The Merritt Connection

April 19, 2016 Dr. Norma Ambriz-Galaviz, President Inside this Issue v President’sNews&Notesv WelcometoNewAdministratorsv ArtShowOpensinSpectacularSettingv SLOACUpdate:ChemistryLessonLearnedv DisabilityServicesProgramHostsPartners

v GettoKnowSankofa!v RegistrationInfoat“S.W.A.G.Thursday”v BeAwareofBOGGWaiverChangesv ShareYourNews!

President’s News & Notes

DHTIForumStrategizesonBringingImmigrantsintotheHealthCareWorkforceDr.RosemaryDelia,Dr.TinaVasconcellos,andIattendedtheDiversityHealthTrainingInstitute’sworkforcepolicyforum,"ReimaginingCA'sHealthcareDeliverySystemUsingaHealthEquityFramework:Multi-sectorActionsforImmigrantsintheHealthcareWorkforce,”onApril8attheJackLondonAquaticCenterinOakland.Theforumbroughthigh-

levelpolicypeopleandeducatorstodiscussdevelopingaworkforcethatmeetstheneedsoftheunderservedandprovidesservicesinmarginalizedcommunities.

AssemblymemberRobBontajoinedthegroupinthelasthourforacandidconversationonwayspolicyadvocacyontheStatelevelcansupportlocalandregionalworkforcestrategies.Pictured:Dr.NormaAmbriz-GalavizandDr.TinaVasconcellos

WelcomeToOurNewAdministrators!VicePresidentofInstruction:Dr.JeffreyLamb

Dr.JeffreyLambhasbeennamedVicePresidentofInstructionatMerrittCollege,effectiveMay2.Priortohisnewposition,heservedasDeanoftheSchoolofEnglishandForeignLanguagesatCityCollegeofSanFrancisco.BeforeCCSF,hewastheInterimDeanoftheSchoolofLiberalArtsandtheDeanofAcademicSuccessandLearningResourcesatSolanoCommunityCollege.Formorethan18yearshetaughtSpanishatpublic,private,andinternationalinstitutionsandledseveralstudyabroadtrips.Asfaculty,heservedastheAcademicSenatePresidentandastheTeachingandLearningCenterCoordinator.Dr.Lambholdsadoctoratein20thCenturyLatinAmericanLiteraturefromUCLA,a

master’sdegreeinHispanicLanguagesandLiteraturesfromSanDiegoStateUniversity,andabachelor’sdegreeinSpanishfromCSU,LongBeach.

DeanofSpecialProgramsandGrants:Dr.LiliaChavezDr.LiliaChavezwasnamedDeanofSpecialPrograms,effectiveApril13.ShehasbeenwithMerrittsince2014asDirectorofStudentActivitiesandCampusLife.Priortothat,sheworkedatSanFranciscoStateUniversityasDirectoroftheOfficeofStudentProgramsandDevelopmentLeadership.SheisaChicana/Latina,SocialandSpiritualActivist/Educatorwhoseizeseachopportunitytoworkwithunderrepresented,underprepared,andunderservedcommunities.Dr.ChavezholdsanAssociate’sDegreefromBerkeleyCityCollege,aBachelorofScienceinOrganizationalBehaviorfromthe

UniversityofSanFrancisco,aMasterofScienceinRehabilitationCounselingfromSanFranciscoStateUniversity,andadoctorateinInternationalandMulticulturalEducationfromtheUniversityofSanFrancisco. 17thAnnualShowofMerrittOpenswithSpectacularWorkinaStunningSetting

Withthesettingsunglowingintothelarge,glass-walledroom,acrowdofartlovers,curiosityseekers,andpassers-bypackedtheBarbaraLeeScienceandAlliedHealthCenteronApril15toseethebeautifulartworkcreatedbyMerrittstudentsandfaculty.ItmarkedthefirsttimetheMerrittShowofArtwasbeingheldoncampus,andforArtDepartmentChairSheilaMetcalf-Tobin,itwasanunknownriskthatsheultimatelydecidedtotake.Inpartofherwelcomingspeech,sheeloquentlyexplainedwhy.“Anexhibitionatitsgreatestdisplayslove,courageandprofoundlymovingtruthandbeauty,thesimpleandpureloveoftheprocessofmakingandsharingtheresultswithothers.TheShowofMerritthasalways

