The Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning recently announced the return of cross-cultural facilitator, Lee Mun Wah, on Flex Day, November 25, for “What We Do Not See: Exploring What We Leave at the Door.” Last year’s Lee Mun Wah employee special event received rave reviews and drew well over 100 participants, most of whom shared that the workshop had a profound impact on them and requested he return to Skyline College to facilitate another workshop.

This November 25, Lee Mun Wah will be back to lead a half-day seminar during which Skyline College employees will explore the many ways implicit and explicit biases affect our relationships and sense of safety. Different from last year’s presentation, the upcoming seminar will include a Racial Identity Assessment, and will help participants:

• explore and critically dialogue about implicit and explicit bias
• learn the importance of mindfully listening and culturally responding
• notice the impact they have on others
• learn how to de-escalate conflict/disagreement
• learn how to be curious, instead of being defensive, adversarial, or in denial
• take responsibility and work towards change

Lee Mun Wah believes when we value others for their uniqueness and differences, then we enhance the possibilities for our children and ourselves. He is the Executive Director of Stirfry Seminars & Consulting, an agency that provides educational tools and workshops on issues pertaining to cross-cultural communication and awareness, mindful facilita­tion, and conflict mediation techniques. Lee Mun Wah’s films include award-winning The Color of Fear, Stolen Ground, and Walking Each Other Home. Other films include Last Chance for Eden and, most recently, If These Halls Could Talk.

Seating for “What We Do Not See: Exploring What We Leave at the Door” is limited, and registration is required.  RSVP by November 18 via Eventbrite.  Contact Professional Development Coordinator, Nina L. Floro, at 650-738-4414 or floro@smccd.edu if you have any questions.

Article by Nina L. Floro

This past Tuesday, October 6, Skyline College ECE/EDU Department held its annual “Career Pathways in Education” event. This event was created to inform students about the many different career paths available to students interested in working with children and/or families.  There were over 90 students in attendance.

Our panelist of speakers included Maurice Goodman, President of the South San Francisco School Board and SMCCD Board of Trustees candidate; Julie Tucker, Program Specialist at South San Francisco Unified School District; Tyrone Jones Child Development Specialist and Director of Soccer Shots; and Nicole Farley School Counselor at Jefferson Elementary School and former Skyline College ECE/EDU student.

In addition to our inspiring panelist, Lavinia Zannassi from the Career Center also spoke about services at the Career Center.  Finally Lygia Stebbing, Director of EDvance Early Childhood Workforce Development Initiative, discussed the PATH Program at San Francisco State.

Article by Kristina Brower

Photo, from left: Chapter Historian Pauline Maccay, Chapter President Sam Reveles, Chapter vice-president of Operations Donway Sy

Three Skyline College students presented a General Session at the Phi Theta Kappa Nevada/California Leadership Conference. The conference was held October 2-3 in Sacramento.

The Regional Board asked Sam Reveles, Pauline Maccay, and Donway Sy to present tips for success to the 150 Phi Theta Kappa members from other chapters at the conference. They were asked because the Skyline College chapter was the only Nevada/California chapter to receive international recognition for a College Project. Sam, Pauline, and Conway were active participants in the College Project. Skyline College’s Beta Theta Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was named the 2015 Distinguished Chapter in the Nevada/California Region and the 2015 5^th Most Distinguished Chapter at the international convention. The is the fifth regional distinguished chapter award and second international most distinguished chapter award for Skyline College.

The Phi Theta Kappa fall scholarship application is open. Please encourage students to apply.

Article by Christine Case

A Team of community college professionals from around the CCC system has been invited to Skyline College as part of the technical assistance made available through the statewide Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI). Skyline College submitted a Letter of Interest in August of this year inviting a Team to assist the college. This Partnership Resource Team (PRT) will make three visits to the campus, with the first one occurring on November 30.

The PRT will meet with representatives and stakeholders from all constituencies on campus in order to engage in dialogue and offer assistance. Skyline College has specifically requested assistance in the areas of 1) integrated planning and resource allocation and 2) enrollment management, particularly in light of the District’s recent transition to community supported status and the newly implemented resource allocation model. Additionally, the PRT has been asked to provide input on the College’s Distance Education program in light of the most recent accreditation Self-Evaluation Study and subsequent recommendation scheduled to be addressed in the upcoming accreditation Mid-Term Report.

Representatives from the Academic and Classified Senates, the SPARC, and the management team will meet individually and in small groups to discuss Skyline College’s areas of interest for technical assistance. There will be two additional visits scheduled for the team, likely to take place in the spring semester. As part of the IEPI and as a result of the PRT technical assistance, Skyline College can receive up to $150,000 in grant funding to help support implementation of strategies identified to improve institutional effectiveness. Any questions about the IEPI or the PRT visit can be directed to the Dean of Planning, Research, and Institutional Effectiveness (PRIE) at ext. 4454 or mcveana@smccd.edu. More information on the IEPI and PRTs can be found at http://www3.canyons.edu/Offices/IEPI/index.html.

Article by Aaron McVean