Progress Report Submitted to ACCJCOn March 18, 2009, College of Marin submitted its progress report covering spring 2008 to the present to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The report addressed the implementation of an institutional planning process. It provided evidence of College of Marin’s development of a sustained and systematic process for ongoing assessment and research. It also addressed the long-range and short-term objectives and priorities that are linked to resource allocation as well as the implementation of a program discontinuance policy. The complete report can be found online at http://www.marin.edu/com/ODP/Accreditation.htm . For additional information please contact Dr. Bernie Blackman at (415) 485-9545 or by e-mail.

College for KidsOn Tuesday, March 24, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., College of Marin’s Office of Outreach and School Relations in cooperation with the Marin Education Fund will host the College for Kids program. Approximately 36 Bayside Elementary School third and fourth graders and their chaperones are expected to attend.

Serving students in elementary and middle schools, Marin Education Fund's College for Kids program provides access to Bay Area college campuses. In partnership with College of Marin and local school districts, young prospective students will be introduced to college programs and services. Additionally, the program provides families and educators with the resources they need to nurture the aspirations of young students so that they may effectively continue their education from elementary school to college.

Submit Changes to the Student HandbookThe Student Affairs office is currently updating the Student Handbook. If your department has any last minute changes please submit them to Vickie Lamke in the Student Affairs Office, Student Services Building, Room 250, by March 26, 2009. Please contact Vickie for more information at        (415) 485-7376 or by e-mail.

Construction NotificationParking Lots 11, 12, and 13 will be closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 27 to 29, 2009, due to the PE Photovoltaic construction project. The contractor will be painting the photovoltaic umbrellas and will take all actions necessary to create and maintain a clean environment while work is in progress.

Please note that painting cannot occur if it is raining. Parking lots will be reopened if the weather prevents work from taking place.
MSDS sheets are available for review at the Swinerton office. Please contact Swinerton Management & Consulting at (415) 884-3139 with any questions or concerns.

Kudos

COM Professor Invited to Tour with Kitka Part-time Music Professor Jessica Ivry is a member of the Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble, whose productions are dedicated to developing new audiences for music rooted in Eastern European women’s vocal traditions. Jessica, who has been a member of the COM music faculty since 2006, has been invited to tour with Kitka to play in the vocal-theater work, The Rusalka Cycle: Songs Between the Worlds in late April. Venues where the group will perform include: the Globalize International Festival and WDR German National Radio Broadcast in Cologne, Germany; Giving Voice Festival in Wroclaw, Poland; and Kiev Mohlanka Theatre Academy in Kiev, Ukraine. Jessica also plays the cello as a freelance musician in the Bay Area. Congratulations, Jessica, and best wishes for a safe journey!

Personnel Actions from the March 17, 2009, Board MeetingKaren Pratt, Administrative Assistant, has submitted her letter of resignation for retirement purposes effective close of business March 26, 2009.

With Deepest SympathyOur colleague Brian Chi, I.T. Department Technician, lost his wife, Lee Tang Chi, on Friday, March 20, 2009, following a brief, but valiant battle with leukemia. Lee is survived by Brian and their three young children, Scherina, Alicia, and Nathan.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 25, at 5 p.m., at the Ashley & McMullen Funeral Home located at 4200 Geary Blvd. in San Francisco. Donations may be made to the Lee Tang Chi Memorial Fund through the College of Marin Foundation. For more information please contact Margaret Elliot at (415) 485-9382 or by e-mail.

Upcoming

Re:BirthYou are invited to view a juried group exhibition by College of Marin students through April 19, 2009. A reception for the artists will be held Thursday, March 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery, Kentfield Campus.

Annual Spring Dance ConcertCollege of Marin Dance Department presents The Next Step April 3, 4, 10, and 11, 2009, at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. The program will feature guest artists, trainees from the San Francisco Ballet School Trainee Program, with choreography by the College of Marin dance faculty and production design by e “Ernie” Ernstrom. The production is a feast for the eyes and ears with modern ballet, jazz, and hip-hop pieces set to music by leading composers such as Philip Glass and Zoe Keating.

