Dear SDCCE Community,

January was an eventful month! We celebrated a successful Spring Institution Day, and I’m pleased to share that photos from the event’s photobooth are now available for you to view and download.

Additionally, as we enter February, we are proud to honor Black History Month. A series of engaging events will be held throughout the month, offering opportunities for all of us to deepen our understanding and appreciation of Black history and culture.

As we reflect on the start of this new semester, it's also important to acknowledge the critical role that safety, support, and legal rights play in shaping our community as an educational institution. I’ve included additional resources in this message to ensure that we continue to uphold and protect these essential values. As we welcome our students back for the spring semester, I’m excited to witness their continued growth and success, supported by the dedication of our incredible SDCCE employees. Below, you’ll find a special message from me to our community.

Let’s continue to work together in making this semester a memorable and impactful one.

Enrollment Updates

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for spring stands at 26,431 (5% more than this time last year, and a 7% increase from last week), with a fill rate of 76%, which is greater than last spring (66%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 13,990 an increase of 1% compared to this time last spring (13,875) and a 5% increase from last week (12,313). FTEF scheduled for the spring semester is 3% greater than last spring (188.12 to 193.43).

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 28,528 (2% less than this time last year, and a 3% decrease from last week), with a fill rate of 67%, which is greater than last fall (65%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 15,651, a decrease of 1% compared to this time last fall (15,825) and a 1% decrease from last week (15,732). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 1% less than last fall (188.84 to 186.78). View the enrollment report.

Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our students and community, which is why San Diego College of Continuing Education is participating in a series of cost-free, virtual “Know Your Rights & Emergency Preparedness Workshops for Undocumented Families.” The next in the monthly series of workshops is set for Wednesday, February 19, from 6 to 7 p.m., and can be accessed via Zoom. These workshops are available to students and families concerned about recent developments related to immigration, along with their allies in the San Diego Community College District and are sponsored by Alliance San Diego and Higher Education Legal Services, a program of Jewish Family Services. Before the holiday break, Student Support Services hosted a series of “Know Your Rights” events aimed at providing valuable information and resources to our students and community. If you were unable to attend, a recording of these sessions is available here. Our Immigrant Support Program at the César Chávez Campus is also here to assist our immigrant and undocumented students. For more information, please contact them via email at sdcceimmigrantsupport@sdccd.edu.

As an additional resource, ACLU, "Know Your Rights" trainings are also 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.

Red Cards Available

SDCCE students and employees can access Red Cards, all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. Red Cards are available for print. SDCCE will soon have Red Cards available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Stay tuned for more information.

Lastly, I strongly encourage you to read the email sent by SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith on January 29, which outlines revisions to Administrative Procedure 3415 – Non-Participation in Immigration Enforcement Activities. Please read this procedure carefully to ensure you fully understand the District’s policy and procedures for interactions with anyone attempting to engage in immigration enforcement activities.

Join us for an exciting Black History Kickoff event tomorrow, February 4 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex! Celebrate the African Diaspora through engaging activities and performances featuring the African Drum and Dance Company, Drum Call Teye Sa Thiosanne, Abdur-Rahim, CEO of the National Black Contractors, music artist Buki Domingos, and dance artist Sandra Foster-King.

Enjoy lunch from Felix's BBQ with Soul and connect with fellow attendees at this eventful celebration!

Don’t miss out on additional Black History Month events presented below.

• Real Talk: Black Women Leaders Listening and Leading. February 11, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus
• Mental and Emotional Resilience (Be Well). February 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus
• The Rara Festival. February 19, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex
• Economic and Labor Resilience (Career Services and CalWORKs). February 25, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Mid-City Campus

All SDCCD employees must complete vehicle registration for the Virtual Parking Permit by February 8, 2025. Please note this deadline and visit MySDCCD portal.

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Parking Services Department by calling (619) 388-6416 or emailing parking@sdccd.edu.

In support of the new spring semester and to welcome new and returning students, Student Services will be hosting Welcome Back Resource Fairs at all 7 SDCCE campuses throughout February.

Morning resource fairs will be from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
February 4: West City
February 5: CE Mesa
February 6: CE Miramar
February 10: North City

Evening resource fairs will be from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
February 4: Mid-City
February 5: North City
February 11: Cesar Chavez
February 12: CE Mesa

As we bring in the new semester, SDCCE Spring LGBTQ+ Student Support will connect with students and discuss ways to thrive during campus visits.

Additional information regarding meetups is presented below:

Mid-City: February 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
ECC: March 5, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
West City: March 19, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Chavez: April 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
CE Mesa: April 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mid-City: May 7, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
North City: May 21, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The 2025 Scholarship and Awards Program application and information page is available now! Applications will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025! Visit www.sdcce.edu/scholarships to learn more about this year's offerings, link to the Scholarship application, the application for the AFT Guild 1931 Larry Schwartz Memorial Scholarship, and more!

