Vice Chancellor of Educational Technology

Dear Colleagues, 

I am thrilled to announce that Dr. Jory Hadsell is now our permanent Vice Chancellor of Educational Technology! 

Jory began transitioning into the interim position as of January and took on all of the Vice Chancellor duties as of March 1.  In a short, but action-packed time frame, he has demonstrated the strategic thinking, collaborative management style, and interpersonal skills that are essential to reimagining Foothill-De Anza. 

Jory has been at Foothill-De Anza since 2014, working as one of the leaders of the California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative (OEI). He was the initiative’s chief academic affairs officer and in 2016, became OEI’s Associate Vice Chancellor. 

Jory brings a solid grounding in both technology and instruction to the position. From 2006 until he joined our district, he was a tenured faculty member teaching courses related to academic technologies and provided leadership as director of distance education at Sacramento City College. He also has worked as an adjunct professor at Drexel University, where he earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership and management, and as adjunct faculty in communications studies at Sierra College, where he earned an associate degree and first worked as a multimedia specialist. Jory holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  

I want to thank the search committee for doing an outstanding job with an accelerated schedule.  We advanced the final interviews to Spring 22 to avoid overlapping with the Foothill President search in Fall 22.  The committee members were: 

Please join me in congratulating Jory and also thanking him for taking on this incredibly important leadership role! 

Warmest regards, 

June 27, 2022

May 1, 2022

March 19, 2022 

March 8, 2022

March 1, 2022

February 27, 2022

Revised Version of AP 3507 COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Dear Colleagues, 

Attached is the revised version of AP 3507 COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement that was approved by Chancellor’s Advisory Council on February 11, 2022.  Please note the opening sentence:  

“In order to access campus/programs, a student or employee will be asked to provide certification of having received an approved COVID-19 vaccine and up-to-date boosters.” 

The new requirement for a booster will be effective April 6, 2022, the first day of spring quarter classes.  Students will not be prevented from registering if they have not yet updated their vaccination records, but their records will be reviewed for compliance after April 6. 

Many thanks to the members of Chancellor’s Advisory Council for their thoughtful deliberation and excellent revisions to the Administrative Procedures.  Here’s wishing all of us a return to more numerous and frequent in-person gatherings! 

Warmest regards, 

County of Santa Clara Public Health Officials Announce Local Indoor Masking Requirements Will Remain in Place

February 11, 2022

Foothill College to Host COVID Test Kit Distribution January 22-29

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to report that just hours ago, Santa Clara County confirmed its collaboration with Foothill College to meet the urgent need for COVID-19 test kit distribution.

Foothill will host one of four Santa Clara County COVID-19 Antigen-test distribution sites from Saturday, January 22 until Saturday, January 29^th from 1-8 PM each day.  If you would like free COVID-19 antigen tests for you and your family, please register at www.sccfreetest.org before picking up your tests.  Please see the Santa Clara County Press Release below for more information.

While the Foothill-De Anza Police Department will have traffic control measures in place for this event, be prepared for heavier than normal traffic on campus roadways and possibly streets near the campus. If you plan to be at the Foothill campus during these hours plan accordingly to allow sufficient time.  

The event will take place in Parking lot 6. If you normally park in lot 6, please park in a different lot for these days such as Lot 5. The County is expecting approximately 500 cars per day going through the distribution site.   

If you have questions regarding traffic control measures or parking lots, please call the FHDA Police Department at 650-949-7317. 

Any questions regarding the Santa Clara County COVID home testing kits distribution event or testing kits, please refer to www.sccfreetest.org . 

Stay safe,

Judy

County of Santa Clara Offering Limited Free At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Tests with Signups Beginning Friday
Those who live, work, or attend school in Santa Clara County can sign up online, then pick up test from one of four distribution sites
 

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –  The County of Santa Clara is offering a limited number of free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests to those who live, work, or attend school in the county, with four distribution locations opening on an appointment basis starting this Saturday, January 22, 2022.

Those who live, work, or attend school in the county may sign up through www.sccfreetest.orgto obtain four at-home tests. Those able to secure an appointment may choose from one of the distribution locations for pick up at a chosen time, with the first slots available this Saturday.

Each individual will be assigned a unique QR code which must be displayed to receive the tests. Tests are not available on a drop-in basis without an appointment.

Sign-ups are done through the same www.sccfreetest.orgportal used for County clinic testing, and scheduling began earlier today, with a limit of one appointment per person. Each person will receive four iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests. Pick-up sites are designed for drive-through operation; however, individuals can also arrive without a vehicle and get the tests so long as they have an appointment.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for community members to pick up antigen tests for rapid at-home testing,” said Miguel Márquez, Chief Operations Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “Testing is key to knowing whether you have COVID, which should help limit the spread of the virus, and will help get people back to their normal lives by safely ending isolation or quarantine early with a negative test.”

The County of Santa Clara opted to purchase and distribute the test kits due to the current scarcity of tests and continued enormous demand in the community. Additional kits are being distributed through the County’s outreach teams to disproportionately impacted communities, through nonprofit partner organizations, as well as to first responders and other essential workers.

More than 15,000 appointments will be scheduled between Saturday January 22 and Saturday January 29. County officials will assess whether this program can be expanded based on availability of tests and the need in the community.

Each appointment will be made for one of four locations:

• • • • Hellyer County Park, 985 Hellyer Ave., San José

      • Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Ave., San José

      • Vasona County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos

      • Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills (offers evening hours)

The County recommends that the antigen tests be used for those who have symptoms of COVID-19 or to end isolation or quarantine periods early for those who have tested positive, or for those who have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 (when a more-sensitive PCR test is not available). If an antigen test result is positive, it should be recognized as valid and applicable isolation guidance should be followed – there is no need in that case for a follow-up PCR test at a healthcare or County facility.

The County also reminds patients of all healthcare systems that they have a right to COVID tests from their own provider if they have symptoms or have been exposed to an individual who has COVID-19.
 

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Follow our Twitter for updates: @HealthySCC
County of Santa Clara Website: http://www.sccgov.org/coronavirus
Public Health Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sccpublichealth

Revised Timeline for Foothill President Search

Dear Colleagues, 

A draft timeline for the Foothill President search was distributed and discussed at the Chancellor’s Advisory Council meeting on Friday, January 14.  Because concerns were expressed about the many concurrent tasks at Foothill, a new timeline will be developed to establish the search committee in spring 22, interview candidates in fall 22, and hire the President in winter 23. 

All the details will be forthcoming soon, but I wanted to reassure you that we heard your request to provide more time for the search process and are proceeding accordingly. 

Warmest regards, 

Winter Update as of January 4

Dear Colleagues, 

In light of the growing Omicron cases and having heard from both employees and students about concerns regarding onsite classes and services, I am writing with this quick update. For those of you who have any concerns about being onsite, please reach out to your respective managers to discuss possible options available to you to do remote or hybrid work through January 28.  

Additionally, we are finalizing protocols and procedures for on-campus Covid testing for students and employees and will have specific directions for you within the next few days.

Many thanks to the 33 attendees at today's Consultation Task Force for the excellent discussion and suggestions for flexible approaches in meeting the diverse needs of our students and employees at this time!

Warmest regards,

Happy New Year and Winter Update

Dear Colleagues,  

I hope your holiday season was memorable and filled with opportunities to enjoy moments that you just could not find time to schedule earlier!   

2021 was a more challenging year than we anticipated and 2022 is not yet where we would like to be, but omicron is a variation on a theme we have seen before.  As a district we have demonstrated resilience, exercised an abundance of caution, and followed the science as we have navigated nearly two years of living in a world which we never envisioned.  Despite the physical, economic, and emotional tolls, we have repeatedly risen to the occasion and transformed student lives with outstanding programs and services provided by incomparable classified professionals, faculty, administrators, trustees, and volunteers.   

As of January 3, we will offer our in-person classes and services as currently scheduled for winter quarter since our offerings reflect a moderate increase over fall quarter.  We continue to follow guidelines for Santa Clara County which have served us well throughout the pandemic.   

