Dear SDCCE Community,
I cannot overstate my dismay over the United States Supreme Court’s decision last week to cast aside its own precedent in overturning consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions. Making matters worse, the High Court doubled down the following day by blocking the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness program. These decisions affirm why our mission at San Diego College of Continuing Education and San Diego Community College District is so important.
Founded in 1914 on the principles of inclusion and social justice, the San Diego College of Continuing Education welcomes every immigrant, refugee, and underserved population to fulfill educational goals. We are proudly rooted in a 109-year history of providing accessible, equitable, and innovative quality education and career training to adult students.
Rest assured, we will continue to welcome every student to our college. We will continue to help our students overcome barriers so that they have equal opportunities in socioeconomic mobility. We will continue to empathize and dream with our students.
As educators, these rulings are infuriating and regress the fight our ancestors and trailblazers before us fought so tirelessly for. I assure you that the San Diego College of Continuing Education will continue to fight for academic equity and excellence.
If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read the SDCCD’s statements on the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling and student loan debt relief and repayment pause update.
This week marks my one-year anniversary of presidency at the San Diego College of Continuing Education. As I reflect on every triumph and tribulation we experienced together beginning July 1, 2022, I am enamored. It is no secret that the San Diego College of Continuing Education serves the most vulnerable adult populations in the state, and to do so the way we do it, which is why we approach our work from a place of love. Together, we are making real change for our students, their families, and our economy. From marching alongside you at the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade to launching the first-ever concurrent enrollment healthcare career certificate pathway with San Diego Unified School District to visiting your classrooms and witnessing your dedication, it has been an honor of a lifetime to be your president. I am looking forward to an even brighter next chapter as we break records on enrollment, bring in more funding for student scholarships, undergo major renovations at the Educational Cultural Complex, and much, much more.
Enrollment Updates
SDCCE’s overall enrollment for summer stands at 14,667 (21% greater than this time last year and an 8% increase from last week). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 10,110, an increase of 25% compared to this time last summer (8,110) and a 6% increase to last week (9,507). FTEF scheduled for the summer semester is 16% higher than last summer (96.19 to 83.12). Enrollment management efforts continue, with 29% of scheduled sections starting 07/04/2023 or later (137 out of 467). View the enrollment report here.
Campus Updates
All are welcome to join us at the San Diego Pride Parade! Students, faculty, administrators, and classified professionals from the San Diego Community College District will march under the district banner at the annual Pride Parade on Saturday, July 15, one of the largest in the country, with up to 100,000 spectators expected. This year’s parade theme is "Thrive!"
We will be giving away SDCCE Pride t-shirts, hats, and sunglasses while supplies last!
Share your support on social! The SDCCE Pride Zoom background and social media assets are available for Download in Dropbox.
Reg Fest is happening across San Diego College of Continuing Education campuses, beginning July 19 at César E. Chávez Campus. Reg Fest will support prospective and current students with the enrollment process and direct them to critical support services. Dates and times are subject to change. For details, visit the Reg Fest web page at SDCCE.EDU/reg-fest, contact sdcceoutreach@sdccd.edu, or call 619-388-1285.
Tune in! The San Diego College of Continuing Education's award-winning welding program will be featured on Fox 5 LOCAList SD on July 18 at 10 a.m. and again on July 19 at 10:30 a.m. Viewers will learn more about the free career training and pathways at the SDCCE.
On June 23, the $1.4 million grant check presentation for SDCCE and Promises2Kids awarded through California State Senate President pro-Tempore Toni G. Atkins garnered media attention from KNSD, KUSI, KSWB, Times of San Diego, and San Diego Metro magazine.
3Fold Communications is working on behalf of the San Diego/Imperial Counties consortium of community colleges to film veteran students in SDCCE’s Automotive Technology and Welding programs as part of an enrollment campaign aimed at veterans. The material will be posted by the San Diego Padres on their website and social media.
VEBA offered two Sound Healing classes on June 29 at the Educational Cultural Complex campus. All classes (in-person and virtual) and access to the VEBA Resource Center gyms are FREE to all SDCCD employees. A calendar of health and wellness classes offered by VEBA that are available to all employees of the San Diego Community College District.
Free shuttle rides are provided to and from the Educational Cultural Complex for the monthly Community Health & Resource Fair, which will take place on July 5 at the Jackie Robinson YMCA.
A reminder that all requests of the Public Information Office must be approved by a Dean or Vice President and require submission of a Request Form. You can find the Project Request Form link on our website's Faculty and Staff Resources Page. Please allow five working days for a request to be completed. If a request needs immediate attention, please complete the form and contact the Public Information Office.
President's Updates
I was privileged to attend the California Community Colleges Black CEO Summer Retreat at UC Davis last week. It was wonderful sharing space with pillars in our field who paved the way and opened the doors for many of us. As I returned to SDCCE, I am fully inspired to continue to break down every barrier for our students alongside you.
The Research Corner
This week, we invite you to check out a resource developed by our partners from the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, the Student Support Services Website Experience Student. The report provides the region’s colleges with recommendations to improve accessibility and optimize user experience for student support services websites. Take a minute to review this resource and email jrivas@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.
For the second year, we are launching the SDCCE Administrative Unit Feedback Survey. The Program Review Committee is sponsoring this employee survey to collect information regarding department awareness, interactions, and satisfaction. If you have not done it, please complete this brief three-to-five-minute survey to inform administrative units’ program review, strategic planning, and future departmental improvements. This anonymous survey applies to all SDCCE employees (NANCE, Classified, Supervisory, Faculty, and Administrators).
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TT9KD8P
President's Office Hours
President's Office Hours are back! Individual Zoom meetings will be 20 minutes and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you would like to schedule a virtual appointment with me, please email sdccepresident@sdccd.edu for detailed information.
Have a happy and safe Fourth! All campuses at the San Diego College of Continuing Education will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Best,
Dr. King
