Presidents News Burst for August 2010

A NEW ERA OF CONVOCATIONS THAT YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS!

How do you hold an all-college Convocation without a Student Center? Answer: Hold Convocation in the gym, ask everyone to dress casually and wear athletic shoes and, then, give-away prizes to those individuals wearing special sneakers. Our gym floor was installed in the summer of 2008 at the cost of $200,000, and it provides a beautiful playing surface for our men and women basketball, volleyball and badminton players.  However, it cannot accommodate heels, dress shoes, pointy surfaces or street shoes.

So, on Monday, Aug. 16 at 8 a.m., please join us for a continental breakfast sponsored by the GC Foundation and the Grossmont Schools Federal Credit Union. The breakfast will be held between the Main Gym and the Exercise Science and Wellness building, overlooking the football field.  Then, just after breakfast, the Convocation program will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Main Gym. If you have a stadium seat, please feel free to bring that with you, too. The gym setting will provide a more fun, relaxed setting. For those of you who cannot get away from your desk, a new mechanism will be piloted which will allow you to participate from your desktop or view at a later date. After Convocation, an all-campus activity focused on “What We Do Best” will be held.  All staff members are encouraged to please check with your supervisor about attending this activity so that there is appropriate office coverage throughout the day.

WIN A PRIZE FOR WEARING SNEAKERS AT CONVOCATION

To highlight a more fun and relaxed setting at Convocation, a competition with prizes will be held for the best athletic shoes worn that day. Everyone is encouraged to participate and possibly win a prize.

• Most grungy/worn sneakers

• Most colorful

• Sneakers that demonstrate outstanding school spirit

• Newest-looking sneakers (shoes that need to be broken-in)
• Most attractive apparel-and-sneaker combination
  
  

"WHAT WE DO BEST"

During the roughly two-hour time period between Convocation and lunch on Monday, Aug. 16, everyone is encouraged to participate in a campuswide dialogue on “What We Do Best.” This activity will be similar to the All College Exercise held as part of Spring 2009 Convocation. This time we will focus on exceptional teaching, learning and student support in an effort to increase dialogue about how we can improve these areas within a very positive context. We would like to get the college focused on three core things: great teaching, great learning and great student support.  

We look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts drawing on your experiences as a teacher and/or student.  We need to hear from you and capture your voice!

PLANNING PROCESS PRESENTATION

All Classified Staff are invited to attend a presentation on how the college planning process works from 3 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 12, in Room 34-150, in the new Health and Sciences Complex. Presenters will include President Sunny Cooke and Academic Senate President Chris Hill. Please RSVP to Pat Murray via e-mail or ext. 7316 on or before Aug. 10.

CAMPUS GATES LOCKED AT NIGHT

Planning is underway to have the campus security gates installed at the Perimeter Road and locked nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. and during emergencies as required, beginning in spring 2011. Public Safety, custodial supervisors and the EOC team members would have keys to unlock the gates to ensure that we can react to emergencies and times when there are late-night events, returning field trips or sports teams, or other events. Feedback or concerns regarding the gates can be forwarded to Tim Flood, Vice President, Administrative Services. Your responses will be helpful in compiling a future FAQ to along with a campuswide e-mail.

WEB STAFF DIRECTORY

Here is a reminder to make sure you get your photograph taken for the Web Staff Directory. Several hundred of youalready have posed for your photograph, and you look marvelous! However, our college photographer Steven Harvey (ext. 7377) is eager to complete this project. The names directory is accessible only over the Intranet. If your photograph has not yet been taken, please contact our college photographer Stephen Harvey (ext. 7377) for an individual appointment. In addition, appointments can be scheduled so that entire departments can be photographed all at the same sitting.

GRAND OPENING FOR THE HEALTH AND SCIENCES COMPLEX – SAVE THE DATE!

