Dear SDCCE Community,

As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible dedication each of you brings to our students every day. Your hard work, creativity, and unwavering commitment make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

During this busy time of year, I encourage you to continue doing the “heart work” that defines SDCCE—lifting up our students, supporting their growth, and creating opportunities for success. Every gesture, every effort, and every connection matters, and together we continue to make our college a place where students thrive.

Enrollment Updates

Fall Update

SDCCE’s overall enrollment for fall stands at 28,104 (5% less than this time last year, and a 0.2% decrease from last week), with a fill rate of 64%, which is less than last fall (73%). SDCCE’s overall headcount is currently 14,985 a decrease of 5% compared to this time last fall (15,724) and a 0.2% decrease from last week (15,019). FTEF scheduled for the fall semester is 7% greater than last fall (186.08 to 198.53). View the enrollment report.

CalWORKs will host the annual Toys for Tots Campaign this week, allowing students and their children to receive toys this holiday season. Thank you to the CalWORKs team for making this happen, along with outreach and Mr. Claus himself (Brad Dorschel) for spreading holiday cheer.

Our Director of IT, Alonzo Pishyar, attended the 2025 DETCHE Conference along with Dr. Ingrid Greenberg and Anagit Traganza. They returned with key insights on Canvas enhancements, LMS innovations, and how AI can strengthen instructional design. They also received important updates on new Title II accessibility requirements, which will be his primary focus moving forward.

Alonzo emphasized that all faculty-created Canvas content—videos, documents, and instructional materials—must meet accessibility standards. To support this districtwide effort, he will launch an accessibility awareness campaign to ensure we’re prepared for the April 2026 compliance deadline.

For reference, here is the ADA Fact Sheet on the new accessibility rule:

https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

Spring 2026 Enrollment

Spring 2026 Enrollment is open! Encourage students to enroll early and explore our wide range of tuition-free programs, flexible scheduling, and supportive services. We are ready to help every student start the new term with confidence.

Come celebrate with us as we ring in the holiday season at our annual Holiday Celebration. This year's theme is Season of Unity! Join colleagues, friends, and our campus community for an afternoon filled with festive cheer, meaningful connection, and the spirit of togetherness. This special gathering is a chance to unwind, share in the joy of the season, and recognize the incredible work we’ve accomplished across the year. We hope to see you there as we kick off the holidays with warmth, unity, and celebration!

Thank you to those who RSVP'd by the deadline. RSVPs are now closed and we look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our students and faculty as they came together to share their musical talents and spread holiday cheer at the Emeritus Holiday Concert. Their collective spirit and creativity truly lit up the season. View more special moments on our SDCCE Flickr.

The Associated Students of the College of Continuing Education are proud to present the 2nd Annual Winter Wonderland Event, sponsored by the Campus Councils! Join students across our campuses for holiday fun, including games, contests, refreshments, and so much more! Please see below for the dates and times for each event:

• North City: Thursday, December 9, 6PM, Main Lobby
• CE Mesa: Wednesday, December 10, 12 Noon, Room 118/120
• West City: Thursday, December 11, 12 Noon, Main Lobby
• César E. Chávez: Monday, December 15, 11:30AM, Room 101/103
• CE Miramar: December 17, 10:00AM, North Entrance
• Mid-City: Wednesday, December 17, 10:30AM, Student Lounge
• ECC: Thursday, December 18, 12 Noon, Front Lawn

The holiday season is here—and so is our opportunity to make a meaningful difference for students across all seven SDCCE campuses. The SDCCE Foundation is proud to launch a Holiday Toiletry & Non-Perishable Food Drive now through Thursday, December 11, to ensure our students have essential items before winter break. We invite all SDCCE employees to join us in this collegewide effort to give back and spread some warmth this season. The campus with the most donations will receive a lunch provided by the SDCCE Foundation!

Donation Period

Monday, November 17 – Thursday, December 11

What We’re Collecting

Toiletries and non-perishable food items, including:

• Toothbrushes & toothpaste
• Deodorant & soap
• Rice
• Unopened, unexpired canned goods
• Other staple items students may need

Who Can Donate

SDCCE employees only (this is an internal community drive).

Donation Bin Locations

Bins are located inside Student Services on each campus, accessible to employees but not the public.

Spring Institution Day will be here before you know it! Be sure to mark your calendars for January 20, 2026. We’ll gather at the San Diego Central Library as we bring back the inspiring Sustained in Unity theme.

More information on registering is coming soon!

Family Day at SDCCE is coming up, and we invite you to join us on Saturday, December 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Educational Cultural Complex for a community celebration before the holiday break. Bring your family for a day of activities, a picnic-style lunch, community partner resources, and opportunity drawings for CE merchandise. Coordinated by SDCCE Student Trustee Yahir Melendez, this event is a chance for our campus community to connect, relax, and enjoy time together as we head into the season break.

Scholarship Applications Now Open

The scholarship application for students is now open through February 6, 2026. This opportunity supports learners across SDCCE in advancing their educational and career goals. Please encourage students to review the eligibility criteria, gather required materials, and submit their application early.

