On Wednesday, April 2, Susan Barnes, Development Consultant with the new Bay Area Entrepreneur Center (BAEC) of Skyline College, made a presentation to the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce to share information about the Center.  The BAEC will have its grand opening and ribbon cutting on May 29, 2014.

Attendees learned more about the Center and were treated to a “sneak peek” visit following the presentation.  The BAEC will be welcoming new businesses and entrepreneurs with business ideas to its center.  The BAEC, an incubator/accelerator that will assist in positioning businesses for success by providing low cost space, access to financial and management resources, Skyline College classes, seminars, workshops and other services will soon be a part of the San Bruno downtown landscape.  The presentation and “sneak peek” were well attended.

For more information or to find out how you can visit, utilize services or partner with the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center, contact our staff at baec@smccd.edu .

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

On Friday, April 11, 2014, the TRiO program participated on a campus visit to CSU East Bay (CSUEB). While at CSUEB, TRiO students toured the campus and learned in great depth about CSUEB’s academic departments as well as the many resources available to them on campus designed to help them accomplish their educational goals.

After the campus tour, TRiO students had the opportunity to visit both the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) program and EXCEL program— our TRiO counterpart at CSUEB— and learned more about their services and admissions requirements. The day concluded with a short presentation from the GANAS program, an innovative access and retention program that serves newly transferred community college students and provides them an integrated academic and cultural approach while increasing their self-confidence, campus engagement, resiliency, persistence, and, ultimately, baccalaureate degree attainment. TRiO students heard from a diverse panel of GANAS students speak about their personal experiences, the academic rigors of a four-year university, as well as what to expect from attending CSUEB.

The campus visit was a tremendous success, which helped promote the goal of transferring to a four-year university among TRiO students!

Article submitted by Jessica Lopez | Photos by Virginia Rosales

The Skyline College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band, led by Michelle Hawkins and Zack Bruno, traveled to Reno, Nevada on April 12, 2014 to perform at the Reno Jazz Festival, the largest and most prestigious jazz festival in the Western United States. College, high school, and middle school choirs and bands from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona performed and received constructive comments from prominent music educators and ensemble directors who served as judges and clinicians. Students also attended live concerts and recitals by professional jazz musicians who performed as part of the festival. The Skyline College Vocal Jazz Ensemble, in its first semester of existence, earned second place out of 12 ensembles in the collegiate division. Skyline College student musicians were thrilled with the award and honored to represent Skyline College and the Music Department at this high-profile event. “I can’t wait to perform again!” exclaimed Calvin Htet, tenor and first-year student. The Skyline College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Band will perform at the 2014 Commencement Ceremony on May 23.

Participation at the Reno Jazz Festival was made possible by generous funding from the Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC) and the Social Science/Creative Arts Division.

Article by Michelle Hawkins and Dr. Zachary Bruno | Photo by Teresa Tam Studio

On March 4, 2014, Skyline College was honored to welcome world-renowned economist, indigenous sustainability expert, environmental and human rights activist, and acclaimed author Winona LaDuke to campus as part of the Spring 2014 College Lecture Series, A Call to Consciousness. Winona LaDuke is of Anishinabe (Ojibwe) Native-American descent and lives on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota. At White Earth she is the Executive Director of Honor the Earth where she works on an international level to advocate, raise public support, and create funding for frontline native environmental groups.

Currently, Winona is utilizing her training in rural economic development, renewable energy and environmental justice as Director of Honor the Earth in campaigns against fracking on Native lands, highly volatile tar sands oil pipelines through pristine wilderness, coal mining, and the extreme extraction of minerals.

LaDuke spoke to the Skyline College community about the realities surrounding these energy endeavors, in particular their effects on democracy, climate change, peek oil, and food security. She framed this focus on the long-term sustainability of the earth, reminding the audience of the historical destruction these activities have had and their effects on future generations.
As examples of the dangerous effects of these projects, LaDuke addressed these issued in a slideshow that featured photos of the ice melt in Greenland and the Arctic Ocean, carbon dioxide effects on the world’s oceans, extreme weather phenomena, such as Hurricane Sandy and Typhoon Hiyan, fuel poverty, privatized militarization, and the costs of oil dependence to the US economy.

