A great big thank you to all who participated in today’s Great Shakeout!  I especially want to thank Melinda Carrillo, Estela Gibson, Anna Hilton, Roger Carter, Rebecca Coleman, and Rocco Versaci for helping us monitor the hallways and post and gather information.

I was quite happy to see our faculty, staff, and students taking the drill so seriously (in a happy way!): moved away from the windows, crunched down under their desks.  Most impressive! Also, many of our language instructors built vocabulary lessons around the topic of earthquake safety.

Thus far, we have collected 52 surveys from our building, many of which spoke to the volume of the Informacast and the fact that, if you were in the hallway or restroom at the time of the Informacast, you would not have known that we were having a drill.

Someone correctly pointed out that one cannot cover one’s head and neck with one’s hands and arms AND hold onto a study object at the same time. Good catch!  Several of you expressed concern about the projector and lights (I would add windows to the list!).

A number of people wrote that they did not have a plan for checking in with loved ones if their cell phone did not work.  In the event of a widespread emergency, this could be a challenge.  Families should consider having a single point of contact who lives out of the area to try to reach by landline to check in.  It’s also a good idea to have a plan for meeting at a particular place and discuss how you would get there from work or from school.

We will follow up soon with ideas to address the concerns you have mentioned in your surveys!

Meeting Summary Chairs and Directors Meeting October 2, 2015

Interim Vice President for Instruction Dan Sourbeer called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.

• Eric Briggs, Internship Coordinator at Palomar for this academic year, gave a presentation on the program. The goal of the program is to ready students to facilitate their own internships with companies in the community. He will be on campus Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Career Center to meet with interested parties. Rosie Antonecchia indicated they would like to meet with departments regarding the program as
• Interim Dean, CTEE, Paul Kelly shared new information regarding the CTE Program Approval Process. Things have changed and more information is required up front in order to receive the verbal go-ahead to create new programs, including labor market information, anticipated enrollment, and anticipated impact on programs in the
• Interim VP Sourbeer demonstrated where to find the fund request forms to apply for Student Success and Equity Council monies. Dean Shayla Sivert indicated she had issues submitting the form and informed the group that, if that occurs, they can save the form as a pdf and email it to Michelle LaVigueur.
• Interim VP Sourbeer shared that he has had several complaints regarding instructors leaving and letting students out early from class. He indicated all instructors are required by their contract to remain in class for their published hours, even if students leave early (for example, after taking a test). He requested assistance from Chairs and Directors in documenting and resolving attendance
• Interim VP Sourbeer will be sending out links to the revised PRP forms with dates when training will be offered, following IPC approval of the forms at the 10/14/15
• When working on COR reviews or changes, Interim VP Sourbeer advises working in groups comprised of the Department Chair, faculty originator, Dean (if available) and/or a divisional representative from the Curriculum Committee. Changes can be made on the spot and the COR should sail through
• Fall scheduling is underway for 2016, using the new compressed calendar. Chairs and Directors are asked to work with their Deans.
• Interim VP Sourbeer indicated divisions/departments should begin working on a 2-year grid for courses this fall. This will assist students with their educational pathway
• Interim VP Sourbeer indicated there will be a meeting this month at Mt. Carmel High School to talk to the community about the South Center. There may also be an Open House at the South Center in November/December.
• Faculty hiring was discussed and the priority list, approved by IPC, was distributed. Interim VP Sourbeer indicated the first 22 positions (not including Math 1 & English 1 which were already filled) will be posted first. After the FON is recalculated based on revised enrollment reports, additional positions may be
• Calvin Onedeer Gavin presented on special programs including EOPS, CalWORKS and Trio, encouraging Chairs and Directors to inform students about these programs. He distributed brochures and information regarding the programs available, indicated the programs are recruiting, and offered to attend departmental meetings by

The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.

