San Diego Community College District

Student body president shares experience as a first-gen Mexican American - Dalia Ramirez could not imagine herself going to college, especially at a young age. Raised in a home with undocumented family members, she witnessed her late father being deported from the United States while only in elementary school. Ramirez also takes care of her brother to help her mom who works two jobs.

“I expected my high school graduation, but I didn't see myself going to college so soon because of financial aid and not knowing how to navigate getting there,” said Ramirez, 20.

As a first-generation Mexican American living in San Diego she experienced many first time challenges including the freedom to be proud of her culture. “I always felt too Mexican for Americans and too American for Mexicans. Growing up my family and I were constantly surrounded by fear and uncertainty. We never had the same privileges as other Americans.”

To her surprise, Ramirez felt immediately welcomed at San Diego City College. She started taking general education classes at 15 through a dual enrollment program with San Diego High School and is a member of MEChA de City College, a campus club that promotes representation of Hispanic and Latino students on college campuses.

Unfortunately Ramirez had to fund her tuition privately due to her preceding status. She first studied medical assisting for its low cost and fast completion option. Then with the support of City College College counseling, she received federal financial aid and is presently majoring in both political science and journalism.

“City College is excellent. There is generous amounts of support for students like me from the food pantry to the campus closet which allows those in need access to professional attire for job interviews,” said Ramirez. “However, tuition can still be expensive and unattainable. There are so many hard-working students who are just trying to get an education any way they can. We need to make sure that community colleges remain affordable for everyone no matter their status.”

Ramirez is the first in her family to achieve a diploma and to go after a degree. “For as long as I could remember I wanted to go to school, to become a lawyer and to help others. My parents were not allowed to get an education but they placed a huge priority on academics for my brother and me.”

She shares those values with her peers. Ramirez was elected president of City College’s Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-25 academic year and serves as the college’s student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.

“I am an American citizen but my mom is undocumented which prevented me from accessing critical resources like public funding and scholarships. I understand both worlds; the privileges of this country and the hardships of coming from an immigrant family,” she said. “The requirements to earn a scholarship or a grant should not be so complicated, we want to learn, we want to work hard and that should be enough to afford an education.” Alongside other AS leaders, Ramirez is advocating for scholarship and transfer awareness, free printing, club funding, gas cards, and support with vision coverage for students in need of glasses.

Now she’s chasing her dream to go to law school to become an ally for young undocumented immigrants known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). “Until now, I always felt excluded. I want to leave a great impact for our students by supporting them in their journey.”

Ramirez will graduate from City College in Spring 2025 with plans to transfer to University of California, Irvine with the support of the UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

New state bill from the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom could allow San Diego City College to offer bachelor’s in nursing. The SDCCD is hopeful it will again be able to lead the charge on the expansion into baccalaureate nursing programs, should Newsom sign SB 895. Learn more on FOX 5 San Diego:

New state bill could allow San Diego City College to offer bachelor’s in nursing As a bill allowing California community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing awaits its fate on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, San Diego City College is preparing for the possibil…

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! The San Diego Community College District, including San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and San Diego College of Continuing Education, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of events, September 16 through October 16. Events are free and open to the public. For a full list of events visit: https://bit.ly/4ehWcE4

Listen to what your mind is telling you. Take a free, confidential screening and start your wellness journey: tinyurl.com/mindwise-screening-sdccd. Brought to you by the SDCCD mental health initiative!

The SDCCD Ready2Work program removes huge barriers from our students to get into high-wage, high-demand jobs in the healthcare fields. Learn how students at San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges are benefitting from the fee-reimbursement program in Community College Daily:

A little help goes a long way Tuition and other college expenses are well-known challenges for many community colleges. But other smaller costs, such as testing and licensing fees, also can hamper students who are about to launch into their careers. The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) recently started a program that...

The San Diego Community College District's new logo is now available!

The new logo and brand, approved by the Board of Trustees during its May 16 meeting, displays a sunburst that incorporates the primary colors of all four of its colleges and introduces a new District cyan blue.

The new logomark aims to strengthen the connection between the District and colleges. Inspired by the radiant energy of a sunburst, we believe the symbol successfully represents diversity and shows its relation to San Diego’s sunshine and coastal region.

