Dear SDCCE Community,

Spring Break will take place March 31 through April 3 with all campuses closed on Friday, April 4 in honor of César Chávez Day. We are near the midway point of the spring semester and let's continue to support our students in every way possible, ensuring they have a strong, positive finish before their well-deserved break. I’m also proud to support brain injury awareness at the SurviveHEADSTRONG Walk & Health Fair this Saturday with Team ABI! I hope you will join the community in walking and rolling together for this important cause. The details are below in this week's message. Let’s come together to make a meaningful impact, raise awareness, and support those affected by brain injuries.

Enrollment Updates

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 29,202 (1% more than this time last year, and a 2% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 76%, which is greater than last spring (69%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 15,069, a decrease of 3% compared to this time last spring (15,469) and a 1% increase from last week (14,903). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 3% greater than last spring (190.54 to 195.56). View the enrollment report.

Building on discussions from the recent Budget and Enrollment Management Symposium and the Chancellor's Forum, join myself and the Leadership Team for a follow-up Q&A session on the college-wide budget, enrollment, and staffing on March 18th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Mid-City in the Main Lobby (in-person). This is an opportunity to come together for open dialogue.

The Hospitality & Culinary Arts Department students recently competed in the regional American Culinary Federation Hot Foods Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Under the guidance of Chefs Megan and Nicole, the Hot Foods team spent months perfecting their meal preparation, creating a 4-course menu inspired by “On the Playas of Baja” using local ingredients. Their hard work paid off in front of the judges, as they proudly brought home a bronze medal—an outstanding achievement! Additionally, they will continue to showcase their skills in the Knowledge Bowl on July 30, 2025. Let’s congratulate them on their success and cheer them on for what's still ahead!

The DEIAA Committee is excited to announce the Spring edition of The Diversity Book Club!

Join SDCCE faculty, staff, and administrators in exploring diverse perspectives as we celebrate the club’s 5th year. This semester, we’re reading There There by Tommy Orange and kicking off with an in-person/Hyflex meeting at ECC Room 188 on Friday, March 21, from 2:30 to 4:00 PM.

SDCCE's ESL Go Green Committee Team meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 19 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. All are welcome. For more information contact Co-Chairs Diana Larsen at dlarsen@sdccd.edu, Diana Vera-Alba at dveraalb@sdccd.edu and Elissa Claar at eclaar@sdccd.edu.

Last week’s Women’s Meet and Greet was an inspiring celebration of love, connection, and positivity! It was a heartwarming day of fellowship, where women from all walks of life came together to share stories, build relationships, and enjoy a delicious breakfast. The energy was electric, and the bonds we created were truly uplifting. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue empowering one another as we move forward together!

Join SDCCE's Team ABI 2025!

We're proud to participate in the SurviveHEADSTRONG Walk & Health Fair, supporting brain injury awareness and recovery. For the second year in a row, I am proud to sponsor students for this event—let’s walk and roll together for a great cause!

Employees can donate & register with Team ABI: sdbif.org/teamabi

Thank you to Counselor and ABI Program Coordinator, Brandi Bass, and Dean of DSPS and Emeritus, Dr. Vangie Akridge, for their leadership and support of Team ABI this year.

Please join us for an informative training session provided by the SDCCD Purchasing Department team.

Date: Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Location: ECC Room 169
No reservation required.

We’re excited to invite you to the Grand Opening of the Business Resource Center (BRC) on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation – César E. Chávez Campus.

Come explore our new space, connect with the community, and discover the incredible resources available to support your business goals. Enjoy a welcoming event with exciting giveaways and light refreshments. RSVP here.

ACLU, "Know Your Rights" trainings are 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.

Join us on April 11, 2025, at San Diego Mesa College for the Undocumented Student Conference: The Overcoming Arc Building a Better Future Together, a free district-wide event from 8:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., featuring workshops, resources, and networking for undocumented students and allies. Enjoy a keynote by poet and activist Yosimar Reyes, plus workshops on UndocuAlly Training, Know Your Rights, Income Opportunities, and Self-Care—free lunch with RSVP!

For disability services, contact Dean Lillian A. Garcia (lgarcia002@sdccd.edu) at least five business days in advance.

San Diego Mesa College invites students to "Jumpstart Your Success" on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. SDCCE students and alumni attending will have the chance to win a $500 scholarship for Mesa College!

