Cuesta College picks chief fundraiser

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• Special report: Cuesta College’s accreditation crisis

  Special report: Cuesta College’s accreditation crisis

  Cuesta College finds itself fighting to keep its accreditation because of years of volatile leadership, which resulted in a lack of high-level attention just as the standards got tougher. That’s the conclusion drawn from interviews with more than a dozen past and present college administrators, faculty and staff.

• Viewpoint: Mitchell made Cuesta stronger

  Viewpoint: Mitchell made Cuesta stronger

  As Cuesta College’s fourth president, I had the very good fortune of following President Grace Mitchell, and I saw what a strong, wise president she had been.

  By 1999, Dr. Mitchell had accomplished so much work that continued the college’s excellence in its achievements and set the foundation for its next 20 years. Under her leadership, both the college and the Cuesta Foundation grew in size and impact.

  The well developed 1991 Educational and Facilities Master Plan for the SLO Cuesta Community College District and the 1996 plan for the North County Campus were foundational in vision and projection of educational facilities for both the San Luis Obispo and North County campuses.

• Grace Mitchell, former Cuesta College president, dies at 78

  Grace Mitchell, former Cuesta College president, dies at 78

  Grace N. Mitchell, Cuesta College’s president from 1989 to 1999, died March 19 after a period of failing health. She was 78.

  Known for her sharp academic mind, results-driven organizational skills, a warm smile and sense of humor, Mitchell succeeded Frank Martinez as the college’s third president-superintendent.

  During her tenure, she oversaw growth in Cuesta College’s enrollment from about 7,500 to more than 9,100, a staffing increase from 260 to 400 and a rise in the college’s annual budget from $20 million to about $35 million.

• Cuesta College could be closed if accreditation requirements aren't met by November

  Cuesta College could be closed if accreditation requirements aren't met by November

  Cuesta College has until November to fix problems noted by the agency responsible for accrediting community colleges or it will lose its accreditation and possibly face closure, school officials announced Monday.

  The college must improve in three key areas — planning and assessment, technology resources, and financial planning and stability — or its accreditation will be revoked.

  It must also make preparations for closure, as required by the commission, should the college fail to meet the requirements. In that process, the dissolution of the college and its resources will be explored, Cuesta President Gil Stork said.

• Mural painting at Cuesta College: Lots of exposure

  Mural painting at Cuesta College: Lots of exposure

  Having your artwork laid bare to the public eye while still in progress is an unnerving experience.

  “When you’re painting here, it’s exposed to everybody,” noted Loretta Robinson as she worked on a mural of Cuesta College’s Art Gallery’s exterior wall. She is one of a handful of students in Marian Galczenski’s inaugural mural class.

  As their final project, the students were applying the finishing touches on the mural, as passersby looked it over.