Daily Archives: August 19, 2016

Skyline College Express Shuttle Sees High Ridership on First Day of Service

skyline shuttle promotional materialsSkyline College has launched a free non-stop, round trip shuttle service between the Daly City BART station and the campus.

The “Skyline College Express” launched August 17, 2016, just in time for the start of fall semester classes. The shuttle runs every hour from 7:25 a.m. to 6:44 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

The first day of shuttle service saw very high ridership to campus and a second stand‐by shuttle was employed to account for excess rider demand. Ridership from Daly City BART to campus saw 36 riders on the first set of shuttles at 7:55 a.m., then 45 riders at 8:25 a.m., and a peak of 53 riders on the 9:25 a.m. shuttles.

Understandably, the ridership on the return leg back to Daly City BART started out slow in the morning, with 1 rider at 8:25 am and an average of 13 riders during the window of departures from 9am‐12pm. However, in the early afternoon, shuttle ridership on the return journey back to the Daly City BART Station began reaching full capacity with full shuttle loads arriving at 1:44pm and 2:44pm. Shuttle ridership and demand will be closely followed in the coming days as latest data becomes available.

Article by Connor Fitzpatrick. Postcard designed by Claudia Paz.

Base11 and Skyline College Begin Entrepreneur Accelerator Training Program

students in fab labThe Base11 STEM Entrepreneurship Accelerator Training Program is an innovative entrepreneur and workforce program, focused on creating the next generation of creators and leaders in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Skyline College has partnered with Base11 to launch a STEM EA Training Program this fall, for budding entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who want to stand out as leaders in the STEM industry. Students in the STEM EA Training Program, will learn the mechanics of entrepreneurship, develop their soft skills and will learn to create prototypes in the new, state-of-the-art Fab Lab. Students in this program also have a unique opportunity to pitch their business ideas in front of investors. The STEM EA Training Program is a definite asset to a student’s developing resume, and will positively impact their success as students.

Under the leadership of the Global Learning Programs and Services division, and in preparation of the STEM EA Training Program Launch, the Bay Area Entrepreneur Center (BAEC) hosted a two-day intensive training for all involved faculty and staff. The training, led by a Base11 trainer, was held August 9 and 10 and included a team of ten motivated staff and faculty members. The training placed faculty and staff in the position of students in a classroom setting, simulating what the students’ experience will be throughout the duration of the program.

Our 10 week STEM EA Training Program includes lecture sessions, held at the BAEC, and lab activities in the Fab lab, located on the Skyline College campus. Classes launch Monday, September 19, 2016.

Article by Terri Wade & Pcyeta Stroud. Photo by William Nacouzi.

Over 100 Students Recieve Skyline College Promise Scholarship

students sitting at tableThe inaugural Skyline College Promise Scholarship launched this fall with over 100 scholarship recipients! The Skyline College Promise Scholarship takes a comprehensive approach to student success by providing a dedicated counselor, lending library for required text books and materials, and financial support for student fees. The projected cost for the first year of the program will be approximately $100,000 ($35,000 for fall and forecasted for spring and summer).

The dedicated counselor will provide proactive support to each student as well as connect them to a wide range of existing campus support services. In addition to the covered fees below we have created a Lending Library where students will be loaned (at no cost) required text books and materials.

Skyline College Promise Scholarship Overview

The Skyline College Promise Scholarship is available to high school graduates and students who recently completed their GED or Adult Education program after December 1, 2015 and who enroll at Skyline College full-time and plan to earn a certificate or degree.

The Scholarship supports the College’s Promise to help students “Get In. Get Through. And Get Out…on time!” by making college more affordable and ensuring that higher education is achievable for all members of our community. Recipients receive a waiver covering all enrollment fees for any gap left after applying your financial aid award.

What Fees Does the Promise Scholarship Cover?

The Promise Scholarship will cover all student fees for the first year that a student is enrolled (Fall 2016, Spring 2017 and Summer 2017).

Fees Include:

  • Enrollment Fees
  • Health Fee
  • Student Rep Fee
  • Student Union Fee
  • Student Body Fee

What Are My Responsibilities as a Recipient?

Recipients of the Promise Scholarship must agree to:

  • Enroll full time (minimum 12 units) for fall and spring terms only.
  • Maintain academic progress, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and a completion rate of above 50%.
  • Declare a major by the start of the spring 2017 semester.
  • Complete a comprehensive Student Educational Plan (SEP) by start of the spring 2017 semester.

Article by William Minnich. Photo by William Nacouzi

White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans

Whitehouse AA Summit flier2016Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, President, Skyline College has graciously accepted an invitation to host the 2016 White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, on Friday, September 30, 2016. The event provides a platform for experts and Black students to be unapologetic about the needs and the accomplishments they have made in higher education.

The White House Initiative was created through an Executive Order by President Barack Obama in 2012. A component of the mission of the Initiative is to restore the United States to its role as the global leader in education; strengthen the Nation by improving educational outcomes for African Americans of all ages; and help ensure that African Americans receive a complete and competitive education that prepares them for college, and productive citizenship.

