Dear SDCCE Community,

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Today we honor the rich histories, cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples. We recognize the Kumeyaay Nation, on whose unceded lands SDCCE stands, and express our gratitude for their continued stewardship of this region.

Additionally, I would like to acknowledge how last week was both a busy and inspiring one at SDCCE, filled with professional development sessions, collaboration, and opportunities to connect across our campuses. As we move forward, we’ll continue to build on this momentum—nourishing these connections and fostering growth that strengthens our collective impact.

Last but not least, we are excited to co-host the upcoming 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.

Take a look back at the Inaugural Summit hosted at the Educational Cultural Complex.

Enrollment Updates

Fall Update

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 27,617 (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 14,627, a decrease of 2% compared to this time last fall (14,942) and a 2% increase from last week (14,388). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 8% greater than last fall (183.74 to 197.56). View the enrollment report.

Last week, Passport to Success was an inspiring and energizing experience! By bringing together our new faculty and classified professionals with their mentors, we saw meaningful connections flourish—laying the groundwork for continued growth, collaboration, and shared purpose throughout the year. Thank you to Professor Helena Wei and Dr. Veleka Iwuaba for serving as our Passport to Success Co-coordinators.

Single Sign-On is Here!

Single Sign-On has officially launched! The Outreach Office is visiting campuses to assist with Single Sign-On! From October 13–31, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, they will be tabling to assist students in connecting with essential college resources.

Encourage students to stop by to:

• Get help setting up Single Sign-On
• Learn about TimelyCare and other student services
• Grab some info (and maybe some swag!)

Undocumented Student Success Week

SDCCE is proud to participate in Undocumented Student Success Week (October 13-17), a statewide effort led by California Community Colleges to uplift and support undocumented students across the state.

Through our Immigrant Student Success Program, SDCCE will host a series of local events focused on empowerment, resources, and community building. This important week highlights the resilience, achievements, and vital contributions of undocumented students—and reaffirms our commitment to equitable access to education for all.

We invite students, employees and community members to stand with us in celebration and advocacy.

For questions, please contact ISSP Counselor, Fatima Meta at fmota@sdccd.edu or call the ISSP Center at 619-388-1933.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our “It Got Better” event in celebration of National Coming Out Day! The room was filled with powerful stories, heartfelt connections, and moments of courage that remind us why visibility and community matter. Special thanks to SDCCD Board of Trustee Craig Milgrim for joining the panel alongside our SDCCE students and employees. Finally, a big shoutout to LGBTQIA+ Counselor Dr. Lisa Carulli for organizing such a meaningful and impactful event. View photos on the SDCCE Flickr.

LGBTQ History Month Spotlight

This LGBTQ History Month, SDCCE spotlights Jeremy Garcia, a Be Well mental health counselor whose journey embodies courage, intersectionality, and belonging.

Growing up in Orange County with roots in Jalisco, Mexico, Garcia’s path has been one of learning to embrace both his cultural and queer identities. Navigating the expectations of masculinity within his culture, he has found strength in honoring his heritage while fully embracing his authentic self. Read more of hist story in the SDCCE News Room.

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 next visit will be at Cesar Chavez from 2 to 3pm on October 30 over some ice cream. Please join us for any of the visits listed!

CE MediaFest 2025

The San Diego College of Continuing Education's Communications and Creative Services team is proud to present CE MediaFest 2025!

They will be touring and hosting the event at each campus between October 20th to November 7th. Join the Comms team and your fellow attendees for free headshots, program interviews, video promotions, exclusive swag items, and more!

Check out the lineup for when they visit your campus!

The SDCCD has partnered with TimelyCare to expand access to high-quality mental health support for enrolled students. Through this partnership, students can connect with licensed counselors virtually, access 24/7 on-demand support, and explore wellness tools designed to meet their unique needs. The goal is to provide timely, flexible, and efficient care that helps students manage stress, maintain balance, and stay focused on their academic and personal success. Encourage students to get started and register with their SDCCD.edu student email to access services.

Enhance your safety on and off campus with the SDCCDSafe app, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is the official safety app of San Diego Community College District. The app features emergency contacts, crisis alerts, location services features, in-app tip reporting, and much more! The app also lets you stay connected by inviting a trusted friend or family member to virtually accompany you through a safety walk—so you’re never truly alone, even when they’re not nearby.

Club Rush is in Full Swing!

Encourage students to stop by one of our Club Rush tabling events from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout October to connect, get involved, and explore the many ways to enhance their college experience.