Next Meeting November 6, 2015

If you’ve been to a meeting at Palomar College since the beginning of the semester, odds are that you heard a presentation given by VPI Sourbeer regarding enrollments, apportionment (our revenue), the budget, and accreditation.  Although it’s pretty dry stuff, it’s important to get a handle on if you’re at all interested in understanding a considerable chunk of what happens at the college outside of the classroom.

Click on the link below to access his PPT:

09 08 2015 Chairs Directors

If you’re following these posts at all, I’d be interested to know what kind of information you would find useful or desirable.  Please feel free to contact me at ssivert@palomar.edu.

Hard to believe we’re at Week 5 already; I hope that the semester is going well for you and your students!

Warm regards,
Shayla

Medical Emergency Response/Palomar College Protocol 

In the event of a sudden, severe illness or injury to student, faulty, staff or visitors on the Palomar College campus:

1. Call Campus Police at 2289 or via cell at 760-891-7273. Make sure you provide the dispatcher the following information:

• Your name
• Location of incident (building number, floor, parking lot number, outside area close to…)
• Description of the situation to include any safety hazard or potential for violence (fire, chemical spill or exposure, assault, dangerous weapon)

Don’t hang up/end the call unless told to do so by the Campus Police Dispatcher.

2. Campus Police will respond and assess the situation. They may decide to call for ambulance transport, contact Health Services and request staff to assist at the scene, or transport the ill/injured person to the Health Services Office.

3. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to assist the victim by providing first aid or CPR (if trained) until Campus Police arrive. Good Samaritan law applies in these situations.

4. Any person, even visitors, on campus experiencing an injury will need to complete and submit a Medical Injury Report (form attached) to the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) of the Facilities Department. Forms may be obtained at EHS and found online as well: http://www.palomar.edu/facilities/pdfs/A09025MedicalInjuryReport.pdf.

In addition, other forms will need to be completed by the following:

1. Injured student — Student Accident and Injury Report completed and returned to the Health Services Centers (within 72 hours of sustained injury). The form is attached.
2. Injured faculty or staff during working hours or a student performing clinical experience (at an off-campus site) as part of a college course — Workers Compensation Report completed and returned to the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resource Office for more details and the packet of forms at 760-744-1150, X2609.

Other issues related to medical emergencies:

5. If the Health Services Centers is called to report an illness or injury, the Health Services staff will obtain information from the caller and then the staff will call Campus Police to respond to the scene.
6. If the ill or injured person is not experiencing a severe problem, the person can be sent or accompanied to the Health Services Centers during normal working hours. For any questions regarding medical advice or for further information, please contact the staff at the Health Services Centers at 2380 or 760-744-1150, X2380.
7. Classroom and Laboratory First Aid Kits will need to be purchased through respective departmental funds. Health Services staff will provide refill items for First Aid kits on a limited supply basis.  Please contact our Health Services Center Receptionist at 760-744-1150, X2380 for further information.

Hi Everyone,

I was helping a student find a building on Monday and in the process learned she was “a freshman”, very nervous, unsure of her preparation, and lacking in confidence.  I left her at the library, but realized later I had missed an opportunity–she is the type of student who would be served well by participating in our First Year Experience (FYE) program.  If you have “new” students in your classes, please make them aware of the FYE program and encourage them to apply (http://www.palomar.edu/fye/).

I also want to bring to your attention that our PD office is conducting another Active Learning Conference on October 24.  These conferences have been well received in the past and more information is available below.  Hopefully, you will be interested attending, but also please let colleagues in K-12 know about the conference as it is a good opportunity to promote relationships with faculty members in our feeder districts.

Here’s the link to the Active Learners Conference:

http://www.palomar.edu/activelearning/fall-2015-conference/

Here is a video about the conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHN7VYeqwac

Here is a one-minute video about the conference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWaBL3b_vuI

Thank you and have a great semester!

Dan

Looking forward to a wonderful year filled with much hope and possibility!