Application assistance is available through the Tutoring and Learning Center:

ECC, Room 76
Monday & Wednesday 11:00AM - 5:00PM
Tuesday 7:00AM - 12 Noon
Thursday 8:00AM - 11:00AM

Mid-City, Room 317
Tuesday & Thursday 12:30PM - 5:30PM

If you are interested in offering a scholarship or award to honor the legacy of a loved one or colleague, or make a donation to the support of our College Scholarships and Awards, contact Karen Reyes-Cano at the SDCCE Foundation at kreyescano@sdccd.edu. The final deadline for donations to be received for this year's scholarships and awards is March 1st.

This spring, Be Well SDCCEBe Well CCE is bringing back programming to support the entire campus community. We also have our new Bilingual therapist on board, Liz Barajas! All support groups will have English/Spanish translation available. See below for upcoming events:

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: 2/3/25, 2/10/25, 3/3/25, 3/17/25, 4/7/25, 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 12:30 p.m.
Dates: 2/24/25, 3/24/25, 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 12:30 p.m.
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 12:30 p.m.
Flex Credit Available
Meeting ID: 879 8336 9490
https://sdccd-edu.zoom.us/j/87983369490

Sound Bowl Meditations with Hella Wellthy!

Hosted at CE Miramar on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in the Multipurpose room at 12:15 p.m. Class will start with a meditation 101 session. You’ll enjoy a guided meditation followed by a sound healing session that will leave you feeling centered and rejuvenated. Blankets and mats will be provided – all you have to do is show up and relax!

Please let students know they could win a $25 gift card if they attend events and complete the pre and post surveys.

I am thrilled to announce our new SDCEE online store is now live and we are already receiving orders that have been placed! This space is where students and employees can begin to purchase a variety of merchandise! We will continue to increase our college branding and create a sense of pride through our online store front. Visit the online store and start shopping today!

As we prepare for the Community Health & Resource Fair, please remember that the community can receive free health screenings in celebration of Heart Health Month in February. Various free resources will be provided, including:

• Blood Pressure Checks
• Cholesterol Screenings
• Diabetes Screenings
• Breast Exams
• And more!

Additionally, free shuttle rides will be available to transport attendees to and from ECC and the Health Fair.

The Healthcare Career Job Fair at Cesar Chavez will focus on providing employment opportunities for students eager to begin entry-level positions in Healthcare. Attendees will have the chance to:

• Explore potential Healthcare career paths
• Connect with industry leaders and gain valuable career insights
• Network with recruiters and learn about industry needs
• Share their resumes with employers for potential one-on-one interviews

To participate, students need to activate their Handshake accounts at handshake.sdccd.edu.

SDCCE was well represented at the California Community College’s 2025 MAP Regional Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Training held on Friday, January 31st, 2025 in San Diego. This training focused on several key areas including:

Revising local policies and procedures to comply with state and federal regulations

Engaging instructional and counseling faculty in the CPL decision making process

Conducting targeted outreach to your community through CPL offers

Ensuring that student veterans receive the credit they deserve

Thank you to the SDCCE team for attending and I look forward to how this will positively impact our students.

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 recently completed the year-long Wheelhouse Professional Development Program alongside fellow CEOs from the California Community Colleges. It was an incredible experience—building strong connections with my cohort seven members while gaining valuable leadership tools that will continue to shape my growth as a leader and advocacy for our students.

Congratulations to Dr. Jan Jarrell, on her retirement as the Dean of ESL. The Mid-City campus and ESL Department hosted a beautiful gathering to celebrate her incredible impact. Dr. Jarrell's unwavering commitment, passion, and countless contributions to the ESL department will be deeply missed by all of us.

I enjoyed attending the 7th Annual Women of Color Roar Breakfast with SDCCE and District colleagues. This was a beautiful event to kick off Black History Month in honoring so many courageous and incredible women!

Thank you to everyone who joined me in the President's Conference room this morning for the welcome reception of our new Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Masa Omae.

It was a truly wonderful experience to be a guest on episode 57 of the Higher Ed Conversations podcast with GradComm CEO, Cheryl Broom. During the episode, we discuss our new college branding! You can find the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the GradComm website. #ForwardTogether

The Research Corner

This week, we invite you to check the report Senior Care Workforce Needs Study from our friends at the Centers of Excellence. This report looks at the workforce needs within the senior care industry to help identify key aspects to come up with recommendations for employees and colleges working to train future students in this sector. The report may be found on the following link: Senior Care Workforce Needs Study . Take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.

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.

Best,