August 14, 2023

Welcome to the Fall 2023 semester! I’m happy to welcome you back and to see more faculty and staff on campus as we host events and welcome students to another semester. Although this summer seemed shorter and hotter than previous years, at the end of July we took time to relax and enjoy each other’s company with Fenton’s ice cream and lawn games. Who says we can’t have fun at work?

Last week we hosted a number of welcome events for students including, Falcon Take Off for Success (August 5, 7-8) and Falcon Welcome Day (August 9). Many thanks to all who were involved in the Black Student and Family Welcome event held Saturday, August 5 and to those who attended, as well as those responsible for events on August 7 and 8. The events designed for our Black/African American students developed out of our SEA Plan to welcome and better support Black students and their families. Our enrollment of Black/African American students had declined in the past years and we felt it was important to reach out and invite students and their families to experience SCC in a new way. We also hosted Falcon Welcome Day on August 9 for all new students with faculty, managers, and staff available to meet with students about programs and services and to make sure last minute needs were addressed. Many thanks to Melissa Reeve who coordinated and to all those who participated in Welcome Day!

Friday’s Convocation focused on AI- Artificial Intelligence and the impact on instruction. Dr. Jarek Janio from Santa Ana College presented and facilitated an afternoon session designed to improve our understanding of AI in the classroom. We also heard from distinguished professors, Dr. Douglas Mungin and John Perez who are both deserving of their respective awards. 

During my Convocation comments I shared our interest in expanding our sense of belonging by promoting a new campaign, “I am Solano.” One of our takeaways from Interact, the company conducting our marketing and branding campaign suggests that we, “Guide SCC’s diverse audiences to see themselves at SCC and see how they can take advantage of the unique programs and services to build their careers and improve their lives.” We will do this by highlighting faculty, staff, students, and alumni and their respective programs in an effort to, “Engage both the external and internal college community in taking pride and ownership of the SCC brand, its maintenance, and its evolution.” See the video shown at convocation highlighting our students. I’m very excited to begin this campaign and invite you to participate by sharing your SCC story. You’ll receive more information on how you can join this important effort.

We have many events scheduled this fall so please watch for emails and the calendar of events in the bi-monthly Solano CARES newsletters. Make sure to send your updates, events, and good news to Solano CARES at solanocaresinfo@gmail.com.  See the content due dates listed in this issue. 

While COVID rates have declined, we are continuing our COVID-19 protocols and ask that you self-report positive COVID tests to COVIDCaseworker@solano.edu as this allows us to comply with CalOSHA regulations and watch for any significant increases in positive cases. Please continue to take care of yourselves, stay healthy, and encourage students to do the same. 

On a personal note, I was able to spend a few days in Lake Tahoe this summer and took the human hamster wheel out on the lake. I’m happy to report that it’s sea-worthy (see photo, right). You may remember seeing the hamster wheel in the Library or at the end of summer celebration in July. It has seen better days and needs some patching before I can bring it back to campus. 

I hope you enjoyed last week’s activities and are excited about the fall semester. Thank you for all you do to make SCC a special place to work and study.

With gratitude,

Celia

Please be advised that the Fairfield campus parking lots 2, 3 and portions of 5 are currently closed due to construction. Parking lots 1, 4, 6, 7 and portions of 5 are available and open.

We suggest arriving a little earlier than you normally would so that you can find parking.

There are several new construction projects happening on our campus. Please see the map below for construction activity occurring on the Fairfield campus. Campus impacts, as a result of these projects, will be provided via Construction Notice updates through email.

Congratulations to Biotechnology Professor Jim DeKloe for being awarded the 2023 Ron Mardigian 

Biotechnology Teaching Award, sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers. The award recognizes a teacher who demonstrates outstanding and creative teaching of biotechnology in the classroom. This is the biggest award for a biotech teacher!

