The College Governance Council met on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 2:10-4:00 pm, in Building 4, Room 4343.  In attendance was Alexander Alpi, Eloisa Briones, Kate Browne, Stephen Fredericks, Angélica Garcia, Michele Haggar, Sarah Perkins, Regina Stanback Stroud, Alana Utsumi, Dennis Zheng.  Our guests were Aaron McVean, Jonathan Paver.

Dr. Stroud welcomed new CGC members Alex Alpi and Angelica Garcia.  A brief description of the committee and the charge of the committee was provided.  Members were referred to the Participatory Governance website and they were reminded of their responsibility to represent their constituency and communicate with their constituency.  Theresa will ensure that Alex gets access to SharePoint.

Approval of Minutes

The May 27, 2015 minutes were approved. (M/S/U Utsumi/Perkins approved) Unanimously.

Academic Senate Report

Academic Senate and the Curriculum Committee responded to student feedback that they would like more consistency in their course syllabi. A syllabus check list was developed and will be used by faculty to ensure some consistent syllabus content.  .

The Academic Senate selection of the Fall 2015 MOT participants are Danielle Powell, Grace Burns and Paul Bolick.  John Ulloa was approved to participate in the Spring.

The District Academic Senate is finalizing their work on providing recommended changes to the faculty selection guidelines.  The information will be provided to the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources for consideration.  This item has not been addressed by other governance groups or the administration.  The Academic Senate has also been working on the Distance Education and Online Education Initiative.

Kate reminded the group that the District Strategic Plan will go to board in the near future.  Vice Chancellor Jamillah Moore will attend the Academic Senate October 15 to discuss the District Strategic Plan and the implications for the Academic Senate.

Classified Senate Report

The Classified Senate is in the final stages of approving the Code of Ethics.  Michelle inquired about the next steps.  It was recommended that the Code of Ethics be brought before the CGC to be consistent with the processes for other board policy.  The final vote will be at the next Senate meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 1^st.

Michelle announced that the Classified Senate would like to become more involved and volunteer their time to organizations on campus and in the community. Michelle will attend the San Bruno Rotary on October 14, 2015 with the President to connect to community members and increase their ability to volunteer.

Finally the annual See’s candy fundraiser will begin soon to raise funds for scholarships and Classified Senate events.

Associated Student Body of Skyline College Report

The ASSC currently has about 45 clubs and counting. They had a welcome week that was very successful with Administrators, Faculty and Staff participating in the annual pancake breakfast. This month the ASSC are involved with Latino Heritage Month events.

The main goal for ASSC this year is to connect the Learning Communities and organizations on campus.

The ASSC is also in discussion with all three campus regarding raising the student body fee which is currently $8.00.  The last change was back in 2001.

The Student Organization Council is working with ASSC to make the college events bigger to and to have more Club participation in the events.

Recommendation of Update and Addendum of the Technology Master Pla

Jonathan Paver and Aaron McVean reported on the addendum of the Technology Plan.

The Fall 2015 Addendum to the Skyline College Technology Plan (2012-2015) was presented. The addendum includes a modified computer replacement plan that is based on a full campus inventory that was conducted by ITS. ITS found that about half of our computers on campus are older and outside of warrantee. This new plan will replace these older computers over the next 2 years. The addendum also projects a 5 year technology budget and a computer lab replacement plan that assures modern technology resources for all staff and students.

(M/S/A Kate Browne/Stephen Fredericks approved the recommendation from SPARC to be forwarded to the President) Unanimously.

Recommendation of Distance Education (DE) Substantive Change

Jonathan Paver and Aaron M reported on the Distance Education Substantive Change.

ACCJC requires institutions to report on degree and certificate programs available either 50% or more online or 100% online. The Skyline College Curriculum Committee approves course to be offered through Distance Education. These approvals trigger a review of all of our degree and certificate programs to see if any new or existing programs meet the 50% or 100% thresholds because of new courses approved for distance education, The 2015 DE Substantive Change Report includes action taken by the Curriculum Committee over the past 2 academic years. The report lists all new and existing programs that meet the 50% or 100% thresholds along with other standard reporting required in the substantive change process. The report was reviewed by the Accreditation Oversight Committee on 9/21 and forwarded on to College Governance prior to being submitted for approval at the 9/30 Board meeting.

(M/S/A Michele Haggar/Angélica Garcia to accept the recommendations from the Accreditation Oversight Committee.) Unanimously

Partnership Resources Team

The Institutional Effectiveness Division recently formed under the State Chancellor’s Office has established a technical assistance program whereby colleges can submit a Letter of Interest to receive assistance from a Partnership Resource Teams (PRT). These teams consist of peers from across the California Community College system who have expertise in specific areas of focus identified by colleges.

