Friday, October 24, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma – Opening Reception, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor
• 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Film Screening:  Tattoo Nation, Skyline College, Building 4, Multi-Cultural Room
• 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Women’s Soccer v. Las Positas College, Conference Division Match, Skyline College
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Men’s Soccer v. City College of San Francisco in a Conference Match, Skyline College
• 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Women’s Volleyball v. West Valley College in a Conference Division Match, Skyline College

Saturday, October 25, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Sunday, October 26, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Monday, October 27, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Women’s Soccer v. Chabot College, Conference Division Match, Skyline College
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Men’s Soccer v. Hartnell College in a Conference Match, Skyline College
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m., Disability Awareness Month – Colors of the Wind with JL Powers & George Mendoza, Skyline College, Building 6, Room 6204
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Free Workshop on “Beginning/Intermediate Google Drive”, Skyline College, Building 5, Language Lab
• 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Women’s Volleyball @ Canada College for a Conference Division Match, Canada College
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Thursday, October 30, 2014

• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., ASSC Skylloween Event:  Visit our Information Table, Skyline College, Quad
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Free Workshop in “Writing a Personal Statement for the University of California’s Application”, Skyline College, Building 5, The Learning Center, Room 5115
• 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Music Exploration Project (Jam. Session), Skyline College, Pacific Heights, Building 19, Room 129
• Día de los Muertos Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Men’s Soccer v. Cabrillo College in a Conference Match, Skyline College
• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

Friday, October 31, 2014

• Student Photo Exhibit:  Images of Stigma, Skyline College, Building 2, 3^rd Floor

For the latest information on events and activities happening at Skyline College, please view our calendar.

If you would like to include your college event or activity on the calendar, please submit the event, date, time and location to Jennifer Owen-Blackmon via email at owenblackmonj@smccd.edu.

The Facilities Department is proud to announce that Bryant Evans has permanently transferred to Skyline College Facilities as the Custodial Supervisor. Bryant has a rich history in custodial services, first starting at the College of San Mateo in 1995 as a custodian where he was promoted to the Lead Custodian, and then to Custodial Supervisor in 2002. As the newly appointed Custodial Supervisor at Skyline College Bryant will bring the core values of customer service, teamwork, professionalism and communication, which the Facilities Department strives for. Please join us in welcoming Bryant to the Skyline College Family.

Article by John Doctor

On October 14, 2014, El Grupo Bécalos, a music group comprised of five of our Bécalos students, performed for other students, faculty and staff in the Fireside Dining Room in Building 6 as part of the Latin American Heritage Month activities.  Members of the band were very comfortable on stage as they belted out traditional and up-beat Latin music and preformed a classic rock song completely in English.  These Bécalos students not only showcased their talents and knowledge of music, but also exhibited their progress in learning the English language.  Language immersion is one of the many goals of the Bécalos Program and the students have been demonstrating an increased level of English language ability since the start of the program.  Thank you to the ASSC for providing the Bécalos students with such a unique learning experience and opportunity. For more information on the Bécalos Program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu

Article by Troy Barros | Photos by John Saenz

At the SACNAS (Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) Conference on October 16-18, eight Skyline College students presented their original scientific research alongside students from University of Texas, Princeton University, Yale University, University of California, Brown University, Stanford University, and many others. The conference was held in Los Angeles and sponsored by UCLA and USC. Over 4000 graduate and undergraduate students from across the country attended the conference.

Papers were selected for the conference in a competitive judging from abstracts submitted in July. Skyline College students started their research last spring with Christine Case in BIOL 230 or BIOL 690. The students spent the summer in the lab to continue and complete their research. Stephen Fredricks worked with the students to register and prepare them for presenting at a national conference. At the conference, students were knowledgeable and professional, and represented Skyline College well.

All of these students now have their first publication. You can see the students and their posters at http://skylinecollege.edu/case/biol690/students14.html. Here are their research topics:

• Photosynthetic Characteristics of Invasive Delairea odorata and Native Coastal Sage Scrub Plants – Jean Luke Campos
• Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Rhodiola rosea, a Medicinal Plant – Sweta Sharma and Wafa Zeidan
• Antimicrobial Properties of a Traditional Medicinal Plant, Lupinus variicolor – Jia Gwee
• Antimicrobial Properties of a Traditional Medicinal Plant Mimulus aurantiacus – Jackson S. Womack and Keefah Khalil
• Antibacterial Activity of Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica), a Traditional Native American Herbal Medicine – Anna Portelli and Jashwin Sagoo

Pictured in the photo are: Top row from left: Jackson Womack, Anna Portelli, Jean Luke Campus, Wafa Zeidan, Keefah Khalil, Front from left: Sweta Swarma, Jia Gwee

Article & Photo by Christine Case

On October, 8, 2014, the ASTEP Learning Community celebrated its fall 2014 Family Night with panache! Students, staff, faculty, and administrators who contributed towards the preparations for this event worked diligently, as they were eager to show family and friends why ASTEP has become so pivotal in the Skyline College Community and in their own lives. The assortment of various cuisines on deck encompassed a mélange of cultures within the ASTEP student body. This special event was well attended, but even more important was the collective feeling that all present appreciated this chance to step aside from the usual motions of life in order to bond in solidarity and get informed.

