Budget Update
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There are still rumors and
rumblings floating around that a mid-year give-back may occur this fiscal year.
According to the state’s recent Debt Affordability Report, the State General
Fund from 2010-11 through 2012-13 will have a cumulative, structural deficit of
$38 billion. What this means to us locally
is unless state revenues exceed expectations we should anticipate further state
budget reductions over the next two years as they work to
balance the budget. As we begin to look towards the next fiscal year we
are assuming a flat (or worse) state budget, no federal back-fill dollars and
no repeat of one-time savings that were the result of restrained spending.
Unfortunately, our status of living with reduced budgets, lower staffing levels
and record enrollment will continue. I wish I had better news. However, I am
still so very grateful for all of your individual efforts during these
challenging times. Our collective efforts will be required to weather this
storm and so I look forward to your continued cooperation, collaboration, and
communication.
Accreditation
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An Accreditation Steering
Committee will begin working soon on our mid-term report that is due October
15, 2010. This report will discuss the progress we have made during the past
three years. The Committee will focus on four Standards, including: #1.
Institutional Mission & Effectiveness; #2. Instructional Programs, Student
Support Services, Library and Learning Support Services; #3. Human Resources,
Physical Resources, Technology Resources, Financial Resources; and #4.
Leadership & Governance.
Surveys
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WE WANT YOUR VOTE!
Watch for a quick survey arriving in your e-mail soon asking for your selection
for a vision and mission statement for GC. Your input would be greatly appreciated as we finalize
our strategic plan. Meanwhile, all employees will receive soon another survey
on Grossmont College Working Relationships. The results of this survey will be
included in our Accreditation reports. It is scheduled to be available the week
of November 16. It will ask your opinion about working relationships across the
College and District for the benefit of our students. In addition, Sodexo is
conducting a survey on its services to students, faculty and staff.
H1N1 Update
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As part of our ongoing
efforts to plan for, monitor and respond to H1N1 influenza, we are continuing
to monitor flu reports, including student/employee absences and suspected
cases, through our supervisors and our Health Services Office. We are continuing
to keep a vigilant eye on our college community to minimize the risk and
implement various options in the event of confirmed cases. Among recent
activities: hand sanitizers have been set up in public areas across campus;
preventive information has been made available through e-mail and the college
website; and coordination is continuing with the County Health Office.
The Academic Senate has been central to planning continuation of class
operations, grade transmission and other aspects of college recovery in the
unlikely event of a pandemic closure.
GC has ordered and is expecting to receive an adequate number of doses of H1N1 vaccine very soon. Still unknown at this time is when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to Health Services at Grossmont College. Soon after we have the vaccine on hand we are planning to make the vaccine widely available. So, we expect there will be opportunities on campus to get individuals in our campus community vaccinated. Please be assured that we are monitoring the ever-changing landscape of the H1N1 approach and are utilizing planning and resource information provided by the San Diego Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Meanwhile, if you have symptoms of high fever, cough, aches, nausea and dizziness, stay home until you are no longer contagious. Please stay away from others during your period of illness and do not return to school until your fever is gone (without fever reducing drugs) for at least 24 hours. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water and cover your cough. To prevent illness, stay away from others who are sick.
To know more about what to do about the flu, visit www.flu.gov. If you have questions or concerns, please call or visit Student Health Services on campus. For more information, visit the college website at www.grossmont.edu, or call 668-1718 (the Grossmont Health Services Information Line) or the County Office of Public Health at www.sdcounty.ca.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/flu>.
GC has ordered and is expecting to receive an adequate number of doses of H1N1 vaccine very soon. Still unknown at this time is when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to Health Services at Grossmont College. Soon after we have the vaccine on hand we are planning to make the vaccine widely available. So, we expect there will be opportunities on campus to get individuals in our campus community vaccinated. Please be assured that we are monitoring the ever-changing landscape of the H1N1 approach and are utilizing planning and resource information provided by the San Diego Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Meanwhile, if you have symptoms of high fever, cough, aches, nausea and dizziness, stay home until you are no longer contagious. Please stay away from others during your period of illness and do not return to school until your fever is gone (without fever reducing drugs) for at least 24 hours. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water and cover your cough. To prevent illness, stay away from others who are sick.
To know more about what to do about the flu, visit www.flu.gov. If you have questions or concerns, please call or visit Student Health Services on campus. For more information, visit the college website at www.grossmont.edu, or call 668-1718 (the Grossmont Health Services Information Line) or the County Office of Public Health at www.sdcounty.ca.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov/flu>.
Academic Senate
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Our Academic Senate
representatives are planning to attend a statewide Academic Senate meeting next
week to discuss several resolutions. Among the discussion topics: Early
Assessment Program implementation, Institutional Review Boards and Minimum Equivalencies
for Faculty. In addition, the Academic Senate has formed a General Educational
Taskforce to take a look at the GE package. This Taskforce was recommended by
the Curriculum Committee.
Summer 2010
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The latest plans for the
Summer 2010 semester call for offering one six-week session, with classes
offered Monday through Thursday. In a handful of exceptions, a few
eight-week-long classes may be held. Fewer classes will be held in Summer 2010
compared to Summer 2009.
Future Construction
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Watch for more details in the
next few months, but you should be aware that during the 2010-2011 year, the
campus will be challenged with several construction projects,
including the gutting of the Administration Building and rebuilding of a new
Student Center. Several administrative offices will be temporarily relocated in
trailers. Construction will be funded by the Proposition
R bond measure that East County voters approved in 2002.
