BUDGET CRUNCH
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Don't be fooled! California’s budget crisis is
real. And nationally, we are officially in a recession expected to
last through 2009. Because revenues have not been sufficient to cover
public expenditures, resulting in an $28-billion shortfall, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger has proposed billions of dollars in spending cuts, most of them
aimed at the state’s already beleaguered schools, colleges and
universities. The governor has proposed slashing about $330 million from
community college budgets. GCCCD is expecting a mid-year give-back to the
state totaling $5.1 million. At this point, it is anticipated that GCCCD
will have to cut an additional $2.4-$2.7 million on top of the $2.7 million
already set aside for the predicted give-back early on during out 2008/09
budget planning. Higher education, like the financial markets, may be
facing a dire, major correction.
The Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) responded to the
Governor’s cut to community colleges by
recommending increases to student tuition and specific reductions in state
reimbursement for selected courses. The LAO recommended a tuition
increase from $20 to $26 this January and another increase to $30 effective in
July 2009. The other suggestion was to reduce reimbursement for courses
in exercise science, art, music, dance and the like. Only one thing
is certain at this time, there will be much discussion at the state level
before agreement on an approach is reached to balance the state's
revenue/spending issues.
It is unlikely that the newly constituted Legislature will
successfully tackle the budget problem this month. There are 25 new legislators
(15 Democrat, 10 Republican). The Community College League of California says that
the new legislators know the state has a serious problem and want to take
action, but their approach to action could not be farther apart.
In order to live within our means and ensure solvency and
long-term fiscal health, several steps are currently under consideration,
including reducing the number of sections with low enrollments and reducing
hours of operations for some student services along with existing hiring and
travel freezes. The reality is that the budget constraints will mean an
ongoing emphasis on achieving efficiencies, different ways of doing business,
including trade-offs that allow us to serve the increased student demand with
very limited funds. Unfortunately, this is not a good time for cutting
higher education’s budgets. The unemployment rate in San Diego County has grown
to 6.8 percent. In response, people are enrolling in California’s community
colleges in record numbers, and the demand for us to provide a high-quality
education is growing. Our goal is to preserve classroom instruction and
services to students. Your support is appreciated as we tighten our belts and
weather these uncertain economic times.
CHANCELLOR CANDIDATES
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Two finalists have been announced for the position of
Chancellor, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. They are: Cindy
Miles, Ph.D., President, Hialeah Campus, Miami Dade College, Florida, and Mark
Zacovic, Ph.D., interim Vice President Administrative Services, Pasadena Area
Community College District, California. Both candidates are scheduled to
appear at public forums in the Student Center -- Dr. Miles at 8:45 a.m. on
Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Dr. Zacovic at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Please mark your calendars!
Miles has been president of the Hialeah Campus since its
founding in 2005 as the seventh campus of Miami Dade College. Before assuming
the presidency of the Hialeah Campus, Miles served as vice president for
learning and academic affairs at the Community College of Denver from 2002 to
2005. Zacovic is a 23-year veteran of the California Community College system.
He has served in various capacities at Santa Barbara City College, Lake Tahoe
Community College, interim president of Santiago Community College District,
and superintendent/president at Mt. San Jacinto Community College District.
Most recently, he assisted two districts in an interim capacity: as vice
president of administrative services at Contra Costa Community College District
for 10 months, and currently, as vice president of administrative services at
Pasadena City College/Pasadena Area CCD on an 11-month assignment.
CARE/ASGC HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
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Our Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE)
program, which serves several hundred
Grossmont College students who are single parents receiving public assistance,
is hosting a holiday party at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Student
Center. We need volunteers to assist with the party and donations of canned
food, unwrapped toys, gift baskets and gift cards for distribution at the party
to school-age children below age 17. We are expecting more than 100 children to
attend along with their single parents. If you can help, contact Brenda Flores
at 7698 or Sonia Smith-Ramsey at 7552. Canned food donations can be delivered
to the ASGC office.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDENT ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY DRIVE
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Every year, the Grossmont College Child Development Student
Association spearheads the “SHARING for the HOLIDAYS” drive, asking your
participation in raising funds to help buy food and gas gift cards that will be
given to some of our most needed students and their families. Thanks to
the generous support of our faculty and staff we have been able to help about
10 to 12 families every holiday season. We hope to accomplish that goal
once again! Your generosity will empower some of our students to better
provide for the necessities of their loved ones during the holidays. Your
gift will make a difference in a child’s life. Your gift, in the form of a
check, can be mailed to the club advisor, Sonia Gaiane. Please make your
check payable to “Sharing for the Holidays Trust Fund.” Our deadline is
December 8. A special thank you note will be sent to you with our
Internal Revenue exemption code to be used for income tax records. We
wish you multiple returns for your generosity.
GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA EARNS HONORS FROM GROUP
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A state educational group focused
on increasing college participation has recognized two programs in the
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (GCCCD). Two of the 15 programs
recently recognized by the Campaign for College Opportunity are from GCCCD,
including: The Cal-PASS Freshman Composition Alignment Project which Micah
Jendian, Ryan Griffith and others participated in, aligns courses between
high school, community college and four-year universities in the state; and
Project Success Learning Communities, led by Sue Jensen, which helps students move from basic skills courses into
college-level course work. Students are taught in back-to-back linked courses
that allow them to establish a strong support group of peers. The Campaign for
College Opportunities reviewed 102 community college and university programs
across California and selected 15 for their quality and innovation.
GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT
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The Smoking Cessation Committee reports that 174 people
attended the recent Great American Smokeout event, with 32 people committing to
quit for one day and four people actually handed over
their cigarettes to be thrown out. Everyone was provided with information about
the smoking cessation program available from Student Health Services, and two
new smoke-free campus banners were unveiled. On Jan. 1, 2009, it shall be the
policy of the Governing Board to prohibit smoking and tobacco use on all
property owned or controlled by the District.
WACC COMMITTEE
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The World Arts & Cultures Committee is accepting funding
requests for special events to be held in the Spring 2009 Semester. Deadline
for funding requests to Alba Orr, committee chair, is Dec. 19.
PARKING UPDATE
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As we prepare to wrap up this fall semester, I want to thank
everyone for their cooperation and assistance with our Students First campaign. The efforts were
truly amazing and we accommodated the second largest fall enrollment in
Grossmont’s history with 800 less parking spaces. We are halfway there, with
only the spring semester separating us from completing the parking structure
and being able to maximize parking needs on campus. Here are some important
dates to keep in mind:
·
Dec. 15, 2008, faculty and staff can
begin parking on soccer field
·
Dec. 18, 2008, last day of shuttle
service for fall semester
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Dec. 19, 2008, all faculty and staff can
resume parking on campus. Shuttle service discontinued until start of spring
semester.
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Jan. 23, 2009, last day to park on campus
without special permits
·
Jan. 26, 2009, shuttle service resumes,
all faculty and staff asked to park off campus unless a special permit has been
authorized.
·
May 29, 2009, last day of shuttle service
and off-campus parking.
CONVOCATION ON JANUARY 20, 2009 – NEW START TIME!
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The Spring 2009 Convocation will begin at approximately
10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20. Brunch food items will be served. A later
start time has been scheduled so that interested individuals can watch the U.S.
presidential inauguration, which will begin at 9 a.m. Pacific time.
Faculty and staff will be able to watch the proceedings from the Student Center
and Griffin Gate.
Whether you decide to sleep in or watch the historic event,
please join us between 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. as we share brunch with
colleagues and friends and begin Convocation. The day’s activities have
been carefully planned to include an all-college activity from 12:30 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. Staff, please check with your supervisor to ensure critical
services can be provided during this busy day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra
will present “Mother Russia,” a musical program featuring the
performance of Pyoltr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4 in F minor and others
selections from Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky and Dmitri Dmitriyevich
Shostakovich, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at the East County
Performing Arts Center. Also performing will be contralto soloist Martha Jane Howe,
a Grossmont College faculty member. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for
seniors, $11 for students and free for children ages 12 and under with a paid
adult admission.
You can support the International Student
Scholarship Fund by buying a CD with piano music performed by our very own
International Student Counselor Drew Massicot. Drew will be playing in the
Student Center from noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 8-11. His piano solo CDs, “My Gift to
You” (Christmas pieces), “For Your Love,” “Feel the Spirit,” and “Music from
the Heart,” will be available for $10 each.
The Adult Reentry Program will host “Get
Your Life on Track,” a free informational meeting for adults interested in
retraining for new jobs and careers, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
Dec. 9, in Griffin Gate. Speakers will include former students who successfully
returned to the classroom, along with information on admission procedures,
transfer programs and financial aid.
A reception to welcome returning Governing Board
member Bill Garrett and new Governing Board member May Kay Rosinski will be
held following the Board Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Griffin Gate.
The
Grossmont College Afro-Cuban Ensemble, and Afro-Cuban Combo, under the
direction of Derek Cannon, will be performing Tuesday, December 9th, at 7:30 pm
at the Cuyamaca College Theatre. Admission is free for Faculty/Staff, $5 for
the general public and $3 for seniors.
A team of approximately 15-17 legislative
staffers from Sacramento will be campus on Wednesday, Dec. 10, to tour the
campus and meet faculty, staff and students to hear about successes and
challenges.
A send off gathering for Dr. Roger Owens
will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Hyde Art
Gallery. Music will be performed by Fred Benedetti. For information,
contact Janet Carter at 7155.
A
year-end celebration will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec.
17, in the Administrative Quad and College Conference room. There will be a
chili cook-off with prizes awarded to the top winners in three different
categories. If you are interested in participating in the cook-off, please
contact Alba Orr at 7623. Dessert and beverages will be provided.
RECENT HONORS AND RECOGNITION
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Carl Fielden, Jr., Learning Disabilities
Specialist Coordinator, Assistive Technology Center, recently gave a
presentation at the 20th annual International Conference on
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, held in Anaheim. Carl spoke on
“Healthy Helicopter Parenting: Preparing a College-Ready Independent (Rather
than Dependent) Young Adult.”
Kaiser
Permanente has announced that six Grossmont nursing students will share $14,500
in scholarship money. Kaiser also gave scholarship money to nursing students
from Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego City College and Imperial Valley
College. Scholarships were primarily based on financial need to assist
individuals who are pursuing nursing degrees, Kaiser said.
The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) board of
directors has honored five Grossmont nursing students with Richard Bea RN
Memorial Nursing Scholarship awards. Richard Bea was a former Grossmont
Hospital nurse and GHD board member.
The Grossmont/Cuyamaca Speech and Debate Team
participated in two recent tournaments. The team was presented with the 3rd
Team Sweepstakes Award.
Grossmont
College’s own KGFN radio station participated in the recent San Diego
Blood Bank’s Chargers Blood Drive, held Nov. 25 at the Town and Country Resort
Hotel & Convention Center in Mission Valley. The 30th annual Chargers Blood
Drive was presented by San Diego County Credit Union.