The latest Order of the Health Officer of Santa Clara County was issued December 28, 2021, and expands the State Health Officer Orders for individuals in higher-risk settings. 

https://covid19.sccgov.org/december-28-2021-booster-health-order 

“D. This Order requires that all individuals who work in Higher-Risk Settings must be “fully vaccinated” and also obtain boosters when they become eligible. State Health Officer Orders require that many of these individuals be vaccinated (and ultimately boosted by February 1, 2022).^[1]  However, those State Health Officer Orders do not cover all individuals working in higher-risk settings and roles (e.g., paramedics and jail staff).  They also allow persons who obtain an exemption from vaccination from their employer to continue working in higher-risk settings where they are at high risk of becoming infected and exposing others, rather than requiring that individuals with exemptions be reassigned to lower-risk settings and roles.  This Order enhances the protection offered by the State Health Officer Orders and moves up the timeline for personnel to be Up-to-Date on their vaccination to protect highly vulnerable workers and community members from infection, serious illness, and death from COVID-19.” 

The inclusion of clinics in the December 28 order means that we must require boosters of all students and employees working in the Dental Hygiene Clinic at Foothill. 

Prior to the end of fall quarter, Chancellor’s Cabinet proposed no changes to our interim Vaccination Policy which will be reviewed by the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on January 14, 2022.  Given the following excerpt from the aforementioned Order, we will recommend that boosters be required by a date to be determined during winter quarter. 

“B. However, initial evidence also shows that individuals who have received a booster shot increase their immunity to a level that confers more protection from all circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Omicron variant. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) now recommend that all eligible persons receive a booster shot because immunity wanes several months after completion of the initial vaccine series.”  

On-campus COVID testing for students and employees will be available when the kits arrive, anticipated to be in early January.  We are aware that testing has increased dramatically resulting in high demand and short supply.  More information will be forthcoming shortly from the colleges and Human Resources, including the criteria for who gets tested, e.g., on-campus exposure or Santa Clara County Department of Public Health guidance. For the most updated information, please visit the Human Resources COVID-19 Employee Information and Resources page. 

https://hr.fhda.edu/_covid-19/index.html 

Although we have yet to start winter quarter, questions have already arisen regarding spring.  We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring and following county requirements. I am confident that we can make good decisions based on available data at the times we need to act. 

I look forward to seeing many of you who will be on campus in the coming weeks, and I also look forward to resuming my open office hour (OOH) on Zoom on January 12!  I feel incredibly fortunate and privileged to be part of a community that works so conscientiously to mitigate risks for students and employees by engaging in constructive behaviors.  We have a high vaccination rate, masking requirements are followed, good judgment is exercised for voluntary social distancing, and self-isolation has stemmed from an abundance of caution.  Thank you for everything you do to keep yourself and everyone around you safe!  

Let me close by reminding us that, as a district, we will not be immune from the disruptions and shortfalls in services that have burdened the world.  I hope we will be role models of patience and kindness since we are highly adept at rising above the fray. 

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022, 

Return to Campus Guidance for Winter and Spring 2022

Dear Colleagues, 

What a treat to see more than 100 people at the town hall about emerging from the pandemic hosted by De Anza on December 3!  Many thanks to everyone who attended, including our trustees Patrick Ahrens, Laura Casa, Pearl Cheng, Peter Landsberger, and Gilbert Wong.   

A special shout goes out to all those who managed many logistics on short notice: Becky Bartindale, Edwin Carungay, Juan Diaz, Amy Edwards, Karen Franco, Patrick Gannon, Pippa Gibson, Marty Kahn, Heidi King, Carla Maitland, Rob Mieso, Paula Norsell, Simon Pennington, Iman Seale, Tim Shively, Marisa Spatafore, and Chris Winn. We appreciate the land acknowledgment by Edmundo Norte and opening comments by Bernadine Fong, Lloyd Holmes, and Peter Landsberger.  Our panelists were the highlight of the morning, so kudos to students Joshua Contreras, Catherine Le, Edgar Ramos, Quang Truong and colleagues Maritza Arreola, Chesa Caparas, Derrick Felton, Janie Garcia, Ellen Judd, and Scott Olsen.  

You can watch a video recording of the town hall on the district’s YouTube channel to learn about the panelists' experiences returning to campus and hear the Q&A at https://youtu.be/DDpG-NZpHy0 

Return to Campus Guidance 

As noted at the town hall, our goal is to continue expanding on-site instruction and services to the degree permitted by public health advice. To that end, what follows is districtwide guidance for increasing in-person operations at Foothill, De Anza, and Central Services in winter and spring 2022, unless mandates related to COVID-19 restrictions change significantly.  We are closely monitoring guidance regarding the omicron variant and will keep you informed as to any impact on district operations. 

There is no expectation that one approach will work in perpetuity in any given department. Individual administrators have discretion in determining how best to staff their areas, but I ask them to make their decisions in consultation with faculty and staff. Student needs should be paramount in these discussions, with employee needs taken into account wherever possible. 

Winter 2022  

As permitted by public health guidelines, more of the colleges’ programs and services will return to campus. This includes but is not limited to: 

• • • Lecture classes, depending on size and facilities capacity 
    • Library services 
    • Adaptive physical education  
    • Dining services 

Spring 2022 

As permitted by public health guidelines, college classes and services will be fully operational  on-campus, with any necessary remaining modifications.  

During this phase, lessons learned during the pandemic should inform all decisions and planning, and an equity focus should continue to underpin all decisions. To that end, we must keep in mind that online courses provide additional flexibility and options for students, as does the continuation of selected online student services.

It is important to note that plans for spring 2022 will be adjusted as needed to respond to any unanticipated circumstances. However, both colleges aim to offer a class schedule that includes at least 80-85% of their sections in person compared to spring 2019.   

The basis of the 80-85% calculation is the percentage of in-person classes at the colleges in spring 2019:  Foothill was 49% and De Anza was 79%.  The 80-85% figure is a general goal for the colleges, not for individual faculty members, departments, or divisions. However, what will be equally important is that our offerings ensure that our students can meet their general education requirements in person as well as online. 

Non-instructional departments at Foothill, De Anza and Central Services will evaluate their operations as more staff members return to campus for more days beginning in winter 2022. Whether people are working remotely or in person, we are committed to providing service Monday through Friday with consistent and predictable hours posted on websites and included in office phone messages.  

Recent attempts to develop a board policy and administrative procedures for remote work revealed the difficulties of establishing a uniform approach to all employees and all work assignments.  Additionally, some recommendations appeared more appropriately addressed in contract negotiations, so administration will follow up accordingly and postpone policy development. 

In the meantime, I ask all administrators to consider the following impacts in developing both remote and in-person class schedules and office hours:  

• Student access 
• Quality of instruction and services 
• Equitable workloads 
• Participation in committees 
• Professional development 
• Team building 

Given our very low number of workplace exposures to date and the availability of equally effective alternative methods for conducting contact tracing, we are discontinuing use of the OptimumHQ app for health status reporting and activity logging. At Foothill, we will also discontinue use of the Modolabs student mobile app for health status reporting only. All other functions of the student mobile app will remain active at both colleges.  

The district will continue with contact tracing using the methods that were in place before implementation of the OptimumHQ app. These safety measures have worked well and include protocols outlined in the Employee Protocol - Health Checks: Authorization for Onsite Access to District Property and the COVID-19 Response Team document. The latter is a step-by-step chart used for notification of exposures and reporting of COVID positive or symptomatic employees, students, contractors, vendors, and volunteers. These resources have been used consistently by the Human Resources Office and will continue to be updated as needed. You can find this information and more on the HR COVID-19 Employee Information and Resources page at https://hr.fhda.edu/_covid-19/index.html. 

A number of people have asked about the possibility of offering onsite COVID-19 testing. To date, we have had fewer than 20 people who have requested and received an approved exemption to the district’s vaccine mandate. As more people begin returning to campus, we will be looking at how to handle onsite testing for exempted employees as well as for any employees who are part of an onsite workplace exposure, beginning in the winter quarter. Additional information about this will be distributed districtwide and made available on the HR COVID-19 Employee Information and Resources page.

The district is voluntarily extending the federal provisions for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFRCA) for all employees through June 30, 2022. Please be advised that while the FFCRA leave provision will end at that time, employees may still be entitled to leave under their respective collective bargaining agreement using Family and Medical Leave Act, unpaid leave, etc. 

