The International Student Program (ISP) at Skyline College held their virtual End-of-Year Celebration on Thursday, May 13^th. Dean of Social Sciences and Creative Arts Danni Redding Lapuz opened the event with her congratulations followed by a heartfelt speech from the College President Dr. Melissa Moreno and a video message from the Dean of Global Learning Programs and Services Dr. Russell Waldon. In attendance were the Vice President of Administrative Services Eloisa Briones, the Vice President of Student Services Dr. Newin Orante, Provost of International Education Dr. Jing Luan, and Director of International Education Diane Arguijo. Transferring and graduating international students, continuing international students, staff, and faculty members across the district joined in the celebration. Some of the students were zooming in from China, Japan and Indonesia.

The event featured a musical performance from Ayumi Asayama, current international student from Japan, singing and playing, “Isn’t she lovely” on her keyboard. We heard emotional and inspirational speeches from Professor Felicia Mazzi and Professor Danielle Powell speaking about turning passion into purpose and honoring all of our ISP students.

Entertainment included a Kahoot trivia of “Guess that Building.”  The International Student Club also hosted a photo competition where ISP students showcased their photos and participants voted for the best pictures. Students whose photos were picked won Skyline College gear.

ISP’s transfers are headed off to schools such as UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC Riverside, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University and CSU Chico. Some students are transferring to out of state universities and private institutions with scholarships. A job well done!

Thank you to all faculty and staff members for working with international students and keeping them connected to the Skyline College community during the pandemic.

All are still welcome to share their congratulatory messages on our padlet, https://padlet.com/skylinecollegeisp/ISPENDOFYEAR21

Congratulations ISP students on your journey to success!

 

Article by Michelle Amaral

The Associated Students of Skyline College (ASSC), the Skyline College Classified Senate, and the Skyline College Academic Senate recognize our diverse family and wish to show support to our many students and colleagues with heritage or community and family ties to the nation of India. India is struggling amid a devastating second wave of COVID-19 as well as the effects of a destructive hurricane. Please consider donating to Save Lives, Save India via the charity Vibha. Any amount will help us reach our $1000 goal, so please give as generously as you are able.  To donate, visit  bit.ly/skylinesaveindia or go to our donation page at https://campaigns.vibha.org/campaigns/vibha-a-ray-of-light/skylinecollege.

Article by Leigh Anne Shaw

In its first year, the EAC Educational Technology Program provided free software and training to students at Skyline College and across the district. Even during the campus closures, approximately 80 students have participated in this program so far.

Here’s what one student has to say about technology that is supported by the EdTech Program:

“As classes went online I have found it hard to stay focused for long periods of time, so if I miss information I can go on Otter to not only listen to my notes but see them transcribed. … If I start to fall behind in the notes I can see them transcribed in real-time to catch up. Otter has overall made me better at studying and taking notes.”

In addition to providing access to premium software such as Otter.ai and Glean Audio Note Taker, the EAC EdTech Program President’s Innovation Grant has also supported the development of training materials for free dictation, text-to-speech, and mind mapping software and services. Over the summer, these trainings will be available via a free, public Canvas course.

Use tinyurl.com/SkylineEACtech to access the EAC Tech Workshop modules – and please share this link with your students.

To learn more about the program, please contact Kim Saccio-Kent, our AT Specialist.

Article by Kim Saccio-Kent

Student Artists Reflect Themselves in the 21^st Annual Skyline College Juried Student Art Exhibition

Through the unbounded joy and unspeakable tragedies of the last year, Skyline College students continued to create art that was integral to who they are. On May 1^st the Skyline College Art Gallery opened an online exhibition of students’ artwork in various media of visual arts; including ceramics and sculpture, digital art, drawing, mixed media, painting, and photography. The exhibition honors those student artists who made the choice to continue to create in the midst of a global pandemic intensified by political divide and economic disparity; and bravely shared their personal work with the world.

You will find the 21^st Annual Skyline College Juried Student Art Exhibition at:  http://www.skylinecollegegallery.art/

 

The Virtual Gallery

Student works are featured in an online salon style art gallery webpage arranged by Skyline College Art Gallery Coordinator Amir Esfahani and gallery student Banaz Sinjary.

Art can be viewed in a 3D virtual gallery or in web format grouped by media category.

 

Best in Show Awards

Every year the Skyline College Art Gallery gives awards to a select group of students who excel in a particular medium. The exhibition highlights these student’s excellent work.

Eighty-five total entries from student artists enrolled at Skyline College were submitted to the exhibition and from those entries, judges selected a Best in Show in each medium. Six exemplary art pieces were selected as Best in Show.

 

The Best in Show Artists:

 Ceramics and Sculpture:  Laura Ketley, Ritual

 Digital Arts:  Darius Kyu, Winter

Drawing:  Yu Huang, Virgo

 Mixed Media:  Jasmine Espinoza, They Mattered

 Painting:  Sweta Thapa Sen, Untitled

 Photography:  Emily McHugh, Untitled

 

2021 Student Exhibition Jurors

Thank you to our faculty jurors, who selected the artwork receiving special recognition. They considered the artists’ voice, as well as, aesthetics, technique, and student engagement to make their selections. We thank them for the engaged and thoughtful attention they brought to our students’ work.

