BUDGET
UPDATE
|
Good
planning is certainly a virtue when it comes to budgeting. According to the State
Chancellor’s Office, our estimated income from the State for this year
(2008-2009) will not be quite as bad as we originally projected. Still, the
State eliminated any cost-of-living adjustment, reduced our income and delayed
numerous payments. Fortunately, the Governing Board set aside $2.7 million for
a mid-year reduction, a figure that turned out to be right on target. State
lawmakers recently approved a budget, which included the following highlights:
ü 2008-09: Eliminates cost-of-living
adjustment.
ü 2008-09: Reduces state funding for
mandates.
ü 2008-09: Defers $340 million in
state payments to the 2009-10 fiscal year.
ü 2009-10: Funds 3 percent enrollment
growth.
ü 2009-10: Maintains funding for the
Competitive Cal-Grants program.
ü General: Since there were no
categorical or general apportionment cuts, language to allow categorical
flexibility was not included.
ü Future: Next year’s budget remains
uncertain. The May 19th election and state revenues will
determine what kind of adjustments will be made. So as usual, stay tuned
for more details as they emerge.
Even though
the Governor recently signed the budget that was brought forward by the
Legislature, some of our expenditures will be dependent on a May 19 special
election. And no one can know for sure how taxpayers will respond at the polls. Looking into
the future, the outlook for 2009-2010 continues to look bleak. We are continue
to take a hard look at reducing operational expenses (freezing positions,
restricting travel, freezing or reducing equipment expenditures and other
purchases). We will keep you informed with as much information as we know.
Thank you for your support and cooperation.
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
|
Efforts are
continuing on Grossmont’s 2010-2016 Strategic Plan. A Leadership Planning
Retreat will be held on Friday, March 13. Activities scheduled for the Retreat
include a review of Environmental Scan Data and an overview of both the SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis and the Visioning activity
held during Flex Week and Trend Analysis, as well as roundtable discussions on
Institutional Goals and brainstorming on Institutional Foci. Work also is
continuing on placing online all pertinent materials relating to Strategic
Planning.
COLLEGE
RECOGNITION AWARDS
|
Planning is
continuing for our 10th annual College Recognition Awards ceremony to be held
starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2009, in the
Student Center. Calls for nominations have been issued for several awards.
Innovator of the Year nominations, to be reviewed by the Educational
Development and Innovation Committee, are due now to Linda Daley. Excellence in
Teaching awards are due to deans by March 20. Also due by March 20 are Vice
President Support Staff award nominations. If you have received a new degree or
have had a significant publication since May 2008, please submit this
information soon to Pam Amor.
CHANCELLOR
MILES’ FORUMS
|
Dr. Cindy
Miles is extending a warm welcome to get better acquainted. As part of her
Listening and Learning Tour, she wants to hear from you: What are your hopes
and dreams for GCCCD? What has been working well that we want to preserve and
protect? Where do we need modifications? How can we help one another to enable
our best work? “Conversation with the Chancellor” forums will be held at
Grossmont from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 23 in Griffin Gate, and from
11:30 to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25 in Griffin Gate. Light refreshments will
be served.
CULINARY
ARTS DEPARTMENT DINNERS
|
The
Culinary Arts Dept. will host on Thursday evenings from now through mid-May a
five-course dinner prepared by culinary students. Cost is $15
per person. Funds will help raise money for travel expenses for students to
compete in state and national culinary competitions, as well as maintain
kitchen equipment and purchase supplies. The dinners will features appetizer
(soup or salad), intermezzo (palate cleanser), entree, dessert and coffee
service. Vegetarian meals also are available. Dinner service will begin at 5:30
p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 19 and 26, April 2, 16, 23, 30 and May 7 and 14, at
the Culinary Arts patio dining area near the Student Center. Dinners will not
be served on April 9, which is spring recess week. Reservations can be made by phoning
Michele Martens at (619) 644-7550 or 644-7549, or by e-mail at michele.martens@gcccd.edu. Space is
limited and some dates may already be full.
WALK
OF FAME NEEDS YOUR NAMES
|
The Grossmont
College Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2009 Walk of Fame Alumni
Award. The Walk of Fame, located on the Main Quad area, is a display of several
bronze plaques embedded in concrete that feature names of previous
distinguished alumni. Nominees must have completed a minimum of 12 units at
Grossmont College, earned a minimum 2.0 grade point average and contributed
significant achievements and leadership in their field. Deadline for submission
of entries is 4 p.m. on Monday, March 23. Names can be submitted via e-mail to
Ernest Ewin, or call Alexis Popko for a nomination form at the Foundation
office at ext. 7109. New honorees are expected to be announced in May. The
Foundation’s efforts help fund scholarships, facility improvements and educational
supplies, equipment and programs. The Walk of Fame program began in 1989. Among
the 18 previous Walk of Fame recipients are medical researchers, political
advocates, artists, athletes and community leaders.
MAKING
HEADLINES
|
-- Kellie Watson
of the Lady Griffins softball team was recently profiled as perhaps the
youngest student-athlete to make her collegiate softball starting pitching
debut. She is age 16. Read about her at: http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=918927.