A grand opening ceremony  for our new Health and Sciences Complex will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010. The celebration will include a ribbon cutting, plaque unveiling and refreshments. The 52,000-square-foot, two-story Health and Sciences Complex houses classrooms with the latest technology, state-of-the-art labs and lab preparation areas, as well as indoor and outdoor gathering spaces for studying. It also has faculty and staff offices for Career Technical Education, Forensic Technology, Physics and Health Professions programs. The Complex features the latest teaching tools and equipment, including high fidelity simulation labs with lifelike mannequins for Nursing, a casting room for Orthopedic Technology, a mock apartment for Occupational Therapy, a blood-spatter room for Forensic Technology and simulated ICU patient stations for Nursing and Respiratory Therapy. The Cardiovascular Technology Program and EKG Training have three specialty classrooms and a dedicated ultrasound scan lab. Additional features of this comprehensive facility include Physical Sciences labs, a rooftop astronomy lab, two computer labs, and a large lecture hall for health seminars, guest speakers and combined class lectures. The $35 million construction cost was financed by the Proposition R bond measure that East County voters approved in 2002. Construction began in July 2008, and was completed this past spring.

IN THE NEWS

Recent newspaper stories have drawn interest of our faculty, staff and administrators.

• A record number of students are expected to transfer to UCSD this fall, primarily from California community colleges.

• “UCSD doors widens for transfers”http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/01/ucsd-door-widens-transfers/

• For the first time since 2008, SDSU will accept applications for spring applications.

• “SDSU to again take spring applications” http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/01/sdsu-will-again-take-spring-applications/

• Legislation would direct both the community college and CSU systems to establish a streamlined process by which students have a clear path to a bachelor's degree “A simple degree path” http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-college-20100802,0,2842251.story
  
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Professional Development Week will be held Aug. 16 to 20.

• The next Governing Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Grossmont. The Closed Session will begin at 5:20 p.m., the Open Session will begin at 6:30 p.m.

• Regular Day and Evening Classes Begin on Aug. 23.

• A painting exhibit featuring the work of Wade Cline, William Glen Crooks and Suong Yangchareon opens Aug. 23 and runs to Sept. 16 at Hyde Art Gallery.

• The 2010 season opener for the football team begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 against San Diego Mesa at GC’s field. 

• The Scholarship Department and Grossmont College Foundation will present the Fall 2010 Scholarship Awards Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 11, in the 200 Building Courtyard. The breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m., and the program begins at 10 a.m. With questions, contact Selam Gebrekristos at ext. 7121.
• The Grossmont College Foundation’s upcoming Auction and Dinner Gala will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Barona Resort & Casino. The theme is “Griffin Gold Rush, 49 Years of Excellence.”

President's News Burst for July 2010

Happy July!  It’s hard to believe that we are already in the 2^nd of the 3 traditional months of summer.  Time flies when you are having fun!

SUMMER SEMESTER ENROLLMENT

A 50 percent scale-back in available summer sections has severely impacted enrollment. As a result, several thousand students looking to get a 2010 Summer Semester class here at Grossmont were unsuccessful due to state budget reductions and a state imposed cap on enrollment. Students who were hoping to earn extra credits this summer to meet transfer requirements or to graduate sooner had to put those plans on hold. Sadly, as of the first day of summer classes, there were roughly 4,900 active students on wait lists, or, in other words, more than half as many students enrolled in a summer class requested to be placed on a wait list. As of Census Day, Summer Semester headcount enrollment was 5,546, compared to 9,172 last Summer. In a comparison between Summer 2010 and Summer 2009, headcount was down 39.5 percent, with a 44.8 percent decrease in units.

Our campus’ experiences this summer are indicative of a tremendous amount of unmet need, and a sign of the difficult times anticipated this fall, especially in light of local high school graduation numbers at an all-time high and a lagging economy causing a growing number of the unemployed who are going back to school for retraining or a new career. The 2009-10 graduating high school class was the largest ever as a baby boom from 1990-91 crests through our secondary schools. California’s 2.3 million unemployed residents now include more than 1.3 million whose unemployment was lost due to the current recession, and estimates are that it will take five years to rebuild the job base to pre-recession levels.

  

SUMMER INSTITUTE PROGRAM

Thirty students, 20 of them whom are foster youth, are participating in the current six-week Summer Institute Program, which began June 28. Students are taking six units, both English and PDC classes. The program includes trips to local college campuses, free books and materials, free lunch and priority registration for Fall 2010. In a pilot program this fall and spring, the 30 students will see each other again in cohorts of four in either English or PDC classes.  The program is guided by EOPS counselors Michael Perez and Pearl Lopez, both former EOPS students themselves.

