ENROLLMENT
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Enrollment this summer is up
13-14% over last summer as depicted in the table, below, of comparisons for
Summer 2009 and Summer 2008, as of Thursday, June 4th.
Summer 2009
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Summer 2008
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Count Variance
|
% Variance
|
|
Headcount
|
8214.0
|
7,236.0
|
+978.0
|
+13.5%
|
Units
|
35,406.5
|
31,008.0
|
+4398.5
|
+14.2%
|
BUDGET UPDATE
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The news about the
California State budget and the impact to Community Colleges is grave! The
updates just seem to go from bad to worse, and reliable information from the
state seems to be a moving target. Here at GCCCD, after reducing budgets by 3 percent in 2008-2009,
our district has prepared the legally required Tentative Budget with a 4 percent reduction.
We have referred to this as the "Disneyland version"
because it is based upon the 18 month budget passed by the Legislature in
February 2009. However, this budget was based upon revenue projections
that fell short and also ballot measures that were defeated. The
assumptions for the Tentative Budget were based upon 4.19% growth provided to
GCCCD and 0% COLA.
In planning the Tentative
Budget, the college's Cost Savings Taskforce, Facilities
Committee and Planning and Resource Council reviewed and
recommended actions for potential reductions. Many of the recommendations
have been implemented within departments and divisions under the leadership of
our Vice Presidents, Deans and Department Chairs. Budget reduction suggestions that were made at both the
Cost Savings Taskforce and the Planning and Resources Council have all been
discussed and forwarded at the district level.
Our spring 2007 Planning
Retreat as well our our Planning and Resource Council finalized the priorities
for Grossmont College In 09/10. Our college's areas of focus and budget
priorities are specified below and were critical driving factors in devising recommendations
and strategies for reduction.
1. Ensure student
access and meet enrollment goals
2. Focus on Student
Learning Outcomes
3. Implement our Basic
Skills Plan
4. Provide critical
workforce development training and forge innovative partnerships
This year, more than ever,
our college will have to ensure extremely good stewardship of all our resources
(human, fiscal and physical) to enable us to protect our learning core and
focus on our key initiatives.
Moving from Disnelyand to Reality...
As additional information
comes in from Sacramento throughout this summer, we will likely be looking at a
potential reduction to our GCCCD base budget in 09/10 of almost 10 percent (a cut of nearly $10
million) and potentially more than that. You can
expect to see that growth dollars will be reduced to zero which impacts
our enrollment goals and therefore limits our schedule of class
offerings. Additionally, we will likely see reduced hours of
support service areas and delays in services as we struggle with fewer hourly
staff and increased student demand. Specific information about service
reductions will be posted in offices and on the college's website
The Facilities
Committee is working on facility related savings such as water and power
reductions. Implementing ideas such as increasing the HVAC set points,
regularly distributing energy saving reminders, reducing water used for
landscape and other areas and prioritizing our most critical matienance
and renovation projects will contribute to reductions.
While sacrifices have already been made, more
sacrifices will be needed during this unprecedented economic downturn. This is
a critical time. It
is not business as usual. Community colleges are supposed
to serve every student who wants to go to college. However, at this same
time next year, there will not be enough seats for everybody.
It’s a perfect storm -- higher demand, record enrollment with fewer classes and
less money to teach students.
We are considering all
options that will protect our learning core and value employees,
while balancing our ability to ensure student access and provide long term
fiscal stability. There is no doubt that we will all have to work together to
contribute to this daunting challenge before us. If you have a suggestion
on how we can save money or provide services more effectively, then I encourage
you to e-mail your idea to budget.suggestions@gcccd.edu.
DROP FOR NON-PAYMENT
RECOVERY
|
The College and District
reports an unqualified success from its recent effort to recover funds from students who had not paid their summer ’09 tuition
fees. Many of the students who owed us money not only paid their overdue
bill but also re-registered for classes. Through this process additional
room was made available in existing sections. On Sunday, May 31st
735 Grossmont students were dropped for non-payment of enrollment fees.
Enrollment continues with increases of 14% over the same
period as compared with last year. It is state policy that fees are due
immediately at the time of registration, and the college does not bill for
registration fees. It is the student’s responsibility to pay tuition fees. A
hold can be placed on a student’s transcripts, grades and diploma until fees
are paid.
COMMENCEMENT 2009
|
At Grossmont College’s 2009
Commencement on Wednesday, June 3, 1,103
students received associate degrees, and 346 students earned certificates
of achievement. About 4,000 people attended the event. The keynote
speaker was Dr. Dorothy Wiley, who earned her associate degree in nursing at
Grossmont College in
1977, and today is an associate professor of primary care nursing at the
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Nursing. “Your
challenge is and will be to look inside yourself, develop and nurture a dream
and make it come true,” she said. “As you graduate tonight, some of you will be
moving into a workplace, some will go on to higher education, some will become
volunteers, and some will do all of the above. You will walk a variety of paths
and touch many lives, and I believe that your journey will be richer if you
take an interest in others, and help them along their way.” Dr. Wiley is
one of the world’s authorities in epidemiology, which is the study of factors
and interventions that benefit public health and preventative medicine, and she
was an investigator in the development of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer
and the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a common infection that causes
almost all cases of cervical cancer.