Skyline College submitted a Letter of Interest identifying the areas of Integrated Planning and Resource Allocation Enrollment Management and. Distance Education.  The first of three campus visits from the PRT will be Monday, November 30^th, with the remaining visits to take place in the Spring 2016.

Through this initiative, there is the availability of up to $150,000 in grant funds that can support the College in addressing its areas of interest.

Aaron McVean, Dean of PRIE, will connect with Governance groups to solicit additional input on the areas of focus identified in the Letter of Interest, as requested by the PRT. The original Letter of Interest will be provided to the constituent leaders. Additionally, Aaron will connect with governance group to get input, prepare a more extensive draft describing our areas of interest, and follow up with getting constituent leadership approval for the draft.

Announcement

• Sarah Perkins reported that Skyline College successfully submitted a grant to the National Science Foundation for $649,000 over three years. The name of the grant is   4S: Skyline Scholarships for Success in STEM.  As you see below, this grant will fund 114 scholarships over a 3-year period averaging $3,500/year.

The Skyline Scholarships for Success in STEM (4S) project is designed to (1) increase the number of low-income, academically talented students in STEM disciplines at Skyline College who transfer to four-year universities to pursue STEM-related baccalaureate degrees, and (2) study the contribution of scholarships, curricular, co-curricular, and student support activities to the recruitment, course completion, retention, degree attainment, and transfer of students traditionally underrepresented in STEM study and the STEM workforce. Skyline College proposes to use funding under Strand 1: S-STEM Institutional Capacity Building to award 114 scholarships over a 3-year period, averaging $3,500 per year, to students at one of four achievement levels. Level 1 scholarships will be for new students who were not accepted at four-year colleges and universities but show academic promise. Scholarships at the other levels will assist students to continue a successful path to transfer (Level 2), overcome common attrition points (Level3), and complete the final stage of their transfer degree (Level 4). Recruitment will prioritize students in or eligible for the colleges Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program for low-income students who are first-in-the-family college-goers. Various academic support strategies and support services will assist S-STEM Scholars and others in STEM fields of study to prepare for transfer to four-year institutions.

• President Stroud reported that we are in the midst of pulling the Skyline Promise together and implementing it as a cohesive approach to increase student success. Components of it are related to placement processes, expanded student services and learning communities.  We have an opportunity to tie some existing approaches together in a structured way for students to get in, get through and get out on time.  Listen out for more campus discussion.  Please participate in the conversation to make this possible to students.

• Sarah Perkins shared that Skyline College has a guest from Ohio who works for Apple who will be demonstrating how to use technology in a classroom for all. Dr. Luis Pérez will discuss his experience with the accessibility of iOS devices and how this can impact learning outcomes. The following topics will be explored:
• Identifying and using a number of built-in accessibility features of iOS devices to enable learners to overcome barriers in the learning environment.
• Evaluation and selecting apps for learners with special needs using a framework based on the Universal Design for Learning principals and the SAMR model of technology integration.
• Using content creation apps on iOS devices to provide creative expression to learners of difference levels of abilities.

Next agenda – October 28, 2015

Constituency reports

Student Equity Plan

Classified Senate – Code of Ethics

IEPI – Aaron McVean

Canvas Adoption

Adjourn

M/S/U (Michele Haggar/Dennis Zheng) Unanimously

The Skyline College Strategic Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee (SPARC) met on Thursday, September 24, 2015.

Executive Vice Chancellor Kathy Blackwood presented the 2015-16 District Budget which she reported to the Board of Trustees on September 9, 2015.  Highlights include:

• Revenues increased by $22 million from FY 2014-15, which includes $10 million in one-time monies from the State for mandated cost claims. Expenditures increased by $19.4 million primarily due to negotiated compensation adjustments, and $10 million in one-time allocations for initiatives.
• The District implemented the revised Resource Allocation Model this year. FTES no longer is a factor for resource allocation unlike the previous model.  Skyline College still generates the highest number of FTES but is not receiving funding related to the number of students it serves, compared to the previous model.  Kathy indicated that this model will be reviewed regularly, and adjusted if needed, should this FTES trend continues.
• The adopted budget includes $1.5M in Innovation Funds. Skyline College’s share is $800,000 for the Middle College and SparkPoint.

EVC Blackwood also reviewed the International Student funding model which was developed to provide district financial support to grow the international student program.  She anticipates in two years, that the three campuses will have enough international students to be self-supporting.

Vice President of Administrative Services Briones noted that the budget outlook has improved significantly from the Tentative Budget in which a deficit was projected, to having a balanced budget projected over the next three years.  As such, SPARC is tasked with developing a recommendation of a revised balanced budget for FY2015-16 using the final college allocation which increased from the tentative budget. Scenarios will be presented at the next meeting for the committee to consider in developing its recommendation.  Consideration should be given to underfunded hourly salary budgets and operating budgets, in addition to funding for new faculty, staff and administrator positions.