 

Skyline College Art Gallery

Skyline College’s Art Gallery is an artistic venue with programming that reflects the cultural diversity of the Skyline College community.

Follow Us:

https://www.facebook.com/skygallery/

https://www.instagram.com/skylinecollegeartgallery/

 

21^st Annual Skyline College Juried Student Art Exhibition will be open until July 1^st.

Article by Chris Burwell-Woo
Image by Jasmine Espinoza

If you know of a small business in need of support, we have resources for them!  The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center of Skyline College (BAEC) has relaunched the Micro Grants initiative as part of the Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program (SBRAP).  This program support businesses as they recover from the financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Micro Grants of $7000, each are available and applications are now open and the deadline to apply is May 31^st. In addition to direct funding, the SBRAP provides local and small businesses with one-on-one coaching, valuable resources and business tools to help them navigate the changing economic climate, and we provide intentional support for their various stages of reopening.  To learn how the BAEC may assist you or a business you know of, contact baec@smccd.edu.

 

The Small Business Recovery & Assistance Program is made possible with grant funding from the San Bruno Community Foundation.

 

Article by Pcyeta Stroud

Image by Nicole Moreno-Deinzer

The Skyline College Drive-Thru Community Market has distributed over 1.2 million pounds of free groceries since we launched in September 2020, but we couldn’t do it without student volunteer support. Help us recruit volunteers by sharing these details with your students!

Why: Of course, volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, but it is also a great way to get exercise while also safely spending time with friends and family in the fresh air.

Who: We are recruiting students, but we encourage you to forward this information to anyone who might be interested. We welcome small groups, and volunteers can pick up free groceries as well!

When: Every Wednesday, 10:00am-1:00pm. We are currently recruiting volunteers for May, June, July, and August.

Where: Volunteers enter Skyline College through the Sharp Park Rd entrance and follow signs to Parking Lot J.

How: Volunteers must pre-register here. Sign up for one event or for the whole summer.

Duties: Distributing groceries, traffic flow, or registering families (Spanish speakers are definitely needed and appreciated).

Safety: Volunteers must wear gloves (provided by the District), masks (provided by the volunteer) and maintain safe social distancing. Participants will remain in their vehicles.

There are additional details on the sign up link, but If you have any questions contact skylinesparkpoint@smccd.edu. Thank you so much for your support!

Article by Chad Thompson

As the hub for justice system impacted students at Skyline College, Project Change is opening doors, removing barriers, and creating community for students.  While connecting students to the many amazing Skyline College programs, resources, and opportunities; program staff discovered record clearance or clean slate services was another resource need. As a result, Project Change offered its first Record Clearance Day on Wednesday, April 21^st with individual appointments available during the day for students interested in connecting with community clean slate services.

To further understanding of record clearance at Skyline College, Project Change hosted a Record Clearance Professional Development Workshop at the Thursday, April 22^nd, FLEX Day Event for faculty and staff.  UCLA Law School graduate and San Jose State University Record Clearance Project Director, Margaret “Peggy” Stevenson, J.D. presented the impact of record clearance options and the current climate for clean slate services. Peggy described how record clearance options can impact such areas as employment (including occupational licensing), housing, immigration, and student loans while describing the ever evolving but overall positive California climate for clean slate services.

In 2018 there were nearly half a million people on parole and probation in California, and more who had completed their probation or parole. With more than 50 occupational licensing boards and bureaus in California, existing licensing barriers impact formerly incarcerated students’ choices in academic majors and career fields. Record clearance is one way to potentially impact a justice system impacted student’s future.

Good news, if students missed Record Clearance Day, it is not too late! Skyline College Project Change recently partnered with the statewide community college Rising Scholars Network supporting justice system impacted students, to offer ongoing clean slate services. The goal of the program is to deliver free clean slate services and help students get the relief possible from the consequences of past justice system involvement.  Students should contact John Skovgaard and Chris Woo at skyprojectchange@smccd.edu to request clean slate/record clearance services.

Article by Chris Burwell-Woo

The Skyline College Strategic Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee (SPARC) met on Thursday, May 13, 2021 for the last meeting of the academic year.

Vice Presidents Newin Orante, Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza and Eloisa Briones and Dean Rolin Moe co-presented the proposed expenditure plan for the federal HEERF II (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds) institutional support funds. The plan encompasses several areas including student services support, technology investments, and instructional initiatives.

Additional details can be found here.

Along with Paul Cassidy, Finance and Operations Manager, Tri-chair Briones presented the district Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, noting that the impacts of the COLA on the college site allocation has not yet been determined by the District. The Adopted Budget will account for these adjustments during the summer.  Please see link here.  The committee voted to recommend the proposed FY21-22 status quo Tentative Budget to the College Governance Council.

Tri-chair Academic Senate Leigh Anne Shaw provided updates by the Participatory Governance Task Force. As part of an effort to reclassify committee work to reflect their functions more accurately moving forward, committees may be recategorized as a work-group or a task force.

The Committee expressed appreciation and well wishes to both Tri-chair Briones who will be retiring in December and Tri-chair Shaw who will be on sabbatical next year.

Vote to recommend to CGC that the recommendations of the CPR Redesign Task Force be accepted and implemented.

The next SPARC meeting will be held on August 26, 2021 from 2:10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For additional information, please see https://skylinecollege.edu/sparc/.

Article by Judy Hutchinson