LaDuke also looked at how energy use affected the food economy, such as transportation factors—the price of gas affecting the costs of food. As contrast, LaDuke pointed to the Indigenous Corn Restoration Project, an indigenous grassroots project that resulted in local communities developing eight thousand varieties of drought, wind, and frost resistant corn with higher nutritional values than corn commonly produced at the industrial level.

Throughout the lecture, LaDuke reminded students of the importance of democratic control over undertakings that effect society. She pointed out that students have power to effect change as long as they remain engaged.

Article by John Saenz | Photos by Margo Feldman and Raul Garcia

The Social Science/Creative Arts Division is hosting a film screening of a must-see, powerful documentary on April 23rd & April 24th. INEQUALITY FOR ALL follows Robert Reich – professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member – as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has impacted the American economy. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was recently released in theaters nationwide by The Weinstein Co.

Join us at Skyline College on Wednesday, April 23rd or Thursday, April 24th at 2:00 p.m. for a free film screening and discussion to follow in Building 4, Room 4180.

Please encourage your class to attend. If you would like to bring your entire class to the screening, please let Professor Moynihan know which day and how many students you plan to bring at moynihanm@smccd.edu.

Film Synopsis
A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, INEQUALITY FOR ALL features Robert
Reich – professor, best-selling author, and Clinton cabinet member – as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the American economy. The film is an intimate portrait of a man whose lifelong goal remains protecting those who are unable to protect themselves. Through his singular perspective, Reich explains how the massive consolidation of wealth by a precious few threatens the viability of the American workforce and the foundation of democracy itself. In this INCONVENIENT TRUTH for the economy, Reich uses humor and a wide array of facts to explain how the issue of economic inequality affects each and every one of us. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by The Weinstein Company.

Resources
Website: http://inequalityforall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InequalityForAll
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InequalityFilm
Trailer: http://bit.ly/1ikWtTn

Tim Wise, Antiracist Essayist, Author and Educator

Thursday, April 24 at 11:00AM
Student and Community Center
Building 6, Room 6202

For more information about Tim Wise, please visit Mr. Wise’s website.

Proudly sponsored by the Associated Students of Skyline College, Skyline College President’s Innovation Fund, and Center for Student Life and Leadership Development.

We have just received notification that Dr. Cornell West is ill and will not be able to present his lecture on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. We are currently in talks with his staff to reschedule the event in the near future. Tickets for the event will remain valid for the later date.

We wish Dr. West well and appreciate your understanding.

Skyline College

Tickets are no longer Available! Watch the Live Stream Here

Proudly sponsored by the Associated Students of Skyline College, Skyline College President’s Innovation Fund, 

Center for Student Life and Leadership Development, and The African-American Success Through Excellence and Persistence.

 

Both the Skyline College Academic Senate President and Vice-President attended the Spring 2014 ASCCC Plenary along with the faculty leadership from SMCCCD sister colleges.  This twice-annual plenary allows the senate leaders from every college to meet, confer, share knowledge, elect leadership, and pass resolutions that influence legislation and state policy.  The event was held at the Westin hotel at SFO on April 10-12, 2014.