With its simplicity and optimistic imagery, this dynamic design reflects the ever-evolving nature of education and SDCCD’s dedication to fostering a welcoming learning environment where every individual knows they can succeed.

We welcome you to check out our new Brand Toolkit at sdccd.edu/brand where you'll find the Logo Style Guide, logo files for download, and templates to help you incorporate the new District brand.

SDCCD adopts $1.05-billion budget for 2024-25 fiscal year - The San Diego Community College District governing board has adopted a balanced operating budget of more than $1.05 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year, a budget that includes a 2.5% increase from the previous year during a time of continued enrollment growth.

Serving approximately 90,000 students annually at four colleges with campuses throughout the city, the SDCCD is the largest provider of higher education and workforce training in the region and has become a powerhouse in expanding career pathways and preparing students for a fast-evolving economy. A 2023 study found that for every $1 million in tax dollars spent educating SDCCD students, taxpayers receive an average of $1.4 million in return over the course of the students’ working lives.

The SDCCD Board of Trustees approved the spending plan on a unanimous vote at its September 12 meeting. The budget includes nearly $643 million in General Fund spending and $402 million from other revenue. Funding sources are varied, and include local property taxes, enrollment fees, federal financial aid and other revenue streams.

Nearly one-third of this year’s budget – $326.7 million – is coming from a state Student Centered Funding Formula that is based in part on how well students are faring. Besides a base allocation that largely reflects enrollment, the Student Centered Funding Formula includes factors such as the numbers of students receiving financial aid, along with a student success allocation based on outcomes such as the number of students earning associate degrees and certificates and the number of students who transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

“The adopted SDCCD budget reflects our ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility while prioritizing student success and educational excellence across our colleges,” said SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith, who credited extensive collaboration among the Board of Trustees, college presidents, district administrative councils, academic and classified senates, faculty, and student leadership at the college and district level.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

San Diego College of Continuing Education student makes a new start in nursing - Growing up in Mexico, Vanessa Munguia always dreamed of being a nurse. “Ever since I could remember I enjoyed helping people,” she said. “I am a passionate, empathetic, and patient person.”

Munguia followed her dream to Universidad de Guadalajara, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She worked for three years as a board-certified RN in Guadalajara and Tizapán, before challenges in the industry — including a lack of personal protective equipment in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic — spurred her to move to San Diego.

A new country meant a new start. Munguia said her first goal was learning the language, so she enrolled in the San Diego College of Continuing Education and began taking English as a Second Language classes in fall 2022. She also enrolled in the college’s tuition-free Certified Nursing Assistant Program, completing it in May 2024.

“I learned the phrase ‘don't give up’ here,” she said about the College of Continuing Education. “I remember my first day of class, when I thought I couldn’t do this, my professor told me, ‘don’t quit, keep going – even if you have obstacles, carry on and never give up.’”

Munguia is now enrolled in advanced ESL classes at CCE and has passed the state exam to be a certified CNA. She is still eligible to validate the registered nursing degree she earned in Mexico, but said she wanted to get nursing experience in this country first and is grateful she found the College of Continuing Education.
“I want to be the best nurse I can be,” Munguia said. “I’m glad I started with the nursing assistant courses here.” She said she hopes to eventually become a pediatric nurse.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

Register today for Black Professionals Day on September 20th at San Diego City College! Event is open to all SDCCD students.

Throughout the day, students will attend conference-style engaging professional sessions from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will gain professional skills they can use in their future workplaces and will also have the opportunity to meet with various programs during the Resources Fair.

The day will conclude with a Fashion Show in collaboration with our Basic Needs Centers. The event will be held at City College, Room MS 140. Each student who attends the entire event will receive a $50 gift card at the end of the event. Lunch and swag will be provided.

If you have questions or need disability related accommodations, please contact Dr. Veronica Gerace at least 5 business days in advance at [email protected]

Register Here: https://bit.ly/3XqYXvS

Changing the face of healthcare - San Diego Community College District’s healthcare degree and certificate programs do more than provide students with affordable career training in one of the region's fastest-growing industries. As a primary driver of San Diego’s healthcare workforce, the District is helping to improve access to care for all San Diegans while ensuring the region’s healthcare professionals better reflect the communities they serve.

