On October 7-8th, the Equity Institute (EI) hosted the fifth equity academy, “Delivering Student-Ready STEM Education: Critical Competencies for Student Success.” This experience brought together teams representing 11 California Community Colleges including, Skyline College, College of San Mateo, West Valley College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Los Rios Community College District, Santa Ana College, Mt. San Antonio College, City College of San Francisco and Butte College. Each team represented a cross-section of STEM classified professionals, faculty members, and administrators who worked collaboratively through a sequence of four interactive sessions.

Chancellor Michael Claire and President Melissa Moreno welcomed participants and the experience commenced with opening keynote speaker, Sepehr Vakil, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences at Northwestern University. Dr. Vakil’s message addressed the ethical responsibility educators have to provide opportunities for students to learn and analyze the sociopolitical implications of science and technology.  He also articulated the importance of cultivating students’ moral, ethical, and political identities in ways that help them navigate and transform their worlds. The audience engaged through Q&A and were particularly inspired by the notion of sparking excitement and increasing success in STEM by connecting content/material to issues that impact student’s lives and communities. Before releasing teams into their respective breakout sessions, Katrina Pantig presented the EI’s T3 Framework and guiding principles of being Student-Ready, Equity-Minded, and Transformative.

The first full day consisted of the opening keynote, session one, Teaching the Student and the Content (Student Engagement), and session two, Transformative STEM Pedagogies. The following day, participants attended session three, Cultural Competencies for Student Success, a facilitated conversation with equity-minded STEM practitioner, Safiyyah Forbes, session four, Becoming a Transformative STEM Educator (Practical Application), and the closing keynote address. The sessions were led by Skyline College facilitators who engaged participants in activities and discussions anchored by an electronic comprehensive peer-reviewed guidebook. The guidebook also provides participants with supplementary activities, resources, and reference material to utilize for continuing this work at their respective institutions.

The program culminated with a powerful keynote address by Roni Ellington, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education at Morgan State University. Dr. Ellington’s research includes analyzing the socio-cultural factors that impact student’s success in math and STEM disciplines and developing Transformative Frameworks for STEM education applicable to all STEM disciplines. Her message focused on how educators can be agents of transformation and critical partners in developing students. She challenged the common notion that we need new strategies and shifted the focus to the deep work of critical self-reflection which is the on-going cyclical work necessary to embody our desired goals around equity and social justice.

Eugene Mahmoud, Physics and Engineering faculty at Mt. San Antonio shared, “The academy was a good opportunity to reflect with my colleagues on the work that we do with our student population and as educators. I left with a heightened awareness of how my students’ context informs their ability to access course content, and how their learning experience must address their desire for higher education, career, and the social good.”

Article by Katrina Pantig

Image Design by Mia Coo

The International Student Program (ISP) team held its first Transfer Roundtable via Zoom on Monday, October 26 at 3 p.m.  Three of our alumni, Zaw Min Khant from Myanmar, Shivani Thapa from Nepal, and Rachel Zhang from China, joined us to share their experience with applying to 4-year institutions, selecting the best institution for them, what they liked most about their school, and tips for transferring. Students from the U.S. and abroad attended the roundtable.

Shivani, who attended the University of Texas at Arlington, discussed the pros and cons of transferring to an out-of-state institution and course articulation. Communication was the key to ensuring that her courses from Skyline College were transferable to her new university. Rachel, who transferred to the University of California Los Angeles and attended the roundtable from China, highlighted the importance of starting on their applications early. This was particularly important for students who were interested in applying to the University of California system because of the personal insight questions that are part of the application. Zaw, who transferred to San Jose State University, encouraged students to consider Optional Practical Training and the importance of being engaged in campus clubs and organizations.

The event concluded with a Q&A session where current students were able to get their questions about transferring answered such as GPA for transferring, scholarship opportunities, and career support.

ISP would like to thank the student panelists for taking time out of their busy schedules to share the transfer experience with our current students.

Please join us for our next event in the week of November 16: International Education Week!

Article by Claire Yeo-Sugajski

Job Description

Are you interested in sustainability? Are you interested in taking part in a podcast? The Energize Colleges program, partnered with Skyline College will be hosting a podcast to help inform viewers about the diverse world of sustainability and how they can make their mark. We are looking for three student interns to create and publish podcast episodes on a variety of sustainability subjects. These subjects can include, but are not limited to, transportation, energy, psychology, business, mathematics, physics, history, and more. Even if you’re new to sustainability we hope this podcast will be an opportunity to build/grow your passion for sustainability. By connecting with professionals and researching technologies, practices, and innovations, we hope to provide a unique and informative podcast to inspire others to be more sustainable in their careers and everyday lives. You will be part of a remote three-person team working on research, production, and publication of a virtual podcast.