  

BUDGET UPDATE

It’s unfortunate, but late budgets are a fact of life in California. The state has again entered the new 2011-2012 fiscal year with no budget, which means California community colleges will not receive checks from the state and will need to use reserves or loans or other means to pay the bills. Either way, it’s a hardship and everybody in education loses because the cost of borrowing means there will be less money to spend on student instruction and services. Meanwhile, legislators have begun their annually scheduled month-long summer recess. No agreement is imminent between state legislators and Gov. Schwarzenegger on how to close a $19 billion budget deficit. A protracted budget delay could threaten to downgrade the state’s credit rating, which would add millions to borrowing costs. Community colleges and vendors who do business with the state have their payments in jeopardy because of the budget delay. State Chancellor Jack Scott estimates 140,000 students have been denied an education at a California community college due to course reductions.

  

EXITING THE PARKING STRUCTURE

In an effort to create a pedestrian safety zone near the modular village area, traffic exiting the parking structure will now be routed towards the east by the Public Safety Building. This change was made because traffic exiting the parking structure sometimes ignored stop signs and crosswalk striping.

  

OFFICE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (OPT)

      OPT recently received a $5,000 donation from US Bank’s Community Affairs Dept. The money represents expenses covering two OPT students.

      The recent 5K for OPT fundraiser, held on June 12 at the Grossmont College track, raised a record $1,752, and the donations are still coming in. Event sponsors included Al’s Sport Shop and OPT Alumni Association.

  

RECENT HONOR

Former Grossmont College pitcher Brian Longpre, who concluded his amateur career with two seasons at Cal State Northridge, has signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Longpre, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander, toiled for the Griffins as a redshirt sophomore during the 2008 season after bouncing back from San Diego State as a freshman. He struck out 37 batters in 31 1/3 innings while compiling a 4.31 ERA. Longpre concluded his CSUN career by appearing in 25 games in the 2010 season, finishing the year with a 2-1 record and a 4.54 ERA. The La Crescenta native struck out 27 batters, walked just 12, and finished with three pick-offs, good for the third-highest total in the Big West Conference. In addition to excelling on the baseball diamond, Longpre graduated in May with a degree in finance.

  

CATALOG AND CLASS SCHEDULE COVERS

Photographs have been selected for the covers of the 2010-2011 Catalog and Fall 2010 Class Schedule.  The theme for the year captures scenes around our campus featuring old buildings, new buildings and our very own students.  The catalog cover photo will show students gathering on the steps of the Administration/Student Services Building 100, which will be torn down and will be replaced by a new expanded structure. This familiar location was recognized as the front entrance to the college for the past half-century and will be immortalized on the catalog cover this year.  On the cover of the Fall Class Schedule will be the new 52,000-square-foot, two-story Health & Sciences Complex. The two-story building houses classrooms with the latest technology, state-of-the-art labs and lab preparation areas, as well as several indoor and outdoor gathering spaces for studying. It also has faculty and staff offices for Career Technical Education, Forensic Technology, Physics and Health Professions programs.

  

UPCOMING EVENTS

      Fall Registration begins July 12.

      The San Diego Blood Bank will host a blood drive in the Main Quad from 10 a.m. to 3:30 pm. on Wednesday, July 7. To make an appointment online, go to www.sandiegobloodbank.org. Click on “Appointments” and “Make an Appointment at a Mobile Blood Drive.” Enter the sponsor code: GROS.

      The next Governing Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20, at Cuyamaca College. The CLASS presentation on Student Services will begin @ 4:00 p.m. The Closed Session begins at 5:30 p.m., the Open Session at 6:30 p.m.

      The Adult Reentry Program will host “Your Tomorrow Starts Here,” a free informational meeting for adults interested in returning to school to reenter the workforce, learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade their skills for a job promotion, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, in Room 220.

      Health & Sciences Complex grand opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17.

      The Grossmont College Foundation has announced its next Auction and Dinner Gala will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Barona Resort & Casino. The theme is “Gold Rush, 49 Years of Excellence.”

President's News Burst for June 2010

The culmination of our year is our Commencement ceremony and it was certainly a spectacular event.  As soon as the ceremonies ended, many of us sighed with relief and hoped to take some well deserved rest.  Others of us rolled up our sleeves, wore jeans and packed our offices for impending moves!

Let me take a moment to thank each of you for serving our students this past year under very challenging circumstances.  You are the very best!

Warm wishes for a restful summer.

