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President's Updates
Skyline Shines

May 19, 2006

Executive Report to the Board of Trustees: The Executive Report I gave to the Board of Trustees on Wednesday night can be found at this address: http://www.smccd.edu/accounts/skynotes/.

President’s Innovation Fund projects selected for 2006-07: I am pleased to announce this round of successful proposals that will receive support from the President’s Innovation Fund.  See the list of projects for next year. The President’s Innovation Fund encourages the faculty and staff to "dream out loud."  Skyline College’s annual President’s Breakfast raises the financial support for the President’s Innovation Fund.  The overarching goal of the PIF is to provide start-up funding and financial support to faculty and staff developing innovative programs and services. With limited funds, the challenge is always to support as many of the innovative proposals as possible.  This was a daunting process, and as you can see from the following list, the ‘culture of creativity’ at Skyline College is alive and well!

Puente Celebration: Over a hundred Puente students (a.k.a. Puentistas), family, friends, and mentors came together on the evening of Friday, May 12^th to celebrate their accomplishments. Puente Co-coordinators Jacquie Escobar and Karen Wong welcomed everyone, Jacquie highlighting the many accomplishments of this years Puentistas such as playing a central role in the "Making the Connections–Plug Into College" conference to increase the number of underrepresented students enrolled in college, jumpstarting the Latin American Student Organization that hosted the Cinco de Mayo celebration and a forum on the Chicano movement, getting published in Skyline’s literary magazine, "The Talisman," and setting a record for Puente by securing about $30,000 in scholarships. Language Arts Interim Dean Connie Beringer and Academic Senate President Carla Campillo were the guest keynote speakers, having begun Skyline’s chapter of Puente back in 1992 and celebrating its current incarnation. In addition to issuing certificates to this year’s Puentistas, special attention was also given to the 13 students who are to receive their AA/AS, and the 10 students who are readying themselves to transfer, the highest number of students in the program of all the years thus far. Special acknowledgment was given by many of the graduating Puentistas to English Instructor Raquel Rojas, who inspired many Puentistas in her Latino Literature course and served as one of the faculty advisors for LASO, as well as Counselors Jacquie Escobar, Imelda Hermosillo, and English Instructor Karen Wong for their support and encouragement over the years. The evening was capped off by three artistic performances: a poetry reading by Puentista Ivan Martinez, a Shakira influenced interpretative dance by Puentista Yvette Rodriguez and friends, and a performance of elegant dances from Jalisco, Mexico, by English Instructor and Puente Mentor Hilda Fernandez's dance troupe, Folklorico Atlatonin. Many thanks to everyone who has supported Puente over the years, as well as Skyline College and the ASSC for lending financial support. Pictured below are Imelda Hermosillo, Jacquie Escobar, Karen Wong, and Raquel Rojas.

Student Recognition and Awards Ceremony (SRAC): Based on the feedback we have received from students and their families, and from faculty/staff/administrators, this year’s scholarship program was a huge success.  Many Skyline people were involved in making it a success, reading numerous applications, selecting recipients, planning the SRAC event, and coordinating the event. under the able leadership of Lori Adrian: Please join me in thanking Amory Cariadus, Sherri Hancock, Connie Beringer, Phyllis Taylor, Karen Chadwick, Maria Escobar, Linda-Rosa Corazon, Shelley Hausman, Belinda Ho, Sandy Irber, Linda Allen, Alma Cervantes, Kevin Corsiglia, Jacquie Escobar, Nino Floro, Cindy Moss, Karen Wong and William Watson. In addition we are indebted to the many donors who provided the funds for $61,000 in scholarships–faculty, staff, administrators and students from within the college, and many friends of Skyline from the community.

Logo redesign: We are nearing the end of our logo redesign process, which began last January with work by our College Council and the Fresh Look Advisory Group, and neared its end with the same group reviewing a series of about 3 dozen sample logos. The current logo was included in that large set of samples. There was a strong consensus in the group for four of that group and those are the ones we have included in the online poll you have been hearing about. We are using the same sort of online poll that we did for the Student Center inscription selection–it provides an "instant runoff". The process we have used to get to the new logo is one that has fully engaged our shared governance process. The poll results will be discussed in the College Council next week, and a final selection confirmed at that point. If you have not voted already, please do so at http://www.skylinecollege.edu/ by 4 pm on Monday, May 22.

College Council update:

1. Fresh Look Project:  review of the poll results on the logo redesign project.

2. Accreditation update

3. Student Survey update: presentation of a summary of the findings and the plans for use of these data.

4. Educational and Facilities Master Planning Project update: review of the presentation to the Board this week of the two draft approaches to the Master Plan which have been discussed at the college in recent weeks, along with the ideas proposed for blending the two into a single final approach which will be presented to the Board in June.

5. Budget update:  update on the status of the college’s budget for 2006-07.

6. Smoking Policy Implementation:  Discussion of designated smoking areas and other recommendations from the Health and Safety Committee.

7. Facilities Program Review:  Richard Inokuchi will review the status of facilities staffing and their current approaches to maintenance of buildings and grounds at Skyline.

Coming up…

• Classified Staff Luncheon & Awards, 11:30-1:30 p.m., Gallery Theatre.

• Automotive Awards Banquet, 6- 10 p.m., Basque Cultural Center, SSF.

• DSPS Chevy's Fundraiser, noon to 10 p.m., Chevy's, 141 Hickey Blv., SSF.

• Deadline to complete logo design survey by 4 p.m., www.SkylineCollege.edu.

• Final Examinations through May 26.

• Solo and Ensemble Class Recital, 12:30 p.m., Rm. 1111.

• Swing Into Summer End of the Year Celebration, Faculty and Staff Recognition, 12-2 p.m., Gallery Theatre.

• Biomanufacturing Certificate Program Completion Ceremony, 6 p.m., Gallery Theatre.

• Wednesday Morning Coffee Break, Classified School Employee Week, 9-10 a.m., Rm 2351, Faculty and Staff Lounge.

• Student Commencement Rehearsal, 2-4 p.m., South San Francisco Conference Center.

• 2006 Commencement, 8 p.m., South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Blvd., SSF.

• Day and Evening Classes End.

For more on this week’s events, see the event calendar at www.smccd.net/accounts/skypio/calendar.html   
To add events to the calendar, visit www.smccd.net/accounts/skypio/events.html   

Victoria P. Morrow, Ph.D.
President, Skyline College
650-738-4111
morrowv@smccd.net
3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066