President's News Burst for October 2010

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!

As we begin the month of October, let me take the time to acknowledge all the hard work that you do on a daily basis for Grossmont College and our students, each and every day. All of us -- faculty, staff, administrators -- are facing challenging times that are unparalleled in the history of the state. We know that our students are struggling in many ways, including financially, which can create tension and escalating pressure points. So, as we continue through this semester, please accept my sincere appreciation for your determination and heroism on the front lines. I applaud each of you for your spirit to excel and endure during rough times. Thank you for working together in service to our students and community during these very difficult times.  

  

STATE BUDGET UPDATE

As the calendar turns, there is still no budget deal to announce. Legislative leaders and the governor are very close, with "pension reform" as the major sticking point.  On the community college budget, all indications are that the budget package will be at or above the governor's proposal. We hope that enrollment growth will be included, as well as a small amount of resources to mitigate last year's categorical cuts. Of course, until there is final agreement, details can change. There is talk of a budget deal by next week. Nevertheless, GCCCD is working with a major bank to provide an additional borrowing possibilities if budget negotiations fail and the dreaded "wait until after the election" strategy occurs.

  

GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL TO GUARANTEE CSU ADMISSION TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADS

To increase access to the California State University (CSU) system, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on Wednesday SB 1440 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and AB 2302 by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino). These two measures will tremendously streamline the transfer process, providing a clear pathway to transfer for tens of thousands of community college students each year.  This simplified process will save students significant time and resources as they transfer from a community college to a CSU campus and will create greater efficiencies for both the CSU and the community colleges. 

Senate Bill 1440 guarantees admission to a CSU campus for any community college student who completes the newly established associate degree for transfer.  This associate degree will be in every community college and will be limited to 60 units.  In turn, the CSU will admit each holder of this transfer degree with junior standing and require no more than 60 additional units for graduation.  It further provides students who earn this degree with priority consideration for admission into a similar major and to their local CSU.  Assembly bill 2302 requires that the California Community Colleges work collaboratively with the CSU to inform students and the general public about this new opportunity and encourages the University of California to examine what it would take to join in this new transfer reform effort. The bill calls for the UC to examine the development of a transfer pathway for students which would result in a transfer associate degree and system admission, and it provides a framework for student notification of the new transfer pathway created in SB 1440.

  

WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES

On October 5, 2010 Dr. Jill Biden will chair the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges. President Obama asked Dr. Biden to convene this event to highlight the critical role that community colleges play in developing America’s workforce and reaching our educational goals. The summit will be an opportunity to bring together community colleges, business, philanthropy, federal and state policy leaders, and students to discuss how community colleges can help meet the job training and education needs of the nation’s evolving workforce, as well as the critical role these institutions play in achieving the President’s goal to lead the world with the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. On the agenda will be how community colleges can ensure that the United States has the most educated workforce in the world so American businesses can compete in the global economy. Here at Grossmont, we will be streaming the White House Summit opening and closing sessions live on October 5th in Room 220. The opening session will begin at 9:15 am and the closing session is scheduled to convene at noon. We would like to invite all faculty, staff, administrators and students who would like to stop by to share in this first-ever event. For more information, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/communitycollege.

  

OPT DAY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ON SEPTEMBER 27

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Office Professional Training (OPT) program this year, Fred Allen and Mary Leslie accepted a proclamation on Monday, Sept. 27 from the County Board of Supervisors. Sept. 27 was designated as “Office Professional Training Program Day” in San Diego County. The framed copy of the proclamation is in Mary Leslie’s office. You are welcome to stop by and visit anytime.  As a fundraiser and birthday celebration, the OPT program will host a dinner on November 4^th at the Ronald Reagan Community Center @ 6:00 p.m.  For ticket information or to contribute, please contact Mary Leslie x7533.

  

MICHAEL GOLDEN TABBED FOR BRIDGES AWARD

Michael Golden of Grossmont College's Biology Department has been named the recipient of the 2010 Homer Peabody Bridges Award. Dr. Peabody, who died in 2005, was executive director of the Rees-Stealy Research Foundation, and an activist for youth advancement in tennis and education. He was instrumental in the Bridges to the Future program at San Diego State University, which assists under-represented students in obtaining degrees in the biological sciences. Michael Golden received this year's Bridges honor, “for excellence in mentoring and teaching,” for guiding so many Grossmont students onto the Bridge to jobs and careers in the biological sciences.