Sunny

GC CELEBRATES 2010 COMMENCEMENT

About 4,000 people attended our 49th annual Commencement ceremony held on June 3. The entire college celebrated the 1,057 students receiving associate degrees and 341 students receiving certificates of achievement. The Commencement speaker was El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco, who earned his associate degree in administration of justice from Grossmont College in 1976. His career with the El Cajon Police Department spans 38 years. Because he did not attend his own graduation in 1976, Dr. Cooke surprised Chief Sprecco by calling him to be the first name recited. Cami Perez, who graduated with honors in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, delivered an outstanding speech as the student speaker. Also recognized were the two recipients of the 2009-2010 Distinguished Faculty Award, Renee Tuller and Roxanne Tuscany. Roxanne could not attend because she is currently traveling to China for a speech/debate tournament with our students. Diedrea Lewis, a vocal student with the Gospel Choir, sang a beautiful rendition of our national anthem.  Other Commencement notables: 15 graduates earned a 4.0 GPA during their time with us; 181 students graduated with honors; 64 graduates were from Phi Theta Kappa, the international honors society; 59 graduates wore red, white and blue tassels because they are military veterans who attended Grossmont with the support of their veterans benefits; and 44 graduates were international students.  A new addition to the ceremony had graduates recessing past a “line of honor” (faculty, staff, administrators, Board members) and was extremely well received.

Thank you to Agustin Albarran, the entire Commencement team, our music volunteers and our facilities crew for making the event spectacular!

SUMMER SEMESTER ENROLLMENT

Below are enrollment comparisons as June 2, 2010 for Summer 2010 as compared to Summer 2009:

	Summer 2010	Summer 2009	Count Variance	% Variance
Headcount	5,640	7,662	-2,022	-26.4%
Units	22,852.5	33,309.5	-10,457	-31.4%

The 2010 Summer Semester begins June 14.  Because the number of course offerings have been cut in half, enrollment is severely impacted!  More than half as many students who are currently enrolled have requested to be placed on a wait list.  About 4,600 students are remain on a wait list.

Our faculty will see huge numbers of students wanting to crash their courses the first week of summer session. Our Enrollment Strategies committee has been meeting and developing plans to accommodate concerned students as they try to crash that first week. Also, workshops on proactive steps our students can take will be offered.

  

VOTE FOR GC AS SAN DIEGO’S BEST

Every member of the Grossmont College family and friends are encouraged to vote online for Grossmont College as the Best Local College in this year’s San Diego Union-Tribune 2010 Readers Poll. Let’s not miss this opportunity. Here is the link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/bestof/2010/nominate/san-diego-life/college-or-university/. Voting ends on June 27. All voters can enter to win free groceries for a year from Henry’s Marketplace. Grossmont was selected as “San Diego’s Best” in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. So, let’s make it a “high five.”

NURSING PINNING CEREMONY

In front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 350 on June 1, the GC School of Nursing held a pinning ceremony for its Class of 2010, consisting of 31 two-year ADN graduates and 22 LVN-RN graduates. Student speakers included Lisa Brudvik and Jennifer Smith. The GC School of Nursing began in the fall of 1967 and has graduated over 5300 nursing students.

  

OPT GRADUATION

The Office of  Professional Training (OPT) program graduated its class of Spring 2010 of 23 students at a ceremony held June 4. The graduates received $5,150 in scholarships, which they can use for further education and/or job search expenses. Most of the graduates majored in Accounting or Insurance; 21 students (Fall 2009-Spring 2010) completed the new specialization in Banking/Finance Services. Six graduates completed “double majors” and four completed “triple majors.” Twelve different awards were presented, including the Hugh Leslie Textbook Scholarship, International Association of Administrative Professionals Scholarship, Outstanding Student Awards and Ultimate OPT Award. The OPT program has been training students at GC for 25 years since 1984. With the newest 23 graduates, we have graduated 2,134 students from the program. To graduate from OPT, students must complete 20 week of intense training and attend classes for more than 600 hours and achieve in one semester what a regular Grossmont student might achieve in two or three semesters. The graduation ceremony is an important occasion to recognize their efforts, their families’ sacrifices and the dedication of the entire OPT team.

