with excellence

Chancellor’s Message
News from City College
Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.
Chancellor,
San Diego Community
College District
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
bring change at all levels
In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Ariel sings a magical song, describing the transformation of the
bones and body of Ferdinand’s father by the sea into a new and wonderful form. Ariel says that
formerly “full fathom five thy father lies,” and then
Terrence J. Burgess, Ph.D.
celebrates the fact that he “doth suffer a sea-change
President
San Diego City College
into something rich and strange.”
The November General Election was an election
of high stakes for everyone, producing record voter
turnouts across the nation, within California, and
within San Diego. Everyone seemed to have strong
opinions and everyone agreed that the outcomes
$
would produce some form of sea-change. And that
Bill Schwandt Mary Graham
seems to be exactly what happened at all levels.
The San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees had
A $499,605 state grant to
two seats up for election, one held by an incumbent and the other
improve and expand career
vacated by a Board member who had put his hat in the ring for a
technical education (CTE)
State Assembly seat, one of the most hotly-contested political races in
has been awarded to City
California. We are all celebrating the outcomes and congratulating
College.
those who won: Bill Schwandt, a retired community college professor,
The grant monies are for
who was re-elected to a third term on the Board and Mary Graham, a
instructional programs
designed to provide the
community college professor in a neighboring district, who was elected
region’s construction
to the vacant position.
Outgoing Board member Marty Block is now Assembly Member
industry with a well trained,
Marty Block highly skilled workforce.
Marty Block, representing Assembly District 78, bringing to that office
CTE is an innovative path
his own educational and administrative background from San Diego State University, the San Diego
for students to follow —
County Office of Education, and the SDCCD Board of Trustees.
starting in seventh grade
and continuing through the
And, of course, the major sea-change for
freshman and sophomore
America was the historic election of Senator
years at City, Mesa and
Barack Obama as the 44 th President of the
Miramar colleges. Led by
United States. The vision, talent, experience,
City College, the districtwide
commitment, and wealth of education he brings
program is a collaboration
to this position can only serve us well, and he is
with the San Diego Unified
definitely deserving of all of our support.
School District, the San
Diego County Office of
As we celebrate with the winners, it is also
Education, the San Diego
important to thank and congratulate those who
Workforce Partnership and
did not prevail. Standing for elective office is a
industry-specific partners.
great gift to the public, as well as an act of courage
and sacrifice, especially in 21 st Century America.
Because of the generosity of all who did so, we are
now moving forward again with a strong sense of
purpose and hope.
President-Elect Barack Obama and
Chancellor Carroll at a San Diego reception.
$499,605
Grant Awarded
Extra!
Extra!
City Times, the City College student
newspaper, is making headlines of its own as a
finalist for the prestigious Associated Collegiate
Press Pacemaker Award. Only 11 community
colleges nationwide were in the running for the
award, one of many recent honors for the City
Times.
Professor Roman Koenig with the award-winning
City Times student newspaper.
The publication’s revitalization is largely
due to Journalism Professor Roman Koenig’s
efforts. He began serving as the newspaper’s
advisor in 2003, when he joined City as an
adjunct faculty member. Almost immediately,
Koenig returned the Times to a newspaper
format and eliminated photocopying as the
production method.
Moreover, he instituted a student editorial
staff. “I’d never been part of a college
newspaper where the students didn’t have
control over content and decision-making,”
Koenig said. “I felt it was crucial to the
learning process that they have the power to
make news judgments.”
Koenig also reintroduced a beginning
news writing course and made sure the
newspaper joined the Journalism Association
City Times
Now a National Headliner!
of Community Colleges (JACC) and the
Associated Collegiate Press (ACP).
While helping students discover their
potential in journalism is Koenig’s key focus,
earning professional awards is an added bonus.
Since 2003, the City Times staff has won
about 30 awards from a wide variety of
organizations, including the JACC, the Society
of Professional Journalists and the San Diego
Press Club. This year, thus far, the student
publication has won:
• An American Scholastic Press
Association community service award
for campus-related coverage of the
October 2007 wildfires
• A San Diego County Fair Best in
Show among community college
newspapers
• Three, second-place awards and a
certificate of achievement from the
JACC statewide competition
Best of all, Koenig noted that the student
journalists feel proud of their work and a sense
of ownership.
“As I see the campus grow and upgrade
facilities, thanks to the two community bonds
that were passed, I feel fortunate to be doing
my part in advancing the journalism program,”
Koenig said.
Koenig has been a reporter for the North
County Times and San Diego Union-Tribune,
and has taught journalism classes at San Diego
State University. He’s now developing courses
in news editing, online journalism and advanced
news writing as part of his effort to establish a
full City College journalism program.
Undoubtedly, there are more headlines to be
made at the City Times.
2 san diego community college district We—With Excellence | December 2008 3