I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• Participated in hiring interviews for both administrative and faculty positions.
• Attended the weekly Executive Special Projects meeting. This week’s meeting focused on our District’s grant process. A special thank you to Grants Manager, Pauline Moroz, who walked us through a series of already instituted improvements and reviewed proposed strategic changes.
• Attended the Educational and Facilities Vision Planning Task Force meeting. During the meeting, the Task Force focused on reviewing and discussing “external scan” data. The data reviewed included adult population estimates and projections, changing student demographics, enrollment flow, and labor market information. From this data, task force members identified salient points to consider as we craft our plan. Next month, the task force will engage in a review of the themes identified in the listening sessions as well as the results of our survey.  I am excited about the progress!

Community Engagement

• Attended the San Marcos Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors meeting.
• Attended the National Community College Hispanic Council’s Board of Directors meeting.
• Attended the Community College League of California’s (CCLC) 2022 Annual Convention. Every year this event brings together CEOs, trustees, administrators, and partners from across the state to share tools, models, and solutions to system issues. This year’s theme was “Our Time is Now.” I am grateful to have been joined by Trustee Mark Evilsizer, Trustee Christian Garcia, Trustee Roberto Rodriguez and Public Information Officer Julie Lanthier Bandy.
• Our very own Trustee Mark Evilsizer was recognized at the CCLC event by the California Association of Latino Community College Trustees and Administrators (CALCCTA) for his years of service to the statewide organization. Please note, a campus event will be held on Tuesday, December 6^th from 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm in  the LRC to formally thank Trustee Evilsizer for his 20 years of dedicated service on Palomar’s Governing Board. Immediately following the recognition will be his last Governing Board meeting.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

• Palomar is leading Cal Coast Credit Union’s Pack the Pantry Campaign! We have donated the most out of all participating colleges. Go Comets! Here is a link to see our progress. For those unaware, local community colleges throughout San Diego County have partnered with Cal Coast Credit Union, the North County Food Bank, and the San Diego Food Bank for the fourth annual Pack the Pantry food drive. The drive, which runs through November, aims to raise funds to fill college pantries.
• On Wednesday, November 30^th, the Ethnic Studies Department, the Queer Students of Color Club, and the Puente Club are coming together to present a screening of the film Mosquita y Mari. Here is a link to the flyer with more information.
• The Palomar Boehm Art Gallery is hosting its annual Faculty Art and Photography Exhibition from November 17^th until December 7^th. The closing reception will take place on Wednesday, December 7^th from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Please support our faculty and pay a visit to the gallery!
• Tarde de Familia is coming up on Friday, December 2^nd. The event will be held from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Student Union. Please mark your calendars and spread the word by sharing this flyer. For any questions or for more information on Tarde de Familia, please visit the Association of Latinos and Allies for Student Success (ALASS) website or contact alass@palomar.edu. Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope to see you there.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan Update

This past week our Educational and Facilities planners were on campus wrapping up their listening/visioning sessions. In total they have completed 71 sessions. We have also closed the Vision Plan 2035 survey. Thank you to everyone who participated in a listening session and/or completed the survey.

Comet of the Week
The Comet of the Week is current Acting Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Diane Studinka. When I am out of town on District business she serves as the Acting Superintendent/President and does an exceptional job. Thank you Diane for always being willing to step in, for keeping me well informed, and for supporting the needs of the institution!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• Attended the public candidate forums for the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services. At these forums, the campus community had the opportunity to meet the candidates, learn about their qualifications, and ask questions.
• Attended the National First-Generation Student Day celebration. Despite the rain, it was well attended by students and campus community members. A note of gratitude to all who helped put this event together including Palomar Promise, Palomar Upward Bound, TRiO Student Support Services, and EOPS.
• Attended the Pride Center’s Coffee with a Cop event. At this event, participants had the opportunity to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues with Chief Chris Moore and other police officers. It’s always great to see our Palomar College Police department relationship building with our campus community.
• Attended the Associated Student Government’s Comet Hour.
• Met with Faculty Senate leadership for our monthly one on one meeting.
• Met with PFF leadership for our monthly one on one meeting.
• Attended the Budget Committee meeting where we discussed critical fiscal issues for our college.
• Attended, and provided welcoming remarks, for the Veterans Resource Center’s A Salute to Our Veterans event. This was an incredible event! The Veterans Resource Center did an outstanding job honoring our Veterans and celebrating the Marine Corps 247^th birthday. A special thank you to Supervisor, Jessica Horn, and everyone who help put this outstanding event together.
• Attended the Educational & Facilities Vision Plan Coordinators meeting to discuss the ongoing development of our plan.

Community Engagement

• Attended the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association’s (SDICCCA) monthly board meeting. Chief Executive Officers, Public Information Officers, and Governing Board Members discussed current issues facing the region, provided updates on their respective colleges, reviewed legislative updates, and engaged in collective planning for the 2022-2023 academic year.
• Please note, elections for three of our Palomar Governing Board seats (Areas 1, 4, and 5) took place on Tuesday, November 8^th. Once official election results are available, I will share more information with our campus community.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

