October 14, 2005

"This is a test"--emergency preparedness training and drill next week:  You may hear a siren or see firetrucks next Thursday around midday or in the early afternoon.  On October 19 many members of Skyline’s staff will be undergoing emergency preparedness training and then on October 20, a drill involving the handling of a simulated earthquake and other related emergencies.  Some students from the EMT program will be involved, serving as simulated victims, so don’t be startled if you happen to spot them. The college will be collaborating with the San Bruno Police Department and the San Bruno Fire Department.  We hope to hone our skills and also identify areas in which we need to improve our emergency preparedness.  Later this term, the regular annual training for Building Captains and Floor Monitors will also take place.

Presentation to the Board of Trustees and the San Bruno City Council:  Last Tuesday night, there was a joint meeting of our Board of Trustees and the San Bruno City Council. They toured the college and then received a briefing by me, Regina Stanback Stroud and Lori Adrian.  We discussed the students, programs and services at Skyline.  If you are interested in seeing the PowerPoint presentation which we used, it is available on our website at http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skynotes/ ; click on "President’s Board Reports."      

New bill authorizes community colleges to assist Hurricane Katrina evacuees:  Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 1646 (Liu), a measure that, among other actions, authorizes California Community College districts to exempt college students, who were displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina, from nonresident tuition. This bill has an urgency clause which means its provisions will be implemented immediately. The fee exemption enacted by AB 1646 only applies to the 2005-06 academic year. If you hear of any such students, please direct them to Sherri Hancock. 

Mardi Gras:  Watch for the Mardi Gras themed posters advertising the November 2 Hurricane Katrina relief event.  The planning group will meet again on Wednesday, October 19,  in Room 2305 at 2 pm.  If you are working with a group of students that is or might want to participate in this event, please urge them to email Peter at petermonrroy@yahoo.com and Amory Cariadus, Director of Student Activities at cariadusa@smccd.net.  They are attempting to include in the publicity for the November 2 event as many of the groups who are involved as possible.  The event itself will include both a day and an evening component, and will include a hot links barbecue and music, with the proceeds benefitting the victims of the hurricane.

Skyline students perform at statewide conference:  Students of Skyline faculty members Diana Cushway (Dance) and Jude Navari (Music) performed last week at the statewide Network of California Community College Foundations conference held in Millbrae. The performances at the dinner there earned a standing ovation and dinner attendees continued to talk about the outstanding performances throughout the three day symposium.  Thanks to Diana and Jude for making this happen and to our students for showing how Skyline shines.

Make a Difference Day:  Our student chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Theta Omicron has registered for Make A Difference Day (October 22). We have collection bins in Bldg 1, 2nd floor, at Financial Aid, and at MESA (7207) to collect school supplies and Halloween costumes for children served by Samaritan House of San Mateo.  Our website is at this address:  http://www.smccd.net/accounts/boo/makeadifference/.  (The National Registry site is http://usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html.)           

WOW Speaker Series:  The WOW! Author Series presents 2002 San Francisco Poet Laureate of San Francisco devorah major on Thursday October 20 at 7 pm in Room 7106.  Her anthology, the other side of the postcard, features poems she gathered as Poet Laureate.  At the door admission:  General $20 and students $12. (Note that this is a change in the originally published schedule.  On October 27, Gail Tsukiyama will speak here.)

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