Criteria for selection include creativity, scientific accuracy and currency, quality of laboratory practice and safety, ease of replication, benefit to students, and potential significance beyond the classroom. The award includes a recognition plaque to be presented at the NABT Professional Development Conference, one-year complimentary membership to NABT and up to $500 toward travel to the NABT Professional Development Conference, held this November in Baltimore.

Additionally, Professor DeKloe was honored by the Vacaville City Council for advancing the biotech industry by creating opportunity for local students and and being a key partner in Vacaville’s biotech strategy.

ManufacturingUSA recently did a write-up on Professor DeKloe for all his contributions to the industry, saying how he is pioneer for Biotech. It's a great read about the history of our program at SCC, too!

Congratulations, Jim!

Are you ready to get a step ahead in your classes? You’ve come to the right place. The tutoring center can help!



Enroll now to our ASTC Canvas shell to meet with tutors online. Or come visit us at the new Library and Learning Resource Center (LLRC), in the northwest corner, in room 114, for in-person tutoring. 

Our FREE services include:

• Drop-in tutoring
• A supportive and comfortable place to study/do homework
• Computers and printers
• Anatomy models
• Appointments with tutors
• Group tutoring
• White board use
• Study rooms
• Information on other campus resources

Plus, we have free coffee, tea, AND snacks!



Tutor schedules will be updated by Friday, Aug 18 and will be accessible here.  In-person tutoring begins on Monday, August 21 at 9:00 am.

The tutoring center is ready to welcome students, staff, and faculty into our beautiful space. 

Solano Community College students are invited to apply for fall semester scholarships.

Applications are due by Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

The list of available scholarships can be found here: https://solano.academicworks.com/

To apply, sign in or create an account at this link: https://solano.academicworks.com/users/sign_in

Important: Click on “Sign-In with Your Institution” and then click on the large sign box.  This will direct you to fill out a General Application. Once you submit your General Application, the system will generate scholarship “Opportunities” for you. You can then choose which scholarships to apply for.

We encourage all students to apply! See how happy these students are on the left from our Oct. 22 scholarship ceremony? This could be you!

Apply now!

The Reporter recently ran a story about SCC's Vallejo campus receiving dozens of new computers in its recently renovated computer labs, promising fall semester classes in animation and graphic design.

The culmination of two years of effort and at least $200,000 in funding, digital media arts professor Rachel Smith said “These are some of the best facilities around.“We’ve had students come in and say our labs are pretty comparable to the state schools and certainly some of the art schools around here. So, we’re really thankful and lucky for these new upgrades.”

One of the two freshly upgraded rooms is dedicated to PCs, while the other now has Macs.

As well as providing more powerful computers, the new desks are more spacious than before. People with disabilities can now sit at any desk in the room, instead of being limited to a small number of wheelchair-accessible seats.

Smith hopes that the labs will empower students to pursue a variety of careers in addition to graphic design and animation, including user interface design, marketing, software engineering and product design.

Graphic Design 2 will begin Oct. 11 and span eight weeks. Animation Bootcamp will begin Oct. 9 and last four weeks. Design Bootcamp will also last four weeks and will begin Nov. 1.



For more information, students can email rachel.smith@solano.edu.

While classes were back in session for summer at the Vallejo Center for needed courses in mathematics, languages arts, science and EMT, the computer labs were undergoing exciting and needed upgrades (as mentioned in the article above)!

The Center held two camps for our local K-12 students. We had PACT-Upward Bound hosting an eight-week camp - full of activities and planned field trips to

museums, universities and parks for incoming local Vallejo city Juniors and Seniors in high school who are preparing for college!

Then, the SCOE Robotics Girls Camp also filled our Multipurpose Room and

Auditorium, for both middle school and high school girls of Solano County, preparing to enter the STEAM world field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics! Furthermore, the Vallejo Community from Touro University held a weekend training for community allied health workers and our

partnering Project Vallejo held their social leadership retreat filled with Karaoke and BBQ!