“I have been told by SDSU that we have provided the most students to the Summer Enrichment Program than any other community college in the area,” Golden said. The Summer Enrichment Program is “a major portion” of the Bridges program, Golden said. “Monday through Thursday, students take classes to help prepare them for chemistry, physics, microbiology and scientific writing,” he said. “On Fridays, the students work in a research lab where they may have the opportunity to not only participate in research, but often present at national conferences.” The students are also paid for the duration of the summer program, Golden said. The program is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Golden said he and retired counselor Claudia Thompson began Grossmont’s participation in the program 12 years ago. Golden was and is the program coordinator at Grossmont, and working with him over the years have been Craig Milgrim, Janice Johnson, Gopa Patnaik, Michele Perchez and Arturo Milan. “Here at Grossmont,” he said, “we identify the students and advise them along their path toward transferring. We also get the students together as a group a couple of times a year for both peer and faculty support.”

Grossmont students in the summer program just concluded were Amira Abdullah, Mark Flores, Kevin Kinyanjui, Sandra Mairena, Sara Roldan, Fernanda Sanchez, and Alexandria Valadez.

BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THE OCTOBER 16TH GALA

The Grossmont College Foundation’s 2010 Dinner Gala and Auction fund-raiser will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. Don’t miss attending this spectacular event. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner starting at 7:30 p.m., live auction and live entertainment.. The theme for the 2010 Gala, the ninth annual, is “Griffin Gold Rush: 49 Years of Excellence.” The theme anticipates the upcoming celebration of the college’s 50-year anniversary to be held during the 2011-2012 school year, according to Ernest Ewin, Grossmont College Foundation executive director. Significantly discounted tickets are available for GC faculty, staff and administrators. In addition, everyone is invited to donate silent auction items, including gift certificates for merchandise and professional services. Proceeds again will benefit student scholarships and under-funded programs at Grossmont College. A donation to the Grossmont College Foundation directly supports students through scholarships, educational equipment and supplies, educational programs and improvements to activities. For more information about tickets, sponsorship and donation opportunities, contact Alexis Popko at the

Grossmont College Foundation office at (619) 644-7109, or via e-mail at grossmont.foundation@gcccd.edu, or visit www.grossmont.edu/foundation.

  

COLLEGE TRANSFER DAY

College Transfer Day is scheduled next Wednesday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Main Quad.  More than 40 colleges and universities will be represented on campus to provide students with one-on-one contact and to provide a variety of information to students on transfer admissions, financial aid, housing, majors and programs/services available at their specific school.  Please get in the spirit by wearing apparel from your alma mater on this day!  If you don’t have a t-shirt or hat to wear, please pick up an Ask Me Where I Graduated pin in the University Transfer Center, right next to the Business Office/Mailroom  in modular unit 58D. 

  

CAREER WEEK, OCT. 11-14

The Career Center will present Career Week, Oct. 11 to 14. Clinics held in the Main Quad on Monday, Oct. 11 will include: Resume & Cover Letter, 9-10 a.m. and 11-noon; Dress for Success, 10-11 a.m. and noon-1 p.m. “How To Be A Star Performer” will be discussed on Monday, Oct. 11, 10-11:30 a.m., in Building 34, Room 255. Clinics held in Building 36, Room 333 on Tuesday, Oct. 12 include: “The Competitive Edge,” 10-11:30 a.m.; “What Employers Want,” 2-3:30 p.m. The 32nd annual Career Expo, featuring more than 50 exhibitors, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 in the Main Quad. On Thursday, Oct. 14, “Lower the Red Flags” will be held 10-11:30 a.m. in Building 36, Room 333 (this workshops is recommended for paroles, counselors, Career Center directors, faculty, employers and students).  For more information, visit www.grossmont.edu/studentempservices.

