Message from the President

Dear SDCCE Community,

As we begin a new week, we continue to welcome many students to our campuses as they get settled into their classes, enroll in new classes, and access the wide range of services we offer in support of their goals.

We also look ahead to a four-day weekend in observance of Presidents’ Day, with campuses closed on Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16. I hope you also enjoy a meaningful Valentine’s Day—whether spent with loved ones, friends, or in quiet moments of self-care. This time offers a meaningful reminder of the importance of compassion, connection, and doing the heart work that strengthens our relationships, our community, and the care we extend to one another each day.

Enrollment Updates

Spring Update

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 24,722 (9% less than this time last year, and a 2% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 71%, which is less than last spring (77%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 13,322, a decrease of 6% compared to this time last spring (14,227) and a 1% increase from last week (13,160). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 9% greater than last spring (194.11 to 210.67). View the enrollment report.

We’re excited to share that several programs are off to a strong start this spring, with impressive fill rates across the board: Child Development (92%), Emeritus (90%), ESL (83%), and Automotive (82%). These results reflect the incredible work happening across our campuses. Thank you to our Deans and their teams for their leadership, collaboration, and continued commitment to student access and success.

Help Name the New Mid-City Campus Building

QR CodeWith the passage of Measure HH, a $3.5 billion bond, the District is investing in significant projects across its campuses. One of these projects is a new Mid-City Campus Building, located at 5322 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego’s Mid-City community. This building will support the continued growth and mission of SDCCE by expanding access to education, workforce training, and community services.

We invite students, employees, and community members to help shape this campus by suggesting a name for the new building. Your recommendation should reflect the values, history, and future of SDCCE and the community it serves.

Please submit suggestions before February 27, 2026.

Black History Month — One Hundred Years of Celebration

Celebrate Black History Month with the “One Hundred Years of Celebration,” event on the ECC front lawn on Thursday, February 12, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Enjoy inspiring poetry by Selah BlaK SoL, storytelling by Yolanda Marie Franklin, a performance by Erisa Nicole, and a delicious lunch provided by Chef Budda Blasian Soul Food LLC. We look forward to honoring a century of Black history, culture, and achievement together. All are welcome to attend!

Lunar New Year

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with us as we welcome the Year of the Horse with an afternoon of culture, connection, and celebration. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Mid-City Campus Lobby from 1 to 3 p.m.

Enjoy festive activities, community spirit, and our signature Lion Dance performance at 1:45 p.m.—a vibrant tradition that brings good fortune and joy for the year ahead. Everyone is welcome!

One of our student support programs is the Rising Scholars Program, led by Nathan Klein. We encourage students with lived experience in the justice system to connect with Rising Scholars—a welcoming and supportive space designed to foster growth, belonging, and student success.

Thank you to everyone who joined and supported The Unwanted to the Unbelievable Event at West City Campus! Hosted by our Clothing & Textiles Program in partnership with Goodwill Industries of San Diego, students turned rescued textiles into bold, one-of-a-kind designs that amazed us all.

From community voting and an engaging panel on sustainability and upcycling to meaningful connections throughout the day, the event celebrated what’s possible when creativity meets purpose. Take a look back at some of the exciting moments on our SDCCE Flickr.

We look forward to our student winners continuing on to the Textile Recovery Summit at the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center in Chula Vista, where they will showcase their work and represent our campus.

Change is coming the week of February 17th! SDCCE is launching a redesigned website (sdcce.edu) with a fresh look, new navigation, and a better experience on all devices. As we transition to the new site, some links may change and you may experience minor delays during the first few weeks after launch. We appreciate your patience as we continue fine-tuning and enhancing the site. Stay tuned as we complete the redesign project!

As we continue our commitment to campus safety, we invite you to attend an upcoming ICE Protocol Q&A Session at our Mid-City Campus on Tuesday, February 24, from 1:00–3:00 p.m.

This session is intended to provide clarity, address questions, and support our campus community through open dialogue and shared understanding after a successful session at Spring Institution Day. We encourage all employees to attend and participate.

