August 22, 2022

Welcome to the Fall semester at Solano Community College. Whether you are a continuing student or attending for the first time, know that faculty and staff are here to help you find resources, select the classes you need, and meet your personal and academic goals. While many students are enrolling in online courses, we offer many in person classes at our Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo campuses. Student support services, such as financial aid, counseling, and tutoring are available both in person and remotely so make sure to check the student services website for service hours.

When you arrive on the Fairfield campus, I hope you notice the beautiful grounds and buildings, the results of our Fairfield campus improvement plan. Our buildings have been painted, we added accent colors on the corners and entry ways, and attached building numbers that are visible. After 50 years, we needed to “freshen up” our look! We also have a new Library/Learning Resource Center that opened in spring and we are making improvements to the Student Center, Bldg. 1400 including reopening the cafeteria. Our bookstore is open and ready to serve students offering text books, snacks, school supplies and new SCC merchandise. 

For those who can’t make it to campus to pick up books, we will have new lockers at the Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo campuses where students can have library resources, course assignments, and other items delivered and accessible 24/7. Best of all, we are offering free parking in our student lots at all three campuses! No need to buy a semester or daily parking permit this Fall.  

Whether you are taking online or in person classes or both, we hope you will visit the campus and experience all we have to offer. We will open a new Wellness Center on August 31^st in Bldg. 1400, host monthly Find the Falcon events with food, drinks, and prizes, and host a Transfer Fair later this semester. Guest speakers, art exhibits, and sporting events are scheduled for this fall so make sure to follow us on social media, check out our home page, or ask any of us about what is happening on campus. Most important is that you get involved in the many co-curricular activities including clubs, Associated Students, honor societies, and affinity groups that will enrich your SCC experience. We understand the importance of creating a sense of place for students so if you don’t see a club or activity that is of interest, let us know. Looking to work on campus? We can help with that. Looking for resources including housing, food, a Chromebook or hot spot? We’ve got you covered. Contact us at 

http://www.solano.edu/academic_support/earlyalert.php and we will connect you with the resources in a timely manner.

Wishing you all the best this semester and I look forward to seeing you!

Celia

Celia Esposito-Noy, Ed.D.

We are excited to welcome students, faculty, and staff back to the campus for the start of a new academic year. As the new Vice President of Student Services, I am pleased to be working with a terrific team of people dedicated to serving our students and providing the caring customer service that supports student success.  

This year we are focusing on several key areas to enhance the delivery of our services and create a sense of belonging for our students. We are excited about the launch of TimelyCare, providing 24/7 on-demand emotional health support for students (see details below). Additionally, we will provide 'first aid' mental health training as well as workplace healing workshops for staff. We will be reviewing our policies and procedures through an equity lens, and we will be facilitating the campus-wide development of the next Student Equity Plan (2022-2025), which is our collective commitment to sharpening our focus on dismantling institutional barriers and prioritizing the achievement of racial equity in outcomes for our students of color.

Lisa Neely

VP, Student Services

The following guidelines set out expectations, recommendations and requirements for faculty, staff and students returning to on campus classes and activities Fall 2022.

We ask that you please read these guidelines carefully and adhere to required protocols for the safety of the campus community.

PLEASE NOTE: Everyone coming to campus should assess the current County risk and WEAR FACE COVERINGS when appropriate, especially indoor spaces with limited air circulation. Although PCR testing on campus is no longer available, the COVID caseworker can assist any staff or students with their testing needs. Solano County has implemented FREE local test and COVID treatment locations. Antigen (home) tests are available upon request to staff/students who are required to test due to COVID exposures, symptoms or positive cases.

All campus activities are recommended to observe social distancing wherever appropriate, especially indoor spaces with limited air circulation. Face coverings are recommended when distancing is not possible. Rooms that have exterior doors, that can be opened for ventilation purposes, are preferred and should be utilized when available. 

As recommended by the Solano County Public Health, due to the COVID positivity rate, all employees and students returning to campus have the option to wear face coverings at all times while on any of the college campuses or sites. Masks are recommended when the County risk warrants the use of face coverings. These County COVID levels are tracked daily, and notifications will occur if necessary.

Classrooms will continue to be cleaned and sanitized each evening. Cleaning/Sanitization products are available by request through Solano College facilities/custodial services. Each room will have Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and sanitization products.

Students will be asked to monitor their health and refrain from visiting campus while experiencing COVID symptoms. Students that are asked to isolate due to exposures, and symptoms, will be guided through the process. Students should contact covidcaseworker@solano.edu (and cc on-campus professors) when they experience symptoms or test positive. The caseworker will advise what the protocols will be prior to return to campus. Our goal is to support every student individually to succeed and remain healthy.

A box of the following PPE materials will be delivered to classrooms that are scheduled for in person use:

·      Face masks

·      Hand sanitizer

·      Hospital Grade Disinfectant

·      Paper Towels

We recommend any student or staff member who has been exposed, or tested POSITIVE for COVID 19, reach out to your medical provider. There are currently treatments/medications for the treatment of COVID 19. Vaccination is the most efficient way to prevent COVID 19, including Booster vaccinations when advised by your health care provider. 

