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The San Diego Community College District this fall is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking San Diego Promise program that has successfully expanded higher education pathways to students facing financial barriers in reaching their academic and career goals.
The numbers speak for themselves. What began as a pilot program of 186 students in fall 2016 has grown into an initiative that now accepts more than 3,500 new students annually and has served 19,513 students through the 2025-26 academic year. A new analysis by labor market analytics firm Lightcast estimates San Diego Promise alumni have generated more than $640 million in added personal income and $352 million in added business income, while saving the region $18.2 million in reduced societal costs — a combined economic impact exceeding $1 billion.
Inspired by President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union address where he proposed making the first two years of community college education tuition-free, the San Diego Promise provides eligible students at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges with up to two years of free tuition and health fees, along with dedicated counselors, mentors, and book grants for students with demonstrated financial need.
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“Ten years and thousands of graduates later, the San Diego Promise has proven to be of the most important investments this district has ever made.”
SDCCD Chancellor Gregory Smith
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The San Diego Community College District is installing signs at entry points around its 10 campus locations indicating that immigration enforcement is prohibited. The 18-by-30-inch signs include the message: “This property is owned by the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). This property may only be used for purposes that have been authorized by SDCCD and may not be used for immigration enforcement staging areas, processing locations, or any related operations.”
Over the next few weeks, 68 signs will be installed at San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and the seven campuses of San Diego College of Continuing Education. Installation of the signs comes a few weeks after federal immigration officials pulled over and arrested City College student Renatho Casseus while he was driving to class. The arrest took place on 16th Street immediately in front of the college. He remains in custody. A second student, who was a passenger in Casseus’ vehicle, fled to the campus after briefly being chased by an ICE officer.
District officials say the signs have been in the works since the spring, but were accelerated after the September 8 incident.
READ MORE ABOUT CAMPUS SIGNS
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The second annual Scholarships Fore Veterans Golf Tournament will be held November 20 at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee.
Join veteran leaders, community supporters, sponsors, and education advocates for a day on the course benefiting scholarships for veteran and military-connected students throughout the San Diego Community College District.
No golf experience is necessary, just come out and support SDCCD's veteran students. The day will include golf, food, music, raffles, games, and plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues, students, and community partners throughout San Diego. Space is limited for golfers, so early registration is encouraged.
Help support the cause:
- Get tickets
- Become a sponsor
- Make a donation
Details at Scholarships Fore Veterans
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San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery is presenting the exhibition A-Dress: Power and Belief by artist Irma Sofia Poeter from October 5 through 29.
In the exhibition A-dress: Power and Belief, artist Irma Sofi a Poeter considers the dress as a sculptural language, a second skin where personal and collective narratives meet.
Repurposing industrial textiles, recycled, and artisanal fabrics, Poeter creates dresses, capes and soft sculptures that trace how meaning is stitched into what we wear, and how the act of wearing becomes a form of expression. Here, the dress operates as both object and argument. It asks how identity is armored or softened, how beliefs are worn and sometimes unraveled. This creative approach to the garment reflects several decades of exploration by Poeter.
There will be a reception for the exhibition from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and an artist talk from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21.
The gallery is in FA-103 at Mesa College. Free parking during events is available in Lot #1. Please use the staff spots. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
MESA GALLERY EXHIBITION
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Nearly half of community college students in San Diego and Imperial counties experience food insecurity, a challenge that can impact their health, academic performance, and ability to complete their education. To help address this growing need, Cal Coast Credit Union, in partnership with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and local community colleges, is launching its eighth annual Pack the Pantry virtual food drive through October 31, 2026.
Every dollar donated helps provide two meals, and Cal Coast will match donations up to $7,500. The fundraiser will support campus food pantries serving community college students across San Diego and Imperial counties. These pantries and nutrition centers provide essential basic resources that help students stay focused on their education and path toward graduation.
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AI SURVEY
Whether you use AI every day, have real reservations about it, or have chosen not to use it at all, the SDCCD wants to hear from you. The survey is open to all SDCCD employees and students at San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges. Students who complete the survey can be eligible for one of 40 Visa gift cards ranging from $50-$500.
Why participate?
This short, anonymous survey (about 15 minutes) will help the SDCCD understand:
- How AI is being used (or why it isn't)
- What opportunities and challenges you see with AI in your work
- What resources, policies, or training would be most useful
TAKE THE AI SURVEY
SAVE THE DATE: TASTE OF MESA
Have you gotten your tickets to the annual culinary event Taste of Mesa? This year's event will be held at 5 p.m., Friday, October 30 in the Culinary Outlook, 2nd Floor at Mesa Commons.
GET TICKETS TO TASTE OF MESA
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OCTOBER 15
The San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego.
Schedule:
- 2:20 p.m. Call to Order - Cafeteria followed by Closed Session Room D-121A
- 3:30 p.m. Board Open Door Session - Room D-121B
- 4 p.m. Campus Meeting - Room Cafeteria
- 5 p.m. Regular Business Meeting – Room Cafeteria
OCTOBER 27
San Diego Community College District will hold its annual Keeping the Promise giving day to support the free tuition program San Diego Promise. The program helps students to attend our credit colleges tuition-free, offers book grants, and thanks to public donations the District has been able to extent the program to former foster youth, veterans, justice impacted students, former students returning to school after years in the workforce, and those students who cannot attend full-time due to family and work obligations.
KEEPING THE PROMISE GIVING DAY
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