The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is undertaking the development of our Campus Facilities Master Plans (FMP). Please join us on Tuesday, November 2nd from 1:00-2:30pm for a virtual community meeting to learn more about this effort at Skyline College. The meetings will introduce you to the process, objectives and goals of the FMP and serve as a forum to share key findings from the initial phase of planning.

Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for questions and feedback.

Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/SKYLINEFMP

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 2 at 3:00pm, when the Human Library returns for its fifth year! If you’re not familiar, the Human Library is a virtual session – hosted by Skyline College Library – where you can enjoy a conversation with a “human book,” usually a member of our community who is interested in sharing their story.

How does it work? As a “reader,” you’ll select one or two human books to “check out,” usually for 25 minutes at a time, and have a conversation together on Zoom (facilitated by the Library). It’s an opportunity to ask questions about their lives and the stories they have chosen to share, and receive honest answers in return.

The Human Library provides a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and learn about their experiences – particularly people who have felt the sting of prejudice, stigma, and marginalization.

Any member of our community is welcome to participate as a “reader.” Beginning October 25, you may sign up for one or two 25 minute courageous conversations here: bit.ly/SelectABook

You’ll find all of our previous books described in the Human Book Archive: guides.skylinecollege.edu/TheHumanLibrary/bookarchive

We encourage instructors to consider offering credit for student participation. Please contact Pia Walawalkar, Equity & Outreach Librarian, with questions: <walawalkars@smccd.edu>

Last but not least: the Human Library is a popular event. Don’t forget to sign up beginning October 25 to reserve your “human book(s).” We’ll see you November 2!

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

SAGA at Skyline College, in collaboration with the Intercultural Center, is organizing our annual National Coming Out Day event this Monday, 10/25 from 4PM – 5:30PM.

We will have panelists (consisting of Skyline College faculty, students, and community members) who are sharing their coming out stories from the intersection of gender, sexual, and racial/ethnic identities across various generations. Additionally, we are inviting community members from CSM SZA (Safe Zone Alliance) and Canada College Student Life to make this a District-wide collaboration event.

Through this event, we want to increase the visibility of the LGBTQI+ communities on campus, connect and strengthen our support system and celebrate the unique stories that people will bring to the table.

Registration: https://smccd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd-qtqTMqH9X9UOpV_l8Lvp1nVrKmVzAm

Please contact Allen Ocampo, at ocampoallen@smccd.edu if you have any questions.

Article by Allen Ocampo

On Thursday, October 7, 2021, six student-researchers shared their experiences doing research in a first-time, hyflex program with five student-researchers–Amanda Sayaseng, Brendan Murtagh, Faith Valencia, Jiries Kaileh, Madeleine McSwain available in person, on campus–and student-researcher Shannon Hoang available online through Zoom.

 

Honors Transfer Program Faculty Coordinator Janice Sapigao welcomed everyone to the event, with close to 20 people attending in person and 20 people attending online. The event started with all students, professional staff, and faculty at the event engaging in a getting-to-know-you icebreaker led by fellow event co-organizers, Chemistry Professor Susanne Schubert and Professor Librarian Pia Walawalkar. After familiarizing ourselves with the space, as most of us were on-campus together either for the first time ever or after a long time away, we transitioned to the student panel.

The panelists primarily consisted of students in various stages of the research process, with some in their first or second years of the Honors Transfer Program. Five out of the six students are in the Next Enriched Xenon Observatory (nEXO) Program, of which Skyline College is the only community college participant.

 

The student-researchers answered questions about how they first got started in research, how they found faculty-mentors, how they overcame initial self-doubt, how feasible it was to start research projects while taking on regular coursework, and how to find resources for support. Student Juries Kaileh said he didn’t know he could ask for help with his research, but once he did, his research got easier. Madeleine McSwain said that finding the right resources has helped her figure out how to keep going. Shannon Hoang shared, “Most of the challenges I have faced was a lack of monetary resources. I strongly believe that the technology needed to fix climate issues already exists but the money made from bigger corporations  is of higher value in this country. In order to make strides in the STEM industry, we must place the health of the people to a much higher level than it is now.” All of the students mentioned and expressed gratitude to their faculty-mentors who supported them throughout the duration of various research projects.

 

Student Faith Valencia said that she got started in research after her Professor, Erinn Struss, reached out to her about the Honors Transfer Program. From there, she joined the program and enrolled in Interdisciplinary Studies 105 (IDST 105), the Honors Research Seminar, and she realized that she wanted to learn more about something she’s really interested in: fashion. She ended up doing a creative research project on how Japanese fashion evolved from the 1800s to the twenty-first century.

 

Anyone who would like to be involved with the Honors Transfer Program can find more information on our website.

 

We will be hosting another event featuring professional researchers at various stages of their careers. The hyflex event will take place on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on-campus in the Skyline College Library, and on Zoom. You can register here.

 

Article by Janice Sapigao

Photos by Marisa Thigpen

The end of the year is just around the corner. The BAEC team is preparing local businesses owners with skills and tools they can use in 2022.

From a basic “How To Use Zoom For Your Business” workshop to a more intermediate level financial workshop, “How To Understand Your Business Costs” – all five workshops are tailored for the everyday business owners.

Three of the workshops will be led by guest speakers. One of them is a past micro-grant winner. Each guest speaker brings a new source of knowledge for business owners.

• Tax Law Updates 2021 hosted by Tiffany Razo
• Understanding Your Business Costs hosted by Nicholas Deinzer
• Reducing Your Business’ Carbon Footprint hosted by Gabrielle Hildebrand

We invite you to attend our workshops by RSVPing on Eventbrite.

