Welcome Back!

I hope that you had time over the summer months for renewal and are looking forward to an enriching fall semester. If you missed our fall Convocation last week, you can find copies of all of the Convocation presentations, including my presentation on the FY 2012-13 COM Budget, online at http://www.marin.edu/president/.
 
The state of the economy remains disappointing and the College’s budget is not immune.  As we continue to face significant economic challenges, I welcome your ideas for cost saving strategies. The College has created a virtual suggestion box at http://www.marin.edu/president/ for this purpose. Your suggestions will be carefully considered and those that are most feasible will be shared in future Weekly Briefings.

Follow-Up Report 2012 in Response to ACCJC/WASC Recommendations for the College of Marin Follow-Up Report 2011

Please take this opportunity to review the College’s proposed response to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) to be submitted in October this year. Draft Follow-Up Report 2012 to ACCJC (08-21-2012)
 
This report is the result of much dedicated teamwork by many, and includes the establishment and implementation of six new institutional plans, greatly improved student services, outstanding progress in the area of student learning outcomes, and much more.
 
The visiting accreditation team will be coming in either October or November to validate our progress and to interview individuals. I highly encourage you to review the report to gain familiarity with it, if you have not already done so. As a member of College of Marin, the report provides you with helpful information for reference. In September, this report is scheduled to be reviewed by Management Council, ASCOM, the Classified Senate, the Academic Senate, College Council and the Board of Trustees. To submit feedback, please email Director of Planning, Research, and Institutional Effectiveness; and Accreditation Liaison Officer Dr. Chialin Hsieh.

College’s Strategic Planning Efforts

I am proud to announce that we have successfully completed 100 percent of the original action steps outlined in the Strategic Plan 2009-2012 (plus additional steps created at a later date) for each of the plan’s objectives. For action step details, please refer to the College of Marin 2009-2012 Action Step Update Report. I wish to thank everyone involved for their hard work and making this great achievement happen! Over the past several months, the Strategic Planning Task Force has focused on developing the College’s Strategic Plan 2012-2015. Nearing completion, this new plan is scheduled to be shared with College Council on September 13. Please watch for the announcement providing a link to the draft of the Strategic Plan 2012-2015 in the near future since I highly encourage you to become familiar with the new strategic objectives of the College.

For Evening Assistance Call (415) 747-0699

Raul "Bo" Botello will oversee evening supervision and assistance at both the Kentfield (KTD) and Indian Valley Campuses (IVC) Monday through Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. If evening assistance is needed please call (415) 747-0699.

PLEASE NOTE: If there is a medical emergency or crime in progress, please call 911 first and then notify the evening supervisor.

Road to Success

College of Marin’s Road to Success will be combined with fall 2012 Welcome Week this year and will be campus wide. Students can walk the Road to Success and learn about student services, learning resources, academic courses and programs, and community education. They will also have an opportunity to win prizes at every stop, including a $250 grand prize!

On Tuesday, September 4, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Indian Valley Campus there will be two stops: Buildings 17 and 27. On Wednesday, September 5, and Thursday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kentfield Campus there will be three stops: the Health Center, Math and Science Center, and Learning Resources Center Quad. ASCOM will be serving free lunches at the Kentfield Campus and free dinner at the Indian Valley Campus.

For services, programs, and departments, the Road to Success is an opportunity to showcase what you have to offer and a fun opportunity to connect with your colleagues. Last year more than 100 faculty and staff participated. Participating faculty can earn flex time by staffing the tables. If you are interested in signing up for a table, or getting information about how you can give “The Road” as an assignment for your students, please contact Cheo Massion or Becky Reetz, 415.485.9633. This event is sponsored by ASCOM, Basic Skills Initiative Committee, Road to Success Task Force, and all student services, departments, and programs that participate.

Fall 2012 Welcome Week

This year’s Fall Welcome Week will take place Tuesday, September 4, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Indian Valley Campus, Internet Café, Building 27. Kentfield Campus events will be held Wednesday, September 5, and Thursday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Learning Resources Center Quad.
 
Vendors will be on both campuses with special offers for students, staff, faculty, and administration. Participating vendors include: the Marin Independent Journal, SF Chronicle, Comcast, Verizon, Redwood Credit Union, Riley’s Art Supplies, Gideon Bible, Blue Cross/Allstate, KMEL, Live 105, Lobo’s Ice Cream, Marin Education Fund, Union Bank, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and many wonderful art and jewelry vendors. Make sure to take a break and join in the festivities. For more information, call Vickie Lamke in the Student Affairs Office at 415.485.9376.