beenaboutthiskindoflove.“Creatingthisshowwasacreativeprocesswhichmeantbeingopentonotknowinghoweverythingwouldgoandorwhereeverythingwouldgo.Ithasemphasizedformeagaintheimportanceofrecognizingandhonoringcreativeprocess.Topromotecreativityissomethingvaluableandimportantbecauseitallowsforopennessandpossibilityandforthedevelopmentofsomethingdifferent,somethingnew.Itmakesusvulnerabletobeinthenotknowingofthecreativeprocesswhichfostersparticipation,newideas,contribution,anddonation.Mostimportantlyitallowsforthepotentialtocreatesomethingtogether.Thisshowcametogethersobeautifullybecauseof

allofyouwhodaredtocontributeworkandthoseofyouwhowerewillingandabletovolunteeryourtimeandexpertise.”Comeandseethisfabulousshowofpainting,sculpture,watercolor,3-Dart,pastels,figuredrawing,ceramics,botanicaldrawing–andevenhandmademusicalinstrumentsfromMusicAppreciationclass!TheshowrunsthroughMay21,Mondays-Saturdaysfrom12-3p.m.Pictured:SheilaMetcalf-TobinandDr.NormaAmbriz-Galaviz

SLOACUpdate:LearningaLessonfromaChemistryAssessmentI’dliketotakethisopportunitytohighlightsomeoftheexcellentworkthathasbeendonerecentlybythepart-timefacultyinmyownchemistrydepartment.Chem30A,IntroductoryGeneralChemistry,isacoursetakenmostlybynursingmajorshereatMerrittCollegeandistaughtentirelybydedicated,motivated,creativepart-timefaculty.

Lastyear,thisgroupmettodiscussanassessmentmethodfortheSLO:Clearlyexplainquantitativeconceptsandtrends.Collectively,theycameupwithaquestionaboutthepolarityofbondsandmoleculesalongwitharubricforscoringstudents.Afteradministeringtheexamandscoringtheresults,theymettodiscusstheirfindings.Differentinstructorshaddifferentresultsandsotheywereabletoshareteachingstrategies,butthereweresomeobvioustrendsintheaggregateddata.Itwasveryclearthatwhilemoststudentshadagoodunderstandingofthebonds,manystruggledmightilywithmolecularpolarity.Itwassuggestedthatthismightbeduetothelackofmolecularmodelkitssoanactionplanwaswrittentoincludearequestforfivesetsofmolecularmodelkits(enoughforanentireclass). Thisassessmentexampleisworthhighlightingforanumberofreasons:1)itshowsthemanyadvantagestodoingacommonassessmentincludingtheopportunitytodialogueandlearnfromeachother;2)itshowshowtoconnectassessmentresultstobudgetaryrequestsaimedatimprovinglearning;and3)itshowsthatallfaculty,full-andpart-timealike,haveacentralroleinthisprocess.Wehopethatthisexampleinspiresyoutoengageintheassessmentprocessinmeaningful,insightfulways.

--JenniferShanoskiFrom Jennifer: A recent email from a Merritt faculty member: “I spent half the night dreaming about assessment!! What have you done to me? I think I had some good ideas, but pooof! they're gone.” --Anonymous DisabilityServicesProgramHostsAdvisoryBoardandCountyBehavioralHeathServices(TwoarticlesbelowbyMaryCiddio)AssuringthatCommunityNeedsforDisabilityServicesareMetInaneffortfortheDisabilityServicesProgramtogetinputfromtheircommunitypartnerstomakesuretheyaremeetingtheneedsofthecommunity,theDSPrecentlyhosteditsAdvisoryBoardMeeting.ParticipantsincludedrepresentativesfromallPeraltacolleges,fromtheStateDepartmentofRehabilitation,andfromtheAlamedaCountyBehavioralHeathServices,aswellasDSPstudents,andavarietyoffacultyandstaff.