Healthcare is San Diego’s second biggest employer, with more than 15,500 jobs added in the private education and health services sector over the past year, state data shows. Nationally, about $1.8 million job openings in healthcare are projected each year to fill new or vacant positions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Yet the healthcare workforce is still predominantly white (53.9%), according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Workforce Demographics. In California, Hispanic and Latinx nurses accounted for only 9.6% of California’s active nurses in 2020, and Black/African American nurses represented 4.7% according to the California Board of Registered Nursing: 2020 Survey of Registered Nurses.

The District’s four colleges — San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education — are working to change all that.

“From the instructors to the students, we want to change the look of the healthcare industry,” said Cassandra Storey, dean of Health Sciences and Public Service at Mesa College. “The quality and diversity of District graduates align with the goals of the region’s leading healthcare providers.”

Helping students transition seamlessly into the workforce is another goal. Students enrolled in many of the District’s healthcare training programs are required to fulfill clinical hours at Directed Clinical Practice (DCP) health facilities throughout the San Diego region, which can lead to permanent employment.

“Through DCP, students get real-world experience in the field,” said Connie Renda, professor and health education program director at Mesa College. “Once they complete their 135 hours, if a job opens at that health care facility, the employer often hires the student because they have essentially had a three-month long interview and know their work ethic."

City College
With one of the top nursing schools in the state, City College is helping to address a nursing shortage that grew to near-crisis levels across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The college’s associate of science degree in nursing offers students a pathway from licensed vocational nurse to registered nurse, with admission by special application.

City College’s nursing program has achieved significant recognition. It was recently ranked the second-best nursing school in California for the second consecutive year by RegisteredNursing.org, a leading resource for the nursing industry. In 2023, the college was ranked the third-best nursing program in the nation and named the second-best nursing program in the state, according to RN+ Careers.

Mesa College
Mesa College is an innovator in healthcare education as the first California community college to offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Management (HIM).

The number of people working in health information management nationwide is projected to grow 16% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990 in May 2023.

Miramar College
At Miramar College, students are becoming skilled medical lab technicians through the college’s Medical Laboratory Technology Training degree and certificate program. Coursework emphasizes mathematical and scientific concepts to ensure essential assessment of the health of patients as well as the underlying diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

“Our students are well primed to work in any biotechnological field. They have the foundational knowledge and skill set,” said Milton Lewis, program director.
Due to the rapid demand for skilled medical lab technicians in San Diego, Miramar College students are getting hired before they graduate. Medical lab technicians in the San Diego area earn between $51,491 and $72,381, according to salary.com.

The College of Continuing Education offers seven tuition-free healthcare career certificates: Nursing Assistant, Rehabilitative Nursing Assistant, Acute Care Nursing Assistant, Personal Care Assistant/Caregiver, Home Health Aide, Behavioral Home Health Aide, and Health Unit Coordinator.

The programs, which include support for English language learners, “honor the college’s commitment to serve our community, celebrate diversity and to create an enriched workforce,” said Catherine Shafer, acting dean of Healthcare Careers and Community Education.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

District covers licensing, testing fees for nearly 1,000 graduates - The San Diego Community College District is committed to streamlining pathways from program completion into healthcare careers, including through a new program that quickly reimburses students for all licensing, certification, and testing fees that need to be completed before they can begin practicing in their field.

Under the Ready2Work program, fees are covered through private donors, foundations, and some public funds. Depending on the chosen field, fees can range from $250 to more than $1,200 — a significant burden to SDCCD students ready to enter the healthcare workforce. Many students have already taken time away from work in order to complete rigorous programs, including some that have residency requirements.

“Ready2Work removes huge barriers from our students to get into high-wage, high-demand jobs in the healthcare fields,” said Laurie Coskey, Vice Chancellor of Development and Entrepreneurship.

Nearly 1,000 are expected to benefit from the fee-reimbursement program during the 2024-25 school year across the district’s four colleges, with about $385,000 in fees covered for students graduating from the following healthcare programs:

City College – Registered Nurse
Miramar College – Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Laboratory Technician
Mesa College – Physical Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Neurodiagnostic Technician, Phlebotomy, Radiology Technician, Health Information
Management Systems, Health Education Information Technology, Dental Assistant, Veterinary Technician
College of Continuing Education – Certified Nursing Assistant.
Aliana Soriano, a recent graduate of San Diego City College’s Registered Nursing Program, said knowing the fees would be covered allowed her to focus on studying and passing the licensure exam.

