 |
| Attendees sign a construction beam. |
“This topping out illustrates how Grossmont College continues to grow in our community,” said college President Denise Whisenhunt. “A symbol of growth and newness -- this is what this ceremony is about.”
Pausing to the sound of construction, which she described as a “sound of a symphony,” Whisenhunt recounted the words of a young architect, Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Whether face to face or via Zoom, staff is eager is provide extra guidance to enroll.
Open enrollment has started for the new semester, which begins Jan. 31 with a multitude of courses, including about half that are online, and many with zero textbook costs. Open registration has also started for intersession classes, offered Jan. 4-29.
A ribbon-cutting Friday celebrated the $19.4 million renovation of the site, with added indoor and outdoor classrooms and facilities, doubled square footage of building spaces, and a state-of-art, high-tech greenhouse for the college’s Ornamental Horticulture program. Also added was a separate new building housing the nursery’s retail shop, along with office and meeting rooms.
“We are proud of our stellar graduates who are prepared to take on jobs in the green industry in our region and beyond,” college President Julianna Barnes said to about 80 attendees gathered for the mid-morning celebration. “These facilities will help our students work in classrooms and outdoor spaces that model the professional world.”
This project, started in August 2019, was funded by Proposition V, a $398 million construction bond measure passed by East County voters in 2012 to improve and add facilities at Cuyamaca and Grossmont colleges to meet student needs.
The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations’ District 6 announced the 2021 Medallion awards, including two first-place wins for photography and writing, last week. The organization represents more than 1,700 marketing and public relations professionals at nearly 650 community and technical colleges across the United States and Canada. District 6 includes community colleges across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Territory of Guam.
The annual awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication by community colleges.
Titled “Breaking Boundaries,” the yearly fall-semester concert will highlight a variety of genres – including hip hop, ballet, jazz, and tap – choreographed by Grossmont College dance majors.
The PVAC is a $44 million facility funded by East County voters through Proposition V, a $398-million bond measure approved in 2012 that includes a 390-seat performance hall for dance, theatre, and live music programs. It also houses the campus’ Hyde Art Gallery.
Grossmont College will be honored at a November 16 Champions of Higher Education Celebration sponsored by the Campaign for College Opportunity, which noted the El Cajon campus is among the state’s top performers in associate degrees for transfer awarded per 50 full-time students.
Grossmont College was also recognized as No. 64 in the country for Latinx student enrollment during the same period.
“Grossmont College is a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to getting it right, serving our students, and making an impact,” said Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt. “That these rankings come after we held an inspirational series of music and dance performances, workshops, and panel discussions both in-person and online to celebrate and honor another Latinx Heritage Month makes this recognition even sweeter.”
Sahar Abushaban, a veteran administrator with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca
Community College District, has received permanent appointment as Vice
Chancellor-Business Services following a two-year interim term.
Her selection to the post, announced by Chancellor Lynn Neault, is effective Nov. 1.
Abushaban brings to the role substantial experience in public education budgeting and administration, including 15 years with the college district. She first began at the district in 2006 as a financial analyst, and went on to serve as Interim Director of District Business Services. She was appointed Associate Vice Chancellor-Business Services in 2011. She then served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Cuyamaca College for five years before returning to District Services.
A community college alumna, Abushaban then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from San Diego State University and a master’s in accountancy from National University.
The week of online events are part of a campaign by community colleges across California to advocate and provide resources for the undocumented student population. Highlighting the week is Vargas’ presentation, “Defining American,” set for 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct 2. To receive a Zoom link to attend, submit an RSVP for the free, public event at https://bit.ly/JoseAntonioVargas_102121.
Vargas’ presentation is an online event sponsored jointly by San Diego County community colleges and the San Diego Community College District.
Grossmont College, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, and
the East County Chamber of Commerce will host the free, public event 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Students, alumni, job- and career- seekers can register at https://tinyurl.com/VirtualCareerExpo2021. Employers can register for free at https://tinyurl.com/5ctu4xyb. A Remo login will be emailed upon registration.
The 70-member orchestra and 40-member choral ensemble composed of
students, teachers and musicians from the community have played since
the ‘80s off campus, first at the former East County Performing Arts
Center in El Cajon until 2009, then the First Presbyterian Church of El
Cajon, Santa Sophia Catholic Church in Spring Valley and St. John of the
Cross Catholic Church in Lemon Grove.
The program, which begins at 7:30 p.m., includes separate performances of the symphony’s brass and percussion, woodwind and string ensembles; the Master Chorale; and a multimedia performance of the chamber orchestra. In pre-pandemic times, the ensembles performed as one large orchestra, but because of Grossmont College’s COVID-19 protocols limiting the numbers of people in one room, Thursday’s performance will be broken up with each ensemble giving its own mini-concert.
“This 390-seat venue has been a part of the original blueprint for Grossmont College from the earliest years,” said music director Randall Tweed, who has been at GSO’s helm for 35 years. “It has been a long, arduous road. This new facility is a huge step up and being able to return for in-person rehearsals, even with social distancing and masking, has been great.”
 |
| GSO rehearsal |
After more than a year and a half of performances and presentations over Zoom and YouTube, the arts are returning in person to Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.
Kicking off Grossmont College’s fall concert series is the Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. performance of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale, which finally has a venue of its own at the newly opened Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center (PVAC). This, after decades of playing in places such as the former East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) in El Cajon, and several churches throughout East County.