Discussionsfocusedonnewfallprogramstoservestudentswhoneedadditionalbasicskillstobolstertheirpreviouseducationortopreparethemforcareerpathways,EnglishforCareerandLifeandMathforCareerandLife.AlsodiscussedwerechangesinTitleVregardinghowthatwillaffecttheirdatacollectiontodocumentthestudentpopulationaswellaschangesinhowtheydetermineifanindividualmeetsthecriteriaofLearningDisability;anddiscussionontheStateDepartmentofRehabilitation’sfocusonCertificateProgramsthatwillresultin

employmentoptionsfortheirconsumers.ThankstoDisabilityCoordinatorFrancesMoyforleadingthemeeting.Welookforwardtoanewyearofgrowthanddevelopment!TrainingNewCountyPartnerstoEnhanceEnrollmentandSuccessVenturingintonewpartnershipstoenhancetheenrollment,success,andretentionofourstudents,theDisabilityServicesProgramrecentlyprovidedtrainingfortheAlamedaCountyBehavioralHealthCareServiceswhohaslaunchedanewprogramforindividualswithmentalhealthissuestofostersuccessincollege.

TheMerrittteam,ledbyMaryCiddio,providedtrainingfor15countryparticipantsthatincludedacomprehensiveoverviewofthedisabilityservicesoffered,aswellasastep-by-stepguidetoassiststudentsinaccessingMerritt’sprogram.Merritt’sMentalHealthTherapistLarryLariosa,MA,MFT,providedanoverviewofthementalhealthservicesheandhisinternprovideatMerrittbutacknowledgedthattheneedforthishelpismuchgreaterthanthepart-timeservicesthatareavailable.EncourageALLStudentstoGetRegistrationInformationat“S.W.A.G.Thursday”

Merrittcontinuestogearupindoingallwecantohelpstudentscompletetheireducationalgoalswithus.WehavedesignatedApril28as“S.W.A.G.Thursday”(SuccessWithAcademicGuidance).Facultywillbeattablesonthequadareawalkwaystopromotetheirrespectivedisciplines,answeringquestionsandenticingstudentstoregisterforsummerandfallclassesimmediately.Wearealsoprovidingstudentswithafreelunchandofferingprizesand,ofcourse,swag.Allofushaveaparttoplayinencouragingourstudentstotakethenextstepstoward

academicsuccess.Asyouknow,successisdeeplytiedtosupportandperseverance.IamhopingthatallofyouinMerritt’sfamilywillmotivateourstudentstoparticipateinthisevent.Bringthemthere,ifpossible,sotheycanseethatwhatweofferisnotonlythefinesteducation,butalsotheopportunitytobeapartofthiscompassionatecommunitythatreflectswhowearebecoming. --DavidMoralesBeAwareofStudentSuccessRegulationsfortheBOGGFeeWaiverUndertheStudentSuccessInitiativeregulations(SB1456),CaliforniaCommunityCollegestudentsreceivingtheBOGGFeeWaivermustmeetbothincomeANDminimumacademicandprogressstandardstoremaineligiblefortheBOGGFeeWaiver.IffthestudentdoesnotmeetBOGGAcademic/ProgressStandardsfortwoconsecutiveprimaryterms(Fall/Spring),he/shemaylosetheirfeewaivereligibility.Formoreinformation,seetheflyerontheMerritthomepage.SankofaBringsEncouragementandSupporttoMerrittStudentsWhenstudentDaronAustinjoinedSankofa,aplaceforstudentstogetencouragementandsupporttowardacademicsuccess,hetooktheorganization’smeaningtoheart.“Sankofameans‘togobackand

get,”andIwanttobethepersonthatgoesbackandhelpspeopleinmycommunity,”saysDaron,whoisapeeradvisor.“Alongwithhelpingstudentswithregistrationandscheduling,Italkwiththemabouttheirproblemsathomeandabouthowtobalanceallofthosethings.”Infact,whenrecentlytalkingtoSankofa’sstaffandstudents,whowereintheircomfortablespacestudying,beingtutored,or

socializing,thedesiretohelpotherswasacommonthemeamongeveryoneassociatedwiththeprogram.HeadingtheprogramisDr.CharityClay,asociologyinstructorwithanextensivebackgroundinstudentservicesandprogramsforminoritypopulations.“TheprogramisgearedtowardstudentsofAfrican-AmericandescentsinceMerritthassuchalargepopulation,butIhaveavisionofsomethingbiggerthanjusttutoringandcounselingtoservemorestudents,”saysDr.Clay.“Iwantstudentstoacknowledgeandappreciatetheirhistoryandalsomakethemawareoftheopportunitiesthecollegehastooffer.

