We’re You.

savvy

mentor

goodstewards

educator

green

partner

artistic

goodneighbor

successful

creative

leader

beneficial

value

employer

visionary

technologicalleader

communityasset

fiscallyresponsible

workforcetrainer

smart

transforming

innovative

integral

Who are we?

reputable

athletic

2 3

Ethnicity

White 46%

Hispanic 23%

Asian 11%

Black 8%

Other 12%

Gender

Female 56%

Male 44%

Age

<20 29%

20-24 35%

25-29 13%

30-49 18%

>50 5%

J ustino Calangi, an international student fromMacau,rememberstheeventfuldaywhenhefirststeppedfootontheGrossmontCollegecampus.

“Honestly,Ilovethisplace,”Calingosaid.“Beinganinternationalstudent, itwasespeciallythrillingformetostudyhere.Iclearlyrememberthefirsttime.Thefeelingwasfantastic.”

Calingo, now a transfer student at the Universityof California, Berkeley, received the mathematicsand natural sciences division honor award fromGrossmontCollegeforthespring2010semester—his third top-student award in two years—at aceremony recognizing academic excellence andservicetothecollege.Inadditiontobeingpresidentof the Grossmont College Mathematics Club,Calangi was also a physics, math andchemistry tutor. Even with his busyschedule, he managed to retain a4.0gradepointaverage.

In September, Calangi was oneof two student speakers at thegrand opening celebration ofGrossmont College’s Health andSciences Complex. He extolledthe value of the new center,praising it as a gorgeous facilitywherefutureswillbebuilt.

“Overallthisfantasticbuildingmakesstudentswantto study, and that’s what makes it stand out,” hesaid.“Iwantotherstofeeltheacademicexcellenceoftheschool.”

Calangi’s success went beyond Grossmont. Hewas ranked among the top 10 students nationallywho competed in the American MathematicalAssociation of Two-Year Colleges’ Student MathLeagueContest,betteringhistop50rankingfromthe2009competition.

Calangicreditshisparentsformuchofhissuccess,as well as an aunt living in Chula Vista who hadrecommendedGrossmontCollegeastheplacetobeginhiscollegiatestudies.

“Grossmont College means a lot to me,”he said. “It has given me the perfect

transition I need for Berkeley, a verycompetitiveschool,andIfeelready

for it. Many people ask me why Idid not go straight for universityinthefirstplace.Iaskthem,‘Whypay the price for a universityif you get equal quality from acollege?’Iamproudtotellothersthat I transferred from the bestcollege in San Diego—GrossmontCollege.”●

Who are we?

In1960,EastCountyvotersshowed they believedin the importance ofhigher education by

approving what was thenknown as the GrossmontJunior College District.Today,EastCountyneedsusevenmorethanwhenthefirstGrossmont College classeswereheldontheMonteVistaHighSchoolcampusinSpringValley.

We’re now known as the Grossmont-CuyamacaCommunityCollegeDistrictandwehavetwocampuses,GrossmontCollegeinElCajonandCuyamacaCollegeinRanchoSan Diego. Grossmont College, which hadaninitialenrollmentof1,538studentswhenitopenedin1961,nowservesabout20,000students.CuyamacaCollege,whichopeneditsdoorsto1,950studentsin1978,nowhasmorethan10,000students.

Our colleges are under pressure now asnever before. We’re seeing an increaseddemandforourservicesasmorestudentschoose to attend community college ontheir path to a degree, and more peoplelooking for a new career are returning toschool for training.At the same time,ourbudget is stretched tighter than ever asCalifornia struggles with its worst fiscalcrisisinhistory.

We remain upbeat and optimistic aboutour future despite those demands. We’realeaderintechnologyandaninnovatoringoinggreenandteachingenvironmentally-friendly techniques. We’re a communityassetandtheeducationalandculturalhubof East County, offering sports, theater,artsanddiningeventsonourcampuses.

Our focusnow,more thaneverbefore, ison student success—doing everything wecan to help our students complete theircourses,gettheirdegrees,ortransfertoafour-yearuniversity.