Requirements:

– Must be a currently enrolled Skyline College student

– An interest/passion for sustainability, or the willingness to expand your knowledge

– Skills with podcast editing, or an interest to gain/improve on those skills

Additional Information

– Interns will receive $15 an hour

– Interns will work a total of 75 hours over the course of the project

– Interns will gain 1 unit of academic credit through Journalism 695 independent study course

– Internship will begin in January 2021 and end in April 2021

– Interns must be able to provide valid Federal I-9 form required identification and authorization for employment

How to apply

– Fill out this google form: https://forms.gle/2TJq37RZTDWZe69D8

– Email smithlandon@smccd.edu for any questions

 

Article by Landon Smith

Michelle Pineda, Cañada College alumni, first studied abroad in Spring 2018 with SMCCCD Study Abroad through the Northern California Study Abroad Consortium (NCSAC) program in Florence, Italy. After three months in Italy, she began planning how she would return abroad for a Global Internship. In Summer 2019, after much planning and saving, Michelle went abroad again, this time to Madrid, Spain, with the SMCCCD Global Internship Program, where she interned for two months with Be Madrid, an exchange student community and travel agency. She has since transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she is studying Communication Studies.

Michelle was a recipient of three study abroad scholarships, including the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Her message to any student who identifies as coming from a low-income household, or who is a first-generation college student, is “there is opportunity out there…don’t limit yourself.”

Check out Michelle’s story here.

SMCCCD Study Abroad is the district-wide study abroad program housed in the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at Skyline College.  For more information about studying or interning abroad, faculty teach abroad opportunities, community travel for lifelong learners, visiting international faculty presenters and student scholarship opportunities, please contact Zaid Ghori at ghoriz@smccd.edu or (650) 738-7088 or Stephanie Wells at wellss@smccd.edu. You can also learn more by visiting the SMCCD Study Abroad Facebook page or Instagram page @smcccd_study_abroad.

Article by Stephanie Wells

The Poetry Corner series at Skyline College celebrates poetry, creativity, artistic freedom, empowerment, and engaged dialogue. In a first-time collaboration with San Mateo County Poet Laureate Aileen Cassinetto, Poetry Corner presents “Re-enVISIONing our Future Together,” a virtual event on November 6 with readings by Poet Laureate of Virginia Luisa Igloria and San Antonio, Texas former Poet Laureate Octavio Quintanilla. Skyline College student poet Hilary Cruz Mejia will moderate a discussion to follow. Student Poetry Club and audience members are encouraged to share a poem aloud.

Save the date for Friday, November 6! A detailed schedule follows:

• 4:00-4:20pm   Welcome and introductions. What is Poetry Corner?
• 4:20-5:30pm   Poetry readings by Luisa Igloria and Octavio Quintanilla, followed by discussion
• 5:25-5:30pm   Brief break
• 5:30-6:00pm   Mingle with poet laureates & enjoy readings by student poets and audience members.

Why “2020: Re-enVISIONing Our Future Together?” “2020 vision” is a term used to express the clarity or sharpness of vision measured at a distance of 20 feet. 2020 has been a challenging year for most of us around the globe. Yet there are people who feel optimistic about our ability to re-evaluate our priorities, and rethink ways of coexisting with each other and the environment.

The Poetry Corner taps into this optimism by gathering people together to see things more clearly, to envision a future together that honors and celebrates both our commonalities and differences, as well as the current environment. We welcome you on November 6. You can learn more about the poets here.

Would you like to bring your class to Poetry Corner? Have additional questions? Please contact Pia Walawalkar, Librarian <walawalkars@smccd.edu>.

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College will now be offering micro grants of $3000 each, to San Bruno based businesses to help aid in their recovery from the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Grant applications open on November 20^th and close on December 4^th.   The Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program is here to help businesses with coaching, workshops, business tools and now with funding.  All applicants must attend a Micro Grant Info Session to be eligible.  Register here for the Symposium and to attend an Info Session.

These grants are made possible with funding from the San Bruno Community Foundation.

For more information, contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

Image by Olivia Vialau

On Wednesday, October 14, the Outreach & Student Recruitment Office hosted, for the first time, its annual virtual high school partners event. This year’s theme was centered around “Community, Conversations, and Collaboration” and focused on strengthening partnerships with our local high schools to better serve students and our community during these isolating times.