Jose Molina Serrano was the
student speaker. Serrano, an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, has
toured the world during the past four decades with several big-name Latin rock
bands, including childhood friend Carlos Santana. But, he always wanted
to attend college. “I had only made it as far as the ninth grade,” said
Serrano, a ninth grade dropout from Tijuana who moved to the United States at
age 19. “I always felt denied and somewhat ashamed for not being able to
complete my education, until today.” In 2003, Serrano showed up on campus on a
day when classes were not in session, and ran into faculty member Baker, who
provided registration information and encouragement. Serrano is a candidate for
an associate degree in music. Last year, his CD was taken aboard the Space
Shuttle Columbia and his song “Away From Home” was played to awaken the
sleeping astronauts.
Another speaker was Edda
Temoche-Weldele, who was selected by the Academic Senate as the 2008-2009
Distinguished Faculty Award Honoree for outstanding contributions in teaching
and exceptional academic leadership. Edda has taught Spanish courses at
Grossmont College since 1988. Since she set foot on campus, the energetic
and enthusiastic Edda has allotted extra time in her schedule to extend her
service at Grossmont to include serving on numerous committees. “I know that
dreams can come true,” Edda said in her remarks. “Desire plus believe in
yourself plus action equals dream in life fulfilled. Believe in yourself, take
a chance and you also will have magical moments.”
LE TOUR DE GROSSMONT
COLLEGE THIS SUNDAY MORNING
|
The Athletics Dept. will
present “Le Tour de Grossmont College,” a fund-raising fun walk/run, starting
at 8 a.m. this Sunday, June 7, at the college. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m.
in the Main Quad. The event will raise money for medical expenses for Grossmont
College women’s soccer coach Howie Hawver, who is currently battling ALS, or
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s
Disease. The 2.2-mile walk/run route will follow the campus perimeter
road. Refreshments, live music and prize opportunities are scheduled. For event
information, phone 644-7412, or visit www.HowieHawver.blogspot.com. Participation fee is a minimum donation of $30 per
person, which will include a commemorative t-shirt. Checks can be made payable
to Grossmont College Foundation. Hawver is the only head coach the Grossmont
women’s program has ever had. In the past 14 seasons, his teams have made 12
state playoff appearances. Hawver has also coached at Patrick Henry High School
and with the Crusaders Soccer Club.
VOTE FOR GC AS SAN
DIEGO’S BEST
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Only a few hours remain for
you to cast your vote online for Grossmont College as the Best Local College in this year’s San Diego Union-Tribune 2009
Readers Poll. Voting ends on Sunday, June 7 (no paper ballots this year, only
online). Visit http://bestof.signonsandiego.com/2009/vote/best-collegeuniversity/. All voters can enter to win free groceries for a
year from Henry’s Marketplace. Grossmont has been selected as “San Diego’s
Best” in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. So, let’s make it a “high-five.” Results
will be revealed on Aug. 2.
WEB STAFF DIRECTORY
|
The Web Staff Directory can
now be seen at http://www.grossmont.edu/intranet/staffdir. This directory features the names and photos of
faculty, staff and administrators. Please visit the directory to see your
photo. If your photograph has not yet been taken, please contact our college
photographer Stephen Harvey (ext. 7377) for an individual appointment. In
addition, shooting can be scheduled so that entire departments can be shot all
at the same sitting. Many thanks to Kats Gustafson and her crew as well
as Stephen Harvey for their work over the past year to accomplish this online
staff directory.
RECENT HONORS
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Natalie Ray, Tech Prep coordinator and counselor, has been
honored by the San Diego Science Educators Association for her most outstanding
contribution to science education at the college level during the 2008-2009 academic year. She received
her award on June 3.
Sharon Neumann, a counselor at Grossmont Middle College High School,
which is the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) school that meets
here at Grossmont, has been honored as the recipient of the 2009 Jonasson
Endowment for going above and beyond the call of duty for students in assisting
them in attaining higher education. The award includes expenses to the next
Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC) Conference.
Former Grossmont student Jaime
Lyerly, who was a 2008 Student of Note recipient, has been accepted for
membership in Mortar Board, a prominent national honors society. She is
majoring in art with an emphasis in sculpture at San Diego State University,
from where she plans to graduate in May 2010. She also works as a clerical
assistant in District Information Systems.
GETTING READY FOR THE
FALL
|
Summer football classes
begins on Monday, June 15, and the team has two new assistant coaches, both whom are former NFL players. Lui Fuga is
the new defensive line coach, and Carlos Polk is the new outside linebackers
coach. Fuga, a four-year starter with the University of Hawaii and an
All-Conference defensive tackle, was signed by the San Diego Chargers in 2007,
and had a career-ending injury in 2008. Polk, a starting outside
linebacker for the University of Nebraska, was drafted by the Chargers in 2001,
and stayed with the team until 2007, when he was traded to the Dallas
Cowboys. With the Chargers, he was named Special Teams Player of the Year
in 2002.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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OTA graduation, 5:30
p.m., June 5. OPT graduation, 6:30
p.m., June 5. Middle College High
School graduation, 5:30 p.m., June 8. Tentative Budget
Workshop, June 9th @ 3:30 @ Cuyamaca College, Student Center, I-208 Summer school classes
begin, June 15. Governing Board
meeting, 6:30 p.m., June 16, Griffin Gate (Board members will tour the
Assistive Technology Center starting at 4:15 p.m.). 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.