Patricia Santos, who recently earned her associate of science degree from Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, said she would not have been able to afford the licensure exam (which costs $1,050) if not for the fee reimbursement.

Santos had been a Mesa College student since 2014, taking one class at a time to complete her prerequisites while she worked to support herself and her mother. She was accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program in 2022 and graduated in May 2024.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

Today marks World Su***de Prevention Day, let's check in! When was the last time you checked in with yourself? Do it now with a free mental health screening: tinyurl.com/mindwise-screening-sdccd. Brought to you by mental health initiative!

Taking flight through welding - Growing up in a military family, Nathan Torres developed an early interest in aircraft and aviation. Now he’s studying welding at San Diego College of Continuing Education, hoping to pursue a career in the aerospace industry.

At the college’s Educational Cultural Complex, Torres, 31, is learning gas tungsten arc welding, an essential skill in several aerospace careers. Being on campus is nostalgic for the San Diego native; 10 years ago, he completed SDCCE’s accelerated high school program, graduating three months ahead of his peers.

After earning his diploma, Torres studied aerospace engineering at City College and was on track to transfer to the University of California, San Diego, but his plan was interrupted by personal and financial challenges. With two jobs, he needed a program that allowed him to work at his own pace.

He was inspired to learn welding and reignite his aerospace dream by his 5-year-old son, Matthias. “My hope is to have (a) career that makes more than enough to provide for us and gives us more time together,” said Torres.

The College of Continuing Education’s welding program has also given Torres a chance to be part of southeast San Diego history. Under the direction of welding professor Mike Bradbury, Torres and his peers are helping to replicate The Black Family statue, created in 1974 by the late artist-in-residence Rossie Wade to represent the strength and pride of the local Black community.

The statue, which had deteriorated due to weather and vandalism, is a testament to Wade’s legacy and the rich civil rights history of the Educational Cultural Complex.

The San Diego Community College District’s With Excellence magazine recently spoke with Torres about welding, art, aerospace and his plans for the future:

Q: Why do you want to work in aerospace?
A: My dad served in the Navy, and being with (him) at his duty station in North Island, I was able to see how Navy helicopters were used and how they were put together. It was so cool. That exposure sparked my curiosity with aviation and space.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

San Diego Mesa College clinic a 'win-win' for community, students - San Diego Mesa College’s Health and Wellness Community Clinic provides pro bono physical therapy rehabilitation and dental services, helping uninsured or underinsured communities access services they might otherwise be unable to afford.

In 2023, Mesa College served 414 patients through the clinic. Students in the college’s Dental Assisting program or Physical Therapy Assistant program help care for patients, working alongside an instructor already licensed in the field.

“Not only are we serving the community, but the opportunity allows our students to become better employees,” said Connie Renda, professor and health education program director at Mesa College.

Amanda Johnston, director of Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program, said students recognize how valuable that hands-on experience is to their educational training.

“(It) helps them understand different diagnoses that patients may have that cannot be fully understood by written description or video,” Johnston said.

Karen Wait, director of Mesa College’s Dental Assisting program, said the response has been very positive in the dental portation of the clinic, where community residents can get needed dental services such as exams and X-rays at no cost. “We have students and people from the community being seen for multiple procedures,” she said. “We even had people return from last year to have services completed.”

Patricia Santos, who graduated from Mesa College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in May 2024, said working in the clinic was a vital part of her training.

“Participating in the Mesa Community Clinic has been instrumental in preparing me for my career as a PTA,” Santos said. “It has provided me with valuable insights into patient interactions, treatment protocols, and collaborative healthcare practices.”

Both Wait and Johnston hope the clinic will grow to include additional services and learning opportunities.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

San Diego Miramar College alumnus wants to teach others about healthy eating - After graduating from culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Tiffany Kor moved to New York City to explore the city’s vibrant restaurant scene. She landed a job at a Mediterranean-Italian eatery that was a cafe by day and fine-dining restaurant by night. Less than a year later, however, that restaurant and thousands of others shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Kor lost her job.