5K WALK FOR OPT

OPT will host a 5K for OPT fundraiser starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, at the Grossmont College track. Entry fees are $20 for each adult entry (ages 13+), $3 for each child entry (ages 12 and under) and $25 for race-day registration. Sponsors include Al’s Sport Shop and OPT Alumni Association. Water and snack stations will be available. Each participant will be entered into a drawing for prizes. For information, contact Mary Leslie at ext. 7533.

  

MOVING IS UNDERWAY

Our relocation efforts into the modular village in Parking Lot #5 are in full swing. Building 100 offices will be relocated in three shifts to minimize the disruption and to shorten the time each office area is down. Moving activities will be ongoing from June 4 to 10. The next few weeks will be extremely busy as departments work to get their offices packed, moved and their office contents put away at the end of the move. We have worked to try to minimize the disruption, but with a move this size, there will definitely be delays and inconveniences to all involved. This is a monumental task and each area has worked extremely hard to prepare for the move and its impacts on students and staff. Thank you for your assistance, patience and support throughout this move process.

  

CHANCELLORS/CLASSIFIED SENATE QUARTERLY AWARD

The Chancellors/Classified Senate Quarterly Award provides an opportunity to honor employees whose job excellence and work ethic inspires others. The quarterly award celebrates a classified employee with recognition for outstanding work. This nomination will give you an opportunity to describe how the employee has “gone above and beyond” the scope of assigned work duties. We know there are hardworking dedicated employees, but what has the nominee done extra for your area and then tell us about it? Please be sure and give specific examples of how the employee embraces the five key values (Academic Excellence, Unity, Standardization, Alignment and Resources – go to www.gcccd.edu/about/mission.asp for an explanation of these values). The deadline for the next quarterly award is June 11. Submit your nomination today. For more information, please access the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Classified Senate website at: www.gcccd.edu/class_senate and click on “Chancellors Award.”

  

DEL MAR FAIR

Discount tickets are available now at the Student Activities Window to the 2010 San Diego County Fair. Here are the details:

·         $13 unlimited admission ticket (Go every day of the fair for the price of one day)

·         $7 single-day child admission (ages 6-12)

·         $7 single-day senior admission (ages 62 & older)

·         $51 value pack (4 single-day admissions, 4 drink coupons, 20 ride coupons, 1 parking pass)

·         $39.95 ride lover’s pack (single-day admission, one drink coupon, 50 ride coupons)

·         $15 ride coupon sheet (25 ride coupons; each ride requires 3-6 coupons).

Please note the following about the unlimited admission ticket:

This ticket is not sold at the fairgrounds. Season pass price is $22 at the fair. Any age visitor may use this ticket. The ticket is not transferable and must be presented with a school, state, or government-issued photo ID.

RECENT HONORS

·         GC Women’s Soccer Coach Howie Hawver has been honored as the 2010 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Female Sport Coach of the Year. Hawver is currently battling ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. At the beginning of the season, Howie said he would finish the season, and he did. We applaud Coach Howie for his courageousness, fortitude and determination to finish the season. Hawver is the only head coach the Grossmont College women’s soccer program has ever had. In the past 15 seasons, his teams have made 12 state playoff appearances. This year, the women’s soccer team did not advance to the playoffs. The team finished the 2009 campaign with a record of 7-6-1 in conference play, 8-7-1 overall, and they finished in fifth place out of nine teams.

·         At a San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on June 4, special tribute was paid to retiring Grossmont Union High School District Superintendent Bob Collins. Several certificates and proclamations were presented to Bob, including a presentation from GCCCD Chancellor Dr. Cindy L. Miles and Governing Board members Deanna Weeks and Rick Alexander.  Dr. Miles presented Bob with a construction worker helmet that was decorated with pipes “since Bob builds pipelines,” she said. Bob later called GCCCD “the best community college district in the state” and “a community treasure.”

