Dear SDCCE Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month Celebration at the César E. Chávez Campus. It was a vibrant celebration filled with energy, culture, and community spirit. The event featured lively performances, live music, and delicious food—honoring the richness of cultures and the power of unity. Moments like these reflect the strength of our diverse community and the importance of building momentum, fostering inclusion, and celebrating the voices that shape our college.

Enrollment Updates

Fall Update

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 26,636 (1% less than this time last year, and a 2% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 68%, which is less than last fall (75%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 14,221, a decrease of 3% compared to this time last fall (14,025) and a 1% increase from last week (14,701). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 7% greater than last fall (183.34 to 196.63). View the enrollment report.

Update Your Emergency Contact Information

Take a moment to update your emergency contact information in the mySDCCD Portal to ensure you receive important text alerts.

To add or update your phone number:

• Log in to your mySDCCD Portal.
• Go to Employee Dashboard > My Personal Info > Contact Details.
• Make sure your phone number is listed as Mobile—this is the only way text alerts will reach you.

Written instructions and a video tutorial are available on the Administrative Services Intranet.

It only takes a minute to complete and ensures you can be reached quickly in the event of an emergency.

Save the Date: SDCCD Town Hall

The SDCCD Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, November 5, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. at SDCCE’s North City Campus. This is a valuable opportunity to hear important district updates, ask questions, and engage in conversations that shape the future of our college community.

We had a great turnout at The Chancellor’s Forum last week. Whether you missed the live event or want to revisit the discussion, this is a great opportunity to stay informed and engaged with the important work happening across our district and colleges. Please view the presentation here.

Join myself 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 series kicks off at West City in Room 124 A&B from 11:15am to 12:15pm with a Coffee & Chat. Please join us for any of the visits listed!

Our college is proud to participate in the districtwide marketing campaign with Twenty Fifth Hour Communications taking place next week. Special thanks to the deans, faculty, classified professionals, and students whose involvement will help showcase and highlight the excellence of our college.

We’re excited to co-host the Vision 2030 Noncredit Summit 2025: Reimagining Noncredit Education for Equity and Economic Mobility on October 16 & 17. Our college will play an active role in the summit, participating in a range of panels—from dynamic student and faculty discussions to impactful sessions with the president—and participating in engaging breakout sessions.

Founded just three years ago at SDCCE, this summit has quickly become a vital platform for shaping the future of noncredit education. We look forward to continuing this important work by sharing best practices, innovative strategies, and strong advocacy.

For more information and updates, please visit the summit’s official website.

As we close out September, National Suicide Prevention Month will always be a reminder of the power of care, connection, and resilience. 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 here.

Career Workshops

An upcoming workshop hosted by SDCCE Career Counselors will help students explore career paths and create strong, effective resumes. Be sure to share this opportunity with students!

Tuesday, October 14 | 2:00 PM | Zoom

Gain insights for career planning and strengthen job applications. If there are any questions, please email sdccecareerservices@sdccd.edu.

Throughout the Fall 2025 semester, The Rising Scholars program will be tabling at all seven of our campuses from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., providing students and colleagues the opportunity to learn more about Rising Scholars, ask questions, and explore ways to engage, support, and collaborate. The first stop will be at Mid-City on September 30. 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.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, you are invited to join us for an event that celebrates courage, authenticity, and the power of community: “It got better. Life after coming out.”

Wednesday, October 8
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Cesar Chavez Campus, Room 103

This gathering will feature stories from members of our SDCCE community and beyond, reflecting on the journey of coming out and life afterward. Through these personal experiences, we hope to inspire, uplift, and remind everyone that they are not alone.

*Lunch provided with registration.

ECC Theatre Renovation

The ECC Theatre Renovation is underway! Signs have been placed around campus outlining the construction. Below are some recent updates:

• Demolition continues of both exterior and interior spaces through the month of September. The most significant demolition this week is the removal of the store front entrance of ECC Theatre lobby to make way for the new more spacious and vibrant entrance!
• Heavy demolition picks up again the week of 9/29/25 with the removal of the old concrete floors for what will be the new restrooms. A loud noise advisory will be issued soon.
• The District is working on finalizing the number of handicap parking spaces as well as adding motorcycle parking to the student lot. New security cameras on the west lawn will be installed over the next two weeks.
• Construction of the new cafe is coming in the month of October!
• Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we work through these projects. The construction site is active Monday - Friday, 7am - 3:30pm.
• PCL is doing their best to minimize and manage any disruptions to college operations.

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.

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.

We are also implementing more support for employees who are assisting students during these situations. These efforts aim to provide space for reflection, support, and continued access to critical resources. Other items that are on our list is the development of mock trainings to deescalate tense matters and active training scenarios around navigating through challenging situations with ICE. Additionally, the Task Force is also exploring the creation of a Resiliency Fund, organizing more campus tabling events, improving communication about Rave Alerts, and updating phone numbers in PeopleSoft to keep everyone informed about ICE-related incidents. I look forward to our next meeting to further these important conversations.

