Dear SDCCE Community,
I hope you enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving break surrounded by loved ones and found time to recharge before returning to campus. As we head into the final stretch of the semester, I’m deeply grateful for the dedication, resilience, and community spirit each of you brings to SDCCE. Let’s carry that positive momentum forward as we close out the year together.
Enrollment Updates
Fall Update
SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 28,169 (4% less than this time last year, and a 0.01% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 64%, which is less than last fall (73%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 15,019, a decrease of 4% compared to this time last fall (15,683) and a 0.03% increase from last week (15,014). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 7% greater than last fall (185.48 to 198.52). View the enrollment 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 sdccepresident@sdccd.edu for detailed information.
Lastly, you can utilize the anonymous sharing box. Your voice matters, and I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Last week’s Turkey Drive was a huge success—every turkey was distributed in under an hour, a true testament to the need in our community and the power of collective effort. Dr. Terry Sivers, Counselor of the Black Student Success Program extends deep gratitude to Elizabeth Cotton and Jesse Codere from Black Tech Link for their unwavering support and commitment to SDCCE students.
Many thanks also goes to Dr. Franklin Garrett and Karen King for their swift coordination and steady leadership during a busy season. Also thank you to Mitza Lindsey, Mimi Holmes, and Nida Pierre for the dedication and hard work in making this event possible. The intentional efforts ensured that families across our community were able to enjoy a warm holiday meal. Thank you for making such a meaningful impact.
Spring 2026 Enrollment
Spring 2026 Enrollment is open! Encourage students to enroll early and explore our wide range of tuition-free programs, flexible scheduling, and supportive services. We are ready to help every student start the new term with confidence.
Come celebrate with us as we ring in the holiday season at our annual Holiday Celebration. This year's theme is Season of Unity! Join colleagues, friends, and our campus community for an afternoon filled with festive cheer, meaningful connection, and the spirit of togetherness. This special gathering is a chance to unwind, share in the joy of the season, and recognize the incredible work we’ve accomplished across the year. We hope to see you there as we kick off the holidays with warmth, unity, and celebration!
The holiday season is here—and so is our opportunity to make a meaningful difference for students across all seven SDCCE campuses. The SDCCE Foundation is proud to launch a Holiday Toiletry & Non-Perishable Food Drive now through Thursday, December 11, to ensure our students have essential items before winter break. We invite all SDCCE employees to join us in this collegewide effort to give back and spread some warmth this season. The campus with the most donations will receive a lunch provided by the SDCCE Foundation!
Donation Period
Monday, November 17 – Thursday, December 11
What We’re Collecting
Toiletries and non-perishable food items, including:
- Toothbrushes & toothpaste
- Deodorant & soap
- Rice
- Unopened, unexpired canned goods
- Other staple items students may need
Who Can Donate
SDCCE employees only (this is an internal community drive).
Donation Bin Locations
Bins are located inside Student Services on each campus, accessible to employees but not the public.
Family Day at SDCCE is coming up, and we invite you to join us on Saturday, December 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex for a community celebration before the holiday break. Bring your family for a day of activities, a picnic-style lunch, community partner resources, and opportunity drawings for CE merchandise. Coordinated by SDCCE Student Trustee Yahir Melendez, this event is a chance for our campus community to connect, relax, and enjoy time together as we head into the season break.
Join me and the Executive President’s Cabinet during the upcoming campus visits for an opportunity to connect, share ideas, and hear the latest college updates—over coffee or ice cream. The next visit will be at the Mid-City Campus from 2:45 to 3:45pm on Wednesday, December 3 over some ice cream. Please join us for any of the visits listed!
The Apprenticeship Fair at Mid-City, hosted by Assemblymember Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins, brought together students, job seekers, and industry partners for a day of connection and opportunity. The event was highlighted by KPBS and Times of San Diego, showcasing the impact of these partnerships on workforce development in our community.
In the midst of so much happening across the country, it is essential that we remain mindful of how we can best support one another. We invite you to share and join the relevant weekly Mental Health Resource Support Group for students and constituents — see details below:
- This Thing Called Life, Wednesdays at 12:30 PM; this session is specifically for students, please encourage them to email Be Well CCE for the Zoom link.
- Think it Through Thursdays, specifically for faculty and classified professionals to express, de-stress, and re-fuel beginning at 12:30 PM. Join the session at the Zoom link; Meeting ID: 868 0187 2407
Counseling Services and Workshops
We have several services available to share with students to contribute to student success at SDCCE, please view the complete list.
Rising Scholars
Throughout the Fall 2025 semester, The Rising Scholars program will be tabling at all seven of our campuses from 10:45am to 12:00pm, providing students and colleagues the opportunity to learn more about Rising Scholars, ask questions, and explore ways to engage, support, and collaborate. The next stop will be tomorrow at North City. We encourage you to bring students and colleagues or share the flyer with anyone who could benefit from the resources and support Rising Scholars offers.
As the holiday season approaches, many students may experience grief, stress, sleep challenges, or anxiety. Please remind them that support is available anytime through TimelyCare, a free 24/7 virtual health and well-being platform offering:
- Self-care tools for test anxiety, sleep, and time management
- On-demand yoga and meditation sessions
- Peer and professional support for stress and anxiety
- 24/7 access to care, even late at night before exams
Encourage students to take advantage of these resources to stay balanced and supported throughout the semester and the holiday season.
ECC Theatre Renovation
The ECC Theatre Renovation continues to make progress! Here is the latest update:
- Major demo is currently taking place with the removal of the second floor balcony. Loud noise notifications will be issued in the weeks to come.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we work through these projects. The construction site is active Monday - Friday, 7am - 3:30pm.
