CAMPUS NEWS

Group Counseling/Registration Model to Help New and Continuing Students

Group counseling and registration will shorten the wait time to see a counselor.

Cañada College is moving to a group counseling and registration model for Spring 2010 that is expected to reduce the amount of time it takes to see a counselor and provide more resources for new students who have questions about signing up for classes.

"Because of state budget cuts, students across California are frustrated with the amount of time it takes to see a counselor," said Peter Barbatis, vice president of student services at Cañada. "We are implementing a new counseling and registration model to address that frustration. Our goal is to make it more convenient for students to see a counselor and have their questions answered regarding scheduling." While Cañada’s new student enrollment has increased by 15 percent this fall, its counseling staff has been reduced by 66 percent. “We cannot sustain the level of individualized service offered to new students in the past.”

Barbatis said the goal of the new model is to help counselors focus on the continuing students and organize new students into uniform groups so that a team of counselors and student peers can provide them with consistent information and help them use on-line scheduling tools and services. "As continuing students near graduation or transfer, they have specific questions that need to be addressed by one-on-one sessions with counselors," Barbatis said. "New students, on the other hand, need help registering for classes. We can help them faster in group sessions led by a counselor with student peers available to assist them with on-line tools."

For the new student, after placement testing is completed, they will be advised of their placement in math, English, or ESL. In addition, based on the number of college units they have achieved, a determination will be made as to whether the student will proceed to group counseling, or to a one-on-one counseling session. Beginning Nov. 19, a series of group counseling sessions are scheduled for new students. More sessions will take place Jan. 4-18 and, if needed, additional sessions will be added. Immediately following the placement test, students are directed to the front desk to sign up for those sessions designated by their English or ESL placement. The only exception to this are the evening and Saturday testers who will sign up online. Directions on how to do this are printed on the reverse of the matriculation ticket.

To evaluate the new group counseling sessions, data will be collected to compare the Spring 2009 and 2010 average waiting times for continuing students. In addition, new students will be surveyed to be sure they were served satisfactorily. “New students will still see counselors but they will do so in groups and peer counselors can help them with the process of class registration,” Barbatis said. “We no longer have the resources we once had so we have to look at new models for serving our students.” Based on current data, Cañada could see approximately 600 new students enrolling this spring. Realizing that more than half of those students will be registering in January, it was imperative to have a model in place to begin serving them.

 "Our primary goal is to better serve students," Barbatis said.

Transfer Parade Exposes ESL Students to Career, Academic Opportunities

Students indicate a strong interest  in computer information, accounting and fashion design.

This year’s English-as-a-Second Language Transfer Discipline Parade introduced 165 ESL students to a variety of opportunities when they finish their ESL studies. The ESL department began the Transfer Discipline Parade in 2007 to introduce ESL students to the different career and academic opportunities at the college.

Faculty, administrators and support staff from all divisions and departments present their programs to the students. They provide information regarding classes, career opportunities, certificate and transfer opportunities and contact information. This year, students were introduced to the new Honors Program at the college. They also learned how they could complete their ESL studies and go on to study nursing, accounting, science, math, and multimedia. ESL students indicated that computer information, English, accounting and fashion design were the majors of interest to them.

Recycle Your Electronics and Raise Money for Scholarships

Bring your old electronics to the E-Waste event on Jan. 15.

Did you know that nearly 70 percent of heavy metals in landfills comes from electronic waste? Cañada College is organizing a free electronic waste recycling event that not only helps the environment but will raise money for the school's Science & Technology Scholarship Fund. The more electronic waste the college recycles, the more money it will make for scholarships.

Bring your old computers, desktops, laptops, PDAs, mice, keyboards, monitors and televisions, printers, copiers, fax machines, stereos, radios, telephones, cell phones, VCRs, DVD players and more to the college on Friday, Jan. 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and help Cañada College educate tomorrow's leaders.

Stravinsky's Firebird to be Performed by the Redwood Symphony

Concert will be held Dec. 5 in the Main Theater.

The Redwood Symphony will perform Stravinsky’s Firebird on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. in the Main Theater. The performance will also include Rossini’s Semiramide Overture and Nino Rota’s Trombone Concerto with Garo Gagliano on trombone.

“Stravinsky's seminal piece instantly made him a star,” said Music Director Eric Kujawsky. “This is an opportunity to experience the rarely-heard full-length original version. Rossini’s romantic overture is the perfect foil to the drama of Nino Rota's concerto. A pre-concert lecture will be held at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $20 in advance. Staff, faculty and students at the college are admitted free.

Peninsula Cantare Holiday Concert Set For Dec. 13

"Starry Night" is a shining array of music about night and stars.

Peninsula Cantare offers a shining array of music about night and stars. As the sun descends through Hugo Alfvén’s Evening, Brahms’ O Schöne Nacht and Abendlied, you will be immersed in a “heaven full of stars” in the Three Nocturnes by Dan Forrest. Written in 2008, this lush and evocative piece is scored for percussion ensemble. Music for the Holiday season sparkles with John Rutter’s Star Carol, William Dawson’s Behold the Star, Poulenc’s Videntes Stellam and other starry gems by Mendelssohn, Tallis, Dello Joio and local composer Brian Holmes.

 The concert will be held in the Main Theater on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. General admission is $20, students and seniors $15. Cañada students are admitted free. For more information go to www.peninsulacantare.org or call 650-593-4287.