To ensure a thoughtful and productive discussion—and to allow us to address as many questions as possible within the allotted time—we are asking participants to submit questions in advance by February 17. Questions submitted ahead of time will be given priority, and any remaining time will be reserved for live questions during the session.

We are also pleased to share that Ljubiša Kostić, General Counsel, will be joining us again to help address legal and procedural questions.

Hoop Hysteria

Join the SDCCE Foundation for a full day of non-stop basketball to support our students' basic needs. Teams will compete in this exciting fundraiser that brings our community together for a great cause!

The event will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson YMCA.

For more information on how to support visit the Hoop Hysteria website.

Encourage students to sign up and use Handshake to create a free profile and access jobs, internships, and career event alerts. Please visit the SDCCD Handshake Webpage to learn more. Career Counselors and Job Developers are also available to assist students and alumni throughout the semester for career and employment support.

Questions, Please Contact: sdccecareerservices@sdccd.edu

A California Coast Credit Union ATM has been installed in the ECC student lounge, making it easier than ever to access cash and manage accounts right on campus. This convenient addition supports our students’ financial needs and helps streamline everyday campus life. Students will also be able to withdraw small bills as needed. We want to thank Cal Coast for their continued partnership and investment in our students.

ECC Theatre Renovation

The ECC Theatre Renovation continues to make progress!

• The construction site is active Monday - Friday, 7am - 3:30pm.
• Check out the demolition of the second level deck on the live stream link: ECC Theatre Renovation

Visit the project webpage to learn more and stay up to date with the progress via livestream.

Thank you to our Theatre Director, Silvia Nogales, for playing a pivotal role in the theatre renovation and for keeping us informed on its progress. You can now follow the theatre on Facebook and Instagram @Educational Cultural Complex Theatre & Community Room.

Bond Projects Update

Below is an update of the current Measure HH Bond projects for our college. We have also developed a current projects page with updates on each project.

ECC Building Trades (Welding Renovation)

• Pre-Design/Programming Phase was completed in January 2026.
• Final Programming Concept was approved by leadership in January 2026.
• Schematic Design Kick-Off Meeting scheduled for mid-February 2026.
• Targeting October 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

ECC Ceramics

• Construction Documents were submitted to DSA (Division of the State Architect) in December 2025.
• Anticipating DSA Approval & Permit by July 2026.
• Swing space discussions are underway.
• Targeting November 2026 to start Construction Phase.

ECC Community Room Renovation

• Design is ongoing, with Construction Documents underway.
• Page-Turn to review 100% Design Development drawings with the District was completed last week.
• Additional interior space and courtyard options are being reviewed with Project Stakeholders.
• Live Archive discussions are ongoing.
• Targeting May 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

ECC Seismic Upgrades

• Design Team is performing a seismic evaluation of the Main Building as part of a standard procedure required by DSA (Division of the State Architect).
• Seismic improvements to be implemented in phases and captured in current ECC projects to minimize campus impacts. Any remaining areas of the facility will become it's own standalone project.
• Materials testing is underway and expected to be completed by February 2026. Temporary patchwork to follow.
• Results will determine seismic upgrade requirements throughout the Main Building.

ECC Theater Renovation

• Foundation work, underground utilities, and waterproofing installation are ongoing.
• Slab-on-grade concrete pour for the new building addition is scheduled for Thursday, 02/12.
• New trailers for temporary pantry have been delivered. Temporary infrastructure to energize trailers is ongoing.
• Pantry move is scheduled for Friday, 02/13.

CE Mesa Campus Building Envelope Improvements

• Feasibility Report of the exterior building was completed.
• Budgetary cost and schedule estimates are ongoing.
• Schematic Design Kick-Off Meeting scheduled for mid-February 2026.
• Targeting July 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

Mid-City Expansion

• Final Report with budgetary cost estimate was submitted to Leadership in January 2026.
• Targeting February 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
• RFQP to be issued for Design-Build Services in March 2026.

