CAMPUS NEWS
Strategic Planning Website Established
Employees encouraged to share ideas on Website message board
A Website has been established for the Cañada College Strategic Planning process and employees are encouraged to visit the site to review the information and post their ideas on the message board.
The site is located at http://www.canadacollege.edu/inside/strategicplanning/. It contains demographic data of the surrounding community, information about the college, and drafts of a possible vision, mission, and goals for Cañada. The site will be updated regularly.
"I encourage everyone to post their thoughts and feelings on the drafts of the vision, mission, and goals as well as the data that is gathered and shared," said Interim President Tom Mohr. "This will be an electronic version of past 'town hall' meetings and will allow us to have a free flow of ideas. I believe this will help us progress between now and November, when Rick Voorhees returns for the second series of meetings."
Voorhees, the consultant retained by the college to help guide the strategic planning process, said it's important for employees and students to offer ideas and opinions about the school's future.
"All members of the Cañada community should feel comfortable in sharing ideas about the college's future through this forum," Voorhees said. "This site can be used to generate electronic discussion across the entire college."
Voorhees visited the college the first week of October and met with staff, faculty, students and community stakeholders.
"I was impressed with the quality of discussion about the mission of the college and expression of concerns emanating from conditions which affect the mission as it is perceived by faculty, staff and students," Mohr said. "Data both internal and external to the college has begun to arrive at a good pace and we are hopeful that ongoing analysis will elucidate our strengths and weaknesses."
Voorhees will return to campus in November and December to help facilitate the development of a vision, mission and set of goals for the college.
"It's important to me that this is an inclusive process," Mohr said. "I want everyone to have the opportunity to participate. The Website and message board should provide opportunities for people who might otherwise find it difficult to participate."
Arts & Olive Festival Ripe for Success Entering 10th Year
Despite limitations, organizers called this year's festival a success
The largest construction project in campus history and cool, damp weather may have limited this year's Arts & Olive Festival but organizers say the event was still a success and they're looking forward to next year's 10th anniversary.
"We were limited to about 50 vendors because of the construction," said festival organizer Julie Mooney. "The crowd was decent considering the weather and everyone really enjoyed themselves."
This year's festival also featured a fabric and accessories sale by the Interior Design students. The sale was a big success and money will be used for student scholarships and activities.
Last year's festival raised $10,000 for student scholarships but Linda Hayes, dean of Business and Workforce Development, said it's too early to tell how much money was raised this year. She said everyone is looking forward to next year's celebration which will feature a gala along with a one-day festival.
"It will be our tenth year which is very exciting," she said. "The festival has become a Redwood City institution. It's a fun way for people to support the college."
Hayes said the success of the Arts & Olive Festival is a result of the hours of hard work put in by students, staff, faculty and administrators who volunteer.
"Our volunteers are fabulous," she said. "They really work hard to make this a successful event. Without them, there wouldn't be an Arts & Olive Festival."
FACES OF CAÑADA
Cañada Learning Center Earns CRLA Certification
Tutors in the Learning Center receive national recognition
The highest honor for an academic tutor is to become certified by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), an honor that is now available to tutors at the Cañada College Learning Center .
The college recently learned that it received certification through the CRLA's International Tutor Program Certification. The certification process sets a standard of skills and training for tutors. Cañada is the only college in the San Mateo County Community College District certified through CRLA.
"We are extremely proud to earn certification, but more importantly it will benefit our tutors," said Rita Sabbadini, Learning Center program supervisor.
The Learning Center has approximately 30 to 40 student tutors each semester, referred by faculty, who provide academic assistance to fellow students in writing, basic mathematics, English as a Second Language, and other subjects. Mike Walsh, tutor coordinator, said tutors help students develop study strategies and time management skills as well as guide students through coursework.
"Tutors help students do their own work," Walsh said. "They don't do the work for students. For many of our developmental students, tutors teach them how to study and do homework. They provide an academic base for the student to achieve success. We rely on faculty to refer promising students as tutors and appreciate their ongoing support."
Walsh said the CRLA certification process focuses on the on-going training, practice, and evaluation of tutors.
"The certification process stresses that tutors do not fix the work of students," he said. "Instead, it encourages tutors to work with students to develop the academic skills to succeed."
"I want to commend Mike and Rita on this prestigious achievement," said Jeanne Gross, dean of academic support services. "They did an excellent job of raising the level of tutor training and evaluation, as well as documenting their good work."
In addition to enhancing their college applications with this information, Sabbadini said tutors that earn CRLA certification also find it easier to get work study jobs at four-year colleges and universities.
"Nearly all tutoring centers or learning centers at colleges and universities understand the importance of CRLA certification," she said.
Sabbadini said there are three levels of certification—regular, advanced, and master—and that Cañada has achieved regular certification. She said the college is working toward advanced certification.
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.
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS
A Major Affair
Event introduces First Year Experience students to academic offerings
The first year of college can be an intimidating experience for a student. That's why the Cañada College First Year Experience Learning Communities Program organized "A Major Affair" last week to introduce students to possible academic majors and careers.
The college's First Year Experience Learning Communities Program provides a challenging and supportive learning environment through linked classes in English, reading, math and ESL along with college success and career courses.
"Students in the First Year Experience Learning Communities Program have an opportunity to meet new friends and study together," said Kathy Sammut, an instructor in the program.
Sammut organized the 50-minute career fair for First Year Experience students to expose them to the wide range of academic offerings and possible career choices. More than 20 faculty members were on hand to explain their majors and job prospects upon graduation.
"Most of these students are exploring options and this event was designed to give them some ideas about possible majors," Sammut said. "It's important that they understand what's involved. Having the faculty there to explain the classes and what is required is very helpful."
Cañada Professor Provides Spark for Former Student
Struggling academically, Seth Roberts finds motivation in economics
Seth Roberts freely admits he was wasting his time his first year in college—until he met Cañada College Economics Professor Paul Roscelli.
"I'm not sure I would ever have finished college had I not taken my first economics class with Paul," he said. "I owe Cañada College and Paul for my success."
And Seth has been very successful. He graduated from Westchester University in Pennsylvania with a 3.87 GPA and is currently finishing his master's degree at Penn State University. He works as a social studies teacher specialist for the Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick, Maryland. As part of his job, Seth conducts county-wide mock trials, conducts the model United Nations, and observes fellow teachers to help them improve.
For the past nine years Seth has coached Urbana High School 's Fed Challenge economics team. They reached the national final four in 2005. "The team competes by answering questions about monetary policy," he said. "We go to the Federal Reserve where we are asked questions about policy. It's rewarding to listen to 10 high school students argue about monetary policy. It shows they're engaged in the subject."
Paul Roscelli said he's not surprised by Seth's success.
"Seth was always very smart but he needed challenges to keep him interested," Paul said. "We were able to challenge him academically and he flourished in the classroom. Now he's returning the favor with high school students."
Editor's Note: If you have an idea for a student feature, contact Robert Hood at ext. 3340.
CAMPUS CALENDAR
Please see the EVENTS CALENDAR on inside Cañada for the latest event listings.
Editor's Note: If you would like to submit an event to the Cañada Calendar of Events please contact Debbie Joy at ext. 3318, or use the link at the bottom of the Calendar.
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