October – Stephanie (Steph) Wroten, Director of TRiO and Upward Bound
Steph has been with the College since 2008, serving for 16 years as the Director of TRiO and Upward Bound. Throughout Steph’s tenure, she has been a strong advocate for students. In addition to her role as director, she also serves as a tri-chair for the Social Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (SJEDI) Committee. Here’s what Steph’s colleagues have to say about her.
"A wonderful human who has consistently gone above and beyond for our whole community; instrumental in keeping Outreach and Retention goals during the absence of a director; Their support for their staff is equally commendable encouraging innovation and self-determination while supporting everyone's work life balance; Their ability to balance multiple responsibilities while maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude is truly remarkable. CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie!! We are so very fortunate to have you!"
Congratulations Steph! Thank you for everything you do! We are so very lucky to have you! Monthly colleague nominations can be submitted in the Virtual Suggestion Box.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (stats provided by breastcancer.org) - Did you know:
To learn more or to get involved, visit: National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc.
LGBTQ+ History Month
The United States observes Pride Month in June and LGBTQ+ History Month in October. The first LGBTQ+ History Month took place in October, 1994. This year celebrates 28 years of LGBTQ+ History Month! The website, lgbthistorymonth.com celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images, and other resources.
Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW): October 14 – 18, 2024
Undocumented students are an integral part of our community, and we believe that they are entitled to every opportunity to succeed. Community colleges play a pivotal role in providing these students with the education and resources they need to thrive.
However, we recognize that many undocumented students continue to face significant barriers to employment and financial stability due to their immigration status. This year's USAW theme focuses on leveraging our collective power to create meaningful change.
The California Community College Chancellor’s Office is hosting a number of free webinars that address challenges and provide resources for students to successfully matriculate through college. To learn more and to register, visit Undocumented Student Action Week.
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: Free system we use to send out emergency notifications, updates, general news, reminders, etc. Receive text message and or email. To sign up, go to the homepage and scroll down to bottom 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.
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. Vendor registration is open. However, spaces are filling quickly. For more information or to request a registration packet call (530) 938-5373 or email foundation@siskiyous.edu.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
October 2024
Follow us on Social Media:
October is an extremely busy time for many in Student Services. The Chancellor's Office, Federal Government, and other entities have us submitting a variety of annual reports that are very time consuming. Thank you to all that have been involved and especially to Janice Porterfield for her personal assistance helping with the budgets.
Preview Day and College Fair will be held October 15, and this event takes an entire campus to pull it off successfully. Thank you to all who are helping make it happen but particularly to Sam Dean, Josh Collins, and Michelle Knudsen. The three of them are directing and leading the charge for various components of the event and it couldn’t be done without them.
Recently, we hired several new individuals within Student Services and we couldn't be more grateful to have them. Welcome Visa Graves (Financial Aid Director), Erin Harbin (Student Services Specialist in Financial Aid), and Chris Hines (Director of Student Housing & Student Life). A big thank you to Haley LeBoueuf, Virginia Taylor, Ty Speck, and Issy Hale for holding down the fort in their respective areas as we have been without the previously mentioned key positions for some time. Their efforts did not go unnoticed and students continued to receive their needed services.
We anticipate hiring an Academic Counselor, Academic Advisor, and Student Services Specialist - Records positions this month. It feels nice to making progress and filling these key areas. Hooray!
Later in October, I will be attending the Fall Symposium for Chief Student Services Officers in San Francisco. I am looking forward to the conference as it is full of helpful information and an opportunity to network with colleagues and gain insights and feedback.
As we near the midway point of the semester, I want to thank the entire Student Services team. I look forward to coming to work each and every day and a large reason for that is because I am very blessed to work with such a phenomenal group of dedicated professionals. I respect and appreciate their contributions and I enjoy the professional and fun relationships we have developed. They are truly a joy to work with. Their praises can't be sung enough.
