In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to achieve full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. It is great to see how Palomar supports this effort on an ongoing basis. I was excited to find out that we have a Women in STEM Network where students can interact and meet with other women in the STEM field. It is excellent to see our campus efforts to provide full and equal access to the science field and to celebrate those who are leading action and innovation locally and around the world.  

Campus Creative Focus

Professor of Art and Ceramics, Sasha Koozel Reibstein has a new exhibition currently on display at the Quint Gallery in La Jolla titled “Are you Okay in the Dark?” This exhibition contains new astrologically inspired sculptures that explore the theme of intergenerational trauma. She was featured in the San Diego Union and the article shows some of the amazing sculptures. Please attend the exhibition and support the arts and our amazing faculty! 

Campus Engagement 
It was a busy week. Highlights include participating in a meeting to discuss temporary and permanent signage at our Education Centers and on the main campus. I am thrilled that we are finalizing short-term and long-term plans. Also, along the lines of planning for the future, we had a kick-off meeting with our district architects and master planning consultants to discuss the scope of work and establish a tentative timeline for developing our new Educational and Facilities Master Plan. This plan will delineate our long-range vision for serving current and future students. Created using a collaborative planning approach, this plan will identify the college’s programs and services and the facilities we need to support them. I am looking forward to this endeavor and to re-imagine our future. 

This week we held our third All Campus Accreditation Forum. We reviewed aspects of the virtual site visit and discussed tips and other helpful information to know for the visit. We also played Accreditation Jeopardy and it is rumored some folks walked away with ice cream! If you missed the fun informational session, here is the link to the recording. 

I held President’s Open Office Hours this week, and I always enjoy making personal connections and learning about the outstanding work in the different areas of our college. Thank you to all those who made the time to meet with me. Campus engagement this week also included meeting with CCE leadership, PFF leadership, and facilitating the first College Council meeting of 2022.

I briefly attended my first Empowered Women at Palomar meeting, and I was able to see first-hand all that goes into planning Women’s History events taking place during the entire month of March. I also was able to briefly stop by to my first White Ally Accomplice meeting, and privileged to join the DRC Access and Equity Hour to hear how we can proactively support struggling students.

I once again met with the Association of Latinos and Allies for Student Success (ALASS) to continue our dialogue regarding how to celebrate and promote student success. Their mission is to bring together faculty, staff, students, and administrators to raise awareness and advocate for the needs of our Latino student population is an admirable one.  

The Palomar Black Faculty and Staff Association’s (PBFSA) Black History Month workshop series continued this week. On Monday, February 7th PBFSA hosted a showing and panel discussion of the documentary film: Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities. The panel discussion included input from Historically Black College and University alumni. On Wednesday, in partnership with MiraCosta College, there was the Financial Empowerment Porch Talk Series: Dialogue on Strategies to Achieve Racial Wealth Equity. And on Friday, February 11^th the event Culinary Therapy: A Tribute to Leah Chase took place. Although I was unable to stay for the duration of all the events, I made a concerted effort to stop by and support these efforts.

On Saturday, I was able to join the Associated Student Government Leadership Retreat. It was outstanding! Hearing directly from students and exploring their ideas around how to improve enrollment was the highlight of my week. 

Community Engagement 

This past week, I attended the third meeting of San Marcos Unified School District’s Portrait of a Graduate. The meeting revolved around finalizing the list of competencies needed for student success. Portrait of a Graduate is an initiative that involves the Portrait Design Team, which consists of nearly 100 business & community leaders, local elected officials, parents, students, and alumni. The goal of this team is to discuss the relevant skills students need to secure their academic and career success. I look forward to sharing more as the project develops into an action plan. 

COVID-19 
On Thursday, we held our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus Update meeting. We are still planning to return to onsite teaching and learning on February 22. Governor Newsom is scheduled to reclassify the pandemic as an endemic on Tuesday, February 15. This will inevitably initiate new guidance. The guidance is expected to be inclusive of a mask mandate for only those individuals who are not fully vaccinated. The County of San Diego Health Services department has indicated that they will enforce the California Department of Public Health guidance. We will update everyone once the guidance is published. Please review the recording of the meeting if you were unable to attend.  
 

Accreditation  
Our site visit is 15 days away! This week, I would like to focus on data. Our Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) is 300 pages and full of some incredible data. The volume of data is due to the ACCJC’s policies and standards requiring colleges to build programs around their mission statement, and to engage in self-reflective practices that ensure data is central to the discussions for improved practices.  

Student outcome data is one of the many types of metrics we use to guide our discussions and decisions.  Each year, we spend time with departments, committees, and councils reviewing data on things like course completion, certificates and degrees awards, and transfers.  

A clear example of how we use data to inform our work can be found in our Quality Focus Essay (QFE), which is included in our ISER. Informed by data, we have identified three projects for improving student success and outcomes. These three projects are: 

-Math/English First– Completion of Math and English in the First year 

-Focus on Completion 1– Removing Barriers to Degrees and 

-Focus on Completion 2– Program Pathways to Transfer and Beyond 

Regardless of the metric, data represents just a starting point for conversations on how we can best meet the needs of our students. It provides us with an avenue for reflection and dialogue and guides our decisions. I encourage you to think about changes made in your area in recent years, and how data was used to make those decisions. Our visiting team may ask:

-What data did you consider when you made the change? 

-How did data inform your discussions? or

-What actions were taken based on the data available?  

Comets of the Week

The dynamic duo Comets of the Week are Sherry Titus and Pippa Pierce. Only these 2 incredible comets can host a retreat for our student ASG leadership that makes reviewing the Brown Act and learning about Shared Governance entertaining and educational! Not only did I learn a great deal on my visit, but I had a fun time doing so. To see the leadership development they are cultivating within our students is phenomenal to witness, and the dedication they show by doing so on a Saturday to accommodate student schedules is awe inspiring. On behalf of our student leaders, thank you both!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets! 

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

Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the indispensable contributions Black Americans have made to our country. This month, I encourage everyone in our community to take part in celebrations and educational events associated with Black History Month. Our participation helps to enrich our collective understanding of the complex history of race and inequality in our country. Palomar is dedicated to supporting our African American/Black Community and furthering our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

The Palomar Black Faculty and Staff Association (PBFSA) is hosting many events for their 2^nd annual workshop series titled: Black History: Wellness of Spirit, Strength of Will. Attending these events is a great opportunity to learn and celebrate Black History as well as support our students, faculty, and staff. The PBFSA is asking for faculty to consider offering students extra credit for attending. For a list of all upcoming events, click here, or view the calendar of events on our website. All events will be hosted on this zoom link. Thank you for your thoughtful support.

