Skyline College will celebrate International Education Week from Monday, November 17 to Thursday, November 20, hosting a variety of globally themed events and activities. The Global Learning Programs and Services division invites you to be a part of the celebration. The week will begin with a reception on Monday the 17th at 12:00pm in the Multicultural Center in Building 4.  The week will conclude with a workshop for international students on Thursday, the 20th.

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of the effort to promote programs that prepare students for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.

On Monday, November 17, from 12:00pm – 1:00 pm Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud will speak during the opening reception about the importance of international education to Skyline College. ISP will introduce the members of the International Affairs Student Club. This event will take place in the Multicultural Center in Building 4.

During the “Key To World Understanding” event at 3:00pm, we will be honored to have Mr. Marco Negrete from the Mexican Consulate and Ms. Lupe Gallegos-Diaz from the University of California-Berkeley speak about Latin American culture and cross-cultural understanding.

Wednesday, November 19, from 3:00 to 4:00pm we will host an event about the African Diaspora. This event will also be held in the Multicultural Center in Building 4 and will include speakers and a Q&A session.

See all events here.

For more information about any of the events during International Education Week please contact Wissem Bennani or Chikako Walker at (650) 738-4430/7179.

Article by Wissem Bennani | Photo by Xing Wei

Skyline College’s annual Transfer Day held on Monday, October 20, 2014 was a huge success. Skyline College welcomed over 40 colleges to our campus including UCs, CSUs, and private and out-of-state universities 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, the 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 can make well informed decisions when it comes 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 best 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.

Did you miss Alma Mater Day?

Not to worry! Alma Mater Day will continue on into November too!  On Fridays 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!

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

Skyline College student Darwin Velasquez is studying in Paris this semester.  Along with 70 other students from around Northern California he is participating in a unique program that allows him to earn community college credits while studying abroad. Not only will he earn 12 units of college credit that is pre-approved for transfer – he is also building the global perspective needed for success in our globalized economy.

In a recent letter Darwin says:

“After all the struggles, stress and uncomfortable situations, I learned that impossible dreams come true regardless of your immigration status or financial situation. It has been an extraordinary experience that I will never forget. Studying in Paris has benefited me academically and in my personal life. Don’t be afraid to pursue your impossible dreams.”

For more information on study abroad opportunities at Skyline College, visit our website:

http://www.skylinecollege.edu/educationabroad/

Now accepting applications Spring Semester in Florence, Italy and Fall Semester in Barcelona, Spain!

Article by Gary Fleener

Several current students clinched awards at the most recent Journalism Association of Community Colleges NorCal Conference held November 8 at CSU Sacramento.

Skyline View Editor in Chief Michelle Kelly and Features Editor Dave Newlands shared third place for news story for an article they wrote about the media policy last semester.  Dave Newlands also picked up third place for photo illustration. Lea Naqishbendi, former TSV features editor, snagged second place for online photo story while News Editor Jeanita Lyman won second place for on-the-spot copy editing.

The 11 students who attended from Skyline College spanned a range of journalism courses and took workshops from a variety of professionals in media. They learned more about entrepreneurial journalism, sports writing outside of game play, social media to spread content, and current media law. Ian Hill, of Sacramento’s ABC News 10, gave the keynote. Joining Skyline College were community colleges from all over Northern California for the day-long conference.

Article by Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

As the Wellness program gears up for 2015, newcomer Dr. Ronda Wimmer is poised to enrich and elevate the curriculum in Massage Therapy and Wellness. Dr. Wimmer is a pioneer in her field, bringing depth and diverse interdisciplinary expertise that is often extremely rare in a Wellness Program. Her focus is to deepen the Wellness Programs as a whole, encompassing CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) perspectives and therapies. Her first goal is to develop advanced certification for the massage therapy program that includes allied health care practitioners and professionals. She is also working to develop greater awareness and educational quality of CAM therapy topics and Eastern/Indigenous perspectives of healing, with the goal of bolstering accessibility to interested individuals and those pursing advanced certifications and/or degrees. Ultimately Dr. Wimmer aims to create an Associate’s Degree geared toward CAM and holistic health professions.

Dr. Wimmer is a Renaissance woman – energetic, authentic, refreshingly creative. She already is developing innovative new courses, setting the foundation for her vision to expand the Wellness Program. She looks forward to integrating and collaborating with Cosmetology and Esthetics for a complete approach to looking and feeling good.