The Initiative is also in-line with the mission and goals of Skyline College by increasing college access and success for African American students and providing support to help ensure that a greater percentage of African Americans complete college and contribute to the goal of having America again lead the world in the proportion of adults who are college graduates by 2020.

By having the summit at Skyline College, it will provide a powerful forum to disrupt the status quo as well as negative stereotypes that surround Black students. The event will allow more collaboration with high schools in the peninsula and surrounding areas. Additionally, Skyline College will partner with other colleges in the region to open the dialogue about the needs of Black students.

The National Council on Black American Affairs/Western Region Council on Black American Affairs will assist in the planning and preparation of the event. We are honored that Skyline College, which is part of the San Mateo County Community College District is taking on this challenge and assisting in making a difference in the lives of our students.

Article and photo by Tammy Robinson

Center for International Trade Development Expands Curriculum

CITD meetingDuring the summer 2016, the Center for International Trade Development (CITD) which is part of Global Learning Programs and Services developed and expanded Curriculum and Program Offerings in an effort to expand the reach of the Global Trade and Logistics for the college and the community.

This the first time courses will be offered in this new division and will be cross-listed with Business courses. They will begin in spring 2017.

Courses:

  • IBUS 201
  • Microsoft Project Management I
  • IBUS 202
  • Microsoft Project Management II
  • IBUS 100
  • Global Trade and Logistics I

Bay Area CITD hosted by Skyline College receives CA STEP funds

Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and member of President Obama’s Cabinet, announced the grant award of $747,781 by the federal government to California Centers for International Trade Development (CITD) received to help increase exporting by small business.

Bay Area CITD was awarded $33,385 CA STEP grant funds to lead a trade mission to Hannover Messe 2016, the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair. This year, the United States was Germany’s official partner country to host Hannover Messe.

Bay Area CITD used grant funds to help 8 California small businesses participate as an Exhibitor in Hannover Germany. Each California business received 2500 each from Bay Area CITD. A reception, hosted by Bay Area CITD and the World Trade Center Los Angeles, was held for California companies that attended the trade fair.

With the U.S. Over 190,000 visitors came to give their companies a head start into the digital future.

Hosting CITD 2nd Global Summit in March, 2017

  • Expanded Program Offering:
  • Global Entrepreneurship program for students who will be trained in the skills needed to innovate, create and develop business plans, raise venture capital, and manage a global small business,
  • Global Internship program that places students at businesses located at major hubs of global business, and CITD Global Trade Compliance and National Certificate Prep Workshops – Fee based non-credit professional development workshop and seminar series of international trade compliance related topics and exam preparatory courses for national certifications; 1 – 1 ½ hour sessions for local and national industry incumbent workers, hold workshops on a virtual classroom platform, taught by Industry subject matter experts to conduct instruction.

Article by Yvonne Reid. Photo by William Nacouzi

Study Abroad Program Participation Reaches Record High for London, England

study abroad studentsThe San Mateo County Community College District Study Abroad Program, housed at Skyline College, participated in the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC) to send a total of 31 students to London, England of which five students were from Cañada College, 16 students from College of San Mateo and 10 students from Skyline College. This is the highest participation in two decades of the program and more than double the number of students who studied in Barcelona, Spain in fall 2015.

The total cohort of 108 students in the NCSAC will depart for London on September 8, 2016 for a semester-long study abroad program and returns back stateside December 9, 2016. A pre-departure orientation was held for all students welcoming over 200 students and their families on August 6, 2016 at Skyline College.

Cañada College Instructor Salumeh Eslamieh from the Humanities/Social Sciences Division will teach four courses in London. Other participating districts in the NCSAC include Contra Costa Community College District, Los Rios Community College District and Sonoma County Community College District. The program is offered in partnership with service provider American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS). San Mateo County Community College District has participated in the consortium since 1986.

Article by Zaid Ghori. Photo by Emma Briones.

African Diaspora Program Events

Many things have happened during the summer 2016 in the African Diaspora Program which is located in the Global Learning Programs and Services Division.

  • Dr. Cheryl Ajirotutu, Coordinator, ADP served on the Gen ED committee and visited Boston, MA to assist in the development of greater integration of curriculum campus-wide
    Global Learning Programs and Services (GLPS) and STEM Team from Skyline College visited Dillard University in New Orleans to establish a collaboration with an HBCU and Skyline College to further the development of STEM relationships and internships for our students
  • Attended Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Stanford University with Keynote Speaker, President Barack Obama and Dr. Ajirotutu served on an internal committee to assist in panel discussion
  • Attended Global Entrepreneurship Summit to establish relationship with Cape Verde, Africa to establish a Study Abroad relationship/Service Learning opportunity for our students.
    Working and collaborating with Center for International Trade Development (CITD), Skyline College Summer Scholars Program to present ICT Youth Summit, July 13, 2016 for over 100 students
  • Collaboration expanded with STEM program- including math, engineering and physic faculty throughout the district
    Establishing a deeper relationship with MOAD(Museum of the African Diaspora) in San Francisco to establish internships and service learning opportunities for our students
  • GLPS is working college-wide to create a discernable pipeline of service learning sites on-campus, in-community, and globally
  • GLPS is collaborating with faculty at DeAnza College to expand the curriculum for the African Diaspora Program

Article by Tammy Robinson.