Kentfield Campus
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The modernization program is in full swing and as you can see from the information in your packets, work is underway at both IVC and KTD. The Diamond PE Center modernization is on schedule with a completion date of early summer. The New Main Building and Transportation Technology Complex modernization projects at IVC have started construction. Both projects are expected to take a little more than a year to complete. Designs for Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and the Science/Math Complex (KTD) were submitted to the Division of State Architects in the fall and are expected to be approved before the end of spring semester. Watch for construction to start by summer. Because the Gateway Complex project will not receive state funding, the District will consider alternative approaches to this project during the next few months. And, for a building that is not scheduled to be modernized by using bond dollars, what about the LRC? Have you seen it? We’re proud we could use appropriate resources to improve the look and feel of the LRC. Check it out, if you haven’t done so already. Other information regarding swing space and infrastructure projects is located in your packet under the Measure C Bond Modernization Program. Many of you have read or heard about the achievement gap in California. Students graduating from high school often come to our colleges under-prepared to do college work. The alarm was sounded last spring when data was released showing that twenty-four percent of incoming freshmen would not stay in school long enough to graduate. At the Sacramento State Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, director Nancy Shulock describes in her 2006 study “State of Decline?” that seventy-six percent of students who enter California community colleges do not complete their education within six years. According to the Basic Skills Initiative (BSI) statewide data, about fifty percent of all community college freshmen will drop out of college within one year and current assessment placements across the state indicate that the majority of all new freshmen are under-prepared for college-level math and English. The co-chairs of our BSI grant will provide updates on our work here at COM shortly, but suffice it to say, the problem for all California community colleges continues to grow, as we try to train and educate students for the workforce and a global economy. These facts are real yet dismal, and provide a great challenge to all who educate and work to achieve student success. We’re improving quality, effectiveness, and accountability at COM with the culmination of our Educational Master Plan and Strategic Plan. We have a new Integrated Planning Process Model that will ensure the goals of EMP and Strategic plans are funded and implemented. I want to take this opportunity to thank those who attended an all-day workshop on October 24 to develop and formulate the Integrated Planning Process Draft. State Budget Picture As you know, the country is facing the worst economic crisis in the history of the nation. In California, the governor and legislature are working to close a potential $41+ billion budget gap and will soon make decisions that will affect us this year and next year. In his proposals, Governor Schwarzenegger recognizes California’s community colleges as the safety net for job training and higher education in California. With unemployment currently at 8.4 percent and expected to rise to 9.4 percent by 2010, keeping the doors open to community colleges is essential for California’s economic recovery. Nonetheless, the governor’s budget proposes funding growth for categorical programs, including EOPS, CARE, DSPS, Matriculation, and Student Financial Aid Administration. The governor’s proposal eliminates the statutory cost-of-living adjustment in the 2008/09 and 2009/10 fiscal year. In other reports, the Department of Finance recommends taking property tax dollars away from basic aid districts and giving the dollars to K-12. In this scenario, basic aid districts would get backfill dollars from Proposition 98. However, the worry is that, over time, these dollars would decline at the urging of other general apportionment districts, which would argue that basic aid districts should not receive more state dollars than others. In short, the Proposition 98 backfill is not a welcome alternative if the legislature decides to take away basic aid dollars because, over time, basic aid districts would become the same as all other general apportionment districts and would receive the same allocation per FTES (which is about fifty-one percent less than what we receive now based on our basic aid status). So we may be lucky in some respects, but we are also vulnerable at this time. We are working with the other basic aid districts and recently joined South Orange and Mira Costa by hiring a lobbyist, who is advocating on behalf of all the basic aid districts. We are also in touch with our legislative delegation about these matters and will keep the college community abreast of our budget status. National News Is Better With the inauguration just days away, we see an Obama administration making an historic commitment at the same time the country is experiencing record deficits. There is acknowledgement in Washington D.C. that community colleges play a crucial role in preparing workers to become competitive in our evolving global economy. According to business leaders, the U.S. will need one million additional workers with highly technical skills and many of these students will be first generation college age students or students from low-income and minority groups. Although Congress must approve the stimulus package, billions of dollars for community colleges are at stake. The nation’s community colleges are included in President Obama’s stimulus package and the Obama administration is working with Congress to establish a block grant that would commit approximately $80 billion in new money to help stabilize state and local education budgets. About $20 billion in additional aid would also be provided to states and localities for school construction projects (such as the CSU, UC and community colleges which rely on such state funding), with public colleges sharing in the construction funds. The biggest increase for higher education would be through Pell Grants. As now drafted, a bill would accelerate a planned $500 increase in the annual grant program for low-income students. The new level would be $5,231 and the estimated cost, about $15 billion over two years. From a national perspective, at least there is some hope and promise. Only time will tell, but the Obama administration is on the hook for years to come, with the real hope being that he is able to sustain the promises. COMmitment This spring semester we’re starting our self-study work for the comprehensive accreditation visit scheduled for fall 2010. Many of you will be invited to join in the work of the self-study. Fall 2010 seems like a long time away, but early planning has begun and you will be kept informed on our progress. Finally, the COM commitment is clear. We have to be the bridge for students who want to improve their quality of life through the attainment of educational success. We want all students to be successful at COM. We want our students to dream, learn, and achieve. That is the COM commitment. And I thank you all for what you do to help the commitment become a reality. Welcome WeekCollege of Marin will host its spring 2009 Welcome Week January. 