Monthly Archives: January 2021

Applications Are Open! Spring 2021 Virtual Internship Job Shadow Program

Job Shadow Virtual InternshipThe Bay Area Entrepreneur Center is now accepting applications for the Virtual Internship Job Shadow Program. Students can apply here: https://smccd-czqfp.formstack.com/forms/baec_internship_application

The IJSP provides students with opportunities to learn and grow professionally in a virtual environment with resources to build their resume. This program is a way for students to explore real-world experience in a professional and supportive environment with their Meta Major, career exploration ideas, and educational interests in mind.

If you know any students who are looking to build their resume, enhance their soft skills, and be part of an engaging team, please share this information and encourage them to apply.

If you are interested in partnering with the BAEC by serving as a job shadow site or participating in other ways, please let us know.

For more information, connect with us at baec@smccd.edu, or visit our website.

 

Article by Olivia Vialau

Only Fog @ Skyline College is Here to Support a Smoke and Tobacco Free SMCCD!

No Smoking Policy FlyerDid you know that the Skyline College smoking policy has not been updated since 2009? According to the annual report published by the California Youth Advocacy Network in June 2020, Skyline College received a D grade because of the existing nine designated smoking areas on campus. Our two sister Colleges received a C grade for still allowing smoking in parking lots. While the UC and CSU systems have gone completely tobacco-free during the last decade, our District is one of the remaining Community College Districts that still allows smoking.

The good news is, students are putting in effort for us to come back to a healthier, clear-air campus after the pandemic! Only Fog @ Skyline is a grant-funded project that advocates for a new policy that makes the District tobacco- and smoke-free. The project lead, Sociology and Social Justice Studies faculty, Rika Yonemura-Fabian and community partners, Mariah Santiago, Mark Heringer (a Skyline College alumni), and Xochitlquetzal Davila from San Francisco Community Health Center with student leads, Brandon Wong (Social Justice Studies major) and Frida Arguello (Middle College/ Sociology major) have been engaging the District and College leadership for the last two semesters to advance a policy for a healthier, and more equitable campus.

Only Fog @ Skyline is not anti-smoker; we are anti-Big Tobacco. Big Tobacco has historically targeted marginalized communities, such as people of color, low-income, and LGBTQ+ communities which has resulted long-lasting, negative health disparities. Along with the efforts to implement policies, the project has been organizing community educational events to raise the students’ and employees’ awareness that tobacco is a social justice and health equity issue, not only a personal health issue. Low-income neighborhoods have more tobacco retailers visible and accessible to their residents, which increases the chance of low-income youths to be exposed to the products. Every year, 30,000 LGBTQ+ people die due to tobacco-related diseases, thanks to tobacco ads preying on queer communities through Subcultural Urban Marketing. Menthol tobacco products that have been targeting African American Communities for decades were only recently banned in January 2021– many years after other flavors (bubble gum, mango among many others) were banned. The health inequity consequence of tobacco on marginalized communities is clear. Our question is, how do we face this problem as a College Community if we call ourselves a social justice institution?

According to the public opinion poll Only Fog collected in August 2019, about 10% of students use a tobacco product. Only Fog believes that banning tobacco should not result in punishing smokers who are victims of targeted marketing for profits. Addiction is not a crime (in fact, project leads are former smokers themselves). The project advocates for active quitting resources that are free and easily available to smoker students and employees, in addition to advancing tobacco-free policies, in order to roll out a new policy in an equitable way.

Professor Yonemura-Fabian was awarded a tobacco control grant from the Truth Initiative, a tobacco control organization based in Washington D.C., in July 2020. With the generous support from Dr. Cheryl Johnson and Martin Marquez from the Equity Division, Michelle Batista from Student Wellness Services, and Susan Shor and Emily Risk, staff from Student Health Center the project, the team has thus far organized a campus-wide event, Great American Smokeout in November 2020. The team has been working with District and College administrations around the smoking policy language, particularly with the District Participatory Governance Council, Chancellor Mike Claire, Skyline College Equity Committee (SEEED), Skyline College President, Canada College Cabinet, and College of San Mateo Cabinet.

