Southwestern College Opens Public Survey As It Redesigns Board

CHULA VISTA, CA — With Southwestern College changing the makeup of its governing board from an at-large to a district system, the school Tuesday announced a community survey as part of its "Your College, Your Voice" campaign.

"For 60 years, Southwestern College has served South San Diego County by providing transformative educational opportunities and community services," said Leticia Cazares, the governing board president.

"Creating election districts will create better representation on the Southwestern College Governing Board for our community and for our students. We want everyone's voice heard, lifted and included."

Those who fill out the survey will have a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card, with four available. The survey is set to run through late October.

The redesign of the board will require future trustees to live within the district they represent.

"We're looking forward to creating a more diverse governing board that understands our communities and continue to strengthen our students' path toward a more equitable future," said Mark Sanchez, Southwestern College superintendent and president.

"In order to improve the services we offer, we want to ensure the needs of our communities are heard across our governing boards. This is what stokes the fires of learning, inclusion and equity."

Southwestern College campuses stretch from National City to the Mexico border, and from Coronado to Chula Vista. The college's administration said its hopes that a new governing board that is representative of its surrounding communities will address the needs of the students and constituents served by each campus.

With feedback from the public, the college will determine what components matter most to the community, as well as gather any concerns surrounding policy decisions that affect its prospective governing board, the school said.

— City News Service