If anyone feels unwell, you should not leave your house or come to campus under any circumstance. Any person who is unwell should self‐ isolate, monitor symptoms and consult their health care provider. If a student or faculty member becomes unwell while on campus, they should leave immediately, self‐isolate and monitor symptoms. If a student discloses that they have been in contact with someone with COVID‐19 they should monitor symptoms, consult their health care provider, contact COVID caseworker and self‐isolate if required. Any faculty member who has been in contact with someone with COVID‐19 should monitor symptoms, consult their health‐care provider, contact COVID caseworker, and self‐isolate if necessary. When traveling to conferences and continuing education events, be aware of the COVID risk in the County where you are traveling, and face coverings are recommended for travel and indoor locations that do not allow for proper distancing or proper ventilation.

For any other questions, please contact Alison Aubert (707) 864-7166 or Alison.aubert@solano.edu.

If you were not able to attend SCC's Virtual Welcome event, we welcome you to take a look at the recorded sessions. It may answer some questions you have about our campus, programs and services. Enjoy!

Solano Community College District is excited to offer TimelyCare - a new virtual health and well-being program for students. The service will provide access to 24/7 virtual mental health care from anywhere in the United States, with no cost to visit!

Q. How can students access TimelyCare?

A. Students can go to timelycare.com/solano, download the TimelyCare mobile app, or find the TimelyCare icon in their canvas shell to register with their name and school email address. Students can then have visits from any web-enabled device – smartphone, laptop, or desktop. TimelyCare is available from anywhere in the United States.

Q. Who can use TimelyCare?

A. Any Solano Community College District student (with the exception of K-12 special admit students). Please note students will be required to create their account using their student (solano.edu) email address. For brand new students to Solano CC, a Solano email address isn’t created until the census date of the class (approximately 3 weeks after the start of the class for 18 week semester courses and approximately one week after the start of class for 8 week courses). 

Q. What services are available?

A. There are four services available:

• TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything at anytime
• Scheduled Counseling: scheduled options to speak to a licensed counselor (up to 12 visits per year)
• Basic Needs: Access to low or reduced-cost community resources that provide food and housing assistance, transportation, help paying bills, legal services and more.
• Group Sessions: Weekly Guided Meditation and Yoga Group Sessions, plus specialized discussions throughout the year.

Q. How much does a visit cost?

A. Zip, zero, zilch! TimelyCare services are free to all Solano Community College District students.

Get started with TimelyCare today! It’s for students. For Free.

You're invited to our Grand Opening celebration, Wednesday, August 31 at 12:30 pm in Building 1400, Room 1428 on the Fairfield Campus.

The Wellness Center provides culturally responsive services, in a safe place, where people can “chill”—yes, relax, play games, draw, share poems, and do so much more! We will offer support groups, co-facilitated by our very own well-trained alumni and students, host presentations and share strategies that all serve to help us be well. And, build community! 

On Campus Wellness Counseling:  In partnership with JFK University School of Psychology, PsyD or MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) recent graduates or current students of JFK University provide brief (6-8 sessions) mental health therapy on-campus, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, beginning in October (remote services available August – September). These services are FREE!

Crisis Hotline - 988: 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

Serve and Represent Students. Organize Activities. Attend Conferences. Make a Difference. 

ASSC Elections for President/Vice President, Student Trustee, Legislative Advocate are coming soon!  Applications for ASSC Senator positions are currently open. If interested in serving others, advocacy, student representation, networking and scholarship opportunities, please contact Rischa.Slade@solano.edu for an ASSC Senate Application, or for Executive Officer Candidate and Election information. For more info: https://welcome.solano.edu/assc-homepage/

A recent Daily Republic article spotlighted the SCC Department of Public Safety internship program.

The Solano Community College Department of Public Safety is starting a Community Service Officer (CSO) student internship program for the fall semester. As law enforcement agencies continue to struggle to recruit officers and strengthen community trust, the college public safety department feels one of the ways to help address both of these issues is to invite students to be a part of the agency through the internship program. Students will earn college units towards their degree while making new friends who share the same commitment of caring for the safety of others and their community.

“This program is a great tool in giving students an important insight into law enforcement. Students who participate as interns can relate their experiences with other students, friends and family members thus could help enhance and strengthen community relations. Ride-alongs with officers can show students the challenging job officers have and learn about other aspects of the job that the public seldom sees,” said Chief Brian Travis. “Being in law enforcement today is not what it used to be so we want to make sure those who are interested know that it’s still a great and noble profession and that you still make a huge difference,” Chief Brian Travis continued.

To become an intern for Solano College Department of Public Safety, students must be at least 18-years-old, enrolled in Criminal Justice 001 or have completed the course and maintain a 2.50 GPA or higher overall. Interns must pass a background check and serve a minimum of 4 hours a week during the course of the semester to earn 1 college unit towards their criminal justice degree.

For more information about this program please contact Solano College Department of Public Safety at 707-864-7131.

In order to promote a more welcoming environment for students returning to the classroom, we are pleased to announce that there will be free parking in the student parking lots for the Fall ’22 semester!

