Previous Updates
- Thoughts for the Season (Dec. 18, 2012)
- Our nation and Southwestern College enter this holiday season with mixed emotions. While we are grateful for the abundance of good will and friendship we have built this year, we carry with us a tremendous sense of loss. We mourn for the senseless loss of life of the 26 children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. And we are deeply saddened for the loss of our friend and colleague, Phil Lopez.Read more
- We're Getting Prepared (Nov. 28, 2012)
- Among the first things members of the Southwestern College community told me upon my arrival was that we had talked and talked about emergency preparedness, but we really hadn’t done much. The last emergency drill was conducted years ago, several people told me. Read more
- Avoiding the Fiscal Tsunami (Nov. 13, 2012)
- California voters—thanks to a surge of 18 to 29-year-old voters—approved Proposition 30 last week. While the passage helps California Community Colleges avoid a fiscal tsunami, it doesn't stop a financial storm. The state legislature still has not fixed structural issues, including funding deferrals. For months on end, the state continues to defer funding that is due to us, forcing us to borrow money from the county treasury to meet payroll. Read more
- Regional Focus on Career Technical Education (Nov. 6, 2012)
- More than 150 people from throughout San Diego County attended our Getting Technical summit last week. Representatives from community colleges throughout the region, as well as elected officials and local industry, joined the conversation on what we can do to better link our academic programs with workforce needs. Read more
- Student Voices More Important Than Ever (Oct. 30, 2012)
- As we head into the home stretch for the November election, the fate of Proposition 30 may depend on strong voter turnout for the age group of 18-29. Pollsters show this group supporting the measure by a 62.5% margin. This is the group that is potentially most impacted by budget cuts to education. Read more
- Getting Technical Summit (Oct. 9, 2012)
- It’s less than a month away from the Workforce and Economic Development Summit we’re hosting on campus. Getting Technical: Critical Conversations about Today’s and Tomorrow’s Workforce will be held on Nov. 1 from 7:30 – 10:45 a.m. in the Student Union East. Read more
- College CEOs Honor Student Veterans (Oct. 2, 2012)
- Beginning their Proposition 30 information campaign in earnest, the CEOs for the six district members of the San Diego Imperial County Community College Association spoke about the vital services all community colleges provide to returning veterans and their dependents. Read more
- California Community Colleges at a Crossroad (Sept. 24, 2012)
- The Los Angeles Times published two stories this weekend that illustrate the new realities California community colleges are facing. Read more
- Budget Update (Sept. 17, 2012)
- Last week the Governing Board passed the 2012-13 budget, which included $79.26 million in expenditures and $77 million in revenue. As I mentioned in my Aug. 27 column—and as our adopted budget reflects—our expenses exceed our revenues, and we must correct that imbalance. Read more
- Back to School — By the Numbers (Sept. 10, 2012)
- We have 20,286 students enrolled for the fall — a 2% increase over last year. We're one of the few community colleges in the county that is experiencing enrollment increases. Read more
- Budget Update (August 27, 2012)
- This message is intended to provide you with a summary of our current budget development and issues associated with the budget outlook for 2012-13. Read more
- Fall Semester (August 20, 2012)
- The new school year brings much promise and potential. I am hoping you were as inspired by the students' stories at the opening day ceremony as I was. Listening to them talk about how each of you inspires them and encourages them is a great way to kick start an already exciting time of the year. Read more
- State Budget Update (July 12, 2012)
- We have a better picture of what’s in store for community college funding now that Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature have finalized the new state budget. One highly anticipated new development is state funding for growth and restoration of classes. For Southwestern, that translates to approximately $500,000 in additional revenue. Read more
- State Budget Update (June 20, 2012)
- On Friday, the state Legislature forwarded a budget to Governor Brown, meeting their Proposition 25 mandate that allows lawmakers to continue being paid. Read more
- June Budget Update (June 4, 2012)
- This is the first of a series of budget updates that you will be receiving over the summer. The State budget and its ever-changing effects on our local budget are keeping us extremely busy. Read more
- Proposition R in Action (June 4, 2012)
- Construction crews are tearing up parts of the campus this summer as part of a $90 million Proposition R investment. The most visible changes are the widening of the Gotham and Elmhurst entrances to the college. Read more
- Leadership Team Complete (June 4, 2012)
- This summer we welcome three permanent vice presidents—Vice President for Human Resources Dr. Albert Román, Vice President for Academic Affairs Kathy Tyner and Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Steven Crow. Read more