Check out the link to the PD blog, which includes information from the Nuts & Bolts presentation: http://www.palomar.edu/pd/pd-blog/.  Here too is the link for the Basic Skills Toolkit, which was a big hit at our plenaries: basicskillstoolkit.wordpress.com.

Languages & Literature Division
2014-2015 Accomplishments and Highlights

Division Office

We welcome STAR Tutoring Center to our division as of July 1, 2015! STAR stands for Students Taking Academic Responsibility.

English as a Second Language
Student Accomplishments/Recognition

1. We awarded 15 ABED certificates in Fall 2014.
2. We awarded 92 Non-Credit Certificates of Completion in 2014, up from 75 awarded in 2013.
3. Over 50% of LEAPstart YEAR 3 students have earned an ENGLISH 100 recommendation.
4. This spring, 114 students completed the Student Peer Mentor Program at Palomar: 47 in San Marcos, 43 in Escondido, and 24 in Fallbrook.   It has been observed that students who take part in the Peer Mentor Program usually complete the semester. Thus, this program plays a major role in increasing student retention in non-credit programs.

ESL Department/Discipline Highlights

1. We added 8-week and 12-week classes to our class schedule in San Marcos. This is in keeping with our goal to increase access to education. Students who come in after the semester starts will be able to take an ESL class.
2. We also started on-going placement testing for students taking ESL classes. This enables new students to access our 8-week and 12-week late start classes.
3. We developed an accelerated curriculum for our top four ESL classes.
4. Carmelino Cruz, Noncredit Matriculation Assistant, successfully completed his Master’s in Higher Education Leadership at the University of San Diego in August 2014.
5. FT and PT faculty and staff continue to show their passion for all things ESL as they distribute flyers with course and program information throughout our district.

ESL Faculty Accomplishments/Recognition

1. Angela Webster attended the National Family Literacy Summit Conference during Spring Break and gave a presentation on Minimal Pairs, Sight Words and Short Sentences that low-literate adults could use to foster reading with their pre-school children. In April, Angela Webster attended the National On Course Conference and also had the honor and pleasure to represent Palomar College in a presentation of Student Peer Mentors Across Disciplines with Sheri Cully as a co-presenter.
2. Kevin Staff started a blog at http://kstaff.blogspot.com/. He’s gradually going to link it to most of his earlier blogs with the San Diego Reader. The entry on LBJ is the best example of how he hopes to include unusual photos, videos, and links to other websites and blogs in a series of short “history lessons,” written from a very personal perspective. He’s also developed the face book page for CATESOL San Diego into a fairly interesting source of news and entertainment about the chapter’s events.
3. Suzanne Woodward published a book titled “Conversation Activities that Really Get Students Talking.” Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, Indianapolis, IN, 2014. It is available at on-line book sellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble (including an e-book version). It can also be accessed through her website: https://suzanneseslpages.wordpress.com/.
4. Several faculty in our department are in college-wide leadership positions. Marty Furch is the SLO coordinator, Colleen Bixler is the PFF Grievance Officer, and Lawrence Lawson is the Faculty Resource Coordinator. His charges include leading Learning Communities and the Village Mentoring Program and serving as co-chair of the Basic Skills Committee; he is a Faculty Senator as well.
5. Colleen Bixler retired this semester after serving the college and our students for 26 years as a full-time faculty member and 5 years as an adjunct.
6. Lawrence Lawson is also spearheading an effort together with Math Professor Cindy Anfinson to put together a basic skills toolkit for all instructors on campus.

Reading Services Department
Department/Discipline Highlights

1. The Reading Center successfully relocated to the Humanities Building in May 2014 and opened for the summer semester with over 70 student carrels, an increase of 25% in the number of workstations previously available.
2. Using PRP, SPPF, and BSI funding, the Reading Center was able to replace 50% of the outdated programs which would not run on the new operating system. Working closely with IS, we now have programs which are all fully functional.
3. The Reading Services library for use in the Reading Center has increased its multicultural offerings by over 500 novels.
4. All SLOs were assessed in fall or spring, and criteria were met or exceeded as demonstrated by assessment results.
5. The Reading Services in-reach program was expanded from presentations in English 10 classes only to include English 50 classes as well.