Happy Lunar New Year 2022 Year of the Tiger!
February 1st marked the start of the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated around the world by approximately 2 billion people! The celebration lasts fifteen days, and 2022 is considered the year of the Tiger. Lunar New Year represents an opportunity for new beginnings, so I am looking forward to what the new year brings to Palomar. Happy new year to all who celebrate!

The Week in Review
Campus Engagement
On Tuesday evening, our governing board unanimously selected the new map for the Palomar Community College District. Here is a link to the new district map. I appreciate everyone who participated in our public hearings and community forums. Our top priority was making sure all voices were heard in this process so we could create the most representative District map. The selected map will be used for trustee area elections in November. More information is available in the article posted to the latest edition of Palomar News.

On February 4^th, I attended the PBFSA hosted Celebration of Black Poets: Past and Present event which celebrated the work of several prominent black poets, both past and present, and their contributions to literature, art, black representation, and the civil rights movement. I personally enjoyed learning about the first African American author of a published book of poetry, Phyllis Wheatley (1773). Thank you, English Professor Richard Carr Jr., for hosting this outstanding event.

I was also able to stop by the Disability Resource Center (DRC) sponsored Access and Equity Hour where the Anatomy of an Academic Accommodation Letter was discussed. I am always impressed with the level of care we take to provide training and resources for our campus community that supports student success. Thank you, Counselor Alyssa Vafaie, for an excellent training.

Community Engagement
On Monday, I joined Board President Norma Miyamoto, Board Vice President Roberto Rodriquez, Board Secretary Kartik Raju, Trustees Mark Evilsizer, Trustee Christian Garcia, and PIO Julie Lanthier Bandy and our colleagues from the San Diego Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA) for briefings with representatives of state legislators. The briefings are designed to update our state assembly members on the monumental impact of community colleges in the region, the state economy, and the workforce of the future. Collectively, SDICCCA colleges serve 238,000 students and contribute $8.1 billion annually to the California economy. Check out the wonderful student stories and images in the updated SDICCCA brochure.

On Wednesday, I was honored to participate as a panelist for the Chancellor’s Office Webinar: Transforming Institutional Culture through Effective Anti-Racist Practices. The experience also afforded me the opportunity to learn from other community college administrators on how they are placing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) at the heart of their work. Note the newest acronym DEIA – which references ACCESSIBILITY- reiterating the need for equitable access for all students.

PIO Julie Lanthier Bandy and I met with representatives of the Governor’s regional office on Wednesday. This office is relatively new, it serves San Diego, Orange, and Imperial counties. Our conversation centered on the need for increased per-student based funding, and the importance of continued funding for deferred maintenance and energy-efficient projects. We asked the representatives to share our appreciation for the Governor’s support of bill AB 927 last year, which makes the state’s Community College Baccalaureate program permanent, and enables the expansion of this successful program.

I had the opportunity on Friday to meet with Lisa Garza-Gonzalez, Superintendent of Fallbrook Union High School District. We discussed the needs of her students and how we as a college can impact their success, particularly with our classes at the Fallbrook Education Center. We are looking to future collaborations.

Friday ended with an introductory meeting with Haney Hong. While Mr. Hong is President and CEO of the San Diego Taxpayer’s Association, he also teaches at several 4-year colleges in the area. As a fellow educator, the conversation focused on how we best serve the educational needs of the region, and how to use the remaining Prop M bond funds in the best interest of our students and the voters within our district.

COVID-19 Update
Once again, over 100 people attended our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update. We discussed many topics, including the use of N95 masks and how employees will soon be able to request masks through a “Facilities Request” form. N95 masks are not required for in-person work, however, facial coverings are required when indoors on campus. We also discussed our pending return to onsite work effective February 22. All departments are expected to be open to provide services Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a virtual workday on Friday. Many departments will be operating with a staggered work schedule, due to health and safety measures. Please check with your supervisor to discuss your work schedule. If you missed the meeting, you can view the recording here.

Accreditation
Our site visit is 22 days away. We are continuing to prepare for our virtual peer review visit that starts on February 28. To get the latest information and your questions answered, please make sure to join us for our final All Campus Accreditation Forum on February 9 at 3:00 p.m. Here is the Zoom link.

This week our accreditation focus is on integrated planning. Integrated planning, evaluation, and resource allocation decisions are emphasized throughout our accreditation standards. As a college, we have implemented a mission-driven planning process that connects our planning priorities to our budget development and resource allocation decisions. You can access information on our Integrated Planning Model (IPM) and its supporting plans here. We are looking toward initiating our new Master Planning cycle this Spring. Our existing Master Plan has served us well, but it is time to recast this long-range vision and plan to address the future of our institution. This process will involve all of us, so look for future announcements.

The significant plans in our IPM are:

• Master Plan 2022 (Consists of our Educational and Facilities Master Plans)
• Technology and Staffing Plans
• Strategic Plan 2022
• Equity Plan 2019-22
• Program Review and Planning (PRP) Unit Plans

Last year we began to utilize the PRP process to help connect resource allocation decisions to planning and assessment. Through this process, units throughout the College evaluate their programs and services, create program plans, and identify resource needs. With the understanding that we cannot fund all identified needs, we engage in a structured resource allocation prioritization process for technology, facilities, and equipment requests. Hiring requests for faculty and staff also come through the PRP process which has a prioritization component. As we move forward, we plan to connect staffing requests that come through our PRP to our overall assessment of needed and requested positions.

Comet of the Week
Congratulations to Comet of the week, Jessica Horn! I want to thank Jessica for going above and beyond to honor one of our beloved veteran employees who recently passed, John Diaz. Jessica worked hard on her time off to ensure John got the military honor and recognition he deserved. Jessica demonstrated what makes our community so great; our care and passion for one another. Thank you Jessica for making a positive difference.

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

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

We are looking forward to an incredible Spring Semester which begins tomorrow! Most of our classes will remain virtual for the first three weeks of the semester, and we are scheduled to return to in-person learning February 22nd. I commend all those who have been tirelessly working to implement the adjustment. I am aware of the Herculean effort this represents, and I sincerely thank you all on behalf of our students. Students still seeking assistance are encouraged to contact our enrollment and counseling teams. The Student Success website has important contact information for all departments.

Campus Engagement
Congratulations and thank you to our Professional Development Coordinators, Luis Guerrero and Matt Grills, for an incredible job in designing, developing, and managing Spring Plenary. Spring Plenary had an incredible agenda packed with opportunities to learn from one another and build towards our institutional goals. Board President, Norma Miyamoto, set a positive tone for the day with her opening remarks. I thank the executive team, campus leadership, and all who participated in making plenary a huge success!