BUDGET NEWS

The State Assembly and Senate have both acted to significantly augment Proposition 98 funding, paid for with taxes in the Senate and a combination of taxes and borrowing in the Assembly. The Community College League of California believes the two versions of the budget for community colleges will include:

Assembly:

*          $129 million for enrollment growth (increase of $3 million from governor's proposal, or about 620 FTES)

*          $22.1 million to eliminate negative COLA

*          $35.8 million to maintain federal funds used last year to reduce categorical cuts, and to eliminate negative

            COLA on categoricals

*          $100 million augmentation for Economic Development

*          rejected $10 million cuts to EOPS and Part-time Faculty Compensation

*          rejected $20 million augmentation to career-technical education

*          rejected adding additional categoricals to flexibility

Senate:

*          $22.9 million to eliminate negative COLA (apportionment and categoricals)

*          rejected $10 million cuts to EOPS and Part-time Faculty Compensation

*          rejected $20 million augmentation to career-technical education

*          rejected adding additional categoricals to flexibility

We haven't seen language yet regarding the $100 million for Economic Development approved by the Assembly, but will work with the committees to ensure that the funds are available for a range of activities, particularly short-term career-technical education programs that help Californians get back to work.

  

UPCOMING EVENTS

·         The San Diego Blood Bank will host a blood drive in the Main Quad from 10 a.m. to 3:30 pm. on Tuesday, June 15. To make an appointment online, go to www.sandiegobloodbank.org. Click on “Appointments” and “Make an Appointment at a Mobile Blood Drive.” Enter the sponsor code: GROS.

·         The East County Economic Development Council Foundation will present its 2010 annual fundraiser in support of the industrial arts programs of East County schools starting at 6 p.m., on Friday, June 11, at Cuyamaca College’s Communication Arts Center. The public is invited to attend an evening of live music featuring acoustic performances by Doyle Dykes and the Krueger Brothers. A silent and live auction also are planned. Tickets are $50 per person. To order tickets, visit www.EastCountyEDC.org. Outstanding Career Technical Education students from East County high schools and Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges will be honored. Over the years, the Foundation has provided $350,000 in monetary awards to local shop classes for tools, supplies and raw materials, as well as upgrades to machinery. 

President's News Burst for May 2010

Unbelievably, another academic year has nearly passed and it's that stressful, happy season of awards, celebrations and graduations!  It's been a difficult year and yet, we have arrived at the other side of it.  Despite the many financial challenges we face, exceptional work continues on at Grossmont College.  We continue to focus on changing lives through education.  We launched a strategic plan that allows us to focus our efforts through these difficult times.  We continue to focus on student success and learning through our many, many efforts in basic skills, project success, community service learning, student learning assessment just to name a few.  Our students have performed in and participated in many artistic and cultural events including music, dance, theatre, literary and cultural events.  In addition, our coaches and club advisors have been engaging students on the field and outside of class to maximize their potential and passion.  Though we anticipate further challenges into next year and beyond, one thing is for sure, working together and with the spirit of commitment and dedication to our students that is palpable at Grossmont, we will endure!

As this may be the last newsburst you read before summer begins, I hope that this summer will bring you rest, relaxation and rejuvenation!

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

Thank you to all those who responded to the survey this spring which was an abbreviated, follow-up college accreditation survey gauging the perceived improvement in college-district relationships and services.  The results are included in 2010 draft midterm report and described, briefly below.

One of the commission's recommendations from the 2007 comprehensive visit was regarding the need for improved relations among the college, Chancellor and district such that all are working together for the good of the institution.  The college reported on progress made over the past 2 years in its reports to the Commission regarding this and other areas.  Please see the accreditation website for all reports submitted.
"An indicator of improvement in relationships and processes resulting in benefit to the college community can be found in the results of an abbreviated survey completed by Grossmont College employees throughout late fall 2009 and early spring 2010. The survey consisted of a subset of questions that had been part of the comprehensive 2006 survey completed for the 2007 self study. The follow up survey focused on full time employee input, as this was determined to be the focus of the key issues noted in the self study of 2007. The streamlined survey was made available to employees November 2009 through February 2010. At the end of the survey period, approximately 46% of full-time employees had completed the survey. The employees consisted of 280 faculty and 148 staff and administrators of the college.

Survey results indicate that college faculty and staff see a significant improvement in the areas of Governing Board decisions and support, district policy implementation, the chancellor’s communication and inclusion of faculty voices, district information dissemination, and district resource use. "  (2010 ACCJC draft mid-term report)

For more specifics of the survey, please turn to page 60 of the ACCJC mid-term report and the tabular results of the survey including 2006 and 2010 responses by group (faculty or staff) on the intranet: http://www.grossmont.edu/intranet/midtermReport/default.htm   

DRAFT MIDTERM REPORT NOW AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW

The 2010 Draft Accreditation Midterm Report to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) is now available for your review on the intranet at: http://www.grossmont.edu/intranet. Your login and password are required. A space is available for you to provide your comments. The draft midterm report is going through collegial consultation throughout the month of May.  Feedback received will be discussed by the Steering Committee throughout the summer for potential incorporation.  The final version of the report is expected to go to the Governing Board in August/September with submission to ACCJC by October 15, 2010.  Thank you to the entire Steering Committee for their hard work in getting this report completed.

