Child Development Student Alumni Association (FYF) Mission Statement

The mission of the Child Development Student Success and Alumni Program is to foster a lifelong connection between students and alumni, enhancing the educational experience and professional development through mentorship, networking, and community engagement. We strive to support the success of current students by leveraging the knowledge, skills, and experiences of our alumni, while celebrating and recognizing the achievements of our graduates. Our goal is to create a vibrant and inclusive community that encourages personal growth, career advancement, and a continued commitment to the values and mission of San Diego College of Continuing Education. 

Benefits to Belonging

Benefits intended from the Student Success and Alumni Program establishing the FYF association: 

A CD Student Success and Alumni Program, directed by a child development faculty advisor, will support the SDCCE Child Development Student Alumni Association: Forwarding Your Future (FYF). In collaboration, the program and FYF association offer a range of benefits for both current students and alumni, enhancing the educational experience and fostering a lifelong connection with San Diego College of Continuing Education. The key benefits of establishing the FYF association with free membership include: 

1. Networking Opportunities -  

• For Students: Provides access to a network of alumni who can offer guidance, mentorship, and career advice. Opportunities to build friendships, professional relationships that can lead to internships, job offers, and other career advancements. 

• For Alumni: Reconnects alumni with peers and expands their professional network through events, reunions, and online platforms. Opportunities to mentor. 

2. Mentorship and Guidance – “Forward your Future: Fellowship” 

• For Students: Alumni may serve as mentors, providing valuable insights and advice based on their experiences. This guidance can be crucial for academic decisions, career paths, and personal development. 

• For Alumni: Offers a chance to give back to the community by helping guide the next generation. Mentorship can also be a rewarding personal experience. 

3. Career Development – “Forward your Future: Facilitating Advancement” 

• For Students: Access to career resources and job opportunities facilitated by alumni. Participation in workshops, seminars, and panels led by successful alumni from various child development fields. 

• For Alumni: Provides continuing education opportunities and professional development resources. Alumni can stay updated on industry trends and enhance their skills. 

4. Enhanced School Spirit and Community Building- “Forward your Future:  

• For Students: Increases a sense of belonging and pride in the Child Development Department and SDCCE as an institution. Encourages active participation in school events and job fairs. Fosters a sense of community by connecting students with a broader network of alumni who share similar experiences and backgrounds. 

• For Alumni: Strengthens the bond with their alma mater, fostering a lasting sense of engagement. Maintains a connection with the school community, allowing alumni to stay involved and informed about campus developments and achievements. 

5. Event Participation and Organization – “Forward your Future: Fun” 

• For Students: Opportunities to participate in and organize events such as reunions, networking mixers, and career fairs. This involvement helps develop organizational and leadership skills and boost community involvement on resumes. 

• For Alumni: Invitations to special events, reunions, and networking gatherings, providing a platform to reconnect with fellow alumni and build friendships across San Diego County. 

6. Fundraising and Philanthropy – “Forward your Future: Finance or Fundraising” 

• For Students: Access to scholarships and other financial resources (if this becomes a possibility). 

• For Alumni: Provides a structured way to contribute to supporting future generations and enhancing the Child Development program. 

7. Personal Growth and Development – “Forward your Future: Foundation” 

• For Students: Involvement in the program helps build soft skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork. These experiences are valuable for personal and professional growth. 

• For Alumni: Engaging with students and the school community can be personally fulfilling, providing opportunities for reflection and giving back. 

Overall, a CD Student Success and Alumni Program creates a mutually beneficial relationship between students and alumni, fostering a supportive, engaged, and vibrant community that benefits all Child Development students and alumni involved through establishing the FYF Association. 

Potential FYF Association Events

In collaboration with the faculty advisory, FYF is intended to organize events designed to foster connections between current students and alumni, support professional development for career advancement and personal growth, and enhance community engagement. Events for the 2024-25 academic year may be in the category of Networking events, Career Development Workshops, Career Panels, which may or may not include: 

1. “Forward your Future: Friendship” - Alumni Mixers: Fall and Spring Social event where students and alumni can network and share experiences. 

• Industry-Specific Networking Nights: Events focused on particular fields, allowing students to meet alumni working in those industries. 