The Inaugural Social Justice Convening on Friday was also an incredible success. I appreciate the time and dedication of members of the Educators for Equity, Diversity and Cultural Consciousness Committee: Eduardo Aguilar, Dr. Hossna Sadat Ahadi, Dr. Alan Aquallo, Cynthia Cordova, Dr. Lisette Ordorica Lasater, Lawrence Lawson, Michael Mufson, Tina-Marie Parker, and Alyssa Vafaei. I was extremely impressed that the keynote speakers were our own Palomar students. They provided their perspective of the Palomar experience and made suggestions for improvement. I was humbled to experience the collective wisdom within our institution that was evidenced in the workshops I attended and the overall agenda. The work we are doing to realize our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) institutional initiative is praiseworthy. I am already looking forward to next year’s convening.

February is Black History Month which is dedicated to paying tribute to the triumphs, and honoring the struggles, of African Americans throughout our country’s history.  The Palomar Black Faculty and Staff Association (PBFSA) is proud to present the 2^nd Annual Black History Month workshop series. The educational, insightful, and uplifting workshops are open to students, faculty, staff, and the community. This year’s theme is Black History: Wellness of Spirit, Strength of Will. Please see the brochure which includes details about each workshop and flyers for our MiraCosta partnered events. Each of these workshops will be available in the PD portal soon. The PBFSA is asking for faculty to consider offering our students extra credit for attending.  Please feel free to share with community members as well.

At our State of the Budget meeting on Wednesday, we discussed the Governor’s new budget proposal and its potential impact on Palomar College. You can view the presentation here or view the recording to better understand the information we will consider when planning the FY2022-23 budget.

My meeting this week with the leadership of CAST and AA was productive. We discussed various issues, and we are proactively working together to best address them in a comprehensive manner. Thank you Jim Odom, Marti Snyder, Joe LeDesma, Jennifer Finn, Jessica Horn, Nellie Martinez, Dr. Nancy Browne, Ruth Barnaba, and Yasue O’Neill for your continued leadership.

Community Engagement
This past week I attended the second session of San Marcos Unified School District’s Portrait of a Graduate. This initiative involves the Portrait Design Team, which consists of nearly 100 business & community leaders, local elected officials, parents, students and alumni. The goal of this team is to discuss the relevant skills students need, and the aspirations our community has for our young people in the community. I look forward to sharing more as the project develops into an action plan.

I also joined Education Center Director, Ryan Williams, Construction & Facilities Planning Manager Dennis Astl, American Indian Studies Department Chair Patricia (Patti) Dixon, Vice President David Montoya, and HMC Architects at a meeting of the Luiseño Cultural Resources Advisory Group (LCRAG). One of its goals is to educate non-tribal people about Luiseño cultural heritage, values, and traditions. The goal of this meeting was to better understand the heritage of the land where the Fallbrook Education Center is located, and to incorporate aspects of the tribal nations into the design of the first permanent building at the center.

On Saturday, we hosted two virtual public forums on the newly proposed District maps. You may recall that the maps were presented at the Governing Board’s most recent special meeting. The open forums provided the opportunity for the voting public to give feedback on the maps.  Both our legal counsel and demographer were present to summarize the redistricting effort and answer questions. Forty-eight people attended the sessions which were recorded in order to provide our Governing Board with feedback. The Governing Board is scheduled to take action on the new District map February 1^st.

COVID-19
It remains our recommendation for all employees and students to test 3-5 days prior to returning to onsite working and learning.  Our testing schedule is designed with student and employee schedules in mind.  Appointments are required and can be done through your personal Cleared4 link.  The surveillance testing sites at the main campus and education centers in Escondido and Rancho Bernardo have proven beneficial to asymptomatic individuals who otherwise would not have known about their COVID-19 status. As a result of these actions, we have prevented the potential spread of COVID-19 within our institution. During our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting, we discussed these testing services and many other questions and concerns regarding our return to onsite work.  If you missed the meeting, please review the recording here.

Accreditation
Thirty days until our Peer Review visit! Please continue to visit the accreditation webpage for information on the visit and future open forums that will be held February 28 – March 3. As we move closer to the visit, I will be highlighting the content included in our Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) in weekly updates.  In an earlier weekly update, I emphasized the importance of our mission in guiding the work we do. Last year, the College Council (formerly Strategic Planning Council) led an update of our Vision, Mission, and Values.

Our Vision statement expresses the transformation we hope to achieve in the lives of our students. Our Mission statement highlights our diverse student body and states that as a community college we prepare students to engage in our local and global communities. Our Values express the guiding principles that drive us in our work. Our five values address the following:

• Access
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Academic Excellence
• Student Focus
• Community

The new Mission statement is posted on our About Palomar website. The comprehensive Vision, Mission, and Values statement can be found on our Integrated Planning webpage.

Comets of the Week
Congratulations to Comets of the Week, Luis Guerrero and Matt Grills!  We are fortunate to have such dedicated and knowledgeable colleagues in our Professional Development department. Both Luis and Matt were also involved in the Inaugural Social Justice Convening and their contributions did not go unnoticed. Thank you, Luis and Matt, for your continued support and commitment to the success of Palomar College. You both outdid yourselves this week!

I also want to recognize the many individuals making our Wellness Fitness Center safer for our campus community! A special thank you to Timothy Cross, Derrick Upson, Sasha Craig, Juan Monroy, Dan Early, Dan Lynds, Michelle Fifield, Fernando Franco, and Ed Seckendorf for organizing the center and adding layers of safety measures such as installing plexiglass barriers. Thank you to all these comets for their hard work and collaboration!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

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

The necessary decision to delay face-to-face learning and services on our main campus and education centers until February 22 was a difficult one to make.  Since our return from the winter break, COVID-19 related illnesses, exposures and quarantines have had a negative impact on our operations.  This decision enables us to better prepare for a safe and healthy return to comprehensive onsite services and learning.  Details associated with this decision are included in Assistant Superintendent/Vice President Montoya’s communication accessible here.  We understand that this decision will have a significant impact on our campus community, but please know the decision was not made lightly.  Thus far, we have been able to overcome every obstacle this pandemic has presented, and I am confident that we will also successfully navigate this current challenge as well.  Thank you all for your understanding and patience.

Please note, the Office of Instruction is working as quickly as possible to make the required changes in PeopleSoft, so that when our students review their schedules and consider potential changes, they will have the most accurate information available.  Virtual Student Services are still available, and students can be directed to view and access available services on the Student Success Webpage.  Students are encouraged to check their student email daily, and to log into the MyPalomar portal to view updates and notifications.  Please address specific concerns or questions regarding your area to your supervisor.

Campus Engagement
On Tuesday, the Governing Board held a special meeting to review the proposed Trustee Area Maps that are required due to the results of the 2020 U.S. Census.  You can view the proposed maps here.  To gain as much public input as possible, we have made available a public comment form.  We are also hosting two virtual public meetings on Saturday, January 29^th.  The first session begins at 9:00 a.m. and the second begins at 1:00 p.m.  You can find more information on this webpage.  Please share this opportunity with community members.

