February 14 , 2005
Third Edition of the Year
An updated version of CSM Internal appears every other week
The News
Top Stories
Student learning outcomes and assessment open forum March 1
Bio of diversity lecturer Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston--please send students to March 3 lecture
Accomplishments
Read about accomplishments of CSM's students, staff, faculty and administrators
Personnel/ Meet a Student Update
Who are College's newest employees?
District's Student Trustee is a CSM student
Campus Events
College hosted successful Integrative Learning Project visit
Photos of Grace Sonner's retirement reception
Calendar section of CSM Internal is updated with each edition
Internal Web site
CSM Internal to have a new look soon and its spring semester publication schedule
In General
Deadline to pickup staff parking permits is March 1
Who has Employee of the Month parking spaces for February 2005
Sources of information about the campus facilities improvement program, including Web site
Please tell students
Available Classes: Career & Life Planning classes are open
Web Site: Full printed spring class schedule now online; date summer class schedule will appear online
Financial Aid: Second "Cash for College Days" workshop at CSM this Saturday, Feb. 12
Transfer Services: Workshops--UC Santa Cruz's Transfer Partnership Program and CSU requirements
Health Services: February events
CSM Connects: More info on March 12 Youth Conference on community involvement
Contact us with your feedback
CSM Internal
CSM Listens
The News
Top Stories
... CSM English Professor Sandra Stefani Comerford is the College's new Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment Coordinator. Via a recent email, Comerford, CSM President Shirley Kelly and the College Assessment Committee invited the entire campus community to an open forum about the assessment movement and student learning outcomes at the institutional level. It will take place on March 1, from 1:15 to 3 pm in Building 5's Staff Dining Room (snacks will be provided). Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend "to help shape our efforts, for the assessment of student outcomes will affect what we do at CSM." The following is background information on the subject of the forum, extracted from the email:
The Assessment Movement in Education We have all heard about the assessment movement in education and, at times, may have associated it with the national standardized testing occurring in the K-12 system. Fortunately in higher education, assessment involves developing, assessing and discussing student learning outcomes (SLOs) locally within the academic institution. The new accreditation standards now reflect this movement, and many academic bodies, such as the statewide Academic Senate, have supported this work. At the Fall 2004 Plenary, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopted Resolution 2.01, which, in part, emphasizes that local faculty, and senates are solely responsible for the design and development of SLOs. Indeed, the administrators here support the critical role of faculty and other key college constituents in developing SLOs at CSM.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) What exactly are SLOs? In the new accreditation standards, a student learning outcome describes the knowledge, skills, abilities, or attitudes that students have attained by the end of a college experience; a college experience is defined as a course, a program, a degree or certificate, and interactions with Student Services and the library. Thus, SLOs touch every aspect of our college life. With SLOs we are trying to achieve what Palomba and Banta stated in Assessment Essentials (1999), "The overriding purpose of assessment is to understand how educational programs are working and to determine whether they are contributing to student growth and development."
Therefore, at the course, department or program, and institutional levels, we--faculty and staff--with the support of administration need to establish SLOs, assess them, and analyze the results for educational improvement. Many of us already engage in such inquiry; now we must formalize the process and make it public. In Classroom Assessment Techniques (1993), Angelo and Cross wrote, "Learning can and often does take place without the benefit of teaching, and sometimes even in spite of it, but there is no such thing as effective teaching in the absence of learning. Teaching without learning is simply talking." We want our dialogues about student learning at CSM to be productive and meaningful.
Thus, as we begin our college journey focusing on student learning outcomes, we hope everyone will attend this open forum for our first dialogue about student learning at the institutional level (considering learning outcomes in general education and degrees).
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... Faculty members are encouraged to bring their classes or send students to the first diversity lecture series event of the spring semester on March 3, from 11:10 am to noon, in the campus theatre to hear author Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston . After the lecture, an author's reception with light refreshments and a book signing will take place in Building 1, Room 115. The following is a bio of Houston: 
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, born in California, is the co-author of Farewell to Manzanar. The book, now in its 63rd printing, is based on the internment experience of her Japanese-American family during and after World War II in California.
