December – Debbie Dutcher, Executive Assistant I – Academic Affairs
Debbie has been employed with College of the Siskiyous since 1990. During her tenure, she has served ten superintendents/presidents and is currently the longest serving district employee. Debbie has held increasingly responsible positions in the Office of Academic Affairs/Instruction, Career and Technical Education, and Adjunct Faculty Office. Her proven dedication has resulted in numerous contributions to the College which has assisted in streamlining operations, building community relations and strengthening programs and services.
Thank you, Debbie, for everything you have done for the College and our students! You will be missed. Monthly colleague nominations can be submitted in the Virtual Suggestion Box.
Fall Reflections & Happy Holidays from the Office of the President
This fall semester has been a productive one. We started off the semester with Convocation Day which featured Dr. Todd Bloomquist from the Ford Family Foundation. Dr. Bloomquist provided intriguing insights into how biology and experiences impact student learning. We are now concluding the semester with innovative campus climate techniques provided by our Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) Partner Resource Team (PRT).
During the semester, we shifted focus onto campus safety. A number of Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) and Safety Meetings were held, an emergency phone message was tested, new safety backpacks were distributed, building stewards were confirmed, and an evacuation training was conducted. We also developed an Active Shooter/Armed Individual webpage which consists of a brief online training video, the 'run, hide, fight' procedure and the do's and don'ts during active shooter/armed individual incidences. A quick reference pocket card can also be accessed on the site as well as in the following areas: Public Information Office, Student Services, Basecamp, and the Yreka Welcome Center.
The College's enrollment was also very promising. Academic Year 2023-2024 resulted in higher enrollments compared to Academic Year 2022-2023 (41.95% increase). We hope to see continued enrollment increases throughout the winter session and spring semester.
As we conclude this year, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated employees. Our classified professionals, administrative staff, faculty, and administrators consistently go above and beyond, even with heavy workloads. I'm truly honored to work alongside such talented and student-focused individuals. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated community members for their ongoing support. It's a privilege to serve this remarkable institution in the breathtaking beauty of Siskiyou County.
Winter Session and Spring Semester Registration is Open: Registration for the 2025 winter session and spring semester is open. Remind students to register early to get the classes they want and need. Look for the schedule in your home mailbox or online.
Holiday Craft Fair: The 27th Annual COS Holiday Craft Fair will be Friday evening, December 6 (5:00 to 8:00 pm) and Saturday, December 7 (9:00 am to 3:00 pm) at the COS Weed Campus in the Gym. This Craft Fair celebrates the finest of handcrafted products produced by local and regional artisans and crafters. Admission is $3.
Together We Make a Difference: Giving Tuesday has come and gone, but the work does not stop there. It is that time of year when we "kick off" the campus Payroll Contribution Campaign. The amount of monthly contribution is not as important as the fact that you participate. Donations range from as low as $5 to as much as $50 or more, and all donations are tax-deductible. I hope you will consider participating.
Employee Payroll Deduction Form
Reminder… Siskiyous Publicity (Creating Flyers, Programs, Digital Ads, and more): Please remember that all publicity, promotional, and marketing materials must be submitted to the Public Relations Office (email pio@siskiyous.edu) before being posted, printed, or distributed on campus and in the community. This includes images used in social media posts and other print publications. This process ensures that all materials meet branding and accessibility standards. Questions – send an email, call the office, or stop by for a chat. We are happy to meet and discuss.
Sign up for COS Connect (powered by Everbridge): This is a free system we use to send out emergency notifications, updates, general news, reminders, etc. Users can choose to receive text message and/or email. To sign up, go to homepage and scroll down to bottom of the page where the button is found and follow directions. Need help, send an email, call the office, or stop by for a chat.
Come Join Our Team: We are looking for new volunteers to join the Eagle’s Nest team. Volunteers work as cashiers, screen items as they come in, price merchandise, repair items, research antiques, etc. There is never a dull moment at the Eagles Nest. We are also looking for student workers. If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering or working as a paid student worker, have them call (530) 938-4663 or stop by the Eagle’s Nest Shop to speak with Angel Keen, Shop Supervisor.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
December 2024
January 2025
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This past month we added a couple new employees to our team in Student Services. Welcome to Evonne Ellis (Academic Advisor) and Mary Ann Busby (Counselor). We are so very happy to have them both at COS. We are flying a few positions within Student Services and expect to fill them over the next month or two. We currently have two counselor positions open. One in SAS and one as a Dual Enrollment Coordinator/Counselor. In addition, we posted and will be hopefully filling soon an Interim Director of Student Housing & Student Life.
A shout out to Regina and Maggie in Basecamp. They were selected to present at the Basic Needs Summit on December 6th at Lemoore College. They will be presenting with several other colleges on "Collaborative Solutions: Navigating Challenges and Enhancing Wraparound Services for Long-Term Impact." They are doing really great work at Basecamp and this opportunity to present only helps showcase that work to their colleagues across the State.
It really has been a great semester. The Student Services team is a joy to work with and they continue to provide excellent service and care to our students. Thank you to each of them for their positive impact.
