Dear SDCCE Community,

I am thrilled to share that my trip to Sacramento, CA with Dr. Carter and SDCCE alum Carlos Morales was incredibly rewarding! Together, we advocated for Assembly Bill 1433, fighting to ensure that noncredit students receive the support and resources they need to succeed—especially in areas like disability services, mental health, basic needs, and veterans services. I’m excited to announce that the bill passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee with an 8-0 vote!

This marks a significant step toward positive change, and I look forward to continuing the push for reforms that will have a lasting impact on our student community. Our next goal is to move the bill forward to the Veterans Affairs Committee on April 22nd.

Thank you to Assemblymember Sharp-Collins for all of her support in authoring the bill and to the committee for recognizing the value of noncredit education and workforce development!

Watch our testimony as we champion Assembly Bill 1433, which passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee, ensuring vital support for noncredit students!

Today at 10:08 a.m. this morning, a 5.2 earthquake occurred three miles south of the town of Julian, about 50 miles east of San Diego that was felt by many of us. Please take a moment to reassure students after today’s earthquake—many may be feeling anxious or unsettled. Let them know they are safe, campus is open, and their well-being truly matters.

Encourage them to talk with an instructor, counselor, or staff member, or reach out to bewellsdcce@sdccd.edu for mental health support.

If you notice any damage or safety concerns, please contact Facilities at 619-388-4846 right away.

Enrollment Updates

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 30,188 (2% less than this time last year, and a 1% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 76%, which is greater than last spring (71%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 15,605, a decrease of 4% compared to this time last spring (16,174) and a 1% increase from last week (15,525). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 3% greater than last spring (191.12 to 196.10). View the enrollment report.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Grand Opening of the Business Resource Center at César Chávez Campus! The event marked the launch of an exciting new space dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs with free tools, resources, and guidance to help start or grow their businesses. Special thanks to U.S. Bank for their generous support in making this center a reality—we look forward to seeing the success stories that will emerge from this vibrant community hub! Learn more from the Voice and Viewpoint article .

Our next Coffee and Chat will be, April 16, 2025 at CE Mesa Campus, 11:30AM - 12:30PM. These coffee and chats will be platforms to continue conversations on Budget, Enrollment, and Staffing. Please join any of the sessions!

SDCCE is proud to announce that our Crossing Borders, Bridging Identities initiative has received The RP Group’s Outstanding Project Award! This honor recognizes the impactful work of our team in supporting binational students at the US–Mexico border through innovative research, planning, and student-centered strategies. Congratulations to Jesus Rivas, Dr. Semei Coronado Ramirez, Jessica Luedtke, and Dr. Shakerra Carter for their outstanding leadership in this transformative project!

Join us for the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the historic Educational Cultural Complex Theatre renovation on Thursday, May 8 from 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Celebrate the start of this exciting project with special guests, inspiring remarks, and a look at the future of this vital community space.

RSVP at SDCCEGroundBreaking.eventbrite.com.

Join us for the 7th Annual CCC LGBTQ+ Summit Watch Party on April 15 & 16, from 9:00AM to 2:30PM at the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC), Room 169.

Be part of the LGBTQ+ CCC Revolution as we learn, connect, and celebrate together.

All are welcome!

SDCCE's ESL Go Green Committee Team meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 16 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.

We invite the SDCCE community to join us for the BIG MAKE 2025: Threads of Change on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the West City Campus. This free event celebrates textiles, storytelling, and sustainability, featuring artist Liberty Worth. Open to all ages 16 and older.

As part of the SD Advance Initiative, we encourage students to further their education at any of our credit colleges within the District. City College will be hosting an upcoming Community Open House on Thursday, April 17. This is a great opportunity for our SDCCE students to explore their options and learn more.

Join us for the Districtwide Black Student Success Summit on Friday, April 18, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., featuring myself and Dr. Carter, along with student engagement activities, prizes, and performances by talented artists.

All SDCCD employees are invited to attend, and FLEX credit is available.

Register by April 14th to receive a free T-shirt and a Chick-fil-A sandwich certificate for students; Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the event.

For questions or disability accommodations, contact Dr. Veronica Gerace at vgerace@sdccd.edu at least 5 business days in advance.

The Fifth Annual Emeritus Concert at Canyon Crest Academy was a fantastic event, bringing together music lovers to support a great cause. Proceeds from the concert benefit the Emeritus Program, which provides free classes for adults, promoting lifelong learning in the community. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to making this event a success! Kudos to Professor Helena Wei and all of the Emeritus faculty and students who shined bright on stage. We look forward to next year’s celebration of music and education.

Our PIO, Brenna Leon Sandeford, represented the college along with SDCCD colleagues at the 2025 Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) Conference. Additionally, our Student Spotlight video featuring Marisol Sosa, the 2024 SDCCE Student Commencement Speaker, earned a prestigious silver award at the event! View her story here.

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Black Student Success Week statewide webinar series, taking place April 21-25, 2025, from 12pm-1pm daily. This year’s theme is “Lift Up, Level Up: The Rise of Black Serving Institutions.”

