Your Monthly Update for October 2023 | |
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Dear Pirate Crew,
Together, we are quickly sailing toward the holidays with roughly 40 instructional days remaining. My newsletter focus, this month, is on equity and inclusion which are fundamental to our work at VC and the community college education system. Celebrations honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Undocumented Students Week of Action are important reminders of our role in accomplishing our mission.
I recently viewed a movie on Amazon Prime called “A Million Miles Away.” My emotions while watching progressed from anger, frustration to hope and inspiration (even tears of joy). This gripping story is about a real-life astronaut, José Hernández, who came from a California migrant farmworker family and who faced many challenges on his path to becoming an astronaut.

Money was insufficient and the nature of his family's work meant that he was never able to settle into one spot for very long. As we have seen with our own students, this piecemeal approach to education can be extremely difficult emotionally and psychologically. Yet, José had a dream and persevered to become an astronaut.
The film highlights one teacher’s belief in José’s ability. Through her discussion with his parents, she was able to encourage them to stay in one place versus uprooting the family unit frequently to follow the California harvest season. The trajectory of José life was forever changed because of one teacher’s caring. It took him 11 applications to NASA before he was finally accepted into the astronaut program, but he never gave up believing.
As educators, I hope this sounds familiar. We don’t often see the difference we make in our students’ lives, but we do! Your work is critical! José’s journey serves as inspiration and a testament to how one person can make a difference and how education is a pathway for achieving one’s goals.
I highly encourage you to watch the film and I hope you swell with pride knowing you are part of this powerful tool called education!
Undocumented Student Action Week is Oct. 16-20 and being celebrated at Ventura College to raise awareness of undocumented students’ challenges and need for support to achieve their academic dreams and goals. Many virtual and in-person events are scheduled during the week at all three colleges and the District Office.
Best wishes,
Kim
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I’m so proud of the great partnership we have with our Ventura College Foundation and VCF Executive Director Anne Paul King!
Last week, Anne and I had the pleasure of presenting the story of our conscious efforts to work together to boost the philanthropic potential, at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Conference for Community College Advancement (CASE) in Palm Springs. Our presentation title was: Strengthen Your College & Foundation Partnership.
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Koffee with Kim
- Wednesday, November 29 at 10 a.m.
Captain's Chat
- Wednesday, November 1 at 2 p.m.
Open Executive Team Meeting
- Tuesday, October 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Celebration of Successes
- Holiday Gathering - December 7 at 11:30 a.m.
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Highlighting the amazing Administration, Faculty, Classified Professionals, and Students that make up our Pirate family. This month's highlights include: Faith Bustos - Classified, Caren Braza - Student, James Zavas - Administrator, and Sania Zaidi-Merchant - Faculty. | |
Faith Bustos - Classified | |
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James Zavas - Administrator | |
Sania Zaidi-Merchant - Faculty | |
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Andrea Hedin
Career Services Specialist
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Carlos Heredia
Instructional Lab Tech I
Ceramics
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Amy Smith
Library Assistant
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We're Celebrating Dreamers: Look for Upcoming Activities
To celebrate Undocumented Student Action Week, we're hosting daily activities next week - October 16-20. The California Community Colleges system enrolls the largest population of undocumented students in the nation and at Ventura College, we want to make sure our students have the support they need to achieve their goals and dreams!
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ART ACTIVITIES like tie dying and coloring wall!
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GUEST SPEAKERS Assemblyman Steve Bennett, and author Julissa Arce!
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MOVIE NIGHT with Hot Cheetos bar, popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs and more!
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GIVE-AWAYS like beach towels and t-shirts!
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WORKSHOPS on scholarships and financial aid!
On Thursday, October 19, we will have a whole day of activities at our East Campus location in Santa Paula including FAFSA and Scholarship assistance and a Town hall meeting in the evening that is open to the public. See our schedule of events for more details!
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This evening is not just about fabulous drag performances and glamorous costumes, it’s about making a difference. Drag-O-Ween is a fundraiser dedicated to establishing a scholarship fund aimed at supporting students who are passionately pursuing careers in LGBTQ+ activism or who have made significant contributions to unifying and amplifying queer voices within the Ventura College community. Your presence and support will help pave the way for a brighter future for these incredible individuals. Come dressed in your most fabulous attire to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and love!
Drag performers, Samara Paris Sin and Ruthless Envy will be joined by celebrity actor/comedian from Mean Girls, Daniel Franzese. Presented by the ASVC and VC Foundation
Tuesday, October 24 | 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | VC Performing Arts Center
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Annual Student Ceramics Sale November 8 & 9
Our annual student ceramics sale will be held at Gallery 2 at Ventura College on November 8 and 9. Don't miss this great opportunity to buy gifts and see the great work being created by our students.
