SDCCE Proudly Takes a Look Back at a Transformative Year Together

SDCCE appointed new executive leadership including Tina M. King, Ed.D., who was selected as SDCCE President. Dr. King is SDCCE’s first female, Afro-Latina President. Additionally, Shakerra Carter, Ed.D., was selected to serve as the Vice President of Student Services.

The year marked a victorious moment for San Diego civil rights activists who first envisioned SDCCE’s Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) as a bustling epicenter for entertainment and public service in the heart of Southeastern San Diego. California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins announced at a news conference that a $35 million grant will be used to renovate the historic ECC theater. Renovations will include modern acoustic panels, sound and lighting controls, updated entries, foyer areas, and seating. The project is estimated to be completed in 2024. Thank you SDCCE Foundation Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Coskey for ensuring this momentous $35 million grant.

SDCCE was able to appoint a student to serve on the SDCCD Board of Trustees, which historically has not had student representation from the noncredit college. Julia Kogan has been elected to serve as a SDCCE student trustee representative for the 2021-2022 academic year in a special election where all ASB Presidents from the 6 SDCCE campuses competed for the student trustee position. She now represents the 30,000 students enrolled at SDCCE. Read Julia's story.

During National Brain Injury Month held in March, students and faculty from SDCCE’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Programs walked together to raise funds and awareness for San Diego Brain Injury Foundation’s 15th annual surviveHEADSTRONG Walk for Recovery. SDCCE’s ABI programs have been a top fundraiser for the foundation’s charity walkathon for the past 14 years, raising more than $280,000 since 2008.

SDCCE welcomed the community for Exploration Days, an inaugural open house series for prospective students and families. Attendees experienced SDCCE through tours at the college's 6 campuses of learning labs and makerspaces, interactive demonstrations, and a meet-and-greet with faculty and staff. Thank you Dean Maureen Rubalcaba and SDCCE's Outreach Team for welcoming the community to SDCCE. View photos of Exploration Days.

SDCCE Foundation Executive Director, Dr. Laurie Coskey's and ETi Manager, Caron Lieber's advocacy and leadership were instrumental in supporting young adults do their part to keep San Diego safe by containing wildfire risk. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has awarded a $1,255,800 three-year grant to the San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation’s Employee Training Institute (ETi) to provide Arborist/Utility Line Clearance Training. The tuition-free program is a 200-hour 5-week training to become a skilled arborist who supports California in preventing fires by clearing trees away from utility equipment and lines. Graduates leave the program prepared to be safe and productive workers on a line clearance crew.

California’s Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards authored formal approval of SDCCE Foundation’s Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP) as a registered pre-apprenticeship with the State of California’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards. SDCCE celebrated the 5th, 6th, and 7th cohorts of the ARP with esteemed political leaders in attendance during graduation. ARP graduates are qualified to apply to a registered apprenticeship program in the construction trade unions. That acceleration is highly desirable because the apprenticeship itself can take four to five years to complete. The program also provides every student with a laptop and personal Wi-Fi hot spot for the program, as well as steel-toed boots and other personal protective equipment to keep them safe on job sites. Thank you Dean Stephanie Lewis for leading our ARP students.

The Clothing and Textiles department at SDCCE hosted the college’s first ever Cut and Sew Industry Summit. The two-day event was designed for industry professionals and prospective students interested in clothing and textiles. Project Runway Designer Korto Momolu was the guest lecturer and student designers displayed their creative works in an exhibit hall at West City Campus in Point Loma. View Photos. Thank you Dean Dr. Lorie Howell and Program Chair Shirley Pierson for providing this opportunity for our students.

A special thank you industry partner breakfast was held at North City Campus. SDCCE, one of the state's largest providers of free workforce training honored local organizations for their continued advocacy and support of students, who are among the most vulnerable populations. Representatives from San Diego Housing Commission, National Veterans Transition Services, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, and corporations like the San Diego Padres — including members who serve on SDCCE’s career technical advisory committees which inform curriculum based on industry trends — were in attendance. Thank you Dean Michelle Gray for building a stronger community for our students.

SDCCE recognized the accomplishments of more than 150 career- and college-bound students at its 14th annual “Stars on the Rise'' Scholarship and Awards Ceremony at the Educational Cultural Complex theater. $63,800 in scholarships and awards was given to adult learners who plan to transition to a career or to a credit college. View photos of the scholarship event.

The return of in-person ceremonies was a huge win for SDCCE adult students, who are among the most vulnerable populations. SDCCE awarded 7,299 diplomas and vocational certificates during a joint Commencement Ceremony with the San Diego Unified School District on June 15 at the Spreckles Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Watch a commencement ceremony video. View commencement ceremony photos.

The synergy in the room was incredible during our 2022 Fall Convocation and deeply felt across SDCCE. Where we have been as one of California's largest noncredit institution's is astonishing and there is no limit to where we are going — to transform the lives of San Diego's adult students. Take a look back through photos. View convocation photo gallery 1 and convocation photo gallery 2.

Thank you all for a truly memorable year. At the start of the new academic year, enrollment has duplicated in headcount. On July 5th, enrollment was at 7,114 students and today we are closing out the fall semester with 14,097 students! The future is certainly bright.

Best,