Finally, there have been many questions and concerns regarding our HVAC systems. While there are no specific HVAC mandates from the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, the department has provided recommendations in the form of guidance, which we are following to every extent possible. Please see the following websites for district and county HVAC information:  

• Ventilation and HVAC Frequently Asked Questions – Foothill-De Anza
  https://facilities.fhda.edu/_tile-facilities-safety/a_hvac.html 

• Guidance for Ventilation and Air Filtration Systems – Santa Clara County Department of Public Health https://covid19.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb766/files/Guidance-for-Ventilation-and-Air-Filtration.pdf 

I’d like to close by thanking the members of the Consultation Task Force who have provided excellent advice as we collectively navigate a myriad of uncertainties.  What is certain is that Foothill-De Anza will emerge from the pandemic better prepared to meet the needs of current and future students because of your thoughtfulness, intentionality, and dedication.  It is truly a privilege and pleasure to work with you. 

With best wishes for the holiday season and new year,

Executive Director of International Student Programs

Dear Colleagues, 

I am extremely excited to announce the selection of Jennifer L. Brook as the Executive Director of International Student Programs for Foothill-De Anza!  She has been serving as the Interim Executive Director since May 10, 2021, and we were so fortunate that she was willing to step into that role on fairly short notice. 

Since 2014, Jennifer served as the Director of International Recruitment and Marketing. As a long-time champion of forward-thinking approaches to recruitment and marketing, Jennifer has played a central role in helping modernize our international recruitment efforts.  Through her oversight of all international marketing and communications for the district – including social media, print, e-mail, and digital marketing – she coordinated a complete refresh of our international brand identity and developed and implemented our first multi-channel CRM (customer relationship management) communication plan.  Co-leading our District’s recruitment efforts, Jennifer has kept a particular focus on developing underserved markets and increasing the diversity of our applicants. Always taking a collaborative and student-centered approach, she established and leads two cross-district committees focused on aligning and improving our communication efforts with current and prospective international students. 

Prior to joining our district, Jennifer held several roles in international education, including:  Associate Director of International Admissions, Assistant Director of International Admissions, and Graduate Assistant, International Center (all at Hawaii Pacific University), International Student and Study Abroad Advisor (the School of Art Institute, Chicago), and Graduate Assistant, International Student Services (Lewis University, Illinois).

We have benefited from her breadth and depth of experience in international education – starting from her own experience as an F-1 student in the U.S. She has taught ESL, advised students on immigration issues and study abroad programs, and has worked in international admissions, marketing, and recruitment since 2010. Jennifer is a respected leader in the field and continues to make impressive strides in reimagining our International Student Program in a global context that continues to be volatile.

I asked Jennifer for some thoughts she'd like to share with all of you and this is what she wrote:

"Throughout my time at FHDA, I have been continually inspired by the District's mission and values for fostering an environment committed to access, equity, innovation, and student success. I am excited by the opportunity to continue to lead the District's International Student Program and outstanding team of ISP professionals as we reestablish FHDA's position as the most innovative, student-centered community college in international education. I sincerely look forward to collaborating with leadership, faculty, administrators, and classified professionals across the District to develop modern and creative initiatives to attract and support international students from diverse backgrounds." 

Please join me in congratulating Jennifer and thanking her for leading a very talented team of classified professionals and administrators in ISP!   

I also want to thank Rob Mieso and the search committee for successfully completing the search process in just under three months. Their timely efforts will ultimately contribute to increasing enrollment for which we are all grateful.

Warmest regards, 

Report of Special Board Meeting

Dear Colleagues:  

It is with a sense of sadness that I share Board President Landsberger’s report out of closed session at 7:59 p.m. tonight, October 25, 2021:  

The Board acted in closed session not to renew the employment contract of the Foothill College President after the expiration of its term on June 30, 2022, and to authorize the Chancellor to issue notice of the Board’s intention and take any other necessary steps in the interests of the District, Foothill College, and its students and employees.     

The vote in favor of the motion to approve this action was unanimous.  

After announcing the action, President Landsberger went on to state: 

That concludes my official report of actions the Board took during closed session. While I am limited in what more I can say about the action and what led to it, I can say that the Board believes this action is needed to allow the college to move beyond the current state of conflict.   

The Board of Trustees respects President Nguyen’s accomplishments and recognizes that she is admired by many. Nevertheless, the board’s priority must be to take steps to establish the conditions under which administrators, faculty, staff, and students can work collaboratively to achieve student success with universally equitable outcomes.      

The Board has placed the achievement of the district’s equity and student success goals at the heart of its Board Priorities. Nothing in this action should be interpreted as a retreat from Foothill’s equity agenda. Foothill-De Anza has a long history of advancing equity and inclusion, and this work will continue uninterrupted. As an organization, we are committed to removing barriers for our students and helping to create a just society where all can be successful.  

I believe it is in the best interests of Foothill College to seek new leadership that can reinvigorate collaborative approaches to being student centered and equity minded. 

While we search for a new president, I’m pleased to announce that Foothill College President Emerita Bernadine Chuck Fong will serve as acting president from November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.   

On November 1 from 12:00-1:00 p.m., Acting President Fong, President Landsberger, and I will hold a collegewide meeting to begin the healing process.  

Going forward, let us focus on the future and recommit to nurturing a collegial environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.  We owe it to our students.  

Sincerely, 

Area Elections for the Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees:  We'd like to hear from you!

Dear Colleagues, 

For the first time since the district’s founding in 1957, we are changing the way members of the Board of Trustees are elected. The new system is intended to elevate the voices and increase representation of the diverse communities in our district – including the communities in which we work and in which many of you live or have ties.  

The board and I invite you to attend the Sept. 13 Board of Trustees meeting to take part in the first of two public hearings to gather information and comment that will assist in dividing our district into five trustee areas of roughly equal population size. Starting next year, we will begin the transition to a new system in which voters in each of the five trustee areas will elect one area resident to serve on the board.  

This is a consequential change that will affect our colleges, our local communities, and our students and employees, and we would like you to be involved. We believe your knowledge about Foothill-De Anza and the communities that make up the district could contribute significantly to the best possible outcome as we establish boundary lines for the five trustee areas.  

You can learn more about the process and how you can be part of it by visiting www.fhda.edu/trustee-areas. Attending the Sept. 13 hearing also would be a good first step. 

One of California’s most respected redistricting consultants, Redistricting Partners, is assisting the district in drawing draft maps showing possible trustee area boundary lines based on established districting principles and community input.  We are committed to an open, transparent, and public process of information gathering, discussion, and decision making that will take place over the next five months. Your ideas are essential.  

At the Sept. 13 hearing, which begins at 7 p.m., Redistricting Partners will give an overview of the districting process and discuss the importance of identifying communities of interest that would benefit from being together. Bringing people with common interests together for fair and effective representation is an important principle in drawing trustee area boundary lines. We are soliciting ideas from the community for this hearing. 

You can find the Board of Trustees agenda and link information posted Thursday afternoon at the district’s BoardDocs website. 

I hope to see you on Sept. 13, but if you can’t attend, we will have a second hearing on Oct. 4. After the second hearing, board members will provide direction to the consultant about what they’d like considered in draft maps showing potential trustee area boundaries. Public hearings on those maps and any maps submitted by the public will be held in December and January before the board makes a final decision on the trustee area boundaries in February. 

Please take the time to visit our Trustee Areas website to learn more about this. Change is coming – be part of it!  

Warm regards,

Vaccination Update

Dear Colleagues, 

I’m writing to report on recent developments related to mandatory vaccination and verification for students and employees.  

Let me begin by thanking the Consultation Task Force for its advice regarding implementation of the proposed interim mandatory vaccination policy. This requires all employees and students who come to campus to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 15 for employees and Sept. 20 for students, since we expect the federal Food & Drug Administration to fully approve a vaccine within the next few weeks.  Recent surges in the delta variant and the appearance of the lambda in California compel us to take as many measures as possible to mitigate health risks to our students and employees.  We will also provide you with information regarding surveillance testing as soon as we finalize the details. 

For the past year, De Anza Health Services has successfully used a secure online health portal, PyraMED Health Services, for students to request appointments, view clinic records and, for international students, to upload vaccination records, among other services. PyraMED provides health, counseling, wellness, and accommodation software to colleges and universities across the country.  De Anza reports that it is convenient to use, meets all medical privacy requirements, and integrates well with Banner. 

