Ornamental Horticulture renovation project to break ground

Orrnamental Horticulture Bldg. M renovation

A groundbreaking to be held Aug. 22 marks the start of a $16.7 million project that will renovate indoor and outdoor classrooms and facilities, and add new greenhouses for Cuyamaca College’s signature Ornamental Horticulture program.

The groundbreaking ceremony is set for 9 a.m. at the college’s Building M site. To attend, RSVP to community.cuyamaca@gcccd.edu . 

An outmoded greenhouse will be replaced.

“This Proposition V-funded project is a milestone for the campus because of the significance of the program and its link to the history of Cuyamaca College,” President Julianna Barnes said in reference to the $398 million construction bond measure passed by East County voters in 2012 to improve and add facilities at Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges.  “Ornamental Horticulture has a storied past at our college and it is long overdue for a renovation. With the modernizing of facilities and the new greenhouses in particular, students have a lot to be excited about.” 

Cuyamaca College receives national recognition for developmental education reforms

Cuyamaca College Math Instructor Terrie Nichols
 works with students. 

Cuyamaca College’s efforts to transform the way that students are taught math, English and English as a Second Language have been recognized by a national organization that promotes Latino success in higher education. 

The Rancho San Diego college was the only California community college selected as a finalist for the 2019 Examples of Excelencia, a national recognition for programs advancing opportunity for Latinx students in higher education. 

Sixteen finalists were selected from a field of more than 166 nominated programs from 32 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Winners in four categories will be selected by Excelencia in Education at their annual Celebración de Excelencia event on October 24 in Washington, DC. 

“Cuyamaca College opened the door to education’s promise for all students – including disproportionately impacted Latinx students,” said Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes.

Juan Soto: An opportunity provided by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise offers free tuition to first-time students attending college full-time. For many students, the Promise offered them a path to college. Here is the story of one Promise student. 

Juan Soto

A student at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, Juan Soto dreams of transferring to a University of California or California State University campus, earning a bachelor’s degree in music theory and launching a career as an educator working with public schools to develop strong music programs. 

Those dreams would be dead if it weren’t for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise, a program providing a free year of tuition for first-time, full-time students at either college. 

“It would have been hard going to college without the Promise,” Soto said. “Even if I would have been able to go, I would have been taking cell phone pictures of the pages in a textbook, because I wouldn’t be able to afford them.” 

Instead, Soto is the first in his family to go to college.  A percussionist who also plays the keyboards, Soto is well on his way toward reaching his dream; he performs with the Cuyamaca College Concert Band and has immersed himself in music theory and more. 

“The music programs at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca are great,” he said. “And the people are here to help you.” 

One of four children, Soto is living with his single mom who works a pair of low-paying jobs to make ends meet. When he heard about the Promise while attending Monte Vista High School, Soto said it made the decision to attend college a big ‘no-duh’ and eliminated the need of having to work full time, which would have diverted from his studies. 

“The Promise gave me an opportunity - an opportunity to go to college,” Soto said.

Four East County students chosen as ambassadors for statewide community college wellness program

Four students from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are among 20 from community colleges across the state selected for the California Community Colleges Student Wellness Ambassador Program for the 2019-2020 academic school year. 

Grossmont College's Helena Ayersman

Helena Ayersman and Jordan Arechiga from Grossmont College and Hiba Jbouri and Warren Preston from Cuyamaca College will be heading next month to Sacramento for training on mental health and wellness issues to serve as advocates and to provide peer outreach at their colleges. They were selected from about 250 applicants. 

The function of the ambassadors is to connect students with resources and support, raise mental health awareness and help reduce the stigma. Under the guidance of a faculty adviser on campus, the ambassadors will also plan health and wellness events or activities. In addition to two days of training in Sacramento and online training throughout the year, the student ambassadors will receive a $1,000 stipend for their service. 

Grossmont College rolling out mobile learning lab