Basecamp has been busy! Basecamp now offers weekly meals. Every other Tuesday is our 'On n' Crockin' where Regina Weston makes one of her signature crockpot meals. Every other Thursday there is 'Hot to Go' grilled cheese sandwiches. All activities are shared out to students via the Basecamp Instagram page announcing when events will take place and once a month, staff and puppies from the Siskiyou Humane Society in Mt. Shasta visits Basecamp for 'Puppies and Pizza!' The next Puppies and Pizza event will be held October 16 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Basecamp is also happy to announce our new partnership with the Eagle's Nest Resale Shop. Students can now receive a clothing/household voucher good for shopping at the Eagles's Nest Resale Shop in Weed. We are so happy to offer this new opportunity to our students!
It's hard to believe it's already half way through the semester. Keep a look out for more events and services to come!
The EOPS program has had a very busy and successful beginning to the Fall 2024 semester! We processed 200 applications and are happy to report that our participant count for this semester is 145 students. There were five orientations held in August that were all very well attended as well as a handful of one-on-one orientations for students who couldn’t make it to the scheduled ones. After orientation, the students were excited to receive their semester starter kit which is a backpack loaded with school supplies, as well as a gas voucher, a $500 textbook voucher, and the students favorite, an EOPS hoodie!
Our counselors are now busy meeting with the students for their first counselor contact to create or update their Student Education Plan to make sure they are on the right path to graduation or transfer! Next week they will begin their first progress check in, where we will make sure that their classes are going well and guide them in the right direction if they are having any struggles. We wish everyone a happy and successful Fall semester!
The start of the 2024-2025 school year has been particularly problematic due to the Department of Education's "FAFSA simplification Act." Fraud is devastating and has been overwhelming both federal and state student aid agencies and local financial aid offices.
The Business Office and Financial Aid Office are working diligently to work through these post-pandemic complexities. We appreciate how frustrating this is for students and want to offer our support. There are invaluable campus resources that may be able to assist those with immediate need. We appreciate and thank all for your continued patience. College of the Siskiyous campus resources available to students include:
Basecamp
Email: Basecamphq@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5376
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) CARE
Email: eopsinfo@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5309
Student Support Services (SSS)
Email: trio@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5516
CalWORKs
Email:calworks@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5309
Counseling and Student Support Programs
Email: counselingservices@siskiyous.edu
Phone: (530) 938-5353
SSS Staff Attend Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Conference in New York City - TRiO SSS staff kicked off the month of October with a trip to the 'big apple' to attend the annual Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Conference. Staff had the opportunity to collaborate and connect with TRiO personnel from all over the country. They attended seminars pertaining to leadership, annual reporting, supporting first generation / low-income students, hosting successful events, and so much more!
Journey to UC - TRiO staff accompanied a handful of students to a Journey to UC event where students enjoyed a three-day, two-night event hosted by UC Davis and UC Berkeley. Between all of the delicious meals, treats, and swag that was provided, students attended seminars covering transfer requirements, major exploration, transfer resources, academic preparation, application process, financial literacy, and student life. The students loved getting to ask questions to the student panels at each school and adventuring around the two beautiful UC campuses. Everyone was feeling full and inspired after this excellent event.
Pancake Thursdays - Students and staff have been enjoying slow Thursday mornings with pancakes, coffee, and excellent conversation. There has been an upswing of foot traffic in the office and we couldn't be happier to connect with and assist students in various different capacities! We're looking forward to a busy October and can't wait to continue to share.
Hi! My name is Chris Hines and I am the new Director of Student Housing and Student Life at College of the Siskiyous. I grew up on the East Coast in the Philadelphia Metro Area and spent most of my early life between Philly and Boston.
I attended Colgate University in New York State where I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Peace & Conflict Studies. I then earned my Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education with a concentration in Higher Education. Since then, I have worked at a myriad of colleges and universities in Housing and Residential Life, Student Services, and Disability Services. College of the Siskiyous is my fifth institution, previous ones being Hampshire College, Tulane University, Olympic College, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
When not at work, I am an avid outdoor explorer and dog dad to my best friend in the world, a five-year-old Labrador Retriever named Elliott. In addition to hiking, I love keeping up with Philadelphia Sports, playing the guitar, painting, reading, writing, and lifting weights.
Fun facts:
Come say hi! I am here to support you in your academic and personal goals and will do everything I can to help make your college experience positive and productive. I am so excited to get to know you all and the surrounding Siskiyou area. Go Eagles!
