The 2015 Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, released on November 16, ranked SMCCCD Study Abroad’s participation 10^th in the nation for the number of students at community colleges studying abroad in mid-length programs. SMCCCD Study Abroad’s participation was represented by College of San Mateo and this is the first time that one of the colleges in the District has been featured in this prestigious ranking for study abroad.

The Open Doors report surveys U.S. colleges and universities regarding the number of students studying abroad and program destinations. Five percent more American students – a total of 304,467 – studied abroad for academic credit from their U.S. colleges and universities in 2013/14 as compared with the prior year. The report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Article and photo by Zaid Ghori

On December 8, 2015, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA) welcomed a group of Baden High School seniors and their counselors to Skyline College. This cohort of students participated in a CAA pilot bridge program: College and Career Readiness, a six week college preparatory course for Baden High School seniors, which includes career exploration, financial literacy, college preparedness (FAFSA, registration, placement), industry certification, and culminates with an all-day field trip to Skyline College. The course included several Skyline College Faculty guest lecturers from Counseling, Automotive, Retail and Hospitality, Biotechnology, Allied Health, Emergency Medical Technician, and ESTEM who generously gave of their time to support this pilot project.

The  Baden High School tour began with a student panel comprised of current and former Allied Health, Automotive, Early Childhood Education, and Legal CAA students who shared their experiences, fielded questions from Baden High School students, and offered important insights for students interested in pursuing career technical education at Skyline College. Jeremy Evangelista, (Interim Program Services Coordinator) and Monique Hernandez (Office Assistant II) facilitated tours of the campus and its Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Students visited Automotive Technology, Allied Health, Cosmetology, SparkPoint, and the Child Development Center

Baden High school is an alternative high school for students who are considered at-risk of graduating on time. CAA hopes to continue its collaboration with Baden High School and support students’ transition to career technical education programs, and additional pathways in higher education at Skyline College.

The CAAs connect students to higher wage careers and opportunities in higher education by increasing foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics while enrolling students in career technical training programs. Currently, the Career Advancement Academy has programs in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Legal Careers.

Article by Alina Varona | Photo by Jeremy Evangelista

On Thursday, December 3, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA), welcomed 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic for a visit and a tour of Skyline College. Six students and their Youth Development Specialist, Kaylaa Banks, were in attendance and had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers from the Guardian Scholars program, SparkPoint and former CAA allied health students, Webster Cruz and Alfredo Raxon. They also had the chance to learn more about health care programs such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Central Service Technology (CST), Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Patient Navigator, Biotechnology, etc. offered here at the college. In addition, they also got to tour the health department and classrooms in Building 7 with Raymond Hernandez, Dean of Math of Science and Technology.

The 3^rd Street Youth Center and Clinic’s mission is to help at-risk youth from Bayview Hunters Point make healthy and safe decisions that improve their physical, emotional, and social health, empowering them to become successful, engaged adults. The students have been working closely with their development specialist to explore opportunities in higher education and pursue pathways in the health care industry.

The CAAs connect students to higher wage careers and opportunities in higher education by increasing foundational skills in reading, writing and mathematics while enrolling students in career technical training programs. Currently, the Career Advancement Academy has programs in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Legal Careers.

For more information about Career Advancement Academy contact, Jeremy Evangelista, evangelistaj@smccd.edu.

Article by Jeremy Evangelista | Photo by Monique Hernandez

In an effort to support our local businesses and provide our campus community an opportunity to do some holiday shopping, the Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education & Research (CIPHER) hosted its 1st Annual Vendor’s Fair & Open Mic titled Holiday Bling on Wednesday, December 2, from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. in Building 6 in the Dining Room.  Featured vendors included:  Mixerfriendly, Fresh to Def Collective, Always A Student, AtPeaceInHarmony, and Calia Designs.  Faculty, staff, and students were able to purchase items such as clothing, jewelry, handmade crafts, and custom posters and postcards.  Proceeds from sales made at this event went toward educational scholarships for CIPHER and Rock The School Bells.

