President's Updates

October 28, 2005

Executive Report to the Board of Trustees: The report I gave to the Board of Trustees Wednesday night is available at this address on our website: http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skypio/boardrpt/index.html

Skyline College CITD leads statewide efforts to introduce CA companies to Brazil: Skyline College CITD successfully coordinated statewide efforts to recruit California companies for a trade mission to Brazil. While in Brazil, the 7 companies will have one-on-one meetings with several pre-qualified potential Brazilian partners for the import of CA goods and services to Brazil. For six months, Richard Soyombo, Director, Skyline College CITD worked with other CITDs statewide, to develop the Trade Mission.

Skyline faculty member Whitten has article published in online journal: Congratulations to Linda Whitten for her recent publication of an article entitled ROMI: Concept, Implementation and Implications, in the online journal of the American Society of Business and Behavioral Science. She co-authored it with William J. Kehoe of the University of Virginia. The article examines the issue of measurability in marketing. It elucidates the concept of return on investment (ROI) as a platform for introducing the concept of return on marketing investment (ROMI). It examines the implementation of ROMI and considers managerial implications.

Dr. Firpo Carr on Germany’s Black Holocaust: We had a golden learning opportunity on Wednesday when Dr. Carr spoke in the Main Theater, and showed a film, concerning the role of blacks in Germany, particularly during the Hitler era. Thanks to Tony Jackson for arranging for him to come as part of the Adewole Project, funded by the President’s Innovation Fund. The presentation was entitled "Hitler’s Forgotten Victims." Dr. Carr is the author of Germany’s Black Holocaust: 1890-1945.

Anti-Homophobia Forum: A discussion led by a panel of Skyline faculty, staff, and students on issues of homophobia and how it affects everyone regardless of sexual orientation was held on October 20. More than 150 students and staff attended filling the Gallery Theatre beyond its capacity. The forum was sponsored by the Associated Students of Skyline College and the Gay-Straight Alliance. Thanks to Rachel Bell who organized this successful event and all the panelists who participated.

Mardi Gras for Hurricane Katrina relief, November 2, 2005: Skyline College is holding a fundraising event to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina on November 2 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Plans for the event include a hot links barbecue and live music on the quad between buildings 2 and 3. A group of students, faculty, and staff led by ASSC Vice President Peter Monrroy is planning the event.

College Council update: At its monthly meeting this week, the Council addressed the following items:

Art on Campus Task Force recommendations: The Council approved these recommendations. We will now begin to implement them, with Council involved in shaping the approach.

EEOAC (Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee) proposed new name and charge: The Council approved the revised name and charge. The new name for the committee is now Stewardship for Equity, Equal Employment and Diversity (SEEED) Advisory Committee. The SEED committee has already had a detailed discussion of the meaning of the term "stewardship" and is working on a series of specific ideas to carry it out.

Smoking on Campus: The constituent groups are discussing the proposals for the establishment of "Designated Smoking Areas" along with other options such as a policy that Skyline be a non-smoking campus, or that the college simply continue with the status quo. The plans for pursuing this issue, regardless of which of those three approaches is ultimately selected, are likely to include a health education campaign. The final choice of the approach will not be made without broad public discussion at the college, possibly involving open forums to ensure that all voices are heard. The topic will be discussed further at the next Council meeting.

Accreditation update and invitation to serve on self-study teams: The Co-Chairs of the Accreditation Steering Committee provided an update and encouraged broad participation in the writing teams. If you have not yet been approached to serve on one of the four teams, and you are interested, please contact Ray Hernandez (hernandezr@smccd.net) or Donna Bestock (bestock@smccd.net). The four teams are organized around the four accreditation standards. If you would like to take a look at the standards in order to identify which one might interest you, they are available at the website for the accrediting commission: http://www.accjc.org/ Click on "Core Document and Publications."

Matriculation Plan: The college’s plan, to be submitted to the state chancellor’s office, was reviewed.

Skyline Shines Awards: The Council approved a proposal for the creation of new "Skyline Shines Awards" which would recognize two people each year, a Skyline employee and a community member who in some important way help "Skyline shine." The Council will discuss the draft criteria at the next meeting and the first awards will be given this year.

Next meeting: Wednesday, November 16.

If you have input on any of the items currently under deliberation, be sure to advise your representatives through your shared governance organization.

Two professional development events at Canada College: Tom Mohr, the Interim President at Canada College, has asked me to share with you information about two events coming up there that might be of interest (I have attached the pdf files with the details on both, but here are the titles, dates and times):


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