Reading Student Accomplishments/Recognition

1. Reading Services tutor Jacalyn Reyes, former student in Reading Services and transfer student to CSUSM, was nominated for Palomar College Tutor of the Year.
2. Sandra Linde, former student in Reading Services, successfully transferred to CSUSM and has returned to the Reading Center to work as an hourly tutor.
3. Jedidia Martinez matriculated from Palomar College to CSUSM and has returned as an hourly tutor in 1415.

Reading Faculty Accomplishments/Recognition

1. Erin Feld was awarded Tenure in Spring 2015.
2. Three full-time faculty members—Melinda Carrillo, Carla Thomson, and Erin Feld—served on over 15 committees and workgroups, including such important committees as the Stem II Grant, Student Equity, Curriculum, Basic Skills, LOC Council, and Faculty Senate.
3. Erin Feld and Melinda Carrillo offered a very successful PD workshop in the fall to aid content-area instructors in presenting reading for success strategies in their classroom for struggling students.
4. Working through the Stem II Grant, Erin Feld and Melinda Carrillo presented four student workshops throughout the school year assisting students in reading for math and reading science textbooks.

Reading Staff Accomplishments/Recognition

1. Leah Lampro (ISA III) and Darla Mulder (ADA) retired after lengthy careers at Palomar College. Leah worked here for 30 years, while Darla was here for 14 years. We miss them already! We are thankful for all that they have given us through the years.
2. Estela Gibson (ISA II) and Julie Anguiano (ISA I) continue to provide significant support to our students and faculty in the Reading Services Department. We are very thankful to them for their continued service.

English & Humanities Department

Palomar’s talent continues to make itself known to the wider community. Rocco Versaci’s memoir That Hidden Road was named Best Unpublished Memoir by the San Diego Book Awards for 2015. Andrea Bell’s memoir Touched was a finalist for the same category for 2014. Congratulations to you both!

Palomar’s literary magazine Bravura 2015 has made its debut. Stop by the department to pick up your copy! In late May, Carlton Smith and Rocco Versaci hosted their annual Bravura celebration, honoring student writers with awards and the opportunity to read and display their work to an audience of peers, families, and Palomar College attendees. Former Dean of Languages & Literature Steve McDonald read from his collection of poetry.

Leanne Maunu and William Darymple were finalists for the 2014-2015 Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The department said goodbye to three long-time faculty and one long-time classified staff member. Charlie Ingham taught at Palomar for 24 years, Gary Zacharias for 25 years, and Bruce Orton for 33 years. John Goldsworthy retired just short of his 26^th year of service to our college. We wish them well as they explore retirement and life away from Palomar.

As we bid them a fond farewell, we welcome two new faculty members: Clare Rolens and Adam Meehan. We’re excited to have them both on board!

Speech & ASL Department

The Speech and Debate Team celebrated yet another winning season with over 90 trophies individually won, as well as ten sweepstakes trophies including 1^st Place sweepstakes at the Aztec Invitational at San Diego State University and 1^st Place at the Sunset Cliffs Classic at Point Loma Nazarene University. The culmination of the season resulted in a 3^rd place sweepstakes placing in the Community College Division at the National Parliamentary Debate Tournament in Kansas City, as well as fourth place at the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament in Cleveland. In addition, the team is transferring six students on to San Diego State University, California State University Long Beach, California State University San Luis Obispo, and University of California, San Diego.

ASL professors attended Palomar’s World Languages Open House (see below) and were excited by the opportunity to connect with ASL instructors from high schools and other colleges.

The Speech Department saw the retirement of faculty member Bruce Bishop after 28 years of service to Palomar. In addition, they saw the retirement of ADA Debbi Brewer after 12 years of service to the SPCHASL Department, the ASL Lab, and the Speech Team. They will be missed.