President Regina Stanback Stroud stated that the college makes budget decisions based on financial information presented at the time, and makes adjustments as information changes.  In light of the improved financial picture presented with this year’s district Adopted Budget, President Stroud announced that the college will proceed with hiring 8 faculty positions that we were unable to make at the end of Spring 2015, based on the district’s tentative budget projections for FY2015-16 to FY2017-18.

Next meeting is scheduled for October 29, 2015.

Article by Eloisa Briones

The Bright Futures Scholarship Program was developed by Bright Horizons to support the field of early childhood education by offering scholarships to future teachers.

Here is what Bright Horizons had to say about Sarra Wickline:

“Sarra holds an Associate’s degree from Skyline College and is continuing her studies to earn her Bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University. While completing her Associate’s, Sarra worked as an Associate Teacher at the Early Learning and Child Development Center on campus. Her supervisor writes that “she was able to use positive interactions to engage the children and keep them focused.” Sarra plans to continue working with young children and hopes to become a kindergarten teacher after completing her Bachelor’s degree.

“In the meantime, she plans to continue to work as a preschool teacher. Sarra believes that ‘children and their families deserve the most dedicated, creative, passionate, innovative, and understanding teachers.’ It is those qualities that she tries to reflect in her teaching practice and reinforces her goal of becoming the best educator she can be.”

The ECE/EDU staff here at Skyline College are so proud of Sarra and the work she continues to do for children and families!!

Article by Kristina Brower

The All-USA/Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team application is now open. Nominated students are placed in competition for over $1,000,000 in national scholarship opportunities. In addition, scholarship and recognition opportunities are available through All-State Academic Team Programs.

Skyline College students have won the All-USA, Coca-Cola, Guistwhite, New Century, and $7,500 Hites scholarships. Skyline College students have won the All-California scholarship every year since 1999.

One common application is used for all of these scholarships:

• All-USA Academic Team
• Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team
• Coca-Cola New Century Scholarship
• All-California Academic Team
• GEICO Pathway to Completion Baccalaureate Scholarship (Phi Theta Kappa members only)
• Guistwhite Scholarship (Phi Theta Kappa members only)
• Hites Transfer Scholarship (Phi Theta Kappa members only)

Students can access the application at skylinecollege.edu/boo. Phi Theta Kappa membership is not required. Criteria for these scholarships include GPA, scholarly activities, community service, and personal measures such as re-entry or self-supporting.

Please encourage students to apply. Applications are due November 3.

Article by Christine Case

 

Allison Callow joined Skyline College as the newest Sustainability Coordinator on September 8. She is a Fellow at Climate Corps Bay Area (CCBA), a program for emerging professionals in the field of climate change and sustainability. CCBA places more than 35 Fellows in various government agencies, school districts, and community colleges across the Bay Area. CCBA has partnered with Skyline College for the past three years with former CCBA Fellows at Skyline College leading the charge in several major campus-wide sustainability projects.

With the help of our previous Fellows, Skyline College has become a leader in sustainability for community colleges across the state. Our Sustainability Plan provides other community colleges with a template for use in their own campus communities.  We also host an annual innovative program integrating sustainability into curriculum and support student initiatives and projects in greening the College. One of these projects, the Green Gorillas, received a state award from the Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges.

Our newest Fellow, Allison, has worked across non-profit, for-profit and public sectors in communications, community engagement, and capacity building roles leading back to sustainability and community development. She has a B.A. from UC Davis in International Relations with an emphasis on Global Health and Resources and a minor in Environmental Policy, Analysis and Planning. As the Sustainability Coordinator at Skyline College, Allison will be coordinating the annual Sustainability Blitz program and leading outreach and engagement efforts to increase student, staff, and faculty participation in sustainability programs on campus, including the Sustainability Ambassadors Network.

The first Sustainability Ambassadors Network meeting will take place on October 06, 2015 from 2:30pm-4:00pm in Building 6, Room 6-2305. To RSVP, please email Allison at callowa@smccd.edu.

If you would like to hear more the Sustainability Ambassadors Network, or if you would like to talk about sustainability issues in general and how they relate to your area of study, you can visit Allison in room 7326C in Building 7 or email her directly at the email provided above.

Article by Carina Anttila-Suarez, Carla Grandy | Photo by Carina Anttila-Suarez

Please spread the word about the Fall 2015 Internship Job-Shadow Program.