All faculty/staff spaces require a special parking permit. Designated disabled parking spaces are available at all Solano Community College campuses. A disabled placard or plates is required.

For questions call SCC DPS at 707-864-7131 or On-Duty Officer at 707-580-6526.

Follett Higher Education has been selected as Solano Community College’s campus bookstore partner, effective July 1^st. With more than 140 years of experience in higher education, Follett’s partnership brings new resources, innovative technology, and enhanced product assortments to Solano Community College. Please check out the new website at www.SolanoBookstore.com, or stop by the store to meet the new store manager, Tymofii Vehera Los. 

The normal store hours will be Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-1pm. Feedback is always welcome on any of the new changes. SCC and Follett are excited about this new partnership!

The Solano Community College men’s tennis team recently earned some national recognition, and not for the excellent won-loss total on the court this season but for the behavior of one of its top athletes.

Connor Ard (pictured left), our 2022 Conference Champion for the program and in Men's Doubles, deservedly won the ITA National Arthur Ashe Leadership Award! Read about this prestigious award and watch for updates from his upcoming trip to New York where he will be recognized during the US Open!

"Our Stories" Exhibit and Launch- August 19 through September 19, Herger Gallery, Building 1300, Fairfield campus.

SCC Ed Foundation Tee Off for Education and Scholarships- October 7, 2022, Rancho Solano

Men's Pro Challenger Tennis Tournament- The Tournament returns to SCC October 8-16, 2022

Main Kiosks- We’ve cleaned up our act! Make sure to visit the main kiosk between buildings 300 and 400 to see the new photos and welcome messages. Many thanks to Sandy Lamba, Danny Murillo, Jason Yi, Janie Sinkewiz and Claire Gover for cleaning out the space and posting photos of our students.

Find the Falcon- Remember Find the Falcon? We will bring back this fun event throughout the semester. Watch for specifics, coming soon!

Student Services will be provided throughout Fall semester according to the following schedule:

In Person Services: Tues, Weds, Thurs 10am-4pm

Remote Services: Mondays and Fridays (phone, email, and zoom appointments)

Please note that we are now providing in-person services from 10am - 6pm.

The Solano Community College District Measure Q Bond program continues to successfully build for the direct needs of our students today and for the future! After constructing new Bio-technology, Auto-technology, Science, Library Learning Resource Center, Data Center, and complete remodels of the Theater building and Vacaville Annex, the Bond program is pursuing clear and present needs driven upgrades, replacements, and repairs.

The program has also improved everything from ADA barrier removal, pedestrian access and wayfinding, to air-conditioning systems, building exteriors, infrastructure, and technology. You will find a link to the Measure Q Bond Program page at: https://welcome.solano.edu/measure-q-homepage/

There you will find a wealth of information and resources related to past, present, and future Measure Q projects. Be sure to look into the active projects where information is available for all active projects. Also look at our planning documents, especially the most recent Facilities Master Plan where much of our current project outlook comes from. 

One example of our exciting projects is a new 1.5 megawatt solar installation over the north parking lots, which will also add Ten (10) new EV charging stations in the south lot. We are coupling that with a full central plant replacement project which will combine with the solar project to greatly reduce the District’s climate impact and energy costs! We will generate our own power which will feed our new electrified heating and efficient cooling systems, thus lowering our carbon footprint and energy costs in a very sustainable fashion.

Over the summer, SCC resumed bootcamps for 8^th-12^th grade students. We offered Girl’s Welding Camp, Boys and Girls Welding Camp, Auto Tech, Cybersecurity, and Advanced Manufacturing (Robotics). Many thanks to the faculty and staff who provided students innovative instruction, lunch, and a camp t-shirt.

Pictured: Fifteen of 27 students awarded PTK membership at the California Medical Facility August graduation ceremony.

Solano Community College Rising Scholars Program serves justice-involved students currently incarcerated at California Medical Facility, California State Prison-Solano, and Solano County Jail. This program has also partnered with SOAR (Students Overcoming Adversity & Recidivism) to assist in providing college classes to students at Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Over the last year, Solano Community College has experienced exponential growth in the number of justice-involved students inducted into the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. 

At Solano Community College, we are very proud of the many incarcerated students who qualified for and were inducted into PTK. Despite the difficulties of acquiring a college education while incarcerated, these students have excelled and demonstrated their commitment to improving their lives, and the lives of others, through education, service, and leadership.

Special thanks go to Solano College Phi Theta Kappa Beta Mu Gamma chapter, PTK advisors, Professor LaNae Jaimez and Professor Michael Wyly, Rising Scholar Faculty and support staff, leadership at SCC, the SOAR program, and the education coordinators at the correctional. These individuals and groups have provided steadfast support for the Rising Scholars Program and our many incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students at Solano Community College.

Food service is now available in the Cafeteria, Bldg. 1400 at the Fairfield campus! We will be serving breakfast from 8:00-8:30 am for $3 and lunch from 12:30-1:15 pm for $5. Payment is by cash only. 

Twelve SCC students went to a French restaurant in Berkeley, and then toured the campus with SCC alumni, Eric Cortes. They all got a chance to practice their French language skills throughout the day.