2. “Forward your Future: Framework or Forward-thinking” - Career Development Workshops 

• Resume Building Workshops: Sessions where alumni help students craft and improve their resumes. 

• Mock Interviews: Alumni conduct practice interviews with students to prepare them for real job interviews. 

• Career Panels: Alumni from various fields share their career paths and advice in a panel discussion format. 

3. “Forward your Future: Fellowship” - Mentorship Programs 

• Mentor-Mentee Match Events: Kick-off events where students and alumni mentors are paired and can get to know each other. 

• Mentorship Workshops: Training sessions for both mentors and mentees on how to maximize their mentoring relationship. 

4. “Forward your Future: Fun” - Social and Recreational Events 

• Reunions: Gatherings for alumni to reconnect with each other and the institution, often including current students. 

5. “Forward your Future: Formative Opportunity” - Educational and Informational Sessions 

• Guest Lectures: Alumni experts are invited to speak on their areas of expertise. 

• Webinars: Online seminars on various topics of interest, allowing participation from alumni and students who are geographically dispersed. 

6. “Forward Your Future: Fulfillment” - Volunteer and Service Projects 

• Community Service Days: Organized volunteer efforts where alumni and students work together on community projects. 

• Service Trips: Travel opportunities focused on service, allowing alumni and students to make a difference in various communities. 

7. “Forward your Future: Festivities” - Celebratory Events 

• Award Ceremonies: Recognizing outstanding alumni and students for their achievements and contributions. 

• Graduation Receptions: Special events for graduating students, often involving alumni speakers and networking opportunities. 

• Walls of Success: Establish a wall of success to showcase the achievements of former students, serving as an inspiration and motivational tool for current students. This prominent display, on a campus, at an event, or on a website, highlights the diverse paths and accomplishments of alumni, demonstrating the real-world impact and potential that can be achieved through hard work and dedication. It fosters a sense of pride and connection within the school community, encouraging students to strive for excellence and envision their own future successes. Additionally, the Wall of Success strengthens alumni relations by recognizing their contributions and maintaining their engagement with the institution, creating a lasting legacy of achievement and aspiration. 

8. “Forward your Future: Food or Fresh Perspective or ?” - Cultural and Social Activities 

• Cultural Nights: Events celebrating various cultures within the alumni and student body, featuring food, performances, and discussions. 

9. “Forward Your Future: ?” - Association Meetings 

• General Meetings: Updates on the organization’s progress, plans, and opportunities for feedback. 

• Executive Committee Meetings: Organizes the working of the FYF Association. 

These events not only help in building and maintaining strong relationships between alumni and current students but also contribute significantly to the personal and professional development of all our CD students. 

Child Development Student Alumni Association Membership

Article II: Membership 

Section II.I: Eligibility 

Membership shall be open to all SDCCE Child Development graduates, former students of SDCCE Child Development, and current child development students at San Diego College of Continuing Education. 

Section II.II: Classes of Membership 

Senior Member: A senior member is the highest level of membership and is obtained in the Fall after being a junior member in good standing for 5 years from the date of registration as a new member.  

Junior Member: A junior member is the second highest level of membership and is obtained in the Fall after being a new member in good standing who attended at least 5 SDCCE Child Development Student Alumni Association meetings or events.  

New Member: A member who meets eligibility requirements and registers their name, email, and phone number with the Second Vice President, Member Coordinator or Third Vice President, Alumni Coordinator.  

Section II.III: Rights and Privileges 

The same rights and privileges are associated with each class of membership with the following exceptions:  

• Any member who serves a full term (i.e., one academic year) as an executive committee officer will automatically have status as a senior member, regardless of the number of years completed as a regular member in good standing.  

• Specific events may be targeted to the specific memberships; therefore, the association reserves the right to offer accessibility to events related to membership level. 

Child Development Student Alumni Association Board

Article III: Governance 

Section III.I: Officers 

• President 

• First Vice President: Lead Event Coordinator,  

• Second Vice President: Membership Coordinator and Secretary 

• Third Vice President: Public Relations and Alumni Coordinator,  

• Fourth Vice President: Finance and Fundraising, or  

• Fifth Vice President: Events Coordinator 

Section III.II: Duties of Officers 

President 

• Duties: Oversees the overall operations of the SDCCE Child Development Student Alumni Association: Forwarding Your Future (FYF). Represents FYF in official capacities. Presides over meetings, presides over executive committee meetings, sets agendas, and ensures that goals and objectives are met. Works closely with other officers, faculty advisor, and committees (if needed). 