The festivities began with a chance to mingle. Students who had brought along family members had a chance to introduce them to their ASTEP instructors and counselors, and ASTEP faculty, staff, administrators, and allies present had the opportunity to meet those behind the scenes of their students’ lives, students they have strived to empower all semester long. This was followed by a presentation of all faculty, staff, and administrators who support the ASTEP Learning Community and an explanation of each member’s role/s on the Skyline College Campus.

The range of other activities at this affair included a thoughtful explanation of ASTEP’s history and goals by ASTEP Learning Community Coordinator and Associate Professor, Nathan Jones, and an ice breaker where students had a chance to contribute their collective knowledge about the mission of ASTEP and its benefits for students. In addition, Language Arts Program Services Coordinator, Michael Manneh helped students and family members achieve greater awareness about what a learning community is and why and how such cohorts engender student success. This was followed by a culminating break down of specific ways that the ASTEP Learning Community supports students facilitated by ASTEP Counselor and Professor, Kwame Thomas and then a raffle. Last, but certainly not least, attendees finally had a chance to “get their grub on” thanks to the selfless contributions of many in attendance.

This was a heartwarming event that brought those in the ASTEP learning community and their families closer together in their understanding of one another and their motivation to continue supporting our students’ achievement in their uphill climb towards academic victory!

The ASTEP Learning Community welcomes students of all diverse backgrounds to join its ranks and strives to represent the experience of the African American community within Skyline College. For any questions about ASTEP, please feel free to contact ASTEP at 650-738-7037 or visit the program in Building 4.

Article by Chanel Daniels  I  Photos by Nathan Jones

“Wee reed in vairee difrint waez frum hou wee see werdz” – Sam Barclay

The Disability Resource Center continued its celebration of Disability Awareness Month with Learning Differences Demystified, a tabling event in Building 6 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students, faculty and staff were able to interact with learning disability (reading and math) simulations and experience how individuals with learning disabilities process information. DRC’s Learning Disability Specialist, Carol Newkirk, was on hand to answer questions about learning disabilities.

The Skyline community also learned that having a learning disability is not a barrier to success. Quotes from successful individuals with dyslexia like Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, Magic Johnson, Erin Brockovich, Keira Knightly, and Whoopi Goldberg were also on display. DRC’s Assistive Technology Specialist, Judy Lariviere, demonstrated iPad apps that promote student success, regardless of disability status. This event was a great opportunity for student, faculty, and staff to engage with DRC staff members and learn about the wide variety of services provided to students.

Disability Awareness Month concludes on October 29, with Colors of the Wind, from 12:10-1:10pm in room 6204.

Article by Melissa Matthews

Each year, from Sept. 1- Sept. 30, Skyline College students apply to the UC Transfer Admissions Guarantee Program. Students who meet UC requirements for their campus of choice are able to apply for guaranteed admissions to that campus. UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz are the participating campuses in the UC TAG program.

Skyline College has a very hands-on personalized approach to TAG, where students attend TAG workshops and meet with a counselor to review all of their options and to get a final evaluation of their TAG application. We have a strong TAG Counseling team with nine Counselors participating!

This year, 92 Skyline College students submitted TAG Applications – marking a steady increase in applicants over the past 2 years! The largest increase was in applications to UC Santa Cruz. Last year, there were seven TAG applicants to UCSC and this year there were 22! Davis continues to be the leader in TAG applicants with 50 students submitting TAGs to UC Davis this year. Students will get the final results for the TAG as early as November 15^th for some campuses and other will inform students during spring 2015.

Planning and qualifying for TAG is very tricky and early awareness of the program greatly contributes to ensuring as many students as possible are eligible and apply. Thank you to all of the faculty and staff who helped promote this program on campus! The Transfer Center will be partnering with UC Davis in the spring semester to offer a workshop to prepare students for Fall 2016 TAG applicants!

Article by Suzanne Poma

On Thursday evening, October 15, 80 participants in Early Childhood Education heard a stellar panel of professionals talk about careers and college pathways.  Using Early Childhood Education as a foundation, students learned about the range of careers ahead of them for working with and in support of children and families.