Rather than having ETS develop a system de novo, we now plan to expand De Anza’s PyraMED license and use this system for all employees and students throughout the district who come to campus.  Individuals will upload their proof of COVID-19 vaccination and PyraMED can interface with the California Immunization Registry (CAIR) for verification of vaccination records. We have high confidence in this system as it has already detected fraudulent vaccination records. We will update you about the process for using PyraMED as we work out the details. 

We also have decided that effective immediately, all of our student athletes will need to show proof of vaccination to practice for and compete in intercollegiate games. We are taking this step in good conscience and out of an abundance of caution to protect our students.  We are encouraging everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks outdoors when social distancing isn't possible, for the safety of themselves and others. But athletes cannot wear masks during practice and games, where they may be playing against others who are not vaccinated. 

Please join me in thanking De Anza President Lloyd Holmes and Rosafel Nogra, De Anza Health Services clinic director, for helping us find a good solution with PryaMED. For those still in need of a COVID-19 vaccination, De Anza is hosting a clinic on campus on Aug. 31 from noon to 7 p.m. Watch the college web site for details. Rosafel will attend my office hour on September 8 from 11 AM-12 PM to answer questions about PryaMED. 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all of you for being steadfast in service to our district amidst the torturous impact of the pandemic on our personal and professional lives.  Thank you for your individual efforts to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and the lives of those whose names you will never know.   

In gratitude for the privilege of working with you, 

Bay Area Counties Recommend Masking Indoors for Everyone

Dear Colleagues, 

The counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley recommend masking Indoors for everyone as a precaution against increased circulation of COVID-19.  The news release can be found here: 

https://covid19.sccgov.org/news-releases/pr-07-16-2021-bay-area-counties-recommend-masking-indoors-for-everyone 

Regardless of vaccination status, Foothill-De Anza employees, students, and visitors are expected to follow this recommendation when on campus as our part in mitigating the risk of transmission.  Specifically, masks should be worn indoors unless the individual is working alone.  When outdoors, masks should be worn in large groups or instances where social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained.

I want to thank all of you who are taking every precaution to protect yourselves and those around you.  We have never been more dependent on each other and I am confident that our collective efforts will serve us well. 

Be safe, 

Retirement of Vice Chancellor Joe Moreau

Dear Colleagues,

It is with extremely mixed feelings that I share the news of Vice Chancellor Joe Moreau’s retirement.  I am happy for him to enjoy travel, volunteer opportunities, and more quality time with his family, especially the newest arrival, granddaughter Penelope.  But after his many contributions for nearly a decade, it is challenging to imagine Foothill-De Anza without his leadership and creativity.  He has been a wonderful thought partner and I will miss him greatly. 

In addition to his local accomplishments, Joe is recognized statewide and nationally for his leadership in educational technology.  Were it not for Joe’s reputation, I do not believe Foothill-De Anza would have been awarded the contract to oversee the California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative (CVC-OEI).  Were it not for Joe, I do not believe that CVC-OEI would have enjoyed such successful implementation and development, founded on exemplary collaboration among faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the state.  I shudder to think of the California Community Colleges pivoting to online instruction in March of 2020 without the infrastructure support of CVC-OEI. 

Next Generation Leadership Partners was the consulting firm that found Joe for us, so we will use their services again!  In September, Vice Chancellor Susan Cheu will chair the search committee for the Interim Vice Chancellor who will serve from January 1-December 31, 2022.  Susan will convene the committee for the permanent search in Spring 22, so that the final recommendation can be presented to the Board of Trustees on November 7, 2022.  More details and invitations for constituency representatives will be forthcoming. 

In the meantime, please join me in thanking Joe for his outstanding service! 

Warmest regards, 

Juneteenth as a New District Holiday

Dear Colleagues, 

I am tremendously pleased to announce that the District has reached tentative agreement with the Faculty Association to observe Juneteenth as a district holiday for purposes of the 2021-2022 and future academic calendars.  It is our understanding the other unions and meet-and-confer units are interested in negotiating this topic as well, and we look forward to those conversations. Thank you to the faculty and students for your early advocacy to observe this important event well before President Biden signed the legislation making Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, a federal holiday! 

To accommodate for Juneteenth being observed as a holiday in the academic calendar, we need to add one day to the calendar to meet the state requirements for 175 instructional days.  Therefore, Wednesday, September 15, 2021, will be scheduled as a mandatory professional development day with the programming determined by the colleges and Central Services for their respective constituencies.  Thursday, September 16 will remain as District Opening Day and Friday, September 17 will be for additional college programming.  Stay tuned for more information to follow. 

Wishing you a wonderful close to the academic year, 

California Reopening

Dear Colleagues, 

With the announcement by Governor Newsom regarding the “reopening” of California, I am sure we are all happy to see the lifting of so many restrictions. The Mercury News published an excellent Q&A article this morning about the reopening, and it is encouraging to see the current consistency of regulations throughout the Bay Area. For statewide guidance about reopening the California Community Colleges, please see the June 11, 2021, memo from Chancellor Eloy Oakley.  

So, what’s next for Foothill-De Anza? 

In many ways, not much will change for our operations.  Masks at work are currently required by Cal/OSHA, but we expect some revisions to be announced on June 17. 

The current plans for summer and fall course schedules will remain in place while Central Services and the colleges analyze the feedback from student and employee surveys that were recently completed, which you can view here: 

Employee Return to Campus Survey 

Foothill Student Planning Survey Fall 2021 

De Anza Student Survey for Fall 2021 

If you have questions about your individual work situation, please meet with your manager.   

On Monday night, our Board of Trustees passed a resolution directing the presentation of a mandatory vaccination policy for students and staff at the board meeting of July 12. Both the policy and administrative procedures will be discussed at the Chancellor’s Advisory Council meeting on June 18 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Please contact your representative(s) on the Chancellor's Advisory Council with any feedback you have about the draft documents. 

Time permitting, we will also take questions at the Budget Town Hall on June 17, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. I encourage you to attend using the Zoom information on your district calendar to learn about some interesting budget developments. 

Thank you for your Herculean efforts over the past 15 months!  The student testimonials at this year’s graduation celebrations are evidence of your transformative impact in the midst of personal and professional challenges unlike any we have ever endured.  I wish you all a happy and safe re-entry into the new normal. 

Warmest regards, 

Update on Search for the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity

Dear Colleagues, 

After a highly rigorous reference checking process and much reflection, I have decided to pause the search for the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity. 

We will use the summer to determine which firm/consultant can assist when we resume the process this fall. Pat Hyland will chair a new committee and I would appreciate the Academic and Classified Senates confirming their appointments no later than October 19, 2021. 

Myisha Washington will continue as Interim Vice Chancellor through June 30, 2022. Please join me in thanking her for providing this continuity over the next year. 

Sincerely, 

Latest Santa Clara County Health Order Effective May 19, 2021

Dear Colleagues, 

Attached is the executive summary of the most recent health order from Santa Clara County in which I have highlighted directives regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and students.  Human Resources is in the process of determining specific details of compliance and we will share those with you as soon as possible.

Please remember that masks are still required when on campus.

Thank you for your patience as we obtain more information, 

Interim Executive Director of International Student Programs

Dear Colleagues, 

I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Jennifer Brook as the Interim Executive Director of International Student Programs for Foothill-De Anza!

Jennifer brings a breadth and depth of experience in international education – starting from her own experience as an F-1 student in the U.S. She has taught ESL, advised students on immigration issues and study abroad programs, and has worked in international admissions, marketing, and recruitment since 2010. Jennifer is a respected leader in the field, and we are very lucky to have her at the helm of our International Student Programs.  Her appointment is effective May 10 through December 31, 2021. 

Prior to joining our district, Jennifer held several roles in international education, including:  Associate Director of International Admissions, Assistant Director of International Admissions, and Graduate Assistant, International Center (all at Hawaii Pacific University), International Student and Study Abroad Advisor (the School of Art Institute, Chicago), and Graduate Assistant, International Student Services (Lewis University, Illinois). 