• Responsibilities: Leadership, strategic planning, delegation of tasks, communication with students, alumni and administration, and conflict resolution. 

First Vice President, Lead Events Coordinator 

• Duties: Assists the President in their duties and stands in for the President when they are unavailable. Oversees coordination of events. Collaborates with the Fifth Vice President, Events Coordinator. 

• Responsibilities: Support to the President, project management, event coordination, and membership engagement. 

Second Vice President, Membership Coordinator and Secretary 

• Duties: Manages recruitment and retention of members. Ensures members are engaged and informed about opportunities within the organization. Manages officer elections, i.e., serves as the election committee. (When the Second Vice President office is up for election, this officer will appoint an election committee.) 

• Responsibilities: Membership management, recruitment, retention,  and engagement. 

Third Vice President, Public Relations and Alumni Coordinator 

• Duties: Manages FYF's public image and communication with both the student body and alumni. Oversees social media, newsletters, and promotional materials. Acts as a bridge between current students and alumni, facilitating communication and collaboration. Organizes mentorship programs and alumni networking events. 

• Responsibilities: Marketing, communications, social media management, event promotion, alumni relations, mentorship program management, and networking. 

Fourth Vice President, Finance and Fundraising 

• Duties: Manages the financial affairs of FYF, including budgeting, fundraising, and financial reporting. Coordinates with SDCCE Faculty Advisor. Ensures that funds are used appropriately and transparently. Develops and oversees fundraising strategies and initiatives to support FYF activities and goals. Coordinates with other officers to ensure financial needs are met. 

• Responsibilities: Financial management, budgeting, fundraising, and financial reporting. 

Fifth Vice President, Events Coordinator 

• Duties: Plans and organizes events for FYF, including networking events, reunions, and other activities. Ensures events run smoothly and meet their objectives. 

• Responsibilities: Event planning, logistics, coordination with vendors and venues, and volunteer management. 

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Personal Success

On November of 2021, student "N" requested the following be shared to encourage other students. 

"I started taking the Baby Sign/Baby Brain Dance Class (HMDV 610) through SDCE for 0-12 month old infants in Spring 2020. I learned a great deal from the class, but I’d like to talk about two things that resulted from taking that class have been invaluable. 

1) I was able to achieve a deeper connection with my son. I was having a hard time connecting with him after dealing with a difficult labor/recovery from a leg surgery. The songs, activities, and sign language I learned from this class helped me develop a much deeper connection with my baby, significantly improving our relationship

2) My son and I have learned so much sign language, and can now communicate about most things at age 16 months. We started the class when my child was around 7 months. Initially, my child started using signs for only two or three words – dog, more, and fan when he was around 9 months old. He gained a few more words slowly, but around 11-12 months, he started to use signs for words at a much faster pace. He can now sign over 60 signs (with additional made-up signs), and likes to participate in conversations with the adults. This not only helps us communicate about basic needs, but also allows us to explore the world together because we get clear feedback that he understands what we are communicating. 

Here are some of the ASL signs my child uses almost daily: Dog, Cat, Cow, Monkey, Pig, Bird, Duck, Bug, Bee, Elephant, Peacock, Kangaroo, Deer, Fish, Bear, Love, Star, Moon, Sky, More, Eat, Chicken, Milk, Water, Fan, Helicopter, Airplane, Car, Bicycle, Walk, Poop, Tired/Sleepy, Daddy, Mommy, Red, Black, Book, Spider, Sun, Wash, Hi/bye, Please, Thank you, Berries, Apple, Banana, Flower, Cold, Hot, Big, Fire, Jump, Leaf, Light/lamp, Hat, Up, Down, Clap, Door, Five, Baby, Swing

I am very grateful for teacher Kristin and the SDCE Human Development Program for making this invaluable impact in our lives. SDCE classes that I took in the summer (HMDV 533) and I am currently taking (HMDV 581 and 585) have continued to give me tools to understand my son’s developmental process, and provide him with appropriate care and opportunities. Most importantly, I continue to develop a strong connection with him through songs, activities, and sign language that I have been learning through these classes."