PRESIDENT’S NEWSBURST
FEBRUARY 2013
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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The Spring 2013 semester
promises to be one of renewal and moving forward. With the passage of
Proposition 30 in November, we have the opportunity to offer 182 additional
courses this semester. Despite the heroic efforts of our department
chairs, deans, and instructional operations, we were unable to fully restore
all of the 182 sections for spring. Therefore, following census, stay
tuned for opportunities to add additional second 8-week sessions as our FTEs
goal for 2012/13 warrants.
We currently are working on
the Facilities Master Plan Phase 2 to determine priorities for classroom and
program space, thanks to the passage of Proposition V by East County voters.
After the past five years of
devastating budget cuts, Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget is good news
for community colleges, although there are some areas of concern. I was in
Sacramento on Jan. 28 with the Chancellor and several members of the Governing
Board, meeting with our legislators about the recommendations.
This week, I have
had the honor of speaking in New Delhi, India, at a conference hosted by the U.S. State Department and the Government
of India. I traveled with a delegation of U.S. community college presidents to
assist the Indian Government in its effort to open some 200 community colleges
in the country. I spoke about healthcare programs, how they are
established, structured and maintained, telling conference participants about
our own wonderful course offerings that lead to highly skilled professions in
high demand areas.
I know you are working hard
each and every day to ensure our students’ success, and I thank you for all
that you do.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
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Black History Month was first
celebrated on a college campus (Kent State University in Ohio) in February
1970, although its origins date back to 1926. The Black History Month
Planning Committee has organized a series of free events throughout the
month, including “A Day of Giants,” featuring the Queen of Kansas City
Blues Jeannie Cheatham and legendary jazz musician John Handy, who will discuss
their lives, careers and craft from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at
Griffin Gate inside the student center. The event is free and open to the
public. Other events include:
·
Jazz Kitchen
with Soul Food Specials is available
from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 13 and 27, and Thursday, Feb. 21, at
the Griffin Grill inside the student center, Building 60. Musical performances
will feature the Grossmont College Music Department’s Jazz Studies Program on
Wednesdays and Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist John Handy on Feb. 21.
·
The student
documentary, “Who Are We Really: An exploration of Multiculturalism
Self-identity,” will be shown at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Room 220, Building
26. This film directed by Grossmont College student Sicarra Devers explores
self-identity through the lens of a multicultural society and utilizes
interviews from students, faculty and community members to highlight issues
relating to race relations today.
·
Martin Luther
King Jr. Day of Service beach cleanup will be held from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Fiesta Island. Sponsored by the Associated Students of
Grossmont College and the Inter-Club Council, the community is invited to join
students from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in this joint community service
project.
·
The Umoja Program
is sponsoring a showing from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, of the film, “The
Great Debaters,” based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor
at Wiley College in Texas in 1935, who inspired students to form the school’s
first African-American debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the
national championship. Prior to the film, members of Grossmont College’s
award-winning speech and debate team will conduct a mini-debate. The Umoja
Program is a student-achievement program designed to promote academic success,
retention, degree completion and transfer rates of African-American and other
students enrolled at the college.
·
From 10-11:30
a.m. Tuesdays and from 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays through the month of February,
representatives of the college’s Umoja Program will be available in Room 173,
Building 10, to provide information and research help about the nation’s
105 historically black colleges and universities.
For
more information about events, contact Student Affairs at ext. 7600.
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HEART HEALTHY MONTH
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February is Heart Healthy
Month and the GC Wellness Initiative and Professional Development Committee can
help you with that through a variety of free employee fitness classes.
Get energized with Zumba from
5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Room 42-101, or join the Yoga
class from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Room 42-101. Both
classes begin Feb. 11.
Join your colleagues and
co-workers for Volunteer-Led Activity Groups that provide a fun way to
stay fit.
·
Contact Laura
Murphey for information about the walking group at 11 a.m. Tuesdays
and Thursdays, beginning Feb. 12, at the steps in front of
Student Services Complex Building 10.
·
Denise Schulmeyer leads a beginning jogging
group for those who haven’t jogged before or those who would like to start
again at 5:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the track.
·
Talk to Agustin Albarran to participate in a cycling
group that leaves from parking lot 1 in front of the Digital Arts building
at noon on Wednesdays.
·
Anita Martinez leads hikes at Mission Trails and Will
Pines does the same in North County.
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UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
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·
Students will be
awarded scholarships at the Spring 2013 Scholarship Awards Breakfast on
Saturday, Feb. 9, in the Griffin Center. Food service begins at 9:30 a.m., with
the program beginning at 10 a.m. The Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca
Colleges and the Grossmont College Scholarship Department host the event.
Thirty-five students will be awarded scholarships totaling $17,100. In
addition, 21 students will receive Osher scholarships totaling $10,500. The
scholarships can be 
used
to help defray the cost of textbooks, equipment, lab fees and other items
beyond registration fees.
used
to help defray the cost of textbooks, equipment, lab fees and other items
beyond registration fees.
·
Give the Dream is a new fundraising extravaganza to support the Dreamkeepers
program, which provides grants of up to $500 to students who encounter
unforeseen financial challenges. Sponsored by Scholarship America with
financial support from the Walmart Foundation, the goal of Dreamkeepers is to
keep students in school. On Thursday, March 14, the Foundation for Grossmont
& Cuyamaca Colleges will host a noon rally outside of the Griffin
Center , with entertainment, radio promotions and food.
Community events will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at
Grossmont Center, Parkway Plaza and the Santee Trolley stop. Faculty and staff
are invited to all events, and to volunteer. You can learn more here.