Informing students, faculty and staff about this new initiative is important to us and we can give class presentations and share any data we have collected! If interested, please let Rika (fabianr@smccd.edu) know. Finally, check out our next event on smoking and health inequity on February 22nd and 24th.

 

Article by Rika Yonemura-Fabian

Free Form Fridays with the President

Free Form FridaysSkyline College President Dr. Melissa Moreno will be hosting several virtual drop-in office hours we are calling “Free Form Fridays.” Free Form Fridays provide an opportunity to share your ideas, ask questions, provide feedback, and voice concerns directly to President Moreno in a casual, drop-in setting. Be sure to take advantage of this time to reach out, connect, and get to know our new president. Please see the list below for upcoming Free Form Fridays.

Upcoming Free Form Fridays:
(Times to be announced)

  • February 19
  • March 5
  • March 19
  • April 16
  • April 30
  • May 14
  • May 21
  • May 28

Article by Becky Threewit

Image by Mia Coo

Small Business Recovery & Coaching with the BAEC

BAEC Coaching SessionsThe Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College (BAEC) holds virtual, no-cost, group and 1:1 coaching and advising sessions, to help local business owners and entrepreneurs with every aspect of their business, especially recovering from the business impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program, our team of coaches and experts are ready to assist in areas ranging from marketing strategy, to help pivot your business, to safety compliance so you can stay on top of county and state COVID guidelines to funding opportunities to keep your business afloat.  The BAEC’s Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program is available to support all small businesses.  Join us for one of our virtual coaching sessions or our workshops-or tell a business in need!

The Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program is proudly supported by the San Bruno Community Foundation.

To view our past workshops, connect with us on YouTube.  For more information, connect with us here, at baec@smccd.edu

 

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

Image by Gisel Martín

International Student Program Welcomes New Global Online Learning Students for Spring 2021!

Global Online Learning FlyerOn January 11, 2021, the International Student Program (ISP) hosted a welcome zoom session for newly admitted Global Online Learning (GOL) students. The GOL program is a district-wide program that provides international students with the opportunity to take online classes through Skyline College, College of San Mateo, or Cañada College without leaving their home countries. GOL is an excellent opportunity for international students to start their college education at home. They can come to Skyline College to continue with their academic program when it is safe to do so.

This semester, ISP welcomed new GOL students from Canada, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The welcome zoom session kicked off with the Vice President of Instruction, Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, and Dean of Global Learning Programs and Services Division, Russell Waldon, welcoming the students to our campus community. Dr. Taylor-Mendoza spoke about how Skyline College has long been committed to inclusion and diversity in the community and how international students play a big role in the mission. The event provided GOL students with both an opportunity to introduce themselves and to learn more about the ISP staff that they will be working with for the duration of their studies.

For more information on the GOL program at Skyline College, please contact the ISP office at skyinternational@smccd.edu

 

Article by Chikako Walker

Middle College Scholarship Drive

Middle College Scholarship FlyerThe Middle College is excited to launch its 1st Annual Middle College Student Scholarship Drive!!

The Middle College Scholarship fund was developed to give Middle College seniors at Skyline scholarships to provide them with financial assistance as they embark on the educational pathway of their choice, which is often underfunded and filled with unknown challenges as they graduate from our program.

All of the funds raised during this drive will give our Middle College seniors access to quality education after graduation. These students will be able to use the funds to pay for tuition, books, and other expenses they may incur while achieving their educational goals.

Our Scholarship Drive will run January-February 2021

We ask that you donate a minimum of a $15.00 one-time donation to help achieve our fundraising goal of $1,500.

All those who donate $25 or more will be entered to win a Chromebook from the Skyline College Bookstore, a gift basket from the Strategic Partnerships & Workforce Development, and a Middle College goodie gift bag.

Each $25 donation = 1 ticket in the raffle prize drawing.

