California Community College graduation standards will be raised

Last month the largest higher education system in the United States, comprising 109 California community colleges, finalized plans to raise graduation standards for an associate degree.

The new English and mathematics requirements go into effect starting fall 2009. Students seeking an associate degree will have to either pass or place out of intermediate algebra in addition to elementary algebra. Also under the new standards, students will need to pass a freshman English composition course.

The push for increased standards came from the statewide Academic Senate. The Senate has been working on this issue for several years successfully lobbying the Board of Governors. In the most recent year for which data are available, more than 73,000 associate degrees were awarded. Statewide enrollment is approximately 2.7 million students.

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A new organization chart is available

The research and planning office has updated COM’s organizational chart. The new chart is available on the college’s Intranet listed under the President’s Office heading.

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Please help us update the staff directory

You can update your contact information for both the online and print version of the staff directory through the campus Intranet. On the far left column of the Intranet page select the “General” folder, and then select the “Employees” link. Select your name from the list and use the browser window to revise your office number and phone extension.

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Upcoming Events

The College of Marin’s Dental Assisting Program will host a bake sale on Tuesday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy some delectable baked goods with your morning coffee and help benefit a good cause. Proceeds will go to the Dental Assisting Program.

The Fine Arts Gallery is featuring a new exhibit of ceramics and drawings by Visual and Fine Arts Instructor Bill Abright titled Mask. The exhibit opens Friday, October 6, 2006 and runs through November 10. The exhibit is open to the public free of charge. Gallery hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reception for the artist will be held on October 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery. The exhibit has been designed by COM’s Fine Arts Gallery Director Andrea Antonaccio. For more information call (415) 485-9494.

The College of Marin Theatre Arts Department presents Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin. The performances will take place on October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21 at 8:00 p.m. and on October 15 and 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theater, Kentfield Campus. Admission is $15 general and $12 for students/seniors/alumni and COM employees. Box Office Hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and one hour before curtain. To reserve your tickets please call 415-485-9385. Directed by Jeffrey Bihr, this classic comedy rocketed Judy Holiday to Tony Award and Oscar stardom! 

The ASEC Emeritus Center is hosting an art exhibit featuring work by COM artists, including paintings in oil, encaustic, water color, pastel, and acrylic. At the entrances to the center you will find a list of the artists, the names of their paintings, and prices, in case you are doing your holiday shopping early this year! The center is open weekdays. A reception for the artists will be held on November 8, the last day of the show, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information contact Len Pullan, lenshir@earthlink.net.

Parent Orientation Night will be held Tuesday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Staff Lounge of the Student Services Center on the Kentfield Campus. Topics for the presentation include:  Transfer Programs, Occupational Training Programs, Associate Degrees, Student Services, and Counseling. The event features two dynamic student speakers, Michaela Sugarman and Ned Klein. Parents of new students are asked to RSVP by calling 415- 485-9431. Robert Flynn, Counselor, and Alexandra Magallanes-Rivera, Counselor, are hosting the event.

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Kudos

Bravo!  On Thursday morning, September 21, The College of Marin Music Department Faculty presented a memorable Music Faculty Department Recital in the Lefort Recital Hall. Participating in the recital were, Tara Flandreau on the violin, Paul Smith, piano and harpsichord, Boyd Jarrell, baritone, Norman Masonson, clarinet, Jessica Ivry, cello,

James Olson, trumpet, and Wayne Wallace, playing the trombone. The next Department recital will be held on Friday, October 20 at 10:00 a.m. in Lefort Recital Hall. (FA 72)

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Educational Excellence Innovation Fund Call for Submissions

You are invited to submit a proposal for an Educational Excellence Innovation Fund (EEIF) grant. The EEIF will provide seed money encouraging College of Marin’s faculty and staff to “dream out loud” by developing innovative ideas to improve teaching and learning at the College of Marin. Faculty proposals should be submitted to U.D.W.C. per Article 8.3 of the UP.M. contract by November 1, 2006 for projects to begin spring 2007. Administrators and staff must submit their proposals to the President’s Office by November 1, 2006 for projects to begin spring 2007. The EEIF is one of the Board of Trustees Annual Priorities. EEIF is partially funded by the general fund and by private funds raised by COM’s President’s Circle. EEIF funds provide opportunities for excellence in teaching, learning, institutional planning, professional development, and support for academic and culturally diverse programs and services. For more information or to request an application form, please contact the President's Office.

Together, we can make great things happen!

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

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