September and October have been full of fun for the lodges. Our RA's and staff hosted a slip-n-slide day, supported home soccer games, and decorated the lodges for spooky season! With new Director Chris joining us and our office now fully staffed, we look forward to even more fun to come!
On October 1, ASB held elections for Senators. Six students were nominated and elected, and four senators accepted their positions. Issy Hale, ASB advisor, is working with the newly elected members to schedule meeting dates. A big shout out to Issy as she has been working hard recruiting students to serve on the Associated Student Board.
The Office of Outreach and Retention participated in the North Coast College & Career Expo at College of the Redwoods on September 24 where 1,000 students and their families attended. On September 26, Sam Dean attended the Orland High School College Fair where 300 students attended. Siskiyous Preview Day and College Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 15 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm where we will host local high school seniors and some juniors and the college fair in the gym that is open to the campus community.
We’re excited to share the College recently purchased an electric golf cart for ADA use. It's been an acknowledged, ongoing concern that it's difficult for our visitors to get from the parking lots to the bleachers for our sports games and commencement or go on campus tours by foot. We now have a spiffy new solution! The new golf cart will be prioritized for ADA needs, however it may also be used by the PIO, the Bookstore, or Athletics, so you may see it zipping around campus!
We’re excited to kick off the fall sports season with Volleyball, Soccer, and Football. With several home games already behind us, a number of wins, the energy is high, and our teams are ready to keep pushing forward. School spirit is alive and well, and we can't wait to see more of our amazing fans out there cheering on our Eagles!
Remember to wear your Siskiyous gear and show your pride! While you're supporting our athletes at home events, don't forget to stop by for a Coca-Cola and a bag of popcorn — come "Defend the Nest" and help make every game a win for the Eagles!
We will soon begin our textbook adoptions for both winter intersession and spring. Faculty, please keep an eye on your emails for the upcoming requests!
Facilities Project News:
Thanks to a Foundation Mini-Grant, the Library now has a collection of tabletop games available for checkout, such as Catan, Azul, What Do You Meme? (family edition), Clue, and Uno. In partnership with Sam Dean in Outreach & Retention, the Library will be hosting a game night at the end of October. Stay tuned for a date so that you can mark your calendars!
The Library's October book display features a selection of scary books, so if that's your genre, stop on by to check out a title! As a reminder, all employees (and students) have a library account to check out books and games, books checkout until the end of the semester, we do not charge late fees, and the library offers free interlibrary loan services if you want something we don’t have in our collection.
Academy 46 cadets are registered and ready to start on October 28. The staff have been working hard getting everything prepared for the class including registering and completing all the logistics (Anne Marie Acord) getting the schedule and instructors prepared (Chris Delcour and Monique Gonsalez), and getting the facilities all prepped and ready to go for the students (all Instruction staff). This will be the first time in its 32-year history the class will have its own locker room to keep their gear dry and organized. The Academy will hit the ground running (literally) on the first day, and will be meeting bright and early at the COS track.
Fire season is almost wrapping up and the Fire Technology Program is starting to schedule classes for the remainder of the Fall Semester. Keep updated on classes added to the Fall Schedule and, if you are interested, join our Email List when new classes are scheduled.
The City of Berkeley Fire Department generously donated 50 Scott Air Packs and 70 Air bottles to the Fire Technology Program. They are on site and almost ready to be placed in service. Here are some pictures of the additions to the program. New forcible entry doors, entry simulation windows, and vehicle extrication prop.
On Monday September 7, 2024 members of College of the Siskiyous attended Siskiyou Career and Technical Education Business and Industry Night at Yreka High School.
The event was hosted by Siskiyou works, an organization that connects education to industry to improve our workforce, our economy and our community. The theme of the night was "An Innovation in the Workforce."
COS was represented by Veronica Coots, Dean of CTE, Sam Dean, Director of Outreach, Leigh Moore, Administration of Justice Faculty, Sherice Bellamy, Business Faculty, Thad Wallace, Welding Faculty, Kirk Thomsen, Paramedic Director, and me, Mark Fields, VP of Academic Affairs.
The event included a presentation by Brad Ledford, CEO of Foundri Studio, who shared insights on Artificial Intelligence including tools for education. This (really creepy) video of me was created using AI and describes the event CTE Night.