Wemaybefacingtoughtimes,butwetakeit instride.We’re resilientandwe’reheretoserveEastCounty,justaswewerethatfirstday50yearsago.●

W earethestudents,facultyandstaffwhomakeupthetwoEastCountycollegesin the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. We are musicians,athletes, scientists,writers,mathematicians, artists, andchefs, amongotherswithmanytalentsandskills.

Ourstudentsareadiverseandwide-ranginggroup—therecenthighschoolgraduatestartingcollege,theimmigrantlearningEnglishinanewcountry,theworkerlearningtheskillsforanewcareer.

Mostofthedistrict’sstudentsareemployedfull-orpart-timeandmanyreturntoourcollegesforretraining.About90percentofthedistrict’sstudentswhotransfertoSanDiegoStateUniversitycontinueintotheirsecondsemesterandachievehighergrade-pointaverageswhentheygraduatethanstudentswhoenterthefour-yearinstitutionasfreshmen.

EastCountyresidentsfromthebackcountryto the cities, from dozens of communitiesto the Indian reservations, seek out theofferings at Grossmont and Cuyamacacolleges. Other students come from allover San Diego County and even beyond,with hundreds of international studentsattending our colleges for an educationwithafreeexchangeofideasandanopenlearningenvironment.

We have almost 1,700 full- and part-timeemployees, including more than 1,000instructors, dedicated to working withstudents and ensuring they succeed intheiracademicendeavors.

Whoarewe?Weareyou.●

Mother and son team up to learn

W heneverDanielPadelfordhastroublewithanewconcept inoneofhisclasses,hecancountonhaving someone nearby to review his lessons

withhim.Daniel'smother,Margie,hasbeenenrolled inclasseswithhersonsincehestartedattendingCuyamacaCollegethreeyearsago.

Daniel has a brain injury that makes it difficult for himtoreadandwrite,buthe’sgotmanyother talents.He’samusician,acomputerwhiz,anaturalham,andhedoessomedead-oncelebrityimpressions.

Danielandhismotherhavebeentakingclassestogetheronsubjectsranging from masonry to auto mechanics to kickboxing. TheysaidtheDisabledStudentsProgramandhisprofessorshavebeenincrediblyunderstanding,findingnewwaysforhimtounderstandthematerialdespitehislearningdifficulty.

“Ithasmademecrymanytimesforthepatience, love,respectandextrahelptheyhavegivenusboth,”Margiesaid.“Theteachershavebeenmycheerleadersbecausethey’resoencouragingwithwhatthey’redoing.”

Daniel,whoisalsoasenatorinCuyamacaCollege’sstudentgovernment,hasstartedtakingsomeclassesonhisown.Herecords the lectures, then reviews the material later with hismother.He’sthinkingaboutacareerinhorticultureorcomputers,orperhapssomefieldthatcombinesthetwo.

Margie said Cuyamaca College has opened a world ofopportunitytoherson.●

Our Vision:

Transforming lives through

learning.

Our Mission:

Provide outstanding learning

opportunities that prepare

students to meet community

needs and future challenges of

a complex, global society.

2010 District BreakDown By:

<20

20-2425-29

30-49

>50

Female

Male

From Macau to UC Berkeley: Grossmont College helps student make the leap

Chancellor’s Message

associate DegreescertiFicates

awarDeD DistrictwiDe(2009-2010)

1500

1200

900

600

300

0

Cer

tifica

tes

Deg

rees

enrollMent

2006 2007 2008 2009

Cuyamaca 7,749 8,707 9,333 9,796

Grossmont 17,063 17,958 18,757 20,717

10,250

20,019

Fall 2010

Dr. Cindy Mileswhite

Hispanic

asian

Black

other

A fterhearingalectureaboutenvironmentalissuesandglobalwarminginoneofhisCuyamacaCollegeclasses,RyanWilcoxhadabrainstorm.

Wilcox,whowasworkingattheWHotelindowntownSanDiego,knewthehotelsoftencalledonshuttlecompaniestoprovidetransportationfortheirguests.

“Ihadthiscrazyidea,”Wilcoxsaid.“Whydon’twehavetheshuttlerunofftheusedcookinggreasefromthehotel?”

