November 20, 2020
College athletics in the time of COVID-19
Both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are making plans for holding athletics in spring 2021, while following health and safety protocols to protect student athletes and staff.
Nedra Brown, associate dean of athletics at Grossmont College; Patrick Thiss, interim dean of athletics, kinesiology and health education at Cuyamaca College; and Jamie Adams, athletic trainer at Cuyamaca College, gave an update at the District Executive Council meeting today. Community college athletics play an important role for student athletes, helping them to stay in school and providing opportunities to transfer to a four-year university.
Current statewide plans call for traditional fall sports -- football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and cross-country - to have a shortened season in early spring. Spring sports - including badminton, baseball, golf, softball, track and field, tennis, and wrestling - would be held later in spring. Student athletes and staff will be tested for COVID-19, with the testing schedule dependent on the level of risk associated with the sport.
For example, a sport such as tennis that is played outdoors and has no contact with other players would be considered low-risk, while a sport such as basketball, which is played indoors with extensive contact, would be considered high-risk.
To compete in the current California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) plan for spring 2021, the total cost for testing athletes is estimated at more than $283,000 for Cuyamaca College and about $621,000 for Grossmont College. 
The CCCAA has told colleges that they have a Dec. 18 deadline to decide whether to hold sports that would be played in early spring, and a February 26 deadline for late-spring sports. The Pacific Coast Athletic Conference, in which most teams compete, is still exploring options that would provide a later spring start that might allow for greater vaccine availability, lower the risk of infection for students, faculty, and staff, and significantly reduce testing costs.

The guidelines for college athletics may be changing, with an update for higher education expected soon from the state.
Pack the Pantry food drive
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are participating with other San Diego County community colleges in the second annual Pack the Pantry food drive.

The colleges are partnering with Cal Coast Credit Union and the San Diego Food Bank to raise money for students facing food insecurity. Research shows that about 50% of San Diego college students do not have a reliable, consistent access to food.
During the month of November, you can donate online to help fill college food pantries. You can select which college you would like to receive the donation. The Food Bank will deliver the food to the colleges at the end of the fundraiser.
Emergency Preparedness Survey

The Department of Public Safety would like your feedback on the state of GCCCD’s preparedness. We are kicking off our efforts to revamp our preparedness committees with a short three-minute survey. Your thoughtful responses would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in further continuing your participation such as serving on a committee regarding emergency preparedness or attending a tabletop exercise, please email Nicole.Conklin@gcccd.edu and we will be in touch at the conclusion of the survey with next steps.

Survey Link:
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