Dear SDCCE Community,
I hope you all enjoyed a safe, restful, and meaningful Fourth of July weekend.
As I officially begin my fifth year serving as president of this remarkable college, I am filled with gratitude and excitement for the year ahead. It has been a true privilege to lead an institution defined by the dedication of our students, outstanding faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and the many community partners who support our mission. A few highlights include:
- Significant enrollment growth, increasing from 7,114 students in 2022 to more than 21,000 in 2026, returning to pre-pandemic enrollment levels.
- Conferred 11,112 certificates and diplomas in 2025-2026.
- Established new instructional programs, including Licensed Vocational Nursing, Ophthalmic, and Optometry.
- Implemented a college-wide initiative to revise Course Outlines of Record (COR) to include instructional hour ranges, providing greater scheduling flexibility while maintaining compliance.
- Expanded tutoring services to the Harbor View Campus, in addition to Educational Cultural Complex and Mid-City Campus.
- Successfully hired 43 contract faculty members and 62 classified professionals over the past four years.
- Updated the College Governance Handbook to expand student and supervisor representation in shared governance.
- Co-hosted the Vision 2030 Noncredit Summit with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and Mt. San Antonio College.
- Redesigned the SDCCE website to enhance usability, improve digital accessibility, and strengthen alignment with the college's brand identity.
- Implemented College Technology Services, completing numerous technology refresh, renewal, and infrastructure improvement projects across SDCCE campuses to enhance instructional technology, classroom experiences, and operational efficiency.
- Advanced planning and design for the Educational Cultural Complex Ceramics and Welding projects; the Applied Automation, Innovation, and Robotics (AAIR) Center; CE Mesa upgrades; the Mid-City renovation and new building; and the West City Campus expansion.
- Advanced the Educational Cultural Complex Theatre renovation and multipurpose room through major construction milestones, including abatement, demolition, and underground utility work.
- Received a $169,000 grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to launch SDCCE's first Rising Scholars Program in support of justice-impacted students.
- Opened SDCCE's first Mental Health Center and expanded telehealth services, serving more than 1,300 students.
Additionally, fall enrollment is well underway at SDCCE, and we're excited to welcome both new and returning students as they take the next step toward achieving their educational and career goals. Each of us plays an essential role in helping students discover opportunities, navigate resources, and feel supported from enrollment through completion.
Whether you work directly with students or contribute behind the scenes, your commitment and dedication make a lasting difference in their success. Thank you for all you do to create an environment where our students can learn, grow, and thrive. I look forward to all we will accomplish together.
Enrollment Updates
Summer Update
- SDCCE's overall enrollment for summer stands at 9,476 with a fill rate of 69%.
- SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 6,687, a 1% increase from last week (6,637). FTEF scheduled for the summer semester is 13% greater than last summer (80.30 to 90.46). View report.
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.
Advanced Culinary Arts Showcase
Our SDCCE Advanced Culinary Arts students, led by Chef Megan Leppert, concluded their program with an extraordinary final showcase: an exclusive "Culinary Roadmap Through SDCCE" seven-course tasting menu.
Each course represented one of our seven campuses, taking guests on a culinary journey that celebrated the unique character of our college while highlighting the creativity, technical skills, and passion our students have developed throughout the program. More than a meal, the evening was a celebration of excellence, innovation, and the story of SDCCE, beautifully told through food.
Congratulations to our talented students and heartfelt thanks to Chef Leppert and the Culinary Arts team for creating such an inspiring capstone experience.
See more special moments from the event on our SDCCE Flickr.
Student Content Creator Opportunity
3fold, the agency partner for the San Diego Community College District, is seeking currently enrolled San Diego College of Continuing Education students to participate as paid student content creators for the district's upcoming marketing campaign.
Selected students will film short-form video content documenting their real student experience for use across official San Diego College of Continuing Education platforms.
Ideal Candidates:
- Currently enrolled student in Summer 2026 or returning student in Fall 2026
- Comfortable filming, creating and/or appearing in short-form video content
- Represents the diverse student community
- Large social media following not required, but interested in social media content creation is a plus
Please share with any students who would be interested in this unique opportunity. This opportunity includes:
- Compensation for content creation
- Real-world portfolio experience
- Exposure across a major regional college district's platforms
To apply or learn more: bit.ly/sdccd-content-creator
Deadline to apply: 07/15
Contact: [email protected]
San Diego Pride Parade
SDCCE is proud to join the San Diego Community College District in participating once again in the San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Employees, students, and community members are encouraged to show their support by walking with the SDCCD team in one of the region's largest celebrations of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
The parade begins at the Hillcrest Pride Flag at University Avenue and Normal Street and continues 1.5 miles to Quince Drive in Balboa Park.
Those interested in participating can learn more about the day's activities and sign up to walk with the SDCCD team.
Digital Textile Experience Day
Spread the word about SDCCE's Digital Textile Experience Day on Wednesday, July 29 at the West City Campus. Students can choose from two sessions: 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. or 4:00–6:30 p.m.
This free, hands-on event introduces students to careers in digital textile arts through interactive activities, including textile printing, industrial embroidery, and digital sewing pattern design. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with faculty and industry professionals while exploring how technology is shaping the future of sustainable textiles.
Whether students are exploring a new career path or looking to expand their creative skills, this is a great opportunity to discover what's possible in the world of digital textiles.
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.