“The faculty and staff of the Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department are excited to welcome back students and members of the community as we engage in our first production at the Stagehouse Theatre since March of 2020,” said Theatre Arts Department co-chair Katie Banville. “The safety of our students, faculty, classified professionals, and the public is paramount, and we have instituted a number of COVID-19 protocols to help ensure everyone’s safety. Most of all, we are thrilled to give our students and patrons the opportunity to reconnect in a shared space as we return to the magical experience that is live, in-person performance.”
 |
| Culinary Arts courses open |
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have increased their offerings of short-term, accelerated classes for the fall based on demand, with more students returning to the campuses for both in-person and virtual classes. For a list of Grossmont College’s short-term classes, go to www.grossmont.edu/campaigns/2021/fall/short-term.php. For Cuyamaca College’s classes, go to https://tinyurl.com/35bckvsz.
Robinson is one of two from San Diego County chosen for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. This round of the highly selective leadership program will begin in November, partnering participants with current and former community college presidents serving as mentors. Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative at Stanford University, the fellows will learn strategies to lead internal change, improve student outcomes in and after college, and create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, employers, and other partners.
On a cloudless morning with the San Miguel
Fire & Rescue’s massive 70-foot flag serving as a backdrop, the Cuyamaca
College campus community and East County firefighters gathered Friday for an
early commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“This day is about being resilient,” said
Maryam Rammahi, Associated Student Government president, one of five speakers
and two musicians featured at the event. The remembrance honored the sacrifices
made and the lives lost in the tragedy 20 years ago.
Michele Clock’s appointment was approved Tuesday by the District’s Governing Board.
Clock comes to the District from the County of San Diego, where she most recently served as program manager in San Diego County Fire’s Community Risk Reduction Division. There, she and her team of four employees developed programs aimed at preventing wildfire and strengthening community readiness. A program she launched during the pandemic last year won a 2021 National Association of Counties Achievement Award. Clock previously served as communications officer for the County’s Public Safety Group. In that role, she managed communications for seven County public safety departments.
Mike Hartman has come full circle.
One of the first 1,538 students when Grossmont College opened its doors in 1961 and among the 18 students in Grossmont College’s inaugural graduating Class of 1962, Hartman would go on to earn a Ph.D. in zoology at Oregon State University and complete his postdoctoral research at Yale University. His lengthy academic career included playing a critical role in developing a marine biology program at Savannah State University, a historically Black university in Georgia that is the oldest historically Black public university in the state.
He would end his career teaching after teaching for more than a decade at Haywood Community College in Clyde, North Carolina.
“It all began,” Hartman said, “at Grossmont College, which really underscores the impact a community college can have on a person’s life.”
As Grossmont College celebrates its 60th anniversary, Hartman embodies the impact Grossmont has had not only in the region, but nationwide, by transforming lives and through learning and serving as a catalyst for equity.
Scott Graham and Gerald Wolf embody the excellence of the Computer Science and Information Systems program at Grossmont College. After all, what else can you say about a pair of computer programming students who, at the last minute, decided to enter the 2021 SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge and ended up taking top honors and winning $5,500 in scholarships for the college?
“Honestly, neither of us thought we’d do this well,” Graham said of the two-person Grossmont College team, dubbed Reverse Shells By the C-Shore. “I mean, there were only two of us. The average team had six to eight people. But it turned out to be an absolute success on so many levels.”
The 2021 SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge was held from February 15 through May 31. Sponsored in part by the Department of Defense, the 12th annual SoCal Cyber Cup is aimed at providing extensive training and mentorship to participating students interested in a future in the growing field of cybersecurity.
Some Zoom Rooms will be added.
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are preparing for the fall 2021 semester with the start of a return to the campuses that includes more in-person classes and a continuing focus on helping students face the impacts of COVID-19.
To safely return to in-person, on-campus classes and services, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has concluded that all students attending face-to-face classes or seeking access to in-person services on the campuses are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the fall semester on Aug. 16, 2021.
Indeed, there was; Grossmont College was just down the street. Mehrian set up an appointment with a counselor and transformed her life through an educational journey that began with earning an associate degree in child development from Grossmont College and included securing a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in the subject from San Diego State University.
Today, Mehrian serves as the Grossmont College Child Development Center coordinator and embodies the impact Grossmont College has in the region as it celebrates its 60th anniversary this fall.
“Grossmont College saved me,” Mehrian said. “I am Grossmont.”
The topping out marks that construction has reached its highest point. The public event will include an opportunity for members of the college community to sign a construction beam before it is lifted by a crane, along with an American flag and an evergreen tree, atop the frame of the 36,000-square-foot center. The tree is a construction practice that symbolizes good luck for the future occupants, continued growth, and a safe jobsite.
At a groundbreaking ceremony in February, President Julianna Barnes described the center as a welcoming campus gateway and a long-awaited hub for students to engage and receive support services, such as counseling, financial aid, admissions, Extended Opportunities Programs and Services and CalWORKS.
Returning to school years – even decades – after one’s last classroom experience can be a daunting experience.
Grossmont College’s Adult Reentry program, geared to help adult learners reacclimate and succeed as students, is conducting a virtual open house from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, in preparation for the fall 2021 semester starting Aug. 16. The free workshop is open to the public and will cover topics including:
· Admissions and course registration assistance
· In-demand program and short-term training
· Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
· Meeting college administrators and staff
· Student services and resources
· Exploring careers and majors
· Student success stories
· Taking a virtual campus tour