It's Holiday Gift Basket Time

Gift baskets will help support student scholarships.

Cañada College classified staff are again selling holiday gift baskets to raise money for student scholarships. This year 19 gift baskets have been donated to help students defer the cost of college. Jose Romero, EOPS Services Program Coordinator, is helping to organize this year’s fundraiser. This is one of the most successful fundraisers of the year. Gift baskets are annually donated from Cañada staff and faculty, and personnel at the District Office. Gift basket themes this year include a "Think Green" basket, a Margarita basket, a Coach basket, a “movie night” basket, dinner for two, and a basket for pet lovers. Click here to see a full list, photos and contents of the baskets. Contact Romero at Ext. 3465 to donate a basket or buy raffle tickets. The gift baskets are on display in the Bookstore.

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FACES OF CAÑADA

Jeanette Medina Honored for Her Teaching

American Chemical Society Presents Medina With First "Teacher-Scholar Award for Community College Faculty"

Tom Lane, the National President of the American Chemical Society came to California in November to present Chemistry Professor Jeanette Medina with the first Teacher-Scholar Award for Community College Faculty.

Lane came to campus and talked with students before presenting Medina with the award at the ACS Santa Clara Chapter Meeting on Thursday, November 19th. During his visit, Lane has asked to tour the new chemistry labs at the college, meet young chemistry students, and see first-hand how Jeanette adds value to the program through her teaching techniques. Medina is being honored as the top community college chemistry teacher in the country. Jeanette will receive a $500 honorarium with another $500 for the department.

El Zócalo Club Prepares Altar for Dia de los Muertos

Students make sugar skulls and other decorations for the altar.

A new club with a Latin American theme by the name of El Zócalo put together the altar in the cafeteria to continue the Dia de los Muertos tradition and to honor the women in Juarez, Mexico who have been murdered for over 10 years. The President of the club, Alfonso Malagón, added to the altar a written description of the club and the situation in Juarez.

 As part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the college, students participated in making sugar skulls for the college altar. The event was sponsored by the ASCC. Sugar skulls are traditionally used in the altars honoring the deceased. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.

Editor's Note: If you have ideas for the Faces of Cañada section of the online newsletter, please contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340 or by e-mail at hoodr@smccd.edu.

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SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS

National Science Foundation Scholars Honored at Ceremony

There are 21 students who have received scholarships to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics through the National Science Foundation Grant.

A special ceremony was held in October to recognize the 21 students who have received scholarships through the National Science Foundation Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics grant.

Cañada College’s Mathematics, Science and Engineering Transfer Scholarships (M-SETS) program will provide 140 scholarship awards to academically talented, financially needy students working to transfer to a four-year university to complete an undergraduate degree in an engineering, math or science major. M-SETS awards will be offered for up to three years of full-time academic study at Cañada College and in the first semester that a student transfers to a four-year university.

The scholarship program will provide a unique opportunity for low-income students to focus full-time on their studies and fully benefit from a support system provided through Cañada College’s Math, Engineering & Science Achievement (MESA) Program. MESA aims to increase student success by providing tutoring, Academic Excellence Workshops and peer mentoring as well as STEM-related student clubs and professional speaker panels. Students are engaged in leadership development, scientific seminars, and field trips to industry and four-year universities. This is a great opportunity for students to focus primarily on academics without having to worry about finding a part-time job.

Fall Dance Performance Takes to the Stage on Friday, Dec. 11

Student performance will feature jazz, salsa, ballroom, ballet and modern styles.

The annual Cañada College fall dance performance will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theater. This is annually one of the more popular student performances. Director Ana Miladinova will lead the students through a show that features jazz, salsa, ballroom, ballet and modern styles. This year's show is titled "Cañada Dance Motion". The show is open to the public and a $5 donation helps fund dance programs at the college. For more information, contact Miladinova at (650) 306-3147.

Student Forum to Discuss Budget Cuts

President Mohr will facilitate a discussion for students.

A special budget forum will be held Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. in Building 2, Room 10 to give students an opportunity to hear about proposed budget reductions for the 2010-11 academic year. The forum will be facilitated by Cañada College President Tom Mohr. "We want to provide as much information as we can to our students and answer questions about the budget," Mohr said. The college is facing a budget cut of more than $1 million due to reductions in education funding by the State of California.

Women's Golf Team Finishes Second at NorCal Championships

Colts participated in state championship in Bakersfield.

The Cañada College women's golf team was one of four teams to advance to this year’s California Community Colleges State Golf Championships. Palomar, Bakersfield, Sacramento and Cañada played for the state championship in November at Kings Country Club in Hanford. The Colts finished fourth at the state tournament.

The Colts finished second in the Northern California championships, with Gardenia Latu's two-day total of 162 leading the way. Latu shot 79 in the first round and 83 in the second round, good enough for fifth place and medalist status. Second best for Cañada was Courtney Jamieson, who shot 170 to finish 10th. This is the second consecutive year that the Colts have reached the post-season.

Editor's Note: If you have an idea for a student feature, contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340.

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Please see the EVENTS CALENDAR for the latest event listings.

Editor's Note: If you would like to submit an event to the Cañada Calendar of Events please contact Robert Hood at hoodr@smccd.edu.