Register at www.blkstudentsuccess.com.

Summer enrollment is just around the corner! Let’s help our students get ready by reminding them of these important dates:

• Summer schedule available: April 14
• Summer enrollment begins: May 12
• Summer classes start: June 9

Encourage students to plan ahead and secure their spot for an exciting summer semester!

The Office of Student Affairs would like to invite all faculty, classified professionals, and the College community to join us for the Scholarship & Awards Celebration on Tuesday, April 22 and for the Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 6 by volunteering to support these wonderful events! Read below for details on the events and how to volunteer:

SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS CELEBRATION - April 22, 4PM, ECC Front Lawn

Join us as we celebrate over 100 student-honorees, who will receive $110,000 in scholarships and awards this year! Volunteering opportunities will include:

• Ushers for the event to assist student-honorees, their guests, and VIPs in locating their assigned seating
• Check-in Assistants to distribute name cards and program information via QR code
• Check-out Assistants to distribute checks and certificates following the program
• Staging Assistants during the speakers/program

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please let us know by reply e-mail - all volunteers are asked to set aside 2PM to 6:30PM the day of the event for assignment.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY - June 6, 5PM, Spreckels Organ Pavilion @ Balboa Park

This year's Commencement, celebrating 111 years of service to San Diego by the San Diego College of Continuing Education, will honor students completing their high school diplomas & equivalencies, vocational certificates, and advanced ESL program certificates alongside graduates supported by our partners at the San Diego Unified School District Adult High School Diploma Program!

Volunteering opportunities abound - visit https://tinyurl.com/2025CommencementVols to sign up! Volunteers are needed between 12 Noon and 7PM on the day of the event.

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 .

Remember tutoring is available for students, see the details below for enrollment support in available courses. Additionally, we’ve added morning hours on Wednesdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM at ECC to better accommodate student schedules.

Course: ABED 445
CRN: 85664 (ECC)
ECC- Room 76
Mon & Wed 12 to 6PM
The following Fridays 8AM to 1PM:
April 18th
May 2nd, 16th, & 30th
Course: ABED 445

CRN: 85665 (Mid City)
MCC - Room 317
Tue & Thur 12:30 to 5:30PM
The following Fridays 8AM to 1PM:
April 25th
May 9th & 23rd

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: 4/21/25, 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 12:30PM.
Dates: 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 12:30PM.
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 12:30PM.
Flex Credit Available
Meeting ID: 879 8336 9490
https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/87983369490

The Counseling Department is offering a workshop to help students understand the importance of having an Educational (Ed) Plan!

Date: Wednesday, April 16
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Mid City, Room 117

Topics Covered:

• The importance of an Ed Plan
• How to read and access your Ed Plan
• Who can update it

Please share this opportunity with students to help them achieve their educational goals.

On April 14, SDCCE officially welcomed Alonzo Pishyar as the new Director of College Technology Services at San Diego College of Continuing Education. In this role, Alonzo will lead the charge in enhancing our technology planning, infrastructure, and support services across all campuses. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first time our college will have a dedicated Director overseeing IT, and I am truly thrilled to have Alonzo's leadership in this vital position.

Faculty Spotlight

This week, we are proud to spotlight faculty member, Pamela Kozminska, who leads our Ceramics classes and is the longest-serving employee in the district with over 50 years of experience! Over the years, Pamela has cultivated a thriving ceramics community at SDCCE, inspiring students and colleagues alike. We appreciate her unwavering commitment and the lasting impact she’s made on our institution!

Please remind and encourage students to take the student equity success survey sent to their student emails. The survey is open until April 20, 2025.

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 am deeply honored to have attended The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) conference in Nashville, Tennessee and the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Breakfast where I received the 2025 Mildred Bulpitt Woman of the Year Award for leadership and mentorship for women in community colleges. This recognition truly resonates with the values and goals of SDCCE, where we are committed to empowering individuals, fostering inclusivity, and promoting lifelong learning. I’m grateful for the support and opportunity to be part of such a transformative community!

I hosted the Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force Meeting last Wednesday, where we welcomed Amanda Simons from our ESL department to the Taskforce. We also focused on actionable steps to enhance support for our students in the current social climate. Among the key initiatives we’re working on are updating and expanding our FAQ section, gathering information on upcoming events and important dates, and collaborating across campus departments to ensure we're providing the necessary support. I encourage you to visit the webpage for the latest updates. A big thank you to the Task Force for another productive and impactful meeting!

The Research Corner

This week, we invite you to explore the report Equity and Mental Health in California Community Colleges: Data from Healthy Minds Survey. A report on mental health of community college students, how easy it is and how likely are students to get the help they need, and the attitudes and perceptions students have towards mental health assistance. Focusing on the variation of such metrics dependent upon whether someone is BIPOC, LGBTQIA, disabled, or first-generation, and if mental health treatment provided by community colleges is equitable. You can read the full article at the following link: Equity and Mental Health in California Community Colleges. 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,