September 16, 2024
Dear Colleagues:
Welcome to fall 2024! I am excited to be starting my second year at Foothill-De Anza, and I look forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday at De Anza College for District Opening Day.
District Opening Day Schedule
Below is a brief overview of Wednesday’s schedule. Visit the District Opening Day website for detailed information about the day’s activities.
I encourage everyone to arrive early to socialize with colleagues and enjoy the continental breakfast available on the Hinson
Campus Center Patio at 7:15 a.m.
The program is scheduled to begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) and the following overflow rooms:
Hinson Campus Center Conference Rooms A and B, Media and Learning Center (MLC) Rooms
103 and 105, and Forum 1. Doors to the theater and overflow rooms open at 8:15 a.m., and those seated early will be treated to a celebratory slideshow. Because of limited seating in the VPAC, please proceed directly to one of the overflow rooms should you arrive close to or later than 8:30 a.m.
After Board of Trustees President Peter Landsberger and I welcome you to the new academic year, we will all participate in Title IX sexual harassment prevention
training. Among the changes to Title IX regulations that took effect August 1 of this year is a requirement that all employees receive training annually. The training will be followed by a brief break.
At 10:30 a.m., faculty and educational administrators will head back to the VPAC and overflow rooms to participate in the first of three sessions of regular and substantive interaction
(RSI) training. All other employees have the opportunity to choose from a variety of valuable training workshops offered in the Media and Learning Center.
Following lunch, which will be held from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. on the Hinson Campus Center Patio, faculty and educational administrators
will move to breakout rooms for the second session of RSI training, while workshops continue in the MLC for all
other employees. Training for tenure review committee members will be held at 3:30
p.m. in the S4 Building.
Be sure to check in for the Title IX training, RSI training sessions and workshops using the
QR codes/online form links available on-site.
The third session of RSI training is scheduled on Thursday as part of the opening
day schedules at both colleges.
Thank you to all the workshop presenters and RSI training facilitators for being so generous with
your time and expertise.
Fall 2024 dates to remember
In addition to plans for the new academic year I’ll share with you on Wednesday, I want to be sure you are aware of several significant events happening this fall:
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Accreditation Peer Review Teams Visit
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges peer review teams will visit Foothill College on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and De Anza College on Oct. 1 and 2 as part of the accreditation reaffirmation process. I am extremely
grateful to everyone at the district who has been involved in this important work.
Nov. 5 – Governing Board Election for Trustee Areas 3 and 5
Voters will have the opportunity to elect governing board members to represent Trustee Area 3 (Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and portions of south Sunnyvale
and northwest Cupertino) and Trustee Area 5 (Palo Alto and Stanford). No candidates
filed to run against trustee Laura Casas, so we will officially welcome her back to represent Trustee Area 1 (Mountain View and portions of north Sunnyvale and northeast
Los Altos) for a new four-year term at the Dec. 9 Board of Trustees meeting.
The district began the transition from at-large to trustee area elections in 2022 with trustee Patrick Ahrens appointed to Trustee Area 2 (central Sunnyvale) and Board of Trustees Vice President Pearl Cheng
appointed to Trustee Area 4 (Cupertino and small portions of west San Jose, southwestern Santa
Clara, and northern Saratoga) after running unopposed.
Nov. 12-15 – De Anza College President Finalists Visit
Finalists for the position of De Anza College president will meet with members of the campus community and participate in open forums during
a series of two-day visits. Applications are being accepted until Oct. 4. Thank you
in advance to members of the De Anza College President Search Committee for your work to screen applications and interview candidates for this critical position.
Dec. 15 – League for Innovation in the Community College Reaffirmation Report Due
We are in the process of developing a report demonstrating that Foothill-De Anza continues to meet the criteria to serve as a board member of the League for Innovation in the Community College. Watch your email inbox in the next few weeks for a request to help identify noteworthy programs and initiatives to be featured in the report.
Foothill-De Anza is currently the only California member of the League's Board of
Directors. The district is a founding member of the League and has continuously maintained
its position as one of 19 board members since 1968. Reaffirmation is required after
a change in the district’s chief executive officer.
Thanks to each of you for the work you do to make Foothill-De Anza an innovative institution and an outstanding place to learn and work. See you Wednesday!
Best regards,
Lee D. Lambert, J.D.