-- Dr. Sunny Cooke was recently
quoted in an MSNBC story about high enrollment at community colleges. Read the
story at URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29375476/
UPCOMING
EVENTS
|
March
is National Nutrition Month. Student Health Services is celebrating the
month with several activities:
v The 2009 theme is “Eat Right.”
Information is available at Health Services.
v Smoking Cessation meetings are held
every Monday from 11 a.m. to noon in the ASGC Board room.
v “Walk the Walk, Talk the Walk,” consisting
of a 30-minute walk and talk with a nurse from Health Services will start at
noon on the track on Thursday, March 25.
The
International Club will host a fund-raiser from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday,
March 13, at Shakey’s Pizza, located between WalMart and Macy’s at Grossmont
Center. Customers presenting a flyer will have 25 percent of their food sales
donated to the International Club. For information, contact Counseling, ext.
7841, or Barbara Clark, ext. 7209. The
Theatre Arts Department will present “Metamorphoses,” a play adapted
from the classic Ovid poem, on March 12, 13, 14, 18, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and
on Saturday, March 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the Stagehouse Theatre. Admission is
$10 per person and $9 for military and seniors. No one under age 10 will be
admitted. The
Hyde Art Gallery will present an art alumni exhibition from March 16 to
26, featuring 23 alumni artists and more than 40 pieces, including ceramics,
paintings and photography. The opening event reception is scheduled to be held
on the last day of the exhibition, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.
The
Community College League of California will present the Community College
Leadership Summit on March 19 and 20 at the University of San Diego. The
Community College Leadership Development Initiatives Foundation is holding this
Summit to explore the current and future status of community college leadership
development through a dialogue among community college and university leaders.
It also will result in the identification of strategic directions for community
college leadership development programs, as well as goals and outcomes to be
achieved in partnership with UC and CSU schools and independent colleges and
universities. For more information, visit www.ccleague.org. The
Grossmont College Science Festival will be held Friday evening, March
20, and throughout the day on Saturday, March 21. Telescope viewings are
planning for Friday. Hands-on science demonstrations and exhibits are planned
for Saturday. The theme is “Pathways to Tomorrow.” Second eight-weeks session begins Monday, March 23. About 2,500 students are expected to enroll in about 100 different,
short-session classes, which will begin on March 23 and will conclude about
eight weeks later on May 22. The
Career Center will host “Generational Clash in the Workplace,” a free
adult reentry workshop, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, and from 11
a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, Room 627. The
Cajon Valley Union School District’s 2nd annual Career Fair will be held
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, here at Grossmont. Approximately
2,400 eighth graders will be on campus throughout the day. We
will host the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce First Friday
Breakfast on Friday, April 3, at the Student Center. Breakfast begins at
7:15 a.m. This is an outstanding opportunity to promote your departments to our
local East County business professionals. About 150 people are expected to
attend. Register your department with Alexis Popko at the Grossmont College
Foundation. Space is limited and tables will be assigned on a first-come,
first-register basis. In addition, volunteers are needed. The Foundation will
cover the cost of breakfast only to department personnel pre-registered and
participating in this event. The
Grossmont College Health & Wellness Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Main Quad. The
Brad Daluiso Golf Classic, benefiting the Grossmont College Foundation,
will be held on Friday, May 8 at Sycuan Resort. Volunteers are needed.
There are a variety of exciting volunteer assignments ranging from beverage
cart driver to putting contest judge. Faculty and staff are invited to lock-in
your price and play at a reduced rate. Register and pay before April 3 to earn
$150 off the regular foursome price of $800 (your price will be only $650).
Individual golfers are eligible for a 12.5 percent discount and play for only
$175. For more information on volunteering or playing, contact Alexis at
extension 7109.
IN
CONCLUSION
|
According
to recent news reports, university and college admissions offices in California
report unprecedented uncertainty and confusion about how the depressed economy and
state budget cuts could affect fall enrollments. As a result, UCs and CSUs say
they cannot rely this year on the traditional admission formulas that were used
in the past that typically have helped them hit enrollment targets. What this
means for Grossmont is that some of these nervous college applicants, who are
on pins and needles awaiting acceptance or rejection letters, may show-up at
our doors. So, there may be times over the next few weeks when we will be
called upon to offer an extra measure of understanding to more than a few
students. In addition, let me share with you a very enlightening letter
received by one of our administrative staff. The letter made me very proud
about our college.
I just
wanted to share with you what one of my son’s friends said. He went to
Grossmont for a year, then to Boise State for a year and a half, then came back
to Grossmont for a semester and is now at Long Beach State. He said, “Grossmont
has, by far, the hardest classes he has ever taken.” I said that maybe the
other classes were easier because they were upper class courses. He said, “No,
the instructors at Grossmont were more demanding and better.”
Grossmont College
will be an exhibitor at the Greater East County Chamber of Commerce Alliance
2009 Networking Trade Show at Cuyamaca College, June 17, 5:30 p.m.