And when the fog‘s over and the stars and the moon come out at night it’ll be a beautiful sight.
Jack Kerouac
COOL OFF THE SKYLINE WAY WITH IT’S IT!
Gobbling up an IT’S IT (a San Francisco original!) is the perfect solution for battling the heat wave at Skyline College. The IT’S IT table was swarmed by students at College Hour. Some employees indulged too! Thanks to Dr. Newin Orante for thinking of IT. (Get IT?)
7-Point Plan Focus: Bring Skyline to the People
There are few things more thrilling than a new idea coming to fruition, and this is one of those moments – especially with so many people behind it. Our team (Dr. Vinicio Lopez, and Cherie Colin) went to visit Jefferson High School to meet Toni Presta, the Jefferson Union High School District Superintendent, Kareen Baca, the Deputy Superintendent, and Jefferson High’s new Principal, John Harrigan, to scope out some space to host our “Bring Skyline to the People” concept. Toni and her team generously supported the concept by providing us space (rent-free! subject to Board approval) to host a “People’s Center” where families come to enjoy evenings of educational opportunities, childcare, free groceries, a warm meal, health & wellness services, and homework tutoring for their kids. More on this as it develops.
Umoja-ASTEP and Black Student Union Meet & Greet
The Umoja-ASTEP & Black Student Union (BSU) had its Meet & Greet this week. I heard the overwhelming sentiment for what our students want: more students joining! According to Dr. Chad Coates and Brittney Sneed, there are many upcoming opportunities this semester for engagement, belonging, and community building, including a screening of the much anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And, there’s talk about creating an NAACP chapter at Skyline. Let’s do it! Business Professor Soledad McCarthy reminded us that there are so many of us across the institution to support whatever you can dream. Students, if you are reading this, we collectively stand ready to find the resources needed to make your dreams happen for Umoja-ASTEP and BSU.
San Bruno Community Foundation
Last year I was selected to serve as a board member of the San Bruno Community Foundation (SBCF). The SBCF is the nonprofit organization created by the City of San Bruno to administer the $70 million in restitution funds received from PG&E after the devastating 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno’s Crestmoor neighborhood. It is an honor to serve alongside community colleagues and to be a part of this great work that supports the residents and students of San Bruno. One very exciting project of this board is to assist in the funding of the new Recreation and Aquatic Center in San Bruno. At the board meeting this week, we met the new Superintendent of the San Bruno Park School District, Matt Duffy and the new Principal of Capuchino High School, Jose Gomez. Our team is meeting with Principal Jose Gomez to affirm our commitment to serve Capuchino High School, and explore expansion of dual enrollment and other community programs to support his new leadership.
7-Point Plan Focus: Climate Review
Last week’s blog entry threaded together the work we have been doing on Climate Review since my first day as your President. In 2020, I released the McPhail Report to the campus, and formed a “Climate Review Work Group” to consider the implementation of its recommendations and to determine next steps needed to better understand the college climate. The work group brought forward to CGC its recommendation to implement all the McPhail Group recommendations and to engage in regular climate review as a campus.
In the meantime, in April 2022 we encouraged our employees to take the Great Colleges to Work For survey. We recently received our results and the survey confirmed the challenges we face with our current climate – and affirmed the continued need for the climate-focused work of the People’s College Initiative. Our PRIE office will share the results on its website in the coming weeks. As we collectively review and reflect on the results, the PCI-CRTG will be creating an action plan for improvement and/or consider any further self-assessment to be included in our next employee survey.
Free Form Fridays with the President is intended to provide us with a virtual space to connect. Anyone is welcome to join throughout the session which keeps the conversation interesting! Next one: October 7, 2022.
Upcoming dates: 10/07, 11/04, 12/02, 02/03, 03/03, 04/07, 05/05. Zoom In!
Closing in Memory of Jubilee Tupou Fano Taufete’e
Skyline College Admissions and Records Office lost a beautiful soul – Jubilee Tupou Fano Taufete’e. Jubilee radiated kindness and joy. She came to Admissions and Records at the beginning of the pandemic, when we were challenged with navigating remote work. From the minute we met in her interview, we knew we had someone special. You could feel her calm, gentle determination, her profound strength and boundless passion to serve others. Jubilee was taken from this life much too soon. She will be deeply missed, not only by her immediate family and her Skyline family, but by every single person whose life she touched. In the words of Jubilee’s family: “The memories we carry are pieces that keep her legacy alive. They will be cherished and never forgotten”.
