Dear SDCCE Community,
Last week, we came together for Fall Convocation under this year's theme, Connected in Purpose. It was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate what we have accomplished, reflect on the work that brought us here, and reconnect with one another as we prepare for the semester ahead.
Beyond the goals and accomplishments, we shared, Convocation gave us the space to connect on a deeper level, reflecting on our individual purpose and how it contributes to our collective mission of serving and supporting our students. I am reminded that when we understand our individual purpose and connect it to our shared mission, we strengthen the impact we can make together.
Visit our SDCCE Flickr to view special moments captured at the event.
Welcome to Fall 2026
Enrollment Updates:
Fall Update
SDCCE's overall enrollment for fall stands at 20,092 (a 7% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 64%. SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 11,139, an 8% increase from last week (10,338). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 13% greater than last fall (189.59 to 214.16). View report.
Summer Update
SDCCE's overall enrollment for summer stands at 9,272 with a fill rate of 60%. SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 6,616. FTEF scheduled for the summer semester is 15% greater than last summer (80.09 to 91.74).
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.
Welcome Week
The start of the fall semester is here, and the Executive President's Cabinet made rounds across our campuses to kick off Welcome Week with uplifting energy and a special gift of appreciation for our teams. From campus to campus, we are delivering gift baskets and connecting with the people who help make our college community strong.
As we begin this new semester, I look forward to taking this journey alongside you as we continue supporting, serving and empowering our students. There is much ahead, and I am excited for what we will accomplish together in the weeks and months to come. Check out the Welcome Week schedule to see what's happening across our campuses and find opportunities to connect with students throughout the week. Also, take a moment and visit our SDCCE Flickr to view more photos captured during Welcome Week so far!
- August 25th 10:30 am - 12:30 pm AND 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Mid-City - Front Lobby (Resource Fair) Room 117/120 (Enrollment Fair)
- August 26th 10:30 am - 1:00 pm AND 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - ECC - Hallway Adjacent to the Welcome Center
- August 27th 10:00 am - 12:00 pm AND 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Harbor View - Front Lobby
- August 31st 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - West City - Front Lobby (Resource Fair) Room 208 (Enrollment Workshop)
- September 1st 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm - North City - Lobby
- September 2nd 8:45 am - 10:45 am - CE - Mesa - Room 118/120 (Multipurpose Room) for the Resource Fair and Room 116 for the Enrollment Workshop.
Tutoring & Learning Center Fall 2026
The Tutoring & Learning Center launched its online fall 2026 tutoring enrollment help sessions which runs through September 4th where students will receive assistance in enrolling in the Tutoring course at SDCCE. Please inform students to take advantage of this opportunity.
Please note that enrolled SDCCE students can learn all about our FREE tutoring services, explore the TLCs at ECC, MCC, and Harbor View, AND enroll in a fall tutoring class, all in just 15 minutes!
Session Details:
- When: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM; Fridays 8:30 AM - 12 PM (Aug24th & September 4th)
- Dates: Now - Sep 4th
- Where: Online via Zoom
- What: Online "walk-in" enrollment support for SDCCE tutoring classes (ABE445)
Our dedicated tutors will be standing by to help summer students self-enroll quickly and easily. *Please note: these sessions are specifically for tutoring course enrollment, not general enrollment or student services.
A.L.I.C.E. Training
As we begin a new academic year, preparedness remains an important part of creating a safe and supportive environment for our students and employees. This month, Administrative Services partnered with College Police to provide A.L.I.C.E. Training at West City Campus, giving employees the opportunity to build their knowledge, confidence and readiness to respond in an emergency.
Thank you to everyone who participated and to the teams who continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our campus community.
Health & Healing Summerfest Returns August 29
SDCCE is proud to be the host site for Project New Village's fifth annual Health & Healing Summerfest on August 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex. This free community event will connect attendees with health resources and traditional pathways to wellness, featuring resource vendors, presentations, movement workshops, music and more. Our very own ceramics program will be participating in the event.
The first 200 registered attendees will receive a complimentary lunch and wellness swag bag with wellness products and resource materials. Advance registration is required.