Forty resolutions were proposed which led to a lively debate lasting most of Saturday.  A few key resolutions that were passed are listed here by title (details and full resolution text will be available in a few weeks on the ASCCC web site, located at www.asccc.org ):

• 2.01 S14 Modify Title 5 to Allow Colleges to be Accredited by Any Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency
• 2.03 S14 Explore Use of Simulated Accreditation Site Visits
• 7.01 S14 Explore Participation in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) for Distance Education Offerings
• 7.02 S14 Allowing “P” Grades for Courses in the Major for the Associate Degree for Transfer
• 12.01 S14 Consistent and Sustainable Funding for Professional Development
• 13.03 S14 Add Established At-Risk Student Groups to Exemptions Under Board of Governors Fee Waiver Policy

Several resolutions came up suggesting or defining ways to offer the Bachelor’s Degree at CCCs; currently, the ASCCC is opposed to offering Bachelor’s Degrees at CCCs.  All resolutions on this topic failed but one:

13.01 S14 Researching the Feasibility of the CCC Bachelor’s Degree

The ASCCC has new leadership: David Morse of Long Beach City College will replace Beth Smith of Grossmont College as President. The list of the entire executive council will be posted to the ASCCC web site in due time.

Skyline College was well represented at the ASCCC plenary and much was learned that will be brought back to our local senate. For more information on the ASCCC plenary, please attend the upcoming Skyline College Academic Senate meeting on Friday, April 25 (1:10-3:00 PM in room 6203), or contact Leigh Anne Shaw ShawL@smccd.edu and Kate Williams Browne brownek@smccd.edu for details.

Article by Leigh Anne Shaw and Kate Williams Browne

The Center for International Trade Development (CITD) and the Retail Hospitality & Tourism Program (RHT) we would like to congratulate former intern and Skyline College student Christopher Chang for being offered an intern position with the U.S. Commercial Service at the Department of Commerce (USDOC), in San Francisco. Chris is piloting the USDOC’s new Entry Level Internship Program. Thanks to the CITD and USDOC’s long history of collaboration and partnership this opportunity was extended to a Skyline College student. Previously, only students at four-year universities qualified for intern positions.

Chris interned with the CITD and RHT Program during the Fall 2013 semester. In his role as intern, Chris carried out day-to-day operations of the office which included drafting marketing materials/articles, grant reporting, and detailed record keeping. Chris gained valuable skills and exposure to multinational companies, business professionals and government agencies through his internship with the CITD and RHT Program.

Chris began his internship with the USDOC in February. During his internship he will learn about regional trade and business development activities and gain more experience with international trade, business/finance and business development.

To be exposed to similar prospects, Chris recommends that fellow Skyline College students, “Be hungry to learn and seek out all opportunities.”

If the USDOC sustains the Entry Level Internship Program, Skyline College will be called-upon to suggest potential Summer and Fall 2014 interns. For more information on the CITD, RHT, and USDOC internship programs, please contact: melloa@smccd.edu.

Article written by Pcyeta Stroud and Allison Mello

Skyline College’s Beta Theta Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently attended the Nevada/California Regional Convention held at the Kellogg Center West in Pomona, where the chapter received awards for service completed in the 2013 calendar year. The chapter focused on “Competition and science”, a theme within the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Honors Study Topic “The Culture of Competition,” and Beta Theta Omicron chapter was once again designated the Regional Distinguished Chapter, the highest award that a chapter can receive. Chapter members committed themselves not only to the personal academic excellence but also to the goal of promoting college completion among their peers. In addition, they honed their leadership skills by committing to projects that give back to the community, including a serving on the San Bruno Relay for Life planning committee and working on habitat restoration projects.

Beta Theta Omicron also received the Honors in Action Award for members’ research on introduced plants on Sweeney Ridge. Beta Theta Omicron earned five-star status, the highest rating a chapter can earn. The chapter has earned a five-star rating since it was chartered in 1999.

The Chapter’s Vice President of Operations, Jaimelynn Alvarez, was presented with the Distinguished Chapter Officer Award for her leadership and support for Skyline College students.

“Phi Theta Kappa provides students with the opportunity to research, lead, and socialize. As an advisor, I am proud of what our chapter and student leaders were able to accomplish. They set goals. They worked really hard, and this is just another example that hard work does pays off,” said chapter advisor Christine Case.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the largest honor society for community colleges, has 93 chapters in the Nevada/California Region.

Article by Dr. Christine L. Case