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ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE In His Element College for Kids Parking 101 Go With the Flow Close Encounters Chancellor's Page Development News Factoids Newsmakers Accomplishments
of faculty and staff… |
Miscellaneous
tidbits of information Factoids ROUNDTRIP TICKET, SAN DIEGO TO BEIJING City College history professor Susan Hasegawa participated in the East-West Center/University of Hawaii’s Institute on Teaching About China and the United States this summer. Sponsored by the Asian Studies Development Program, Beijing University and the Chinese Ministry of Education, the three-week institute included lectures and site visits to the cities of Beijing, Kunming, Nanjing and Shanghai. Highlighting the institute were wide-ranging discussions on China-U.S. relations, economic and social reforms, the environment, and ethnic diversity. Through her meetings with many scholars and policy-makers including political scientists, economists, historians and diplomats, Hasegawa gained more knowledge and insight into the Chinese government’s priorities and the numerous challenges China faces. This was the second part of a two-year program designed to improve how Chinese and American faculty teach about each others’ countries and cultures, and to encourage interaction among Chinese and American faculty. San Diego City College students got an up-close look at what can happen if you drink and drive. The smashed-up car was brought on campus as part of City College’s First Annual Health and Safety Expo Sept. 24, presented by the College Police Department. The event provided students with safety information, the opportunity to interact with their police department, and a chance to learn about campus clubs and community agencies. Mental health providers gave information on drug and alcohol abuse, Planned Parenthood offered material on family planning, the District Attorney’s office counseled on rape prevention, Army and Navy recruiters talked about careers in the military, and the fire department gave fire safety tips. Parents could get child safety ID cards for their kids. Health and fitness activities included a blood drive, blood-pressure testing, body-fat measuring and fitness pointers. DONDE ESTA LA ESCUELA? San Diego City College’s Study Abroad Program coordinated a Spanish language immersion program this summer for 18 students from various colleges in the area. Courses in Spanish 101, 102, 201 and 210 were held June 15-July 13, 2002, at the Instituto de Idioma y Cultura (ICC) in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The students lived with host families within walking distance of the school. Excursions and field trips were planned for the students on weekends, according to Rosalinda Sandoval, City College Spanish professor who accompanied the group and audited classes to verify that the students were receiving the same quality of instruction as they would receive at City College. “No English was spoken in the homes or at ICC,” Sandoval said. “The constant interaction with their families and the intense instruction in the classroom made a big difference in the students’ ability to converse in Spanish. It was very noticeable as the weeks passed.” In 1961, the first Spanish language school was established in Cuernavaca to provide immersion language experience for missionaries headed for Latin America. Since then the city has become the center for Spanish language studies in Latin America, attracting students from all over the world. Besides the language schools, Cuernavaca is also a university town, home to many artists and intellectuals, and the site of numerous cultural events, including concerts, ballet and theater performances, and art exhibitions. The area’s “eternal spring” climate, where outdoor sports can be enjoyed year-round, makes it a popular vacation destination for Mexicans and international tourists. ON THE CUTTING EDGE Cutting hair shapes students in more ways than one. Again this summer, City College professor Ella Sloan and 50 cosmetology students volunteered to give free hair cuts during Operation Stand Down at the San Diego High School athletic field. In military parlance “stand down” refers to period when troops cease their normal operations for relaxation and clean up; this Operation Stand Down is sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of San Diego and brings homeless veterans a 72-hour break from their street life. This year’s three-day event drew more than 700 veterans and 1,800 volunteers to assist homeless and other challenged veterans in receiving care -- from free food and medical care to mental health, legal services, clean clothes...and hair cuts. FUN AT THE FAIR San Diego City, Mesa and Miramar colleges showcased the many opportunities available at our colleges for visitors at the San Diego County Fair this year. On July 1, the colleges held a “Start Something Amazing” Day in the educational pavilion of the fair. Among the exciting programs highlighted included a presentation by Dwayne Gergens and Robert Fremland of the Mesa chemistry department, which shared with young fair visitors the scientific side of making silly putty. The Mesa College dance program, under the direction of Aulani Chun, performed a collection of modern and traditional dances on stage. In addition, students of the City College cosmetology program, lead by Sudabeh Phillips, provided free hairstyles and manicures for more than 500 fair-goers. On this and other fair days, the college outreach teams provided information on associate degree and certificate programs, as well as information on the transfer programs offered at SDCCD colleges. Overall, hundreds of fair participants were given information about district colleges. INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT This fall, more international students enrolled at Miramar College than ever before and they represent countries around the world. New students from Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey, Germany, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Kenya, India, Holland, China and Canada stated varied reasons when asked why they selected Miramar College. Reasons included family and friend referrals, specific program needs and, yes, water polo. Several found Miramar while surfing the Internet. Miramar counselor Ruth Gray coordinates the international student program, which requires full-time enrollment and registration with the INS. NEW NAVY CONTRACT The Miramar College School of Public Services has been awarded a three-year contract to train Navy enlisted personnel in basic EMT skills and expand into the areas of advanced cardiac life support, pre-hospital trauma life support and IV fluid management. Courses will be held at the Navy Hospital, Balboa Park, beginning this month. School dean Jim Palmer and military contracts director Gus Leahy are responsible for the new agreement. ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES San Diego Red Cross was thrilled with the results of the first Health Fair of the fall semester! More than 40 faculty, staff and students visited the mobile van, resulting in 23 pints of blood collected. Judy Harris, Miramar College Health Center director, coordinates monthly health fairs and special events on campus. The next scheduled Red Cross Blood Drive will be Feb. 14, 2003. “ATTACK OF THE SCONES” AND OTHER SPECIAL OFFERS The Mesa College Cafeteria has gone online with its menu and special promotions as part of a larger effort to upgrade and expand on-campus food services. Roy Givon, information technology assistant for the cafeteria, came up with this innovative marketing approach of a website with online services. Online coupons entitle the bearer to a promotional item free with the purchase of a regular-priced menu item. Givon has a little fun with the project, tying the offers with what’s hot among 20-somethings — hence the take-off on last spring’s movie “Attack of the Clones.” To promote the cafeteria’s catering operation, Givon put a downloadable order form on the website. Givon reports that the website has increased awareness of the catering operation and there has been an overall increase in sales. “It’s so easy to use, and you can log on at any time, day or night, to place your order,” he says. “TH!NK”
TO THE FUTURE Through the efforts of Pearson Ford, the San Diego
Regional Transportation Center and Greg Newhouse, administrator of Miramar
College’s advanced transportation technology program, a shiny, new
electric car, TH!NK Neighbor, is wheeling around campus. With the further development of the college’s 120-acre campus, the TH!NK Neighbor will be used daily on campus and also as a display vehicle for career expos and business partnership meetings on campus, such as the quarterly general membership meetings of the San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition. It may also be considered as a potential vehicle for security and parking control. The Miramar College advanced transportation technology (ATT) program, has worked with Pearson Ford and the developing Regional Transportation Center through the San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition. The ATT program is one of only 10 strategically located throughout California for the express purpose of teaching and demonstrating alternative fuel technologies. Its activities involve both on- and off-campus technical training, public education and alternative fuel and vehicle demonstrations.
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