New student trustees seated on college district Governing Board

Kyrie Macogay

Brandon Vivero

Two San Diego County natives, both honors graduates of local high schools with plans to transfer to San Diego universities from community college, were officially seated Tuesday as new student trustees on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board.

The student trustees, who are elected by their peers as non-voting board members, are Grossmont College student Brandon Vivero, and Cuyamaca College student Kyrie Macogay. The pair took their oaths of office for the one-year term at Tuesday night’s board meeting at Grossmont College.

Informational workshops for Grossmont College's OPT, allied health programs

Planning and orientation workshops for hallmark programs at Grossmont College in Office Professional Training and the health professions will be offered to the public starting this month.

Office Professional Training

 Job-seekers, including laid-off and dislocated workers, welfare recipients, single parents, and the long-term unemployed, should attend an informational meeting from 1-3:30 p.m. Monday, June 26 or from 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, for Grossmont College’s Office Professional Training program, which has trained thousands for office professional positions since the program’s inception in 1985. Seventy-five percent of graduates obtain full-time jobs at an average entry-level hourly wage of more than $12.

In addition to the informational meetings, a mandatory orientation is set for 8-11 a.m. Thursday, July 27.

To sign up for the workshops, and for parking and location information, call (619) 644-7247.

Grossmont College partners with OpenStax to promote free textbooks

Grossmont College today announced it is one of 11 schools chosen to participate in the 2017 - 2018 OpenStax Institutional Partnership Program to encourage use of free, peer-reviewed textbooks on campus.

Grossmont College was chosen to participate in this strategic partnership with OpenStax after a rigorous application process that included demonstrating willingness to drive adoption of open educational resources (OER). Institutional partners will receive individualized consulting from OpenStax and join a cohort of schools advocating widespread use of OER at their schools. Last year’s institutional partner schools have seen a 55 percent increase in the amount of students using OER, saving an additional $1.7 million in the coming academic year.

Graduates receive more than 4,830 degrees, certificates

Grossmont College commencement

The impact on lives that Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have is never more apparent than on commencement day, when speakers talk about their first steps taken in their academic journeys and the encouragement they’ve received along the way.

And so it was at last week’s commencements, where two alums and two new graduates told audiences their personal stories, giving compelling accounts of their college experiences. 

Cuyamaca College commencement

In addition to heartfelt speeches, commencement at both colleges was a day for the record books.  Beating a record set just a year ago, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges awarded 4,833 degrees and certificates to the class of 2017, a 13 percent increase over 2016.

With many students receiving multiple credentials, 1,581 graduates earned 3,744 degrees and certificates June 7 at Grossmont College. At Cuyamaca College, which held its commencement the following day, about 650 were awarded 1,089 degrees and certificates.

Bachelor's degree in elementary education being offered at Cuyamaca College

Students looking to become an elementary school teacher can earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Cuyamaca College through a new partnership launching this fall with one of the Midwest’s top regional public universities. 

    Under the agreement, Valley City State University (VCSU) in Valley City, N.D., will provide instruction both online and at Cuyamaca College to students who have earned an associate degree at the Rancho San Diego campus. A VCSU counselor will also be stationed at Cuyamaca College to work with students in setting up an educational plan. 

          The new program at Cuyamaca College comes at an opportune time, as the number of elementary school teachers in California, excluding those focusing on special education, is projected to grow by nearly 10 percent in the decade between 2014 and 2024. Elementary school teachers in California earn an annual average salary of $74,270, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and $72,130 in San Diego County.  

          “Cuyamaca College is among the leaders in our region when it comes to workforce development, and partnering with VCSU will enable us to help fill a void in preparing students for careers as elementary school teachers,” said Cuyamaca College President Julianna Barnes. “We’re excited for the opportunity to work with a university that has a long history and stellar reputation in educating elementary school teachers across the country.” 

        

Cuyamaca College grad Fadya Basha proves age is just a number

Fadya Basha

More than 2,100 students are graduating from Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in June. Here is the story of one of them.


You’re never too old to learn. Just ask Fadya Basha, an Iraqi immigrant who, at age 74, will be the oldest graduate walking across the stage at Cuyamaca College’s June 8 Commencement. 

“If you are learning, you are growing,” said Basha, who has learned her way to an associate degree in Arabic Studies and Communication and Language Arts – with honors. “You have to always grow. You should always be learning.” 

Said her youngest son, Firas Najeeb, a dentist living in Las Vegas: “I’m really proud of her. She is a true inspiration for everybody in our family.” 

Basha said she was just looking to improve her English when she enrolled in a Cuyamaca College ESL class about seven years ago. Before too long, though, the ESL course led to other classes, including public speaking, speech and debate, and composition.  Then came courses in Arabic and mathematics, art and exercise. She began her journey in 2011, and would have graduated sooner, but she took time off on several occasions for the birth of a new grandchild. 

Cheryl Mahone: Overcoming physical limitations to earn an associate degree at Grossmont College

Cheryl Mahone

Of the more than 1,500 graduates being celebrated at Grossmont College’s June 7 commencement, few have overcome the kind of challenges faced by 50-year-old Cheryl Mahone.

 

Unable to walk and barely able to stand as her body yielded to the effects of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Mahone kept pressing forward even after enduring two bouts of pneumonia and an encounter with the swine flu. Just getting to the El Cajon campus from her home in La Mesa meant a three-hour round trip aboard a special Metropolitan Transit System Access bus.

 

No matter. Mahone graduates with a 3.98 grade point average, an associate degree in social and behavioral sciences and a ticket to San Diego State University, where she will enroll this fall as she moves closer to realizing her dream of earning a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition and launching a career as a registered dietician working with the disabled.

 

“My attitude is, God gave me this body, so I’m going to do the best I can to keep moving forward,” said Mahone, who added she will forever be grateful for the help she received along the way.

 

“I couldn’t have done it without the people at Grossmont College,” Mahone said. “I was overwhelmed by the love and support I received as soon as I enrolled. They give you all that you need, everything from workshops for adult learners who are going back to school to a wonderful EOPS program to a tutoring center, a writing center, counselors. You name it.”