For the past seven years, Jennifer has served as the Director of International Recruitment and Marketing. As a long-time champion of forward-thinking approaches to recruitment and marketing, Jennifer has played a central role in helping modernize our international recruitment efforts.  Through her oversight of all international marketing and communications for the district – including social media, print, e-mail, and digital marketing – she coordinated a complete refresh of our international brand identity and developed and implemented our first multi-channel CRM (customer relationship management) communication plan.  Co-leading our District’s recruitment efforts, Jennifer has kept a particular focus on developing underserved markets and increasing the diversity of our applicants. Always taking a collaborative and student-centered approach, she established and leads two cross-district committees focused on aligning and improving our communication efforts with current and prospective international students. 

Please join me in congratulating Jennifer and thanking her for stepping up at a very challenging time!   

I also want to thank Rob Mieso and the search committee for their dedication and diligence in completing the search process so quickly to meet a number of pressing deadlines.  What a year this has been! 

With deep appreciation,  

In Memory of George Floyd

Dear Colleagues, 

Many statements have been issued in the hours since the three guilty verdicts were announced in the George Floyd murder trial.  The messages with which I identified most were those that cycled through feelings of disbelief, relief, and hope that justice could be served but also encouraged sustained vigilance in the struggle for racial justice.  A particularly compelling message was written by Constance Carroll, Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District, so I thought I would share her closing remarks:   

While the notion of equal justice for all, including people of color, remains a challenge, this ray of hope is most welcome.  It will behoove us all to work even harder to ensure that this becomes the new pattern.  Let me remind us of the closing words of Amanda Gorman’s poem, The Hill We Climb, which she delivered at the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

            The new day blooms as we free it, 

            For there is always light, 

            If only we’re brave enough to see it, 

            If only we’re brave enough to be it. 

Let us join together to be brave enough to see and brave enough to be.   

You are most welcome to attend my open office hour on Wednesday, April 21, from 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M, which will be a time for reflection.   

https://fhda-edu.zoom.us/j/99881099637?pwd=RlRDL1N3alAzeVFSb3YxTUtURVNZdz09 

In solidarity, 

Schedule for 4/16 Districtwide Professional Development Day

Return to Campus Update

Dear Colleagues, 

Now that Santa Clara County has entered the orange tier, we are planning in earnest for a phased return to campus. Think of our current in-person programs and services as Phase 1 and the next few months as Phase 2. Thank you, De Anza, for allowing me to adopt the terminology from your draft Return to Campus Plan at deanza.edu/return-to-campus/ Foothill also has some excellent information posted along with its draft Return to Campus Plan at foothill.edu/return/ 

• Ongoing – The district will complete and maintain mandated return to campus plans and reports. 
• March 23 – Chancellor’s Cabinet reviewed the colleges’ prioritized lists for Phase 2, looking at timing, logistics, and any support needed from Central Services.  Assuming no changes in the county’s status, all the college proposals will be implemented beginning in the spring quarter. 
• March 29 – Already-approved Phase 1 essential employees and students who were on campus for the winter quarter may now self-report on the OptimumHQ app when entering and exiting the campus without having to report to the Foothill-De Anza police.  
• Early April – Using the OptimumHQ app to assist with contact tracing, Phase 2-approved employees begin returning to campus to use individual offices and classrooms for teaching without students being present. County and state cleaning requirements and guidelines must be followed by all. Information specific to the use of offices will be distributed soon. The OptimumHQ app is available for self-registration (account creation) along with information about how to use it on the ETS website under the Support for Remote Work and Instruction section. 
• Early May – Outdoor conditioning classes will be offered at both colleges. 

I want to assure you that as we move forward, the safety of our students and employees remains the top priority. A frequent question is whether or not we will require employees and students to be vaccinated.  We will not require vaccinations but will require masks until we receive guidance that we need not.  We ask that anyone experiencing COVID-like symptoms remain at home and seek medical advice. 

We also understand that a return to campus may pose challenges in certain instances so we will continue to balance the needs of our students and employees to the best of our ability.   I look forward to conversations about the changing nature of our work as educators and students’ expectations of us. 

More details will be forthcoming as our planning progresses. Thank you for your fortitude over the past year and the thoughtful and creative ways you have adapted.   

I can’t wait to see you on campus!!! 

Warmest regards, 

Changes to Foothill-De Anza Board of Trustees Elections

Dear Colleagues, 

Monday’s board meeting marks the start of a year-long process during which the district will take the necessary steps to change the way that voters elect members of our Board of Trustees. Moving from electing trustees “at large,” as we currently do, to electing a trustee from each of five smaller geographic areas is a way to ensure that minority votes are not diluted.   

If time permits, please join us for a presentation to the board that will give an overview of the process for establishing trustee area elections. Monday’s board meeting starts at 1 p.m. and the presentation is likely to begin around 1:30 p.m. as it is among the first items on the agenda. 

Participation by all of you in addition to the voters of our service area will help us ensure that trustee area boundaries take account of the various communities of interest in our geographically extensive district. There will be multiple public hearings over the next year as we move through this process.  A webpage will provide additional ways to be involved.  

Monday’s presentation is being recorded, and if you cannot join us “live” we expect to have the recording posted on the Trustee Area Elections webpage after the page is activated on Tuesday. You can reach it from the Board of Trustees area of the district website.  I also welcome your questions and suggestions during my weekly open office hour on Wednesdays from 11-12 p.m.

Warmest regards, 

COVID Update as of February 6, 2021

Dear Colleagues, 

Since February 3, we have learned that two of our Foothill-De Anza colleagues have tested positive for COVID and three have been exposed while on campus.  Because these individuals were in numerous sites throughout the district, we are taking the following precautions from February 7 through February 15:

1. The warehouse will be closed. 
2. No mail will be picked up. 
3. Various rooms will have signage indicating that they are closed for cleaning. 
4. ETS will not provide in-person device support. 

Functions that will occur:

1. Previously approved instructional programs 
2. Hazardous materials inspection as required by federal law 
3. Foothill radio station as required by federal law 
4. Child Development Center 
5. Payroll 
6. Accounts payable 
7. Cleaning by an outside vendor 

We do not anticipate needing to extend the above restrictions beyond February 15 but will notify you should that be the case. 

Let me express my appreciation to those of you who have been on campus and followed the protocols for notifying the police department of your arrival, location, and departure.  You have made it much more likely that we can conduct timely and thorough contact tracing.  Your colleagues and their loved ones thank you. 

If you were on campus without prior permission since February 1, please let Myisha Washington know at washingtonmyisha@fhda.edu.  We care about your safety and that of others with whom you may have been in contact. 

We are all anxious to resume in-person activities and we can get there if we continue to wear masks, socially distance, and wash our hands.  Health officials are warning against celebrating the Super Bowl with those outside of your household, and I hope we all comply. 

Stay safe and be well, 

In Memory of Sandra Diaz

Winter Quarter 2021 Update

Dear Colleagues,  

Now that you’ve had time to settle into winter quarter, I have several pieces of news to share. I also want you to know how much I appreciate your support of our students. As of census, our enrollments are flat, which is good news in light of enrollment declines at most community colleges throughout the state and nation. I attribute this distinction to all your innovation and success in providing high quality programs and services.  

Districtwide professional development days  

Continuing the relationship with Dr. Joy DeGruy that began with District Opening Day, we have scheduled another all-employee session with her on February 19. We are excited to have Dr. DeGruy back with us to discuss next steps in our ongoing efforts to become a more equitable and inclusive institution. More details will be coming soon about a day that I expect will be engaging, enlightening and impactful! We’re also planning another program with Dr. DeGruy on April 16.  

Return-to-campus planning  

I am thrilled to announce that Pat James, who served as executive director of the Online Education Initiative from 2014-2017, has agreed to help coordinate the district’s operational plans for returning to campus. This is a complex task, and I am grateful to have such a skilled administrator to assist us. Pat will also help us stay on top of constantly changing state and county requirements.  