- The PIO office, theatre director, facilities team and architect met and discussed notes for finalizing the signage for the ECC Theatre to improve wayfinding and accessibility efforts.
- The architect and theatre director met and discussed updates on construction efforts after the completion of the terrazzo flooring in the South Wing.
- East Wing construction phasing remains unchanged. Phase 2 – Level 2 is scheduled for July 6, 2026, through August 14, 2026; see logistics plan for details. During this time, portions of the East Wing (green areas) will be inaccessible, while remaining areas will be accessible via exterior doors. The schedule outlines higher-noise periods as well.
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.
- The Measure HH Communications team convened to discuss and strengthen cross-district collaboration among communications teams, focusing on coordinated messaging and shared strategies to effectively tell the Measure HH story and highlight its impact across our communities.
- Several stakeholder meetings/focus groups continue to take place this week for the Mid-City Campus expansion.
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.
Suicide Prevention Training
Be Well CCE is offering bilingual Suicide Prevention Training to help our college community recognize warning signs, respond with compassion, and connect individuals to support.
- Online: Tuesday, July 7, 2:00 p.m. (Zoom)
- In Person: Wednesday, July 8, 12:15 p.m., CE Mesa Campus, Room 116
Can't make it? Additional trainings will be offered at every campus during Suicide Prevention Month in September.
To request a classroom presentation on suicide prevention or another mental health topic, contact [email protected].
Classified Professional Spotlight
This week's Classified Professional Spotlight shines on one of our Instructional Assistants, Heesook Jung.
Since joining SDCCE in June 2024, Heesook has grown through several roles, from ESL Project Assistant to tutor at the Tutoring & Learning Center, and now as an ESL Instructional Assistant. Her journey began as an ESL student, giving her a unique perspective and a deep appreciation for supporting others on their educational path.
What started by chance has grown into a meaningful career. For Heesook, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing students succeed and hearing how the support she provides has made a difference in their lives.
Outside of work, Heesook enjoys sunset walks, exploring new coffee and matcha cafés, and learning new skills—including recently taking up Spanish through a language-learning app. She believes that because she spends so much of her time at SDCCE, it's important to help create a welcoming, positive environment for students, coworkers, and herself.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on BIT, Digital Media & Programming Professor, Will Olmstead.
Will specializes in multimedia design, digital media, and learning technologies, and has served the college for nearly two decades. He brings extensive industry experience as a creative director, producer, and designer across advertising, marketing, and educational media.
Throughout his career, Will has supported student success through award-winning outcomes, curriculum development, and contributions to research and international conferences. He is also known for integrating emerging technologies into instruction to strengthen workforce readiness and create innovative, student-centered learning environments.
SPAA Spotlight
This week's SPAA Spotlight shines on our Theatre Director, Silvia Nogales.
Approaching her one-year anniversary with SDCCE on July 14, Silvia brings more than 25 years of experience in the performing arts to the college. Before joining SDCCE, she served as Performing Arts Coordinator at Southwestern College, where she oversaw performing and visual arts co-curricular programs and coordinated more than 2,000 artistic events throughout her career.
Silvia is especially excited to help shape the future of the newly renovated ECC Theatre, working closely with the college and local community to build a lasting legacy for this exciting new performance space.
Outside of work, Silvia enjoys spending time with her family, caring for her father, planning family celebrations, and expressing her creativity through crafting jewelry, journals, and clothing inspired by Mexican culture. She also serves on the board of the San Diego Mariachi Scholarship Foundation, helping raise scholarship funds for high school and college students participating in mariachi programs throughout the San Diego region.
Reminders and Resources
Do you know an employee making a difference at SDCCE? Help us recognize those outstanding contributions by submitting an Employee Spotlight! Selected spotlights will be featured in future editions of the weekly President's Message and other college communications as we celebrate the people who make SDCCE an exceptional place to learn and work.
As we update our CE Birthday List, employees who would like to receive a birthday greeting from President King are invited to complete the Birthday List Form; if you've already signed up, no further action is needed.
A reminder that all San Diego College of Continuing Education campuses are closed on Fridays for the summer. Campuses will resume normal Monday to Friday operations after August 14.
Visit the Administrative Services Intranet to access campus safety resources and stay informed with the latest updates.
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
Tomorrow, I will join SDCCD colleagues in visiting U.S. Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52) for a check presentation recognizing $500,000 in federal funding he secured for critical utility and water infrastructure improvements at the Educational Cultural Complex.
This investment will strengthen our campus and enhance our ability to serve students each year through high-quality workforce training and educational opportunities. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Vargas for his continued support of SDCCE and his commitment to the students and communities we serve. This award builds on the $500,000 in federal funding he secured for SDCCE last year following the January 2024 storms, demonstrating his ongoing investment in our mission and our future. I also want to thank Anthony Vargas and VP Jacqueline Sabanos as they were instrumental to ensure we received these funds.
The Research Corner
This week, we invite you to check out report "Extreme Segregation and Policy Inaction in California Schools" by The Civil Rights Project. California is under an illusion that it's a progressive place where racial diversity is a strength, yet it operates the nation's most segregated schools, according to this report's analysis. Segregation has quadrupled in CA schools in the last 30 years. Schools are segregated not just by race – there is double segregation by race and poverty, which means systematically unequal educational opportunity for students of color. The report may be found on the following link: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39s231mn. Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best,