Single Stop Student Services at COM This Fall

Fall 2012 will mark the second semester that Single Stop has been up and running. Single Stop’s collaboration with College of Marin began in January of this year when we opened our doors as the newest program to join COM’s Student Services. We join other Bay Area colleges including City College of San Francisco (Ocean and Mission campuses) and Contra Costa College with the integration of this program on our campus.
 
The goal of Single Stop is to help increase retention and graduation rates among low-income students by augmenting financial aid. We do this by helping students leverage existing federal and state benefits that can help supplement their income and help keep them in school. We also connect students to resources in their local communities. We offer benefit screenings and application assistance for programs including CalFresh (formerly food stamps), Medi-Cal/CMSP (free/low cost health insurance), CalWORKs and general assistance (cash aid programs). We provide referrals for subsidized housing and low-cost child care. Other in-office services include tax preparation (during tax season), professional financial advising, and eventually legal services. Currently, we can provide referrals for free or low-cost legal services in the community. All services are free. Since January, Single Stop has screened and connected students to benefits totaling over $60,000 annually, provided over 60 hours of free professional financial advising services, and completed over 400 COM student and staff tax returns with total refunds exceeding $355,000.
 
The Single Stop team consists of one full-time Site Coordinator, one work study student, two tax preparers (on-site seasonally) and one financial coach (on-site one day a week). The program is led by Dr. Arnulfo Cedillo. This fall we say goodbye to Site Coordinator Lisa DiCarlo who helped get the program up and running but heads off on maternity leave. We welcome new Site Coordinator Edwin Towle. Please contact the office with any questions at 415-457-8811 ext. 7761 or stop by the Student Service Building, Room 124.

August Data Nugget

Question: Do you know what the final percentage of accomplishment was for all the strategic action steps designated in College of Marin’s Strategic Plan 2009-2012?
 
Answer: Thanks to the wonderful teamwork involving the efforts of numerous employees, the College can proudly announce that 100 percent of the action steps from our Strategic Plan 2009-2012 are fully completed! (Soon efforts shall begin mobilizing to focus on the next Strategic Plan!) More details are available online: Strategic Plan 2009-2012 Progress Report to the Board of Trustees (07-19-2012).

Community Education Preview Days a Success

The Community Education and Services Department along with Emeritus Students College of Marin (ESCOM) co-hosted two Preview Days in August; one at the Kentfield Campus and one at the Indian Valley Campus. Those who attended the Kentfield Campus Preview Day were warmly welcomed by Dr. Rebecca Kenney, new Interim Vice President of Student Learning, and received early bird registration. The Indian Valley Campus Preview Day was added for the very first time and was well received by both our students and instructors. Approximately 60 registration forms (a total enrollment of 67 courses) were received as a result of the two Preview Days. Attendees at both campuses received help from Community Education and Services (CES) staff with registration for their classes. The events offered a great opportunity for potential students to discuss classes with current and new instructors and learn about one of our student groups—ESCOM. Thanks to the many CES staff, faculty, and ESCOM members for their hard work that made the two events possible.

College of Marin Drama Department Presents Macbeth

By William Shakespeare
Directed by W. Allen Taylor
Saturday Oct. 4 (pay-what-you-will preview), 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 8 p.m.
Sunday Oct. 14, 21 at 2 p.m.
James Dunn Theatre
 
Set in a cold, forbidding netherworld populated by supernatural beings and three of the most famous witches in English literature, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a dark and intense tale of morbid ambition, corruptive power, and serial murder. Upon hearing the prophesy of his destined ascent to the throne, Macbeth, a decorated war hero with a manipulative Lady Macbeth by his side, embarks on a bloody quest for power only to descend into madness and self-destruction.
 
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students, COM employees, and alumni. For more information, call the box office at 415.485.9385.

Technology Equipment

If you have technology equipment that you are not using, please send a Tech Stream to the IT Department to have the equipment removed. You can find this form at http://intranet.marin.edu

This procedure replaces the need to complete a Request for Disposal of Equipment form for technology equipment. The IT Department will be responsible for completing the paperwork necessary for surplus technology equipment. If you have questions, please contact the Help Desk at ext. 8181.
 

 
Kudos

In June the Marin Independent Journal named retired Early Childhood Education Instructor Heidi Willitts Volunteer of the Week for her work with the Canal Community Alliance, tutoring children and teens.

Social Sciences Instructor Robert Ovetz, Ph.D. was quoted in the August 17 issue of the Pacific Sun weekly newsmagazine about the politics of charter schools in Marin. The article available online.

Have a great week!

David Wain Coon, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President

President's Weekly Briefing Web Page
Technical Contact: Nicole Cruz, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of Communications, Community Relations, and Advancement, (415) 485-9648
Content Responsible: Cathy Summa-Wolfe, Executive Director, Communications, Community Relations, and Advancement, (415) 485-9528