Lastly, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. However, you choose to celebrate, may it be filled with joy, laughter, good food, and happy memories with those you love.
Season's Greetings from the financial aid department! All financial aid applications are now open for the 2025-2026 aid year.
Unsure which application is for you? The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has created a flow chart to make the process easier. Reminder - 2025-2026 aid year begins at College of the Siskiyous next fall.
The campus will be closed for the holidays from December 24 until January 1, 2025. Our office will reopen on January 2. Wishing you all a blessed holiday season and best of luck in your finals!
Lodges had some snowy days! The RA's hosted some sugar and fun inside to keep people entertained and warm!
It's our favorite time of year at TRiO with lots of end of the semester events and activities happening for our students to participate in.
The Business Office is very busy working on many tasks. The 2023-24 Audit is near complete with a few remaining items to finish before we receive a draft to review for final approval. We anticipate the audit to be presented to the Board of Trustees in January with on-time submission to the state by the end of the month. The 2024-25 Audit is already starting with the planning stages for on-site visits in March or April. Thank you to everyone who had a part in the audit and worked really hard to submit information on-time.
Nel Net for student payments in now LIVE! Students can now set-up payment plans to make payments throughout the current term for their tuition and fees. This project was a collaborative effort between many departments. Our next phase in the project is implementing payment plans for students who have prior term balances that started during Covid. The plan is to have phase 2 in place in January.
Nancy Coughlin, Payroll Specialist, will be retiring at the end of December. We are very happy for her, but sad for us as we are losing a very valuable member of our team. The position is currently being recruited and we anticipate holding first and final interviews in January with a replacement starting in early February. In the interim, our Accounting Technician, Billie Smith, has stepped up to fill in while we hire a replacement. We are shuffling duties in the office and contracting with Personnel Preference for temporary help for couple of months while we make the transition. Starting on Monday, you may see a new face in our office. We wish Nancy the very best in her retirement. We will miss you!
Budget Manager trainings have been taking place over the last couple of months. Topics have included budget code structure, account and program codes, 50% overview, budget changes and expenditure reclassifications, creating audit trails, and proper procurement processes. We will be pausing our budget managers trainings until the beginning of the year due to the transitions happening in our office and the anticipated update to Banner.
Happy Holidays from all of us in the Business Office!
Debbie Dutcher Rides Off into Retirement
Longtime Siskiyous employee, Debbie Dutcher - Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, will retire on December 30, 2024 after completing over thirty-four years of outstanding service to the district.
She began her career at COS on April 23, 1992 and earned her Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from the College that same year. Debbie will definitely be missed.
Please stop by the Academic Affairs Office on December 19th to wish her well.
Hi everyone,
In this week's Academic Senate meeting, we are going to highlight a few significant legislature initiatives discussed at the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Fall Plenary and the North/Far North (N/FN) Consortium Workshop – Vision 2030. Specifically, we will present information on Common Course Numbering (CCN), Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), a few AI applications used by educators, and incorporating DEIA in faculty evaluations. The last topic is under the purview of the Faculty Association (FA), although they plan to consult with the Academic Senate about this issue in the Spring semester. Here's a quick summary of the presentation:
Streamlining Through Common Course Numbering (CCN): To simplify student transfers and minimize excess credits, a mandatory CCN system will be fully implemented by 2027, as mandated by AB 1111. This system aligns course numbers across all colleges, ensuring clarity and consistency for students. Despite significant progress in modifying curricula and preparing materials, concerns over articulation processes have led to calls for delaying implementation. Each college has received substantial funding to support this transition [$913,043], which involves significant curricular revisions and updating student communications. We need to establish how we will compensate staff, faculty, and administrators for the additional time/work needed to revamp our GE curricula.
Expanding Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): CPL seeks to recognize and reward learning acquired outside the classroom, particularly benefiting working adults, veterans, and individuals with industry credentials. Various assessment methods, including exams, portfolio reviews, and JST evaluations, enable students to translate their experiences into academic credits. A focused initiative, the Veterans CPL Sprint, aims to streamline credit for military training and leverage AI to assist in credit recommendations. Policy updates are proposed to reduce barriers, such as waiving GPA and residency requirements and eliminating fees for CPL assessments.
Leveraging AI in Education: AI technologies are reshaping educational tools and resources. Platforms like Playlab and Google Notebook LM allow educators to create personalized apps, generate podcasts from text, and summarize complex materials. Advocates for these AI platforms promise to make education more accessible and engaging, empowering both faculty and students.
Embedding DEIA in Faculty Evaluations: DEIA competencies are now central to faculty evaluations, in compliance with updated Title 5 regulations. Evaluations must consider faculty proficiency in fostering inclusivity and equitable outcomes, alongside traditional teaching metrics. Professional development opportunities support faculty growth in these areas, and evaluations incorporate self-reflection to align teaching practices with DEIA principles.
Finally, I want to wish you a good Finals Week and a wonderful Winter Break. I look forward to seeing you all refreshed in the new year!
Thanks for listening,
Andrea Craddock, Ph.D.
Academic Senate President
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