Over 150 community members attended the First Annual President’s Circle Breakfast

On Tuesday, May 2nd, over 150 community members joined me for COM’s First Annual President's Circle Fundraising Breakfast. Proceeds from the event will benefit the COM Educational Excellence Innovation Fund (EEIF). The donations are still coming in and will be announced in an upcoming Briefing.

Guests included Wendy Freifeld, District Chief of Staff for Representative Lynn Woolsey; Marin County Supervisors Cynthia Murray and Charles McGlashen; Judge Faye D'Opal; City Council Members Carole Dillon-Knutson, Amy Belser, and Joan Lundstrom; School Superintendent Mary Jane Burke; MMWD Board President Jared Huffman; Pacific Sun Publisher Sam Chapman; Elberta Erikson; Dietrich Stroeh; Bob Griswold; Dennis Gilardi; Grace Hughes; and Bill Levinson among others.

The event was hosted by members of the President's Circle. Members of COM’s winning baseball team were on hand to welcome guests. The Master of Ceremonies was Hoyt  Smith, KDFC Radio Announcer and College of Marin alumnus, Mario Lopez, Keynote Speaker, COM alumnus and University of California Davis Student; Marty Rubino, Chair, President’s Circle and Executive VP, Vineyard Bank. Live music was provided by Harley White and Jerry Grosz.  A video featuring the wonderful accomplishments of this year’s EEIF recipients was one of the highlights of the event. Thank you to all who attended.

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College of Marin gets a new URL: www.marin.edu goes live!

You can now reach COM’s website by pointing your browser to www.marin.edu. Many California community colleges have adopted the abbreviated  .edu. designation, because it is easier for end users to remember.

The www.marin.cc.ca.us will continue to work seamlessly for the next six months. This means that anyone who has bookmarked COM’s website will be able to use either address. After six months, those accessing the site using www.marin.cc.ca.us will receive a notification that they are being redirected to the new address.

Both your current and new email addresses (firstname.lastname@marin.edu and firstname.lastname@marin.cc.ca.us) will work for the next six months. At that time, those who send email messages to firstname.lastname@marin.cc.ca.us will receive a return notification requesting that they resend the email to firstname.lastname@marin.edu. This will give you ample time to notify your address book list and to change information in publications and documents (such as business cards).

If you use campus email from home, you can now access your account at https://mailx.marin.edu as well as https://mailx.marin.cc.ca.us.

If you receive your email using a POP3 account, you will have to change your mail client settings before receiving email at your_name@marin.edu. To receive email using your new address, you need to change your incoming and outgoing SMTP settings from mail.marin.cc.ca.us to mail.marin.edu. 

Many thanks to the IT group and specifically Jeff Peck for implementing the domain name change. 

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KUDOS

Carla Zilbersmith, Chair of Performing Arts and Coordinator of Drama, will be appearing in Los Angeles this summer in a one-woman musical titled Wedding Singer Blues.  The show will preview on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8 and will open on Friday, June 9 at the Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd. in West Hollywood and run for most of the summer. For more information visit www.weddingsingerblues.com.

Last week, the winning College of Marin baseball team traveled to Napa College, the only team to beat COM in the last 15 games, and beat them 20-6. Congratulations again to Coach Steve Berringer. Playoffs begin this Saturday. Go Mariners!

For a group of College of Marin jewelry students and their instructor, next month marks an exciting opportunity to showcase the fruits of their labor in a very public forum. The students’ works have been selected for a juried jewelry design show. COM Instructor Michael Chaille and four of his advanced students will be exhibiting collections of handcrafted wearable art at the Serendipity Fine Arts and Crafts Show at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, May 27 and 28.

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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about COM’s accreditation status

When will COM be taken off warning status?

COM likely will remain on warning through 2006. While WASC recognizes the significant advances we have made in all areas, the Commission is taking a wait and see attitude to verify that our changes are permanent.  WASC must see these plans in action over time to know that we have institutionalized the new structures, policies, and practices that we are in the process of implementing. Finalizing our Educational Master Plan is a key accomplishment that WASC will be watching for closely. 