If you can donate towards our 1st Annual Middle College Student Scholarship drive, please donate at this link MCSC FUND

Your generous contribution to support our students is greatly appreciated!!!

If you have any questions, please contact Martina Center-Goodman.

Article by Martina Center-Goodman

Applications Are Open! Spring 2021 Virtual Internship Job Shadow Program

Virtual Internship Program FlyerThe Bay Area Entrepreneur Center is now accepting applications for the Virtual Internship Job Shadow Program. Students can apply here: https://smccd-czqfp.formstack.com/forms/baec_internship_application

The IJSP provides students with opportunities to learn and grow professionally in a virtual environment with resources to build their resume. This program is a way for students to explore real-world experience in a professional and supportive environment with their Meta Major, career exploration ideas, and educational interests in mind.

If you know any students that are looking to build their resume, enhance their soft skills, and be part of an engaging team, please share this information and encourage them to apply.

If you are interested in partnering with the BAEC by serving as a job shadow site or participating in other ways, please let us know.

For more information, connect with us at baec@smccd.edu, or visit our website.

Article and Image by Olivia Vialau

16 San Bruno Businesses Received Micro Grants!

Micro Grant Recipients The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College wants to congratulate all 16 recipients of the Micro Grants!!  Each business is receiving over $4,000 in grant relief, in addition to expert coaching and access to valuable small business workshops.  The awardees represent a range local businesses from a game shop to an automotive retailer and from a local delicatessen to a beauty consultant.  We are excited to support our local businesses during this critical time.

The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center is here to help all small businesses, with coaching, workshops, business tools and information on funding opportunities. Visit our BAEC YouTube channel to see videos of tutorials and workshops on many topics.  Connect with us on Instagram here: @skylinebaec. The Micro Grants Program is made possible with funding from the San Bruno Community Foundation.  For more information on the Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program, contact the BAEC at baec@smccd.edu.

Article and Image by Gisel Martín

Dare to Dream Fundraising Campaign Underway!

The first Dare to Dream fundraising campaign for the newly established Skyline College Dream Center Fund is underway!

While many of us have recently received federal stimulus checks, most members of our undocumented community are denied this support. Please show your support by considering a tax-deductible donation online or by signing up for recurring payroll contributions through SMCCD’s Employee Contribution program.

Your donation will directly aid undocumented students experiencing hardships resulting from the ongoing pandemic.

Last month’s legal decision resulting in the restoration of DACA means many Skyline College students will also need an additional $500 each every two years for application fees required by the federal government.

Making a contribution in support of our undocumented students is a great way to take action for social justice at the local level.

Questions? Please contact Pamela Ortiz Cerda <ortizcerdap@smccd.edu> or Jessica Silver-Sharp <silversharpj@smccd.edu>.

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

New Psychology Faculty has Article Accepted for Publication and Co-Authors 2020 Association for Psychological Science Poster Presentation

Shaun PerishoNew Psychology faculty member, Shaun Perisho, is first author on the manuscript, Characterization of Swine Behavior and Production Using Measurements Collected via Indoor Positioning System which was accepted for publication by the Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science on November 4th, 2020. While Shaun’s primary area of study is marine mammal cognition, this particular study dealt with pig behavior and was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania using an indoor positioning system to track the location and movement of pigs as they socialize with each other in socially complex settings. Measurements were used to predict things like animal health and reproductive success (future litter size and the size of individual piglets within each litter). The research team is now working on a follow-up study investigating whether multifractal dynamics in the data set can help improve predictions.

Additionally, Shaun was a co-author on the poster, “Effects of Virtual Reality on Psychophysiological Arousal Compared to 3D Gaming” presented at the 2020 Association for Psychological Science conference.

Shaun received his PhD, Psychology in 2018 and before arriving at Skyline College he spent time as a marine mammal trainer, research assistant, and college instructor. We are excited to have Shaun Perisho as a new member of the Skyline College Psychology Department.

Article by Chris Woo