To assist Pat, we will form an ad hoc Return-to-Campus Task Force that will begin meeting in February. The task force will produce a comprehensive document that describes:  

• College processes for deciding prioritization of programs and services for return to campus  
• Timelines, responsibilities, and lead personnel for all aspects of return to campus  
• Current state and local regulations governing in-person activities  

As I have stated previously, the Return-to-Campus Task Force will not be setting priorities about who returns when, but the colleges will establish their own processes to determine their respective priorities.  Chancellor’s Cabinet will consequently invite faculty, classified professionals, union representatives, and administrators to participate on the task force based on their operational knowledge and responsibility in relation to the programs and services on a given meeting agenda. The Task Force will assess the prerequisite conditions and resources for return to campus. Implementation plans will be approved by Chancellor’s Cabinet after consideration of safety, cost, availability of resources, feasibility, and issues subject to collective bargaining.   

Campus safety   

I’m also thrilled to announce that the district has very recently engaged Bahia Overton, a member of Dr. DeGruy’s consulting team, to facilitate an inclusive review of campus safety that can ultimately inform recommendations to the Board of Trustees. This approach emerged from our conversations with Bahia and Dr. DeGruy about our work to remove barriers to equity and inclusion.   

Over the past year it has become increasingly clear that policing is only one element of campus culture that affects feelings of safety throughout the district. Following Bahia’s advice, we will conduct a comprehensive examination of campus safety in its broadest sense, beginning with the gathering of perspectives from a wide spectrum of students and employees to identify issues, themes, and ideas for change. In the coming weeks, Bahia will provide us with details on strategies and timelines. A progress report to the Board of Trustees is scheduled for June 14, and we will resume discussion in fall quarter to complete recommendations by the end of the calendar year.  

Housing initiatives 

The district is conducting a student housing survey that was launched this week with the help of the colleges’ marketing offices and student and faculty leaders. It is designed to gather information that will help us understand student needs as we pursue community-based affordable housing options. All students will receive a link to the survey, and we hope that faculty members will encourage students to complete it.  

The survey will give us valuable baseline information that will help us in discussions with private and non-profit partners about developing community-based housing. The survey is similar to one that we did with employees in June. It aims to learn more about students’ current housing situations and their preferences for district-sponsored housing. I am grateful to the colleges and student leaders for their help in getting the word out about the survey.  

At the November 2, 2020, study session of the Board of Trustees, Randy Tsuda of Alta Housing presented an overview of his organization’s work to increase affordable housing in Silicon Valley and their interest in partnering with Foothill-De Anza. We are now exploring a potential project with Alta in Mountain View for employee and student housing and will have more to share in the coming months.  

We're also moving forward with a Joint Powers Authority with the Fremont Union High School District, Cupertino Union School District, and Sunnyvale Union School District for affordable employee housing and look forward to resuming meetings after a seven-month hiatus due to the pandemic.  

The district is working with Mercy Housing California and Abode Communities on an affordable rental housing project for school employees and their families made possible through a partnership with Santa Clara County, Facebook, the city of Palo Alto, and several participating school districts. The development, which will be built on county owned land at 231 Grant Avenue in Palo Alto, is moving through the county's review process and a study session is tentatively scheduled before the Palo Alto City Council next month.  

Informational sessions on major topics  

In response to your keen interest, we have scheduled informational sessions focusing on the following topics to answer your questions and hear your ideas:

• Student and employee housing – February 23 from 2-3 p.m.   
• Return-to-campus planning – March 4 from 4-5 p.m.  
• Campus safety – March 11 from 4-5 p.m.  

These will be added to your district calendar soon.  

It feels a bit odd to report on such operational matters following such an historic presidential inauguration today and the attack on the Capitol only two weeks ago. I confess to toggling between the community college budget workshop and inaugural activities and concluded that our work may pause but never stops.  And our students need us now more than ever.  

Let me close by again expressing my thanks to all of you for nine months of dedication, creativity, and patience. There is a light at the end of this tunnel!    

Be safe and be well,   

A Call to Action

Dear Colleagues, 

I expected there would be raucous protest outside the United States Capitol as Congress counted the Electoral College votes but never imagined that rioters would breach the building and disrupt the process.  It was shocking and frightening to watch congresspersons hiding under seats and donning gas masks while frenzied groups smashed windows and vandalized chambers. 

Fortunately, the story does not end there, and Congress reconvened to resume their work.  Ultimately, Congress certified President-elect Joe Biden’s win and that very act inspired me to conclude that we could accomplish a great deal over the next four years given what we had accomplished in the past four years. 

Despite limited resources, we have provided excellent programs and services to meet the various educational and career goals of our diverse students and increase their success.  We have been undaunted in the face of the rescission of DACA, xenophobia, volatile regulation of international student enrollments, and an inadequate pandemic response, but those issues required attention and district resources that could have otherwise supported students.  Imagine the benefits to students if the next four years cultivate a safer and more welcoming climate in addition to saving resources spent on legal and regulatory challenges. 

Our district mission says in part: 

We are driven by an equity agenda and … are committed to providing an accessible, quality undergraduate education dedicated to developing a broadly educated and socially responsible community that supports an equitable and just future for California.   

I am confident that we will continue to be driven by an equity agenda and that our community will support an equitable and just future for California and the United States.  Despite the fact there is much difficult work ahead, we have proven we are up to the task. 

In solidarity, 

COVID-19 Update and Campus Access

Dear Colleagues, 

Given the recent Santa Clara County change to Purple Tier due to a surge in COVID cases and expected continued increase in transmission of this virus, especially as we enter the holiday season and colder weather, please keep yourself and others safe by wearing a mask, conducting frequent hand-washing, social/physical distancing, and practicing other preventive measures applicable to your home and work areas. Your health and safety are our utmost concern.  

Please note, if you do get sick, have a positive COVID test, or are exposed to someone who tested positive, please adhere to the following.  

Notifying the District if You Have Symptoms, Have Tested Positive for COVID, or Were Exposed 

Regardless of whether you work on campus or remotely, if you experience COVID-like symptoms, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive, or if you have tested positive, you are required to notify your supervisor or the District Office of Human Resources. Your supervisor will then report your case to the District’s COVID Response Team who will conduct the required follow up.  

In accordance with County guidelines, the District is required to track and report cases, and to conduct contact tracing to assist the county in its role to monitor and respond to the pandemic and prevent transmission of the virus.  

The District Office of Human Resources will contact you to discuss the extent to which your situation is affecting your ability to work, options for continuing pay, if needed, and next steps.  

As with any medical information, please be assured information regarding your health condition is considered confidential and will not be shared except as required or allowed by law or regulation.  

For more complete information on Employee Expectations, please see the full document located on the District Office of Human Resources webpage at http://hr.fhda.edu/_covid-19/index.html  

Revised Campus Visit Schedule and Protocol Reminders 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020, and Wednesday, December 16, 2020 

The District has tomorrow scheduled as a day for non-essential employees to return to campus to retrieve items or gather other resources necessary to continue their work. Please note that in order to return to campus everyone must follow safety protocols, including wearing a mask at all times while on District property, maintaining physical distancing, and observing frequent hand washing/sanitizing.  

In light of the surge in cases and the recent holiday any employee who may have traveled or participated in gatherings with others outside their immediate household should follow the County guidance to observe the required quarantine period (14 days) and postpone their visit to a later date. Further, for employees who are concerned about the number of employees currently scheduled to come on to campus (50+ at each campus), a later visit may be appropriate. As a solution, the District has also scheduled Wednesday, December 16, 2020 (two weeks from tomorrow’s visit date) as an additional opportunity for employees to come onto campus. If you scheduled a visit for December 2 but now have decided not to do so, please follow your site procedures for notifying the appropriate person of your change in plans. 

With appreciation for your cooperation and understanding during these challenging times, 

Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Myisha Washington has been selected to serve as Interim Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Equal Opportunity from November 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.  Please join me in thanking her for taking on these duties that are monumental in normal times let alone what we are currently experiencing locally, nationally, and globally.

Below is an excerpt from her resume that shows her progression from 2004 to the present day in increasingly responsible human resources positions at Foothill-De Anza. 

• Monitored and maintained complex HR technology systems and software and generates related reports as required; prepared and maintained a variety of files, records and reports.

• Served as substitute District resource person to management and unions for negotiations teams and meet and confer groups.

EDUCATION

B.A. Visual and Public Art (Cum Laude), California State University, Monterey Bay

Let me close by thanking the faculty, classified professionals, and administrators who served on this search committee.  By the end of Fall 2020, we will invite appointments to the search committee for the permanent vice chancellor so that we can advertise and interview during Winter 2021 and hire by July 1, 2021.

