Dear SDCCE Community,
As we move further into the spring term, I want to take a moment to recognize the continued dedication and impact of our SDCCE community. Every day, our faculty, classified professionals, and administrators create meaningful opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and achieve their goals.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our mission and to one another. I encourage you to take a moment to explore this week's updates and celebrate the great work happening throughout SDCCE.
Enrollment Updates
Spring Update
SDCCE's overall enrollment for spring stands at 27,147 (10% less than this time last year, and a 0.2% decrease from last week), with a fill rate of 67%, which is less than last spring (75%). SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 14,389, a decrease of 8% compared to this time last spring (15,651) and a 0.2% increase from last week (14,364). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 9% greater than last spring (196.18 to 214.33). View report.
Summer Update
The summer class schedule went live last week and student will be able to enroll in summer classes beginning May 4.
Connect with the President
I'm excited to continue offering the opportunity to Walk with the President! If you'd rather take a stroll around the Educational Cultural Complex instead of a Zoom meeting, join me for a refreshing walk as we continue to prioritize wellness. Don't forget to wear comfortable walking shoes!
Individual walks or zoom meetings will be 20 minutes and are available on a first come first-served basis. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me, please email sdccepresident@sdccd.edu for detailed information.
Lastly, you can utilize the anonymous sharing box. Your voice matters, and I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Commencement
As we look ahead to Commencement on June 2, 2026 at the Town and Country Resort, please remind students to connect with a counselor to develop their educational plan, request their diploma, and apply for graduation.
Key Commencement updates and information have been added on the Commencement Webpage, please encourage students to review it for items such as:
- Eligibility requirements
- Participation form details
- Cap and gown information
- Commencement speaker opportunities
- Accommodations
- Location information and more
Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at sdccestudentaffairs@sdccd.edu for any additional questions
"My Story Is Not Your Story" Board Meeting
The Board Meeting held last week at North City Campus brought the community together for an inspiring evening centered on the theme, "My Story Is Not Your Story."
Students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators shared powerful, personal experiences reminding us that every journey is unique and every voice matters. The event created space for connection, understanding, and reflection, highlighting the strength found in diverse perspectives and the impact of truly listening to one another. View more special moments on our SDCCE Flickr.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
At SDCCE, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students and employees. Sexual violence affects people of all genders and backgrounds, and preventing it is a shared responsibility. By promoting healthy relationships, equity, and respect, we can build stronger, safer communities together.
Get Involved & Show Support
- Denim Day – April 29: Stand in solidarity with survivors and help educate others about sexual violence prevention.
- Invite our Title IX Office to your classroom, student group, or department meeting to learn about consent, reporting options, and available resources.
Resources & Reporting
SDCCE provides support through the Title IX Office, including academic accommodations, counseling, safety measures, and community referrals. Students and employees can report incidents and access assistance at titleIX@sdccd.edu.
At SDCCE, we are committed to fostering a campus culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and respected.
BIG MAKE 2026
BIG MAKE 2026 brought creativity, sustainability, and community to life at West City Campus through this year's theme, "From Waste to Worth – Stitching Sustainable Stories."
Guided by visiting artist Michelle Montjoy, students spent the week exploring material storytelling and the transformative power of textiles—learning how reclaimed materials can be reimagined through knitting, repair, and reuse.
The celebration culminated in a vibrant Capstone Event & Festival, where attendees experienced interactive activities, a large-scale textile installation, and inspiring conversations around sustainability and care for our communities. BIG MAKE once again showcased how creativity can turn everyday materials into meaningful works of art with purpose. View more photos on our SDCCE Flickr.
Black Student Success Week
Black Student Success Week is officially here! This annual event within the California Community Colleges, observed during the last full week of April, offers a time to reflect on our commitment to the academic well-being of underserved students, including but not limited to Black and African American students.
The seventh annual Black Student Success Week is scheduled for April 20 - 24, 2026. This year's theme is Revolution: (Re)Defining Black Student Success.