Houston collaborated with her novelist husband, James D. Houston, to produce this now standard resource in schools and campuses throughout the United States. The couple also wrote a screenplay based on the story for a television drama. The screenplay was nominated for an Emmy Award and won the prestigious Humanitas Prize, presented to film and television writers whose scripts convey those values which most enrich the human person.
In 2003, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's first novel was published. Entitled The Legend of Fire Horse Woman, the book traces three generations of Japanese-American women from the early 1900s to the end of World War II. Between her first book and her first novel, Houston co-authored with Paul Hensler Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder, a Vietnam memoir; wrote Beyond Manzanar: Views of Asian American Womanhood; and has written numerous essays, articles and reviews. The latter works have appeared in publications such as Mother Jones , New England Review , The Reader's Digest , Der Spiegel (Hamburg, Germany), San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times . The writer's stories and essays have also been part of numerous collections, including Ethnic American Woman , American Mosaic and The Colors of Nature .
Houston, who holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from San Jose State University and has pursued graduate work at
San Francisco State University and the Sorbonne in France, teamed with her husband in the late 1970s and early 1980s
to write two pilot scripts for ethnic-centered television dramas. Additionally, she has read, lectured and presented seminars nationally and abroad in locations such as Stanford University and United States Information Agency posts in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Houston, now living in Santa Cruz, is the recipient of several residencies and fellowships. In 1984, she received the
Wonder Woman Award, given to women older than 40 who have made outstanding achievements in pursuit of truth and
positive social change. In 2001, she was presented with a Certificate for Literature and History by the California State
Legislature and the city of Los Angeles.
For more information about the series, call (650) 574-6314. This series is made possible by a generous grant from the Lane Family Charitable Trust.
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Accomplishments
... Click on People on the left bar to visit the College's archive of the professional and personal accomplishments of CSM students, staff, faculty and administrators. This section is updated regularly.
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Personnel/Meet a Student Update
... Click on the New Staff tab at the top of this page to read bios about and see photos of CSM's newest employees. This section is updated regularly.
... Click on the Meet a Student tab at the top of this page to read a bio of and see a photo of the District's Student Trustee, CSM student Patrick Burns.
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Campus Events
... On Wednesday, January 26, CSM hosted a visit of the Integrative Learning Project, a three-year national endeavor sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Carnegie Foundation. In the morning, representatives from the nine other four- and two-year participating colleges from across the country joined CSM faculty and staff for a presentation by Portland State University and LaGuardia Community College given in Building 19's Smart Classroom. The topic was e-portfolios, an exciting tool that allows students to showcase their goals and educational accomplishments on the web. E-portfolios can be constructed for use as an assessment mechanism as well. Faculty from all the colleges shared ideas over lunch in the Staff Dining Room and then continued to the Choral Room for a presentation by Mike Burke and Jean Mach ( in composite photo) on their Tools for Thought Learning Community here at CSM. Members from the ILP teams, the Carnegie Foundation and AAC&U have all communicated their delight in CSM's campus, students, faculty and administrators.