  

“THE MISER” BEGINS OCTOBER 7

The Theatre Arts Dept. will present “The Miser” by Moliere, beginning Oct. 7. “The Miser,” written by the great French playwright Moliere, stands out as one of the great comic masterpieces of all time. Harpagon, a miserly father, creates the ultimate dysfunctional family when he decides to marry his son’s girlfriend, wreaking havoc with his daughter and her beau, all leading to a revelation which unveils the miser’s true nature. Join us as we begin our 2010-2011 season with Moliere’s classic. The Miser is translated by David Chambers and directed by Henry J. Jordan. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 to 9 and 13 to 16, and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 and 16. For more information, visit www.grossmont.edu/theatrebrochure. Culinary Arts will serve a meal in conjunction with opening night. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $32 per person. For reservations, phone ext. 7234.

  

FACULTY ART EXHIBITION OCT. 4-28

This year’s faculty art exhibition features a very diverse and outstanding selection of work from the various disciplines that exist within the Grossmont College Art Dept., including photography, jewelry, painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture. The exhibition is free and open to the public. An opening event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5. For more information, call ext. 7299.

  

SOVIET POET HERE AT GROSSMONT ON OCTOBER 21

The English Department is hosting Soviet born poet Ilya Kaminsky for a reading on campus on Oct. 21. The event is open to the community. Kaminsky’s book of poems, “Dancing in Odessa” (Tupelo Press) was named the Best Poetry Book of the Year in 2004 by Foreword Magazine. He also is a recipient of the Whiting Writer’s Award, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Metcalf Award’s Dorset Prize. In 2008, Kaminsky was awarded the Lannon Foundation’s Literary Fellowship. In 2009, sections from Deaf Republic, a work in progress, received Poetry magazine’s Levinson Prize. In March of this year, HarperCollins published his anthology of twentieth century poems in translation, the Ecco Anthology Of International Poetry. The San Diego resident teaches Contemporary World Poetry, Creative Writing and Literary Translation at San Diego State University’s MFA Program in Classic writing. More information about the Creative Writing Program’s literary events in Fall 2010 and the 15th annual Literary Arts Festival in Spring 2011 can be found at www.grossmont.edu/english.

  

MUSICA LATINOAMERICANO ON OCTOBER 8TH AND 13TH

The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra cordially invites you to “Musica Latinoamericao,” an inspiring performance under the direction of Dr. Randall Tweed. “Musica Latinoamericao” from the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra will feature the music of Jose Pablo Moncayo’s “Huapango,” Julian Orbon’s “Tres Versiones Sinfonicas” and Arturo Marquez’s “Danzon No. 3.” With guest artists Suzanne Kennedy on flute and Fred Benedetti on guitar. Performances will be held on Friday, Oct. 8 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove, and on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at East-Lake High School in Chula Vista. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.  More information is available at the Music Dept., ext. 7254.

  

CULINARY ARTS DINNERS

The Culinary Arts Dept. will host on most Thursdays, from Sept. 23 to Dec. 2, a five-course dinner prepared by students enrolled in Grossmont’s Quantity Foods class. The dinners, which start at 5:30 p.m., will be held at a new location, #58 bungalow, in parking lot #5, near the parking structure. Cost is $20 per person. The dinners will feature soup, salad, entree, dessert and coffee service. Vegetarian dinners are available with 48-hour advance notice. Space is limited and some dates may already be fully booked. Dates are Sept. 23 and 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2. Reservations can be made by phoning Michele Martens in the CTE office at (619) 644-7550 or 644-7549, or by e-mail at michele.martens@gcccd.edu.

  

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES – OCTOBER EVENTS

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Be sure to get a pink ribbon from the nurse and remind the women in your life to get their mammogram!

Seasonal Flu Shots 2010

Now available to all students, faculty and staff in Student Health Services Office H1N1 flu strain is included in seasonal vaccine (Only one shot is necessary) Monday and Tuesday 8am-7pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8am-5pm

Friday 9am-3pm.  Cost:  Students: $10.00; Staff/Faculty: $20.

Protect yourself and your new baby from whooping cough

Get your Pertussis/Tetanus booster vaccine.  Come to Health Service for more information

Professional Counseling and Screening for Depression

Call 644-7192 or come to Health Services to make an appointment dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, or panic

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Resource information and purple ribbons are available in Health Services Office

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

      Grossmont Master Chorale, October 11, “Liturgical Music for Organ & Chorus,” All Saints Episcopal of San Diego, 7:30 p.m.

