CAMPUS NEWS

Nancy Renkiewicz Named Interim Dean of Humanities

Renkiewicz served as a Dean at both Mission College and in the Los Rios District

Nancy Renkiewicz, a career professional in education, has been named Interim Dean of the Humanities Division. Renkiewicz started Monday, Oct. 3.

Renkiewicz served as President of TransPacific Hawaii College, an accredited private junior college located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and most recently served as a consultant to the college, helping with accreditation and research studies.

From 1986 to 1994, Renkiewicz served as the Chief Instructional Officer at Mission College in Santa Clara. From 1978 to 1986 she worked as the Dean of Community Education, Outreach, and Research and Development and Director of Instruction for the Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento.

Renkiewicz also worked as an English Instructor at Shasta College.

"Nancy brings extensive experience as a community college administrator," said Interim President Tom Mohr. "In addition, she has worked in the Bay Area and is very familiar with the California Community College System."

Mohr said it is important to have a veteran community college administrator work closely with personnel in the Humanities Division during this period of transition.

"In company with faculty and classified representatives of the Humanities Division, we're moving forward with the process of finding a permanent Dean," Mohr said. 

College Prepares Plan to Grow Enrollment by 4.5 percent

Marilyn McBride delivers draft report to College Council

The college is preparing to add new programs, offer more classes, retain current students at a higher rate, and significantly increase outreach efforts in order to grow enrollment by 4.5 percent over the next two years.

The District Office has asked each college to submit a plan for enrollment growth. Marilyn McBride, vice president for instruction, told the College Council in September that increasing enrollment by 4.5 percent over the next four semesters can be done.

"The reality is, the District is now enrollment driven and we have to find ways to grow our enrollment at Cañada," McBride said. "The goal will be to increase the total FTES by 4.5 percent in the 2006-07 academic year, with continued growth into the next academic years. That means adding approximately 160 full time students."

The District Office has earmarked $1.5 million to be distributed district-wide to help fund enrollment growth initiatives at the three colleges. Each college will submit a plan to the District's Budget Committee.

Cañada's plan, unveiled at the College Council meeting, includes four major components. They are:

• Schedule growth - The college has increased the size of the Fall and Spring semesters. Deans have identified classes that traditionally fill early in the registration process and have added new sections to meet student demand. In addition to the classes, tutors will be needed in the Learning Center to assist students.
• Program growth - Deans are actively researching new programs that can serve the community and draw potential students to campus. Cañada has a small number of workforce programs and McBride said that will be the focus of program growth, along with expansion of the transfer program. She said the college will identify at least one new program, develop the curriculum, identify internship opportunities, and offer classes by Fall of 2006. Programs under consideration include Biotechnology Technician; Dialysis Technician; Video Game Design; and Engineering Technology.
• Retention strategies - In addition to recruiting new students, McBride said the college can increase enrollment by doing a better job of retaining current students. To do that, the college is considering adding additional sections of First Year Experience Learning Communities; additional counseling hours; targeting students at academic risk and providing appropriate intervention; additional tutoring; convening student focus groups to solicit ideas; and adding psychological services to assist students who might be at risk of dropping out because of situations in their personal lives.
• Outreach - A more comprehensive outreach strategy will be developed to reach students at the seven high schools within the college's service area. The college currently has only one person assigned to outreach at the local high schools. Adding personnel, increasing the number of Student Ambassadors, having high school students "shadow" current students, and increasing the number of campus tours, and having college faculty meet with high school faculty are all strategies being considered.

"We're currently growing and we're on a good target," McBride told members of the College Council. "Adding new English, reading, math, and science classes will help us grow. It's not going to be easy but I think we can reach our goal."

Process Begins on Self-Assessment Study for Accreditation

Alicia Aguirre and Marilyn McBride will spearhead the college's effort

The college is beginning an 18-month process to examine its practices in advance of a Fall 2007 site visit by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The commission is part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, one of six regional associations that accredit public and private schools, colleges and universities in the United States.

Alicia Aguirre, ESL professor, and Marilyn McBride, vice president of instruction, have been selected to lead the college's accreditation effort. McBride spoke to the College Council in September about the upcoming process.

McBride said an all-college meeting will be held in October to discuss the process. A steering committee will be formed and could begin meeting at the end of the month. "We're working to bring a member of the accrediting commission to speak to the campus community," she said. "Our goal is to be fully prepared for this process."

"This semester is a time to prepare," McBride said. "We need to put things in place. The planning process must be more formal than it has been in the past. We need to discuss how the college will move forward with the accrediting process. For everyone on campus, it's not a matter of if you'll participate, but how you'll participate."