Warmest regards,

Winter 2021 Planning

Dear Colleagues, 

Chancellor Eloy Oakley, head of the California Community Colleges, sent a message to CEOs on September 10 which included the following:  

“I have spoken to several of you about plans you are considering for instruction in Spring ’21. I fully support that each college announce sooner rather than later that you will continue to be primarily online/remote for the remainder of the academic year. The more certainty we can provide our students and communities the better we will allow them to plan accordingly. This allows our faculty to be fully prepared for the remainder of the academic year. If things improve we can always bring students and staff back to campus. I can’t stress this enough, make the call soon. To reinforce this choice know that today Chancellor White announced that the CSU will continue to be online in the Spring and in my discussions with President Drake he is seriously contemplating doing the same. Once CSU and UC are committed in the Spring it will become increasing harder for our colleges to consider bringing non-CTE students back to campus.” 

Chancellor Oakley’s message was aimed at colleges on the semester system, but the same need for certainty applies to us as well. If you attended my open office hour on September 9, you heard me say that we do need to plan on continuing to offer instruction and services remotely through Winter Quarter 2021. There will be extremely few exceptions to the work-from-home rule during this period, primarily involving allied health programs, child care, police, grounds, custodial, technology, business services, bookstore, and facilities staff coming to campus as needed. Students and staff will work onsite on a very limited basis with all safety precautions in place, including utilization of the contact tracing app that we are currently piloting.  Plans for our Spring Quarter 2021 will likely be decided in January. 

Striking a balance between the need for employee flexibility and services for students, the campuses will operate on a five-day schedule through Winter 2021, with the option for departments to operate on a four-day schedule based on approval from their administrator. Central Services departments will continue to operate on a four-day schedule, with the option to operate on a five-day schedule based on approval from their vice chancellor. Please be sure that your days and hours of service can be readily found and are clearly communicated.  

It is impossible to adequately thank you for your resilience, creativity, and patience throughout the past six months.  I reflect back on the inspiring year-end celebrations in June and am confident that we will continue to find ways to build and maintain a sense of community and connection for students and ourselves.  Let’s be each other’s COVID Response Team! 

Looking forward to seeing you for opening days. 

Budget Update

Dear Colleagues, 

I would like to provide clarification and an update on the planning we are doing for the November 1 deadline for budget reduction proposals currently in progress. First, any proposed changes would only be implemented if we could not start 21-22 with a balanced budget.  This will depend on actual revenue for 20-21, state funding decisions for community colleges, and possible federal emergency assistance. In addition, the previously published timeline for decisions and employee notice of layoffs would only be implemented should your November 1 plan include the possible use of a filled position.  

AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FILLED POSITIONS, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY ONE-TIME FUNDS TO REACH YOUR TARGET. 

The November 1 plan was never the same as previous budget reductions where we had to remedy a structural deficit and eliminate ongoing costs that were typically filled positions. Because you will not be required to identify permanent reductions for a July 1, 2021 implementation, you need only identify the source of funds to be used if revenue fell short of projections for 21-22.  For example, and as an illustration only, if an area with multiple accounts were asked to identify solutions for the shortfall, the November plan might include a combination of 19-20 carry forward, capital outlay, expense transfers to grants/categoricals, salary savings from unfilled positions or unpaid leaves, enterprise funds, etc. This will allow us to “buy time” in order to continue our planning processes for  more permanent changes, should they ultimately be necessary.   

AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, THE REVISED REDUCTION TARGET IS $9,000,000. 

I am thrilled to report that revised projections and closing figures for 2019-2020 from Business Services instill hope for a smaller deficit.  Vice Chancellor Cheu is preparing a slideshow showing the changes that have occurred over the past months.  She will share this information at my office hour from 11:00-12:00 on Wednesday, September 9, and it will also be posted on my website. 

I hope this update and clarification of what is being asked by November 1 assures you that we strive to protect our full and part-time employees because our people make this district the incredible organization that it is! 

With sincerest thanks for your tireless dedication, 

Update on Campus Closures

Dear Colleagues, 

As our intrepid firefighters gain more control over the Bay Area’s fires and with the weather cooperating, the air is improving enough in Los Altos Hills for previously cleared individuals to return to Foothill as of Thursday, August 27. This reopening applies only to those essential workers whose duties require them to be on-site and a very limited number of students, faculty, and staff who are involved in allied health programs.  Because the air in Cupertino does not appear to be improving, De Anza essential workers will continue working remotely until Monday, August 31. 

I want to thank Chief Danny Acosta, Officer Jeff McCoy, and Chancellor’s Cabinet and their teams for all their work over the past week (including nights and weekends) to put together contingency plans to address fire emergencies, including the elaborate planning required to open campus parking lots to evacuating vehicles, relocation assistance, and firefighting staging.  We even determined where a helicopter would land were that necessary! 

While the smoke has begun to clear, there are challenges ahead for many colleagues whose lives have been upended by the fires, and the Foothill-De Anza family is rallying. The colleges and Central Services are seeking information about who has been affected to determine what we can do to help. To date, these funds have been established: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/foothill-college-fund-for-evacuated-colleagues 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/karen-smith-lost-her-cabin-to-czu-wildfire - recently set up by Karen 

President Holmes would like to tailor assistance to individual needs because some have been non-financial such as housing or animal care. Please send requests to gibsonpippa@fhda.edu. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/karen-villlaba-was-affected-by-the-wildfire - sponsored by the CDC at De Anza 

If you have been evacuated and need assistance, or know of a Central Services colleague who does, please contact Monica Garcia at garciamonica@fhda.edu. The Senate has limited funds available and will do its best to help. To support this effort, click HERE for a classified senate payroll deduction form. 

During this time of upheaval, if you have fire- or health-related circumstances that affect your ability to work – for example, having to evacuate or caring for someone who is sick or affected by the fires – please let your supervisor know the particulars of your situation. Some people may need to set up remote work stations in new locations and others may need to take leave. The district will be as flexible as possible in meeting these needs.

Let me conclude by saying how proud I am of the generosity and kindness that have already been demonstrated by our Foothill-De Anza family.  Crises are said to bring out the best and worst in people and this latest has certainly brought out the best in all of you. 

With deepest appreciation, 

Fall 2020 Update

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for all your good work serving nearly 21,000 students during Summer 2020, resulting in an increase of more than 3% full-time equivalent students (FTES) over last year! For the past month, I have delighted in stories from parents and grandparents praising the quality of instruction at Foothill and De Anza and marveling at how much more their loved ones enjoyed their experiences with you in comparison to a number of universities. Bravi, one and all! 

Given that Santa Clara County continues to be on California’s COVID watch list, the colleges and district offices will remain closed through January 3, 2021. ­This means we will continue offering services remotely. There will be extremely few exceptions to the work-from-home rule during this period, primarily involving police, grounds, custodial, technology, business services, bookstore, and facilities staff who will work onsite on a very limited basis with all safety precautions in place. Please join me in thanking all our colleagues who provide these services that are so critical to the continuity of our educational mission.

The decision to continue remote operations is driven by our desire to protect the health of students, faculty, and staff. The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department has not yet cleared colleges and universities to reopen, and the attached graph leads us to proceed with an abundance of caution.

Judy

I am including the link to California’s recently issued COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Higher Education Institutions so that you have the most current guidelines under which we are operating.  

Striking a balance between the need for employee flexibility and services for students, the campuses will operate on a five-day schedule for Fall 2020, with the option for departments to continue a four-day schedule based on approval from their administrator. Central Services departments will continue to operate on a four-day schedule, with the option to revert to a five-day schedule based on approval from their vice chancellor. Please be sure that your days and hours of service are readily found and clearly communicated.

Foothill and De Anza are currently permitted to offer limited onsite instruction in allied health for Fall 2020.  When the fall schedules were developed to include hybrid classes beyond allied health, we could never have imagined that the state would still be in early Stage 2 of California’s reopening plan. Unfortunately, this means that classes planned with some in-person meetings must now be fully online. We are planning a virtual program for district and college opening days and are looking forward to these activities given the success of the recent year-end celebrations; you truly exceeded expectations! Watch for more on opening day plans soon. 

