Dear SDCCE Community,
Happy November! This month, we recognize Native American Heritage Month and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American communities. Across our seven campuses, San Diego College of Continuing Education acknowledges that we are located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay people. We honor their enduring connection to this land and recognize the importance of acknowledging the Indigenous communities whose history and legacy continue to shape our region.
Today, we also celebrate Día de los Muertos, a time to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Ofrendas are on display at ECC and Harbor View, offering our community a meaningful opportunity to reflect, remember, and celebrate the lives of those we hold dear.
As we look ahead, November 3 is Election Day! Make your voice heard and remember to get out to the polls and vote.
There's plenty happening across our SDCCE community this month. Please continue reading for this week's updates and important announcements.
Make your voice count—register to vote, check your registration, and encourage someone else to register, too!
Enrollment Updates:
Fall Update
SDCCE's overall enrollment for fall stands at 24,494 with a fill rate of 66%. SDCCE's overall headcount is currently 12,886, a 0.4% increase from last week (12,836). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 9% greater than last fall (198.38 to 215.57). 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.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Thank you to those who attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Educational Cultural Complex Ceramics Studio Renovation! taking place this week. This project is supported and funded by Measure HH. This exciting project is a significant step forward in enhancing and investing in student learning, creativity, safety, program capacity, and the future of arts education.
Halloween Spirit Across SDCCE!
Thank you to everyone who submitted their Halloween photos! You all brought the spooky season to life across SDCCE with some creative, fun, and festive costumes.
Check out some of the creative costumes below!
Cafecito with Counselors
Recently, students came together for an opportunity to connect with counselors, learn about campus resources, and build connections with their peers in a welcoming setting.
The event received a 4.98 out of 5 satisfaction rating, with participants highlighting the value of the workshop and expressing interest in more opportunities like it. All participants also reported feeling more connected to campus resources and their peers.
With strong engagement and follow-up with counselors, Cafecito with Counselors demonstrated the impact of creating informal spaces where students can connect, ask questions, and access support.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success!
Instructional Flexibility and Attendance Verification Guidance
In response to concerns surrounding immigration enforcement and its potential impact on our students, the College is working to provide greater flexibility in instructional modalities whenever possible, consistent with guidance from the Chancellor.
Instructional Services has coordinated with Admissions and Records and consulted with Vice Chancellor Topham regarding attendance verification and the proposed instructional flexibility. Based on these discussions, the following guidelines should be followed across Instructional Services:
1. Distance Education (DE) Approval
Before HyFlex instruction is authorized, the course must have prior Distance Education (DE) approval. Please verify the course's DE approval status in Meta before proceeding.
2. Online Faculty Certification Program (OFCP)
Instructors must have successfully completed the Online Faculty Certification Program (OFCP) before providing online instruction. Deans should verify completion using the OFCP database provided by Dean Weston.
3. Class Attendance Verification (CAV)
Faculty may document student attendance using either of the following methods:
Option A: Instructor Signs on Behalf of the Student. With the student's documented consent, the instructor may sign students in and out to verify their virtual attendance.
Option B: Instructor Tracks Attendance. Faculty may record each student's actual arrival and departure times on the CAV sheet and enter the corresponding attendance directly into the CE Attendance/Grade Roster in Campus Solutions. The CAV sheet should also indicate that the student attended the class virtually.
Option B may be the simpler approach because it allows faculty to document attendance directly without requiring individual student consent for instructor signatures.
Regardless of the method used, attendance records must accurately reflect student participation and include as much supporting documentation as possible.
4. Implementation and Oversight
Deans are responsible for confirming that all requirements have been met before approving flexible instructional arrangements. Please note that the official course modality does not change. Any instructional flexibility must remain consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and College policies.
Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting our students while maintaining the integrity of our instructional and attendance verification processes.
Share Your Feedback on the Harbor View Campus Name
SDCCD is continuing the restorative process to identify a permanent name for Harbor View Campus, formerly Cesar E. Chavez Campus. The SDCCE community is invited to share feedback through a brief, anonymous survey that will help inform the recommended permanent campus name.
