National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month. It's a time to recognize suicide as a major public health concern.
#BeThe1To… 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's message is #BeThe1To which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide:
Additional Resources can be accessed as follows:
Awareness and access to mental health resources can quickly change the trajectory of suicidal ideations.
National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15, 2023
This year's theme is, Uniting Communities. During a time when societal divisions are becoming more apparent, this theme recognizes the need for solidarity. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a dedicated period to acknowledge achievements and the diverse cultures of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It is also a time to recognize Hispanic and Latino influences that have shaped our nation. The month invites us to delve into the colorful tapestry that comprises Hispanic culture – its music, cuisine, arts, and contributions to science, technology, and social justice (hispanicmonth.net).
The Smithsonian Latino Museum has a number of collections which highlights Latino history and culture in the United States.
Thank you to all who volunteered to help us in the COS Outreach Booth during the Siskiyou Golden Fair and Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairs. These two fairs offers us a super opportunity to promote the College, our classes, and the many wonderful programs and services we offer students. Thank you again for your help.
2023 College & Career Day
College of the Siskiyous along with UC Davis Upward Bound, Siskiyou County Office of Education, College/Career Options, and SiskiyouWorks will host College & Career Day at the Weed Campus on Tuesday, October 17 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Siskiyou County high schools have been invited to attend. Students will have the opportunity to meet COS faculty and staff; view demonstrations; gather information on COS academic programs; and have fun. The College & Career Fair hosts representatives from other colleges and universities as well as industry partners and employers. High school seniors and their parents, current COS students or any student who would like to attend the College & Career Day event are invited to stop by the Weed Campus on October 17.
Holiday Craft Fair
The 26th Annual COS Holiday Craft Fair will be Friday evening, December 1 (5:00 to 8:00 pm) and Saturday, December 2 (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.
Stay Connected
Now that school has started, it is a great time to sign up for the college's communication system,"“COS Connect" powered by Everbridge. This is a free system used to notify students and staff of emergency situations, campus closures, or general information. To sign up click on the COS Connect button located on the COS homepage and follow the directions to get sign up.
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. 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.
September
October
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Check the Athletics webpage for game schedules, scores, and photos from the events. Go Eagles!
The fall semester is underway and it is evident that students are here and engaged. Staff and faculty feel the increase in student numbers this semester and there is a buzz in the air regarding the increased number of students. Student Services departments were bursting at the seams helping students to create class schedules, get registered for classes, get financial aid, receive support services, move into their lodging, enjoy Week of Welcome, and so much more. The Student Services staff and faculty were and are amazing. The entire time they were professional, actively engaged, and helping students feel welcome. I heard from several students that spoke about how everyone has been "so nice" or "very helpful." Students appreciate that kind of service and I know I do as well from the team. Thank you all for your willingness to go "above and beyond."
Basecamp was very busy during the month of August as we prepared for students to return. We spent the first three weeks cleaning, organizing and shopping for the new semester. We had one of our biggest shopping trips to date to stock our shelves with food, hygiene products, household products and school supplies for new and returning students.
During the Week of Welcome (WOW) we hosted the Connected Fair in the foyer of the Learning Resources Center (LRC), where we had over 20 campus and community partners join us to provide information and resources to students. Our staff also enjoyed helping out with Bowling Night at Cedar Lanes and Swim Night at the Weed Community Pool. Bowling had over 45 students, 61 games of bowling, and 15 pizzas served. Swim night was another huge success with another 25 pizzas gone with well over 50 students attending.
It has been great seeing our students come out for these events in large numbers, and we plan to have a jam-packed fall with lots of opportunities for student engagement. If you want to keep up to date with Basecamp events and also see videos and pictures from Week of Welcome events check out our Instagram, @cos_basecamphq.
During the second week of the fall semester Basecamp participated in Wizarding Week in the Learning Resources Center. While the Academic Success Center (ASC) was Hogwarts, and the Career Center was Hagrid's Hut, Basecamp was Hogsmeade! Each day we hosted a different shop from Hogsmeade like Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, Ollivanders, and Three Broomsticks. Students were able to make wands and Butterbeer was a big hit! It was a fun week and we look forward to planning more collaborative events for the Learning Resources Center in the future.
The EOPS Program had a very successful summer and beginning of the fall semester with recruitment. Our program received 222 applications, and we thank all who referred students. Staff have been very busy processing eligibility, conducting group and one on one orientations, as well as distributing gas vouchers, book vouchers, and semester starter kits. We currently have more students in the program this semester than we have had since spring 2020! We are very excited to offer them all of the support that we can to help them excel at COS! Our EOPS counselors have already started meeting with these students to create their Education Plans so they have a roadmap for their time here, and they will continue to meet with them throughout the semester for any additional needs they may have. Welcome EOPS students, we are happy to have you!
The Lodges have added new "wall games and activities" for residents to play with instructions. The activities and games are different in both Juniper and Ponderosa Halls to allow residents to rotate to different buildings to meet and interact with other residents.
Student Housing has approved the hiring of two new student workers. Their names and positions will be announced once their documents and hiring process are finalized.
It has been an extremely busy month completing the 2023-2024 Siskiyou Joint Community College District Final Budget. Next up, the Business Office and Human Resources staff are participating in workshops designed to provide the College with the data it needs to align its most critical business processes and with the industry's best practices around the Banner® ERP system. We are hoping to identify potential changes to promote automation and improve service to campus constituents. As part of the process in October, the Business Office staff will undergo training and a renewed familiarity with the operational features and capabilities of these Banner modules.