If you have additional needs related to working remotely, please speak with your manager. We will do our best to accommodate you and continue to schedule periodic opportunities to return to your worksite for essential equipment and supplies. Many, many thanks for the dedication and resilience you have demonstrated over the past five months. These are challenging times like no other and, as always, you have risen to the occasion. The tradition of undaunted persistence at Foothill-De Anza lives on! 

I very much miss being with all of you in person and hope to continue seeing you during my open office hours on Zoom so we can stay connected, celebrate our successes, and share ideas about the future. 

Wishing you and yours good health,

July 30 Update on Instances of COVID-19 at Foothill-De Anza

Dear Colleagues, 

We have three more employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, including the employee with some symptoms who was mentioned in my update to you on July 21.  Two additional employees have been tested and are awaiting results.  One individual has not been on campus since March and four individuals accessed the following locations between July 15-22: 

Kirsch Center  

8700   

All areas have been cleaned at least once since July 22.  

EXCEPTIONS TO MASK WEARING REQUIREMENTS 

For those who may have been concerned to see some colleagues on campus without a mask, please be assured that all employees have received COVID training regarding face covering and social distancing.  There are several reasons why some team members might remove their face coverings, including:  

1.      The team member is performing work alone, outside (common for the grounds team or construction crew when not generating a lot of dust or debris in the air);  

2.       The team member is unable to properly communicate safety concerns through the face covering – maintaining social distancing and having brief conversations without a face covering is acceptable if it is ensuring the safety of the team members performing work;  

3.       The team member needs to remove the face covering for a brief time to hydrate, eat, or for comfort (during lunch or breaks, or if they are unable to breath properly and require a moment without the face covering) – they have been instructed to do this when they are by themselves/away from others; 

4.       The team member needs to change out from a face covering to an actual mask that is intended for construction activity safety. 

Please join me in thanking Danny Acosta, Susan Cheu, Dorene Novotny, and Myisha Washington for carrying out so many tasks behind the scenes on behalf of safety protocols and timely reporting.  Also, join me in sending good wishes to our colleagues for a speedy return to health. 

Be well, 

July 21 Update on Instances of COVID-19 at Foothill College

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to inform you of a new instance of COVID-19 at Foothill College and an update on the earlier instance at the Foothill Dental Clinic.

KFJC

The District was notified Sunday that a volunteer disc jockey at KFJC Radio Station on the Foothill College campus tested positive for COVID-19. The volunteer last worked on July 3 and experienced symptoms on July 8. The disc jockey reported that they were tested on July 13 and received a positive COVID-19 result on Saturday, July 18. The individual noted that they were probably infected at their place of employment and that they were faring well despite the flu-like symptoms.

All personnel working at the radio station have been notified and no one else has reported COVID-19 symptoms. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, as the disc jockey has not been on campus since July 3, we feel there is a minimal chance that any other volunteer at the radio station is likely to have contracted COVID-19 from the affected individual. We are asking the radio station volunteers to continue to self-monitor as a precaution.

KFJC staff follow the CDC and Santa Clara County Public Health guidelines, which include maintaining safe social distancing, wearing facial coverings/masks, and performing self-checking for COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, and shortness of breath) before coming onto campus.  All personnel working at the station perform a gel-in and gel-out routine using an approved hand sanitizer.

The radio station has one person working at a time.  Disc jockeys only briefly encounter one another during a change in shifts. Each disc jockey cleans all radio station surfaces at the beginning and end of each shift; there are typically five to six shifts per day.  A deeper cleaning of all station surfaces (including the bathroom) is performed twice a week by station personnel.

The KFJC Radio Station is an essential program: it has to maintain the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for the South Bay, provide the community with COVID-19 alerts, and meet FCC requirements for continuous broadcasting as a public service. Given the importance of KFJC for the local community and the station’s careful adherence to all required COVID-19 protocols, we support uninterrupted operation of the station.

Foothill Dental Clinic

Both the student and faculty member who were possibly exposed to the patient who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after the appointment in the clinic on July 6th have tested negative.  While we are grateful to hear that news, we are concerned for the custodian who cleaned the restrooms for 5200 and has developed symptoms of a runny nose and cough. The individual has been tested for COVID-19 and will remain at home until the results are received.  I know we all wish our colleague well.

Please continue to follow CDC guidance: we care about you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Instance of COVID-19 at Foothill College

Dear Colleagues,

The district was notified yesterday that a dental patient at the Foothill College Dental Clinic reported testing positive for COVID-19. The patient was treated in the clinic on July 6 and reported the diagnosis to us during a follow-up phone call on July 12.

Following protocol, the clinic screened the patient 24 hours prior to the appointment, then again on the morning of the visit, and the patient reported no exposure or symptoms. We now know that the patient went to the emergency room on July 9 after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The faculty member and student who treated the patient are self-isolating until July 20 and will not return to campus until they have been tested and confirmed negative for COVID-19. No other faculty or students have reported symptoms and, in keeping with the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will closely monitor their health for 14 days.

Dental clinic faculty and staff were notified about the patient’s reported COVID-19 diagnosis yesterday and students were informed this morning.  All expressed a desire to continue clinical instruction.

The students, faculty, and staff in the Dental Hygiene Program follow a strict routine to ensure that the clinic is as safe as possible. They are equipped with complete personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks, gloves, gowns, goggles, and shoe and hair coverings. The program adheres to the protocols of the CDC, American Dental Association, and California Dental Association, including steps to take in response to potential COVID-19 exposure.

The dental clinic is deep-cleaned daily, including fogging with hypochlorous acid twice a day after each clinic session. All surfaces are covered with plastic, which is removed and replaced after each patient. Only eight of 18 stations are in use and each station is separated by plexiglass.

The clinic remains open as the students require clinical training for degree completion and to sit for their state examinations. Dental hygiene is one of the few programs being allowed to use campus facilities on a limited basis where hands-on experience is required for licensure of these essential workers. 

I have the utmost confidence in the responsible behavior of the students, faculty, and staff in the Dental Hygiene Program.  They were accustomed to rigorous protocols prior to the pandemic and have adapted readily to additional requirements.  We will continue to support them as they pursue their studies meeting the highest standards of excellence and safety.

Be well,

Support for Our International Students

Dear Colleagues, 

I want to bring you up to date on steps the district is taking in response to the announcement this week by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that could result in the revocation of international students’ visas if they are taking all their U.S. courses totally online.

This action, which is being characterized as an effort to pressure schools into returning to in-person instruction, would roll back modifications to visa requirements made for Spring and Summer 2020 as campuses across the country moved online because of COVID-19.

Action to block the new directive is coming quickly from multiple directions. Citing its potential for worsening the spread of the novel coronavirus, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley and CSU Chancellor Timothy White announced today that California is suing the Trump administration to  block this draconian measure.

Our district, meanwhile, has signed on to an amicus brief supporting Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a lawsuit to stop the rule change. Foothill and De Anza’s presidents and I have issued statements of support for international students and all that they bring to our campuses.

The district’s office of International Student Programs (ISP) has reacted swiftly and decisively, leading the way to ensure that international students can continue their education at our colleges and communicating clearly to students that they are welcome and have an honored place here.

Specifically, ISP has offered assurances that:

• All international students will have options available to allow them to continue their studies at Foothill or De Anza.

• Both colleges will offer hybrid instruction in the Fall 2020 quarter and thus meet the federal government’s hybrid requirement.
• International students who are currently studying outside the U.S. can register for and take Fall 2020 classes from abroad regardless of whether they are in F-1 status.

 Our colleges have a long tradition of welcoming international students and appreciating the global perspectives and experiences they bring to our district. International students pay the full cost of their education, with no subsidy from the state. This contributes additional funding that allows us to better support instruction and services for all students, beyond the funding provided us by the state.

I am grateful to the staff of our International Student Programs who have worked quickly and smartly to gather information, consult with peer institutions, and brainstorm with the leadership at both our colleges to find student-friendly options for fulfilling the new visa requirements, should they come to pass.

Thursday evening, ISP held virtual town halls to answer questions from international students. They are working hard to ease the fears of our students , many of whom are far from home and suffering from the stresses of COVID-19 and an uncertain future.

I can say with confidence that working together, we will find our way through this.

With deep appreciation for everyone’s efforts,

Judy
--
July 10, 2020