Spring ’22 Plenary – Transitions 2.0 is upon us!  There are many informative virtual sessions planned for Thursday, January 27^th.  Please review the agenda and register through the PD Portal.  A special note of thanks to our PD Office, Luis Guerrero and Matt Grills for their commitment and time in designing, preparing, and managing Plenary.

The Educators for Equity, Diversity and Cultural Consciousness Committee is excited to present the inaugural Social Justice Convening “Our Heart – Our Community: In Lak’ech” on Friday January 28^th. This event supports the mission of disrupting the status quo by dismantling inequities within the community.   You can register for the general session and specialized workshops through the PD Portal.  Thank you to Eduardo Aguilar, Dr. Hossna Sadat Ahadi, Dr. Alan Aquallo, Cynthia Cordova, Dr. Lisette Ordorica Lasater, Lawrence Lawson, Michael Mufson, Tina-Marie Parker, and Alyssa Vafaei for making this event possible.

Community Engagement
This past week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Marian Kim Phelps, Superintendent of the Poway Unified School District. It was a great opportunity to discuss our joint initiative, the Middle College, that is coming to fruition Fall ’22.  We discussed our common interest to serve the educational needs within the southern portion of our District.

COVID-19
During our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting, we discussed the fluctuating impacts of the Omicron variant on the region, state, and nation.  We were also reminded that free COVID-19 antigen tests are now available from the federal government.  We also had the opportunity to address questions associated with our delay in face-to-face instruction and return to onsite work.  Please review this link if you were unable to attend the meeting.

Accreditation
We are moving closer to our accreditation site visit! This past week we received our visiting team’s pictures and bios.  You can view them here.  As we move into February, I will begin highlighting information contained in our ISER, and I will share details regarding how the virtual visit will be conducted.  This information will be helpful if you are asked to participate in one of the interviews during the visit.  Another useful tool in preparing for the visit is to review the content that we shared at our recent All Campus Accreditation meetings.  During these meetings we discussed the accreditation cycle and standards; shared our new Vision, Mission, and Values; and connected our new governance structure to accreditation.  Please take some time to review the recordings of these meetings.  You can find the links on the following accreditation webpage.  Also, please don’t forget to attend our final All Campus Accreditation meeting via Zoom on February 9^th from 3:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.  I hear ice cream may be a topic on the agenda (inside joke for those who attended the last meeting).

Comet of the Week
Congratulations to Comet of the Week, Dr. Najib Manea!  Dr. Manea has been selected as the new Director of California Community Colleges TechConnect.  We are grateful for his many contributions as the Manager of our Academic Technology Resource Center at Palomar over the years, and we celebrate his promotion.

Have a great upcoming week.  Go Comets!

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

On Monday, January 17th our nation will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  This day honors the American civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner’s life and legacy.  Growing up, Dr. King’s writings, and demonstrated courage, had a profound influence on my values.  I, like many others, can trace my social justice philosophical approach to his influence.  The values highlighted in his, “I Have a Dream” speech still speak to me in a compelling way.  I am attaching a link to an interesting NPR article where you can also hear Dr. King deliver his speech.  It is amazing how relevant his message remains today, and how it can still inspire us to acts of love and service that benefit our community.  This Monday, I hope you are able to find time to listen to his moving words, to reflect on his message, and to celebrate his legacy.

 The Week in Review
Campus Engagement
We had a very productive meeting with Fallbrook community leaders to discuss our progress in designing the 40,000 square foot new Fallbrook Education Center building that will serve the educational needs of future generations.  I would like to recognize the time and talent of Ryan Williams, Dennis Astl, Chris Miller, and the HMC Architects, as they continue to address the needs of our community, students, faculty, and staff, while also staying focused on student engagement and the overall student experience.

As I do monthly, I met with the leaders of PFF and CCE this week to share ideas and discuss issues that impact our faculty and staff work environments.  Thank you Teresa Laughlin, Barbara Baer, Carmelino Cruz, Anel Gonzalez, and Patty Serafin for your involvement.

Community Engagement
The week started with the monthly gathering of CEOs, Public Information Officers and Trustees within the San Diego Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA).  We were joined by our new Board President, Trustee Norma Miyamoto.  We discussed the impact of the Omicron variant on our campuses and the enrollment challenges we are all facing as the spring semester begins.  These conversations have continued throughout the week and will culminate in an update to all Palomar College employees and students at the beginning of this next week.

Dr. Andy Johnsen, the Superintendent of San Marcos Unified Schools District, hosted an engaging Portrait of a Graduate Student session with community leaders from throughout the District.  This initiative is designed to formulate a collective vision that articulates our aspirations for every student in the San Marcos Unified School District.  I admire Dr. Johnsen’s vision, and I look forward to participating in other upcoming sessions with the students, educators, community members, and city leaders who were present at the first meeting.

COVID-19 Update
The Omicron variant continues to impact our employees and students.  The COVID-19 Response Action Team (CRAT) has reported a steady increase in case submissions over the past three weeks.  As a result, we are experiencing an increased number of employees who are unable to come to work due to illness or COVID-19 exposures.  Last week, the Omicron variant also impacted staffing levels at our test sites.  In order to get through this challenging time, we ask for your patience as certain tasks may take longer to complete.  Please also continue to be vigilant about your own health and safety.  If you are not feeling well, please do not come to campus and complete a COVID-19 Questionnaire.  A member of our CRAT will contact you and provide guidance.  During our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting on Thursday, we addressed many questions and concerns.  If you were unable to attend, please review the discussion at this link.

Accreditation
This past Monday, we met with the leadership from our accreditation peer review team to begin coordinating our virtual site visit.  Attendees included Dr. Chris Vitelli, Team Chair, Superintendent/President, Merced College; Dr. Michael McCandless, Team Assistant, Vice President Student Services, Merced College; and Crystal Pollinger, Assistant to the President, Merced College; and our ACCJC Liaison, Dr. Catherine Webb. Our peer review team will conduct their virtual visit February 28^th – March 3^rd.  During the visit, the team will assess and confirm how we meet accreditation standards.  They will use the detailed explanation and evidence contained in our Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) as the foundation for their review.

The virtual visit includes a kick-off meeting, two campus forums, campus interviews, and an exit report. Dr. Webb encouraged us to use our kick-off meeting to showcase Palomar, our programs, facilities, and community.  The forums will provide us and the public with an opportunity to engage with the visiting team.  If you are able, please attend a forum and let our visiting team know about the wonderful programs and services Palomar provides to our students and the positive impact we have on the region.  During the exit report the team will summarize their observations based on our ISER, interviews with campus representatives, and the campus engagement events.  We are looking forward to the visit and sharing our Palomar story with the team!  We will continue to update you as we finalize the details of the visit.  Please be sure to attend our final Pre-Visit All Campus forum on February 9th at 3:00 p.m.  Here is the Zoom link.

