SDCCD: Chancellor's Message: Welcome To The Spring Semester

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

January 27, 2022

As we begin the spring semester, I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.
Across the San Diego Community College District, and especially at our colleges, this
is a very busy time.

I appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic
and do our best to ensure the District is able to accomplish its important mission
of safely serving our students.

I apologize for the length of this message but encourage you to read the important
updates below.

Entering the first week of classes, enrollment remains sluggish across the District.
Currently, we are down about 11% compared with spring 2021, although the colleges
have seen a significant uptick in the last two weeks. None of this is a surprise as
students continue to struggle through the pandemic here and across the state. Unlike
four-year colleges, community college students are most impacted due to their relative
financial situation and lack of access to technology. The District and its colleges
remain proactive in connecting with students and encouraging them to stay enrolled.
This includes a districtwide enrollment marketing campaign and other innovative outreach
efforts. We also continue to offer significant financial aid and other services to
support student retention. Some planned in-person classes have been converted to online,
and others shifted to later start dates to sidestep the omicron variant and the current
spike in positive cases. The college presidents and I appreciate all you are doing
to serve our students safely and help them meet their educational goals.

As you know from previous email updates, we have delayed the return to in-person work
assignments for many employees until Tuesday, February 22. Employees whose job duties
cannot be performed remotely are continuing to work onsite as previously directed
in Vice Chancellor Greg Smith’s January 11 email. Specific decisions on class modalities
and work assignments are being made within each college and District division based
on operational needs and communicated to employees directly. Employees working remotely
should plan to return to in-person work assignments three days per week for the weeks
of February 22 – 25 and February 28 – March 4 and full-time beginning Monday, March
7. In addition, the colleges will be delaying the start of in-person instruction until
the week of February 22 for courses that can be delivered effectively online. Specific
information on individual courses will be provided locally at each college.

Looking at this timeline, we are encouraged by what appears to be a leveling off in
positive cases as was predicted weeks ago by many health experts. Other parts of the
country also are experiencing a significant drop in case rates, which bodes well for
a full return to in-person operations in March. I remind everyone to continue to take
steps to minimize the spread of COVID-19. This includes consistently wearing face
coverings indoors, avoiding large gatherings of people, and getting tested if you
believe you may have been exposed. We encourage all employees to get tested before
returning to work, regardless of vaccination status, and of course stay home if you
are not feeling well.

Operationally, ahead of a full return to in-person work, many teams throughout the
District are helping to prepare for the transition. This includes our IT professionals
and others who are getting our computers and other equipment ready for use. It includes
facilities staff who are preparing our campuses and offices. It includes food service
staff who will be reopening our cafeterias and kitchens so we have fresh food available.
I urge your patience and understanding as we return, as some departments remain short
staffed.

Lastly, but of critical importance, is the development of a new strategic plan for
the SDCCD. This month, each of the colleges and the District have begun a collaborative
and inclusive strategic planning process to ensure the District delivers on its mission
and vision, including its commitment to opportunity and equitable student outcomes.
The new SDCCD strategic plan will be a five-year roadmap that will guide districtwide
priorities and operational planning. To ensure its success, it will be designed to
respond to the needs of the District’s constituents while addressing economic, demographic,
and community trends.

Your participation in the strategic planning process is essential. The perspectives
of students, faculty, classified professionals, management, and community members
served by the SDCCD and its four colleges are needed to ensure the plan truly reflects
their hopes and concerns. In February, an online survey will launch with the purpose
of providing an opportunity for you to share your perspectives on the future of the
District and its colleges. This input will inform the development of the strategic
plan. The more participation we have, the stronger the findings and clearer the direction.
The online survey is the first of many other opportunities to provide input. In addition,
an at-large community meeting will be held March 1, and individual District Office
and college planning charrettes will take place in March and April. The entire project
is expected to conclude this summer.

Please keep an eye out for upcoming emails/public notices concerning the strategic
plan, the online survey, live meetings, and other opportunities to engage in the planning
process. 

Thank you for your time and your part in the future success of the San Diego Community
College District.

Sincerely,

Carlos O. Turner Cortez, Ph.D.Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District

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