The Puente Project at Solano, including nine Puentistas as well as the Puente coordinators Isabel Anderson and Rebecca LaCount, traveled to Southern California over the summer. The students visited UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, and USC. The trip also included stops at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Santa Monica Pier, and Rancho Los Cerritos historic site in Long Beach. One of the highlights was a lunch with Hollywood screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos, writer for such projects as Go Diego Go, Coco, La Misma Luna, Walkout, and more. The trip allowed the students to envision themselves attending a Southern California university and explore transfer opportunities outside their immediate area.

After returning from the group trip, Solano Puentista Carlos Hernandez-Gonzalez returned to Southern California to represent Solano Community College at the Puente-sponsored 1^st Annual UCRP Justice, Power and the Transfer Journey conference at UC Riverside. We are grateful for the opportunities that Puente provides and proud of our outstanding Puentistas at Solano.

Congratulations to coach Allie Will who was recently hired as Santa Clara head women's tennis coach. A six-time All-American, a Southeastern Conference Player of the Year who twice led the University of Florida to the NCAA championships, with two years of professional playing experience and an eight year coaching resume, Allie joins the Broncos after serving as an assistant coach this past season with the Saint Mary's women's tennis program and previously held the same position at Solano Community College and Santa Rosa Community College, for both the men's and women's squads. In 2018 and 2022, she was named men's and women's tennis ITA Assistant Coach of the Year.



"I am very excited to have Allie join our family at Santa Clara University," said Director of Athletics Renee Baumgartner. "Allie is a fierce competitor, a great leader, and has been incredibly successful as both a coach and a player at the collegiate and professional levels. Our women's tennis program is in great hands, and I believe she will do a tremendous job here as a Bronco."

Congrats, Allie!

Dean Kristin Conner is leaving Solano College after six years of service. She has been a truly valuable member of the college community, bringing innovative changes and implementing new services from a student equity lens. In addition to supporting the academic counseling program, she has overseen EOPS/CARE, CalWORKS, Transfer and Career Centers, Veteran's Resource Center, and managed the change process from Disability Services Center to the more inclusive Accessibility Services Center. We wish her well in her new adventure as the Director of Career Coaching and Education at Stanford University.

We’re looking for more participants and sponsors for this year’s golf tournament to support SCC scholarships. This event is a lot of fun and we have great food, beverages, and prizes! Please let us know if you would like to get a foursome together, would like to join a group of golfers, or do a sponsorship.

Details at the event website:

https://foundation.solano.edu/event/2023-golf/  

Hope to see you on Friday, Sept. 8^th at Rancho Solano.

Beginning on page 25 of the Solano County Economic Development Corporation monthly newsletter, there are several pages that feature news and announcements from SCC.

Take a look! We have a lot of good things happening here that our community is recognizing!



View it here.

The auto tech industry, up and running in Vallejo, was on full display June 24 at the Solano Community College Auto Tech Center.

The college held a car show to show off elaborate and classic cars as well as the progress made by students in the classroom at the venue.

Professor and Program Director Andrew McGee was on hand to help out and “watch the community see the latest technology.”

“The auto industry has changed so much and we’re showing that unique environment and welcoming students that are starting as well as ones moving on to bigger and better things,” McGee said. “I enjoy seeing the students today and I’m so proud of what they’ve done.”

More than 900 people attended the event throughout the day. ATEC staff provided live demonstrations of the latest automotive tech, including blowing up two air bags and demonstrating an engine built by students.

Students and car show regulars entered vehicles to compete for trophies, while some vehicles were owned by “professional” car show participants.

A big part of the day was that some even enrolled in SCC “on the spot” to take classes this semester, as computers were available for the admissions process.

Food trucks, government agencies, and vendors galore were there to showcase their brands and liaise with the public, including the CA Highway Patrol and US Air Force. Local industry partners supported the event.