Ready for a career change, she returned to San Diego and enrolled in the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences program at San Diego Miramar College, with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian.

Kor graduated from Miramar College in 2023, and is now attending San Diego State University, working toward her bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition. She was recently elected vice president of SDSU’s Student Nutrition Organization, which aims to serve the San Diego community through nutrition education, advocacy, and philanthropic activities.

A Mira Mesa resident, Kor said Miramar College gave her the chance to start a second career.

“I really enjoyed it,” she said about the college’s program. “It was like an introduction to nutrition and the careers I can go into. I’m glad I took that route.”
In addition to becoming a dietitian, Kor is exploring careers in food science that would allow her to develop new and healthier products.

“I really like the more holistic route of nutrition,” Kor said. “I enjoy the fact that I can educate and teach other people about healthier eating habits as well as ways to heal through food.”

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

Health-and-fitness programs lead to vital careers, healthier communities - San Diego is consistently ranked as one of the healthiest cities in the nation and the San Diego Community College District is committed to helping it stay that way.

In addition to training students for traditional healthcare careers, the District’s four colleges — San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education — offer degrees and certificate programs in fields like nutrition, personal training, wellness coaching, and kinesiology that are pathways to health-and-wellness careers or four-year degrees in related sciences.

Those fields support the region’s sports and active lifestyle industry, a diverse collection of businesses that cater to people who participate in sports, active lifestyle and leisure activities in San Diego. A 2018 report by the California State University San Marcos Office of Business Research and San Diego Sports Innovators found such businesses had a direct economic impact of $3.6 billion and created more than 67,000 jobs.

For San Diegans pursuing a healthier lifestyle, SDCCD colleges also offer a variety of affordable sports, health, and fitness classes. Engaging in regular exercise can combat obesity, an epidemic affecting nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. and costing the healthcare system $173 billion a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sometimes, a passion for personal fitness can lead to a new career.
For instance, Miramar College offers yoga courses that equip students to become registered yoga teachers with Yoga Alliance.

City, Mesa and Miramar colleges all offer associate degrees in kinesiology, the study of human movement.

City College also offers a variety of health education, exercise science, athletics, and nutrition courses.

Miramar and Mesa colleges both offer a Personal Training Certificate program.

For seniors looking to stay intellectually stimulated and improve their fitness, San Diego College of Continuing Education offers free noncredit classes through its Emeritus Program.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter

Stay safe and stay cool from San Diego’s excessive heat wave happening today through Friday!

If you are on campus be sure to head indoors in air conditioned spaces like your campus library/LRC and resource centers. Hot weather can cause dehydration and increase the body’s core temperature, making it difficult for the body to function normally. Here are a few ways San Diego County advises us to take precaution:

Stay somewhere cool or get to one of the County’s Cool Zones
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water
Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, and lots of sugar
Wear light clothing and hats
Avoid being outdoors during hottest part of the day (10am-4pm)
Avoid strenuous activity
Do not leave pets in cars

From cancer survivor to health and wellness coach - San Diego Mesa College alumnus Vasantha Eswara has turned her personal battle with breast cancer into a mission to support and empower other women as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC).

Eswara achieved her certification after completing Mesa’s Health and Wellness Certificate program in 2023. At the time, she was already a pharmacist with a master’s of science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, along with a master’s in business administration from California State University, Sacramento.

Her journey to wellness coaching began 20 years ago, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Eswara underwent chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries while raising her 4-year-old daughter. She said the challenging and life-changing experience fueled her desire to support other women facing similar ordeals.
Though she had always loved helping others, it wasn’t until a friend suggested she get certified as a health and wellness coach that Eswara considered turning that passion into something more.

After extensive research, she discovered the program at San Diego Mesa College, which is approved by the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching. The one-year program — with tuition for California residents costing approximately $746 — offered the best value with its excellent faculty and fully online format, Eswara said. This mix of live and asynchronous classes made it easy for her to participate, despite living in the Sacramento area.

After completing the certificate of achievement program and earning her NBC-HWC certification, Eswara founded Sierra Cancer Wellness LLC., a health and wellness coaching service that offers personalized coaching and group workshops to provide holistic support to women affected by breast cancer.

Read the full story at sdccd.edu/newscenter