Wilcox said he crystallized his plan in an entrepreneurship classat Cuyamaca College and credited Professor Joseph D’Amato forencouraginghim.

“I showed him my business plan and he said, ‘Wow,youshoulddothis,’”Wilcoxsaid.“Hewastheonewhoinspiredme.”

In2007,Wilcoxandapartnerformedashuttleservicethat used refined vegetable oil from restaurants andturned it into fuel to power a bus, Town Car and aHummerlimousine.

Thebusinesswasan initial success,butWilcoxsaidhewasmore interested inpromoting biofuel than becoming a shuttle driver. He and his business partnersplit,andWilcoxkept theHummer.He’snowfocusinghiseffortsonpickingupvegetableoilfromseveralrestaurantsanddeliveringittoacompanythatconvertstheoiltofuel.

Wilcoxsaidhe’salsoplanningtoreturntoCuyamacaCollegetotakemorebusinessandaccountingclassessincehe’shadsomeexperienceasanentrepreneur.

“Itmotivatespeopletostarttheirownbusiness,”hesaidofhisbusinessclasses.“That’sagreatthing.”●

What are we?

Cuyamaca College classes plant the seed for green business

One out of every three

East County adults has attended

at least one class at Grossmont

or Cuyamaca College.

TheGrossmont-CuyamacaCommunityCollegeDistrictinEastSanDiegoCountyincludes two thriving community colleges—Grossmont College and CuyamacaCollege—thateducateandtrainadiversepopulationofabout30,000studentseachsemester.

Theadditionofmorethanadozenneworremodeledfacilitiesbuiltsincethepassageofa$207millionbondmeasurein2002hashelpedaddressthegrowthofhigh-demandprograms such as nursing and allied health, engineering and computer informationscience.Whetherastudent is juststartingcollege,planningtotransfertoauniversity,returningtolaunchacareerorpickingupnewskills,thecollegesstrivetomeetawidevarietyofneeds.

OneoutofeverythreeEastCountyadultshasattendedatleastoneclassatGrossmontorCuyamaca,theonlypublicinstitutionsofhighereducationandthelargestprovidersofworkforcetrainingintheregion.

Ofthe 14Californiacommunitycollegesupforcomprehensivereview infall2007—anongoing process that culminates with site visits by an independent accrediting teameverysixyears—GrossmontandCuyamacawereamongonlysixgrantedthehighestlevelof accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.The accrediting committee’s vote of approval—formallyreferred to as a “reaffirmation of accreditation”—iscrucial because it provides quality assurance tothe public. For students, it means transferabilityof units to other colleges and universities, andfederalfinancial-aideligibility.

With more than 125 degree and certificateprograms, Cuyamaca College’s commitmentto workforce training and recognition of thegreen industry as an up-and-coming sourceof jobs has translated into an expansion ofprograms and offerings related to protectingand preserving natural resources. The college’sornamentalhorticultureprogramhasaddedanemphasison sustainable urban landscapes, and Cuyamaca’sContinuing Education program has added anextensive list of workforce training offeringslinkedtogreenjobs.

Since opening in 1978, Cuyamaca College hasgrowntomorethan10,000students.By2015,thatnumberisexpectedtoreach15,000,withofferings such as the Golf Course and SportsTurf Management major, the paralegal programandscienceclassesgainingprominence.

From its nationally renowned cardiovasculartechnologyprogramtoitsdivision-winningbaseballteam,GrossmontCollege’straditionofexcellencehasplayedavitalroleinthesocialandeconomicdevelopmentoftheEastCountysince1961.

The only community college in the county tooffer forensic technology, Grossmont Collegehas trained many of the county’s crimescene technicians. Additionally, the college’sinnovative transfer agreement with GrandCanyonUniversityprovidesanacceleratedpathto a bachelor’s degree in nursing for GrossmontCollegenursinggraduates.

