553 - Legacy of Achievement - A Tribute to Dr. Constance M. Carroll
920- Pack the Pantry fundraiser
584 views - Mesa Gallery Exhibit
403 - Fall semester begins
This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
