San Diego Community College District

11/09/2026

Events are being held around the district this week to support our student veterans. Please join us in helping show our veterans how much we value their service and support their educational journey. Happy Veterans Day to all who have served.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Veterans support table in the Miramar Student Lounge from 11am to 1pm this week.

Nov. 10
- Pancake social at Mesa College: Fundraiser for student veterans. 8 to 10 am. In 72Fifty Restaurant Room MC-209.
- Mesa College VA Disability Clinic. 9 am-2pm at the Veterans Success Center
- Veterans lunch at Miramar College. Noon to 1:30pm in Room K-107.

Nov. 12
- Veteran Career Panel at Mesa College. 11:15am-12:15pm in the Veterans Success Center
- Veterans lunch at City College from 1-3pm. A Building Patio. Music, speeches, lunch.

Nov. 20
- Scholarships Fore Veterans golf tournament fundraiser at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee.

11/09/2026

11/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our District Office Veterans Day luncheon.

We were proud to recognize our veteran colleagues and celebrate their service. To all veterans, thank you for your courage, sacrifice, and dedication. We are grateful for all you have done.

11/06/2026

A+ for transparency! 🌟

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association has recognized the Measure HH Bond Program with an A+ in its 2026 School Bond Transparency Report Card. SDCCD met all 25 metrics in its first year of eligibility and was one of the community college districts countywide to earn a perfect score.

The report card measures how openly districts share information about managing and spending bond dollars, including financial reports, independent audits, and the work of citizens’ oversight committees. Keeping the community informed and the work accountable is at the heart of how we deliver Measure HH.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Joel L.A. Peterson put it best: “An A+ rating is something to celebrate, but it’s also a standard we intend to uphold.”

Read the full article for more on the rating and what it means for the $3.5 billion Measure HH program: https://www.sdccd.edu/departments/communications/newscenter/articles/2026/perfect-score-bond-rating.aspx

Note: Renderings shown reflect ongoing design discussions and are subject to change through the stakeholder feedback process.

11/06/2026

A huge congratulations and thank you to all of the talented culinary students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made this year’s Taste of Mesa another incredible success!

From creative dishes and outstanding hospitality, your passion and dedication were on full display. Events like Taste of Mesa showcase the excellence, innovation, and hands-on learning opportunities that make San Diego Mesa College so special.

Thank you for bringing people together through food, community, and education. We can’t wait to see what you cook up next year!

11/05/2026

Congrats to SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith on being appointed to the HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities governing board.

Smith was one of five new board members confirmed during HACU’s national conference held Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 in Chula Vista.

“HACU’s governing board members are essential to the success of our mission, and we owe a great deal to their dedication and commitment to ensuring the association’s work is accomplished,” said Interim President and CEO David A. Ortiz. “We extend our deepest gratitude to those members ending their roles on the board, and welcome new members who will be key to providing the guidance and direction necessary to serve our member institutions and their students.”

“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to serve such an accomplished organization which has successfully advocated for opportunity and success for all students for generations,” said Smith. “In this role I will bring the voice of the more than 40,000 Latine students attending our colleges to ensure we deliver on the promise of equity and inclusion in higher education.”

Smith began his role as SDCCD chancellor in February 2024. He is responsible for one of the largest community college districts in California, with the SDCCD annually serving approximately 90,000 students through its four colleges. Each of the SDCCD’s three credit colleges are federally designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. Smith has more than 20 years of service in the public sector, including for the U.S. Department of Labor, where he enforced equal employment opportunity and affirmative action regulations. A first-generation college graduate, Smith started his collegiate education at Cerro Coso Community College in California and holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and English Literature from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Other newly appointed governing board members include: Lamont Repollet, Ed.D., president of Kean University; Valerio Ferme, Ph.D., president of New Mexico State University; Britt Rios-Ellis, Ph.D., president of California State University, Stanislaus; and Diana Rodriguez, Ed.D., chancellor of San Bernardino Community College District.

HACU governing board members serve two-year terms and may be re-elected for a second term.

11/04/2026

Congratulations to Geysil Arroyo, Dr. Maria Nieto Señour, and Craig Milgrim on your re-election to the San Diego Community College District's Board of Trustees.

11/04/2026

Honoring veterans and funding futures - Tee off for a great cause at the annual Scholarships FORE Veterans Golf Tournament at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee on Nov. 20. Learn more at scholarshipsforeveterans.org

- Enjoy live music
- Grab delicious tacos
- Play golf for a purpose

Join veteran leaders, community supporters, sponsors, and education advocates for a day on the course benefiting scholarships for veteran and military-connected students throughout the San Diego Community College District.

- Get tickets
- Become a sponsor
- Make a donation

11/03/2026

Join us in celebrating Native American Heritage Month with events honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples.
Across the district, SDCCD and its colleges recognize the ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay Nation through land acknowledgments that honor their history and continued presence. All events are free and open to the public.
This week's events include:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
People of the West Film Screening
A screening of the first episode of People of the West, a 10-part documentary series exploring the histories, cultures, resilience, and sovereignty of California Native peoples. The episode examines the arrival of Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542 on Kumeyaay Ipai-Tipai land and its impact on California Native history.
Miramar College, Kaleidoscope Lounge, Room I-130, 10440 Black Mountain Road

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Kumeyaay Flag Raising Ceremony
Miramar College will raise the Kumeyaay Nation flag to honor the region's Native peoples. The ceremony will feature traditional songs by Kumeyaay Bird Singers, including Kumeyaay Boogie, and remarks from Bobby Wallace of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, UC San Diego professor Dr. Alexandria Hunter of Jamul Village, and Kumeyaay student Aurora Goularte. Lunch and a community gathering will follow.
Miramar College, N-Administration Building Flagpole, 10440 Black Mountain Road

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Noon to 1 p.m.
Kumeyaay Flag Raising Ceremony
Mesa College will raise the Kumeyaay-Diegueño Nation flag in recognition and celebration of the Native peoples of the region. The ceremony will feature a Blue Eagle bird singer and cultural dance, followed by a panel discussion exploring ways to support Indigenous communities.
Mesa College, Flagpole, 7250 Mesa College Drive

11/03/2026

Let’s get out and VOTE!!! The polls are open until 8pm. Your voice and your vote matter. Find your polling place at sdvote.com