Dear SDCCE Community,

We have a lot of great work ahead of us this week, despite its short duration! Before we look forward to a well-deserved long weekend, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made thus far and acknowledge the key events and updates provided in this week's message.

Our students remain engaged, enrolling in our tuition-free programs and classes, while our resource fairs have provided vital support and information. Our events continue to foster a sense of community, bringing us closer together in our shared mission and commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Antiracism, and Accessibility. Let us carry forward this momentum as we continue to empower and support our students on their path to success.

Enrollment Updates

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 27,114 (6% more than this time last year, and a 3% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 77%, which is greater than last spring (67%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 14,227 an increase of 1% compared to this time last spring (14,101) and a 2% increase from last week (13,990). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 3% greater than last spring (188.90 to 194.11).

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 28,490 (2% less than this time last year), with a fill rate of 67%, which is greater than last fall (65%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 15,638, a decrease of 1% compared to this time last fall (15,823). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 1% less than last fall (188.86 to 186.78). View report.

Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our students and community, which is why San Diego College of Continuing Education is participating in a series of cost-free, virtual “Know Your Rights & Emergency Preparedness Workshops for Undocumented Families.” The next in the monthly series of workshops is set for Wednesday, February 19, from 6 to 7 p.m., and can be accessed via Zoom. These workshops are available to students and families concerned about recent developments related to immigration, along with their allies in the San Diego Community College District, and are sponsored by Alliance San Diego and Higher Education Legal Services, a program of Jewish Family Services. Our Immigrant Support Program at the César Chávez Campus is also here to assist our immigrant and undocumented students. For more information, please contact them via email at sdcceimmigrantsupport@sdccd.edu.

As an additional resource, ACLU, "Know Your Rights" trainings are also available to all College of Continuing Education students, employees, and community members. Sessions are virtual in both English and Spanish. Registration is now open for the ACLU Know Your Rights trainings.

Red Cards Available

SDCCE students and employees can access Red Cards, all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. Red Cards are available for print. SDCCE will soon have Red Cards available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Stay tuned for more information.

Lastly, I strongly encourage you to read the email sent by SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith on January 29, which outlines revisions to Administrative Procedure 3415 – Non-Participation in Immigration Enforcement Activities. Please read this procedure carefully to ensure you fully understand the District’s policy and procedures for interactions with anyone attempting to engage in immigration enforcement activities.

A reminder that all San Diego College of Continuing Education Campuses will be closed Friday, February 14 and Monday, February 17, 2025 in observance of President's Day. No classes will be held. We will reopen on Tuesday, February 18.

February is Black History Month! Don’t miss out on upcoming Black History Month events presented below.

• Real Talk: Black Women Leaders Listening and Leading. February 11, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus
• Mental and Emotional Resilience (Be Well). February 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus
• The Rara Festival. February 19, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex
• Economic and Labor Resilience (Career Services and CalWORKs). February 25, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus

Did you know February is also Career Technical Education (CTE) Month? Take a look at the journey of Luis and Daniel Valdivia, father & son duo in our Automotive Program.

Join us as we welcome our new Dean of DSPS & Emeritus, Dr. Akridge at the upcoming receptions!

• Wednesday, February 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex
• Tuesday, February 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at CE Mesa

Strengthen your relationships within the LGBTQIA+ Community from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex on Wednesday, February 12.

Topics will include:

• Prevention of relationships and sexual violence
• Discussions about boundaries, consent, and respect
• Recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns

For more information, please contact them via email at lcarulli@sdccd.edu.

In support of the new spring semester and to welcome new and returning students, Student Services will be hosting Welcome Back Resource Fairs at all 7 SDCCE campuses throughout February.

Resource fairs will be from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• February 11: Cesar Chavez
• February 12: CE Mesa

Join our 30-Day Gratitude Challenge!

As we continue our college-wide theme of Be Well this spring, we invite you to participate in the Gratitude Challenge brought to you by our Professional Development Department.

To enter the opportunity drawings for the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge, please submit this form for each day you complete: https://forms.office.com/r/R9jqSYQ5cf. Individual prizes will be awarded, along with a wellness afternoon for the campus with the most participation.

There will be 15-minute meditation sessions for those interested in participating on the following days:

• Monday, February 10th @ 12:00pm
• Tuesday, February 18th @ 12:00pm
• Monday, February 24th @ 12:00 pm
• Wednesday, March 5th @ 12:00pm

The sessions will begin promptly at 12:00 pm on Zoom: Zoom Link for Meditation Sessions.

This spring, Be Well SDCCEBe Well CCE is bringing back programming to support the entire campus community. We also have our new Bilingual therapist on board, Liz Barajas! All support groups will have English/Spanish translation available. See below for upcoming events:

Life in Living Color (LGBTQIA+)

Come join our bilingual support group twice a month to meet others, discuss relevant topics, and learn about resources for LGBTQIA+ students.