Magan Cruz-Wingo, Brandon Vega, Wamu Irvin, Erick Aguiar, Dane Suriben, Rick Marshall worked diligently to provide a spectacular event for the public.

The facilities department was extremely helpful with the event logistics, as well as DPS (Department of Public Safety), Financial aid, outreach, and other SCC agencies played key roles during the event.

Proceeds benefit the ATEC foundation and the Solano Auto Club, the new SCC car club!

The SCC Auto Tech Center, which opened up in 2017, includes a 30,000 square-foot facility with 10 instruction bays, three alignment bays, two dyno bays, and a smog bay, dedicated rooms for engine and transmission dyno, two large classrooms, and tutoring space.

Link to article in Times Herald.

I am delighted to welcome you all back to an exciting new semester at Solano Community College. As the new Vice President of Technology, I am thrilled to embark on this journey of innovation, exploration, and growth alongside each and every one of you.

The realm of technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, shaping the way we learn, work, and connect. This fall, we have an array of initiatives planned that will not only enhance our technological infrastructure but also enrich the overall academic experience. Some projects to support these initiatives include envisioning a new student Experience to replace the current My Solano portal (to launch in the spring), building 1400 and gymnasium audio visual modernization, and new technology device standards. We are also committed to improving technology related communications, project transparency, and starting the planning process for a new strategic technology plan emerged through shared governance.

I encourage you all to stay engaged, curious, and open to embracing the transformative power of technology. Let's collaborate, challenge boundaries, and push the envelope of what's possible for our students.

Wishing you all a fantastic Fall 2023 semester!

Jon Cornelison

Vice President, Technology

Also, don't forget:

Staff email:

https://outlook.office.com

Username: username@solano.edu

Forgot your password?

http://helpdesk.solano.edu/QPM/User/Identification/

Please allow 20 minutes for password sync to Office 365.

Technology Info, FAQs can be found at:

https://welcome.solano.edu/technology-services/

Smart Classroom Guide

Public Safety Officer Derrick Roberts (pictured left) had a chance encounter with SCC Police Chief Brian Travis that changed his life.

Derrick Roberts was working at an auto parts store when Chief Travis was searching for a car part. Their interaction is something Officer Roberts will never forget and stands as a testament to the transformative potential that lies within chance encounters and the incredible impact one person can have on another’s life.

The two began talking and it was then that Officer Roberts discovered the customer was also a veteran of the U.S. Army deployed to Iraq a few years prior to his own deployment. Their shared experiences and camaraderie blossomed, forging a bond between them.

Read more about how this one encounter changed Officer Roberts life and how he came to work in SCC's Public Safety Office.

Daily Republic News Article.

Grace Baird (pictured right) graduated from SCC’s Engineering Program in 2021 and transferred to the Biomedical Engineering Program at UC Davis. In June, she was part of an undergraduate research team that won first prize in the 2023 Sandia Engineering Design Award at the College of Engineering at UC Davis. This annual competition recognizes outstanding engineering design that relates to the national security mission or grand challenge initiatives of

Sandia National Laboratories.

Grace’s project was on the design of a non-invasive device to monitor intracranial pressure (ICP) following a craniectomy operation. In cases of traumatic brain injury, patients often undergo a craniectomy operation to reduce the fluid pressure in the cranium. Following the operation, the patient’s ICP must be continuously monitored to ensure a steady recovery.

Typically, the ICP measurement is made invasively, via a pressure transducer that is surgically implanted in the brain. These devices are expensive, time-consuming to implant, prone to leakage, and create a risk of central nervous system infection. Grace’s team developed a new, non-invasive ICP monitoring device that monitors the ICP by measuring the strain on the craniectomy flap via a mesh of strain gauges. As the only non-invasive ICP monitor in the world, this new device will pave the way for non-invasive monitoring of

intracranial pressure and other body cavity pressures in clinical scenarios.

