President’s Weekly Briefing - September 22, 2011
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Kudos Kay Ryan Awarded MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant  Earlier this week, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 22 new MacArthur Fellows for 2011, including our former colleague, U.S. Poet Laureate, and Basic Skills Instructor Kay Ryan! The recipients learned, through a phone call out of the blue from the Foundation, that they will each receive $500,000 in no-strings-attached support over the next five years. MacArthur Fellowships come without stipulations or reporting requirements and offer Fellows unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore. The unusual level of independence afforded to Fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavors. The work of MacArthur Fellows knows neither boundaries nor the constraints of age, place, and endeavor. Congratulations, Kay, and thank you for your continuing advocacy of community colleges and the importance of Basic Skills education.
ASCOM Approves Funding for Textbook Loan Program Kudos to the ASCOM board and its president, Scott Blood, for approving $5,000 to purchase extra books for the reserved books section of our library. Books were purchased based on those that were checked out most often. This will greatly assist students who need to access a book used in their class. A special thank you to Librarian Carl Cox, who highlighted the needed books and worked with the bookstore to have the books delivered to the library. This will be a great resource for our cash strapped students. Microbiology Lab Tech Becomes Registered Nurse College of Marin Microbiology Lab Tech Deirdre Martinez began working at COM as a work study student in the Biology Department in 2000. She was hired as the Microbiology Lab Tech in 2006. While at COM she has earned an AA in Natural Science and an AS in Biology. In fall of 2009 she began nursing school here at COM and graduated from the program and in May of this year she earned her Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN). She passed the NCLEX-RN exam and just received her RN license in the mail on Sept. 17. Martinez credits the quality education she received at COM for preparing her to take, and pass, the NCLEX-RN. Congratulations and best of luck in your future endeavors, Deirdre! You Are Invited to COM's Transfer Day College of Marin is hosting Transfer Day on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Services Building, located at 835 College Ave, in Kentfield, CA. All College of Marin students, their families, and friends are invited to the free event to learn more about transferring to a four-year university. More than 35 colleges and universities will be on campus to meet with students, providing detailed transfer information in a convenient, one-stop format. University and college representatives will discuss student interests, academic goals, and answer questions on the application process. Students are encouraged to research scholarships and financial aid availability, what majors schools offer, what the campus life is like, along with other relevant topics to help make the transfer decision-making transition more successful and less stressful. Many California schools will attend, including UCs, CSUs, and independent schools, along with schools specializing in art, design, and architecture. Out-of-state schools from Arizona, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii will also be at the event. A partial list of participating schools includes UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, CSU East Bay, CSU Fresno, CSU Sacramento, San Francisco State, Sonoma State, Humboldt State, Dominican University of California, University of San Francisco, Samuel Merritt College, Patten University, Mills College, Menlo College, Holy Names University, Woodbury University, Golden Gate University, Notre Dame de Namur, Prescott College-Arizona, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, University of Hawaii-Hilo. There will be a wealth of good information at Transfer Day, including expert help from COM's counseling staff . The Transfer and Career Center will provide Student Information Packets with the 'nuts and bolts' details on the transfer process, including a list of questions to ask school representatives, to help better prepare prospective transfer students. The COM Transfer Club will be assisting, to help make the event run smoothly for all. Seasonal Flu Shots $20 Influenza ("flu") is a contagious disease which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, and nasal secretions. The College of Marin Health Center will be offering seasonal flu shots for $20. Clinic dates are as follows: COM to host the Marin College Access Network Fall Conference at IVC College of Marin, as one of 22 community partners in the Marin College Access Network ("MarinCAN"), will host the first Fall Conference on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Indian Valley Campus. MarinCAN is a coalition of school districts, youth advocacy and development agencies, higher education institutions, scholarship organizations, and funders who work collaboratively to provide information, tools, resources, and support services to help students and families make informed decisions about their post-secondary pursuits. The conference will feature keynote speakers, workshop sessions, a networking lunch, and the presentation of the first annual MarinCAN Champions Award. For more information contact Anna Pilloton, Anna.Pilloton@marin.edu or (415) 485-9663. Circle of Champions The College of Marin Department of Athletics and the Circle of Champions are honored to present a celebration of the career of Coach Cal Riemcke and the entry of his name into the College of Marin Athletic Hall of Fame. Tickets are $49 each. Please make checks payable to College of Marin Athletics. For more information contact Diane Kukahiko at (415) 485.9580. Emeritus Center Exhibit The College of Marin Emeritus Center is hosting an exhibition of works by artist Nancy Pollack. Please join us at the Kentfield Campus, 835 College Avenue, in the Student Services Building, room 146. The show will be up through Sept. 27. Emeritus Center hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information call (415) 485-9652. Arabian Nights The College of Marin Drama Department presents Arabian Nights. Sept. 29 is a pay-what-you-will preview. Performances are Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Tent on the central lawn of the Kentfield Campus. Ride a magic carpet into the minareted world of ancient Baghdad. The evening will unfold with the legendary tales of Sheherezade. COM Professor Molly Noble will direct Tony-Award-winning playwright Mary Zimmerman's re-telling of the mystical 1001 tales. (The tent will serve as performance space during renovation of the Performing Arts Theatre).Tickets are $20 general; $12 seniors; $10 students, COM employees, and alumni. The box office opens Sept. 20. Please call 415-485-9385 for tickets. Opening Night Gala Fundraiser for Performing Arts is Next Week! On Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, beginning at 6 p.m., the College of Marin Foundation and the Performing Arts Department will hold an opening night gala of their current production of Arabian Nights. There will be a wine reception and sumptuous buffet from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by the production starting at 8 p.m. In keeping with the exotic theme of the evening's festivities, the Arabian Nights extravaganza will take place in the Performing Arts "Big Top" Tent Theatre located on the central lawn adjacent to the new Fine Arts Building at the Kentfield Campus. The evening will unfold with the legendary tales of Sheherezade. Seats are limited so order your tickets early. Tickets are $60 per person or $40 per person for season ticket holders. Parking is available on Circle Drive, and at the corner of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Laurel Dr. Contact the College of Marin Foundation for reservations at (415) 485-9657. Proceeds will benefit the COM Performing Arts Program. Singer's Choice Recital—Art Songs and Arias COM Advanced Voice Class Webinar: Your Retirement Application and Options Road to Success Helps Students Learn About COM Services For the first time, this year's Road to Success event took place on both campuses. More than 100 staff, faculty, and students participated this year in the production of the event, or at one of the 11 stops along the road at the Kentfield Campus, or the three stops at the Indian Valley Campus. COM student Eun Pyo Lee won the grand prize of $250. Three students from KTD and three students from IVC each won prizes of $100 or $50. Many additional students from both campuses won flash drives and calculators. Special thanks to ASCOM for donating the prize money, the Basic Skills Initiative Steering Committee, Reprographics, Maintenance and Operations, and the faculty members who gave walking the Road as an assignment to their students.
Cheo Massion and Becky Reetz—2011 Road to Success Co-Coordinators COM Athletics Men's Soccer vs. Merritt College Women's Soccer vs. Los Medanos College Volleyball vs. Napa College Have a great week! David Wain Coon, Ed.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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