• Two years ago, professors Luis Guerrero and Hossna Sadat Ahadi co-authored the Academic Senate for California Community College’s rostrum article titled, Decolonizing Your Syllabus, an Antiracist Guide for Your College, which has become a nationally recommended article. They have been invited to colleges and universities across the U.S. to share their insight and praxis work as it relates to decolonizing curriculum and pedagogy. On Friday, November 4^th both professors Guerrero and Sadat Ahadi were invited to share their work with faculty in the California Community Colleges’ Open for Antiracism program. Additionally, Professor Guerrero has hosted three antiracism workshops on our campus. Plus, during the summer of 2021, he had a cohort of 40+ faculty go through an enhanced workgroup and created a repository of their final work, the Decolonized Syllabi Repository. This project was funded by Guided Pathways. Thank you, Professors Luis and Hossna for your fantastic work in this area!
• The World Languages Department will be hosting Café International on Tuesday, November 15^th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a free ASG-sponsored event, open to all students and employees to celebrate the language programs we offer. Games, food, and music will be part of the celebration. Here is a link to the flyer.
• This year, the Tarde de Familia event will take place on Friday, December 2^nd from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Student Union. Please mark your calendars and spread the word by sharing this flyer. If your department, or program, would like to participate in the Information Fair, please visit TDF Information Fair.xlsx and sign up before November 28^th. The Information Fair will be from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. For any questions, or for more information, on Tarde de Familia please visit the Association of Latinos and Allies for Student Success (ALASS) website or contact alass@palomar.edu. Thank you for your ongoing support of Tarde de Familia. We hope to see you there!

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan Update
This past Thursday, members of the Educational and Facilities Vision Plan (EFVP) Task Force met to further discuss student data. The data reviewed included student enrollment, student demographics, student progress, and student outcomes. This upcoming week the EFVP Task Force will meet again to discuss the makeup of Palomar’s service area and labor market forecast.

If you haven’t done so, please complete the Vision 2035 survey. To respond to the survey, click on the link that was embedded in the email from Palomar College Research on November 10^th. The survey closes on November 17^th, 2022.

Comet of the Week
The Comet of the Week is Karen Mifflin, Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Karen goes above and beyond for her students. Every week she spends several hours in her office tutoring students. She is invested in her students being successful. Colleagues describe her as kind, patient, and extremely supportive. Thank you, Professor Karen, for making such a difference in the lives of students.

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• Attended the Regular November Governing Board Meeting. Meeting highlights included 1) A presentation from the San Marcos Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Andrew Johnsen, who shared a Portrait of a Graduate Initiative 2) We discussed potential new security enhancements at the Escondido Education Center 3) I was able to share the good news that Palomar College has officially been removed from enhanced fiscal monitoring by our accrediting agency (ACCJC). After two consecutive years of being placed on enhanced fiscal monitoring, we are very excited about the positive change and remain committed to making continual gains in securing Palomar’s fiscal health.
• Joined Palomar College’s Ethnic Studies department at their Día de Los Muertos celebration. Thank you, Professors Alex Gómez and Angelica Yañez, for hosting the various events.
• Attended the State of the Budget meeting where the 311 report was reviewed and discussed.
• Attended the Palomar Puente Club sponsored artist workshop event with Maira Meza (a Puente alum and popular Barrio Logan artist). Puentistas had the opportunity to celebrate Día De Los Muertos through painting.
• Attended the Veteran’s Resource Center Chat & Chow event. During the event, financial aid representatives helped students learn how to apply for Pell grants and other financial aid benefits. A special thank you to Director Adrianne Lee and Supervisor Jessica Horn for working with their teams to make this event a reality.

Community Engagement

• Participated as a panelist at the San Diego Women Connect: Women Leading the Way event. I was able to represent Palomar College and share strategies for being an effective leader. The mission of San Diego Women Connect is to bring women from all career levels together to strengthen their professional networks and to engage them in the San Diego County business community.
• Presented, alongside the San Diego Community College Chancellor Carlos Cortez, at the inaugural statewide CCCOLEGAS Conference. Our workshop discussed the importance of Moving from Cultural Competence to Cultural Proficiency. COLEGAS main mission is to accelerate and advance equity for Latina/o/x community college professionals and students. Over 480 statewide community college leaders and students, including our very own Acting Chief Diversity Officer Carmelino Cruz, attended the event. I look forward to having increased Palomar representation at next year’s conference.
• Attended the California Community College Chancellor’s Office System Webinar. This webinar focused on Student Housing from a systems statewide perspective.

Hiring Updates

• As part of the hiring process, the district will conduct open forums for the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services positions. At the forums, the campus community will be able to meet the candidates, learn about their qualifications, and ask them questions. The forums will be held in the Governing Board room (LRC-438) and will also be recorded and streamed for those who are unable to attend in person.  We hope you can join us!

Here is the schedule for Tuesday, November 8^th for the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction forum:

Tina Recalde 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Narges Rabii-Rakin 9:45 am – 10:45 am

Andrew MacNeill 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Here is the schedule for Wednesday, November 9^th for the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services forum:

Todd McDonald 9:45 am – 10:45 am

Dennis Curran 11:00 am -12:00 pm

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Upcoming Events and News

• Tuesday, November 8^th, is National First-Generation College Celebration Day, which recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. To celebrate first-generation college students, faculty, staff, and alumni, there will be a special event from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at the San Marcos Library/LRC Plaza.
• Veteran’s Day is Friday, November 11^th. Palomar College’s Veteran’s Day celebration will take place Thursday, November 10^th at 11:00 am at the Veteran’s Memorial on the San Marcos campus.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan Update

There are approximately 550,000 adults who reside in Palomar College’s service area. Over the next few weeks, the Educational and Facilities Planning Task Force will continue to examine data related to these adults. Metrics examined will include population estimates and forecasts, education and income levels, and labor market information. We will use this information to gain an understanding about how our service area is changing, as well as the implications for Palomar as we continue to support the diverse educational needs of our community. Thank you to all who are participating in this effort. We definitely see our Educational and Vision Plan beginning to take form.