Grossmont College has been selected the best localcollegeoruniversitybyreadersoftheSanDiegoUnion-Tribune,whocastwinningvotesforGrossmontin2003,2004,2007,2008and2010inthepublication’sannual“SanDiego’sBest”poll.●

Higher education for all: Offerings at Grossmont, Cuyamaca colleges span the spectrum

Osher scholarships: A forever giftTheBernardOsherFoundationhasofferedanincredible$50milliongifttoCalifornia’s112communitycolleges.Each$13,500donatedtoacollegeismatchedbythefoundationandtranslatesintoa$1,000scholarshipforastudenteachyearFOREVER.

Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have until June 30,2011 to raise the money to be eligible for the matchinggrants from the Osher Foundation. The colleges haveraisedacombinedtotalofabout$400,000towardtheirgoalofalmost$800,000.Inthe2010-2011schoolyear,18students at Grossmont and six at Cuyamaca receivedOsherscholarships.

For some students, like Grossmont College student andOsherscholarDiedreaLewis, that$1,000makesacrucialdifference in buying books and paying fees the singlemothercouldn’thaveafforded.

“BeingastudentatGrossmontCollegehasbeennothing,nothing,nothingshortofamazing,”Lewissaidatacampusevent.“Iwouldcrawlonmyhandsandknees,surroundedby broken glass, surrounded by half a million poisonoussnakes,justtogettoGrossmontCollege.”

Todonate,contacttheGrossmontCollegeFoundationat(619) 644-7109 or Grossmont.foundation@gcccd.edu orthe Cuyamaca College Foundation at (619) 660-4479 orgwen.nix@gcccd.edu.●

More than $1.2 million in Cal Grant financial aid

was awarded to 1,062 students at Grossmont

and Cuyamaca colleges.

54

When are we?

Family has deep roots in Grossmont CollegeThe Sprecco family tree is closely intertwined withGrossmont College. Thirteen members of the EastCountyfamilyacrossthreegenerationshaveattendedclassesontheElCajoncampus.

RalphandGretchen SpreccoofLakeside,theparentsof14children,bothattendedGrossmontCollegefrom1974to1976andgotcertificatesincriminaljusticetobecomereservepoliceofficers.Thecoupletooknightclassessotheirolderchildrencouldbabysittheyoungersiblings.

SixoftheirchildrenalsoattendedGrossmontCollege:

Francine,theeldest,earnedherassociatedegreein1973.

Pat,thethirdchildandnowElCajon’spolicechief,gothisassociatedegreeincriminology/lawenforcementin1976.

Joe,theirsixthchild,isaretiredsheriff’sdeputy.“Iwashooked,” he said about the administration of justiceclassesawakeninghisinterestinlawenforcement.

Teri,theseventhchild,attendedGrossmontbeforegrad-uatingfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatIrvinein1983.

Cathy, theeighthchild,graduatedfromGrossmont in1992beforetransferringtoSanDiegoStateUniversity,wheresheearnedherbachelor’sandmaster’sdegrees.

Toni, the youngest of the Sprecco siblings, attendedGrossmontin1989.

Twospouses—Pat’swife,Alma, andJoe’swife,Christy,arealsoGrossmontalum. “GrossmontCollegewas therightsizeformetobreakintocollege,”saidChristy,whowentontoearnherbachelor’sandmaster’sdegreesfromtheUniversityofPhoenix.“Itwasaperfectfitforme.”

Athirdgenerationisnowcontinuingthefamilytradition.Pat and Alma’s son Nick, an El Cajon police officer,attended Grossmont and started his law enforcementcareer as a police officer on the Grossmont Collegeforce. Their daughter Kaleena attended Grossmont in2003,whiletheirson-in-law,John Rzucidlo,aSanDiego

policeofficer,isnowworkingonhisadministrationofjusticedegree.

Pat Sprecco, who spoke at GrossmontCollege’s 2010 commencement, said he

hasfondmemoriesoftakingclasseswithhisfather.

“GrossmontCollegehasmeantalottoourfamily,”hesaid.“It’sprovidedus with the foundation for veryrewardingcareers.”●

W henthefirstclassesconvenedatGrossmontCollegein1961,Elviswaskinganddancers twisted thenightaway in sockhopsat thegym.Music tasteshavechangedsincethen,butthedistrict’scommitmenttoeducatingstudentsandtrainingSanDiegoCounty’sfutureworkforceremains.