What is COM doing to meet WASC’s recommendations and be removed from warning status?

WASC required COM to comply with five recommendations.  We have complied with three and are progressing according to WASC’s timeline on the remaining two.  Our completed work includes conducting an actuarial study to determine our liability for the future costs of retirees, adopting a new governance structure for participatory decision making, and reviewing our mission, vision and values statements. 

The new shared governance system promotes respectful dialogue, clearly defines shared commitment, and outlines the roles and responsibilities of all constituent groups for participation in informed decision-making processes.  All strategic planning components related to the Mission Statement will be subjected to on-going analyses as they are integrated with key institutional effectiveness measures, College of Marin goals, and our Educational Master Plan. Additional areas of emphasis will include budget and resource planning, technology planning, communications and marketing planning, facilities bond modernization planning, and student services planning.

We continue to make significant progress on the remaining two WASC recommendations: improving institutional planning procedures and developing student learning outcomes.  WASC has responded positively to our efforts to develop effective institutional planning.  Redefining COM’s mission, establishing an effective participatory decision-making system, and instituting a new organizational structure that includes an office of organizational development together have laid the foundation to create a process that will inform and direct all of the College’s activities and resource allocations. In addition, the Faculty Senate curriculum committee is working diligently to develop a process that will measure and improve student learning outcomes. 

Where can I learn more about COM’s accreditation and WASC?

Copies of WASC’s report and its communications to the College, as well as the College’s progress reports and self-study, are available at the College of Marin library.  The library is located in the Learning Resource Center on the Kentfield campus.  WASC can be found on the web at http://www.wascweb.org.

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COM Students Elect New Student Government Representatives

About 200 students participated in last week's student government election. The new representatives are Kelea Sandfort, Student Trustee; Hoa-Long Tam, ASCOM President; Inna Shapiro, Treasurer; Brian Latady, Secretary; Pam Scoggins, Director of Student Activities; Felix Sargent, Director of Technology Activities; Renee Sayles, Director of Public Relations; and Pia Oestlien, State Student Senate Rep.

In addition to electing new representatives, students voted to approve an initiative stipulating that no person shall serve more than two one-year terms in any ASCOM Board position and that no board member may serve more than three one-year terms on the ASCOM board. Students also voted to increase the Voluntary Student Representation fee from $1.00 to $3.00 per semester.

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Going green on college campuses

Rising oil prices, global warming, and declining natural resources are just some of the reasons that more college campuses across the country are exploring green initiatives. You can read more about these projects online, using the links listed below. 

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California State University, Chico Opens Sustainability House CSU, Chico recently held a grand opening for a CSU, Chico Sustainability House.  The house, a retrofitted residence hall, houses 16 students and has been equipped with energy-saving appliances, electronics and lighting. The residents will also use sustainable living products, such as bath care, kitchen supplies and cleaning supplies. 

http://www.csuchico.edu/pa/news/Spring%202006/4.14.2006.shtml

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Ithaca College Awards Mini-Grants for Sustainability Curriculum Development Ithaca College has awarded 28 mini-grants of $1,000 to support curriculum development initiatives in the area of sustainability.  The grants will support work conducted during the summer of 2006.  Awardees are required to take part in two half-day workshops on Teaching Sustainability across the Curriculum.  The goal of the program is to provide incentives for faculty to develop new courses or modify curriculum in existing courses to include considerations of sustainability.
http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/sallen/Sustainability/summer_proposal.html

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Student Project at Lane Community College Reduces Water Consumption A student-led initiative at Lane Community College is expected to reduce a building's water consumption by about one-third.  The students worked with the campus plumber to install aerators on all of the buildings faucets.  The aerators restrict the flow of water to 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm), down from an average of 2.2 gpm before installing the aerators. 