... On February 9, CSM did it right: It threw a stylish and entertaining retirement party for Grace Sonner, the "Queen Organizer of CSM Gatherings." Grace, after 34 years of service to the College, officially retired at the end of January as CSM's vice president of Instruction. But the school wasn't going to let her just "ride off into the sunset" without wishing her a fond and "heartfelt" farewell. Accordingly, the event featured a Valentine's theme, with heart-shaped balloons and food in the Staff Dining Room. The presentation of the dessert and refreshment tables surely made Grace proud, as it certainly had the "just so" look of one of the many events she has coordinated over the years. And why wouldn't they, thanks to the reception's coordinator Valerie Anderson of the President's Office, who has been a long-time member of Grace's volunteer reception crew. The entertainment included music by CSM's all-employee band, the Bulldawgs, composed of Mike Claire, Grace's successor; Helen Souranoff and Virgil Stanford of Administrative Services; and Chris Phillips and Sam Haun from KCSM. Their performance was punctuated by a song written by Public Relations & Marketing's Helen Walker, sung to music of "House of the Rising Sun" (see words below). Later, members of the Masterworks Chorale dropped by for a special selection, "S Wonderful," by George Gershwin. In attendance were numerous CSM employees, active and retired, students and representatives from throughout the District. Plus, there were speeches and gift presentations by representatives of the College's faculty (Academic President Tom Diskin) and students (Student Body President Chris Eden). President Shirley Kelly, speaking on behalf of CSM, presented a speech injected with congratulations, compliments and humor. Shirley said, without a trace of equivocation, that Grace is the best vice president of instruction that she's ever known--and, she added, she has known of few. Then, Grace approached the microphone and shared a piece of advice that her husband, Rich, had given her: "Keep it short; this isn't the Academy Awards." And her comments were efficiently comprehensive as she expressed her thanks and appreciation to the many who were part of her successful career. Typical of her continued interest in the improvement of CSM, Grace asked that instead of gifts to her, she would ask that donations be made to CSM's Star Projector Project Fund by making checks to the San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation and sending them to the College's Office of the President.
In photo are retirement reception guest-of-honor, Grace Sonner, at the microphone with the Bulldawgs band members (from left to right) CSM's Mike Claire, Helen Souranoff, Virgil Stanford, Sam Haun and Chris Phillips AND one of the two celebratory cakes.
In photo are Grace Sonner, retirement reception guest-of-honor, with CSM President Shirley Kelly at the microphone And well wishers with Grace in the Staff Dining Room at the reception.
Lyrics of a song for Grace Sonner
Amazing Grace, how sweet the time
That you have spent with us
You gave your heart and worked so hard
To make our college shine.
- - - -Oh Grace, how kind are all your words
How long the hours you toiled
Your special touch at party time
Reflects your class and style.- - - -Professional, a mentor true
That's who you'll always be
But more than that, your heart and smile Are part of CSM.
... The Calendar section (see tab link at the top of this page) is updated with every edition of CSM Internal so please take a look at what's coming up on campus. Please forward any College events to habeeb@smccd.net for inclusion in the Calendar by the Wednesday before the next CSM Internal publication date. An updated version of CSM Internal will appear on the following dates during the spring semester : February 14 & 28; March 14 & 28; April 11 &25; and May 9 and 23.
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Internal Web site
... Sometime during the Spring semester CSM Internal will have a new look, featuring a more streamlined look and resembling in color and feel the College's main Web site. Most sections will remain, including Newspaper, Calendar, Committees and Research. And a search feature will be added for ease in finding information, especially items located in the News Archive section. An updated version of CSM Internal will appear on the following dates during the spring semester : February 14 & 28; March 14 & 28; April 11 &25; and May 9 and 23. Please forward any items to habeeb@smccd.net by the Wednesday before the next CSM Internal publication date.
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In General
... The deadline to pick-up new staff parking permits is February 28, 2005. The pickup location is Building 1, second floor. With any questions, call (650) 574-6414.
... The Employee of the Month spaces for February 2005 are Gina Han (Lot 4) and Ulysses Guadamuz (Lot 5) .
... For students , staff, faculty and administrators, here are information sources about the Capital Improvement program (a.k.a., the campus facility improvement program): collegeofsanmateo.edu/construction or Swinerton Management & Consulting, the company managing the CIP, at 650.378.7334 or freemank@smccd.net.