This group meets *BI-WEEKLY* on Mondays in person at the Cesar Chavez campus in room 205 or via Zoom.

Dates: 2/10/25, 3/3/25, 3/17/25, 4/7/25, 4/21/25, 5/5/25, 5/19/25, 6/2/25, 6/16/25

Meeting ID: 867 6916 7653

https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/86769167653

Real Relations Support Group

BeWell CCE wants to support you and your goals as you navigate the various interpersonal relationships in life. Some of the topics are included but not limited to: Communication, Boundaries, Self-Esteem, Core Beliefs/Values, Healthy/Unhealthy Relationship Traits, Positive Parenting/Discipline techniques and more.

The last Monday of the month is students only at 12:30 p.m.

Dates: 2/24/25, 3/24/25, 4/28/25, 5/19/25, 6/23/25

Meeting ID: 847 4447 3305

https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/84744473305

Weekly Student Support Group

“This Thing Called Life” is hosted on Wednesdays for students only at 12:30 p.m.

Meeting ID: 884 0608 7923

https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/88406087923

Weekly Employee Support Group

“Think it Through Thursdays” is hosted on Thursdays for employees only at 12:30 p.m.

Flex Credit Available

Meeting ID: 879 8336 9490

https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/87983369490

Sound Bowl Meditations with Hella Wellthy!

Hosted at CE Miramar on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in the Multipurpose room at 12:15 p.m.

Class will start with a meditation 101 session. You’ll enjoy a guided meditation followed by a sound healing session that will leave you feeling centered and rejuvenated. Blankets and mats will be provided – all you have to do is show up and relax!

Please let students know they could win a $25 gift card if they attend events and complete the pre and post surveys.

I am thrilled to announce our new SDCEE online store is now live and we are already receiving orders that have been placed! This space is where students and employees can begin to purchase a variety of merchandise! We will continue to increase our college branding and create a sense of pride through our online store front. Visit the online store and start shopping today!

The Healthcare Career Job Fair at Cesar Chavez will focus on providing employment opportunities for students eager to begin entry-level positions in Healthcare. Attendees will have the chance to:

• Explore potential Healthcare career paths
• Connect with industry leaders and gain valuable career insights
• Network with recruiters and learn about industry needs
• Share their resumes with employers for potential one-on-one interviews

To participate, students need to activate their Handshake accounts at handshake.sdccd.edu.

The Chancellor's Spring Forum will take place on Wednesday, March 5 at the Educational Cultural Complex in Room 169. This is a great opportunity to engage directly with the Chancellor on topics that matter to you and contribute ideas to help shape the future of our District.

Everyone is welcome to join!

Light refreshments will be provided.

Faculty Spotlight

This week, I am thrilled to spotlight Dr. Marne Foster, was named one of the top three nominees for Adjunct Faculty of the Year in the 2025 Black Educator Excellence (BEE) Awards. These awards honor the exceptional contributions of Black educators and professionals within the California Community College system. Congratulations to Dr. Foster on this well-deserved nomination for this inaugural award. We are fortunate to have you at SDCCE!

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

A big congratulations to Dean Andrei Lucas, along with Mike Bradbury and Byron Cowart, for receiving the Cal Coast Cares Foundation Education Grant that was written by our SDCCE Foundation Executive Director Dr. Tami Foy! This generous grant helped bring to life this year’s MLK Parade Float, supporting the vision and craftsmanship behind its creation. It's through partnerships like these that our students and educators are empowered to be innovative and creative within the classroom and beyond. The leadership team met with Cal Coast last week to accept the award.

I am truly honored to be named a 2025 Cool Women Honoree by the Girl Scouts of San Diego, alongside so many incredible women. I am excited to take part in the Cool Women Celebration this March in honor of Women's History Month.

The Executive President's Cabinet and I spent two productive days at our spring retreat, focusing on strategic planning for the semester. We reviewed our goals, strengthened our bonds, and enjoyed time together in community. We're committed to working hard and prioritizing wellness this spring!

The Research Corner

This week, we invite you to check the report: Building Equitable Pathways to Careers: A toolkit inspired by a California Community Colleges community of practice. The report from Foundation for California Community Colleges shows how to use a toolkit that provides a design process called the Equitable Pathways to Careers Design Process. This process is a template for creating educational pathways integrating high-value credentials, ranging from noncredit certificates to degrees. These pathways also incorporate culturally sustaining support systems. The report may be found on the following link: Building Equitable Pathways to Careers. Take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.

Walk with the President / President's Office Hours

This semester, I'm excited to offer a new 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 this spring. 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 serve basis. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me, please email sdccepresident@sdccd.edu for detailed information.

Best,