  

MUSIC DEPT. FUNDRAISER MONDAY NIGHT

A jazz concert benefiting the Grossmont College Music Dept. Scholarship Fund will be held starting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 10, at Humphrey’s By the Bay. Tickets are $18 per person. All admission fees will go directly for scholarships for Grossmont College music students. The public is invited to attend. Performing will be Grossmont College Music Dept. instructors, including Derek Cannon, Paul Kurokawa, Steve Baker, Ken Ard, Manny Cepeda, Justin Grinnel, Melonie Grinnel and Chris Kilch. Emcee will be Dave Scott of KUSI-TV, who is a jazz trombonist. Also performing will be special guest Jose Molina Serrano on guitar, Tom Stillman on drums and Carlos Arias on bass. Serrano, a Grossmont College graduate and the student speaker at the June 2009 commencement, has played with some of the recording history’s top R&B acts, including Bo Diddley, The Olympics, Thelma Houston and Joe Tex, along with all-night recording sessions with Ike & Tina Turner, Red Bone and Spiral Staircase. He also has gone on tour with Carlos Santana. Serrano’s most recent CD, called “Only by Grace,” was taken aboard a 2008 flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and his song “Away from Home” was played to awaken the sleeping astronauts. For more information, call the Music Dept. at extension 7254.

  

PLANNING & RESOURCES COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING ON MAY 12

All faculty and staff are invited to attend a special Planning & Resources Council meeting from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12 in Griffin Gate. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the entire campus with a sampling of the Strategic Plan activities submitted by departments last year that received funding to implement the activities for this current year. The departments will provide an overview of the funding they expended and the progress they have made towards achieving their anticipated outcomes. Please make plans to attend this special Planning & Resources meeting and listen to the progress being made towards achieving the College’s Strategic Plans. Please mark your calendars for this important event

  

2010 COLLEGE RECOGNITION AWARD CEREMONY

Please join in the celebration of accomplishments, achievements and successes at our campus’ 11th annual College Recognition Awards ceremony, starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, in the Student Center. It will be the final College Recognition Awards to be held in the existing Student Center before re-building begins. The afternoon event will feature a variety of awards, honors and presentations. The categories include Distinguished Faculty, Academic Rank, Faculty Tenure, New Degree Recipients, Recent Publications and Exhibits, Teaching Excellence Awards, Vice Presidents’ Support Staff Awards, Chancellor/Classified Senate Awards, Kudos, Faculty and Staff Retirees Recognition, Club Advisors Recognition, Grossmont College Foundation Awards (Faculty/Staff Giving and Commitment to Service), Innovator of the Year Awards, and President’s Leadership Awards. Refreshments will be served. So come congratulate your colleagues and bid a fond farewell to our Student Center!

  

ALL MY SONS

The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “All My Sons,” Arthur Miller’s classic drama, at 7:30 p.m. on May 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and at 2 p.m. on May 8 and 15, at the Stagehouse Theatre. “All My Sons,” directed by Henry J. Jordan, is the story of the Keller and Deever families, their tragic losses and misfortunes, greed and injustice, denial and love -- all ending in an intensified climax as only Miller could have written. “All My Sons” won the Drama Critics Award in 1947, and launched the long distinguished career for one of America’s preeminent play-writers. Admission is $10 per person. Children under age 10 are not permitted in the theatre. The box office will be open one hour prior to all performances. For more information, phone extension 7234.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOUNDATION WALK OF FAME ON MAY 21

