Dear SDCCE Community,
Spring Break will take place from March 30 through April 2. During this time, the following locations will remain open to the public:
- CE Mesa: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- CE Miramar: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
All campuses will be closed on Friday, April 3.
As we draw closer to the end of the spring semester, let’s continue working together to support our students so they can finish strong before their well-deserved spring break.
Enrollment Updates
Spring Update
SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 27,128 (9% less than this time last year, and a 1% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 71%, which is less than last spring (76%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 14,216, a decrease of 7% compared to this time last spring (15,326) and a 1% increase from last week (14,081). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 9% greater than last spring (195.26 to 212.38). View report.
While enrollment continues to fluctuate, retention remains strong, and additional late-start sections are now underway. Our FTES are currently above target, signaling positive momentum. Final enrollment numbers will be available after the semester concludes, and we will continue to monitor trends closely.
Connect with the President
I'm excited to continue offering the 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. 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-served basis. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me, please email [email protected] for detailed information.
Lastly, you can utilize the anonymous sharing box. Your voice matters, and I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Last Saturday, our community came together in support of brain injury awareness at the SDBIF SurviveHEADSTRONG Walk & Health Fair, alongside DSPS and Team ABI. Together, we raised awareness, strengthened connections, and showed support for our students and those impacted by brain injuries.
We are proud to share that Team ABI exceeded its fundraising goal of $25,000!
I would like to extend my appreciation to the entire DSPS team for their hard work on the event table and shirts—everything looked wonderful. The student artwork shared during the event was especially meaningful. Also, thank you to our Communications team for their outstanding media and event support, as well as to the Outreach team for their contributions.
Finally, thank you to our leadership team for your continued and consistent support of Team ABI. You can view more photos from the event on the SDCCE Flickr.
In light of recent national and local news surrounding allegations related to César Chávez, The San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees has called a special meeting on Monday, April 6, to hear public input and discuss the renaming of the district’s César E. Chávez Campus. Community input is critical, and we urge all stakeholders to attend.
- Date: April 6, 2026
- Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Location: Cesar Chavez Campus, 1901 Main Street, San Diego, CA 92113 or virtually through the Board of Trustees YouTube Channel
This meeting will prioritize public comment to the Board, ensuring that community voices are heard and thoughtfully considered as part of this process.
Our community has been deeply impacted by this issue. As a District and college, we are committed to engaging openly with all stakeholders before any decisions are made. Your participation is essential in demonstrating the strength, unity, and involvement of our community.
Join SDCCE for the BIG MAKE 2026: From Waste to Worth – Stitching Sustainable Stories, a celebration of sustainability, creativity, and community through textile arts. Guided by visiting artist Michelle Montjoy, the event highlights how reclaimed materials can be transformed through knitting, repair, and reuse into meaningful works that reflect care for the environment and one another. The week of student workshops will culminate in a free public Capstone Event & Festival on Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at West City Campus, featuring a large-scale textile installation, interactive activities, and a keynote address. Community members ages 16 and older are encouraged to attend and experience the power of sustainable making.
Celebrating Women's History Month
Join the Cultural Events Task Force for Women's History Month! We have two workshops lined up and all are welcome to attend!
Leading While Becoming with Dr. Shanelle Watkins
Tuesday, March 24th from 10:30-12:00 pm at our Cesar Chavez Campus, MPR
This interactive workshop explores identity-rooted leadership, confidence, belonging,
and personal power.
Last Week, SDCCE welcomed professor, human rights advocate, and author Loretta Ross for a powerful conversation on calling in, human rights advocacy, and creating positive change on college campuses.
Her message encouraged employees to lead with accountability, dialogue, and a deeper commitment to recognizing the humanity in others.
Special thanks to our Professional Development team along with the District's Professional Development team for partnering with us to make this impactful experience possible.
View photos from the event on the SDCCE Flickr.
Spring Safety Trainings are underway. Please join us to build essential skills that keep our campus community safe. Multiple sessions and locations are available, with flex credit offered.
Hands-Only CPR & AED Introduction – Get basic knowledge of cardiac emergencies and hands-on practice with CPR and AEDs.
- Mar 24, 12:15–1:15pm | CE Miramar, Rm A102
Visit our Safety Page to RSVP for sessions that work best for you.
Hoop Hysteria
Join the SDCCE Foundation for a full day of non-stop basketball to support our students' basic needs. Teams will compete in this exciting fundraiser that brings our community together for a great cause!
The event will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson YMCA.
Volunteer at the event: We’ll need friendly faces to help with check‑in, guest support, activity stations, and more. Just a few hours of your time makes a huge difference.
Make a donation: Every contribution matters — truly. Even $5 helps expand the Basic Needs support that our students rely on. Click on the link to donate: Donate
Show up and cheer: Bring your energy to the stands! Invite family, bring friends — let’s pack the gym and show our students and community what SDCCE spirit looks like.
Your involvement, in any form, helps ensure that every SDCCE student has the support they need to stay on their educational journey.
For more information on how to support, visit the Hoop Hysteria website.
ECC Theatre Renovation
The ECC Theatre Renovation continues to make progress!
The construction site is active Monday - Friday, 7am - 3:30pm. The ECC Theatre operations will expand to accommodate CE student performances. These new spaces are essential in supporting the performing arts. Check out the demolition of the second level deck on the live stream link: ECC Theatre RenovationVisit 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.
Bond Projects Update
The current Measure HH Bond projects for our college continue to make progress. We have also developed a current projects page with updates on each project and the SDCCD Measure HH webpage has further updates.
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 have a dedicated webpage with Know Your Rights Information, District protocols, resources, and more curated by our Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force.
Please take a moment to review the safety cards for navigating ICE incidents on campus. These resources are designed to guide employees on the steps for reporting.
