SDCCD : Board Report: August 26, 2021

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

August 27, 2021

Special Report to the Public:

Trustees Geysil Arroyo, Mary Graham, Craig Milgrim, Bernie Rhinerson, and Maria Nieto
Senour all welcomed everyone to the new academic year. They also acknowledged and
thanked everyone who submitted public comments, all of which will be read by the Board.

Trustee Mary Graham expressed empathy for the stress that faculty and classified professionals
are under in starting a new in-person semester while the pandemic continues. 

Trustee Craig Milgrim reported that he continues to attend remote meetings, including
one to discuss how the District’s Queer Alliance could help support queer students,
as well as faculty and classified professionals, throughout Region X, where SDCCD
is located; a meeting with the Office of Child and Youth Success to determine the
process of organizing and hiring staff now that it has been funded by the City of
San Diego; and a meeting about Boards and Commissions in San Diego; and a Business-Industry
Political Action Committee (BIPAC) meeting on the recall election and vaccinations,
and said that he hopes people will vote no in the recall election. He also reported
that he had lunch with Trustee Arroyo, as well as with AFT Guild President Jim Mailer and Chancellor
Cortez.

Trustee Maria Nieto Senour said that the Board, to the best of its ability, will work
together to serve our students while protecting public health.

Chancellor Carlos Cortez recognized the concerns expressed during public comment,
and said that the Board and the District’s executive leadership team is committed
to the safety and wellbeing of all employees and students. He reported that enrollment
for the fall 2021 semester is at 76% of the overall FTES target for the District’s
three credit colleges, and that various initiatives, including advertising on billboards,
buses and trolleys, outreach and calls to students who have withdrawn since spring
2020, and working with various partners on outreach, are underway to help increase
enrollment. Chancellor Cortez commended City College President Ricky Shabazz for leading
a delegation of students to Africa, Mesa College President Pamela Luster for her appointment
by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Intersegmental Basic Needs Committee, Miramar College
President Wes Lundburg for his selection as co-chair of the Strong Workforce Regional
Oversight Committee, and Kay Faulconer Boger for her first month of service as Interim
President of the College of Continuing Education. He reported that AB 421 (Ward),
AB 576 (Maienschein), and AB 927 (Medina) received unanimous support by the Senate
Appropriations Committee and will move to the full Senate for a vote. Chancellor Cortez
said that he is watching closely the human infrastructure proposal President Biden wants
Congress to implement. He also recognized Congressman Scott Peters for his advocacy
in helping secure a $975,000 grant for the District through the Congressional Community
Funding Project to support the buildout of open education resources.

Student Trustee Natalia Trinh reported that the Miramar College Associated Student
Government (ASG) will virtually hold its first meeting of the semester on August 27
and include the swearing in of officers, and a call from ASG President Edward Borek for
representatives to fill the treasurer position, as well as vacant senate seats. A call
to action will take place next week at Miramar College to help increase interest in
campus organizations after more than a year of campus closure. Student Trustee Trinh
reported that Mesa College held a successful Convocation on August 19, where more
than 300 students attended; and that the campus’s welcome week is underway providing
information about programs and organizations at the college. She also shared that
applications for open AS seats are still being accepted. At City College, she reported
that Victoria Owusu was elected as ASG President, and that the campus was hosting
various welcome week events.

At its regular meeting of August 26, 2021, which was conducted in a virtual format,
the Board of Trustees:

- Heard public comment from Justin Knott who expressed concern about the Board of
Trustee’s compliance with civil rights laws and the Brown Act in relation to coronavirus
regulations; and from 53 people who expressed concern with returning to work on District
campuses while the Delta-variant of COVID-19 continues to increase coronavirus cases.
Mesa College Academic Senate (AS) President John Crocitti shared that the college
is off to a smooth start, although there is concern about low enrollment. Otherwise,
the faculty is excited to see more face-to-face instruction in early 2022. Miramar
College AS President Laura Murphy welcomed everyone and said the college is off to
a strong start with more classes being offered on campus and that the faculty is adapting
well. She said the college is working to enroll more students while maintaining a
safe campus environment. She concluded her report expressing her hope the Board will
take into consideration the college’s continuing shortage of full-time faculty as
more resources become available from the state.

- Heard a report on the College Police Review Task Force from Task Force co-chairs
Miramar College President Wes Lundburg and College of Continuing Education Academic
Senate President John Bromma.

- Entered into agreements with health care agencies for use of clinical facilities
by students enrolled in District health occupations programs; and with Altus Affiliated
Schools (dba The Charter School of San Diego) for the establishment of a dual enrollment
pilot opportunity with Miramar College for 2021-2022.

- Authorized subcontract and participation agreements with the Foundation for Grossmont
and Cuyamaca Colleges for Strong Workforce Programs (SWP) Job Placement Case Management
at City College, Miramar College, and the College of Continuing Education (CCE); for
SWP Regional Work-Based Learning Coordination at Mesa College, Miramar College, and
CCE; for SWP Student Retention, Persistence, and Completion – Research Investment
at Miramar College; and for Strong Workforce Pathway Navigation and Faculty Institute
at CCE.

- Accepted revisions to the 2021 Family Handbook for Child Development Centers at
City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Approved changes to the contract with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. and Associates signage
and wayfinding relating to Proposition N and master planning services at Mesa College;
and to contract with the California Department of Education for the Child Care and
Development Program at City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges.

- Consideration of projects to be included in the District’s five-Year Capital Construction
Plan subject to revisions and requirements as issued by the California Community Colleges
Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) with comments from Chancellor Cortez and Vice Chancellor
of Facilities Chris Manis.

- Accepted grants from John Burton Advocates for Youth for the NextUP Program at Miramar
College; from the California Community Colleges State Chancellor’s Office(CCCCO) for
CalFresh; and from the U.S. Department of Education for Higher Education Emergency
Relief Fund III (HEERF) section of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security
(CARES) Act – Minority Serving Institution for City and Mesa colleges.

- Approved purchase orders completed during the month of June 2021; the District’s
Report of Participation in the San Diego County Investment Pool for the period ending
June 30, 2021 and various personnel actions including the certification of short-term
personnel service effective on or after August 27, 2021.

This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.