Comet of the Week

The Comet of the Week is Veteran Services Supervisor Jessica Horn. She takes her leadership role seriously, and she is always planning special programming that directly benefits our student veterans. Way to go Jessica!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• Attended a water polo doubleheader! I had the opportunity to watch the women’s water polo team compete and then, immediately following, I watched the men’s water polo team match! What an incredible fast-paced sport. The level of physical strength it takes to play water polo is awe-inspiring. I would like to recognize our wonderful Head Coaches Mandy Simon and Michael Mulvey for their team leadership. A special thank you to Assistant Coach Lucy Gates for the invitation.
• Met with the Confidential and Supervisory Team (CAST) and Administrative Association (AA) leadership for our standing 1:1 meeting. We discussed how our college can make our employees feel more valued, the contract process, handbook updates, and ideas about how to invest in the professional development of our CAST and AA members.
• Attended this week’s College Council Meeting. For this meeting, we covered several topics and spent time discussing the upcoming design for the new Fallbrook Education Center. The College Council is the principal participatory and planning governance body for the College. It provides a forum to review and recommend the direction and focus of the College, consistent with the College’s vision, mission, and values. Thank you to my co-chair Cheryle Kearse for leading the meeting.
• Attended the DRC’s Access and Equity Hour. This week’s event was a faculty spotlight featuring Math Professor, Fari Towfiq. Professor Towfiq provided detailed-effective teaching methods to utilize when working with DRC students.
• Met with Stephanie Wu, Student Trustee for the Governing Board, and Chris Garcia Mendez, President of the Associated Student Government, this week. We discussed current challenges our students are facing, and we discussed potential solutions that we can quickly implement as a district. The student voice is critical, and I always enjoy meeting with these two exceptional leaders.

Community Engagement

• Fox News LOCAList produced a video segment  featuring how Palomar College is combating student food insecurity. Here is the link to the video. It was wonderful to see Palomar College highlighted throughout the county for the incredible work we do at our Anita and Stan Maag Food and Nutrition Center. In conjunction with California Coast Credit Union and the San Diego Food Bank, we are able to meet the nutritional needs of so many students and their families. A special thank you to Pippa Pierce and Sherry Titus for their daily leadership with this project.
• Attended the Association of Chief Business Officials (ACBO) 2022 Fall Conference with Acting Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Nancy Lane. The conference identified issues currently impacting community colleges, and we discussed the intricate details of community college financing. ACBO membership includes 72 districts and 115 California community colleges which represents over 2.1 million students.
• Participated in the North San Diego Business Chamber’s, Women Connect: Women Leading the Way, virtual event. As a panel member, I shared my strategies for keeping calm under stress and the importance of building a circle of influence. Thank you, Debra Rosen, CEO of the North San Diego Business Chamber, for inviting me to participate.
• Met with Dr. Jennifer Jefferies, Director of the Fallbrook Regional Health District, and current member of Palomar’s Fallbrook Advisory Board Committee. She was also formerly the Superintendent of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District for over ten years. During our meeting, we discussed strategies for how Palomar can strengthen our footprint in Fallbrook.

Hiring Updates

• As part of the hiring process, the district will conduct open forums for the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services positions. At the forums, the campus community will be able to meet the candidates, learn about their qualifications, and ask them questions. Questions are currently being accepted until noon on Friday, November 4th, and can be sent to Palomarjobs@palomar.edu. The forums will also be recorded and streamed online afterwards for those who are unable to attend. Forums will be held in the Governing Board room (LRC-438).  We hope you can join us!

  Here is the schedule for the November 8th Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction open forums:
  Tina Recalde 8:30 am – 9:30 am
  Narges Rabii-Rakin 9:45 am – 10:45 am
  Andrew MacNeill 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

  Here is the schedule for the November 9th Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services open forums:
  Richard Storti 8:30 am – 9:30 am
  Todd McDonald 9:45 am – 10:45 am
  Dennis Curran 11:00 am -12:00 pm

• Dr. Brian Ellison will join Palomar College as the Acting Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services on Tuesday, November 1st. Dr. Ellison has served as a senior community college administrator for over 18 years and has served as an Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services and Instruction. Please stop by his office and say hello.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

• The Ethnic Studies Department will host events to celebrate Día de Los Muertos this week on November 1^st and 2^nd in the LRC. These efforts are led by Professors Alex Gómez and Dr. Angelica Yañez who will discuss the importance, and history, of Día de Los Muertos. Here is a link to the flyer.
• Tuesday, November 8^th, is National First-Generation College Celebration Day which recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. To celebrate first-generation college students, faculty, staff, and alumni, we are hosting a special event from 12 pm – 2 pm at the San Marcos Library/LRC Plaza. More information to come.
• November is Native American Heritage Month. You can visit the month’s official website here to participate in online events and view interesting online exhibitions. This month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans, and an opportunity to educate ourselves about the various tribes and raise general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and at present.

Vision Plan 2035

We continue to make progress during the “discovery phase” of our plan development. Last Friday we started sending out links to our Vision Plan 2035 survey. We are administering the survey to all students, faculty, and staff. Survey items are tailored for each group and are provided in both English and Spanish. Please take a few minutes to provide your feedback.

Comet of the Week

The Comet of the Week is Math Professor, and Director of Palomar’s Math Center, Fari Towfiq. Professor Towfiq is student-centered, and she is dedicated to making mathematics accessible to ALL students. She is constantly refining her curriculum and introducing new innovative ways to reach students. Hearing her speak this last week inspired me, and I felt enormous pride about how she is moving Palomar forward to be better equipped to meet the diverse needs of our students!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week.  Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community Engagement activities from the previous week.

The Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

Please note, the Great California ShakeOut Earthquake drill will take place this upcoming Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10:20 a.m. and 6:20 pm.  The entire District, including the San Marcos Campus, Escondido Education Center, Fallbrook Education Center, and Rancho Bernardo Education Center will participate in the drill this year.

During the drill, information and directions will be delivered in a 60-second message broadcast through the Palomar College Emergency Notification System to all phones and other emergency notification channels utilized by the Palomar Community College District.  Everyone in classrooms, offices, and facilities will be instructed to follow the proper steps to ensure a safe and prompt protection strategy.

The drills are being coordinated through our Palomar College Environmental Health & Safety department.  For more information, please visit the following link.

Campus Engagement

• Attended an Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035 meeting with the steering group to discuss Palomar’s long-term development plan and later in the week met with a small coordinating group to make sure we are on track and adapting as necessary as we go through this process.
• Attended the 2022-2023 Budget Committee Meeting.  Through the development of annual fiscal goals, the Budget Committee recommends budgeting parameters and aligns the college’s priorities to institutional planning.
• Attended award-winning author Sonia Gutierrez’s discussion about her novel, “Dreaming with Mariposas” in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month.  I have enjoyed reading the book but hearing the author directly speak to the characters was fascinating!
• Attended a Special Projects Meeting to continue to discuss and prioritize the District’s hiring efforts.
• Met with the Palomar Faculty Federation for our standing monthly meeting.
• Welcomed the Student Senate For California Community College’s (SSCCC) Board of Directors to our campus.  SSCCC pursues policies that will improve student access, promote student success, engage and empower local student leaders, and enrich the collegiate experience for all California community college students.  Along with our ASG members, I enjoyed meeting student leaders from across the state.
• Facilitated our bi-monthly College Council Meeting.
• Attended the Palomar College Planetarium show, “The Sky Tonight”.  This live presentation uses the Digistar 7 system to take audiences on a journey through the current night sky.  During the show, you learn about the constellations and planets that are visible for this specific time of the year.  Here is a link to the Planetarium website to learn more.  Professors Mark Lane and Scott Kardel, and all who make this show possible, are to be commended!  I cannot say enough about this show, and I highly encourage all of you to check it out!  I promise, you will not be disappointed!  Be sure to get your tickets ahead of time because this popular show tends to sell out.

Community Engagement

• Attended the Palomar College Foundation’s Annual President’s Invitational Golf Classic Fundraiser at Maderas Golf Club.  The funds raised from this event go towards removing financial barriers for our Palomar College students.  Thank you to Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis, and her incredible team, at the Foundation for making this event a success every year.  And thank you to everyone who supported the fundraiser.
• Attended the North San Diego Business Chamber’s Regional Connect event at the Palomar College Rancho Bernardo Education Center.  This event gave me the opportunity to talk to community members about our amazing facilities and programs.
• Attended the Latino Book and Family Festival on MiraCosta College’s campus.  The event featured over 100 exhibitors and more than 30 award-winning authors of works in all genres written by, or about, Latinos.  The exhibitors highlighted the importance of literacy and promoted awareness of college and community resources.  The festival also featured entertainment, a children’s stage, bilingual activities, workshops, food, and book giveaways.  Thank you to Outreach Specialist Tony Quiroz and ETS Coordinator Edwin Torres who made it possible for Palomar to have an information booth at the event.
• Attended the Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos (BGCSM) Annual Auction.  Each year, this auction raises vital funds to support the BGCSM and its programs and services provided to thousands of kids and teens each year.  The evening gathered over 200 business and community leaders.  A special note of appreciation to Trustee Roberto Rodriguez and Trustee Christian Garcia who attended the event representing the Governing Board.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

• October 17-21 is Undocumented Student Action Week.  This event is held annually to help California Community College students know what resources are available to them and for institutions to lend their support to these students.  Our campus has some great events planned for this week and here is the link to view the calendar.  This year’s theme is Juntos Podemos (Together, We Can): Collaborative Ecosystems that Support Undocumented Students.  Here is also a link to our undocumented student resource page.  Additionally, California Community Colleges (CCC) will be hosting daily webinars designed to raise awareness about the challenges undocumented students continue to face and discuss solutions that support their educational dreams.  Here is a link to register for the webinars.  Please note, Palomar College remains committed to supporting undocumented students.
• October 10 was Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  It is designed to celebrate and honor Native Americans and their history.  Here is an interesting NPR article that talks about the history and geography of Indigenous Peoples’ ancestral homelands.
• ​​October is LGBTQIA+ History Month.  The Palomar Pride Center has many fantastic events planned for next week.  Here is a link to view the calendar.
• October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The Disability Resource Center will be hosting events throughout the month.  Here is the link to their calendar.  This month of awareness invites us all to recognize the value of our diverse workforce and the contributions made by people with disabilities in our society.
• October is Latinx Heritage Month.  On Monday the 17th, DRC Counselor Dr. Sabrina Menchaca will lead a workshop entitled, “Latina Me & My A.D.D.” in honor of both Latinx Heritage Month and Disability Awareness Month.  Here is a link to the flyer for this specific event.  Additionally, the Ethnic Studies Department is hosting events to celebrate Día de Los Muertos on November 1^st and 2^nd in the LRC.  These efforts will be led by Professors Alex Gómez and Dr. Angelica Yañez who will discuss the importance, and history, of Día de Los Muertos.  There will be hot chocolate and pan dulce.  Here is a link to the flyer.

