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Oh, Snap! Picture Of the Day-2/7/12

Online Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:27:57 +0000

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Student ambassadors bring on freshmen success

Online Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:49:52 +0000

Shinesh Prasad and Nataly Medina are two of the campus veterans that are Student Ambassadors. Photo by Kayla Broughton

A new Student Ambassadors program was recently introduced at City College with the goal of helping new students on their journey through their first few weeks at City College.

The program consists of a student team of campus veterans, whose aim is to help guide and assist new students in getting acquainted with the campus and its policies. The team helps students find their classes and get help from counselors and administrators. Members also speak in both high school and college classes about the college experience.

The ambassadors are not hard to identify. They walk around with fire-engine-red buttons that read, “SCC Ask Me,” and eager-to-please facial expressions. They can be found primarily in the Learning Resource Center and Business 153 Lab.

“This job is awesome,” student ambassador Shinesh Prasad said. “I get to learn all the departments on campus and help whoever needs it.”

New students agree that so much time and money is wasted in wrong lines and unneeded classes. With ambassadors around, waiting to answer questions and offer advice, a lot of first-semester confusion and frustration can be avoided.

“I’m new to this college,” said Chris Blank. “This campus seemed like a merry-go-round until Nataly [Medina, a student ambassador] helped me.”

The coordinator of the program, Leonela Lepe said the program has received a lot of positive feedback from students and professors.

“There have already been requests from professors to have [the ambassadors] speak,” Lepe said. “They are even branching out to local high schools and middle schools.”

The job requires at least a 2.8 GPA, 24 completed units at City College and a year commitment, according to Lepe.

“I went to McClatchy [high school] and talked to freshmen about the college experience,” Prasad said. “I told them how to select classes and how awesome college is.”

It is both a positive experience for those involved and those benefiting from it.

“We are really looking forward to [getting more] funding to make this a permanent position on campus,” Lepe said.

For more information on the student ambassador program or to inquire about becoming an ambassador please visit, http://www.scc.losrios.edu/Current_Students/From_Enrollment_to_Graduation/Admissions_and_Records/Student_Ambassador_Program.htm or email lepel@scc.losrios.edu

Gov. Brown’s tax initiative could cause Los Rios to lose millions

Online Staff — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:00:23 +0000

The Los Rios Community College District could lose $12.3 million if California voters reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed tax initiative set for the Novemberballot, according to Susie Williams, associate vice chancellor of Communications and Research for the LRCCD.

The Los Rios cutback is part of a potential $2.4 billion decrease in California K-12 schools and community college budgets that will be put into effect should Brown’s planned tax increases fall through when they reach the ballot, according to a recent L.A. Times article.

The $2.4 billion would then be utilized for other unspecified services.

“This would be a very difficult cut to absorb as [the Los Rios District] and all other community colleges have had to absorb large cuts for the past three years,” said Williams.

The loss of funds would further reduce the availability of class sections for Los Rios students, making necessary class enrollment, extension and timely degree and certificate completion more difficult for students.

Jaime Hernandez, a forensic psychology major, is among the City College students that support the Brown tax proposal if it means no further reductions on the K-12 and community college budgets.

“If [K-12 and community college students] don’t have that extra $2.4 billion, then what’s going to happen to after school programs?” Hernandez said. “I know that taxes benefit the economy and higher taxes— although people might not like them—do help.”

Others only support Brown’s tax plan because of their position as community college students.

“As a student, I would support it, but after school it wouldn’t affect me,” said neuroscience major Henry Hoang.

The uncertain success of Brown’s tax initiative puts community college officials at a disadvantage as November is not an ideal planning month, Williams said.

“By that time, we will be nearly half way through [planning] the 2012-2013 year with little time to react to such a large [budget] reduction.” said Williams. “If voters approve the sales and tax increases, community college funding will remain the same as this year.”

