The Skyline College Strategic Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee (SPARC) met for their first meeting of the calendar year 2019 on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

The committee received an update on the Mid-Year Budget for the college by Finance and Operations Manager Paul Cassidy. He gave an overview of the Fund 1A (General Fund) and noted that it is projected that Skyline College will spend some of its carryover balance from fiscal year 2017-2018. He provided an early projection for fiscal year 2019-2020 using the Preliminary Site Allocation based on the fiscal year 2018-2019 Revenue Allocation Model. The San Mateo County Community College District has not yet distributed the Preliminary Site Allocation for fiscal year 2019-2020. He also presented a historical review of the Skyline College International Student Program revenues and headcount.

Karen Wong, Coordinator of Institutional Effectiveness and Zahra Mojtahedi, Planning and Research Analyst, provided an orientation to the CPR review process taking place in SPARC, including an overview of recent changes to the program review process and understanding SPARC’s role in the CPR process. Changes in the CPR process initiated through a task force group in 2016 supported the improved alignment of the APP with CPR. The implementation of SPOL, a strategic online planning tool, has also made the process for submitting and receiving feedback on program reviews easier and smoother.

A rubric, created by a task force within the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, will be implemented to help SPARC members to provide feedback to the CPR presenting teams. Feedback will be executed in form of appreciative inquiry, with review teams emphasizing the strengths, opportunities for improvement and solutions from within.

For further information and resources, please see the Program Review website skylinecollege.edu/programreview.

Next meeting is Thursday, February 14, 2019 from 2:10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Building 6, Room 6-203.

Article by Judy Hutchinson

The Peer Mentoring Program at Skyline College is designed to help all students achieve their short and long term goals! Our eight peer mentors are trained to facilitate academic and personal success for their fellow students through practical skills by:

• Building knowledge of college resources
• Fostering social engagement and a sense of belonging
• Increasing student engagement in academics
• Developing education, leadership, career and learning goals

Peer mentors are excellent resources for information about Skyline College programs and services. Our peer mentors facilitated over 150 mentor and mentee meetings in Fall 2018 and led 18 workshops on topics such as:

• Time management and organization
• Note taking
• Stress management
• Writing and reading strategies
• Goal setting

To connect with a peer mentor in your Meta Major or learn more about our workshops and other services, join us for our Meet the Mentors Mixer this Tuesday, February 12th, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in The Learning Center. Food will be served!

For more information:

Contact: Raymon Gutierrez, Retention Specialist
Office: Bldg 5, Room 110

Phone: (650) 738-7136

Website: skylinecollege.edu/peermentors

Article written by Raymon Gutierrez | Photo by Zaw Min Khant

On January 11, 2019, staff, faculty and administrators came together for the first Flex Day of Spring 2019. The program was designed to highlight approaches to education that emphasize a focus on who we teach not just on what we teach. As keynote speaker Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales urged the audience, “We have a shared responsibility to be responsive to our students and their understanding of the world, to prepare them to transform it for the better.”

Early feedback suggests that the campus welcomed this approach: “Dr. Tintiangco-Cubales delivered an inspiring keynote that set the tone for Flex Day. What resonated with me was her focus on building relationships with students and asking what they need, instead of assuming,” said Michelle Batista, Director of Student Support.

After the keynote, faculty moderator Nate Nevado and a panel of four Skyline College students took the stage to share and discuss what motivates them to achieve their educational goals. Yatin Kumar, Paul Dzul, Tia Samn and Chantel Jaycee Giner each made clear that they deserve and desire educators willing to connect with them as humans and as learners. Unprompted, each student named a specific Skyline College educator who made a transformative difference in their lives, making this was a proud moment for our institution.

Having students take the spotlight was part of an intentional approach on Flex Day to situate learners at the center of our efforts as educators. In the words of Jessica Silver-Sharp, Adjunct Librarian, “Flex Day was great, especially the student panel! It was empowering for me to hear from students in their own words about what motivates them to succeed.”

The day also included sessions on topics such as Open Educational Resources, being student ready, transformative teaching practices, consequential communications, high impact practices, classified engagement in the college redesign and supporting students with children. This aligns with the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning’s (CTTL) commitment to support the college’s efforts to close equity gaps and increase opportunities for student success. In designing the program, CTTL sought to bring multiple voices to the fore, since students, faculty, classified staff and administrators have a role to play in these efforts. In the words of Classified Senate President, Michele Haggar, “It is inspiring to see several professional development sessions on one flex day led entirely by classified staff!”

The CTTL provides, supports and promotes professional development at Skyline College and is available to faculty, staff and administrators for consultation on all aspects of transformative teaching and learning. For more information or to make an appointment to enhance your practice as an educator, click the link to skylinecollege.edu/cttl/about.php.

The next flex day will be on March 6, 2019. Save the date!

Article by Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) | Photo by Zaw Min Khant

Kaileiani Louie, a 12th grade Middle College student and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society was honored by Nota Bene which showcases the writing talents of Phi Theta Kappa members from throughout the nation. Nota Bene takes its name from the Latin expression for “note well” and it is the nation’s only literary anthology featuring excellence in writing among community college students. She was published in the 24th edition of the Nota Bene. The title of her submission “Corruption and Contradicting Comments” analyzes the messaging about the economic inequity between the American working class and the upper class.

Article by Raymond Jones

Kayla Jackson, an 11th grade Middle College student, published her first poetry selection entitled “Blue Mondays” in the anthology, the Gifted Penman’s Poetry Collection Volume 1.  Founded in 2018, Gifted Penman’s Poetry was created with one goal in mind: to give every poet a voice.  On Amazon, the collection “…showcases talented aspiring poets and their expressions on a multitude of topics in many poetic forms. These authors come from many different walks of lives. Their various individual experiences can be felt within the pages of this book, and this is exactly what sets this colorful collection apart from the others.”

Article by Raymond Jones

17 Middle College students, a combination of 11th and 12th graders spent a Friday afternoon volunteering at the Second Harvest Foodbank Bing Center in San Carlos sorting food.  They were able to sort 5,408 pounds into 336 cases. Second Harvest is committed to providing free healthy food to anyone in need. People are welcome at their food distribution sites, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Article by Raymond Jones

On February 1, 2019, Skyline College students—international and domestic alike—faculty and staff members gathered at the Multicultural Center for the International Student Program’s kickoff event, the International Student Mixer. The mixer was an excellent opportunity for all members of the Skyline College community to get together for some fun!

The event was well-attended, starting off with brief welcome notes from the Dean of Global Learning Programs & Services, Russell Waldon, and the ISP manager, Dr. Wissem Bennani. This was followed by an energetic icebreaker which brought out everyone’s competitive spirits and got the party going. The highlight of the event was an African dance to the tune of “Sensima” by Skiibii featuring Reekado Banks which was led by Abiodun Foresythe, Ovie Ogege and Gloria Ewuradjoa Wilson. The trio wowed the crowd with their dancing moves and confidence, paving the way for others to begin dancing as well. Meanwhile, for the non-dancers in attendance, a Super Mario Party game was set up on the big screen and students took turns playing the mini games with gusto.

Additionally, students were introduced to various popular American snacks such as Flaming Hot Cheetos and Chex Mix. The unanimous crowd favorite was the root beer float, a classic American diner staple, consisting of root beer and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The party was a great success, with new friendships forged and new culinary treats savored!

Article by Clair Yeo-Sugajski | Photo by Zaw Min Khant