Cafecito with the Counselors
Cafecito with the Counselors created a welcoming space for students to connect with their peers, engage with counselors and strengthen their connection to the CalWORKs program.
The event received a 4.94 out of 5 satisfaction rating, with 100% of respondents saying they felt more connected to CalWORKs and 88.2% planning to schedule a follow-up appointment with a counselor. Students stayed after the presentation to continue meaningful conversations over coffee and bread, highlighting the sense of community built throughout the event.
Thank you to counselors Belle Ayala, Yasmine Mena, and everyone who helped make this event a meaningful experience for 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.
- The District team, ECC Theatre Director, Facilities team, and Measure HH Liaison (Regions 1 & 3) met in person with PCL, HGA, and the J.E. Moore Company to discuss updates to the construction schedule and share progress photos.
- 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:
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.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on one of our Emeritus Instructors, Marketa Hancova!
A lifelong educator and champion of adult learning, Marketa has dedicated her career to creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore music, literature, culture and the arts. Originally from the Czech Republic, she holds dual master's degrees in music, literature and linguistics from Charles University in Prague and has taught in both Europe and the United States.
At SDCCE, Marketa has shared her passion for classical music history while mentoring fellow instructors and creating enriching cultural experiences for her students, including outings to local theaters, symphonies and operas. Beyond the classroom, she is a translator, published literary essayist, cultural producer and passionate community advocate.
Her many contributions have earned her recognition throughout San Diego, including a 2023 Women of Impact award. Outside of teaching, Marketa enjoys singing, gardening, reading, blogging short stories, skiing, baking and exploring San Diego's history and neighborhoods.
Thank you, Marketa, for your continued dedication to lifelong learning and for inspiring our students and community through your love of culture and education!
SPAA Spotlight
This week's SPAA Spotlight shines on our College Operations Supervisor, Andre Harris!
With 26 years in education, Andre has built his career around student-centered service, campus operations, team support and the work that helps our college community thrive. Before joining SDCCE nearly two years ago, he served in a classified professional role at another institution, then later as the Center Operations Supervisor, experiences that helped shape his passion for higher education and leadership.
Andre's commitment to growth extends beyond his work. He holds a Master of Science in Higher Education and is currently pursuing his EdD in Educational and Organizational Leadership at National University. His personal journey goes backs to serving in the U.S. Navy to beginning his doctoral journey later in life which reinforced his belief that it is never too late to pursue new goals and continue growing.
Outside of work, Andre enjoys sports, gaming, technology, spending time with his family as a husband, father and grandfather, and caring for his plants. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue serving higher education through teaching and academic and student-services leadership, with aspirations of one day serving as a dean, vice president or college president.
Thank you, Andre, for your dedication to our students, our teams and the continued growth of our college community!
Announcements and Reminders
- 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.
- 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.
President's Updates:
- Thank you to our Automotive Instructional Assistant, Ricardo Madueno Montanez, for joining me for the Walk with the President and sharing insights on his experience at SDCCE, his work supporting our students, and the impact of career education.
- I am honored to speak in the 2026–27 Leadership Development for Classified Professionals Webinar Series, hosted by the California Community Colleges and CSUF College of Education. I'll be sharing insights on why leadership can and should be practiced in every role, the importance of demonstrating leadership behaviors regardless of title, and strategies for stepping into leadership opportunities without formal authority. Register to hear the conversation and learn how leadership can make an impact at every level.
- I enjoyed visiting all seven of our campuses today with welcome baskets on the first day of classes and seeing so many of our dedicated faculty, classified professionals, NANCE, and administrators welcoming our students and kicking off a new academic year. It was wonderful to feel the energy and excitement across our college community!
The Research Corner:
This week, we invite you to read a study "Child Poverty Trends by Race and Ethnicity in the US From 2022 to 2025" according to which the US places second only to Romania in rankings of child poverty rates among 35 high-income countries. Compared to White children, child poverty rates for Black and Hispanic children were significantly greater in both 2022 and 2025 across all regions. The article may be found on the following link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12797124/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best,