Please encourage students to participate in a series of engaging and empowering events at our Mid-City Campus, including:
- Daily Watch Parties, April 20-24 from 12 to 1 p.m.
- Money Talk Session, April 21 from 3 to 5 p.m.
- A2MEND: Black Men in Conversation, April 22 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
- Black Women: Forward, Not Behind, April 23 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
These sessions offer valuable opportunities for connection, growth, and support—don't let your students miss out!
Celebrate SWANA Heritage Month
Join us for the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) Celebration on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus Lobby.
This community event honors the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of SWANA communities—a decolonial term that includes regions often referred to as the Middle East and North Africa (such as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey). The celebration will feature performances, poetry, storytelling, and a shared lunch, offering an opportunity to learn, connect, and uplift cultural traditions through art and food.
Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in this celebration of heritage and community.
SD Advance Workshops & Counseling Support
SDAdvance (Noncredit and Credit Alignment) offers SDCCE students valuable support in transitioning to City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges and in achieving their academic and career goals. Services include Credit by Exam (CBE) support, educational planning and counseling, Promise Scholarship information, guidance on applying to community college, and transition support.
Weekly virtual student workshops are held every Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Zoom and are open to all SDCCE students.
For questions, please contact SDAdvance Counselor Armando Carignan at acarignan@sdccd.edu.
2026 Scholarship and Awards Program
The Office of Student Affairs and the SDCCE Foundation are proud to announce the honorees of the 2026 Scholarship and Awards Program have been announced! This year, we received 321 applications and are thrilled to recognize 124 students, each receiving scholarships of at least $500.
These outstanding students will be celebrated at our Open House Scholarship and Awards Celebration on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 4 to 6 PM at the North City Campus. Join us as we honor their achievements in academics, personal growth, community service, and for exemplifying the very best of the San Diego College of Continuing Education!
CE Student Media Fest
Please encourage students to attend the CE Student Media Fest: "Oh, the Places You'll Go," hosted by the Office of Communications and Creative Services—a one-stop event designed to support their academic and career goals.
Students can take advantage of free professional headshots, on-camera interview practice, resume support, guidance on transitioning to credit programs, career resources, and opportunity drawings.
This is a great chance for students to build confidence, strengthen their personal brand, and prepare for internships, job interviews, and future success.
See event dates and times below:
- Harbor View Campus - Monday April 27th - 11:00am to 1:00pm (Multipurpose Room)
- ECC - Tuesday April 28th - 1:00pm - 3:00pm (Room 76)
- Mid City - Wednesday April 29th - 12:00pm to 2:00pm (Room 117)
- West City - Monday May 4th - 10:30am to 12:30pm (Room 124B)
- North City - Wednesday May 6th - 10:00am to 12:00pm (Multipurpose Room)
- CE Miramar - Thursday May 7th - 11:30am to 1:30pm (Outside area)
- CE Mesa - Tuesday May 12th - 9:30am to 11:30am (Multipurpose - Room 118/120)
2026 Districtwide Undocumented Student Conference
Join us for the 2026 Districtwide Undocumented Student Conference!
All District students, employees, and allies are invited to this free virtual event on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m.. The conference features engaging workshops, important resources, and a student opportunity drawing.
Our keynote speaker will be UndocuScholars LLC, sharing insights and inspiration for undocumented students and their supporters. FLEX credit is available (31756 for credit, 38762 for noncredit).
Register now: https://forms.office.com/r/iL1RurpiuC
CalWORKs Conference
At the CalWORKs Conference, our CalWORKs team came together continuing the "heart work" of uplifting and supporting student success, highlighting a shared commitment to meeting students where they are and empowering them to move forward with purpose, reinforcing the college's mission to provide compassionate, student-centered support for our students and their families.
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:
The current Measure HH Bond projects for our college continue to make progress. We have also developed a current projects page with updates on each project and the SDCCD Measure HH webpage has further updates.
