Dear SDCCE Community,
I am writing to share an important update following the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees' decision at its special meeting on April 6.
First, I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the meeting online and in-person, share thoughtful input, and engage in this important conversation. Your voices and perspectives are essential, and we deeply appreciate your participation and commitment to our community.
Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to hear from many of you. I also met with the Chancellor, our Board President, and a member of the Board of Trustees to discuss the process for convening a special board meeting.
After considerable public input at the meeting, the Board of Trustees has approved the temporary renaming of the César E. Chávez Campus. Yesterday, Chancellor Smith announced the campus will be referred to as the San Diego College of Continuing Education Harbor View Campus (temporarily), while our college leadership begins a thoughtful and transparent process to determine a permanent name. This process will be developed in collaboration with the Executive Governance Council and the DEIAA Committee, and will include open forums and engagement sessions to gather input from our diverse constituent groups, inclusive of students and members of the broader community, in the months ahead. A recommended permanent name is expected to be brought forward during the Fall 2026 semester.
We recognize that this change may bring a range of perspectives and emotions. As shared during the Board meeting, this moment also offers an opportunity for reflection, dialogue, and continued learning—particularly around the history and impact of the farmworker movement, as well as the importance of centering community voice in institutional decisions.
As we move forward, we will begin updating key materials and items to reflect the temporary campus name. This includes, but is not limited to, the college catalog, class schedules, campus webpages, and future marketing and outreach materials. A temporary campus sign reflecting the updated name will also be installed on-site. If you have internal or external documents you regularly share out, please take the time to review them as well.
We understand that not all previously printed or published materials, building infrastructure, and signage can be updated immediately or taken down. Updating these elements to thoughtfully reflect the permanent name will take several months. This transition will take place over time, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to align our efforts moving forward.
We will continue to keep you informed as the naming process evolves and as opportunities for community input become available.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our students, our community, and to one another during this time.
Best,