Club Rush provides a chance for students to:

• Meet student leaders and learn about active clubs and organizations
• Discover new interests and opportunities for leadership
• Connect with classmates with shared passions
• Access campus and community resources

Here’s where to find us:

• Tuesday, Oct. 14: North City – Main Lobby
• Wednesday, Oct. 15: ECC – Corridor near Student Services
• Thursday, Oct. 16: CE Mesa – North Entrance & Corridors

This is the perfect chance to build connections, get inspired, and make the most of campus life at the Club Rush & Resource Fairs!

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!

Workshop 1: Career Decision Making Basics

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 10:45am to 12:00pm, providing students and colleagues the opportunity to learn more about Rising Scholars, ask questions, and explore ways to engage, support, and collaborate. The next stop will be at ECC tomorrow, October 14. 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.

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 October. 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 lobby entrance.
• Demolition continues with the removal of the old concrete floors for what will be the new restrooms.

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
• Digital Literacy Support for Learning
• Study Space & Small Library
• Learning Workshops

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 enrolled 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

I am pleased to report that between 2020 and 2025, we successfully hired 39 contract faculty members. The most significant hiring period occurred in 2023, when 17 individuals were brought on board, spanning both instructional and non-instructional faculty positions. This robust hiring effort reflects our commitment to maintaining a diverse and highly qualified team, essential for supporting the evolving needs of our student body and enhancing the overall educational experience.

Faculty hiring is a critical component in sustaining academic excellence and fostering an innovative learning environment. By recruiting talented educators and professionals, the college ensures that students receive high-quality instruction, counseling, mentorship, and support. Moreover, expanding our faculty capacity allows us to offer a broader range of courses and programs, respond effectively to enrollment growth, and stay aligned with industry trends and community needs. Ultimately, these efforts contribute to the college’s mission by providing tuition-free, accessible, equitable, and innovative quality education and support services to diverse learners in pursuit of lifelong learning, training, career advancement, and pathways to credit college.

Classified Professional Spotlight

This week’s Classified Professional Spotlight shines on our Administrative Technician at ECC, Jasmine Duran. Jasmine plays an essential role in ensuring the day-to-day operations of the college run seamlessly. Her organizational expertise, attention to detail, and proactive approach help streamline processes, support employees, community members, and enhance the experience of our students.

Beyond her technical skills, Jasmine brings professionalism, positivity, and a deep commitment to service that reflect the core values of SDCCE. Her work behind the scenes keeps programs, events, and initiatives moving forward, making her an integral part of the college’s continued success. Thank you, Jasmine, for all that you do!

Faculty Spotlight

This week’s Faculty Spotlight shines on Elissa Claar, a dedicated educator whose journey with SDCCE began in 2005 as an adjunct faculty member before earning her contract in 2007. Elissa started her career in 1999 as a bilingual Spanish/English elementary school teacher and has since taken on leadership roles as an ESL APC and active member of committees such as ESL Textbook, Learner Persistence, Go Green, Site Councils, Academic Senate, and AFT Union. She calls teaching “the best job in the world,” grateful for the chance to work with diverse cultures and languages, and proud of SDCCD’s strong commitment to social justice. Outside of work, Elissa stays active through dancing, hiking, and boogie boarding. Her passion, energy, and dedication continue to inspire the entire SDCCE community. Thank you, Elissa, for all of the hard work to put into our students' success!

• 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

• My heart is full after attending the 3rd Annual NANDI Conference, where I serve as a board member alongside our VPSS Dr. Shakerra Carter and Dean of Counseling Dr. Roberta Krauss and several other phenomenal women in our system. It was an empowering experience to contribute to a space where Black women and women of color are truly seen, heard, and understood. The conference also provided valuable opportunities for professional development, meaningful networking, and much-needed moments of reflection and wellness. I want to thank all of the SDCCE colleagues and students who attended, SDCCE was well represented!
• I look forward to attending the Advancing Leaders Institute hosted by Wheelhouse at UCLA this week to present to a dynamic group of higher education leaders committed to advancing student success and equity throughout the California Community Colleges system.
• I had the pleasure of visiting the DSPS Adaptive Art Class led by faculty member Gina Grossini-Concha. The students are engaging in diverse artistic projects that showcase their creativity, skill, and determination, reminding us of the power of art to inspire and connect communities.

The Research Corner

This week we invite you to explore the article From Old Doors to Open Pathways: Reimagining Education for Today. This article explains how traditional approaches to postsecondary education typically used by colleges and universities are exclusionary against those with other responsibilities, suffering from financial hardship, or live in rural areas. The article then goes on to elaborate on policies and methods colleges and universities can utilize to better serve those excluded people. This document may be accessed here: From Old Doors to Open Pathways: Reimagining Education for Today. Please take a minute to review this resource and email jsalcedo001@sdccd.edu if you have any questions.