Harbor View Campus
We have installed a temporary banner at the former Cesar E. Chavez Campus with the new "Harbor View Campus" name. We will continue to keep you informed as the naming process evolves and as opportunities for community input on the permanent name become available.
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.
SDCCE Emeritus Concert
Come out to support the "Sixth Annual Emeritus Festival, Music You Will Love!", taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. (with two intermissions). This special afternoon of music will be held in person at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church in El Cajon. Concert proceeds will directly support the Emeritus Program, which provides free classes for adults in our community. We hope you'll join us for an inspiring event that celebrates lifelong learning and the joy of music.
Learning & Teaching Center (LTC) Grand Opening
The Learning & Teaching Center (LTC) at North City Campus was officially unveiled last week with a celebratory grand opening hosted by SDCCE's Instructional Learning Technology program.
The event brought employees together for a ribbon cutting, open house, and brunch as they explored the new space designed to support instructional design, distance education, and faculty development. The LTC now serves as a hub for advancing innovative, equitable teaching practices and enhancing student success across all learning modalities. See more photos on our SDCCE Flickr.
2026 Pre-Pride Month of Events
As we celebrate diversity and inclusion, I invite you to join us for the 2026 Pre-Pride Month of Events happening across all four San Diego Community College District colleges.
For a full list of Districtwide events, visit https://bit.ly/4sj0jq0.
Classified Professional Spotlight
This week's Classified Professional Spotlight shines on our Student Services Technician, Kiana Redulla.
Kiana's journey with SDCCE began in 2018 as a Project Assistant, following her impactful work as a Senior Tutor with the DSPS program at Mesa College. Over the past eight years, she has grown across multiple roles, from Student Services Assistant to Senior Student Services Assistant, and now supports students at North City as a Student Services Technician.
What drives Kiana is simple but powerful: witnessing student growth. She finds purpose in connecting with students from all walks of life, supporting their journeys, and celebrating their successes. Her passion for removing barriers and creating opportunities continues to deepen with every role she takes on.
Outside of work, Kiana is a proud Friar Faithful, enjoys hiking, reading, staying active, and spending time with her dog, Enzo, and above all, cherishes her family.
Her message to colleagues: Lead with your heart. It only takes one person to create a lifelong student.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on our Culinary Arts Instructor, Chef Mariela Magoni.
A classically trained chef with extensive experience in both education and the hospitality industry, Chef Magoni has been teaching since 2012 and joined the San Diego Community College District in 2023. Beyond the classroom, she brings her culinary expertise to a range of entrepreneurial ventures, including running a catering company, creating custom cakes, and managing a deli within her family's winery where she also curates' special dinner events and wine pairings.
Chef Magoni is deeply committed to connecting students with real-world culinary experience, blending technical skill-building with creativity and industry insight to inspire the next generation of culinary professionals.
Reminders
- Visit the Administrative Services Intranet to access campus safety resources and stay informed with the latest updates.
- We will be participating in a 4 x10 schedule this summer 2026. Please refer to the memo that was sent out via email of view it on the Intranet.
- 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 recently had the pleasure of doing a special walk with the President alongside Counselor Dulce Carolina Arroyo and her daughter, Valentina Mia—a truly memorable moment.
- I am currently attending and co-presenting at the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) Conference, connecting with higher education leaders nationwide to explore emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in distance learning. I look forward to bringing back valuable insights to our team to strengthen online education, support student success, and enhance program quality.
The Research Corner:
This week, we invite you to read about study "Gender, race, and intersectional bias in AI resume screening via language model retrieval" published on The Brookings Institution website. Recent estimates found as many as 98.4% of Fortune 500 companies leverage AI in the hiring process. In a simulation of resume screening, some systems resulted in significant gender and racial discrimination, especially for Black men. The article may be found on the following link: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/gender-race-and-intersectional-bias-in-ai-resume-screening-via-language-model-retrieval/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Please take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.
Best,