Comets of the Week
In keeping with our focus on maintaining a safe and healthy environment, the Early Childhood Education Lab School (ECELS) team, Diane Studinka, Julie Lanthier Bandy, and Mike Day worked with Biocept to organize and implement a COVID-19 test site on campus for our youngest students on Saturday morning.  I would also like to recognize Derrick Upson, of facilities, for taking time to provide access on a Saturday to the on-campus testing site.  Thank you all for your efforts, time, and dedication in keeping our campus community safe!

Have a great upcoming week.  Go Comets!

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

I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break, and you were able to rest and enjoy time with family and friends.  The new year is always a good opportunity to pause and set new goals or recommit to existing ones.  I am looking forward to working with all of you in the new year to best serve our students and achieve our institutional goals.

Return to Onsite Work Update
Throughout the winter break, the Executive Cabinet and the Emergency Operations Center and Policy Team continued to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 Omicron variant within the district and in the region.  The variant has proven to be highly contagious and the case rate within our institution is higher than when compared to previous surges of the pandemic.  It is due to this that our return to onsite work on January 18th has been postponed to January 31st.  This delay will allow our employees to recover and properly prepare to serve our students on the first day of spring classes.  It is important to note that as we proceed toward January 31st, the District is prepared to adjust this date as needed, and as required by federal, state and local guidance.  As with any change in plans, we are cognizant that this adjustment can be stressful.  Our leadership team met on Thursday to discuss a variety of associated details.  We remain committed to resolving your concerns.  Please contact your supervisor to answer specific questions regarding your departments onsite return plan.

To aid in achieving the healthiest and safest return to onsite work, we have opened up our PCR COVID-19 testing resources to all employees and enrolled students at our main campus and at the Escondido and Rancho Bernardo Education Centers.  We are recommending that all employees returning to onsite work be tested for COVID-19 3-5 days prior to your assigned date to start work.  This timeframe will allow you to receive your test results, prior to coming to work.  The testing schedule is available here.  If you are ill, please do not come to one of the Palomar College testing sites.  Instead, please complete a COVID-19 Questionnaire and a member of our COVID-19 Response Action Team will contact you, and provide guidance.  In an effort to assist students and employees who need to complete their vaccination requirements, we have COVID-19 vaccination and booster events scheduled at the Escondido Education Center and at the main campus, starting January 11th.  You can find the event schedule and additional information on vaccinations on this webpage.

During our weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting on Thursday, we addressed many questions and concerns.  If you were unable to attend, please review the discussion at this link.  Also, look for further updates in your Palomar email inbox.

It is important to note that we still remain committed to preparing our students for their return to learning.  During this month, our colleagues in Student Services will be designing and hosting outdoor events to assist students with enrollment, financial aid, and other questions.  In addition, our counseling services team will continue to host virtual counseling sessions.  A comprehensive directory of services is available here.

Accreditation
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has received our Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER), and our assigned peer review team is currently reviewing the report.  The final document is posted on our accreditation webpage: Palomar College Accreditation.  We are now focused on preparing for our virtual site visit.  The visit will include several opportunities for our campus community to engage with the peer review team.  We will hold a virtual kick-off and two public forums with the visiting team.  At the end of the visit, the team will provide an exit report.  Please plan on attending our All-Campus Forum on February 9th at 3:00 p.m. to learn more about the visit and what you can do to prepare.  Here is the Zoom link for the forum.

Comets of the Week
Keeping us all safe!  Nurse Practitioner Sarah Adams, and nurses Medybill “Hope” Rull, and Heather Dorny, have been in contact with every single person who has completed a COVID-19 questionnaire during the pandemic.  This includes connecting with individuals over the winter break and managing the record-breaking volume of questionnaires received this past week.  These colleagues are our first line of defense in keeping our institution safe and healthy.  Thank you, Sarah, Hope, and Heather!  We are honored to have such a dedicated team!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

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

The well-deserved winter break starts on Tuesday, December 21.  Thank you all for your dedicated service to our students.  With two weeks to rest and enjoy time at home with family and friends, I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones make the most of this time together.  On behalf of the Governing Board and the Executive Cabinet, we wish you a very happy new year!  Stay safe and stay well!

The Week in Review
Campus Engagement 
The end of the semester marks the opportunity to recognize student achievement.  This week I attended the virtual Palomar College Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony and the in-person Fire Academy Graduation.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishment these students must have as they complete their programs during a pandemic in fields that enable them to immediately serve the health and safety needs of our region.  I am extremely proud of these students and the dedicated nursing and fire academy faculty and staff for their continued dedication to training these future health and safety professionals.  Congratulations to all!

This week, the Governing Board organizational meeting took place, and Trustee Norma Miyamoto was elected as the new Board President.  Trustee Roberto Rodriguez was elected as the Board Vice President, and Trustee Kartik Raju was elected as the new Board Secretary.  Congratulations to our new officers.

Another highlight of my week included the opportunity to visit the Cabinet and Furniture Technology program.  Thank you Department Chair Jennifer Anderson and Instructional Support Specialist Georg Kast for the invitation.  I also appreciate Dean Susan Wyche for joining me on the tour.  Learning the details of the Furniture Design, Instrument Making, and Production Cabinetmaking courses was awe-inspiring.  I have said many times, after visiting different Palomar programs, that I leave with an overwhelming sense of Palomar Pride!

I finished up the week by attending the Palomar Comet Concert Band performance.  The talent of our students is just amazing.  Thank you to faculty member, Heather Barclay, for the time and devotion she invests in training our students and in producing an exceptional performance.  The next performance will take place in March, and you will not want to miss it!

Community Engagement
As for my community engagement efforts this week, I attended the quarterly gathering of the Palomar College President’s Associates.  Thank you to Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis and the Foundation Team for hosting this wonderful event.  A special note of appreciation to the 30+ attendees and to Palomar College Foundation Board Chair, Pete Rogers, who shared heartfelt words regarding the positive impact the President’s Associates has on our students and their success.  The Foundation Board, along with our donors, are a perfect illustration of how community coming together helps us to better serve our students.

I also participated in the Chief Executive Officers of the California Community Colleges (CEOCCC) annual meeting on Tuesday.  The gathering was comprised of statewide Chancellors, Presidents, and Superintendent/Presidents.  The convening provided dedicated time for in-depth discussions around the complex issues impacting our institutions and the overall California Community College system.

Another productive meeting held this week involved several Fallbrook community leaders.  The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Fallbrook 40 project.  We were joined by Director of Facilities Chris Miller, Manager of Construction Dennis Astl, Center Director Ryan Williams, Public Information Officer Julie Lanthier Bandy, Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis, and several HMC Architects.  We met in person at the Fallbrook Education Center to discuss the plans for future facilities that address the educational needs of the surrounding area.