Vision Plan 2035

The Educational and Facilities Vision Plan Task Force will meet again this coming Thursday.  A warm welcome to Tricia Frady who is now serving as a tri-chair on this important task force.  During the meeting, task force members will begin discussing data that will inform our plan.  Also happening next week, our educational and facilities planners will continue to hold listening/vision sessions on the San Marcos campus and our Education Centers.

Comet of the Week

The Comet of the Week is Nelida (Nellie) Herrera Martinez.  Nellie is the Director of the North County Educational Opportunity Center (NCEOC).  For those unaware, the goal of the NCEOC is to identify and assist adult participants who want to enter, re-enter, continue, or enroll in a program of post-secondary education.  Nellie goes above and beyond and is constantly planning outreach events to help students apply to Palomar.  Every time I see her, she is out in the community helping our potential students.  I am very grateful for her consistent hard work in this area.

Have a great upcoming week.  Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement
● Attended the Regular Governing Board Meeting for October where the Governing Board conducted general operational business.
● Attended a Special Meeting to discuss the District’s hiring efforts.
● Attended a Leadership Meeting where the Executive Team shared information and discussed campus priorities.

Community Engagement
● Attended the monthly San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA) meeting. SDICCCA is a collaboration between ten community colleges in a two-county area collectively serving over 200,000 students. We discussed current issues the region is facing, provided updates on our respective colleges, and did collective planning for the 2022-2023 academic year.
● Attended the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges Office (CCCO) System Webinar. This webinar shared tools and resources to make progress on the Vision for Success which is the CCCO’s plan to increase accessibility to higher education. The webinar featured prominent local educational leaders that spoke about topics such as Guided Pathway Strategies, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Title IX, and more.
● Presented two workshops at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Conference in San Diego.
● Attended the, On the Road event hosted at the University of San Diego. This was a special luncheon presentation to discuss the state of Hispanic Higher Education and we explored how Palomar can partner with HACU to advocate for Hispanic students. I met Dr. Antonio Flores President/CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Dr. James T. Harris III President of the University of San Diego. These two men were both informed, student-centered, forward-thinking, solution oriented, and generous with their time. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them both.
● Conducted a Fox 5 News interview to discuss issues of food insecurity facing our campus community. We also discussed the Pack the Pantry Food Drive which is a collaboration between California Coast Credit Union, local community college campuses, and the San Diego Food Bank to raise funds and fill local college pantries. The Anita & Stan Maag Food & Nutrition Center at Palomar College has been named “Agency of the Month” for October 2022 by the North County Food Bank, a chapter of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. This recognition by the Food Bank validates that we are truly making a difference. Education is the most significant pathway to a life free of poverty and food insecurity, and our students are deserving of every opportunity. The Food & Nutrition Center is operated by the Office of Student Life & Leadership and led by Director Sherry Titus and Supervisor Pippa Pierce.
● Met with Dr. Matthew Doyle, the Superintendent of the Vista Unified School District, and discussed plans to strengthen our growing partnership.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News
● On Wednesday, October 5th, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) violates federal law. This news is troubling, and we are aware that this decision impacts our students, staff, and faculty. Palomar Community College District continues to welcome and serve all students. We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the success of our DACA, AB 540, undocumented and mixed-status students. The Court’s decision allows current DACA recipients to avoid immediate disruption to their lives and to seek extensions of their DACA status. It is important for current DACA recipients to apply for renewal as quickly as possible. Through our partnership with the Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFSSD), free immigration legal services are available to students, faculty, and staff. Some of these services include DACA application/renewal assistance, naturalization, immigration eligibility consultations, and other immigration services. For support, please contact Jewish Family Services of San Diego for assistance or call 858-637-3345. All information is strictly confidential. We remain fully committed to working with all constituent groups to advocate for permanent pathways to citizenship so undocumented Californians can pursue their academic and professional goals without fear of deportation.

● Undocumented Student Action Week. The Undocumented Student Support workgroup has been working diligently to provide our students, staff, faculty, and administrators with workshops that will enhance knowledge of our undocumented student population, provide resources to support students and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). This week of action is taking place October 17-21, 2022. Here is a link to the calendar of events. A Zoom background is available for your use, and here is a link to view the Undocumented Student Support Work Group Video. This effort was led by Professor Alexander Gomez, and his colleagues, to show support for our students.

● Please note, October is LGBTQ History Month. The Palomar Pride Center has many fantastic events planned starting this week with a workshop called, “The Journey of Coming Out for LGBTQ Individuals” led by Outreach Specialist Tony Quiroz. Here is a link to view the full calendar of events.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035
Are you interested in following our progress on our Vision Plan 2035? Would you like to provide your ideas but cannot make a listening session? Please check out the Vision Plan 2035 webpage by clicking here. We have posted an online feedback form, and we update the page regularly.

Comet of the Week
The Comet of the Week is Pippa Pierce, Supervisor of Student Life and Leadership, for her outstanding work with Palomar’s Anita and Stan Maag Food and Nutrition Center. Fox 5 news was here on Thursday to feature our Food and Nutrition Center and she did an amazing job getting it ready for filming and did an outstanding interview. Thank you for all you do Pippa! We appreciate your incredible effort to ensure no comet experiences food insecurity.