The survey takes approximately 1–2 minutes to complete and is available in English, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Submit your response by November 8, 2026: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7FNYVQT
Veterans Day
Reminder, all SDCCE campuses will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen on Thursday, November 12.
Empowered Voices Panel
DSPS & CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES is hosting a student panel called Empowered Voices: Advocacy & Accommodations at Work
DSPS students share what disclosure, self-advocacy, and getting accommodations really look like on the job.
This is open to students, staff & faculty with ASL interpreters provided.
Wednesday, November 4, from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
LOCATION: ECC, Rm 84, In person & via Zoom
Light snacks available
REGISTER AHEAD: bit.ly/4ht1kbi
ASL interpreters will be on site at the event. For further disability-related accommodations, contact DSPS at [email protected] or 619-388-4812 as soon as possible before the event.
CE MediaFest 2026
CE MediaFest 2026 took place last week at Harbor View and North City Campuses! To cultivate culture amongst all 7 of our campuses and celebrate the hard work of all our faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and NANCE, the Office of Communications & Creative Services will be providing free headshots, program promotional videos, opportunity drawings, social media FAQ, and more!
Please see the following lineup for when they will visit each remaining campus:
- CE Mesa Campus - November 3rd - 12:30PM to 2:30PM - Room 118/120
- ECC Campus - November 4th - 10:00AM - 12:00PM - Room 76
- CE Miramar - November 5th - 12:30PM - 2:30PM - Room A102
For any questions, details, or inquiries, please email Brenna Leon Sandeford at [email protected] & Michael Escalona at [email protected] , or call us at 619-388-4833
SDCCE Cares Drive
The SDCCE Cares Drive is happening now through November 13 in recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. You can support the drive by donating essential items, including:
- Socks
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste
- Soap
- Individually wrapped snacks
Donation drop-off locations: Student Services at all SDCCE campuses.
For more information, contact [email protected] .
Chancellor's Fall Forum
Thank you to everyone who attended the Fall Forum with Chancellor Smith. During the forum we had the opportunity to share issues that matter to you and we had a chance to review the campus climate data. You can view the PowerPoint here .
Also, SDCCD Institutional Innovation and Effectiveness Team has the following Climate Survey Workshop scheduled for those who would like to attend.
November 17, 2026 | 9 to 10 a.m. | Via Zoom
From Data to Action: Understanding Campus Climate Results and Identifying Opportunities
for Change (N. Alarcon, J. Sykes)
SDCCD Fall Town Hall
The SDCCD Town Hall brought us together to reflect on and have thoughtful conversation on the mental health and well-being of students and employees during challenging social times. A special shout out to our Be Well CCE counselors, Jeremy Garcia and Janisha Street for representing our college. If you were unable to attend in person, you can watch online on the District YouTube Channel .
Disability Belongs at SDCCD Training
The new Disability Belongs at SDCCD, is a self-paced Canvas course developed by Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) in partnership with People, Culture and Technology Services (PCTS). The training is designed to help SDCCD employees understand their role in supporting student access across our District.
Whether you work directly with students or support the district in another capacity, this training offers an opportunity to strengthen our collective understanding of disability access and belonging.
- New SDCCD employees: This training will become part of your onboarding beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
- Current employees: Participation is voluntary and you may earn Flex credit for completing the course.
For questions about:
- Course completion: Contact Professional Development at [email protected]
- Course content or your role in supporting student access: Reach out to your DSPS Office.
- General Course Access Issues- Cannot find, log in to, or open the Canvas course: Submit a Canvas Support Ticket
- Accessibility Barriers- Difficulty using the course with assistive technology: Contact Devika Chhabra at [email protected]
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 .
- SDCCD Measure HH, SDCCE, architects, and construction teams met to discuss ECC Theatre construction updates, upcoming construction schedules, and shared 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.