The North County Economic Development Council held its annual awards ceremony to recognize innovation, business development initiatives, and organizations that are committed to serving the economic needs of the region.  I was joined by Trustee Kartik Raju, Associate Dean Nichol Roe, Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis, Foundation Board Member Malena Bennett, Director Adrianne Lee, and Public Information Officer Julie Lanthier Bandy.  The event was a great opportunity to connect with leaders throughout the county.  Many of our elected representatives, and both long-time and new partners of Palomar College, including Tri-City Medical Center, Palomar Health, and Kaiser Permanente, were in attendance.

On Friday, we hosted the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) meeting via Zoom.  The ICOC is a group of committed community volunteers who are responsible to the taxpayers of our region to monitor the expenditures associated with Prop M.  They were provided with a construction update on current projects, and Vice President Ambur Borth presented our Prop M financial summary.

COVID-19 Update
As we prepare for the return from the winter break, our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of our employees and students.  Please consider the travel advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health.  It recommends that all travelers arriving in California test for COVID-19 within three to five days after arrival, regardless of their vaccination status.  Employees and students are able to test at one of the Palomar College testing sites.  Please note the testing schedule during our Intersession is different than in Fall ’21.  For your convenience, here is the intersession COVID-19 Testing Schedule. We ask that you continue to use the Cleared4 daily health questionnaire and if you are required to test for COVID-19 due to an exemption, please do so.

As with any transitional plan, there will be questions and concerns.  We will use the time between January 3 – January 17 to assess, collaborate, and build on our plan to return to onsite work on January 18.  Please have any pending questions regarding our return to onsite work answered by your supervisor or Vice President.  The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is working diligently to schedule vaccination events in January and early February.  Once finalized, the schedule will be published.  Of note for Spring ’22, is the hiring of COVID-19 monitors.  By January 31, COVID-19 monitors will be stationed at each entrance to the main campus and education centers to check Cleared4 passes.  They will also assist those who do not have a pass so that we can ensure that we are enforcing our safety protocols.  If you missed the December 16 COVID -19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting, here is a recording of the meeting.

Accreditation
With the Institutional Self Evaluation Report (ISER) on its way to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), I would like to extend the Accreditation Writing Leadership Team’s (AWLT) heartfelt appreciation to everyone who participated in the development of the document.  After the winter break, we will continue to prepare for our virtual accreditation visit.  We have already met with our technology and logistics support team to start the process for the visit.  We will share detailed information on how the visit will transpire through email updates and our All-Campus Forum on February 9.

Comets of the Week
This week’s Comet of the Week is Interim Dean Diane Studinka, who helped organize Administrative Association (AA) members to donate to the Palomar Faculty Federation (PFF) annual toy drive.  Her intentional efforts resulted in collecting $1,000 that allowed for 111 toys to be purchased, and since PFF donated an additional $5.00 for each toy donated, AA member contributions increased the overall toy drive by an additional $555.  Thank you for the efforts in supporting the children of our community during this holiday season.

Have a great winter break. Go Comets!

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

The winter season is always a time of resolution, reflection, and connection. It is a time of gratitude and acknowledgment of what was and the hope and excitement of what is still to come.  Through your resilience, determination, and tireless efforts we are finishing the semester strong.

This week, I am grateful to the Accreditation Writing Leadership Team (AWLT) for completing the required edits of our Institutional Self-Evaluation Report (ISER), and very appreciative of our Governing Board for their approval of the ISER at the board meeting on Tuesday, December 7.  To the many faculty and staff that pushed for the completion of this milestone, I am thankful to each of you!  At the same meeting, the Governing Board approved a resolution to adopt criteria to guide the adjustment of trustee areas consistent with legal requirements, including reasonably equal population and Section 2 of the Federal Voting Rights Act, and which address other concerns and considerations important to the District.  These required adjustments to the trustee areas are a direct outcome of the 2020 U.S. Census results.  We are currently developing a timeline, inclusive of receiving public comments and community hearings, to aid in the development of new trustee area boundaries.  The deadline to finalize the new District map is March 1, 2022.

As the end of the semester approaches, our community may be feeling the pressure of pending deadlines as well as our Spring 2022 return to onsite work and learning.  Because of our demonstrated unwavering commitment to the success of our students, I am certain that we will get through this together.  With the official return to onsite work, there may be unknown challenges that arise.  Please be assured that we will be vigilant in addressing any issues in a timely manner.  Please stay in close contact with your supervisor, as this is the best starting point to address any concerns.

The Week in Review
Campus Engagement
At the invitation of faculty member Wade Rollins, I was able to visit with Graphics Communications students and gain a better understanding of the program.  I was extremely impressed with the entire program.  It feels as though whenever I explore a new program, I experience a deep sense of Palomar pride.  The diversity of learning we offer our students is phenomenal.  Thank you Professor Rollins for the invite!

This week I also attended several student performances including, Current Waves– a performance of student music compositions directed by Madelyn Byrne, the Winter Dance– a student performance directed by Patriceann Mead, and the Palomar Chamber Singers and Palomar Chorale student performance directed by John Russell.  I am awed and inspired by the talent and dedication our students display toward their craft.  I also had the opportunity to virtually listen to the entertaining performer Larry Thompson who was featured in this week’s free Concert Hour.

The Student Life and Leadership team hosted an outstanding Human Rights Day event on Thursday.  The event featured a small Farmer’s Market, clothes from Comets Closet, Humanity Showers, and representatives from Cal-Fresh, the Disability Resource Center (DRC), Health Services, and the Pride Center.  A special thank you to the Student Life and Leadership team, led by Sherry Titus, for hosting such an incredible opportunity for our campus community.

Our annual toy distribution event for our EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/FYRST students served 50 families, and 107 children received new store-bought gifts/toys for the holidays.  The EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/FYRST team partnered with the Palomar College Foundation, Campus Police, and Toys for Tots to make the event a success.  This event truly captures the holiday spirit and our Palomar commitment to student engagement and success.  Thank you to the EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/FYRST team, led by Steven Salter, for their efforts to make this a successful event- even in the cold rain during Thursday night’s distribution.

Community Engagement
On Thursday morning, we hosted a “sneak peek” of the Ernest J. Allen Library at the Escondido Education Center.  Guests present included members of the Escondido City Council, City Administrators, Escondido Library Foundation members, Board President Mark Evilsizer, and members of the Executive Team.  The “sneak peek” enabled our community partners to get a glimpse of the remodel, new furniture, and materials made possible through our donor partnership with the Escondido Library Foundation.  Thank you to Stacy Rungaitis, Julie Lanthier Bandy, Tom Medel, and Alexandra Doyle Bauer for your collaboration in designing and implementing this community relations initiative.