Dr. Wimmer combines a wealth of clinical experience with knowledge from many academic disciplines, making her truly interdisciplinary. Her clinical experience spans thirty years, from humble beginnings as a massage therapist to a globe-trotting career working as a sports medicine (including massage therapy and acupuncture) specialist with Olympic and professional athletes. Dr. Wimmer opened her own integrative medicine practice of Sports Medicine, Chinese/Ayurvedic/Tibetan Medicine, Native American Medicine and integrated massage. With this interdisciplinary approach she treated talent and staff in the entertainment industry, professional dancers and athletes, and national and international Olympic venues. Teams include Anaheim Ducks hockey, basketball, volleyball, Tae Kwon Do, ice skating, gymnastics, fencing and track and field.

Academically, Dr. Wimmer has taught post-secondary through graduate school levels of most of the “ologies” in Sports Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She has taught numerous disciplines at Chapman University, Golden West College, California State University Long Beach, South Baylo University, and Stanbridge College. Dr. Wimmer’s passion for wellness and integrative medicine has led her to achieve advanced degrees in biology, kinesiology and Eastern Medicine as well as certifications and licenses including sports medicine specialist, licensed acupuncturist, certified athletic trainer, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and certified massage therapist.

“Her class is beyond basic education, it is a trip into a new world of health, healing and science,” one student raves. “Dr. Wimmer’s class is an experience you will never forget.” Most importantly, Dr. Wimmer always encourages and inspires her students with her positive attitude that anything they wish to learn or achieve is possible. “Dr. Wimmer has the charisma, knowledge, personality and the compassion to be teaching and creating this program,” says another student. “[She’s] one of the best teachers I have ever had.”

Article by Lynsey Hemstreet

On Saturday, November 8, the Bécalos students took part in a walking tour of the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Highlights of the trip included a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Fountain at Yerba Buena Gardens as well as a stop at AT&T Park, the home field of our own World Champions, the San Francisco Giants! Students were able to walk through the memorial and read quotes and view pictures from the Civil Rights Movement, then engage in a discussion about the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. on history and how American perspectives have changed throughout the past several decades. The students were very interested in the symbolism behind the fountain, stressing the importance of water as renewal and revitalization for the future.

Many students were fortunate enough to attend the Giants Victory Parade at Civic Center Plaza on October 31. This year’s celebration offered a culturally unique San Francisco experience as the parade date happened to fall on Halloween. While the students enjoyed the events of the day, a special stop to AT&T Park was an anticipated treat for many of them. Entering the ballpark for an up close and personal experience to witness the home field of the Giants was definitely a memorable outing. The students had the field to themselves as they took pictures in the Fan Lot and even played a miniature game of baseball. Students were encouraged to show their best baseball swing in front of the statue of Willie Mays at the entrance of the park. A wonderful day of celebration and learning was had by all.

For more information on the Bécalos Program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.

Article and photos by Alessandra Zanassi

On October 11, 2014 Dr. Tony Jackson and Cephus, “Uncle Bobby” and Beatrice Johnson (Oscar Grant’s uncle and aunt) facilitated and presented a workshop titled “Police Terrorism, Mass Incarceration, and The Criminalization of Black and Brown Youth.”  The workshop was presented to an overflow audience. Participants were introduced to the last day of young Oscar Grant’s life, the importance of understanding the impact that police encounters can have on the lives of young people, and what young people of color need to know when dealing with the police. The film, Fruitvale Station and the accompanying survival workbook for African American Males, Dare To Be King, What If the Prince Lives? served as an outline for the workshop. Participants were largely educators focused on social justice and community members and activists.

The workshop raised awareness, provided meaningful dialogue and engaged educational experiences on police detainment using the film Fruitvale Station as a starting point.

The facilitators provide this workshop and training for youth on behalf of the Love Not Blood Campaign.  During the session participants received information that they will be able to apply directly when dealing with the police, video recording the police, and understanding their Constitutional Rights.

The Dare to Be King, What If the Prince Lives? workbook that accompanies the film, Fruitvale Station, is written for use in a diverse range of educational settings: schools, youth centers, activist organizations, and for anyone in those environments interested in educating young people of color about police detainment, mass incarceration, and the criminalization of young people in the United States and using the film Fruitvale Station as a tool for social justice.

For more information on the Teachers 4 Social Justice Conference follow the link below.

http://t4sj.org/events/conference-2014/

Article and images by Dr. Tony Jackson

While attending the 2014 Association of Colleges for Tutoring and Learning Assistance (ACTLA) conference, Learning Center Manager David Reed participated in a workshop on directed learning activities that has led to a successful launch this semester in the Learning Center. The DLA project provides a great example of individual faculty and their respective departments working collaboratively with the Learning Center to provide timely academic support for students.