      Concert Band Fall Concert, October 18, Cuyamaca College Fine Arts Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Adults $8.00; Students, Seniors, Children $5.00.

      Governing Board, October 19, Closed Session 5:20 p.m. Open Session 6:30 p.m. Grossmont College

      Tin, Stagehouse Theatre, Oct. 22-23 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets $6.00.

      “Blurring the Edges” Guest Artists-Peter Sprague, Tripp Sprague, and Fred Benedetti. Grossmont Recital Hall, Room 26-220. $10.00 General; $8.00 Students. Oct. 29, 8:00 p.m.

      The Creative WRITE-A-THON, Saturday, Nov. 13 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 575. In this all-day fundraiser for the Creative Writing Program’s literary arts events, participants who raise a minimum of $50 will receive a day of inspirational writing prompts in the four genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and drama writing; continental breakfast and lunch; an “I Rocked the Page” t-shirt; and the opportunity to win a variety of fantastic raffle prizes, including a laptop computer donated by the Grossmont College Foundation.

      The New Voices Student Reading, Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in Room 220. Outstanding students of the Grossmont College Creative Writing Program’s Fall 2010 semester will stand and deliver original works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama. This is always an unforgettable evening. 

President's News Burst for September 2010

THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOGETHER!

As we begin the Fall 2010 semester, let me acknowledge the stressful circumstances that we are all under. Due to the economy, personal stresses, education cuts, increased demand for classes, construction/re-location, and summer heat -- tensions are high.  I want to express my appreciation for your efforts and hard work despite the many hardships. I would like to personally commend every employee -- faculty, staff and administrator -- for your hard work, selfless dedication and personal sacrifices during these difficult times. I am so proud of every one of you, and I certainly appreciate all that you are doing for our college and our students. Many of you have assumed extra responsibility and gone the extra mile, and you should be praised for it. The results have been extraordinary (see below). With an attitude of excellence, enthusiasm and loyal teamwork, you have put forth the effort to our students and to one another. Thank you for working together. With our best minds and combined energies, we will survive these challenging times and continue to change lives through education. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE IS 2010 BEST LOCAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

Hooray for Grossmont! The results from The San Diego Union-Tribune‘s 2010 San Diego’s Best Readers Poll are in, and Grossmont College has just been named “San Diego’s Best Local College or University for 2010.” Our competition this year included SDSU, UCSD, USD, Pt. Loma Nazarene and Cal State San Marcos. Grossmont was previously selected as “San Diego’s Best” in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. So, this is our fifth time in the past eight years. Like any election, the results represent the total votes received. Behind Grossmont College were UCSD in second place and SDSU in third. It was the U-T’s 14th annual San Diego’s Best Readers Poll. The Union-Tribune said there were more than 1 million page views to their website (last year it was 462k) and about 650,000 votes were cast (last year it was 180k). Winners in more than 150 categories can be viewed under “San Diego Life” at www.sdbestpoll.com.

HEALTH AND SCIENCE COMPLEX GRAND OPENING

Please join us as we celebrate the grand opening of our new Health and Sciences Complex at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, on campus. 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.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE OSHER SCHOLARS FEATURED IN AFFINITY MAGAZINE

Published by the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Affinity Magazine features stories that discuss the impact and reach of California’s community colleges. In the most recent issue, “Creating a Legacy,” a story about how the Osher Initiative for California Community College students is delivering on its promise. The story features a photo of Grossmont College Osher Scholarship recipients. Here is a link to the article: www.affinityonline.org/Departments/ScholarshipEndowment/CreatingALegacy/tabid/209/Default.aspx.  For every $1 donated until June 30, 2011, 50 cents is matched and held in the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment, and 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to funding $1,000 student scholarships every year, forever. A gift of $13,334, matched by the Osher Foundation, results in a $1,000 scholarship every year, FOREVER! For more information about Osher Scholarship, contact the Grossmont College Foundation at x7109.

