Dear SDCCE Community,
I hope you all had a wonderful and meaningful Mother's Day filled with joy, appreciation, and time spent with loved ones.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to our IT teams, who have tirelessly worked through our recent network outage to restore systems back to full access while simultaneously addressing the Canvas outage. Their dedication, responsiveness, and around-the-clock efforts have been instrumental in minimizing disruption and supporting our students and employees during this challenging time.
As we enter the final stage of reactivating district systems and networks, SDCCE will return to normal operations tomorrow, May 12 and we are asking for your support in helping expedite a safe and secure return to normal operations. To complete comprehensive security scans across all District-owned devices, all desktop computers and docked laptops must be powered on and connected to the network, and we strongly encourage employees with off-site District-issued devices to bring them to campus as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued patience, flexibility, and collaboration throughout this process as our teams work diligently to restore full access to the digital tools and services our students and employees rely on every day.
Enrollment Updates
Spring Update
SDCCE's overall enrollment for spring stands at 27,312 (10% less than this time last year, and a 1% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 66%, which is less than last spring (73%). SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 14,447, a decrease of 8% compared to this time last spring (15,696) and a 0.4% increase from last week (14,389). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 9% greater than last spring (196.16 to 214.07).
Summer Update
Summer enrollment opened May 4. We will be providing an update on summer enrollment when available.
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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] for any additional questions
Faculty Summit
Congratulations to all of the wonderful faculty celebrated during the Faculty Summit at the Harbor View Campus on May 11! Faculty were recognized and appreciated for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to student success, while enjoying lunch, opportunity drawings, words from campus leadership, and photo booth fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration meaningful, collaborative, and memorable!
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.
We look forward to our last stop shown below:
CE Mesa - Tuesday May 12th - 9:30am to 11:30am (Multipurpose - Room 118/120)
AANHPI Heritage Month
Join us for a vibrant afternoon of culture, creativity, and community as we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Educational Cultural Complex (4343 Ocean View Blvd). Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere filled with connection and celebration—lunch will be provided!
Student Government Election Results
The results of the 2026–2027 Student Government elections are officially in! We extend our congratulations to all candidates who participated in this year's election process. An official announcement recognizing the newly elected student leaders will be shared with the winners and the college community early this week. Stay tuned!
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.
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 immigration and safety 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.
Rite of Passage Ceremony
SDCCE will participate in the SDCCD Rite of Passage Ceremony on May 11 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at City College, celebrating the achievements of Black and African American graduates and transfer students. Congratulations to all of our students on this important milestone!
Annual Lavender Celebration
Join us for the Annual Lavender Celebration as we honor the accomplishments and contributions of our LGBTQIA+ students. From academic milestones to scholarship and grant recognitions, this special evening is all about uplifting student success. Register for the event which will be held:
Tuesday, May 12
5:30–7:00 PM
Harbor View Campus, Room 103
Dinner will be provided for registered attendees and their guests. Come celebrate, connect, and be inspired—we can't wait to see you there! For additional questions and accommodations please contact Dr. Lisa Carulli at [email protected] .
CalWORKs Celebration
The CalWORKs team invites you to join us in celebrating the achievements of our CalWORKs students on Tuesday, May 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mid-City Campus. This special event will recognize students who have demonstrated educational growth, completed programs, reached personal milestones, and made meaningful progress toward their goals. Refreshments will be provided for registered guests.
Denim Day and Title IX
Professor Curington's ESL class recently participated in Denim Day. Earlier this semester, the class also took part in a presentation and discussion on Title IX. Students were highly engaged throughout the conversation, asked thoughtful questions, and shared that they learned a great deal from the experience.
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 the Administrative Assistant V to the President, Ksenia Cavo!
Before joining SDCCE, Ksenia worked with the speech language pathology department at California State University San Marcos and in student life and leadership at MiraCosta College, building a strong foundation in student support and higher education services. Her passion for equity and community colleges is deeply personal—her mother was an adult student at a community college, and the experience transformed her family's life. In a full-circle moment, Ksenia and her mother graduated from college on the same day, reinforcing her belief in the power of education to uplift immigrant and refugee families.
Outside of work, Ksenia is a proud foodie who loves discovering new restaurants and cuisines, enjoys music, dancing, traveling, movies, and all things cinema, and values spending quality time with family and friends.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Mark Kim, who teaches at our Mid-City Office Skills Lab.
With degrees in Economics from UC San Diego and SDSU, Mark discovered his passion for teaching early on and has been inspiring students at SDCCE since Fall 2025. For him, teaching is a lifelong passion rooted in connection, growth, and finding new ways to support students.
Outside the classroom, Mark enjoys time with his wife and three kids, hiking, running, soccer, camping at national parks, and creative outlets like writing and piano. He also shares his gratitude to Dean Michelle Gray for the opportunity to be part of the SDCCE community.
Manager Spotlight
This month's manager spotlight shines on our Dean of Healthcare Careers, Dean Catherine Shafer. Passionate about healthcare education and workforce development, Dean Shafer has dedicated her career to preparing future healthcare professionals and strengthening community health through education.
Before joining SDCCE three years ago, she served in several leadership roles at City College, including Vocational Nurse Program Director, Simulation Lab Coordinator Faculty, and Acting Associate Dean of Outreach & Community Relations.
Dean Shafer's commitment to student success and workforce innovation helped launch three new SDCCE programs: Optical Technician, Ophthalmic Assistant, and Vocational Nurse Training. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and camping. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Seton Hall University and her Master of Nursing in Nursing Education from California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Announcements and 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 want to thank all the nurses during this year's National Nurses Week! At SDCCE, our Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program prepares students to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others through hands-on training, patient-centered care, and career-focused education. From the classroom to clinical experience, our students are building the skills, confidence, and heart needed to serve on the frontlines of healthcare. To our CNA students, instructors, alumni, and healthcare workers — thank you for the care you provide and the impact you make every day. Your commitment changes lives. Happy National Nurses Week!
The Research Corner
This week, we invite you to check out the report Expanding Apprenticeships in San Diego County: High-Opportunity Occupations. This report, from our friends at the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, builds upon previous research by looking at work opportunities from apprenticeable occupations and checking their long-term viability. The analysis also analyzes the impact of AI, and which of these programs have a higher AI resilience. The report may be found on the following link: https://coeccc.net/san-diego-imperial/2026/04/expanding-apprenticeships-in-san-diego-county-high-opportunity-occupations/ . Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best,