50th Anniversary
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A 50th Anniversary
Celebration Planning Committee has been formed. At a recent meeting, the
Committee reviewed Event Guidelines for 50th Anniversary Celebration and the
Planning Committee’s Charge, Mission and Composition. This committee is charged with recommending to the College leadership a
year-long (2010-2011 academic year) series of campus and community celebratory
events. Effective outreach strategies and event planning specifics will
help our efforts be successful in appropriately celebrating Grossmont College’s
50th anniversary of educational service to the community and generating
continued support for our college. The mission of the Celebration is to reconnect
with the community, reconnect with alumni and retirees and build support for
the future. It is the Committee’s goal that each regularly scheduled campus
event during 2010-2011 include a 50th-related focus. Many great
ideas are being considered by the committee so please send us your great
ideas via Rick Griffin.
Safety & Awareness
Week
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Grossmont College Student
Services and the Associated Students will present Safety & Awareness Week,
Nov. 16-19. Helpful information about personal health and safety awareness will
be available. The schedule includes:
Monday, Nov. 16
- Recognizing the Preventing
Violence on Campus for Students, 10-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.,
ASGC Board Room.
- Dangers of Prescription Drug
Abuse, 1-2:30 p.m., Griffin Gate.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
- Recognizing the Preventing
Violence on Campus for Students, 10-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.,
ASGC Board Room.
- Information on Smoking
Cessation and Alcohol Abuse Awareness & Prevention, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Main Quad.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
- Recognizing and Preventing
Violence on Campus for Students, 10-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.,
ASGC Board Room.
- Recognizing
and Preventing Violence in the Workplace, 11:30-12:30 p.m., ASGC Board
Room.
- Driver Safety and the Dangers
of Cell Phone & Texting, 1-1:40 p.m., Griffin Gate.
- Fire Safety, 1:50-2:30 p.m.,
Griffin Gate
- Health Services Info Table, 10
a.m. - 1 p.m., Main Quad.
Thursday, Nov. 19
- Great American Smokeout, 9
a.m.-3 p.m., Main Quad.
- The view of “April Showers,” a film about the Columbine shootings and how one victim survived. Filmmaker Andrew Robinson is expected to attend; starts at 6:30 pm Student Center.
Fork It Over For Kids
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Twelve GC culinary students
participated in a recent fund-raising event at the Salvation Army’s Ray and
Joan Kroc Community Center. The event, called “Fork It Over For Kids,” featured
Sam the Cooking Guy. Our students performed a variety of tasks, including
greeting the food vendors and assisting with set-up, cooking the menu items of
Sam the Cooking Guy for the VIPs, preparing and serving hot appetizers and
dessert, and assisting Sam on stage. Our students were highly praised as
“professional, organized, skilled and pleasant.”
Student Affairs Office
Announcement
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Beginning December 1st,
the Student affairs office at GC will have uninterrupted service from 8:00 am –
9:00 pm. Gwen House will relocate to the Student Affairs office and will
serve as the receptionist from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. What this means is
that evening dean functions will not be available in the deanery area but
rather in the Student Affairs just to the left of the main entrance into the
student center.
Our thoughts go out
to the family of Kyrstin Gemar
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The entire Grossmont College
family lost a wonderful student-athlete and our community lost a smiling young
lady with the passing this week of former GC softball team standout Kyrstin
Gemar. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to her parents, Lenny and Claire
Gemar. Krystin played on the GC softball team in 2006 and 2007 (team captain,
MVP, consecutive conference championships) before transferring to Dickinson
State University in Dickinson, North Dakota. On Sunday night, Nov. 1, Kyrstin
and two friends apparently went star gazing. They were found dead on Tuesday, Nov.
3, in a vehicle pulled from a pond. Krystin was 22. A public memorial service
is expected to be held on the campus softball field and is tentatively
scheduled for Saturday November 14 at 11 am.
Upcoming Events
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Howie Hawver Birthday Party, 1-4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, Main Quad. Menu
includes hamburgers, hot dogs and cake. Music by Footloose. Hawver is the only
head coach the Grossmont College women’s soccer program has ever had. In the
past 14 seasons, his teams have made 12 state playoff appearances. Hawver is
currently battling ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as
Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Grossmont Master Chorale, 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, St. Martin of Tours Catholic
Church, 7710 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa. Sylvia by
Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department, Nov. 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 at
7:30 p.m., Nov. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m., Lab Theatre. Directed by Henry J. Jordan.
Sylvia is a dog and she has found a new home with Greg and Kate. As the
affection between Greg and Sylvia grows stronger, a stronger resentment
increases between Kate and her husband and his new best friend, Sylvia. All
works out in the end; but he journey, at critical points in the characters’
lives, makes for a delightful experience in the theatre. Movie with Arabic Club, 12:30-2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, Griffin Gate. “The
Mother of the Bride” with English subtitles. Mental Mapping,
Photographs in Context, Nov. 16 to Dec. 17, Hyde Art Gallery. Grossmont Guitar Ensemble, 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, Room 221. Financial Aid Scholarship Fund-raising BBQ, 11:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 20, Main Quad. Grossmont Master Chorale, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, All Saints Episcopal
Church, 625 Pennsylvania Ave., San Diego. 17th annual Griffin Speech and Debate Tournament, Nov. 21-22. The headquarters will be in the Student
Center, but the competition will take place in 50 classrooms across the entire
campus. About 20 colleges, both two-year and four-year schools, are expected to
attend. Grossmont Master Chorale, 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
in La Mesa. Breaking Boundaries, Grossmont College Dance Dept., Dec. 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 and
6 at 2 p.m., Stagehouse Theatre. Chili Cook-off/Year-end celebration, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16,
Administrative Quad and College Conference Room.