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.

Tutoring & Learning Center

The Tutoring & Learning Center (TLC) is here to help students succeed in their classes. The following services are offered:

• 1:1 and Group Academic Tutoring – Get guidance to better understand assignments and projects.
• Digital Literacy Support for Learning – Learn how to access their student portal, Canvas, and Zoom classes.
• Study Space & Small Library – Quiet areas to focus, study, and find helpful resources.
• Laptops - use of laptops in the TLC.
• Learning Workshops – Build skills to stay on track and excel in their coursework.

The TLC is for enrolled SDCCE students and focused on academic support and learning. While students can get assistance with course-related assignments, please note TLC tutors and faculty are not able to provide technical support or troubleshooting (i.e. hardware, software, access issues related to account or campus solution issues that require a IT Help Desk Ticket), or help with personal applications, legal paperwork, or financial documents or processes.

This semester we are located at the following:

• ECC, Room 76: Mondays & Wednesdays from 9 am to 6 pm; Tuesdays from 9 am to 5 pm, Thursdays from 9 am to 4 pm, and Fridays from 8:30 am to 1 pm.
• MCC, Room 317: Mondays - Thursdays 12 pm to 5 pm.
• NEW this Fall, the TLC at Chavez, Room 317: Starting October 27, 2025, Mondays 1 pm to 3:30 pm.

Encourage students to visit the TLC to discover how we can support their learning journey.

Stop by a Tech Hub for Single Sign On Support!

Need help with the new Single-Sign On (SSO) system or general tech assistance? Stop by a Tech Hub at our ECC or Mid-City campuses!

Starting October 13, the District will expand Single Sign-On (SSO) to include mySDCCD Login. You’ll be able to securely access these systems with your SDCCD email credentials—no more separate logins for each application.

The Tech Hub is designed to provide walk-up technology services to our students, faculty, and staff. Tech Bars are open at the following locations:

• Educational Cultural Complex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Mid-City Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., & 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

Classified Professional Spotlight

Our Classified Professional Spotlight highlights Sabrina Molina, a dedicated and valued team member of the ESL program. In her role, Sabrina provides vital support that helps the program run smoothly while ensuring students have access to the resources and guidance they need to succeed. Her professionalism, care, and commitment not only uplift students but also contribute greatly to the overall success of the ESL program.

Faculty Spotlight

This week's Faculty Spotlight features Lola Gaona, who has dedicated over 25 years as a Counselor at SDCCE’s West City Campus. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career has been reconnecting with former students who return years later to share how Continuing Education helped them achieve their educational and career goals. Their success stories continually reaffirm the impact of her work.

Beyond the classroom, Lola actively supports her community by participating in events such as the Autism Speaks Walk and the Teen Challenge Walks for Recovery. She also makes it a priority to care for her own well-being through Zumba, yoga, and walking—believing that being her best self allows her to better serve her students.

For Lola, counseling is not just a job but a passion. She truly believes that when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life—and she loves what she does.

The digital version of our 2024–2025 Annual Report is now available online, highlighting the milestones and achievements from the past year.

• 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.
• All current students and employees are invited to share their perspectives on AI in a survey open through September 30. Whether you use AI or not, your voice matters. Take the survey today at bit.ly/sdccdaisurvey2025.

SDCCE Foundation News

SDCCE Foundation's Hoop Hysteria Fundraiser will now take place in Spring 2026. Be on the lookout for more updated information!

President's Updates

• I had a wonderful time at United Way’s "A Night United Gala" attending as a board member, celebrating the incredible work being done to strengthen our communities. It was inspiring to be among so many dedicated leaders and changemakers committed to creating opportunities and driving positive impact. Take a look at some special moments from the event here!
• Myself and the Executive President's Cabinet had a great kick-off meeting with PBK Architects and District Architect Lance Lareau, to discuss the Mid-City Campus Project, one of the key projects under the Measure HH Bond. We’re excited for what’s to come and look forward to seeing this transformative project take shape, enhancing learning spaces and opportunities for our students and community.

The Research Corner

This week we invite you to explore the report Noncredit Career and Technical Community College Programs as a Bridge to Employers: Report on NYC Region Study. This report examines how New York City community colleges develop and coordinate noncredit workforce programs to address local labor market needs. Using documents and interviews within a push–pull framework, it explores credential design, competency targets, and employer engagement strategies, such as college marketing processes. It offers a taxonomy for evaluating the quality of employer engagement. The findings provide practical insights for learners, program leaders, institutions, and employers. This document may be accessed here: Noncredit Career and Technical Community College Programs as a Bridge to Employers: Report on NYC Region Study. Please take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.