EastCountyvotershavelongrecognizedtheimportanceofhavingcommunitycollegesthat are convenient and provide outstanding opportunities for learning. The timelinebelowlistssomeofthekeydatesinthehistoryofthecollegedistrict.

November 1960:TheGrossmontJuniorCollegeDistrictisapprovedbyEastCountyvoters.

September 1961:FirstclassesheldonthecampusofMonteVistaHighSchoolinSpringValley.

September 1962:Theapprovalofa$7.5millionbondmeasureinallowsforthepurchaseofa135-acresiteadjacenttoElCajonandLaMesa,withthefirstclassesonthenewcampustwoyearslater.

January 1971:Statelegislationchangedtheschool’snamefromGrossmontJuniorCollegetoGrossmontCommunityCollege.

September 1972:A165-acresitesouthofElCajonisacquiredfortheestablishmentofCuyamacaCollege.Fall 1978: Cuyamaca

Collegeopensasthesecondcommunitycollegeinthedistrict.

March 1985: Thedistrict’snameischangedtotheGrossmont-CuyamacaCommunityCollegeDistrict.

November 2002:EastCountyvotersapprovePropositionR,a$207milliongeneralobligationbondtofundrepair,renovationandconstructionoffacilitiesatbothcolleges.

Spring 2002:CommunityCollegeWeeklistsCuyamacaCollegeasthe16thfastestgrowingmid-sizecommunitycollegeinthenation.Totalenrollmentatbothcollegestops26,000.

Spring 2003:Grossmontdesignatedoneofthetop10digitalcommunitycollegesinthenationbytheCenterforDigitalEducation.

Fall 2005: J.C.Grid-WirenamesGrossmontCollegenationalchampionsofcommunitycollegefootball,cappingayearthatsawtheGriffinswinconferenceandstatechampionshiptitles.

May 2004: DedicationoftherenovationandexpansionofGrossmontCollege’sLearningandTechnologyResourceCenter,thefirstof14projectsundertakenwithPropositionRbondfunds.

August 2009:NewparkingstructurebuiltwithPropRfundsopensatGrossmontCollege.

October 2007:WildfiresspreadthroughEastCounty.CuyamacaCollegeopensalocalassistancecentertoaidfirevictims.

January 2010: Business&TechnologybuildingconstructedwithPropRfundsopensonCuyamacaCollegecampus.

September 2010:DedicationoftheHealthandSciencescomplexatGrossmontCollege.

Under way: RenovationandexpansionoftheStudentServicesCenterandStudentCenteratGrossmontCollegeandtheLearningResourceCenteratCuyamacaCollege.

August 1995:OpeningofCuyamacaCollegesportscomplex,whichincludesthe400-metertrack,soccerfield,8,000-footfitnesscenter,16,000-square-footgymnasiumand11,000-square-footoffice/lockerroomarea.

October 2000: DedicationofGrossmontCollege’snewFieldTurfathleticfield.

November 1965: Votersapprovea$3.5millionbondforadditionalcollegefacilities.

START

Three generations of Spreccos who attended Grossmont College gathered at the campus.

Back Row: Pat, Christy, Joe, John , Nick

Middle Row: Toni, Teri, Cathy, Kaleena, Alma

Front Row: Ralph, Gretchen, Francine

From 1960 to the present

76

A third generation is now continuing the family tradition at Grossmont College.

Where are we?Strong connections tie colleges with East County

TheGrossmont-CuyamacaCommu-nityCollegeDistrictservestheex-pansiveEastCountyregionofSanDiegoCounty,anareaencompass-

ing about 1,138 square miles. Surroundedbygentlehills thataresomuchapartoftheEastCountylandscape,thecampusesofGrossmontCollegeandCuyamacaCol-legeofferacademicexcellence in serene,invitingsettings

Both campuses are easily accessible—Grossmont College off Highway 125,between Santee and El Cajon, andCuyamaca College near Highway 94 inRanchoSanDiego.