The Internship Job Shadow Program provides an opportunity for Skyline College students to receive training and exposure in a real-world business environment. The program is a collaboration between the Skyline College Career Services Center, the Global Learning Programs & Services Division (GLPS) and the Retail Hospitality & Tourism Program (RHT).  Through our job-shadow program, students interested in business, international trade, marketing, international tourism and other related industries are exposed to professional development and networking opportunities. All interns are eligible to receive up to three units of college credit through the Cooperative Education Program.

Via the Internship Job Shadow program students are exposed to valuable experiences and skills such as:

• Networking events
• Business Seminars
• Grant Writing
• Trade Conferences
• International Delegation Events and Meetings
• Campus events
• In-bound Trade Missions
• And more!

This program is supported by the President’s Council and funded by the President’s Innovation Fund!

Contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu to apply

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

The first annual Learning Community Launch Party was held on August 28, 2015.  Students from all Learning Communities were invited to attend with their classes and professors were encouraged to bring their students as a group. Students and faculty from ASTEP, Kababayan, CIPHER, PACE, FYE, Puente, Social Justice League and the Career Advancement Academy attended the event with friends and classmates. The Launch Party festivities drew many members of the campus community as well.
The Learning Community Launch Party was envisioned as an event to kick-off the start of the academic year with a fun and memorable event, strengthen informal bonds between students and faculty, increase students’ sense of belonging within the larger framework of Skyline College Learning Communities, and increase school spirit and connections to the campus.

The Learning Community Launch Party included a Trail Mix Bar, Skyline College craft tables, ping pong, campus services and programs tabling as well as music and an open microphone giving program staff, students and faculty the opportunity to share information and welcome the groups of Learning Community students. Some students took advantage of the open mic to publicly thank faculty members for great mentorship and some students also shared their musical talents.

All Skyline College students were invited to attend to learn about Learning Communities and find out how to join a Learning Community in the Spring 2016 semester. Those who missed the event can access more information via a flowchart of course sequences for each Learning Community on the Learning Communities website.

More photos from the Launch Party and other Learning Community events can be viewed on Facebook.

Article by Marisa Thigpen

Please welcome Dr. Pearl Ly as the Director of the Learning Commons in the Academic Support & Learning Technologies (ASLT) Division. Dr. Ly will provide leadership to our efforts toward realizing our Learning Commons vision – one that merges the functions of the Library and The Learning Center into a technology enriched, collaborative academic support resource for student success.

Dr. Ly earned a Joint Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, San Diego/California State University San Marcos, a Master of Library and Information Sciences and a Masters of Latin American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Ly comes to Skyline College from the College of Marin where she served as the Director, Library Services. She has also served as an Access Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian and Interim Assistant Dean, Library Services at Pasadena City College, a Natural Sciences Librarian at California State University San Marcos and an Associate Librarian at MiraCosta College. Dr. Ly has published several articles in refereed and non-refereed publications and has presented at numerous conferences.

Dr. Ly is excited to join the Skyline College team and looks forward to working with everyone on campus.

Article by Jonathan Paver

The fall 2015 Science in Action Seminar Series has started and our students are attending and learning some science while meeting researchers who are at the beginning of their careers.  The first two Science in Action Seminars were well attended with over 30 students visiting room 7106 at 4:30 p.m. on Monday afternoons.

The seminar by Jonathan Z. Butler, PhD MDiv “Triumph in the Face of Adversity: Reflections of an African American Male PhD” was covered in the Skyline View.

Gabriela Monsalve, Ph.D.  gave a talk titled “From Venezuela to California – How I Ended Up Working on Steroids”. She knew from a young age that she wanted to earn a Ph.D. but she did not know in what field.   She has interests from Spanish Literature to Physical Astronomy.  Dr Monsalve, spoke about her journey and how she finally decided to  earn her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and study how steroids and affect cancer.

The Science in Action Seminar series will continue every Monday afternoon at 4:30pm in room 7206.  The talks are open to any and all students who have an interest in doing research as well as learning what it takes to become a scientist.  This year will be a little special, because we are inviting Skyline College alumni to speak.

Article by Nick Kapp

This semester, Skyline College will be changing its distribution practices starting with the Spring 2016 class schedule. Instead of mailing the full class schedule to the local community, the College will be sending out a postcard advertising the online schedule and offering a link to a website where community members can order a print schedule if they so desire.

This decision is part of our campus commitment to sustainability, is a result of feedback from the community and reflects our efforts to use funds wisely.

Some additional facts about this decision:

• 91,000 households in the service area will now get postcards instead of the entire class schedule – this is the same number of households who typically receive the full schedule
• We are printing roughly half the number of schedules as we did in previous years
• An online request system is available for those that would like/require a hard copy
• The online version of the class schedule will be digitized – meaning it will be searchable and more user-friendly than a PDF

Article by Cherie Colin & Connor Fitzpatrick