At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 21, the Grossmont College Foundation will induct two new members into the Grossmont College Walk of Fame, a permanent display of bronze plaques embedded in concrete in the Main Quad that features names of distinguished Grossmont College alumni. This year’s inductees are the late Leslie Conway “Lester” Bangs, a rock music journalist who attended GC from 1966 to 1968, and Christina Csanadi Deckard, one of the today’s internationally recognized experts in laser technology who attended GC from 1979 to 1980. Mr. Bangs, who passed away in 1982, has been called “America’s Greatest Rock Critic.”  He wrote for “Creem,” “Rolling Stone,” “Village Voice” and countless other magazines, and was known as one of the most influential voices in rock criticism. Ms. Deckard is the recipient of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Role Model Award. After Grossmont, she earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in physics, and a master’s degree in math, all from SDSU. She is currently a Senior Scientist assigned to the Ocean Systems Division of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance/Information Operations Department at the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific in San Diego. She taught as a math and science adjunct instructor at Grossmont 1989 to 1998, and her father Frank Seeley also taught in the 1970s and 1980s. The Walk of Fame program began in 1989. Among the 19 previous Walk of Fame recipients are community leaders, medical researchers, political advocates, artists, athletes and actors.

  

RECENT HONORS

      On Friday, May 7, Grossmont Police Academy Graduation celebrated the graduation of 26 cadets who comprised the 30th Academy Graduating Class. The 415 hours of training lasted about 8 months, from September 19 to May 7. Barry Mahler was named the Honor Recruit, earning as well the Firearms Award and Academic Award. The Honor Recruit is selected by the training staff for his leadership, commitment to excellence and willingness to motivate and assist other recruits.

      On Saturday, May 8, the Students of Note ceremony was held. Twelve GC students were honored for achieving their educational goals while overcoming significant barriers, as well as exhibiting persistence, courage, dedication and a drive to succeed. The program concluded with some of the students delivering inspirational and tearful remarks of gratitude to their faculty members. The Students of Note Awards has been an annual event at GC since 1991.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

      Mark your calendars for our college’s Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Quad. El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco (class of 1976) will be the featured speaker. His career with the El Cajon Police Dept. spans 37 years. The criminal justice administration graduate first joined the El Cajon PD as a volunteer cadet at age 16 in 1972.

      The GC Art Student Exhibition 2010 will run from May 10 to 20 at the Hyde Art Gallery. This exhibit is a cross-section of art produced by students resulting from their studies within the department. The works on display were selected and submitted by their instructors for this exhibition. The Opening Event and Awards will be presented at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18.

      The GC Jazz Ensemble will perform with guest artist Wendell Kelly on trombone at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, at the Cuyamaca College Fine Arts Theater. Admission is $8 per person.

      The Transfer Center will host the Transfer Achievement Celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14, at the Student Center. Students who have been accepted to a four-year college or university for Fall 2010 will be honored.

      The Corrections Academy graduation will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14, in the Main Quad.

      Robert Wetzel will perform in a fundraiser for the Grossmont Guitar Guild at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, in Room 221. Admission is $8 per person.

      The GC Music Dept. will present “Jazz Night,” an evening of students performing a variety of different styles of jazz, starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, in Room 220.  Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and children.

      The GC Afro-Cuban Ensemble will perform with Ritmo Caribe with Manny Cepeda at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 20 at the Cuyamaca College Fine Arts Theater. Admission is $8 per person.

      The Grossmont Master Chorale will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, at Fredericka Manor in Chula Vista, and at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, at Mt. Miguel Covenant Village in Spring Valley. Admission is free.

      The Grossmont Concert Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, at the Cuyamaca College Fine Arts Theater. Admission is $8 per person.

      The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra will perform with guests artists Suzanne Kennedy and Kay Van Tassel, flautists, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 21, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove. Admission is a free-will offering.

      The Nursing Dept. Pinning Ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, in the Main Quad.

      The Office of Professional Training graduation will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4, in the Main Quad.

      The Middle College High School graduation will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 7, in the Main Quad.

SPORTS REPORT

The Lady Griffs Softball Team (29-9) triumphed in the Southern California Softball Regionals, held May 1 and 2. The team completed a two-game sweep of College of the Canyons with a run-scoring base hit in the 8th inning for a 9-8 victory in Sunday’s (May 2) decision. The victory advanced the Griffins to the Super Regional, consisting of a four-team, double-elimination tournament the following weekend.   Unfortunately, the Griffs’ season ended with a 5-3 defeat against top-rated Cerritos in the opening game on Friday, May 7, followed by a 5-2 loss to Mt. San Antonio on Saturday, May 8. Overall, it was an excellent year for the team and coach Rick Trestrail, who was selected as 2010 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.