COVID-19 Update
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this week to continue the COVID-19 pandemic emergency declaration and is expanding access to monoclonal treatments and testing of all types.  This action reiterates the continual impact of the pandemic in our region. The County Public Health department indicated that the small increase in cases can be associated with multi-household Thanksgiving holiday celebrations, and the highly contagious Delta variant.  Our campus continues to be a microcosm of the County, as we have seen a slight increase in COVID-19 related exposures.  All of those impacted by these exposures have been contacted by the COVID-19 Response Action Team (CRAT).  Our Weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update Meeting included many health-related updates, statistics, and discussion points associated with Spring 2022 planning.  Please review the recording here.

Accreditation
The ISER will be delivered to ACCJC by the end of the week.  We have posted a notice in the San Diego Union Tribune regarding our upcoming accreditation visit and the opportunity for the public to provide third-party comments on our accreditation status.  The public may provide this comment by accessing this link.  A similar posting will occur on our social media platforms.  We are continuing to prepare for our virtual site visit on February 28 thru March 3, 2022.  We learned this past week that Dr. Catherine Webb will serve as our new ACCJC liaison.  Our final campus accreditation forum will take place on February 9, 2022.  More details will be shared via email as the date draws closer.

Comets of the Week
The EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/FYRST team, led by Steven Salter, are our Comets of the Week.  This group of talented and dedicated colleagues have continually identified and implemented creative ways to serve our students throughout the pandemic.  Our students are very fortunate to have such a wonderful team serving their needs.  Thank you EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs/FYRST team!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

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

Friday, December 3^rd was the annual observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities as proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.  The day of observance aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.  It also seeks to increase awareness of gains derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.  Our Disability Resource Center honored International Day of Persons with Disabilities by hosting a session focused on captioning, an important compliance and equity initiative that we must all recognize and actively implement.  Thank you to presenters Kelly Peterson and Denise Vanderstoel for facilitating the session.

The Week in Review
Campus Engagement
On Monday, I joined the Black/African American Community Advisory Council meeting.  The Council is interested in evaluating quantitative and qualitative data related to Black/African American faculty, staff and students at Palomar College and has appointed a subcommittee to conduct an initial analysis of the data.  Thank you to Council members, Rob Howard, Chanelle Chalhoun, Reginald Owens, Edwina Williams, and Cheryl Kearse, for joining the subcommittee.  We also discussed the potential design of the new position of Chief Diversity Officer being developed at the College.  The position will work directly within the President’s Office and be a liaison between various internal divisions and external organizations.  The Palomar Black Faculty and Student Association (PBFSA) is finalizing their spring semester events. Once finalized, the PBFSA will invite other Black/African American community groups to join and participate.  Thank you Dr. Khan for facilitating the Black/African American Advisory Council.

A special thank you to Patti Dixon for generously, and patiently, working with me this week to learn the proper pronunciation of the indigenous names in our Land Acknowledgment.

Early in the week I had a discussion with Matt Grills and Luis Guerrero regarding Spring Plenary 2022.  Based on this conversation, I am excited about the upcoming event on January 27.  Submissions for presentations during Plenary are being collected.  Please submit your idea for a presentation using this form.

I would also like to thank Sasha Jonestein for the invitation to visit and learn about the Ceramics program.  I was very impressed by the creative, and professional, approach utilized in this program.  The projects generated by our students are simply amazing! This week, I had a great dialogue with World Language faculty members, Scott Nelson and Kathleen Sheahan, regarding potential future Study Abroad opportunities.  Ed Sprague and I met to discuss the great work that has been happening in our Public Safety area throughout the pandemic and discussed the potential areas of need and growth with all of our first responder programs.  I spent part of the day on Friday, touring our Escondido Education Center.  Thank you Tom Medel for your hospitality, sharing the important features of the Center, and exploring opportunities to further engage our current and future students in the surrounding Escondido area.  With all of these meetings, I really appreciate the opportunity to continue learning about our fantastic programs, discussing the challenges faced, and exploring ideas to better serve our students.

I hope you were able to check out CHAINGE REACTION: Short Plays from the Climate.  It was another remarkable performance directed by Michael Mufson.  This unique performance was in participation with theatres all over the globe, creating an engaging and energizing performance experience featuring selections from the 50 international plays chosen for this year’s action.  I am always impressed with the work of our performing arts department and this performance was no exception.  After the Sunday matinee performance I attended, I am most definitely moved to see how Palomar College can support a more ecologically sustainable agenda.

The Office of Student Life & Leadership (SLL) is hosting an event in the Student Union Quad on Thursday, December 9^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to acknowledge World Human Rights Day.  In celebration of this day a local non-profit organization, Humanity Showers, will be on-site to serve students.  Other activities include a Farmer’s Market, the distribution of Basic Needs supplies, Comet’s Closet services (inclusive of a fashion show by students in the Fashion department), Cal Fresh services, Health Services, Disability Resource Center services, and Pride Center services.  Additionally, from now through December 16, SLL will be collecting donations for the Warm Their Soles This Holiday Season sock drive.  We encourage all students, staff, and faculty to come out and support this event and drop off donations of new socks.  Bins are located in the LRC, Student Union, SU- 201, and in the Cabinet Furniture and Technology area.  Thank you Sherry Titus, Pippa Pierce, and Kimberly Rocca for this student-centered event and charitable giving opportunity!

Over the Thanksgiving break, I was able to attend the women’s basketball Comet Crossover and the men’s basketball 16^th Annual Thanksgiving tournament.  Both events showcased the talented student athletes we have at Palomar.  I was also impressed by the demonstrated commitment of our athletics department personnel who were hard at work during the holiday break in order to provide our students with competition opportunities.  Also in athletic news, although I was unable to attend the 2021 Chick-fil-A Winter-Festi Bowl on Saturday in person, I was able to participate virtually.  Over 100 other streamers were able to support our football team and witnessed our definitive win against Santa Barbara City College.  The festivities featured a half-time raffle chance to kick a short field goal and win a year’s worth of meals from the popular food chain.  Thank you, Dan Lynds, and the entire football staff for all the hard work leading up to the bowl championship!

COVID-19 Meeting
This week the focus has been around the omicron variant and its potential impact going forward.  If there is one thing that we can be certain of during this pandemic, it is the need for all of us to remain vigilant about our health and display a commitment to keeping each other safe.  As we’ve been doing throughout the pandemic, we will continue to pivot as necessary.  I am appreciative of the EOC and CRAT for their continued focus and dedication.  All the work they are doing is in addition to their regular assigned responsibilities.  I am also grateful that we continue to have over 100 attendees at our Weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update Meetings.  If you missed the meeting, you can view the recording here.