I also recommend reading the latest edition of the Palomar News!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we start the new month. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• Attended the 2022-2023 Budget Committee Meeting. Through the development of annual fiscal plans, the Budget Committee recommends budgeting parameters and aligns the college’s priorities to budgets and institutional planning.
• Attended the Latin America Flavors event and enjoyed a pupusa in the Student Union Quad. Pupusas are a delicious food originally from El Salvador which happens to be where my family migrated from so I may be partial.  Here is the schedule for the one remaining event in the series. This week’s event will serve empanadas!
• Attended a Special Projects meeting where we discussed timelines for the remaining three Prop M construction projects. We also discussed campus housing.
• Attended the State of the Budget meeting.
• Met with Council of Classified Employees (CCE) leadership meeting and focused on the topic of hiring.
• Held my monthly Open Office Hours this week. I always enjoy meeting with colleagues, hearing from employees, and addressing questions and concerns.
• Attended the Disability Resource Center’s Access and Equity Hour. This week’s event was focused on the Intersectionality of Incarcerated & Disabled Identities.
• Attended the play Greetings from the Red Planet at the Palomar Performing Arts Studio Theater. This event is part of the 2022-2023 performing arts season. Here is a link to view other upcoming events. The play by Natalie Ann Valentine centers around a queer-gender-fluid barista that will be the first person to live on Mars as our planet races towards climate collapse. Congratulations Director Michael Mufson on another exceptional production. The play runs through October 9^th.

Community Engagement

• Presented to the California Retired Teachers Association. I had the opportunity to share about my path to becoming Superintendent/President of Palomar College, campus updates, my goals for college, and our plans for the future.
• Received a Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation on behalf of Palomar College at the San Marcos City Council meeting. Thank you, Mayor Rebecca Jones and the San Marcos City Council, for recognizing Palomar’s commitment to promoting education in the Latino/a community.
• Attended CSU San Marcos’ Annual Report to the Community event. President Ellen Neufeldt spoke about the university’s new five-year plan entitled “the Power of Us” which prioritizes increasing student social mobility and serving first-generation college students.
• Attended a special workshop for College Presidents and Chancellors to learn about financial aid Title IV regulations and legislative updates.
• Attended the COLEGAS Webinar, “Tu Lucha es Mi Lucha: Rebuilding Our Colleges by Honoring Students & Educators’ Ancestral Knowledge.” These events remind us of how to create environments that are affirming for our Latinx students.
• Co-facilitated the Black/African American Community Advisory Council Meeting with Cheryl Kearse.
• Attended the Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos’ Youth of the Year Celebration Dinner. At this event, winning Youth of the Year and winning Junior Youth of the Year were recognized. I had a great time participating as a judge at this year’s competition.
• Attended a fundraising event to benefit the Fallbrook School of the Arts called “Art under the Stars.” I was invited by members of our Fallbrook Community Advisory board. A special thank you to Trustee Norma Miyamoto for joining me and representing Palomar College.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

In honor of Disability Awareness Month, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is hosting sessions and events to spread disability awareness and to recognize the value of our diverse workforce as well as the role and contribution of disability in society. Here is a link to the calendar. We invite our colleagues from across campus to host a session or event highlighting their efforts in bringing disability to the diversity, equity, and inclusion work being done at Palomar College. Please visit the sign-up form to present during Disability Awareness Month.

October is also LGBTQ History Month! The Palomar Pride Center is hosting several events throughout the month to celebrate. Here is a link to view the calendar of events. I look forward to seeing everyone at these events!

October marks Filipino-American Heritage Month. This year will be the 30th anniversary of Filipino-American History Month which began back in 1992. Here is a link to the Filipino American National Historical Society’s website where you can learn more about the history of this month and specifically Filipino-American history. Stay tuned for upcoming events taking place here at Palomar!

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035
This past week, we opened registration for our community partner’s listening sessions, and they are filling up quick! This upcoming week we will begin advertising our listening sessions for students through Canvas, social media, flyers, and other methods of communication. Also, we are putting the final touches on our campus-wide survey that will launch this week. Finally, as I mentioned in my last communication, we will continue to hold our campus community listening sessions and have set up several “drop-in” sessions for those who have not been able to make it to their designated sessions. Thank you again for your wisdom and perspective as we develop this signature plan.

Accreditation
Our Accreditation Steering Committee held its first meeting of the year on Friday, September 30, 2022. The committee reviewed our follow-up report timeline and discussed our own self-improvement plans and projects identified in our Quality Focus Essay. This fall semester will be spent working to address our accreditation recommendation related to institutionalizing our processes and practices for integrated fiscal reporting, internal controls, and financial planning. In the spring, we will begin drafting our follow-up report in preparation to submit in November 2023.

Annual Security Report

In the spirit of continuing our Summer of Safety efforts, the 2022 Annual Security Report that contains Clery Act information within the report can be found here.

Hiring Update: Student Services

I am excited to announce, pending board approval, effective November 1, 2022, Dr. Brian Ellison will join Palomar College as the Acting Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services. Dr. Ellison has served as a senior community college administrator for over 18 years and has served as both an Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services and Instruction. His proven administrative capabilities in both Student Services and Instruction, paired with his belief in collaboration between the two areas being the primary generator of positive student outcomes, makes him a perfect fit for our college. Dr. Ellison also has an evidenced commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a principal author/contributor to Student Equity Plans. He has also facilitated multiple institutional efforts in support of closing student achievement gaps and has provided operational oversight for legislative initiatives associated with Student Services and Instruction.

I am also excited to welcome Director Adrianne Lee to Executive Cabinet. Through expanded duties, she has accepted to be the Student Services administrative lead with our focused institutional enrollment efforts. Enrollment, and the process for enrolling, remains a central focus for our institution and Director Lee’s extensive experience, and proven record, in Student Financial Aid, Veterans, and Promise will help us move this institutional priority forward.

