Dear SDCCE Community,

Welcome back after the long weekend! I hope you had the chance to relax and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. Now that we’re back in full swing, let’s focus on preparing to support our students at the upcoming Know Your Rights & Emergency Preparedness Workshops for Undocumented Families, Black History Month events, the Budget and Enrollment Management Symposium and more!

Enrollment Updates

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 27,471 (5% more than this time last year, and a 1% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 77%, which is greater than last spring (67%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 14,357 an increase of 0.3% compared to this time last spring (14,315) and a 1% increase from last week (14,227). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 3% greater than last spring (189.24 to 194.00). 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. Before the holiday break, Student Support Services hosted a series of “Know Your Rights” events aimed at providing valuable information and resources to our students and community. If you were unable to attend, a recording of these sessions is available here. 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.

Enjoy Black History Month at San Diego College of Continuing Education. Learn more about our legacy in the SDCCE News Room and how we are serving students and the community.

Additionally, don’t miss out on upcoming Black History Month events presented below.

• 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

In celebration of Black History Month, the Cultural Events Task Force also invites you to participate in interactive Black History Month Bingo! This fun and educational event is designed to honor Black heritage and history, deepen our understanding of historical context, and spark meaningful discussions about modern issues. Plus, there will be fun prizes!

Tuesday, 2/18/2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CE Miramar, Entrance | 10440 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92126

Wednesday, 2/19/2025 | 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
ECC, Student Lounge | 4343 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113

Wednesday, 2/26/2025 | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
CE at Mesa, Room #116 | 7350 Armstrong Place, San Diego, CA 92111

Friday, 2/28/2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
West City, Lobby | 3249 Fordham, San Diego, CA 92110

Join me and the college leadership for our Third Annual Budget and Enrollment Management Symposium on Tuesday, February 25 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex or via Zoom (Webinar ID: 84746744857)

Topics will include:

• A deep dive to college funding
• Resource allocation
• Enrollment trends and progress
• Strategic enrollment management updates

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 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.

Today is Day 13 which states, list three things that you like about your job.

I love....

1. The resilient students who invigorate me!
2. The communities that I get to serve!
3. The amazing hard working and resilient people that I get to work with daily!

We are excited to announce the Counseling Spring 2025 Workshop Series! Please encourage your students to attend these valuable workshops designed to support their educational journey and success at SDCCE.

Below are some of the featured workshops. For full details, please see the attached flyer.

• Transition to College Workshop
  Gain tips and strategies for a smooth transition to college, including opportunities to earn college credit through SDCCE's Credit by Exam program.
• Educational Planning Workshop
  Learn the importance of having an educational plan and how to access yours.
• SDCCE Programs Workshop
  Explore the wide range of programs available at SDCCE.

To register for a workshop, students can contact Student Services at their preferred campus or call at 619-388-SDCE (7323).

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: 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

SDCCE's Go Green Committee Team meeting will be held virtually February 19 at 3:30 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.

Flex Number: 36072

We are excited to announce that several SDCCE Professionals will be awarded at the San Diego Chapter – American Association for Women in Community Colleges (SDC-AAWCC) . The SDCAAWCC 2025 Annual Summit will be recognizing the achievements of women in higher education on Friday, March 21st , 2025, from 8:30am – 2:30pm at Palomar College Rancho Bernardo Education Center.

• Administrators Women of the Year - Michele Madrid Novak-  Dean Student Affairs
• Faculty Woman of the year - Aimee Serrano - CalWORKs Counselor
• Classified Professional Woman of the Year-  Deborah (Debi) King - Administrative Technician
• Student Woman of the Year - Nida Pierre - Student Worker

The selected awardees were nominated by SDCCE College professionals. Congratulations to our amazing colleagues and I look forward to being there to celebrate these achievements.

Register for the event

Save the date for the first SDCCD Town Hall on Wednesday, February 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will take place live at Mesa College or join any of the watch parties at the SDCCE campuses.

Additionally, 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 faculty member Stacy Surwilo (pictured on the right). Stacy was instrumental in developing the Tenure Review Process (TRP) for our college, something we never had before! Thank you Professor Surwilo, we are fortunate to have you at SDCCE!

Outreach hosted a tour with the City of San Diego and discussed various pathways for City of San Diego employees to access and benefit from the diverse range of classes offered by SDCCE. It was a great opportunity to strengthen collaboration and showcase how our educational programs can support the professional development of the city's workforce.

Outreach hosted over 130 San Diego Unified School District counselors at the Cesar E. Chavez campus for a counselor professional development 2-day workshop with breakout sessions. Sessions included college and career, academics, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

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!

President's Updates

I had the privilege of attending the Grand Opening of the new Goodwill Tierrasanta Retail Store. As a board member, it was a wonderful experience to witness the launch of a new space that will not only provide valuable resources and opportunities but also contribute to the local economy. I truly enjoyed being part of such a meaningful event and connecting with others who are passionate about Goodwill’s mission.

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.

I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a panelist on CBS 8 for a special segment dedicated to celebrating Black History Month. It was a meaningful and insightful experience, where I was able to share perspectives on the significance of the month including the history of the Educational Cultural Complex and our partnership with Sacramento State University's Black Honors College.

Join me on February 20 at 12:00 p.m. for a Zoom session I will be leading titled Pathways to the Presidency: Equity Minded Leadership for Justice and Servingness . I look forward to sharing my insights with all!

The Research Corner

This week, we invite you to explore the article A New Way to Measure Community College Success from Education NC. The article highlights a new approach developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to assess student success at community colleges better. Unlike traditional metrics, which primarily track first-time, full-time students, this method includes part-time students, returning learners, and those in non-credit programs, offering a more comprehensive view of student achievement. The findings suggest that using this broader measurement framework results in significantly higher reported success rates. You can read the full article at the following link: https://www.ednc.org/a-new-way-to-measure-community-college-success. 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,