I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. While we have been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for some months, we know that some students have also been impacted by the Valley Fire and we are continuing to monitor the situation. If you haven't already, you should confirm or update your contact information on file in WebAdvisor so that Grossmont College can notify you via text, phone or email in the event of an emergency.

 

Below you will find resources of interest to those affected by the Valley Fire, and other updates and resources of interest to all students, including drive-through food distribution, U.S. Census and voter registration information, and more.

 

If you lose power or are evacuated due to the Valley Fire, please contact your instructors once you are safe and/or have regular access to power so that they can work with you as needed.

 

For those affected by the Valley Fire, please know that we are thinking of you and that there are campus services that may be of interest to you during this difficult time, including:

• Mental Health Services offers free tele-appointments with mental health counselors and can refer you to other low-cost resources in the community.
• Success Coaches who can provide assistance for on-campus/virtual campus needs and referrals to outside resources.

In partnership with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, the college's food pantry, Gizmo's Kitchen, will host a drive-through student food distribution starting at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

 

The physically distanced event requires advance registration to participate to verify you're currently enrolled. All participants will have food dropped into their vehicle's trunk and participants will not be allowed to exit their vehicle.

 

 

Did you know we offer several virtual help desks to assist you with everything from registration to financial aid to career and employment services?

 

Griffins Virtual Help Desk | Grossmont College

 

Below are links to our various help desks and a listing of their services:

• Virtual Help Desk: application and registration assistance, referral to educational planning, general questions (Zoom now)
• Financial Aid: financial aid, FAFSA and California Dream Act application assistance, Emergency Aid Grants information (Zoom now)
• Career Services: major and career exploration, scheduling an appointment with a career counselor, employment assistance, career workshop information (Zoom now)

For those interested in adding another class to their fall schedule, we have many open second 8-week classes starting on Monday, Oct. 12. These classes can fulfill General Education (GE) requirements (check with a counselor) and most are taught online.

 

To find second 8-week classes, visit the Open Sections website and select Grossmont for a regularly updated listing of open course sections.

If you haven't already, we urge you to complete your U.S. Census now.

 

By participating in the 2020 U.S. Census, you will help determine congressional representation, federal funding and resources, and provide data that will impact our community for the next 10 years. The U.S. Census is simple to complete and should only take a few minutes.

 

Don't wait - be counted today!

 

This year's election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the state of California is sending a mail ballot to every registered voter in the state. For San Diego County residents, you can register to vote, update your voter registration or check the status of your current voter registration via the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website.

 

To vote in this year's election, be sure to register by Oct. 19. The last day to request a temporary mail ballot is Oct. 26, though the San Diego County Registrar of Voters recommends requesting it by Oct. 3 to ensure you receive your ballot and voting materials in a timely fashion. In-person voting will be limited this year due to COVID-19, but will be available at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office starting on Oct. 3, with additional locations opening after that date. All polling locations, one of which will be at Grossmont College, will be open Oct. 31 through Nov. 3 for in-person voting.

Lastly, if you're interested in learning more about registering to vote, please join us for a National Voter Registration Power Hour from 1 - 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, on Zoom. To join the event, simply use this link: cccconfer.zoom.us/j/94946426191.

 

For more information on voting, volunteering as a poll worker and more, visit the California Students Vote Project website.

 

Join Grossmont College as we celebrate the culture, community and history of the Latinx community during the months of September and October. We have several virtual events planned, including discussions about Black and brown solidarity, a presentation on the history of dance in Mexico, a scholarship workshop with a focus on Latinx students, and much more.

 

You can view descriptions, times and Zoom links for all activities on the Grossmont College website.  

With all classes online this fall semester, we want to make sure you have access to the tools for success. We recommend students download the following free smartphone applications:

• GradGuru helps keep track of important academic calendar dates and deadlines (Apple | Android)
• Canvas helps you access your online classroom and your instructor (Apple | Android)
• Zoom provides an easy way to join virtual meetings from your phone (Apple | Android)

We hope you've found this email helpful. Remember, for additional COVID-19 resources, please visit the Virtual Campus website. Thanks for your time and attention today!

 

Be well,

Dr. Marsha Gable

Vice President of Student Services

Grossmont College