Comet of the Week
The Comet of the Week is Police Dispatch Center Coordinator, Nieves Suarez. Nieves did an incredible job compiling this year’s Annual Security Report. The report is essential to keeping our campus and community safe and creating transparency. Thank you for your great work!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:

Twitter: @palomardrstar

Instagram: @palomardrstar

I hope this update finds everyone in good spirits as we head into the new week. Below is a brief recap of my Campus and Community engagement activities from the previous week.

Campus Engagement

• I attended two Latinx Heritage Month workshops. The first workshop was “Deported Veterans,” led by Robert Vivar, Director of the Unified U.S. Deported Veterans Resource Center. This workshop spread awareness about the experiences of immigrants who have served in the United States Military and have experienced deportation. The second workshop was “Chicano Studies Majors Shape the Future,” led by Dr. Angelica Yanez, which created awareness regarding the value of a Chicano Studies major. The Ethnic Studies Department will continue to host a variety of workshops and events to support Latinx Heritage Month. The schedule can be found here.

• Attended the Latin America Flavors event and enjoyed a tamale in the Student Union Quad. The festivities will continue this week and I encourage you to stop by. Here is the schedule for the other events in the series. Please join us as we celebrate.

• Attended a Puente Club meeting. A special thank you to faculty members, and Puente Coordinators, Sonia Gutierrez, and Cynthia Cordova for providing their students with leadership and networking opportunities. The Puente Program is a national award-winning program that has helped thousands of students transfer to a university, earn degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations.

• Attended the Governing Board Special Meeting. During this meeting, we approved the 2022-23 Emergency Conditions Allowance Plan and engaged in a listening/visioning session for the District’s Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035.

• Attended a sneak-peak screening of a film produced by PCTV featuring our Transitions program and the stories of our formerly incarcerated students. This was an eye-opening experience, and I can’t wait to share it with our community at large. I would not be surprised if PCTV wins another Emmy with this powerful film!

• Attended the Palomar football game on Saturday, along with Trustee Christian Garcia. It was also wonderful to see the large group CCE #4522 assembled to cheer on our student athletes. President Anel Gonzalez and CCE leadership conducted the coin toss, celebrated with great food, and even had an opportunity drawing for their members. CCE certainly knows how to throw a party! Palomar had a spectacular win 31-24 over College of the Canyons.

Community Engagement

• Participated as a judge, alongside other community leaders, in the San Marcos Boys and Girls Club 2023 Youth of the Year competition. I had the opportunity to meet the stellar contestants, and I was impressed by the level of competition. The winner is scheduled to be announced this upcoming week. Thank you, Cathy Baur, CEO of the San Marcos Boys and Girls Club, for inviting me to participate in this event.

• Attended the Honoring Our Region’s Heroes Awards Breakfast which recognized the dedicated officers, first respondents, military, and public safety leaders who have gone above and beyond in their duties. This event was hosted by the North San Diego Business Chamber. Thank you to Chief Moore and Foundation Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis for representing Palomar College.

• Attended Teach for America’s inaugural Inclusive Excellence in K-12 Education convening event, along with Trustee Mark Evilsizer. This convening’s goal was to foster greater inclusion in the K-12 education system by bringing together people from different sectors and asking them to commit to diversifying the K-12 education workforce.

• I am excited to announce that I have been selected as a 2023 Wheelhouse Fellow. Wheelhouse, part of the UC Davis’ School of Education, is a Center for Community College Leadership and Research. The institute selects 15-18 CEOs yearly to participate in the program specifically designed to support their performance, increase their effectiveness, and expand their network of resources.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035

Thank you to everyone who has participated in a listening session and/or plans to participate in one. Your perspectives on our current environment have been valuable and your ideas for our future are innovative. Our Governing Board participated in a workshop this past Tuesday and provided their thoughts and ideas as well.

We are not done yet! This week we continued to send meeting invites for internal listening sessions scheduled for October and November. We are also adding a few more drop-in sessions focused on our educational programs and services as well as general sessions for anyone who is interested or did not have time to participate. I will send additional communications with details as we finalize the dates and times of these sessions.

This week, we sent invitations to our external education, business, and community partners seeking their participation and ideas for shaping our future. In October, we will start holding listening sessions with our students. In the coming months, as we begin to craft our plan, I look forward to working with the Educational and Facilities Plan Vision Task Force to reflect upon the insights provided by all of you, our students, and our external partners.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News

• California Native American Day occurred on September 23^rd and was recognized by the District as a holiday on Friday. The day honors the cultural contributions of Native American communities. Palomar College is fortunate to have one of the longest running American Indian Studies department. I encourage individuals to take advantage of the amazing opportunity to explore earning a Certificate in American Indian Studies to gain greater cultural knowledge and insight into the rich contributions Native Americans have made.
• September is Deaf Awareness Month. Deaf Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultural history of the Deaf community and continue the work of advocating for the rights of Deaf people everywhere. On Thursday, the National Deaf Center’s Community Engagement Manager Diego Guerra facilitated a webinar and student panel focusing on the deaf college student experience. This webinar examined how relationships with these students can increase their likelihood of feeling supported and included. Participants also learned strategies for providing deaf students opportunities for engagement on campus, and how to leverage campus and community resources to build partnerships that offer spaces for these meetings.
• Along with 300+ community college educators from around the state, three of our Palomar employees Carmelino Cruz, Mercedes Tiggs, and Brikia Cephus traveled to the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Africa to attend the All-African Diaspora Education Summit. This year’s summit focused on the policy initiative, Beyond the Return. I have been in contact with them this week while they were traveling and have already seen some amazing pictures and videos. I look forward to them sharing their experiences with our campus community in the future.
• The PC3H Committee/Pride Center invites you to join them on Sunday, Oct. 2^nd for the 2:00 p.m. performance of Greetings from the Red Planet and the “Post-Show Experience” with the cast and crew. They will discuss theater queer representation, examine the intersections of queerness with climate change in the play, and explore the play’s broad spectrum of queer identity. Don’t miss this special collaborative theatre experience! For more information, contact Lisette Lasater llasater@palomar.edu.
• The Community College League of California is hosting its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Town Hall event on Thursday, Oct 6 at 6 pm. This event will teach us about innovative student outreach strategies using a DEIA lens. Please join me and register online here.