Speech completed the hiring process for a Speech Faculty and Assistant Director of Forensics Position in April and is proud to announce the hiring of Marquesa Whearty as the newest member of our discipline. We look forward to her warm personality and expertise in helping run a large speech team.

World Languages Department
Department/Discipline Highlights

1. In Spring 2015, WL hosted a very successful “World Languages Open House” for high school language teachers with 50 attendees. This was sponsored by a SPPF grant. We also invited ASL Department faculty and ASL high school instructors to join us. This event was a great outreach opportunity and a way to connect with our K-12 colleagues. They were very appreciative of the chance to gather together and share ideas among one another as well. They do not have other events or opportunities to do this. They are very much hoping we will do this again.
2. In Fall 2014, WL hosted the second annual “World Languages Symposium” sponsored by NCHEA with 60 attendees. This is an annual professional development activity for languages faculty from MiraCosta, CSUSM and Palomar. Year 1 was held at CSUSM, Year 2 at Palomar, and Year 3 will be held at MiraCosta. Part of the day is for FT faculty to discuss curriculum alignment and transfer; the rest of the day is workshops for FT and PT faculty in L2 pedagogy and instruction.

WL Student Accomplishments/Recognition

1. We have hired and trained several of our very own Palomar students to work as peer tutors in the World Languages Resource Center. These are students who have completed their language coursework in our department and are now able to help other students. Our new tutoring program in the WLRC is wonderful, and these students are making it happen!
2. We have peer tutors in Chinese, German, Spanish, French, and Japanese!

WL Faculty Accomplishments/Recognition

1. We are happy to announce that Dr. Masako Ikenushi has received her tenure. Also, she finally had the opportunity to attend a professional conference in Japan this summer with the help of travel funds received from IPC.
2. We are happy to welcome our new FT faculty in German, Prof. Beatrice Manneh, to our department.

WL Staff Accomplishments/Recognition

1. Judith Marquez is our only staff member left in World Languages. We are so lucky to have her!! She is currently working OOC and has stepped up and filled in each time our vacancies warrant. In addition to her own job, she trains, oversees and manages the growing number of temporary employees who have been hired (about 12-14 student- and short-term employees) in the WLRC.
2. Our ISA III, Ms. Hoi Doan, resigned in December 2014 to pursue a graduate degree. We miss her!! Her position is still vacant.
3. Our ADA, Ms. Abby Corona, has accepted an ADA position in Physics and Chemistry. We miss her, too!! Her position is still vacant.

Teaching & Learning Center (TLC)

The TLCs at San Marcos and Escondido continue to buzz with students, staff, and tutors working to support the success of our students. The TLC on the main campus is home to the Summer Bridge and FYE programs as well as the Village Mentoring Program and Learning Communities.

The centers are run by a magnificent group of faculty and staff. Debra Avila supervises both the San Marcos and Escondido centers and has worked tirelessly between both centers to cover vacancies while still ensuring early evening hours for our students. She is joined by Math Professor Cindy Anfinson and staff members Dalia Lopez, Jeanna Pina-Bayaca, Rosalinda Tovar, and Anel Gonzales (who has just transferred to Trade & Industry) in putting together our FYE and SB programs. ESL Professor Larry Lawson has been spearheading learning communities, our Village Mentoring Program, and the Faculty Resource Center. Calvin Lew and our newest addition, Mario Martinez (Tutorial Specialist), handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the TLC in Escondido. We are fortunate to be supported by counselors, a myriad of financial aid and enrollment specialists, and hourly and student employees, each of whom adds to the welcoming atmosphere of our TLCS.

The TLC on the San Marcos campus opened its doors in January 2014. Prior to the opening of the TLC, the lack of a central location led to students having difficulties finding TLC staff members and receiving program support. Having one central location for our programs and staff including FYE counselors has helped FYE students come in to get the assistance they need.