Oh, Snap! Picture Of the Day-2/6/12

Online Staff — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:42:45 +0000

Dan Sublett a computer science major who graduates at the end of this semester, works on a networking project. Photo by Mike Nicholson

Oh, Snap! Picture Of the Day!-2/2/12

Online Staff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:04:08 +0000

Operation ID

Jason Van Sandt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:38:55 +0000

City College police issue property registration stickers to students who register their laptops, cameras, bicycles and other personal items. Photo by Jason Van Sandt | Jasonv1977@gmail.com

With the spring semester starting and students returning to school with new laptops, cameras and tablet computers, campus police note that it doesn’t take much for a student to become a victim of theft on the City College campus.
“It is common for there to be one to five reported thefts per day at City College,” said Los Rios Police Officer Tanya Racki.

One possible way to combat campus theft, according to the Los Rios Police Department, is Operation ID, a free property registration program for students, faculty and staff at City College that began last fall.

With thefts on campus so commonplace, Racki and the Los Rios Police Department designed Operation I.D. to help educate people about the dangers of theft on campus as well as provide a safe place for students to keep property identification.

“The chance of recovering [your] property is much higher if the serial number is known,” Racki said.

According to Los Rios Police Sgt. Mike Olson, it doesn’t take long for students to become victims of theft. Most thefts occur when students leave their property unattended while they go to the bathroom, leave to grab a drink or their attention is drawn away from their belongings for a minute or two.

“Students need to be proactive against crime,” Racki said.

The best way for people to ensure the police department has the correct serial numbers is to register their valuables with Los Rios police before becoming victims, or keep the proper information tucked away in a safe place that can be accessed at a later date.

“If law enforcement has the serial number for stolen property, it can be entered into a national database system accessible to all law enforcement agencies,” Racki said.

The process of registering valuables takes less than 20 minutes, Racki said, and all necessary information to register is typically located on the valuable items.

People registering their belongings need to know the manufacturer of the item, the model number and the serial number, according to Operation ID instructions. They need to present a photo ID, and bring their property to the City College police department during normal business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to register the item with Los Rios Police.

“Bicycles are also a target [of criminals] on campus because the cable locks can be easily and quickly cut off,” Racki said.

The Los Rios police department highly recommends that people who ride bicycles to school also register their bikes and use a metal U-lock to secure their bikes.

“Students should stop using cable and chain locks,” said Olson. “We have never had a bike stolen that uses a metal U-lock. They are always cables or chains, which are easily cut.”

According to Racki, most students find themselves as victims of theft when they leave their property unattended—most commonly in the Learning Resource Center, cafeteria and computer labs. However, thefts can occur anywhere on campus.

According to Racki, students should refrain from bringing valuables to campus that aren’t needed, and if they need to bring valuables, then never leave them unattended. Cars should always be left with windows rolled up and doors locked.

Suspicious behavior should be immediately reported to campus police, Racki said.

Bringing ‘the City’ to Davis

Online Staff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:18:54 +0000

A hop, skip and jump away

Serina Martin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:57:39 +0000

Photo By Jason Van Sandt

The City College Davis Outreach Center, the first community college facility on a University of California campus, has opened its doors in West Village to approximately 2,400 Los Rios Community College students this semester, according to City College Davis Center Dean Don Palm.

“We’ve added some chairs to classrooms where they’ve been needed, so some classes are pressing the limits, but overall, we seemed to fit into the building pretty well,” Palm said.

“That is not to say that students got all the classes they’d planned for. Our waitlists were about as long as they were last year at this time, and it remains a real concern that we are turning students away from classes that they need in order to make progress.
But that is a state budget issue, one that is affecting students at all community colleges across California.”

Addressing attendees of the Davis Center’s dedication ceremony Jan. 11, Palm said the center would not have been possible without the cooperation of a large number of UC Davis and City College administrators, city council members and community members, many of whom were recognized at the dedication ceremony.

“It’s a great building, but it’s the people that really make it,” Palm said. “You have to know that there are some really important people here who have been here for a long time.”

However, Palm said, he couldn’t remember exactly how long ago plans for the new Davis Center began.

“It is hard to put a specific date on the first conversations. The first note I found in a file dates to 1999.”

City College President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery said planning for the Davis Center began before she accepted her position as
president of City College.