Wednesday, November 8 | 9 a.m. - 4 p. m.
Thursday, November 9 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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Annual VC Halloween Decorating Contest
Show your Spooky Spirit! Participate in the Annual VC Office Halloween Decorating Contest. Categories are Best Theme, VC Spooky Spirit Award, Best Door, Best Small Office (1-4 people) and Best Large Office (5+ people). You must sign up to be officially entered into the contest. Sign ups close on Wednesday, October 24 and winners will be announced Wednesday, October 31.
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Employee Appreciation Event
On October 31, Ventura College will host an appreciation event to celebrate employees and recognize their hard work and dedication to the college. Stay tuned for details! Following the appreciation event, the executive team will tour the campus and judge the Annual Halloween Decorating Contest competitors!
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Military Appreciation Football Game November 4
We welcome our VC Veterans, Active Duty, and Reservists to join us for a FREE football game and tailgate party at Ventura College for the home game vs El Camino. Show your military or student ID to get in free and enjoy the free food at the tailgate party.
Saturday, November 4 | Tailgate 4:30 p.m. | Kick off 6 p.m.
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Our faculty had a great time learning to dribble, pass and shoot with the Ventura College soccer team in our wellness event last week. | |
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International Shakeout Day
To enhance our emergency preparedness, we will be participating in the Great ShakeOut, a global earthquake drill.
What to Expect: At precisely 10:19 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, you will receive an announcement to initiate the earthquake drill. When you hear the announcement, please "Drop, Cover, and Hold On." In the event of a real earthquake you would hold-on until the "shaking" stops and wait for instructions regarding evacuation procedures or next steps.
Why It Matters: Earthquakes happen unexpectedly, and being prepared can make a significant difference in your safety.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 19 at 10:19 a.m.
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Don't miss the Tony Award winning musical, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center from October 19-22. All shows start at 7:30 p.m.
This British black comedy revolving around Monty Navarro, a poor relation of one of England’s wealthiest families, who learns he is eighth in line to the family fortune. Snobbish treatment from his relatives—and desperation to impress a woman — sets him on a murderous path to eliminate those who stand in the way of his inheritance. Tickets are FREE for students and children.
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The Laurel Project Presents: Armen Guzelimian
"The Composer and the Performer, A Personal Narrative"
Monday, November 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Ventura College Performing Arts Center
Pianist Armen Guzelimian is a celebrated soloist, collaborative artist, and chamber musician. He has received national and international critical acclaim for his appearances in many of the major concert halls in the U.S.A and Europe. He has taught and coached at institutions including the USC School of Music, Music Academy of the West, the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera, Paris Opera, the Eastman School of Music, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. ​
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Ventura College Has Been Awarded a Title V HSI Grant
Our new grant is aimed at building upon Project SAIL* - entitled Project PORT: Post-Traditional Opportunities, Research, and Transformation. VC designed this project to be a major step towards becoming a more effective HSI. The project will deploy three strategies designed to attend to Hispanic student connection, belonging, and holistic support in a post-pandemic era.
STRATEGY 1: EXPAND FLEXIBLE, SUPPORTIVE PATHWAYS: VC will create accessible on-ramps to high-wage careers in the region for VC’s historically underserved adult, re-entry, and rural learners.
STRATEGY 2: DESIGN WRAP-AROUND, INTEGRATED, & AFFIRMING SERVICES: VC will improve servingness to Hispanic students by shifting the burden of retention from the student to the college. By providing holistic support, VC will help students stay on path despite financial and basic needs barriers.
STRATEGY 3: STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR DATA-INFORMED ACTION: VC will expand institutional capacity and infrastructure to create a serving-minded, engaging, and supportive learning environment for Hispanic students. Project PORT also aims a significant degree of its efforts toward bolstering the relevant growth and culturally-responsive development of our VC-East Campus site’s programs and services.
*project SAIL began in 2021 when VC was awarded a Title III HSI-STEM grant to support STEM growth and HSI servingness at VC.
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Veterans Resource Center Events
The VRC celebrated the Navy's birthday with a celebratory cake this week. We're also gearing up for Veterans Week which kicks off October 27 with Vet Net Ally training for faculty and staff. During the four-hour training, staff will earn a certification and will receive a free lunch. Please RSVP by clicking "yes" on the master calendar invite. The VRC will also be supporting our special military population on October 30 for priority registration. We'll also host a Halloween social for veterans and military-connected students on October 31.