The group was welcomed by ECE/EDU Program Coordinator Kate Williams Browne.  Several panelists from Skyline College told their stories of inspiration:

• Wendy Fung-Burt taught swimming and volunteered in her children’s classrooms before finding the Skyline ECE program; she now plans to get an Elementary Credential and Masters degree in Early Childhood Education;
• Pat Sasso began as an English major, attended Community College, raised a family, and is now a Literacy Specialist with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation;
• Dr. James Adams helped his mother raise a niece and a nephew while getting degrees in Educational Psychology and currently leads the Jefferson School District’s Special Education Department;
• Tina Watts planned to study white sharks, but shifted from biology to education and now directs the Skyline Child Development Lab Center;
• Michele Haggar struggled through school, overcoming disability to complete her education and is now at the campus Transfer Center;
• Kristina Brower found herself interested in education after becoming a parent, and earned an AS from community college and BA in Child & Adolescent Development while becoming a Head Teacher at the Skyline College Children’s Center.

The requirements and services here at Skyline were noted by Transfer Center Program Services Coordinator Michele Haggar, ECE/EDU Program Services Coordinator Kristina Brower, and Director Tina Watts for the campus CDLC. ECE Department’s Dr. Sarita Santos described the degree programs available at San Francisco State and CSU East Bay Universities.

Stay tuned for the next two ECE-sponsored events. On Wednesday, October 29, come hear the inspirational story of George Mendoza, blind visual artist and children’s book author. Saturday, February 22,  the annual “Orientation to Teaching,” will offer workshops and permit instruction for those interested in the teaching profession in early, special, and elementary education.

Article and Photos by Kate Williams Browne

 On September 23, students, faculty, and staff gathered in a campus forum to deliberate various approaches to addressing food security and access to safe and affordable food in our communities.

The forum began with an Oxfam Hunger Banquet to illustrate the global inequities in food access and security.  As participants arrived, they were assigned seating and a socio-ecomonic class.  Twenty percent of participants were served a full meal at a table with full table service, thirty percent were provided with rice and beans that they served themselves, while the remaining fifty percent of participants congregated in blankets on the floor with rice and water.

This stark demonstration of global inequities was followed with a reflective deliberation on how we might continue to address food security issues locally.  Students presented various approaches to address the issue, and participants deliberated each of the options presented, adding personal experiences and direct knowledge to the discussion.  The collective wisdom that arose from the small group deliberations was reported out in a large group format, where each group shared their best ideas to address the issue of access to safe and affordable food.  The event was a great success and feedback from the participants was enthusiastic.

The forum was organized and facilitated by Skyline College students taking a course focusing on Dialogue, Deliberation, and Community Engagement with Jennifer Mair, Communication Studies instructor.

Article by Jennifer Mair

Skyline College’s annual Transfer Day held on Monday, October 20, was a huge success. Skyline College welcomed over 40 colleges from UC, CSU, private and out-of-state universities to our campus to meet with our students. This was an overwhelmingly well attended event by both representatives and students. All university representatives that had originally RSVP’d attended the event, often bringing with them additional representatives, items from their respective colleges for our student give-away, and additional college information brochures and materials for our Transfer Center. Over 300 students signed in and participated in the event. Several instructors brought their classes that were in session during Transfer Day so their students could participate. Following the event, UCLA Admissions Advisor and representative provided students with an admissions workshop for students interested in applying. The workshop covered major requirements, how to prepare to transfer, and resources/ programs available to students at UCLA.

Feedback from the event was very positive as many of the representatives were impressed with how many students attended the event. College representatives were excited to see how well Skyline College students were prepared with questions for them about their goals to transfer. These same students submitted over 150 evaluations, which will contribute to the Transfer Center’s evaluation process for our Program Student Learning Outcomes.

Thus far, the surveys show that there was an overwhelmingly positive response to the event. One student indicated that “Transfer Day had a lot of information that helped me make a better decision about where I want to transfer”. Another student shared, “my chances of actually getting into the college of my choice is pretty good”.   Many other students expressed that they were able to learn more about the colleges and universities they are interested in transferring to and what majors they offer so that they could make well informed decisions when it came time to submitting applications.  Others expressed that they have become more aware of what they need to do to get to the colleges and universities of their choice.

Overall, this was our most attended event and we want to give special thanks to all faculty who were able to bring their students to the event, to all the faculty who offered extra credit for their students who attended, and to the Faculty and staff in the Transfer Center who helped to make this a great day. Thank you.

Did you miss Alma Mater Day?

Not to worry! Alma Mater Day will continue on into November too!  On Thursdays through the month of November, please participate by wearing your gear! As students apply to colleges this fall, it helps them to think and explore different options and keep the transfer conversation going!

Do you know your fellow alumni from your Alma Mater on campus? Gather for a picture by the end of November and the largest alumni group that submits a picture wearing their Alma Mater gear will win a free lunch! There are plenty of Gators, Bears, Spartans, Agies and??? out there!

Article by Suzanne Poma and Michele Haggar | Photos by Michele Haggar