·
Alyze Dreiling, a
well-known professional violist/violist doubler in San Diego performs as the
new principal violinist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra at its
next concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Grossmont College Recital
Hall (26-220). General admission is $10; students are $5. A second performance
will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at All Saints Episcopal Church at Sixth
and Pennsylvania avenues in San Diego’s uptown district. Admission is free,
although donations are accepted. The performance includes selections from Bach,
Brahms, Kodaly and Khandoshkin.
·
The Grossmont
Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale will perform Mendelssohn’s “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream” with guest artists, Communications/Speech Professor Joel
Castellaw and student actors, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 in the Cuyamaca
College Music Hall. General admission is $10; $5 for students. A second 
performance with be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at
Paradise Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2701 East 8th St. in National City. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.
performance with be at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, at
Paradise Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2701 East 8th St. in National City. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.
·
The
Hyde Gallery hosts an opening event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 7 for its
current exhibition, “DOUBLE VISIONS: Contemporary Collaborative Artists.” The
exhibit, which runs through Feb. 21, features artists who work in a wide range
of three-dimensional media. The gallery, located in Building 25 across from
Café 200, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Admission
is free.
·
The Theater
Arts Department will present “Inside the Actor’s Process” at 7:30
p.m. on Feb. 8 and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the Stagehouse Theater
in Building 21. General admission is $10 per person. Tickets are available at
the door and online at the Theatre Arts Department website, which you can
access here. The cast
uses monologues and scenes from contemporary plays to bring imaginary people to
life and reveal the inner workings of the minds and hearts of the characters
they portray. For more information, phone ext. 7234..
·
The Inter-Club Council, Associated Students of
Grossmont College, Inc. and Student Affairs present the Sweetheart Fair from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, in the Main Quad.
Free ice cream courtesy of ASGC, Inc. Information from many of the 30 student
clubs will be available as well as items for sale. All proceeds will benefit
individual clubs.
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RECENT CAMPUS EVENTS
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·
Thirty students
graduated in January from the Office of Professional Training (OPT) program.
The scheduled guest speaker, Monica Zech, public information officer for the
city of El Cajon, was delayed because of a snow storm in Wyoming so Tim Flood,
vice president of administrative services, stepped in to give the graduation
address. Since he attends every graduation ceremony, he knew what he was
talking about when he recognized the accomplishments of graduates who complete
an intense 20-week program to give them marketable skills. In fact, at least 10
of the graduates already have jobs.
·
More than 40
members of our campus community came together to make Grossmont College’s Week
of Welcome (WOW!) a success. Students Affairs is still collecting
final numbers from those who hosted workshops and events throughout the week,
but early numbers show that 1,647 students participated, including stopping by
the information tables and taking advantage of the Activities Fair.
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HONORS
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·
Congratulations
to the Culinary Arts Program students and to Joe Orate, who was
named Chef of the Year by the Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego. The
Association honored students Cynthia Meyers with the Student Culinarian
of the Year Award, David Litke with the Presidential Award and a $500
scholarship and both Salina Quan and Jessica Church with a
Volunteer Appreciation Award.
·
Gary
Jacobson and Pat Murray were
selected as recipients of the 2012 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence
Awards, which recognizes the outstanding contributions and leaders of
community college faculty and staff. A selection of recipient photos, statements and videos, which you can
access here, will be featured at the kick-off
celebration at the League for
Innovations in Community College conference March 10-13 in Dallas, Texas.
Gary
Jacobson and Pat Murray were
selected as recipients of the 2012 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence
Awards, which recognizes the outstanding contributions and leaders of
community college faculty and staff. A selection of recipient photos, statements and videos, which you can
access here, will be featured at the kick-off
celebration at the League for
Innovations in Community College conference March 10-13 in Dallas, Texas.
·
Tim Flood received the President’s Leadership Award
during the Spring 2013 Convocation. Tim has been such an asset to this campus,
including as the go-to person for the past 10 years of Prop. R bond
construction.
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IN
THE NEWS
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KUSI’s Mike Castellucci
reported from the Griffin Center on the first day of classes. Tim Flood,
Agustin Albarran and ASGC President Peg Marcus were among those who
were interviewed. Click here to
see what they had to say.
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ACCREDITATION
UPDATE
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Accreditation Chair Chris
Hill thanks everyone who has assisted in the final editing of the 2013
Grossmont College Accreditation Self Evaluation Report. There is
still time to participate. You can give feedback on the report, which can be
accessed here
(login and password required). Discussions on the report will occur in forums
and other groups in March and April, with the goal of securing Governing Board
approval in May. The report is scheduled to be submitted to the Accrediting Commission for Community and
Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in June. A visiting team of peer
evaluators representing ACCJC will visit the campus in October. If you have any
questions about the document or the accreditation process in general, please
contact chris.hill@gcccd.edu
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WACC
GRANTS
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The World Arts and
Cultures Committee (WACC) is soliciting grant requests for the
funding of on-campus diversity, cultural or arts initiatives, events and/or
programs to occur in the Spring 2013 semester. Grant requests for this semester
should be submitted to the Student Affairs Office no later than Thursday, Feb.
14. Allow at least three weeks for approval. Grants
funded by the WACC in Fall 2012 include:
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IN
THE COMMUNITY
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The
East County Chamber of Commerce is asking for help for its annual event,
“Ethics in Business,” from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at
the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Ave. in El Cajon.
Facilitators are needed to ask questions and guide the discussion about ethical
issues for the 150 East County high school seniors who participate. If you can
help, you will need to attend a Facilitator’s Training from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
either Tuesday, Feb. 12, or Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the chamber’s offices, 201
S. Magnolia Ave. in El Cajon. Breakfast and lunch will be provided the day of
the event. Contact Jane Moore at (619) 440-6161, if you are interested in
volunteering.
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