The Bay Area Entrepreneur Center is a hub of resources for anyone looking to start and grow their business idea.  Skyline College students, faculty, and staff are welcome to book a business coaching session or attend a workshop!

Questions? Interest? Contact us at baec@smccd.edu, 650-738-7994, or visit us at skylinebaec.org.

 

Article by Nicole Moreno-Deinzer

This year our District’s three Dream Centers and the Skyline College Dream Center Task Force have teamed up to present our 5th Annual Undocu-Week taking place (mostly) virtually this Monday, October 18 through Friday, October 22. This year’s timely theme is Change in Action.

 

The week’s events aim to celebrate achievements, answer questions, raise awareness about SMCCD’s undocumented students, and most importantly, to grow and inspire our community to action!

 

Included are a series of virtual events including our “homegrown” live and virtual activities, important webinars from the CCC, and a free AB540 20th anniversary conference hosted by the non-profit organization Immigrants Rising.

 

All members of our Skyline College community are welcome to attend a mixer, stop by Wednesday’s Dream Center/FIRE Club booth at College Hour, join a book club, get up to date legal information related to our undocumented community, visit the Library’s Undocu-Week display, and join Game Night activities.

 

Finally, don’t miss Friday’s keynote speaker, San Francisco based FilipinX author Lysley Tenorio at 10am. You may know Tenorio from Monstress: Stories. About his debut novel, The Son of Good Fortune, he explains:

 

“There’s a part of me that wants to believe that the majority of Americans have a lot of empathy for undocumented young people and are more willing to welcome them than a lot of the news would suggest… If I’m fortunate enough to have this book fall into the hands of someone who may not normally pick it up, I hope that it shows them another perspective and maybe even persuades them to look at things another way.” – San Diego Tribune, July 4, 2020

 

You can also show your solidarity by downloading an Undocu-Week zoom background and contributing to the week’s padlet.

 

Registration information, links, and all you need to participate is here!  https://bit.ly/UNDOCUWEEKINFOSITE

 

Questions? Please contact Paola Mora Paredes, (650) 574-6120 or Chad Thompson.

 

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp

On September 24, 2021, Skyline College’s International Student Program (ISP) went for a walking tour of Chinatown, the North Beach neighborhood, and Telegraph Hill/Coit Tower in San Francisco. The eighteen students who attended the event had the opportunity to meet, talk, and get to know each other in person. Something especially important since Skyline College is primarily online due to the ongoing pandemic.

 

Fortunately, despite the utterly temperamental weather of San Francisco, it was a beautiful day. The tour stopped at a variety of locations including, the beautiful Dragon Gate at the southern entrance of Chinatown and the Saints Peter and Paul Church, a Catholic institution located in North Beach, a traditionally Italian neighborhood.

 

Thais Aoyama, an international student from Brazil and one of the ISP’s student ambassadors, said her favorite part was the fortune cookie factory, “We were able to try fresh ones. It was really warm.” On the other hand, Win Mar Oo, an international student from Myanmar, preferred climbing to the top of Coit Tower, “I can feel nature, [and] see the ocean and the city view from there.”

 

Throughout the tour Clair Yeo-Sugajski, Interim Program Services Coordinator, talked about the city and its history. She shared how San Francisco’s financial district was built on ships originally used in the gold rush and how the corner of Post and Montgomery Street, where the tour met, used to be underwater (today it is at the heart of San Francisco’s downtown).

 

Furthermore, everyone noted the tour was decidedly social. Michelle Amaral, Interim Retention Specialist, said people were shy starting out. However, gradually everyone began happily talking to one another. Win said, “meeting new friends in person, taking pictures together…it was so much fun.”

 

It wasn’t always easy; they had to take frequent rests while walking up onerous stairs to get to the top of Telegraph Hill, where Coit Tower is located. However, even after that, according to Thais, “everyone was talking, having fun, laughing.”

 

Overall, students got to meet new people, see new places, and walk up a new set of stairs. The ISP is thoroughly grateful to all the students who came and helped make it a truly wonderful event!

 

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If you are interested in learning more about future ISP programs and events, contact the ISP office at skyinternational@smccd.edu

 

Article by Evelyn Rossi

How may we assist you in landing your dream job? Whether you’re interested in short- or long-term career planning, the Career Readiness & Job Placement team offers a variety of services and career readiness experiences to assist you with your specific career needs. If you want to work with a Job Placement Coordinator, please fill out this brief welcome form and someone will contact you soon to schedule an appointment!

 

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_10-15-2021
• Business, Entrepreneurship & Management Jobs_10-15-2021
• Science Technology Health Jobs_10-15-2021
• Society Education Jobs_10-15-2021
• Just In Time Jobs_10-15-2021

How may we assist you in landing your dream job? Whether you’re interested in short- or long-term career planning, the Career Readiness & Job Placement team offers a variety of services and career readiness experiences to assist you with your specific career needs. If you want to work with a Job Placement Coordinator, please fill out this brief welcome form and someone will contact you soon to schedule an appointment!

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_10-15-2021
• Science Technology Health Internships_10-15-2021

The Poetry Corner Series of virtual readings and discussions is pleased to celebrate “Non-English Poetry” on Thursday, November 18, at 4:30pm. Students are welcome to bring one poem (self-written or a favorite) in a non-English language and then read a translation of the poem in English. If you have questions or would like to contribute as a reader, please contact Pia Walawalkar, Equity & Outreach Librarian. <walawalkars@smccd.edu>.

For more information, please visit: bit.ly/skylinepoetry

Register here: bit.ly/skypoetryRSVP

The Poetry Corner Series is hosted by Skyline College Library and supported by a President’s Innovation Fund (PIF) award.

Article by Jessica Silver-Sharp