August 11, 2000
El Cajon — Dr. Omero Suarez, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College, has been elected president of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA).
SDICCCA, organized over 20 years ago, includes the six college districts and their nine colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties.
"I am pleased to be elected during this time of change. We're increasing our work with other educational systems to ensure access to higher education for all students," said Suarez. "SDICCCA also is actively pursuing equity in state funding. This is crucial for the nearly 200,000 students attending our colleges. Our districts are among the lowest funded in the state."
The SDICCCA colleges have signed agreements to share student information and strengthen communication with San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego. Sharing student information gives the colleges and universities new ways to assess courses and programs and to evaluate instruction that will strengthen teaching and learning.
The nine colleges in SDICCCA also have Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements with UCSD. Community college students under TAG agreements and requirements are assured acceptance as juniors at UCSD.
SDICCCA colleges are the largest providers of workforce preparation in the two-country area, enrolling over 100,000 students each year in career-linked courses. The colleges are also partners in all of the region's One-Stop Career Centers.
Suarez said SDICCCA will continue to sponsor an internship program to increase faculty diversity and prepare instructors for community college teaching.
SDICCCA members are: Palomar College in San Marcos, MiraCosta College in Oceanside, San Diego's Miramar College, San Diego's Mesa College and City College, Grossmont College in El Cajon, Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, Southwestern College in Chula Vista and Imperial Valley College in Imperial, CA. Ex-officio representatives are from California State University, San Marcos; San Diego State University; University of California, San Diego; and the San Diego County Office of Education.
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