In addition to the Vendors’ Fair, CIPHER students hosted an Open Mic for all students and staff who shared their talents through spoken word, poetry, rap, dance, and musical performances.

If you missed them last Wednesday or want to purchase more items, you can check out the vendors at their websites:

• Mixerfriendly
• Calia Designs
• Fresh to Def Collective
• Tres Mercedes
• AtPeaceInHarmony
• Always a Student
• Wavysay

Cipher wants to thank everyone who came out and supported our 1^st Annual Holiday Bling and the student volunteers from CIPHER and the Guardian Scholars Program for truly making this event a huge success.  We are looking forward to our next one!  On behalf of CIPHER and Rock The School Bells, we wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

If you’re interested in vending at our next event or want more information about Rock The School Bells and CIPHER, log onto www.skylinecollege.edu/cipher or www.rocktheschoolbells.com.  You can also email Nate Nevado at nevadon@smccd.edu or Kim Davalos at davalosk@smccd.edu.

Article by Nate Nevado | Photo by Michael Gatmaitan

Is the Ed.D. Program in Educational Leadership right for you? To find out, attend an information session on the SF State campus in Burk Hall, Rm. 321 at 6:00pm on one of the following dates:

• Thursday, December 17, 2015
• Thursday, January 14, 2016
• Thursday, February 18, 2016

Faculty from the Educational Leadership program present information about this innovative program and answer your questions.

Fall 2016 Application Deadlines:

1. Early Priority: February 1, 2016
2. Final Deadline: April 1, 2016

Please RSVP to edd@sfsu.edu

Visit the SFSU Educational Leadership website for more information.

On Saturday, December 5, 2015 the African Diaspora Program, which is part of the Global Learning Programs and Services Division, hosted a Wellness Day event for students enrolled in the Women’s Mentoring Academy at Skyline College. The theme for the fall 2015 Mentoring Academy focused on personal development, with a specific emphasis on cultural and personal identity development.  The fall cohort led by Professor Danielle Powell, a faculty member in the Communication Studies Department. The students enrolled in her COMM 150: Intercultural Communication course participated in the event.

Wellness Day was designed to provide the mentees with a holistic look at the effects of varying wellness topics on success.  Throughout the day, students received information on a series of topics ranging from financial, mental and emotional wellness to tips on dressing for success in professional settings.  The students heard presentations from Skyline College staff and faculty such as Soledad McCarthy, Pcyeta Stroud, and Dr. Ronda Wimmer.  They also learned about the College Savers program from community partner, Mayra Cerda of the Opportunity Fund, and listened to an inspirational presentation via Skype by Bobbie Kelsey, Head Coach for the University of Wisconsin’s Women’s Basketball program and former player and assistant coach for the Stanford Women’s basketball program.  Finally, the women in the mentoring academy were treated to facials and massages courtesy of the Skyline College Esthetics & Massage Therapy Programs!

The GLPS Division would like to give a special ‘thank you’ to the following programs, departments and individuals for helping to make Wellness Day such a success: Business Services, Campus Facilities, the Cosmetology and Esthetics Program, Massage Therapy and Wellness Program, Professor Danielle Powell, Pcyeta Stroud, Dr. Ronda Wimmer, Kym Jackson, Soledad McCarthy, Roger Marcelo, Mayra Cerda with Opportunity Fund, Troy Barros, and of course all of the student participants!

The Women’s Mentoring Academy was founded through the African Diaspora Program, under the umbrella of the Global Learning Programs and Services Division.  The mission of the Women’s Mentoring Academy is to empower and transform the lives of the women in the program so that they may achieve personal and professional growth.

For more information on the African Diaspora Program, please contact the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at 650-738-7098 or email Dr. Cheryl Ajirotutu at ajirotutuc@smccd.edu.

Article by Danielle Powell and Pcyeta Stroud | Photos by Roger Marcelo and Danielle Powell

The Disability Resource Center hosted its annual Adaptive Physical Education Holiday Luncheon on December 8. Adaptive PE students and their families were treated to a lasagna lunch and potluck of sides and dessert. A drawing of wonderful gift baskets was held to raise money for the DRC Student Scholarships. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success and those who donated prizes for the drawing!