- A new Miramar College Measure HH project will begin in November impacting the CE Miramar Campus, A1 building. The project involves improvements to the fire land surrounding the area around the Aviation and Continuing Education (A1) buildings. Alternate routes of travel and parking have been identified and more signage will be posted in the area notifying students, employees, and visitors.
- As a secondary impact improvement project to the ECC Building Trades Training Center, to provide more space to the welding project, the grounds team and facilities office will be relocated to a new building location at ECC, at the corner of Elizabeth and Ocean view Blvd.
- Sidewalk Hardscape Improvements Project (Punch Walk): The Facilities Team and Ground Crew Leader met with the Cumming Group and All Source Co. to walk the site and assess the affected hardscape areas at ECC. They reviewed the affected areas, noted completed work, and identified corrections to be made. Lastly, they assessed the surrounding environments and noted no issues around the affected areas.
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. Additionally, the Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging (SIB) Task Force Priorities for 2026-2027 are available for review .
Thank you to Vice President Carter for sending out two important emails on October 20 and October 22 regarding Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging and Student Immigration Detention Reporting and Procedures.
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.
Classified Professional Spotlight
This week's Classified Professional Spotlight shines on Network Specialist Bryan Mobley. Born and raised in National City, Bryan has called the community home his entire life. With 20 years of IT experience across the defense and financial sectors, his role at SDCCE marks his first opportunity to work in education.
Bryan values the opportunity to use his experience to serve his own community while working alongside the inspiring professionals who make up the SDCCE community. He says being able to help others in the community he calls home makes his work especially meaningful.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on ESL & Citizenship Instructor, Linda Bautista — a San Diego native and heritage Spanish speaker, Linda was inspired by her firsthand experience seeing the challenges adult immigrants face when communicating in English.
Linda began working at SDCCE in July 2016 as an ESL instructor at Harbor View and began teaching Citizenship in Spring 2017. In 2022, she piloted a HyFlex ESL Pre-Citizenship class, which she continues to teach to help beginning English language learners prepare for the naturalization interview.
Linda has also supported faculty through SDCCE's DesignPLUS initiative, serving on the Pilot & Implementation Team in 2021 and as a mentor in 2022 to help faculty integrate DesignPLUS into Canvas. This fall, she is serving as Acting Assistant Program Chair for the ESL Department at ECC.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish, a master's degree in Applied Linguistics, and a TESOL Certificate from San Diego State University. Outside of work, Linda enjoys spending time at the beach, where she finds time to reflect and practice gratitude.
Manager Spotlight
This week's Manager Spotlight shines on our Associate Dean of Research, Planning, and Innovation, Jesus Rivas. Jesus joined SDCCE in November 2018, beginning his journey as a Research and Planning Analyst before advancing to his current role.
With experience across the public and private sectors, including market research, Mexico's national census agency, manufacturing, consulting, and sociological research, Jesus brings a broad perspective to his work. He is passionate about using data to inform decision-making, challenge assumptions, and help identify solutions that positively impact the communities we serve.
As he celebrates eight years at SDCCE, Jesus says one of the things he values most is the relationships and friendships he has built with colleagues along the way. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, especially going to the park and taking walks together.
Resources 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:
- I had a great time visiting all 7 campuses with the leadership team to deliver our "Boo Baskets" and spread a little Halloween cheer throughout our SDCCE community. We showed up in our race car attire, helping keep SDCCE on track! I hope you all enjoyed your goodies and I loved seeing many of the campus teams with decorated spaces and fun costumes. Check out our fun video .
- I enjoyed seeing our Be Well CCE counselors present at the Board of Trustees Retreat. Thank you for all that you do for our students and college community, and district!
The Research Corner:
This week, we invite you to read a report "The Economic Value of the California Community Colleges System" by Lightcast. In 2023-24, operations, construction, and student spending of the colleges, together with the enhanced productivity of their alumni, generated $173.0 billion in added income for the California economy, which is equivalent to supporting 1.7 million jobs. The report may be found on the following link . Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best,