Grace graduated from UC Davis in June with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, and plans to obtain a Ph.D. and become a professor of Bioengineering.

Joshua Ang, Physical Science Lab Tech

Alison Aubert, Assistant Athletic Director

Jon Cornelison, VP of Technology

Patrick Grant, Chemistry Instructor

Diana Kahteeb, Non-Sworn Public Safety Officer

Alexis Long, Early Learning Center Specialist

John Perez, Director of Online Education

Maureen Powers, CDFS/EE Instructor

Derrick Roberts, Non-Sworn Public Safety Officer

Charlotte Wright, Administrative Assistant, CTE & Business

• League of Women Voters Solano will host Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Tuesday, August 15, 3:00-4:30 in the Theatre (Bldg. 1200). Event is open to public and is free. Public parking in student lots is $2
• SCC Ed. Foundation Golf Tournament for Scholarships: Friday, Sept. 8, 7:30am-3:30pm, Rancho Solano Golf Course. Need sponsors and participants.
• SCC Puente Project will host poet, writer, and artist Jaime Cortez on Friday, Sept. 15 in the Theatre (Bldg. 1200)This is a free event open to the public. More details to come.
• Fairfield Pro Tennis Championship, Oct 9-15. SCC tennis courts. Will be on ATP (Tennis channel) and live streamed. Tickets will be available to purchase online in a few weeks.

As part of our Student Equity & Achievement campus-wide initiative, the Student Services team organized a Black Family Barbecue on Saturday, August 5 for new and returning students, their families, and the wider campus community. Attendance reached 100 people, who spent a welcoming afternoon with delicious barbecue catered by KickOff Event Catering, smooth summer sounds from DJ Coco, as well as lawn games and raffle prizes. It was a wonderful community building event we look forward to hosting each year. Thank you to A3Mend and Imani Sisterhood student programs and everyone who organized this special event.

Solano Community College is saddened to learn of the passing of Jennyann Carthern. Jennyann was a new faculty member, recently hired to teach Graphic Design 1 this fall in the arts department, in what would have been her first semester as Adjunct Professor at Solano Community College.  

The arts department was excited for the students who would have the opportunity to work with her. Jennyann was a working artist, designer, project leader, trainer, and illustrator, with over 20 years of experience in arts and arts education in Solano County.

A graduate of CCA and Academy of Art College, Jennyann was also a former student at Solano College. As both a teacher and a student, she was an incredible presence in the classroom - dedicated, generous, and incredibly intelligent, with a great sense of humor.  She leaves an enduring legacy in both the professional and personal realm. During her life, she worked tirelessly to ensure that art, in all its forms, is accessible to everyone, and transformed numerous lives. Those that knew her remember her unwavering kindness, and her creativity.  

Although diagnosed with Leukemia in November 2022, Jennyann's passing was unexpected, as she had received a successful bone marrow transplant from her sister in March 2023 and was in remission. Unfortunately, the cancer returned and spread too quickly for interventions. 

Jennyann was also one of the main providers for her family; the website linked below is accepting donations to her family if you are able to and would like to donate and help support them. Memorial details, for those who would like to attend, are also available on the site as well.

Jennyann Carthern Memorial Fund

As part of her legacy, her family requests that those who'd like to honor Jennyann take some time to make art this week. Photos of the art and the process can be shared with the family on the website linked in our bio, where it will be showcased at her funeral. You may also share stories or memories of JennyAnn on the site as well.

You are encouraged to submit article ideas for this newsletter, Solano CARES, when you feel staff and/or students might be interested. Below is when the newsletters are distributed in email form and when that content is due.

Distributed:                                         Content due no later than noon:

August 14                                             August 11

August 28                                             August 25

September 11                                       September 8

September 25                                       September 22

October 9                                             October 6

October 23                                           October 20

November 6                                         November 3

No newsletter week of Thanksgiving

December 4                                         December 1

Please send article ideas to: solanocares@gmail.com.