At Jumpstart, students will experience Mesa’s offerings, learn about the San Diego Promise Free Tuition Program, the transfer process, and attend helpful workshops.

This event is free! There will be free lunch, prizes, and more. Please encourage students to reserve a spot: Prospective Student Registration Form.

Students are also encourages to attend Super Saturday at Miramar College on March 22 or April 12 to get help with applications, financial aid, and first-semester planning (with ID & completed orientation). Parents/guardians are welcome, breakfast is provided, and space is limited.

New business cards are now available! Please complete the request form and submit it to your manager for review: https://www.sdccd.edu/docs/District/BusinessCardRequest.pdf

Remember tutoring is available for students, see the details below for enrollment support in available courses:

• Course: ABED 445
  CRN: 85664 (ECC)
  ECC- Room 76
  Mon & Wed 12 to 6 pm
  The following Fridays 8 am to 1 pm:
  March 21st
  April 18th
  May 2nd, 16th, & 30th
• Course: ABED 445
  CRN: 85665 (Mid City)
  MCC - Room 317
  Tue & Thur 12:30 to 5:30 PM
  The following Fridays 8 am to 1 pm:
  March 28th
  April 11th & 25th
  May 9th & 23rd

The Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC) is hosting two workshops to support students in career exploration and digital literacy:

• Reading and Understanding Careers
  Monday, March 24
  1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Registration at 1:15 p.m.)
  Educational Cultural Complex, Room 76
  Students will learn how to explore careers related to their academic goals and develop effective job search strategies.
• SDCCD Email and Navigating the Internet
  Wednesday, March 26
  1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Registration at 1:15 p.m.)
  Educational Cultural Complex, Room 76
  This workshop covers how to access and use SDCCD email, connect to Wi-Fi, and navigate the Internet for academic success.

Please encourage students to attend!

Check out the upcoming Be Well CCE support group opportunities to boost your well-being this semester!

• 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: 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: 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

For SDCCE Budget and Fund Managers, please note General Fund Unrestricted (GFU) purchase requisitions must be submitted to the Administrative Services department no later than Monday, April 7, 2024, and all Restricted Fund purchase requisitions be submitted no later than Monday, May 5, 2024.Thank you for your attention to this important deadline.

• SDCCE students were sent the March Student News.
• Save the Date, SDCCE's Commencement Ceremony will take place on June 5 at 5 p.m. For more updates, visit the Commencement Webpage.
• Help shape SDCCE’s Professional Development Strategic Plan by sharing your feedback—your input guides our offerings, scheduling, and delivery, plus you can enter a raffle for a chance to win a $25 gift card! Take the survey.
• SDCCD’s Open Education Week and SDICCA AccessAbility Week brought engaging webinars and interactive sessions on OER and accessibility in education. Thank you to everyone who participated—let’s keep the momentum going!
• 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.
• For SDCCE swag and merch visit the online store and start shopping today!

Faculty Spotlight

This week, the faculty spotlight shines on ESL Faculty member, Ildifonso Carrillo for his outstanding advocacy and leadership. Ildifonso was instrumental in supporting students during a crisis and he lead with both action and compassion. His dedication to student success and well-being inside and outside the classroom embodies the true spirit of SDCCE. We are fortunate to have you at SDCCE!

President's Updates

It was a great honor to receive a Proclamation and Recognition from the County Board of Supervisors on last week for Women’s History Month. This tribute highlights not only a personal achievement, but the collective achievement of the women who inspire us today and the future leaders shaping our world.

I was recognized as a 2025 Cool Women by Girl Scouts San Diego, which recognizes leadership, mentorship, and empowerment. This recognition serves as a reminder of the importance of uplifting young women and supporting them as they prepare to navigate the world with confidence and purpose. It brought me so much joy to receive this award with support from the college, district, and my family in attendance.

The Research Corner

This week, we invite you to explore the report Visibility Guide. This report from the RP Group is aimed at California's Institutional Research in the community colleges to aid in having more equitable practices when analyzing data. The report focuses on data aggregation and suppression and how these methodologies may silence certain groups of students, mask diversity within groups, and may unintentionally generate oversimplified realities. You can read the full article at the following link: Visibility Guide: An Examination of Aggregation and Suppression Practices in Race and Ethnicity Data. Please 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,