Mid-City Renovation

• Final Programming Meeting to review scope options with Project Stakeholders was held last week.
• Programming Scope Option to be selected by mid-February 2026.
• Final Report with budgetary cost estimate to be submitted to Leadership in March 2026.
• Targeting March 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
• Design team to incorporate final presentation comments from Project Stakeholders into Final Report.
• Budgetary cost and schedule estimates are ongoing with programming refinement exercise underway.
• Schematic Design Phase to initiate upon Notice to Proceed.

Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging (SIB) Task Force Updates

The Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging (SIB) Task Force meets monthly to further our conversations on continuing to implement proactive strategies for tracking students who are facing immigration challenges, as well as the importance of reporting any sightings of ICE on campus to the Chancellor or District General Counsel. Reports of ICE near campus (off campus) should first be directed to the COS, who, in collaboration with the Deans, will take appropriate and informed next steps to address the situation.

We have a dedicated webpage with Know Your Rights Information, District protocols, resources, and more curated by our Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force.

Please take a moment to review the safety cards for navigating ICE incidents on campus. These resources are designed to guide employees on the steps for reporting.

Additionally, new posters and stickers were passed out at Institution Day along with the emergency whistles. If you would like these resources, please contact us. We still have posters and whistles available for those who did not receive one.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the SDCCE Emergency Notification Drill on Wednesday, February 4 at the Mid-City Campus. We truly appreciate your time, engagement, and thoughtful feedback. This was an important step in strengthening our emergency communication systems, and we learned a great deal that will help us refine our processes before rolling out this test at each of our campuses.

We are pleased to share that the RAVE Mobile Safety test was successful. For those who opted in:

• The first text message was sent at 11:03 AM, followed by the all-clear text at 11:06 AM.
• The first email notification was sent at 11:04 AM, followed by the all-clear email at 11:07 AM.

If you did not receive one or more notifications, please take a moment to ensure your email address and mobile phone number are up to date in your MySDCCD portal. Instructions for adding or updating your mobile phone number are available on the Administrative Services Safety page: https://sdccd0.sharepoint.com/sites/SDCCESafetyResources

If your information is current and you still did not receive a text or email, please complete the data sheet form using the link below. We are collecting and reviewing all data and feedback from the drill to follow up on any issues and continue improving our processes.

SDCCE Emergency Notification Drill - Data Sheet – Fill out form

SDCCDsafe

Don't forget to download the SDCCDsafe App to enhance your safety on and off campus. It is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play It is the official safety app of San Diego Community College District. The app features emergency contacts, crisis alerts, location services features, in-app tip reporting, and much more! The app also lets you stay connected by inviting a trusted friend or family member to virtually accompany you through a safety walk—so you’re never truly alone, even when they’re not nearby.

• A reminder that all requests of the Communications Department must be approved by a dean or vice president and requires submission of a request form. You can find the Project Request Form link on the Faculty and Staff Resources Page of our website. Allow ten working days for a request to be completed. If a request needs immediate attention, please complete the form and contact the Public Information Officer.
• For SDCCE professional development opportunities, visit the professional development web page for upcoming workshops.

President's Updates

• I’m currently in Washington, D.C., along with our student trustee Yahir Melendez and our district leaders attending the ACCT Legislative Summit, where college leaders from across the nation come together to discuss policies, funding, and initiatives that directly impact our students and campuses. While here, we are advocating for issues that support student success, expand access to education, and strengthen the programs that make our colleges thrive. I look forward to bringing back insights and strategies that will benefit our entire SDCCE community. I also had a chance to visit the Smithonsian which makes it even more special while visiting during Black History Month.
• Last week, we hosted our President’s Cabinet Luncheon to welcome the new year and celebrate our amazing supervisors and administrators. I’m grateful to serve alongside such dedicated leaders who show up every day for our students and community.

The Research Corner

This week we invite you to explore the report, Aligned by Design: How Cross-System Math Alignment Can Improve Students' Pathways From High School to College. Misalignment in math education is a serious problem for students transitioning into colleges and four year universities. This report examines five different strategies developed to help institutions support students in their transition to college and the students' relationship with math. This document may be accessed here: Aligned by Design: How Cross-System Math Alignment Can Improve Students' Pathways From High School to College. Please take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.