News Center is written in black the SDCCD sunburst logo is to the left
 

NOVEMBER 12, 2025

Andre Harris speaks at a podium during a veterans day event

Andre Harris: A veteran's story

of service and impact

Three people stand at the front of the bridge of a Navy ship.

Andre Harris, College Operations Supervisor at San Diego College of Continuing Education’s West City Campus, embodies a life defined by service, leadership, and commitment. He brings a global perspective to the college and mirrors the students it serves.


“SDCCE is what I am. I have been homeless, marginalized, faced language barriers, I am a veteran, I am SDCCE,” he says with pride. For him every student milestone is a reminder that education changes lives. “To play even a small role in their success is profoundly meaningful.”


Born in Flint, Michigan, in 1967, Harris grew up in a household led by his mother, who worked long hours at General Motors to provide for him and his younger brother. “When my brother and I returned home from school, my mother was often already at work. Weekends, holidays, or sick days were rare moments together. My mother never told me I needed to be ‘the man of the house,’ but I knew I had to step up. By nine, I was helping care for my younger brother and learning what it meant to lead with quiet strength and love,” Harris shared.

 
City College President Ricky Shabazz speaks to an audience at the housing virtual tour event

Community gets virtual sneak peek at affordable student housing at City College

On Friday, November 7, the San Diego Community College District celebrated a historic milestone with a special sneak peek event marking the start of construction on the district’s first-ever affordable student housing community at San Diego City College. Featuring immersive virtual reality (VR) walk-throughs, the event gave students, faculty, and staff an early look at the transformational new development, designed by TCA Architects.

Located at 1601 B Street, formal construction, led by the Clark Building Group, begins later this month.


READ MORE ABOUT THE HOUSING EVENT


WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE VIRTUAL TOUR


Four people in traditional Native American celebration dress are dancing at a flag-raising ceremony for National American Heritage Month

District events celebrate

Native American Heritage Month

The San Diego Community College District, including San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges, will honor Native American Heritage Month throughout November with a series of events. As part of the observance, SDCCD will proudly raise the Kumeyaay flag, recognizing that its campuses are located on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay nation and celebrating the enduring culture and contributions of the Kumeyaay people. Raising and displaying the flag symbolizes the district’s ongoing commitment to its Indigenous communities and the Kumeyaay people.

Pack the Pantry raises over 30,000 meals for local community college students

cans jars pasta and crackers in a box that says pack the pantry

Food pantries on local community college campuses are about to get a big boost just on time for the upcoming holidays, and to help make up for expected federal food aid cutbacks. The seventh annual Pack the Pantry virtual food drive raised $16,819 in the month of October, which will provide more than 33,000 meals to local community college students facing food insecurity.


The annual food drive is organized by California Coast Credit Union in partnership with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and local community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties. According to recent research, nearly 50 percent of local community college students face food insecurity, meaning they don’t have consistent access to food.

 
purple flowers across the street from the current Mid-City Campus building.

SDCCD approves property acquisition to further support Mid-City community

On October 30, the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the acquisition of property at 5322 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego’s Mid-City community to support the expansion of the San Diego College of Continuing Education. 


The $4.5M purchase, funded through the voter-approved Measure HH bond program, is a significant step in the district’s long-term strategy to meet rising demand for workforce education, career training, and community-serving programs. 


While no specific educational programs or name has been finalized for the new campus location at this point, the newly acquired 30,000-square-foot site will allow SDCCE to expand instructional space for high-demand workforce pathways, including building trades, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and programs that support upward mobility for adults, immigrants, and returning learners.


READ MORE ABOUT THE MID-CITY PROPERTY


About 40 people in Halloween costumes gather for the group photo at the district office
11 people at mesa college dressed up including a race car driver a squirrel, strawberry shortcake and Stitch.
Two ladies dressed as cats
Miramar folks dressed up with a car wash theme.
Six people dressed as cowboys. three hold skeleton masks over their faces.

Halloween around the SDCCD

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

REIMAGINING LA LINEA EXHIBIT AT MESA GALLERY

San Diego Mesa College's Fall 2025 Museum Studies class has juried, curated, and installed Reimagining La Linea, an exhibition about migration which highlights the work of 30 artists and two collectives. The exhibit is open through Dec. 16.

The gallery will host a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. TODAY, November 12. Artists will be present and there will be music by DJ Will Gallaspy, aka The Great Gallaspy. The event is free and open to the public. Mesa College, Fine Arts Building, Art Gallery, FA103.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MESA GALLERY

Two people painting on a wall that says Reimagining La Linea a line of people in rainbow colors is next to the wall.
 

EVENTS

 

NOVEMBER 13

The San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at San Diego Mesa College, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego.

SEE THE AGENDA

Schedule:

  • 2 p.m. Call to Order – Room MC 211A/B, followed by Closed Session – Room MC 151
  • 3:30 p.m. Open Door Session - Room MC 209
  • 4 p.m. Mesa College Campus Meeting - Room MC 211 A/B
  • 5 p.m. Regular Business Meeting – Room MC 211 A/B


NOVEMBER 27-28

The San Diego Community College District and all of its campuses will be closed for Thanksgiving break November 27 and 28. Classes will not be held from November 24 through 28. The District Office and all campuses will reopen on Monday, December 1.

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