A Directed Learning Activity (DLA) is an exercise developed by faculty and Learning Center staff that students complete in the Learning Center. DLA’s allow students to gain more practice on a concept or skill introduced in class and they differ from homework assignments in that a DLA 1) usually has a shorter time limit of 45 minutes to one hour, and 2) requires a follow-up session with a tutor after completion to verify that the student has mastered the desired outcome(s).

DLA’s are proving to be popular with students because they provide a clear, step-by-step process to grasp a concept such as how to approach a writing assignment or how to complete math equations. DLA’s are popular with faculty because they are constructed from the same curricular content they already use, and in this way they can feel confident that the student is getting consistent direction towards succeeding in their class.

For fall 2014, DLA’s have been created for Math 811, and English and ESOL composition and comprehension. Going forward, the Learning Center will continue to expand the depth and breadth of DLA’s across the curriculum while reaching out to interested faculty to add their expertise to this valuable supplemental academic support for Skyline College students.

If you are interested in learning more about DLA’s or want to see them added for a particular area, please contact David Reed at reedd@smccd.edu

Article by David Reed

Skyline College’s Women’s Basketball team defeated Merritt College 63-52 to open the season.

Skyline got off to a sluggish start, but managed to regroup and outscore Merritt 40-25 in the second half.  Freshmen Alyssa Dela Cruz, 15 points, and Stephanie Allen, 13 points, led skyline’s balanced scoring attack.  Sophomores Tianna Mitchell, Jazel Talauta, and Sahara Clay chipped in 11, 10, and 8 points respectively.  Talauta led Skyline with 8 assists, while Clay paced the Trojans with 12 rebounds.  Skyline will resume preseason play on Tuesday, November 18, when the Trojans host De Anza College.  Tip-off is schedule for 7pm.

Check off the full schedule here.

Featured Schedule: Women’s Basketball

Check out the Women’s Basketball Schedule and catch a game this season!

Friday, November 14, 2014

• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Free Workshop – Preparing for Exams & Avoiding Test Anxiety, Skyline College, Building 5, Room 5115
• 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., Men’s Soccer v. Ohlone College in a conference match, Skyline College
• 2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., Women’s Soccer v. Ohlone College, conference division match, Skyline College
• 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Women’s Volleyball at West Valley College for a conference division match, West Valley College
• 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Men’s Basketball v. College of the Redwoods in a non-conference game, Skyline College

Saturday, November 15, 2014

• 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Wrestling at Sacramento City Duals, Sacramento City
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Men’s Basketball v. Solano College in a non-conference game, Skyline College
• 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Ensemble Mik Nawooj, Skyline College, Building 1, Theater

Monday, November 17, 2014

• 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., International Music, Skyline College, Quad
• 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Opening Reception for International Education Week, Skyline College, Building 4, Multicultural Center
• 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., International Short Films, Skyline College, Building 4, Multicultural Center
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Key to World Understanding, Skyline College, Building 6, Rooms 6202-06

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Mexican Cultural Day, Skyline College, Building 4, Multicultural Center
• 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., International Music, Skyline College, Quad
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Workshop on Writing Personal Statements for UC’s, Skyline College, Building 5, Room 5115
• 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Campus Forum on College Success and Affordability, Skyline College, Building 6, Room 6204 and 6206
• 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Women’s Basketball at DeAnza College

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

• All Day Event, Student Digital Art Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Workshop on Spanish Conversation, Skyline College, Building 5, Language Lab
• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., International Food Exhibit, Skyline College, Quad
• 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., International Music, Skyline College, Quad
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Workshop on Preparing for Exams & Avoiding Test Anxiety, Skyline College, Building 5, Room 5115
• 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Grove Scholarship Application Workshop, Skyline College, Building 1, Room 1218
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., African Diaspora Program, Skyline College, Building 4, Multicultural Center
• 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Women’s Volleyball v. Canada College in a conference division match, Canada College

Thursday, November 20, 2014

• All Day Event, Student Digital Art Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Workshop on Parts of Speech & Their Uses, Skyline College, Building 5, Room 5115
• 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., International Music, Skyline College, Quad
• 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., International Student Workshop – Things You Need to Know, Skyline College, Building 4, Multicultural Center
• 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Men’s Basketball at the Mendocino College Tournament, Mendocino College
• 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Women’s Basketball at College of Marin for a non-conference game, College of Marin

Friday, November 21, 2014

• All Day Event, Student Digital Art Exhibition, Skyline College, Building 1, Art Gallery
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Grove Scholarship Application Workshop, Skyline College, Building 1, Room 1218
• 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Men’s Basketball at the Mendocino College Tournament, Mendocino College

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.