The commission will look at four standards, McBride said. They include:

• Institutional mission and effectiveness - The commission will examine whether the college demonstrates a strong commitment to a mission that emphasizes achievement of student learning and how it communicates the mission both internally and externally.
• Student support services - The commission will examine whether the college offers high-quality instructional programs, student support services, and library and learning support services that facilitate and demonstrate the achievement of stated student learning outcomes.
• Resources - How effectively does the college use its human, physical, technology, and financial resources to achieve its broad educational purposes, including stated student learning outcomes, and to improve institutional effectiveness?
• Leadership and governance - Does the college recognize and utilize the contributions of leadership throughout the organization for continuous improvement of the institution? The commission will examine whether governance roles are designed to facilitate decisions that support student learning programs and services and improve institutional effectiveness, while acknowledging the designated responsibilities of the governing board and the chief administrator.

McBride said several themes run through the standards including institutional commitments; evaluation, planning, and improvement; student learning outcomes; organization; dialogue; and institutional integrity.

A Pattern for Success: Local Alumni of the Cañada College Fashion Design Program Give Back by Participating in the School's Annual Design Sale

The 14th Annual Artistry in Fashion Show Will be Held Oct. 22 at Cañada College 

As a former clothing buyer for Nordstroms, Redwood City 's Dayna Marr understood the type of fashions that would appeal to consumers. But when she left her job at the upscale department store to start her own line of clothing she realized she needed help.

Marr turned to the Cañada College Fashion Design Program. She took several classes and learned how to create patterns. Marr now owns Pickled Clothing, a boutique in Redwood City where she sells her own line of clothing in addition to items she finds at designer shows.

"The program was a big help to me," Marr said. "I had the business experience but I needed some hands-on experience in design."

Marr and other alumni give back to the program by attending the college's annual design sale and student fashion show. There they discover exciting local designers, some who are former students who sell their own work.

The 14 th annual Artistry in Fashion Designer Sale & Student Fashion Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22 on campus. The designer sale will take place in the student activity center while the fashion show will take stage at 1 p.m. in the main theater. The event is open to the public. A $6 donation is requested to fund scholarships for students in the Cañada College Fashion Design Department. More information about the event is available at www.artistryinfashion.com.

"We have a large number of students who graduate from the program and go on to become local designers or open boutiques in this area," said Ronda Chaney, the program's director and fashion design professor. "The Bay Area is one of the largest apparel manufacturing centers in the United States and the fashion industry is the second largest employer in California . Our program is one of the largest workforce development programs at the college."

When Sunnyvale 's Cedide Olcay lost her job as a computer programmer at the Valley Transportation Authority and decided to go into business for herself as a designer she turned to Cañada College to learn how to produce clothing that was marketable.

"I was already designing clothes," said Olcay, a Turkish immigrant. "I was utilizing a medley of techniques such as hand-knitting, crocheting as well as making my own fabric by felting wool to make women's shawls and garments but my designs were avant-garde and not focused. It wasn't marketable to a large audience, at least in my immediate market; therefore I needed to reorganize my designs for a focused and targeted audience. In the classes I took at Cañada we visited retail stores, manufacturers, sales representatives and other people in the business who revealed how the fashion industry works and how to market products you could sell."

Olcay is now selling her merchandise at a number of boutiques through a sales representative. She will also have her products at this year's designer sale.

"It's a chance to deal directly with the consumers," Olcay said. "They give you immediate feedback."

Victoria Bracha owns a women's apparel store in Los Altos where she sells her own line of clothing. VB Bracha, said she saw a lot of students who were at a turning point in their lives when they enrolled in the design classes at Cañada.

"When I registered for class I wasn't sure what I wanted to do," she said. "I wanted to design clothes but I wasn't sure how to do that. I had a bachelor's degree in business so I knew I could handle that end but I didn't know much about sewing and making patterns."

Bracha said the first time she sold her products at the college's design sale it didn't go so well because she did not sell as much as she had hoped.

"I was ill-prepared," she said. "I didn't understand the market. Thankfully Ronda was very encouraging and she taught me how ideas can be turned into a functional piece of clothing that can be sold. I find the direct feedback from consumers at the sale very important. It is an opportunity for me to use the event as a test market for new designs."

Chaney said alumni support for the program and the annual designer sale and student fashion show is important.

"It reaffirms in our minds that what we are doing is providing our students with the education necessary for them to succeed in the design business," Chaney said. "When our alumni come back to participate in the designer show it helps fund scholarships for our new students. It's an important aspect of our program."

Theater Arts Department to Hold Fundraiser Oct. 6

Silent auction will be held at O.K. Magueys in Redwood City

An exclusive evening of entertainment and hors d'oeuvres will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 6 at O.K. Magueys, 2616 Broadway, in Redwood City to benefit the Cañada College Theater Arts Department.

The benefit is sponsored by Capital Mortgage Lending, The Spectrum Magazine, and O.K. Magueys. A silent auction will be held featuring the works of artist David Garibaldi, Custom Designs by D.D. Jewelers.

For more information contact Lourdes Carini at 650-306-2700 or lacarini@capmortgagelending.com. Donation checks may also be made directly to the SMCCCD Foundation.