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VC Outreach Team Hits the Road for Higher Education Week
During Higher Education Week, our Outreach Team, along with ASVC and Welcome Center staff, visited a total of eight high schools, including Oxnard, Pacifica, Channel Islands, Hueneme, Santa Paula, Rio Mesa, and Adolfo Camarillo. It was an eye opening experience.
One student at Hueneme High School was asked if he thought meeting with college recruiters was resourceful and he said “Yes, because I am a first-generation college student and no one around me knows the ropes of higher education. Representatives being here means I have people to connect to and they can help me out.”
This month, we welcomed a new staff member to Outreach, Susana Mottu. Many of you know her from the VC A&R office. We're happy to have her on our team!
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Racial Equity Solutions for California Community Colleges
Racial Equity in Guided Pathways Webinar Series
Wednesday, October 18 at Noon | Illustrated Briefs
Avenging for Equity: Race-Conscious Leasers Transforming California Community College Pathways
Monday, October 30 | Noon | Report
Examining the Racialized Discourse of Guided Pathways: How Community Colleges Implement Towards Racial Equity
Wednesday, November 8 | Noon | reFramework
Reimagining Racial Equity in California Over the Next Decade and Beyond
California has innovative leaders who are using Guided Pathways to address racial equity. In this three-part series, we capture the powerful stories and journeys of colleges, leaders, and students, who are equity champions in our state. Visit the VC Professional Development SharePoint page to register online.
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Professional Development
Ventura College is happy to bring Professional Development opportunities to staff, faculty, and administration to help develop new skills and stay up to date on current trends that are always evolving within our campus community. Upcoming event information can be found in the Classified Professional Development Corner, SharePoint, and the Master Calendar.
Upcoming Events
On-Going
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State Vision Resource Center: The Vision Resource Center is a portal for professional development and colleague connection throughout all of California’s Community Colleges.
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USC Race and Equity Center: The Alliance unites community colleges across the state of California for high-quality professional learning experiences on an array of racial equity topics.
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More than $600,000 Available in VC Foundation Scholarships for Students!
Help us spread the word to Ventura College students!
· The Ventura College Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2023 Paramedic, Agriculture, Diesel Mechanics, and Advanced Manufacturing Programs. The deadline for application submissions is November 28, 2023.
· General Scholarship Application will close on Jan. 21, 2024.
Contact Micsin Martinez at micsin_martinez1@vcccd.edu or 805-289-6161 for scholarship marketing materials for students, to schedule a classroom visit, or a special scholarship application workshop for your program.
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Be a part of the $40 for 40 Years Campaign!
Will you celebrate the VC Foundation’s 40th Year of Service to Ventura College by donating $40 or more for our 40th?
To ensure that the VC Foundation can grow our critical student support into the next decade:
· Sign-up for Monthly Payroll Donations. Text "AyeGive" to 41444
· Give Online. Set-up a recurring or make a one-time credit card donation. Text "Give2VC" to 91999
· Donate by check. Please make your gift payable to the “Ventura College Foundation” and note the designation of your donation on the check. Gifts are accepted at the VC Foundation office located in the Day Road Center (DRC – 71 Day Road), or mailed to the Ventura College Foundation, 4667 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA 93003
Need help determining where to give, please consider donating to the Fund for VC (Greatest Need), the VC Promise, or VC Basic Needs. For more information about the VC Foundation’s employee giving options, contact Julie Harvey, Development Manager at 805.289.6502 or jharvey@vcccd.edu.
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President's Circle Event
The Ventura College Foundation hosted a President’s Circle Kick-Off event in collaboration with Ventura College’s Allied Health Nursing and Paramedic Studies programs in mid-September. Over 25 President’s Circle members, donors, and community members attended the event and enjoyed food, drinks, and tours of the Nursing and Paramedic Studies programs.
President Kim Hoffmans, and the VC Foundation Executive Director, Anne Paul King, shared College and Foundation updates. VC Career Education Deans, Felicia Duenas and Debbie Newcomb spoke about Ventura College’s 30+ Career Education programs and answered questions.
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Zoom Backgrounds AND MORE!
Did you know that we've got a whole library of custom Zoom backgrounds? You can find the one below and many more! Click the button below and you'll find Ventura College logos, official colors and more. To find our Zoom backgrounds, scroll to the bottom of the page. Download and share!
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Acknowledge the great work of your peers! A "Pirate Treasure" is a way to recognize colleagues and say thank you for outstanding support to our college community. | |
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