“I got to come in on this when all the excitement was happening. All the hard work had already occurred when I arrived on the scene in 2008,” Jeffery said during the dedication ceremony. “And so in the last four years we had a chance to move this project forward to the point where we are here today dedicating this facility.”

The location of the new facility is expected to aid students in transitioning from community college to a university setting and encourage them to meet their educational goals.

“Because of its location in West Village, the Davis Center will certainly play a role in advancing academic success and student achievement and further promote the transfer of [City College] students aspiring to achieve a four-year degree,” said Jeffery.

The center cost approximately $7.4 million to build and was funded by local bonds approved in 2002, according to Palm.

The building meets standards for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, program Palm said. That means it was “designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website.

According to Palm, the foundation of the Davis Center project was built on the development of West Village as a planned community, which commits a percentage of the land to public education, and it is committed to sustainable energy as a “zero net energy” community.

“[West Village] offered a great location for an educational center… and it is part of UC Davis,” he said.

University of California Davis Chancellor Dr. Linda Katehi said UC Davis has been committed to working with City College on the Davis Center building. She believes that the center will strengthen the connection between community colleges and the University of California.

“It is a big day for Sacramento City College and for our campus because it reflects the tremendous effort and the work that has been put together by a team of people who are totally devoted to higher education in the state of California and, of course, to the master plan and the idea of the very specific connection between community college and the University of California,” said Katehi.

“This building really shows the commitment of this idea and the hard work of many people who came together to make it happen.”

Civility brings in big bucks

Online Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:45:56 +0000

Need money? Yes, please!

The Sierra Health Foundation is funding an essay contest inviting all currently enrolled City College students to write on the topic of civility for a chance to win cash prizes in the form of $1,000 for first place, $700 for second place and $300 for third place.

According to the contest organizer, City College English professor Maureen Dana, the topic of civility was chosen because it is both ongoing and timely.

“Civility is about respect, social responsibility and common human decency,” said Dana. “You don’t have to have a copy of ‘Miss Manner’s Rules of Etiquette’ to practice civility in your daily life.”

The contest guidelines are as follows:

Essay must be on the theme of civility.
All entrants must be enrolled at City College fall 2011 or spring 2012 semesters.
One entry per student.
Must be the sole work of the entrant.
Essay must be between 800 and 1,500 words.
Essay must be typed and double-spaced.
Essay must have a stapled cover sheet with the entrant’s name, mailing address, email address, phone number, essay title, and word count.

The deadline for submission is Friday, March 23. Submissions can be turned in to Rodda Hall South, Room 226. Winners will be announced at the end of the spring 2012 semester.

A complete list of rules and guidelines can be found in the English department located in RHS. Students can direct all questions, comments or concerns to Maureen Dana at danam@scc.losrios.edu or 916-650-2962.

PG&E offers $1 million in local scholarships

Online Staff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:35:52 +0000

Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Bright Minds scholarship program is offering full-ride scholarships equaling up to $30,000 each for 10 students who “have given back to their local community or who have overcome great personal challenges,” according to PG&E’s website.

A total of $1 million is up for grabs but students who want to apply have to hurry because the deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 17. In addition, several $2,500 awards will be presented to an undetermined amount of applicants.

“Over the last decade, PG&E has contributed nearly $40 million towards educational initiatives and, with today’s announcement, we are proud to deepen our commitment to education and to the communities we have the privilege of serving,” said Chris Johns, president of PG&E in a press release posted on the company’s website. “By supporting deserving students, we can help them realize their full potential.”

According to the program’s guidelines, eligible applicants must be at least 16 years old, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Applicants must also be a current post-secondary undergraduate student, live within the PG&E service area and plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational technology school for the entire 2012-2013 academic year.

“Students aren’t rich and need financial assistance,” said former City College student Sean Venegas, who said he “feels privileged with the opportunity to apply.”

Winners will be announced in the spring.

For more information or to apply for a scholarship, students can visit www.pge.com/brightminds, call 1-507-931-1682 or email pge@scholarshipamerica.org