On average, 1,800 students visit the TLC on the San Marcos campus each semester with an average of 12,000 visits.

Spring 2015:       12,300 visits                       1,820 unique visitors
Fall 2014:             12,828 visits                       1,830 unique visitors

Since the opening of the TLC Escondido in Fall 2009, an average of 1404 students per semester visit the TLC Escondido (Fall 2009-Feb 2013). For Fall 2014, there were 5180 visits made by 945 students. For Spring 2015, there were 4,438 visits made to the TLC Escondido by 883 students.

In an effort to increase awareness about the services and resources offered at the TLC Escondido, our staff and tutors conduct class presentations at the beginning of each semester. For Spring 2015, we conducted a total of 101 class presentations at the Escondido Center.

Village Mentoring

The Village Mentoring program launched Fall 2014. The goal of the Village Mentoring Program is to have participation from members of all constituency groups at Palomar College — students, faculty (FT & PT), staff (FT & PT), and administrators serving as mentors for our students. There were a total of 13 volunteers comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, and 2 former FYE students who served as mentors for 2014-15. We are working to increase the level of participation on the part of both students and employees as a part of our equity work as well.

At the start of Fall 2014, 23 FYE students signed up to participate in the Village Mentoring Program and were matched to mentors. Fourteen (14) students completed the program successfully in 2014-15.

91% of our mentored FYE students from Fall 2014 enrolled in Spring 2015 classes.

We have increased the efficiency and productivity of our application process for both FYE and Summer Bridge by moving the application to eServices. The Summer Bridge application was moved to eServices in Feb 2014. The FYE application was moved to eServices in March 2015. Moving the application to PeopleSoft has allowed students to locate the application via their Student Center portal more easily and has minimized our need to request additional data from the student (since most of the data we need is stored in PeopleSoft and accessible via customized queries).

FYE Accomplishments

• The cohort for FYE 2014-15 had 191 students. 90% returned to Palomar in Spring 2015 (171 students).
• The cohort for FYE 2014-15 had 65% return in Fall 2015.
• FYE Counselors facilitated a total of 885 counseling appointments for Fall 2014 & Spring 2015.

Summer Bridge Accomplishments for 2014

• Write On: 61% placed higher (23 students showed up the first day, and 23 students completed the Write On program).
• ESL JAM: 39% of those who finished the SB program placed higher.
• Math JAM: 67% of those who took the final assessment placed higher.

• Cindy Anfinson will be working on the Summer Bridge 2015 report, so we’ll eventually have updated information on how our students did this summer. At present, we do know that 61% of our ESL students placed higher in both ESL 55 and ESL 101 Jam.

TLC Workshops

• The TLC has offered a wide array of workshops to support student success at Palomar College. Workshop topics have included time management, reading strategies, math success while reducing anxiety, hands-on financial aid workshops, study skills, transfer basics, managing stress and test anxiety, library resources, learning styles, motivation and goal setting, and financial planning. (We are working together with others on campus to develop a single searchable, sortable database that allows students to see and schedule (and for us to track) themselves into any workshop offered on campus.
• 224 students attended at least one workshop organized by the TLC San Marcos for Fall 2014 (unduplicated count).
• 241 students attended at least one workshop organized by the TLC San Marcos for Spring 2015 (unduplicated count).
• The attendance rate for workshops for 2014-15 has been pretty consistent for both semesters:

Attendance rate: 75%
No Show rate: 25%

Grants

• The Foundation Office has worked closely with the TLC to submit grant proposals in support of our TLC programs. A total of $7,500 has been granted to us this year, with a few more proposals pending.

In Memoriam

This past spring, we lost two of our PT faculty members: Kristine Coombe, PT faculty member of the ESL Department for more than 25 years, and Manuel Cortes, PT faculty member of the WL Department since 2007 and one-time Palomar College ESL student. We are so very thankful to them for having chosen to devote their lives to the education of our community.