Hiring Updates

Throughout the process of filling vacant positions in Executive Cabinet, I will be including periodic hiring updates in my weekly emails. Regarding the hiring of the permanent Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Instruction and the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, we remain on track for a December Governing Board appointment. Thank you to both committees for remaining steadfast in their task. More specific details will be provided next week regarding our Student Services and Human Resources positions.

Comet of the Week

The Comet of the Week is Nichol Roe, Associate Dean of Workforce Development and Extended Studies. Nichol has an incredible work ethic and is always taking on new projects and opportunities. In addition to several projects she is currently overseeing, she serves as the co-leader of the Region X Workgroup for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and is working to create a statewide CPL framework. Thank you for making Palomar College a stand-out in the region.

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar

Campus Engagement

• Hosted this week’s Executive Special Projects meeting where we were joined by Dr. Leslie Salas, Dean of Student Success, Equity and Counseling Services; Dr. Nancy Browne, Manager of Student Success & Engagement; Wendy Nelson, Communications Professor and Faculty Senate President; and Dr. Glyn Bongolan– Associate Professor/Counseling Chair who shared their work and ideas around the concept of Student Success Teams.
• Virtually attended the Educational and Facilities Vision Planning Task Force Meeting where we discussed the long-term development plan for our educational and student support programs.

Community Engagement

• Attended the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association’s (SDICCCA) Board Meeting. CEOs, Public Information Officers, and Board Members from all the San Diego/Imperial County Community Colleges discussed current issues the region is facing, gave updates on their respective colleges, and did collective planning for the 22-23 academic year.
• Attended the Promise2Kids 2022 Dream on Fundraiser. Promises2Kids is an amazing organization that supports foster youth throughout the region. It was a wonderful opportunity for Palomar College, other community colleges in the region, and university educational partners to support their fundraising efforts. Community coming together to protect the educational dreams of foster youth was awesome!
• Attended the National Community College Hispanic Council’s (NCCHC) Annual Leadership Symposium in Denver, Colorado. This was a three-day event where educational leaders from around the country gathered to discuss the social issues facing Hispanic Serving Institutions, and how we can remove structural barriers to make community colleges more accessible. At the event, I was also inducted onto NCCHC’s National Board of Directors to serve a 2-year term. I would like to thank Dr. Diane Studinka for taking on the role of Acting Superintendent/President while I was at the symposium.
• Accepted the resignation of Dr. Vikash Lakhani, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Services, and Mr. David Montoya, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Human Resource Services. Official Governing Board ratification of the resignation agreements is expected to take place Tuesday, September 20, 2022. I have met with the Executive Team, all direct reports, and key campus leaders to inform them of this change. My highest priority is to assure normal operations. To this end, Dr. Leslie Salas, Dean of Student Success, Equity, and Counseling Services, is the designated leader for the Student Services Division, and Christine Winterle, Director of Human Resources, will lead the Human Resource Services Division through Wednesday, October 5, 2022. It is expected that formal interim replacements will be named at the Tuesday, October 4 Board Meeting. Please rest assured that a longer-range plan will soon be shared with the campus community. We thank Dr. Lakhani and Mr. Montoya for their service and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Updates and News
Latinx Heritage Month has started! Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15. As part of Latinx Heritage Month, our Ethnic Studies Department will be hosting a variety of workshops and events. See the schedule here. A special thank you to Dr. Angélica Yañez– Associate Professor of Ethnic and Chicano Studies and Alexander Gomez– Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies.

Additionally, the campus community is invited to take part in our Latin America Flavors series enjoying tamales in the Student Union Quad on Tuesday, September 20 and Wednesday, September 21 at 11:30 a.m. Here is the schedule for the other events in the series. Please join us as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with delicious regional food from Latin America! A special thank you to Carmelino Cruz– Acting Chief Diversity Officer for organizing this event.

Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035
The work on our Vision Plan 2035 continues. As I have reported in previous weeks, through this planning process we will consider our educational and student support programs and how they will evolve over time.

A critical aspect of this planning is hearing from you! What would an ideal college have to offer its students in 2035? What are your thoughts and ideas about your area and related programs?  How might they change over the next twelve years? What factors will impact them? And how will that affect your technology, staffing, and facilities needs? Over the next two months, we will continue to hold our listening sessions where we will ask you and your colleagues these questions.

Wondering how you can participate? Marti Snyder is coordinating the listening sessions and will be sending out communications and meeting invites. Bilingual Spanish speakers will be present for the Educational and Facilities Vision Plan listening sessions and sign language interpreters will be available at your request. You may also participate through a campus-wide survey which will be sent out at the end of September. To learn more please visit the Educational and Facilities Vision Plan 2035 webpage.

Comet of the Week
The Comet of the Week is Accreditation Coordinator, Marti Snyder, for her excellent work organizing all aspects of the Educational and Facilities Vision Plan meetings (approximately 60 meetings are scheduled). These meetings are critical for the success of this project and for the future of Palomar College.

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

For pictures of the various events, follow:
Twitter: @palomardrstar
Instagram: @palomardrstar