Article by Melissa Matthews

On January 30, from 9:00 a.m. until Noon, Skyline College Biotechnology will host a workshop entitled “Modernizing Genetics in the Classroom for Bay area High School Teachers.”  Skyline College students and faculty who are interested may also attend.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops, and plan on designing a lesson using genetic information provided by 23andMe.

23andMe is a local biotechnology company that provides specific genetic information to customers who send in samples for genetic analysis.  This genotype data provides insights to your ancestry and certain health traits.  Faculty who register by December 31 will receive a special discount voucher to purchase the kit.   The first 40 High School Teachers who purchase the kit are eligible to be reimbursed for the kit from California Community Colleges Doing What Matters.

Skyline College Biotechnology continues to work with our partners BABEC (Bay Area Biotechnology Education Consortium), Gene Connection and now 23andMe to help people understand biotechnology topics like the human genome.  The program works with high school and community college faculty to encourage our local students to gain the knowledge to compete for local jobs in biotechnology manufacturing.

Article by Nick Kapp

Skyline College’s and Goodwill Industries’ collaborative offering BUS 269: Domestic Warehousing and Logistics congratulated its 11^th completing cohort on December 4, 2015. Lead faculty member, Alpha Lewis was joined by Goodwill Industries’ Director of Warehousing, Dominic Moreno, Director of Workforce, Megan Kenny, Chief Financial Operating Officer, William Rogers, and CAA program staff Jeremy Evangelista, Interim Program Services Coordinator and Monique Hernandez, Office Assistant II, Center for Workforce Development to congratulate the students on their final presentations and successful completion of the program. William Rogers (CFOO) and Alina Varona, CAA Faculty Coordinator, presented students with their certificates at Goodwill Industries’ San Francisco headquarters.

Students who enroll in this ten-week collaborative offering receive four units of college credit, attend an all-day orientation at Skyline College, receive an OSHA 10 and Forklifting Certification, participate in skill building workshops, and get hands-on, work-based learning experiences at Goodwill Industries warehousing facilities in San Francisco and Burlingame. This program receives generous support from The Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative, an initiative of The San Francisco Foundation and nationally recognized collaborative which seeks to enhance economic competitiveness and reduce poverty by strengthening the ability of the workforce development system to meet the needs of employers and low-skilled adults.

Past Domestic Warehousing and Logistics students have continued their educational journeys as full-time Skyline College students and entered into the Automotive Entry Level Technician and Allied Health Career Advancement Academies as well as the Center for Innovative Practices in Hip Hop Education Research (CIPHER) program.

The Career Advancement Academy (CAA) provides stackable certificates in Automotive Entry Level Technician, Early Childhood Education Foundations, Legal Careers and Allied Health (EMT, Medical Office Administration, and Sterile Processing). For more information about the Career Advancement Academy or our Goodwill Partnership, contact, Jeremy Evangelista, evangelistaj@smccd.edu.

Article by Alina Varona | Photo by Jeremy Evangelista

On Wednesday, December 9, the Career Advancement Academy (CAA), hosted its end of the semester celebration. Current CAA students mingled amongst students from previous cohorts and were joined by CAA faculty members, counselors, and administrators. More than fifty people gathered in the Multicultural Center in Building 4 to celebrate with CAA students—current bridge participants along with those in their full programs—and to acknowledge students’ hard work and perseverance both this semester and in past semesters. Congratulations, Career Advancement Academy Students, on making it to the final stretch, and good luck on your finals!

The Career Advancement Academy creates bridges to higher-wage careers and additional opportunities in higher education by integrating career and technical training, basic skills courses, and support systems. Currently, the Skyline College CAA has programs in Allied Health, Automotive, Early Childhood Education and Legal Careers.

For more information about Career Advancement Academy contact, Jeremy Evangelista.

Article and Photo Jeremy Evangelista