Project READ's Trivia Bee Set for Friday, Oct. 14

All proceeds benefit Redwood City Project READ

Redwood City Friends of Literacy and Cañada College will host Project READ's 16 th annual Trivia Bee at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14 in the Main Theater.

The cost to attend is $25 with checks payable to Redwood City Friends of Literacy-Project Read. More information is available at www.triviabee.org.

Project READ is the award-winning volunteer-based literacy program of the Redwood City Public Library which provides free literacy services to adults and families. The Trivia Bee is designed to promote literacy awareness and raise funds to support Project READ's mission of a literate community by 2020.

The Hors d'oeuvre Extravaganza begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center followed by the Trivia Bee.

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FACES OF CAÑADA

Pam Jones Removes "Adjunct" From Her Title

Pam Jones has been teaching in the Radiologic Technology Program since the late 1970s but it wasn't until this fall that the college finally removed the word "adjunct" from her title. Jones began substitute teaching at Cañada before she became an adjunct in 1988, teaching spring, summer, and fall semesters.

"I love teaching and I love the community college concept," Jones said. "The mix of vocational and academic programs offered by community colleges meets the immediate needs of people. Students can choose to pursue an education to better their job skills or they can go on to earn a bachelor's degree."

Jones first became interested in the allied health professions as a freshman in high school. "It was practical," she said. "I reasoned that people will always be sick so I would always have a job."

Her friends and family tried to convince her to go into teaching but Jones said she was never interested in teaching younger students. She did some substituting at Cañada in the mid-70s and became hooked.

Jones lives in east Menlo Park , an area served by the college. That connection helps make her professional life more meaningful, she said.

"It's easy to feel good about the work we do at the college," Jones said.

Nancy Wolford Named Faculty Advisor of the Year by ASID

Nancy Wolford, professor of interior design, was named Faculty Advisor of the Year by the American Society of Interior Designers during the ASID Chapter Leadership Conference held in Vancouver, B.C., in July. More than 250 faculty advisors were nominated for the award.

The award recognizes the dedication and insightfulness of an outstanding ASID student chapter faculty advisory. Wolford was nominated by Agnes Moser, Cañada College Student ASID Chapter President.

"I was completely surprised," Wolford said. "The students had nominated me unbeknownst to me."

The award letter from the national society cited Wolford for placing the highest priority on the well being of Cañada College interior design students and student ASID members. It also commended her on keeping communication open and transparent.

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

Forum to Focus on Careers in Fighting Cancer

Speakers include Vice President of Varian Medical Systems

Dr. Lester Boeh, vice president of Varian Medical Systems, will be one of three featured speakers at the "Careers in Fighting Cancer" workshop scheduled for 12:30 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Building 3, Room 142.

The workshop will cover the exploration of clinical, research, and technology-related careers in fighting cancer. It is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the Pre-Med Club, and MESA . It is free and open to all students.

The speakers include Boeh, Dr. Bob Ignoffo of the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center , and an oncology nurse. Each speaker will discuss jobs available in their field, the salaries, hours, education and training needed, and tips for how to enter the profession.

"We're very excited about this workshop," said Linda Haley, PTK advisor. "This is a great opportunity for any student considering a career in oncology or the biomedical field."

ASCC Raises $1,000 for Hurricane Relief

The Associated Students of Cañada College hosted a fundraiser in September for hurricane relief. The event featured a live radio broadcast, free pizza and sodas, and a raffle. The money raised through the raffle was sent to the American Association of Community Colleges to help community college students in Mississippi and Louisiana.

 

 

Theater Arts Presents Two One-Act Comedies

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5

The Cañada College Theater Arts Department proudly presents two hilarious one-act comedies: For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls by Christopher Durang and Babel's in Arms by David Ives. Both comedies will be directed by Linda Hoy.

Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5 in the Flex Theater. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $9 for staff and seniors, and $5 for all students. Tickets can be reserved by calling (650) 306-3396.

"People who attend these plays will be shocked and they'll laugh," said Kyla Gibboney, who plays a business woman in the Babel's in Arms production. ""It's totally over-the-top in a non-stop, short play."

Gibboney, who spent two years at Pomona College before transferring to Cañada, said attending the college productions is a great way to attend live theater without having to spend too much money.

"You can support your fellow students and it's fun," she said.

Josh Bryant, a second-year student at Cañada, plays the oldest son in the production of For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls . He also performed in The Peace last year.

"It's nice to have a creative outlet," Bryant said. "Performing in the college theater gives you a chance to meet new friends and become involved. When we get together it's a lot of fun. We're like a big family."

Babel's in Arms centers around two blue-collar Mesopotamian construction workers who are given a provocative task: Build the Tower of Babel - or else. How many stones does it take to get to heaven, anyway?

For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls is a parody of the Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie. In this version Amanda is frustrated with her over-sensitive, hypochondriac son named Lawrence who refuses to leave the house or get a job. When Lawrence 's brother Tom brings home a "feminine caller" from the warehouse, hilarity ensues.

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 on insideCañada 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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