http://www.lanecc.edu/torch/issues/Spring2006/Apr2706/index.html

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New York Times Columnist Calls for Campuses to go Climate Neutral In a recent New York Times article, columnist Thomas Friedman called for campuses to become climate neutral.  “Why doesn't every college make it a goal to become carbon-neutral - that is, reduce its net CO2 emissions to zero?” he asked.  “This should be a national movement. After all, today's students will be profoundly affected by climate change, the coming energy wars and the rising danger of petro-authoritarian states, such as Iran.”  Friedman then encouraged students to “take over your administration building, occupy your university president’s office or storm in on the next meeting of your college's board of trustees until they agree to make your school carbon-neutral.”
http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/207

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/opinion/l26friedman.html

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Upcoming events

Fine Arts Spring Student Exhibition

Date:      Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12

Time:      9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Place:     Art Gallery, Fine Arts Building, Kentfield Campus

Fee:        Free Admission

For more information about this exhibit, please call the Art Gallery at 415-485-9494 or the Art office at 415-485-9480.

Drama Dept. presents Improv Fest - AWOL (Actors without Lines) with Special Guests

Date:      Thursday, May 11, 2006

Time:      7 p.m.

Place:     Studio Theatre, Kentfield Campus

Fee:        $15 gen/$12 students & seniors

For ticket information call the Box Office, 415-485-9385.

Drama Dept. presents Improv Fest - Unscripted Theatre Company

Date:      Friday, May 12, 2006

Time:      7 p.m.

Place:  Studio Theatre, Kentfield Campus

Fee:        $15 gen/$12 students & seniors

For more information call the Drama Office at 415-485-9555.

Drama Dept. Presents Improv Fest - True Fiction Magazine

Date:      Saturday, May 13, 2006

Time:      8 p.m.

Place:     Studio Theatre

Fee:        $15 gen/$12 students & seniors

For more information call the Drama Office at 415-485-9555.

Music Dept. presents Community Chorus Concert

Date:      Saturday, May 13, 2006

Time:      8 p.m.

Place:     Fine Arts Theatre

Fee:        $15 general admission, $10 for students, seniors and alumni

The 100 voice Community Chorus, under the direction of Boyd Jarrell, presents cantatas from the late Renaissance, featuring the works by Gabrieli, Carissimi's “Jephtha,” and Purcell's “Come Ye Sons of Art"” with guest soloists and orchestra featuring the Renaissance period instrument wind band, the Whole Noyse. Call 415-485-9687 for reservations.

Drama Dept. Presents Improv Fest - True Fiction Magazine

Date:      Saturday, May 13, 2006

Time:      8 p.m.

Place:     Studio Theatre

Fee:        $15 gen/$12 students & seniors

For ticket information call the Box Office , 415-485-9385.

Charles Meacham Tribute Concert

Date:      Sunday, May 14, 2006

Time:      4 p.m.

Place:     College of Marin Fine Arts Theater, Kentfield

Fee:        $20 donation benefits COM Charles Meacham String Scholarship

The College of Marin is proud to honor Charles Meacham, now 86 and mostly in retirement, with a tribute concert on Sunday, May 14th. The event will benefit the establishment of a string scholarship in his name, at the college where he taught for so many years.  A number of his former students, now professional violinists, will travel across the U.S. to perform at this event.  The former students and professional colleagues will join together to present an enjoyable afternoon of chamber music, featuring violinists Rhonda Bingham Frascotti, Mark Jordan, and Eden Vaning Rosen. For more information, contact Tara Flandreau at 415-485-9576, tara.flandreau@marin.cc.ca.us.

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Commencement 2006

Date:      Friday, May 26, 2006

Time:      7 p.m.

Place:     Physical Education Center, Kentfield Campus

Faculty and students participating in commencement should arrive at 6 pm. The Commencement Marshal is David Rollison. Sym Van der Ryn will be this year’s speaker. If you need more information, please call the Student Affairs Office, (415) 485-9376 or visit web page: http://www.marin.edu.

Have a great week!

Frances L. White, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President

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