As the only public institutions of higherlearning in the region—home to anestimated population of 500,000—thecollegeseachyeardrawabouthalfofthegraduating students in the GrossmontUnionHighSchoolDistrictwhoareseekingapost-secondaryeducation.

As East County’s leading provider ofworkforce training, the colleges arewell-known institutions vital to the localeconomy. District partnerships with localindustryensureprogramsremainrelevantandindemand.

Localindustryconnectionsinclude:

● Grossmont College’s hospital simula-tionlabswiththeirhigh-techmannequins—patient simulators—are used by SharpGrossmont, Alvarado and Scripps-Memo-rialhospitalstotrainnewnursesinhospi-talprotocols.

● The Drew Ford auto dealership hasbeena longtimeparticipant inCuyamacaCollege’sFordASSET(AutomotiveStudentService Educational Training) program,which offers both on-campus instructionand on-the-job training to automotivetechnologystudents.

● Connections with local businessorganizations help our colleges in theirquest to meet workforce training needs.Business development courses havebeen coordinated with chambers whosecommunities are served by the collegedistrict.●

Simulated hospital emergencyrooms with high-tech mannequinscapable of responding as real-life patients. Mac labs equipped

with industry-standard tools for graphicdesign. A 360-seat theater/assembly hall.Adigitalmultimedialabdesignedtomergethe traditionalfineartswithdigitalmusicandvideo.Acomputerlabwiththelatestautomotivediagnosticequipment.

ThesearebutafewoftheimprovementsthatGrossmontandCuyamacacollegesarenowabletoboast,thankstotheNovember2002 passage of Proposition R by EastCounty voters. Faced with shrinking statedollars, a severe shortage of classroomand lab space, and sorely needed facilityupgrades, the Grossmont-CuyamacaCommunity College District turned tothe public for support. What has evolvedhasradicallychangedthefacesofthetwocampuses,transformingthemintostate-of-the-artsitesofhigherlearning.

The $207 million facilities bond measurebecame the key funding source for newand remodeled facilities and enabledthe district to leverage $68.1 million instate matching funds for construction.Annual independent audits and the workof an 11-member citizens bond oversightcommittee have verified that PropositionR monies have been spent as promisedto voters and that projects have beencompletedonscheduleandwithinbudget.

In addition to modern facilities capableofhandlingthehigh-techdemandsofthedigitalage,PropositionRconstructionhasprovidedmorethan2,700jobsovereightyears.One-thirdoftheworkontheprojectshasgonetoEastCountycompanies,withatotalestimatedvalueofabout$64millionreturnedtolocalbusinesses.

Along with the major projects, numerousinfrastructureimprovementsweremade,in-cludingexpandedparking,updatedutilities,restroom renovations, fire alarm upgradesandenergy-conservationprojects.●

Finding the link to learning

SueJensenhasbeenteachingEnglishatGrossmontCollegesince1983,butit’sthebasicsatisfactionofseeingherstudentslearningandchangingthatshestillfindsmostenjoyableaboutherjob.

“It’s not just seeing them grow academically. It’sseeingthemgrowaspeople,”shesaid.

Jensen, who received Grossmont College’s 2010-11 Distinguished Faculty Award, is coordinator ofProject Success, which broke ground in effectiveteaching techniques by linking English with otherclasses,suchaswriting,sociologyorphilosophy.Theinstructorsinthepairedcoursesdevelopacommoncurriculum so the two classes both draw on thesamematerial.

JensenworkedwithGrossmontCollege’snursingprogramtocomeupwithlinkedclassesinEnglish,reading and elementary algebra, with much of itdrawn from textbooks the pre-nursing studentswill use when they enter the program. She’splanning to expand the linked classes to othervocationalprograms.

“Whenyoulinkthecoursetoacontextofsomethingstudentswanttodotheirrestoftheirlives,suddenly

they’realotmoreinterestedinlearningthoseskills,”shesaid.

For Jensen, the most rewardingpart of her job is seeing her

students becoming more self-confident and realizing theyhave the power to have animpactonsociety.

