Holiday Greetings
Dec. 16, 2019
Dear Colleagues,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the holiday reception last week! Thank you, once again, for all of your donations to the Food Pantry – almost 500 individual food items, as seen in the pictures here.
It is exactly this generosity that makes De Anza what it is: the college that's not only Tops in Transfer, but a community with genuine care for students.
As a reminder, I urge those who would like to continue donating to the Food Pantry to pick up a payroll deduction form from the President's Office, the Office of Communications or the Foundation. Beginning in January, you can also watch for a monthly announcement about the types of food or other essential items that students are requesting most at the Food Pantry.
Highlights of 2019
As we close out the year, you should all be proud to reflect on the accomplishments to which you contributed in 2019. Just some of these include
- Implementing budget reductions without loss of filled classified professional positions
- Serving our students well, in and out of the classroom, even after losing the accumulated expertise and wisdom of those who chose to take the early retirement incentive
- Maintaining rates of enrollment by historically underserved student population groups, as a percentage of the student body, at a time of overall enrollment challenges
- Expanding the De Anza College Promise to provide a degree or transfer FREE: two years of tuition and fees, plus $1,000 for books, and additional counselors and support services – along with extensive marketing to inform prospective students
- Expanding services and referrals for student basic needs – food, housing and transportation resources – and developing a new website, two new videos and other messaging to inform students of the resources available to them
- Growing Welcome Day as an annual event, with almost 2,000 new student attendees and enthusiastic faculty, staff and administrator participation campuswide
- Implementing new English and Math curriculum and assessment procedures to comply with state requirements and provide our students with a clearer path to reach their academic goals
- Selecting and planning the implementation of the eLumen system to integrate curriculum management, catalog development, program review and Student Learning Outcomes
- Transitioning the Library Services online platform to the new statewide system, effective in winter quarter
- Earning the designation of 2019 Sustainability Champion from the city of Cupertino's annual CREST awards program
- Providing renovated offices and campus moves for several programs: the Office of Outreach, Psychological Services, Veteran Services, and the Office of College Life, including a new lactation room for students
- Winning a $500,000 state Mental Health Services Program Grant for the district to improve student access to mental health services and enhance early identification for student mental health needs
- Launching a partnership with the University of San Francisco, now holding classes for two master’s degree programs on our campus, with speaker events that will be open to the campus
- Completing a campuswide exterior LED lighting project
- Winning three conference championships in volleyball, men’s soccer and – for the first time – men's cross country, as well the 12th consecutive – and 25th total – Coast Conference All Sports Award
- Working with students and Athletics to choose a new college mascot, with extensive campuswide input and participation in the process. Go Mountain Lions!
Thank you again for all your contributions throughout the year. I wish you the very happiest of holidays with your family and friends, and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Best holiday wishes,
Christina
Christina G. Espinosa-Pieb
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers/Herself/Ella)
Interim President