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CSM is offering .5 unit, eight-hour classes in Career & Life Planning throughout the spring semester . College planning starts February 20, Achieving an Associate Degree and/or Certificate begins March 6, Introduction to Choosing a College Major starts April 3 and Newcomer Orientation begins April 17. There are openings in all these classes. For further information, including days and times classes are offered, contact Martha Gutierrez at (650) 574-6332 or gutierrez@smccd.net.
A full printed version of CSM's Spring Schedule of Classes is now available on CSM Web site at collegeofsanmateo.edu. To find it, go to the home page, then All Students, then Schedule & Catalog and finally to Printed Schedule to find "Spring 2005 Schedule of Classes (full schedule)*." Also, the Summer Schedule of Classes will be Online beginning March 4, 2005.
On Saturday, February 19, the second of of two"Cash for College Days" free workshops will be held on campus. It will run from 10 am to 2 pm in Building 5's South Cafeteria and provide important information to students about financial aid and eligibility. Professional assistance will be provided to families completing the Cal Grant forms, Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waivers and Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); computer workstations will be ready to help students complete the online FAFSA application on the spot. Bilingual assistance will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Hindi and Punjabi. For more information email pitettat@smccd.net or call 650.574.6585. For information about other workshop locations, visit collegeofsanmateo.edu. For further information on financial aid, visit the state Web site at icanaffordcollege.com.
The Transfer Club meets every Monday , from between 12:10 to 1:00 pm in the Counseling Center (Building 5, Room. 128). On February 14, from noon to 1 pm, in Building 5, Room 106A, the club will host a workshop about UC Santa Cruz 's Transfer Partnership Program. The speaker, Rance Bobo, will talk about the many support services UC campuses in general offer to students interested in transferring to ANY UC campus. And for information about major preparation and CSU general education requirements as well as general admission and transfer procedures from College of San Mateo to a CSU campus, please encourage students to attend the How to Transfer to A CSU Campus workshop in Building 5, Room 106A, on Wednesday, February 16, from 11:10am to noon. Call Mike Mitchell, the coordinator of Transfer Services, at (650) 574-6662 or mitchellm@smccd.net with any questions. And please visit collegeofsanmateo.edu/transfer for complete information on CSM's January-March 2005 Transfer Services' events, meetings, workshops and university representative visits.
On February 8, 9 and 10 , from 10 am to 1 pm, CSM's Health Center will staff a table in Building 5 to dispense information about keeping your heart healthy . On February 14 , it will provide information about sexual responsibility in the same location at the same times. For more information, call (650) 574-6396.
"Youth Conference: Making Changes...Building Community in San Mateo" will be held on March 12, from 9 am to 2 pm at CSM in Building 5 . The workshop is designed for all high school and college students, educators and youth leaders who are interested in being more active in their communities but don't know how to get started. CSM and CSM Connects, the volunteer community service program at CSM, are presenting this civic engagement event of youth-led workshops that inspire voting, promote diversity dialogue and provide civic engagement skills training. The Youth Conference has excellent speakers from local college campuses: San Francisco State University, San Jose State University , Notre Dame de Namur University and College of San Mateo . Workshops will be facilitated on topics such as Event Planning , Diversity , Presentation of Self , Making the Impossible Possible , Beyond Voter Registration and more . Conference fees are: $5.00 for college students/adults; $3.00 for high school students; and $25.00 for groups of 10 until March 4, 2005; the fees include breakfast, lunch and conference materials. Late registration (after March 4) is $10 per person; day of event registration is welcomed. Contact Beverley Madden or Stephanie Cheung at (650) 574-6677, extension 9287, or csmcivicengagement@yahoo.com to register.
See Calendar section for more event info or News Archive linked above to view past editions.
Contact us with your feedback
Please contact Mike Habeeb at habeeb@smccd.net , if you have any story ideas or comments regarding CSM Internal .
If you have any suggestions, complaints, compliments or comments about CSM's staff, faculty, administrators, divisions, departments or services, CSM Listens at (650) 574-6677, extension 9080, or csmlistens@smccd.net wants your feedback.