“Those are the things thatkeep me coming back every

day,”shesaid.●

Colleges transformed by Proposition R projects

CuyamacaCollege’sprojectsinclude:

● BusinessandTechnologyBuilding

● CommunicationArtsCenter

● StudentCenter

● MathandScienceCenter

● RemodelingoftheAutomotiveTechnologyComplex

● ExpansionoftheLearningResourceCenter

GrossmontCollege’sprojectsinclude:

● HealthandSciencesComplex

● Multilevelparkingstructureandattachedfacilityforthedistrict’spolicedepartmentoffices

● RemodelingoftheExerciseScience andWellnessComplex

● ScienceLabbuilding

● DigitalArtsandSculptureComplex

● Entranceroadimprovements

● RenovationandexpansionoftheLearningandTechnologyResourceCenter

● RenovationofaStudentServicescomplexandexpansionoftheStudentCenter

Cuyamaca College music instructor’s winning notesBefore the opening in 2008 of its state-of-the-art $45million Communication Arts Center, CuyamacaCollege lacked a performing arts programand its music department was relegatedtoasingleclassroomandasinglepianolab. Today, thanks in part to musicinstructor Pat Setzer, the collegeboasts a centerpiece 364-seatconcerthall,a90-seatdigitaltheater,threerehearsalstudios,tworecordingstudios, a 24-station electronic musiclab,amedialab,and11practicerooms.

Setzer’s contributions in the planning andconstructionoftheperformingartscomplexledtohisselectionasoneofonly fourcommunitycollegefacultymembersinthestatetowinthe2010HaywardAwardforExcellence inEducation, regardedas thehighesthonorbestoweduponCaliforniacommunitycollegeinstructors.

Students speak glowingly of Setzer’s commitment tothe classroom and special connection he’s made withsomany.Setzer saidhe thinksback tohisownstudentexperienceswhenmullingthequestionofwhatmakesagoodinstructor.

“WhenIrecalleducatorswhoweremymentors, Idon’tthink of facts from their lectures. I remember wordsof encouragement they gave me at difficult moments,insightful criticisms they made of my work, extra hoursthey devoted to helping me and other students, oroffhand remarks that stayed with me because theyrevealedsomethingabouttheir integrityordedication,”hesaid.“Mymentorsinspiredmetogivemybesteffortsandtosetmygoalshigh.Ihopethatinmycareerasaneducator,Icandothesameformystudents.”●

450,153

students have

attended class

at GCCCD

since 1976.

GrossmontCollege

CuyamacaCollege

98

District BuDget 2010-11

unrestricteD incoMe

State $87,482,198

Local $5,718,518

Totalincome $93,200,716

unrestricteD eXPenDitures

Academicsalaries $44,352,670

Classifiedsalaries $21,491,595

Staffandretireesbenefits $20,069,406

Supplies $3,396,452

Rents,UtilitiesandOtherOperating $12,996,782

CapitalOutlay $647,491

OtherOutgo $530,500

Totalexpenditures $103,484,896

An investment in knowledge

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Aninvestment in knowledge alwayspaysthebestinterest.”Investinginknowledge is why the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District ishere. It’s an investment that pays off timeand time again for students at GrossmontandCuyamacacollegesandforEastCounty.

Educationhasbeen thekey toeconomicsuccessandthepathwaytoamorestablefinancialfutureforhundredsofthousandsof studentsatGrossmontandCuyamacaCollegethroughtheyears.

In October, President Obama conveneda White House summit on communitycolleges,callingthem“theunsungheroesofAmerica’seducationsystem.”

Asleadingprovidersofworkforcetraining,communitycollegesareacknowledgedas

key to returning the nation to economicvitality,butwearefacingaconundrumofhistoricproportions:climbingenrollmentsfar exceeding the dollars needed toaccommodate the growth. More peopleareturningtoourcollegesforhelpatatimewhenpublicresourcesarediminishing.

With the college district almost whollydependent on funding from the state,California’sbudgetcrisishitushard.Ourenrollmentsareup18percentinthepastfiveyears,butforthepastfouryears,thestatehascappedourper-studentfundingfarshortofouractualenrollment.In2009-2010, state budget cuts left us unfundedfornearly3,000full-timestudents,forcingunprecedented competition for servicesandcourses.