In our Food Services department, please join us in welcoming our two new Food Services Assistants - Robin McSwain and Steven Abbott. We are hoping to finalize the implementation of the new Point of Sale System (TOAST) within the next week.
We are happy to announce Chris Williamson is our new IS Technician I, and he has hit the ground running. Please give him a warm COS welcome.
The Client Services team is currently executing a workstation refresh for Athletics. They have also started the FY23-24 refresh for Student Services, anticipating completion before the end of the calendar year. The Client Services team has completed implementation of a new Zoom room for both the ADJ and Fire programs. However, due to a change in hardware support by Zoom, the Client Services team will be replacing the existing Zoom room controllers throughout campus.
The Classroom\Lab Improvements Project (CLIP) taskforce has resumed its efforts to define both the classroom\lab service and the classroom\lab standard. It is also exploring how best to handle a refresh in light of significant cuts to the Physical Plant and Instructional Support grant.
The department is forming a committee to evaluate the College’s printing and copying needs and then implement a new lease to implement these needs. This lease will need to be in-place by January when the current lease expires.
The Enterprise Application team is working to update the existing student application import process to utilize improved technology that will allow us to incorporate all data provided by students on the CCCApply website.
The Infrastructure Services team is working with a vendor engaged by the Chancellor's Office to perform a security review. This review includes an analysis of our technology infrastructure and penetration testing to identify any potential vulnerabilities. The Infrastructure Services team also continues to work with an outside vendor to implement the Microsoft A5 Security Suite to significantly enhance the College's cybersecurity posture. We expect to complete the implementation in October.
Recently completed projects:
Upcoming projects:
Ongoing projects:
Note: Facilities will no longer collect batteries that did not originate from our own supply. Disposal is very expensive for the College, so we will no longer be accepting personal dead battery collections.
Greetings from the Campus Gift & Book Shop at the College of the Siskiyous! We are absolutely thrilled to share exciting news with our wonderful campus community. The shelves are now adorned with the latest arrivals of top-notch Adidas merchandise showcasing a fusion of style, comfort, and quality. From sleek sportswear to trendy accessories, there is something for everyone, be it students, faculty, staff, administrators, or our cherished extended community. We believe that wearing these iconic pieces not only promotes a sense of pride in our esteemed institution but also fosters a strong sense of unity amongst us all.
But that's not all! In our continuous commitment to meeting the diverse needs of our campus, we have expanded our range of school and office supplies. Our collection now boasts a curated selection of modern, cutting-edge items tailored to enhance productivity and learning experiences. We are dedicated to providing out customers with the tools needed to excel in academic pursuits, all within arm's reach.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every department on campus for their invaluable support. By choosing to invest in our store rather than online retailers, you are not only bolstering the Campus Gift & Book Shop but also contributing to the vibrant tapestry of our college community. Together, we are not just shopping; we are building a legacy of unity and pride. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey!
We are happy to report enrollments are up this semester with a significant increase in noncredit class enrollment. Thank you to Veronica Coots, Director of Noncredit and Marie Caldwell, Director of SiskiyouWorks for your work with the noncredit/adult education students.
This fall, the Fire Academy started with 27 students. Testing will take place again in two weeks, so the number of Cadets may grow.
Paramedic training will begin soon with 29 students enrolled at our Mendocino facility and 34 enrolled in the Weed Campus program. We are proud to note, these are our largest classes since pre-pandemic and fill a critical need in the community.
Call for Student Worker Requests - Does your department or program need a Student Worker? The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP) can subsidize 100% of a student workers wage, as long as:
Student Eligibility Requirements:
* Note: "Underrepresented" students include first generation college students, low-income students, students who are current or former foster youth, homeless students or those at risk of becoming homeless, students with disabilities, displaced workers, students with dependent children, formerly incarcerated students or undocumented students, and students who are veterans.
If you would like to request a student worker, please submit a job description (or request our job description template) via Erin Kangas at Erin.kangas@siskiyous.edu.
Upcoming Events
Hi Everyone.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the fall semester. Although I had a rough start to my semester with the recent passing of my father, I appreciate the kind words and condolences expressed to me from co-workers and students alike. I feel lucky to work in such a supportive, nurturing environment. It has also been nice to be on campus with students and teaching because it’s a great distraction.
During the last Academic Senate meeting, members decided to work on amendments to our local COSGE pattern at next month's Academic Senate meeting – Friday, October 13, 11:00am - 1:00 pm. As discussed this past year, the Academic Senate is tasked with revising our local COSGE pattern to include a new category for the Ethnic Studies requirement. The Senate also needs to discuss if additional changes to our GE pattern are needed to align more fully with Cal-GETC requirements. Faculty, please note this date on your calendars. It is important our full-time faculty members attend this Academic Senate meeting, so your voice is heard! The Senate will provide lunch and refreshments. More information and reminders about this upcoming Academic Senate meeting will be forthcoming.
Finally, I want to recognize the efforts of our EMS Faculty Coordinator, Kirk Thomsen, and EMS Faculty, Connie Duffle, in applying to offer a bachelor program in Paramedicine at College of the Siskiyous. They submitted a sizable application in a short timeframe. We applaud them for their effort and time in this endeavor.
Thanks for listening,
Andrea Craddock, Ph.D.
Academic Senate President
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