20, 21, and 22 in the Learning Center quad area. Hours of the event are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Faculty, staff, and local business sponsors will participate in the event. Sponsors include: Marin Independent Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Cingular Wireless, Sprint, 24 Hour Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Comcast, Blue Cross, Allstate, KMEL, chiropractors from the community, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Jamba Juice, Marin Education Fund, and many wonderful art and jewelry vendors. Armond Phillips will serve as COM’s Interim Dean of Student DevelopmentThis week COM welcomes Armond Phillips as interim dean of Student Development replacing Nick Chang who is now serving as interim vice president of Student Learning. Armond brings many years of professional expertise to this position. He served as the vice president of Academic Affairs and chief instructional officer at Solano Community College from 1992 to 2002, where he also served as vice president of Student Services from 1987 to 1992, chief district negotiator, from 1984 to 1990, and division chair of Counseling from 1980 to 1987. Armond earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from San Jose State University, a Master of Arts degree in Education/Counseling Psychology from San Diego State University, a certificate in Public Sector Labor/Management Relations from UC Davis, and a credential in Secondary Education from CSU Hayward. Welcome aboard, Armond! Keynote Speaker selected for 2009 CommencementRobert Haro, a Mexican American scholar, activist, retired professor and university executive, has been selected to give the keynote commencement speech this year. Haro’s executive career includes service at the University of California, California State University, State University of New York, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California. He earned a bachelor’s degree and two advanced degrees at UC Berkeley. His doctorate is in Higher Education Administration and American Studies. Haro received tenure at three universities and became an assistant chancellor at the UC, Berkeley. Later he led the team that planned and developed the new California State University campus at Monterey Bay. Haro was also a consultant for the U.S. Interagency Committee for Mexican Affairs and director of research for the U.S. President’s Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People. He attended the Harvard Institute for Educational Management and was both an American Council on Education fellow and a senior fellow with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Haro was appointed a senior scholar with the Mexican and American Solidarity Foundation and was a visiting scholar to Cuba. He serves as a senior scholar with the Hispanic Leadership Institute at Arizona University and is a consultant for the Greenlining Institute. The 2009 commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 23 at the Quad Area near the Harlan Center and Fine Arts. Educational Master PlanThe entire Educational Master Plan was sent to you Tuesday, January 13, 2009 via the college email system. (A copy of this material is also available in the library on the Kentfield campus in addition to being posted in the mailrooms on both campuses.) The Education Planning Committee requests your review and comments by Monday, February 2, 2009 since your feedback is very valuable to the College in regards to this project. (During this review cycle, representatives of the Education Planning Committee will also formally present the draft plan to the senates for feedback and conceptual approval. The goal is to approve this plan in time for our March 15 interim report to WASC. With that deadline in mind, the final document will be presented to the Board of Trustees at their February 17 meeting.) Your time and efforts are appreciated. Construction NotificationMuch construction has happened on the Kentfield campus since the beginning of the holiday break. Several open trenches are now blocking critical pedestrian paths requiring detours that will change daily for the next several weeks. These trenches can be found throughout the west half of the campus and in Parking Lot 6 south of the pedestrian bridge over Corte Madera Creek. The contractors for these projects have strict instructions to clearly mark detours and paths of travel around their work zones. Staff, faculty, and students can contribute to the safe completion of this work by being extra careful in the vicinity of yellow construction tape and other signs of construction, by following detour signs, and by staying clear of fenced and marked-off areas. Speaking of which… The design for this project has been completed and submitted to the Division of the State Architect for their approval. The Board of Trustees will be asked January 20 for final approval. Bidding for this work will start as soon as both approvals are received. Construction is expected to last into early 2011. Questions and comments about ongoing modernization work may be directed to Elizabeth Bornstein in the Swinerton office, (415) 884-3139. Mailroom will be closed for a few hours for carpet installation New carpet will be installed this week in the mailroom and the customer service area of Reprographics. The installation will take place between Tuesday, January 27 and Thursday, Jan. 29 during which time the areas will be inaccessible for several hours. Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve the LRC. Mileage Reimbursement RateThe District mileage reimbursement rate, effective January 1, 2009, is 55 cents per mile. KudosDental Assisting adds a smile to the Smile Train Poetry Reading featuring Kay Ryan Bright future for Swim Team Night of Giving On her way to Washington Upcoming West Cost Premier of Jackie O!College of Marin Performing Arts Department presents the West Coast Premier of Jackie O! at 7:30 p.m. on February 28, March 6 and 13; and at 2 p.m. on March 8 and 15 in the Fine Arts Theatre. The performance is a 90-minute chamber opera in two acts composed by Michael Daughtery to a libretto by Wayne Koestenbaum. The production will be directed by James Dunn with musical direction by Paul Smith and choreography by Sandra Tanner. Tickets are $20 for general and $15 for students, seniors, COM staff, and alumni. For more information, please send an e-mail. Community Clay Sculpture ExhibitCome and view a survey of works by local community college instructors January 20 through February 19, 2009 in the Fine Arts Gallery. Exhibit has been curated by Bill Abright and Andrea Antonaccio. Reception for the artists will be held January. 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Artists featured include:
International Film FestivalCollege of Marin Modern Languages department presents the 2nd Annual College of Marin International Film Festival, featuring films that represent the various foreign languages taught at the college. The following features, which are FREE and open to the community, will be shown 7 p.m. on Fridays in Olney Hall 96. For more information, go to www.marin.edu.
COM AthleticsThe College of Marin Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Team is looking for additional tram members. Get in great shape while you have fun. No experience necessary! Sign up for PE 183. Contact Head Coach Warren Lager. Athletics Away Schedule for the Week of January 19: Results:
Women’s Basketball
Welcome back and have a great week! Frances L. White, Ph.D.
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College of Marin is one of 112 public community colleges in California and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Approximately 10,000 credit and noncredit students enroll each fall and spring semester. Classes also are offered during the summer.
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For any member of the community seeking accommodations for the disabled, please contact (415) 485-9340. College of Marin students seeking academic adjustments should contact (415) 485-9406.