Tickets are $15 general; $10 for students, seniors, COM employees and alumni and are available through the College of Marin Box Office at (415) 485-9385. The event is supported in part by the College of Marin Foundation, Dancer’s Guild, and the Saragay Stetson Memorial Dance Fund. For more information contact Kristi Kuhn at (415) 457-8811 ext. 7734 or by e-mail.

Green FestivalThe Green Festival hosted by the Associated Students College of Marin (ASCOM) will be held on Tuesday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Learning Center Quad. There will be live music, green information booths, natural foods and products, and more. Come learn and enjoy!

Ongoing

Coping with Disruptive Persons & Workplace Safety Workshop: A Staff Development Activity for COM Faculty and Staff This workshop will be presented by Officer Dan Widger of our Campus Police Department. The material is based on Dan’s 30 years of law enforcement experience and training, as well as input from several other police officers and college staff. Faculty may use this activity to fulfill Flex hours. The workshop is open to all College of Marin employees. No pre-registration is required. The workshop will include the following:

• Recognizing disruptive persons, students, non-students, and employees;
• Who to contact for assistance;
• The quickest and safest ways to get emergency assistance from police, fire, and medical personnel;
• Strategies employees can use to lower the risk of assault and other violence and how to calm the disruptive person; and
• Information on updated Board Policies and Administrative Procedures related to safety.

Participants who have handled incidents with disruptive persons will be encouraged to share their experiences--what worked and what didn’t. The presentation will take 60 to 90 minutes depending on class participation. The last 30 minutes will be set aside for specific questions and problem solving.

The workshop will be repeated several times to ensure that as many faculty and staff as possible have the opportunity to attend. The workshop can also be repeated for your group upon request. Please contact Kathleen Kirkpatrick at (415) 485-9344 opr by e-mail to schedule additional sessions.

Workshop Schedule
(Each workshop covers the same material.)

Date: Monday, April 13 (Spring Break)
Times: 10 a.m. to noon
or 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (attend either session)
Location: LC 39

Also, you are invited to join the College of Marin Police Department from noon to 1 p.m. for an informal brown bag lunch and discussion.
The workshop is cosponsored by the College of Marin Police Department and the Staff Development Office.

International Film FestivalThe College of Marin Modern Languages Department second annual International Film Festival is winding down. Don’t miss the last two opportunities to view films featuring foreign languages taught at the college. Admission is FREE and open to the community. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. in Olney Hall 96.

March 27 Sweet Nothing in my Ear (2008), American Sign Language
April 3 Machuca (2004), Spanish

COM AthleticsAthletics Home Schedule for the Week of March 23:
Baseball vs. Yuba College
Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 2:30 p.m. in Kentfield

Baseball vs. Los Medanos College
Saturday, March 28, 2009, 1 p.m. in Kentfield

Athletics Away Schedule for the Week of March 23:
Baseball vs. Mendocino
Thursday, March 26, 2009, 2:30 p.m. in Ukiah

Swimming & Diving Solano Invitational
Saturday, March 28, 2009, all day in Fairfield

Track & Field Bob Rush Invitational
Thursday, March 26, 2009, 10 a.m. in San Mataeo

Results:
Baseball
March 17, 2009 Solano 20, COM 17
March 19, 2009 COM 8, Contra Costa 0

Track & Field
March 18, 2009 vs. College of San Mateo
Ryan Gallagher took first place in the 200-meter dash, 23.62 seconds; second place in the high jump 5-10; and third place in the 100, 11.47.
Emil Tolliver took second place in the 100, 11.41; and third place in the 200, 23.90.
Alex Embusch ran the 200, 24.87 and the 400, 53.60.
Diane Ascher took seventh place in the women’s javelin (41-6) improving her personal best by eight feet.

Have a great week!

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

President's Monday Briefing webpage
Technical Contact: Nicole Cruz, Admin. Assist., 415-485-9648   x7648
Content Responsible: Cathy Summa-Wolfe, Dir. of Communications & Community Relations, 415-485-9528