Accreditation
Thank you to all who joined us on Thursday for the All-Campus Accreditation Forum.  We had more than 125 people attend!  We focused on our new governance structure and its alignment with our accreditation standards.  If you were unable to attend, you can review the recording.  Our final forum will be held on February 9th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and we will review the details of our upcoming virtual accreditation site visit that begins on February 29th.  This week we received notification that the President of ACCJC, Dr. Stephanie Droker is leaving the commission to serve as interim deputy chancellor for the Peralta Community College District.  Dr. Droker was Palomar’s accreditation liaison.  ACCJC will identify a new liaison for the College over the next few weeks.  The liaison will participate in our upcoming visit by providing guidance and support to the visiting team, and to help ensure consistency in peer reviews. We wish Dr. Droker well in her new role, and we look forward to meeting our new liaison!

Comets of the Week
This week’s comets of the week are the Palomar College Foundation Team, under the leadership of Executive Director Stacy Rungaitis, for raising over $78,500 during our Giving Tuesday campaign.  These funds will assist hundreds of our students with scholarships, textbooks, and emergency grants. Congratulations Foundation Team!

Have a great upcoming week. Go Comets!

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

With a college as diverse as ours, I imagine many types of traditions will be celebrated on Thanksgiving this Thursday.  I am sure many of you have preparations in mind and menus designed to be enjoyed by all.  I recently read an article that mentioned an interesting approach to a Thanksgiving meal that both celebrates the holiday as well as honoring Native American Heritage month, by focusing on the many contributions of Native Americans to our food sources, cooking, and celebratory tables.  Whether you celebrate with a large group of loved ones, or prefer a smaller and quieter gathering, I sincerely hope you enjoy the well-earned respite.  I also hope you get a chance to reflect on this past year, consider all that you are grateful for, and take the time to celebrate the incredible work you have done throughout the year. On behalf of the Governing Board and the Executive Cabinet – Happy Thanksgiving!

The Week in Review
Campus Engagement
As a college, we are thankful for the time and dedication of the Palomar Faculty Federation, Council of Classified Employees, Palomar College Foundation and the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council.  They made it possible for hundreds of families to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal by hosting the drive-thru food distribution event on Saturday.  It was rewarding to participate and connect with colleagues to support this important endeavor.  A special thank you to Teresa Laughlin and Barbara Baer for their incredible leadership! Also, a special note of appreciation to the many volunteers, including Trustee Rodriguez, who gave generously of their time and effort to make this event a success.

I also want to recognize our Student Life and Leadership team for also taking care of our students this past Tuesday by way of a food distribution event.  Our students benefitted from the Anita & Stan Maag Food and Nutrition Center by receiving dried food, canned goods, fresh produce, diapers, and hygiene products.  A big thank you to Sherry Titus and Pippa Pierce for leading these efforts!

This week the Career Center invited me to share my career journey with students.  I was happy to share my experience as a first-generation community college student and the path that led me to becoming Palomar College’s Superintendent/President.  It is always important to take a moment and reflect on the milestones along the way.  I am thankful that my path has now led me to work with so many talented faculty and staff here at Palomar that positively impact the lives of our students.  Thank you for the invitation, Rosie Antonecchia!

I spent time with the leaders of the Administrative Association and CAST to discuss important topics that impact employees and the district.  I always enjoy exchanging information and ideas on how to best get us back on campus with Jim Odom, Marti Snyder, Joe LeDesma, Connie Sterling, Jennifer Finn, Jessica Horn, Nelida Martinez, Nancy Browne, Ruth Barnaba, Yasue Oneill, and Vice President David Montoya. 

This week also included a meeting with the dedicated Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) President’s Action Team.  Our conversations centered on the continuous improvement, and meeting, of our DEI goals as set within the Antiracist Framework.  It is admirable to see the efforts of all the leaders working to build an inclusive culture that serves all students.

I ended the week with a meeting with our Math Department faculty.  It was encouraging to learn about all the amazing work they have done to implement AB705 and to discuss ideas to further improve the success of our students.  Thank you to Craig Chamberlin. Shelbi Hathaway, Tracy Johnston, Fariheh Towfiq, Cynthia Anfinso, Mike Mumford, Mark Clark, Kelli Miller, Luis Guerrero, Yuan-Lin Lee, Eli Ziade, Mona Ellis, Perri Gellman, Cynthia Torgison, and Yan Tian, for your time and commitment to our college.

Our women’s basketball team never fails to entertain.  It was a great match up between the Comets and Alan Hancock College on Friday evening.  The team played with great energy and grit in their tournament wins over the weekend.  Thank you head coach Leigh Marshall, and assistant coaches Chris Kroesch, Damian Cephus, Kailey Rowan, and Bianca Littleton for leading our student athletes throughout the season.

Our Performing Arts department also never ceases to amaze me.  I was able to welcome patrons, students, and employees to the 75^th season of the Palomar College Symphony Orchestra and enjoyed the performance, “Epic Tales from the Heart”.  After rehearsing for more than a year and half online, the Orchestra returned to a live audience at the Howard Brubeck Theatre.  Thank you, Dr. Ellen Weller for the invitation and opportunity!

Community Engagement
The Community College League of California (CCLC) hosted its annual conference this past week.  The theme this year was, California Community Colleges: Always Essential.  The virtual conference focused on recognizing the indispensability of our colleges.  It highlighted how we contribute to economic and social mobility, foster civic engagement, and support an equity-based economic recovery.  Palomar had strong representation as I was joined by Trustee Evilsizer, Trustee Miyamoto, and Trustee Raju.

I also attended my last session of my Aspen/USC Racial Equity Leadership training.  This month the featured speaker was Dr. Shaun Harper, who discussed the challenges, opportunities, and strategies in advancing the mission and interests of the institution’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

COVID-19 meeting
All department supervisors have received their Fall 2021 Return to Work Safety Plan from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  These plans are to be reviewed and updated to reflect the Return to Onsite Work date of January 17, 2022.  Changes may reflect additional personnel, hours of operation and any technology or facility related needs.  It is important for all areas to be operational Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  You can reference the memo here and please connect with your supervisor or Vice President if you have any questions.  This past Thursday, we had 120+ attendees at the Weekly COVID-19 Return to Campus and COVID-19 Update meeting.  In case you missed it, you can review the recording here.

Accreditation
You should have an invitation in your inbox for the all-campus forum on Thursday, December 1, 2021. During the forum we will discuss how our approach to governance aligns with accreditation Standard IV.A Decision-Making Roles and Processes.  We will set aside time during the forum to answer your questions on our new governance structure as well. Here is the Zoom link to join.  See you there!

Comet of the Week
Congratulations to our wonderful women’s basketball coach, Leigh Marshall, on her outstanding milestone of reaching her 200^th win at last Friday’s game!

Have a great restful upcoming week.  Go Comets!

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