Application assistance is available through the Tutoring and Learning Center, contact [email protected] for more information.

The application can be accessed at: https://tinyurl.com/2026ScholarshipApp

Join me 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 the CE Mesa Campus from 10:30 to 11:30am on Wednesday, December 10 over some ice cream. Please join us for any upcoming future visits!

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.

As the holiday season approaches, many students may experience grief, stress, sleep challenges, or anxiety. Please remind them that support is available anytime through TimelyCare, a free 24/7 virtual health and well-being platform offering:

• Self-care tools for test anxiety, sleep, and time management
• On-demand yoga and meditation sessions
• Peer and professional support for stress and anxiety
• 24/7 access to care, even late at night before exams

Encourage students to take advantage of these resources to stay balanced and supported throughout the semester and the holiday season.

ECC Theatre Renovation

The ECC Theatre Renovation continues to make progress! Here is the latest update:

• Major demo is currently taking place with the removal of the second floor balcony. Loud noise notifications will be issued in the weeks to come.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we work through these projects. The construction site is active Monday - Friday, 7am - 3:30pm.

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.

Bond Projects Update

Below is an update of the current Measure HH Bond projects for our college. We have also developed a current projects page with updates on each project.

ECC Building Trades (Welding Renovation)

• Design Kick-Off Meeting with Project Stakeholders scheduled this week to initiate user group discussions.
• Discussions exploring different swing space considerations are underway.
• Cost estimates for expansion and enclosure of the existing canopy space are in progress.
• Targeting August 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

ECC Ceramics

• Design team is finalizing Construction Documents.
• Targeting December 2025 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.
• Anticipating DSA Approval & Permit by July 2026.

ECC Community Room Renovation

• Design is ongoing, with Construction Documents underway.
• Project schedule is trailing behind the ECC Ceramics project as construction of the new Community Room is tied to the completion of the new Ceramics space.
• Final plans for the new office space were reviewed with the Foundation Director last week.
• Targeting May 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

ECC Seismic Upgrades

• Design Team is performing a seismic evaluation of the main building as part of a standard procedure required by DSA (Division of the State Architect).
• Site walk was held with the project stakeholders to review and mark out the specified locations for material testing & exploratory assessment.
• All testing to be scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and observed holidays to minimize campus impacts. Testing results will determine seismic upgrade requirements.
• Seismic improvements to be implemented in phases and captured in current ECC projects to minimize campus impacts. Any remaining areas of the facility will become it's own standalone project.

CE Mesa Campus Building Envelope Improvements

• Feasibility Report of the exterior building was completed.
• Cost and schedule estimates for full enclosure of the existing stairwells are ongoing.
• Design Kick-Off Meeting to be scheduled with the Project Stakeholders upon Notice to Proceed.
• Targeting May 2026 for DSA (Division of the State Architect) submittal.

Mid-City Expansion

• Individual Focus Group Meetings have been completed.
• Design Team is finalizing conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders.
• Final Report to be submitted to Leadership in January 2026.
• Targeting February 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
• RFQP to be issued for Design-Build Services in March 2026.

Mid-City Renovation

• Individual Focus Group Meetings have been completed.
• Design Team is finalizing conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders.
• Final Report to be submitted to Leadership in January 2026.
• Targeting February 2026 for approval of conceptual design.
• Leadership to review and discuss project phasing upon approval of conceptual design.

West-City Expansion

• Individual Focus Group Meetings are ongoing.
• Design Team is refining conceptual layouts to review with Project Stakeholders.
• Final Report to be submitted to Leadership in January 2026.
• Targeting February 2026 for approval of conceptual design in order to kick-off Schematic Design.

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.

In our last meeting, we covered cultivating safety and belonging for students, staying grounded in the work, reviewed resources, fundraising opportunities, and marketing materials such as posters, new buttons, and stickers that will be shared soon.

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.

• 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 joined the City Heights CDC and the San Diego Workforce Partnership for a panel unveiling SDWP’s new community data and asset-mapping tool—an innovative resource designed to help government, education, business, and community partners better align strategies around housing, transportation, workforce training, education, and other essential needs.

Hosting our ASCCE student leaders and advisors at our End-of-Year Luncheon was truly a highlight! Our students inspire me every day, and I’m incredibly thankful for the advisors who mentor and uplift them throughout the year.

The Research Corner

This week we invite you to explore the report San Diego & Imperial Community Colleges' Adult Learner Study: Insights to Strengthen Practices and Policies. This report from the San Diego & Imperial Center of Excellence surveyed over 600 adult learners in the San Diego region, aged 25 and older. They investigated their experiences both inside and outside the classroom, providing recommendations for higher education facilities to better support their academic successes. This document may be accessed here: San Diego & Imperial Community Colleges' Adult Learner Study: Insights to Strengthen Practices and Policies. Please take a minute to review this resource and email [email protected] if you have any questions.