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San Diego College of Continuing Education

Office of Communications

A Record 12,000 Degrees and Certificates to be Conferred by District

June 9, 2020

SDCCD Chancellor Constance M. Carroll congratulates the class of 2020 during her commencement remarks, which were recorded on May 29 at the District Office. Graduates will be highlighted during four virtual ceremonies on July 17.More than 12,000 degrees and certificates are being awarded this year by the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), a new record. Graduates will be recognized during virtual commencement ceremonies scheduled for July 17 starting with San Diego Mesa College at 10 a.m., San Diego Miramar College at 1 p.m., San Diego Continuing Education at 3 p.m., and San Diego City College at 5 p.m. (links to the virtual commencements will be available before July 14).

Among those graduating:

 ·Twenty four Mesa College students are earning bachelor’s degrees in Health Information Management (HIM) through the state’s community college baccalaureate pilot program — a 36% increase over 2019. The HIM graduates are among many from the district who are expected to immediately join the workforce supporting the COVID-19 response. This includes nursing students, first responders, biotech grads, and others in essential areas.

·Also among the graduates are 169 San Diego Promise students who are earning associate degrees after completing the district’s signature free-tuition program, one of the largest in the state. The class includes students like City College’s Jerusalen Davila, who says she would not have been able to afford college without the program’s support. Davila earned a 3.9 grade point average and is transferring this fall to UC Berkeley where she will major in sociology.

·A record 1,946 students have earned associate degrees for transfer, which guarantees them admission to a California State University campus, especially San Diego State University. This is part of a multi-year trend that has seen more students transferring from City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges to four-year institutions, with prestigious destinations such as UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and UCLA among the top choices.

“Students in the Class of 2020 are to be commended for completing their education despite enormous challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which required them to switch to online classes in March.  Many students are working and have families to support, which required them to make additional sacrifices in order to earn a degree or certificate, so that they could transfer to a university or embark upon a well-paying career.  All of these students reached their goals and all of them have transformed their lives as a result,” said SDCCD Chancellor Constance M. Carroll. “Their determination is an inspiration to us all.”

In all, the SDCCD is conferring 4,321 associate degrees and 7,766 certificates of completion — a 2% increase over 2019. Some 1,237 students graduating this year are first-generation college students. The 6,333 certificates awarded by San Diego Continuing Education is up 5% from last year. The 291 high school diplomas being conferred is a 64% increase from last year. 

As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 100,000 students annually through three two-year colleges and San Diego Continuing Education. The three colleges, San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, offer associate degrees and certificates in occupational programs that prepare students for transfer to four-year colleges and entry-level jobs. Mesa College also offers a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management. Continuing Education offers noncredit adult education at seven campuses throughout San Diego.

Jack Beresford
619-341-1091
jberesford@sdccd.edu