The SDCCD Purchasing Department invites you to an In-Depth Training Session offering valuable insights into procurement processes, best practices, and departmental resources. This session is ideal for employees seeking a deeper understanding of purchasing procedures and how to navigate them efficiently.
- Date: Monday, March 30, 2026
- Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location: ECC, Room 134
All faculty are encouraged to share this opportunity with students and alumni who may benefit from connecting with inclusive employers. The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is hosting a Spring 2026 Virtual Career Fair for students and alumni with disabilities, including neurodivergent candidates.
This fully accessible event will connect participants with national employers offering internships, part-time, and full-time opportunities. The fair will take place March 24, 2026, from 7:30–10:30 a.m. PST via Zoom, and registration is free.
Please share and encourage students to register.
Come out to support the "Sixth Annual Emeritus Festival, Music You Will Love!", taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. (with two intermissions). This special afternoon of music will be held in person at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church in El Cajon. Concert proceeds will directly support the Emeritus Program, which provides free classes for adults in our community. We hope you’ll join us for an inspiring event that celebrates lifelong learning and the joy of music.
Faculty are invited to explore the new Work-Based Learning reporting system, connect with the Career Services and DSPS Workforce teams who help our students succeed in the workforce, and discover how you can create meaningful work-based learning opportunities for your students.
For questions or more information, please reach out to Stacy Surwilo at [email protected].
Save The Date
You are invited to the grand opening of the Learning & Teaching Center (LTC), led by the Instructional Learning Technology program at San Diego College of Continuing Education. Located at NCC Room 113, the LTC will serve as a hub for instructional design, distance education support, and faculty development to enhance high-quality teaching across all modalities.
- Friday, April 17
- 10:00–11:30 a.m.
- Ribbon Cutting: 10:30 a.m.
- Open House & Brunch to Follow
Employees are encouraged to attend, explore the space, and learn how the LTC supports innovative, equitable teaching and student success. More details to come!
Classified Professional Spotlight
This week our Classified Professional Spotlight shines on our Web Designer, Richie McGirr who grew up in San Diego and has spent more than 30 years working across technology, language, and education. Early in his career, he served as a Korean linguist in the Army and later with the Department of Defense. He has been working professionally in web development for over 28 years, including running his own web design and hosting business prior to joining SDCCE.
He began at SDCCE 21 years ago as an adjunct faculty member, teaching in the ESL and Business Information Technology programs, and has more than 14 years of teaching experience. He later transitioned to a full-time web role and, for the past 19 years, has supported and maintained the college’s web presence, working on a wide range of systems and projects serving students, faculty, and staff.
Outside of work, he enjoys working on personal web projects, exploring automation, and building things both digitally and in the physical world. He also spends time gardening, experimenting in the kitchen, and getting outdoors when possible. In quieter moments, he can be found playing darts, badly, but with consistency.
Faculty Spotlight
This week's Faculty Spoltight shines on Dr. Sarah “SarahB” Boswell who brings over 20 years of global education experience and a doctorate in Learning, Leadership, and Organizational Development to her work as an ESL Adjunct Instructor. Since joining in 2023, she has supported adult learners in building English skills, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.
A passionate collaborator and leader, SarahB has led Classroom and Community Connections and facilitates "Alongside," a Community of Practice that expands the Campus Connections model by engaging more faculty. She also partners in Black Student Success efforts to help ensure all students thrive and serves as Faculty Advisor for "Rooted Voices," CE's ESL Conversation Club, creating space for students to find and use their voice. Through initiatives like "Gather" and "What’s Going Well Wednesdays," she helps create space for faculty connection, reflection, and joy.
She leads with heart, purpose, and a deep belief in the power of connection. Outside of work, she enjoys time by the ocean, dancing bachata, and creating handmade jewelry.
Manager Spotlight
This week our Manager Spotlight shines on Armin Rashvand who brings a strong commitment to purpose-driven leadership and extensive experience in Career Technical Education. He currently serves as Dean of ABE, HSE, and HSD, and Director of CAEP at San Diego College of Continuing Education, following his role as Associate Dean of CTE from 2023–2025.
Throughout his career, Armin has focused on building programs that create meaningful, tangible impact for students and communities. He began as a robotics faculty member at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Cleveland, Ohio, teaching both college and dual enrollment high school students. He then held leadership roles including Department Chair of Engineering and Technology at Odessa College, Associate Dean of Manufacturing at Moraine Park Technical College, and Dean of Career Technical Education at Taft College.
Armin is driven by the opportunity to combine strategic leadership with direct impact, supporting student success and expanding access to education.
- Visit the Administrative Services Intranet to access campus safety resources and stay informed with the latest updates.
- We will be participating in a 4 x10 schedule this summer 2026. Please refer to the memo that was sent out via email of view it on the Intranet.
- The latest Work-Based Learning Newsletter is now available. Please take a moment to explore updates, opportunities, and partnerships supporting student career pathways.
- 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.
President's Updates
I had the honor of welcoming our K–12 partners to our West City Campus for the SDCCD Community Partner Conference. Thank you to our district partners and outreach team for their hard work! Partnerships like this drive opportunity, access, and a stronger future for our community.
This week, I’m excited to celebrate the upcoming graduation of Cohorts 6 and 7 of the Apprenticeship Readiness Program. These students have worked hard to build essential skills in the trades, and I look forward to seeing their dedication and effort pay off as they move into the next stage of their careers.
The Research Corner
This week, we invite you to check out The Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is a $15 million prize competition to strengthen the connections between learners, education and training providers, and employers by fostering the development of integrated Talent Marketplaces. The challenge may be found on the following link: https://www.cto-challenge.com/. Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best,