SUMMIT NEWSPAPER

The Media Communications Dept. invites you to visit www.gcsummit.wordpress.com. This is the website for the new GC Summit, the student newspaper. On this website you will find news stories, a calendar of on-campus events, links to campus and District publications, sports results and an invitation to subscribe to a blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail. Students enrolled in Media Communications 132 are assisting in the content seen on this website, all to the benefit of the Grossmont College population of students, faculty and staff. Donald H. Harrison, creator of San Diego Jewish World, an online newspaper, has been selected as the new instructor for this class. Harrison has more than 40 years of experience in journalism. He was the managing editor of the Daily Bruin as a student at UCLA, and has worked for the Associated Press, San Diego Union and Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.

FIRST FOOTBALL GAME THIS SATURDAY

All employees and students are invited to watch community college football up-close this Saturday afternoon, Sept. 4, on our own football field as our Griffins football team plays cross-town rival San Diego Mesa College in the season opener. Kickoff is 1 p.m. All faculty, staff and administrators can enjoy the game with free admission (show your college I.D. at the gate). Coach Mike Jordan begins his fifth year as head coach. Last season’s 2009 team finished 8-3 and ended on a high note as the Griffins beat perennial powerhouse, El Camino College in the U.S. Bank “Beach Bowl” 27-22. The Griffins football program has a tremendous tradition of successes. Grossmont has posted the best winning percentage of all the other 71 teams in California over the past decade. The Griffs have participated in more post season games than any other college in the nation over the past 15 years.

RECENT HONORS

David Weeks, Stagecraft Technician, recently received the Best of Show Award from the International Plastic Modelers Society for his 56-inch tall model of a Saturn 1-B rocket that was used in the 1960s in NASA’s Apollo program. David began his research on this rocket 20 years ago, and it took the past seven years to build it. David’s model won first place in the “Real Space” category and “Space & Science Fiction” class before winning Best of Show competing against about 1,600 other entries.

Michael Golden, Biology, has been honored by the SDSU Bridges program with the 2010 Homer Peabody Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Teaching. The award is presented in honor of Homer Peabody, M.D., executive director of the Rees-Stealy Research Foundation, in recognition of individuals who carry on his commitment to the students of San Diego.

HYDE ART GALLERY EXHIBIT

The Hyde Art Gallery is presenting on display through Sept. 16 an exhibit of 31 paintings from three different artists, Wade Cline and William Glen Crooks, both of San Diego and Suong Yangchareon of Los Angeles. The exhibit is open to the public. The paintings feature local landmarks and sights, including famous traffic intersections and waterfront scenes, from San Diego, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Pasadena, San Francisco and New Mexico. Cline’s 13 paintings includes Adams Avenue and Kensington in San Diego, Crooks’ six paintings feature Humboldt Bay and Leavenworth and Yangchareon’s 12 paintings showcases a railroad crossing in Azusa and an alley in Los Angeles. The Hyde Art Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free.

WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNIZATION

The Grossmont College Student Health Services Office reports that whooping cough (Pertussis) cases in San Diego are greater than ever. Everyone is encouraged to protect yourself, protect your family and get immunized. Immunizations for Pertussis are available to students, faculty and staff at Health Services for $35, at Kaiser Permanente Nurse Clinics at no cost and at selected San Diego County Public Health clinics for $10. Whooping cough disease causes coughing fits that make it hard to breathe. The disease spreads easily when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms start mild and are like a common cold, including runny nose, sneezing, low or no fever, mild cough. Symptoms can get worse after 1-2 weeks and can last for months. Bad coughing attacks can include vomiting, red or blue face, a “whoop” sound, problems breathing, extreme tiredness and sweating spells. For more information, contact Health Services at ext. 7192.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

      Women’s soccer vs. Chaffey, 3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3.

      Women’s Volleyball vs. Chaffey, 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3.

      Grossmont Guitar Guild fund-raiser with Grossmont College guitar instructor Fred Benedetti, starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, in Room #220. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students.

      Chamber Music Concert with guest artists Michael Dvoskin, violin, and Katherine Petrosyan, piano, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10 in Room #220. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students, children 12 and under are free with paid adult admission.

      Odeum Guitar Duo with Grossmont College guitar instructors Fred Benedetti and Robert Wetzel, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, in Room #220. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students. Odeum refers to a small building in ancient Greece or Rome that was used for public performances of music.

      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.”

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.”