Sankofaoffersavarietyofservicestomeetitsmissiontohelpstudentssucceed,includinghelpwithregistration,tutoring,counseling,mentorship,workshops,events,courses,jobs,camaraderieandevenanupcomingtourofHBCUs(HistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversities).SankofaisalsofortunatetohaveasmallbutdedicatedstaffwhoworkswithDr.Claytofulfilltheneedsofthestudents.Animportantcomponentoftheprogramiscounseling,andtheprogramisluckytohaveDerrickRoss,whoseexperiencedirectlyrelatestomanyofMerritt’sstudents.“Alongwithprovidingsupportivecounseling,Icanlookatlifeissuesbeyondacademics,fromhousingtoemotionalproblems,thatcouldimpedestudentsfromreachingtheiracademicgoals,”saysRoss.“ComingbacktoOaklandwhereIgrewup,Inowhavetheopportunitytogivebackandletthestudentknowthatnomatterwhattheyhavebeenthrough,educationcanchangetheirlife.”

StaffAssistantLindaBrown,whoretiredfromLawrenceBerkeleyLabs,isthrilledtohavetheopportunity“toworkwithsomanybrightmindsastheypushforwardtomeettheirgoals,”andcallstheexperience,“reallyspecial.”Dr.ClaycallsLinda“invaluable”totheprogram.“Iteachfourclassesalongwithcoordinatingthisprogram,butIhavefullconfidencethateverythingisgoingtogetdonewithLindahere.Shehasgreatpeopleskills,interactswellwithstudents,andisgreatatmakingsuggestionsthatImaynothaveconsidered.”

Beyondhersmallstaff,Dr.Clayincludesasmanyothersoncampusaspossiblewheretheirexpertisemaybeneeded.“Wewanttoincludefacultyasmuchaspossible,soweareintheprocessofcollaboratingwithfacultywhoarewillingtoincorporateanAfrican-centeredcurriculumandprovidementoringtostudentsinterestedintheirdisciplines,”shesays.“Ialsoreachouttothecampuscommunityandcollaboratewithstudentservicestoseekoutthosewhowouldliketofacilitateworkshopsbysharingtheirknowledgeinsuchareasasfinancialaid,transfer,interviewskills,timemanagement,andotherimportantskillsthatourstudentsneedtodeveloptobesuccessful.”Overall,DrClaywantsstudentstoknowthatthereisalwaysaplaceforthemtogotogetthesupporttheyneedtobesuccessful.“Wewantthistobearefugeforstudents.Wewantthemtofeelcomfortableknowingthattheyarenotonthisjourneyalone,”shesays.“Andwewantthemtoknowthatwhentheycomethroughthosedoors,theyaregoingtogetrespect,compassion,andattention,notjustfromthestaff,butfromeachother.”Pictured:Dr.CharityClay,LindaThompson,andDerrickRoss;andstudentsCalebJacks,MarquitaPrice,EddieBarnett,andDaronAustin.

--SusanMayWhatStudentsAreSayingAboutSankofa

CalebJacks:EverytimeIcomeintothisoffice,thereisaguaranteethatIwillhavemyneedsmet.Thegoalistoempowerusandmakesureweknoweverythingthatneedstobedonetomakeusmoresuccessful.”MarquitaPrice:Iappreciatealloftheinformationthatwegetaboutscholarshipsandotherupdatesandthatwecangodeeperwithourcounselingandgetpeersupportandtutoring.DaronAustin,PeerAdvisor:IcametoSankofasoIcouldcommunicateeffectivelywithotherstudents.Iwantedtoupliftthoseinmycommunitywhoneedhelpwithschoolorotherproblems.EddieBarnett,Tutor:IloveworkingwithSankofastudentsandhelpingthemsucceed.Ithasmademestrongerpersonallytobeabletoreachouttopeopleandbuildrelationships.ShareYourNewswiththeMerrittCommunityPleasesendyoursuggestedideasarticles,and/orphotostoMerrittConnectionEditorSusanMayatsmay@peralta.edu.ThenextissuewillbeMay16.ThedeadlineforcontributionsisMonday,May9.