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
Below is an update of the current Measure HH Bond projects for our college. We have also developed a current projects page with updates on each project.
ECC Building Trades (Welding Renovation)
- Planning with the building consultants is ongoing. Schematic Design is underway.
- Discussions exploring different swing space considerations are underway.
- Cost estimates for expansion and enclosure of the existing canopy space are in progress.
- Leadership approved program refinement for additional 3,000 SF state-of-the-art automation/robotics labs.
ECC Ceramics
- Design is ongoing, with Construction Documents underway.
- Discussions exploring different swing space considerations are underway.
- Targeting December 2025 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.
ECC Community Room Renovation
- Design is ongoing, with Construction Documents underway.
- Project schedule is trailing behind the ECC Ceramics project as construction of the new Community Room is tied to the completion of the new Ceramics space.
- Preliminary plans for the new office space were reviewed with the Foundation Director last week.
- Targeting June 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.
ECC Seismic Upgrades
- Design Team is performing a seismic evaluation of the main building as part of a standard procedure required by DSA (Division of the State Architect).
- Site walk was held with the project stakeholders to review and mark out the specified locations for material testing & exploratory assessment.
- All testing to be scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and observed holidays to minimize campus impacts.
CE Mesa Campus Building Envelope Improvements
- Feasibility Report of the exterior building was completed.
- Cost estimates for the full enclosure of the existing stairwells have been submitted.
- Design Kick-Off Meeting to be scheduled with the Project Stakeholders upon Notice to Proceed.
Mid-City Expansion
- Individual Focus Group Meetings have been completed.
- Design Team is refining conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders.
- Final Report to be submitted to Leadership in December 2025.
- Targeting January 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
- RFQP to be issued for Design-Build Services in March 2026.
Mid-City Renovation
- Individual Focus Group Meetings have been completed.
- Design Team is refining conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders.
- Final Report to be submitted to Leadership in December 2025.
- Targeting January 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
- Leadership to review and discuss project phasing upon approval of conceptual design.
West-City Expansion
- Individual Focus Group Meetings are ongoing.
- Design Team is refining conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders in December 2025.
- Targeting December 2025 for approval of conceptual design in order to kick-off Schematic Design.
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 tracking students who are facing immigration 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.
In our last meeting, we covered cultivating safety and belonging for students, staying grounded in the work, reviewed resources, fundraising opportunities, and marketing materials such as posters, new buttons, and stickers that will be shared soon.
Please take a moment to review the safety cards for navigating ICE incidents on campus, which were distributed during Convocation. These resources are designed to guide employees on the steps for reporting.
Speaking of safety, ECC has been identified as the pilot location for the District’s new access-control integration and upgrade program, which will introduce remote door locking using keycards and key fobs. This initiative was officially approved at the November 13 Board meeting. This is exciting news for our college community, as it will strengthen campus security, improve access management, and align directly with SDCCE’s safety goals and plans.
Classified Professional Weekly Spotlight
This week’s Classified Professional Spotlight shines on Jamie Arellano, who has been a dedicated member of the district for 9.5 years. Jamie spent seven of those years at Mesa College, contributing her skills and passion to both DSPS and General Counseling.
With an Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology already under her belt, Jamie is now preparing to pursue a Master’s in Higher Education & Counseling. Her long-term goal is to become a college counselor within SDCCD—a role that would represent a meaningful full-circle moment in her journey.
Jamie’s commitment to student support, her drive to grow within the field, and her deep connection to the district make her an inspiring leader and colleague.
Faculty Weekly Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Andres Avellaneda, who has been teaching ESL with Continuing Education for three years. Recently, he organized a San Diego Zoo field trip for more than 100 students and teachers from seven different ESL classes, giving them a unique opportunity to practice English outside the classroom. Each class had a specific assignment, from describing animals in the beginner conversation class to interviewing strangers in the Level 3 class. Students loved the experience and continue to share stories about the activities, the people they met, and seeing their favorite animals up close.
Outside the classroom, Andres has a passion for languages—he speaks six and enjoys learning new ones, including Haitian Creole, Farsi, and Russian, often learning from his students. He is also an avid traveler, having visited over 70 countries and all U.S. states. Andres enjoys dancing salsa and bachata, spending time in nature capturing photos of animals and landscapes, and bringing smiles and laughter to those around him.
- Alonzo Pishyar, our Director of College Technology Services, will proudly represent SDCCE at this week’s DET/CHE (Drivers of Educational Technology, California Higher Education) Conference—a key gathering of innovators shaping the future of technology in higher education. His participation underscores our institution’s commitment to advancing digital excellence and staying at the forefront of emerging educational technologies.
- 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
I enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving week, taking time to recharge, reflect, and spend quality moments with family and friends—an important reminder of the value of self-care and gratitude before the busy weeks ahead.
Thank you to everyone who joined us today for the Executive President's Cabinet visit to ECC. It was wonderful to connect with colleagues, share college updates, and enjoy some ice cream together.
A friendly reminder regarding holiday gifts: while I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness, I am unable to accept gifts. If you’d still like to share in the spirit of giving, I would be delighted to receive a thoughtful card or a donation through the SDCCE Foundation. Your support helps us continue serving our students and community.
The Research Corner
This week we invite you to explore the report Distance Matters: Exploring Geographic Barriers to Transfers for California Community College Students. This report from the RP group investigates the relationship between potential student's location and its distance to community colleges or universities. Findings show that distance is a key factor in college related decision for many underrepresented groups. This document may be accessed here: Distance Matters: Exploring Geographic Barriers to Transfers for California Community College Students. Please take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.
Best,