The college district’s 2010-2011 budgetreflectsashortfallofat least$15million–topping even the $10 million deficit fromthepreviousyear. In thepast twoyears,

the district cut back more than 1,000courseofferings,employed645fewerpart-timeworkers,andleftupto16percentofourfull-timepositionsunfilled.

Despite these challenges, we remaincommittedtoourprimarygoalsofprovidingessential higher education opportunitiesfor students and ensuring their success.We’ve set up programs that aid studentsin making the transition from high schoolto college, and we’re closely monitoringstudentdatatodeterminewhatmethodsworkbesttopromotesuccess.

These past months have been difficultones, and the pressures will continue aswetrytoeducateandtrainmorestudentswithfewerdollars.However,oursymbioticrelationshipwithEastCountyispowerful,one of mutual support and benefit. WeconsideritaprivilegetoserveEastCountyandareproudtoprotectitsinvestmentinourfuture.●

District accounting tech lends a hand to financially strapped studentsAfive-yearemployeeofthecollegedistrict,accountingtechnicianBarbaraHashiguchiisararebreed,anumberscruncherwithaflairforlisteningtopeopletalkaboutlife’schallengesandhelpingtofindanswers.Herskillshaveproveninvaluabletothedistrict,whichhasrecoveredsome$2.3millioninstudentfeesastheresultofanewpayment

planforfinanciallystrappedstudentsthatHashiguchihelpedimplementlocally.

Theservice,startedlastfall,allowsstudentstopaystudentfeesincrementallyduringthecourseofasemester,thusavoidingtheriskofbeingdroppedfromclassesfornon-payment.Thissemester,nearly1,500studentsowingatotalof$780,000tothedistricthavebeenabletogetonthepaymentplan,thusallowingthemtocontinuetheireducationandthedistricttorecoverfeeswhichotherwisewouldlikelyhaveremaineddelinquent.

Thispastfall,HashiguchiwaspresentedtheGrossmont-CuyamacaCommunityCollegeDistrictChancellor/ClassifiedSenateAward,acommendationpresentedquarterlybythegoverningboardtooutstandingnon-instructionalstaff.

Asthedistrict’srepresentativeofthepaymentprogram,Hashiguchi’sroleisprimarilyasthego-betweenforthestudentorparentandNelnet,theprogram’sadministrators.

“Ienjoyhelpingthestudentsandparentsunderstandtheirfinancialobligationstothecollege,”shesaid.“ItisverysatisfyingwhenIcanhelpsomeonefindasolutiontotheirproblem.”●

Why are we?

“We take pride in the knowledge that Cuyamaca College

is part of the solution as our community strives to return

to economic prosperity. The workforce training and the

general education we provide are of significant benefit to

the region as a whole.” —Robert Garber, Cuyamaca College interim president

Full-timeemployees

830

28,090

30,513 30,269

919

1,458

1,564

781 770

Part-timeemployees

enrollment over the last 3 years, employment has decreased while enrollment has increased.

“At Grossmont College, we are committed to

changing lives through education. We're committed

to providing a learning environment that enables our

students to pursue their hopes, their dreams and

their full potential.” —Sunita V. Cooke, Grossmont College president

Retaining a perfect

record for the seventh year in a

row, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca

Community College District earned

top marks in six independent audits

of the district’s financial books.

GoverningBoardMembers:GregBarr,BillGarrett,EdwinHiel,DebbieJusteson,MaryKayRosinskiStudentMembers:ChristopherEnders,CharlesTaylorIIIChancellor:CindyL.Miles,Ph.D.GrossmontCollegePresident:SunitaV.Cooke,Ph.D.CuyamacaCollegeInterimPresident:RobertGarber

Supplies

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1,400

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500

30,000

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28,000

27,000

26,000

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Staffandretirees

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Look inside >

Grossmont College135 acres

Cuyamaca College165 acres

Grossmont College offers more than 150 degree and

certificate programs

Cuyamaca Collegeoffers more than 125 degree and

certificate programs

The two colleges boast superior facilities and

top-notch faculty

But we’re much more...