Given a unique year, the event’s turnout included 35 participants comprised of high school administrators, counselors, transition specialists, and community program directors from Jefferson Union, Sequoia Union, South San Francisco Unified and San Mateo Unified High School Districts.

Jeremy Evangelista-Ramos, College Recruiter, began the program and introduced Skyline College’s new College President, Dr. Melissa Moreno, who warmly welcomed the group and shared her vision on one of four top priorities, community engagement. Dr. Moreno highlighted our college’s anti-racist efforts, the intentional work focused on student success, and the importance of supporting our disproportionality impacted students.

During the event, participants were grouped by high school district and rotated through four concurrent breakout sessions highlighting our Promise Scholars Program, Dual Enrollment Opportunities, Meta Majors & Guided Pathways, and a general update session from Financial Aid, ESL Connect, our Educational Access and SparkPoint Centers.

The event was a fitting opportunity to share how Skyline College pivoted its in-person offerings in response to the pandemic to continue providing quality learning experiences and services for students virtually.

A special thanks to the presenters and workshop facilitators: Dr. Melissa Moreno, College President, Will Minnich, Dean of Enrollment Services, Ernesto Hernandez, Interim Director of Guided Pathways and Comprehensive Redesign, Andrea Vizenor, Dean of Strategic Partnership & Workforce Development, Sha’kuana Ona, Retention Specialist, Patricia Mendoza, Financial Aid Technician, Mylene Foo, Program Services Coordinator, Melissa Matthews, EAC Coordinator, and Flor Lopez, SparkPoint Coordinator. This event is hosted annually and will next be held in Fall 2021.

Article and Photo by Jeremy Evangelista-Ramos

We understand that many students and our community members may have lost their job due to the  unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is our commitment to continue to offer information regarding paid internships and quality job opportunities that are available along with support in design or update of a resume, preparing for an interview and expanding one’s network to secure employment during these uncertain times.  The Career Readiness & Job Placement Team looks forward to doing all we can to ensure students and our community members have what they need to get a job and continue to offer remote services and resources while the shelter-in-place order is in effect.  If one of the jobs shared does not meet your needs or interests please complete this form and we will reach out to you directly to assist!  Please stay safe. 

Expand your network in ways that will lead to your dream job. The Career Readiness & Job Placement team is excited to share the following paid internship opportunities with you. Check them out—

• Arts, Language & Communication Internships_10-30-2020
• Business, Entrepreneurship & Management Internships_10-30-2020
• Science, Technology & Health Internships_10-30-2020
• Society & Education Internships_10-30-2020

Article by Renee Liang

We understand that many students and our community members may have lost their job due to the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is our commitment to continue to offer information regarding paid internships and quality job opportunities that are available along with support in design or update of a resume, preparing for an interview and expanding one’s network to secure employment during these uncertain times. The Career Readiness & Job Placement Team looks forward to doing all we can to ensure students and our community members have what they need to get a job and continue to offer remote services and resources during this time. If one of the jobs shared does not meet your needs or interests please complete this form and we will reach out to you directly to assist!  Please stay safe. 

How may we assist you in landing your dream job? The Career Readiness & Job Placement team is excited to share the following job opportunities with you. Check them out—

• Arts, Language & Communication Jobs_10-30-2020
• Business, Entrepreneurship & Management Jobs_10-30-2020
• Society & Education Jobs_10-30-2020
• Science, Technology & Health Jobs_10-30-2020
• Just In Time Jobs_10-30-2020

Article by Renee Liang

Skyline College will host its 3^rd Bi-Annual Equity Summit on November 6, 2020 virtually through Zoom from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event offers an opportunity for educators from throughout the nation to engage in a teaching and learning experience centered on equity, race, and student success.

Bree Newsome Bass, Community Organizer and Activist, who first garnered national attention for her courageous act of civil disobedience in June 2015, will deliver the keynote address. The purpose of the summit is to immerse the educational community into the conversation about equity, race and student success through the scholarship of experts.

Presenters representing diverse perspectives and approaches regarding equity in education will deliver seven TED Talk-style presentations along with a plenary session throughout the day. Full biographies for all speakers can be found on the Equity Summit webpage.

This program is free for all SMCCCD Employees. Those interested in attending can view the Equity Summit webpage and register by clicking on the “SMCCCD Registration Form.”

 

Article by Cherie Colin