"Noncredit is a bridge to opportunity," declared Dr. Byron D. Clift Breland, Chancellor of N. Orange Community College District "It's about opening doors, changing trajectories," he later remarked.
These were part of many inspiring thoughts Samantha Worthington — Interim Director of Noncredit, Community & Contract Ed — heard regarding the potential for noncredit classes to empower and uplift students at the Vision 2030 Noncredit Summit in October. College of the Siskiyous was one of 40 community colleges at the conference hosted by North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE). NOCE serves 29,000 students annually entirely through noncredit courses.
Noncredit as a vital pathway to college and economic mobility was the summit's focus. The Chancellor's Office "Vision 2030" includes uplifting California’s low-income adults (6.8 million) and noncredit is an important part of the equation, stated Dr. Sonya Christian, Chancellor of California Community Colleges. College leaders provided examples of robust pathways built into Healthcare, Math, English, and more. Faculty and staff shared innovative examples of business partnership that enable students to earn certificates and obtain jobs. Students provided emotional testimonials of how noncredit significantly changed their lives, including 51-year-old woman who earned her high school diploma about a decade ago and is now working on her Master's degree.
"When I first got my high school degree it was like getting my PhD, it meant so much to me," Jennifer Nunez declared. She keeps her diploma on her wall to remind her she can "go all the way through" higher education. Enrolling in noncredit classes helped her overcome her fears college. Nunez wants to be academic counselor to help students like herself. "Being at NOCE gave me the confidence and opened doors," she tearfully said.
Leaders concurred that college-business partnerships (including in noncredit classes) are important for the future of education. Stewart Knox — Secretary of the California Labor a Workforce Development Agency — suggested business partnerships to train workers and more short-term course work for students to gain skills and enter the workforce. "We need to work with our employers in a different way," Knox said.
Eloy Oakley — College Futures Foundation CEO, University of California regent, and former Chancellor of the California Community Colleges — declared the Foundation is on a mission to "change the narrative around economic mobility" and noncredit curriculum is integral to that mission. " It's all about skills," Oakley remarked, regarding Noncredit's importance in economic mobility.
Many college leaders shared similar thoughts including Cheryl Aschenbach — Academic Senate for California Community Colleges President. "We continue to advocate that noncredit is crucial to inclusion and access," she said.
Hi everyone,
Thank you to all the faculty who submitted the IEPI Faculty Survey. We had 21 fulltime faculty members (out of 44 full-time faculty members) participate in the survey. During the IEPI Team Visit on October 4th, I shared the results with the Team. I also plan to relay the findings at the Academic Senate meeting. Overall, Senate Exec felt the comments expressed in the survey generally reflected how we fell and what we’ve heard around campus.
One interesting result from the survey was how faculty members felt in different contexts. Notably, the context where faculty members feel the least safe is in Academic Senate meetings, versus surprisingly, the context where faculty felt the safest is with their Supervisor/Dean. Although most faculty members reported feeling safe or neutral in Academic Senate meetings, there were a handful of members who expressed feeling unsafe in these meetings. Some comments included:
"There are some personalities that clash making Academic Senate challenging."
"I do hesitate to speak up in Senate meetings because Senate members can come across as very judgmental."
"Speaking at Academic Senate can be scary and intimating," and "Academic Senate lost its glow quite a while ago."
Senate Exec would like to work on making Academic Senate less toxic and more supportive to faculty members. I have submitted a request to the State Academic Senate (ASCCC) to do a local visit. I'm hoping we can get representatives from other rural colleges who can give us suggestions for making our Academic Senate meetings more welcoming and less judgmental. I think the key is that we all must do our part in recognizing how we come across to our peers. As someone wrote in the survey, "there is a difference between being passionate and committed to an idea, and vitriolically diminishing anyone who might have a different perspective."
Please be aware of your words, tone, and body language and how they might be interpreted. Please remember that new faculty members are taking in what is occurring at Academic Senate meetings and we are conveying to them how we treat each other. Let's try to make this setting more inclusive and friendly for everyone.
Thanks for listening,
Andrea Craddock, Ph.D.
Academic Senate President
No other reports received.
mySiskiyous
Athletics