SPSCC Soundwaves, Winter 2022

SOUTH

PUGET

SOUND

COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

WINTER QUARTER 2022

BETTER — THAN —

FICTION Therapy dogs, inclusive spaces, and librarians bring magic to the SPSCC Library.

ON THE COVER

BETTER THAN FICTION

The SPSCC Library has a magic of its own Many movies, TV shows, and books feature magical libraries.

Libraries with books that fly and shelve themselves. Libraries that house ancient artifacts. Libraries that make us wish we were the main character of a fantasy novel. But what if we told you that magical libraries like these don’t only exist in fiction? The SPSCC Library may not practice actual magic, but it does have a magic of its own.

That magic is first evident at the library’s entrance. Once you walk inside, you are greeted by a wall decorated by Librarian Lily Kun with the word ‘welcome’ translated into various languages including Spanish, French, Korean, and Arabic—and that’s only scratching the surface. The SPSCC Library is dedicated to welcoming everyone in the community and being at the forefront of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We have teenagers to people in their sixties and seventies, from all different backgrounds and walks of life,” said Amy Kelly, Dean of Academic Success Programs. “They need to be able to see themselves somewhere in the library.” And that is where the magic really begins.

Setting the scene for success Environmental cues are signals around a person that inform them what is happening and how to respond. Due to COVID, our environmental cues have become a jumbled mess.

“All of a sudden you don’t go to work, then go to school, and then come home. Everything is at home,” said Kelly. “But there’s a benefit in having environmental cues that prepare you for academic success. There is something to be said for having a space where students can work free of distractions. We wanted to keep the calm, quiet peacefulness of a place to study as well as making the materials more accessible.”

Being surrounded by bookshelves, computers, printers, study rooms, and librarians invites students to utilize the space for success. And this is true for both the SPSCC Library’s physical space as well as their virtual space. Students have access to over 100,000 e-books as well as databases for articles and films.

Targeted collections, which are curated by faculty and librarians, help students find resources for a specific class or topic.

Celisia Berrington helped Kun put the welcome wall together and is one of the first faces visitors see in the Library.

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A resource the SPSCC Library is working toward providing is a study room specifically designed for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or with sensory integration disorder. The librarians have written a grant for funding and taken extensive training on serving students with ASD. “The room will be designed for students with ASD in mind, but open to anyone looking for a relaxing place to study,” said Margaret Thomas, an SPSCC librarian. “We are considering wall color, non-fluorescent lighting, perhaps a weighted lap blanket, and casual furniture, like beanbag chairs.”

Librarians are the true magicians The team at the SPSCC Library is always looking for ways to improve the student experience. This includes teaching skills that students can carry with them even after they graduate. Through College and Career Success (CCS) classes, librarians help students think about what makes a source credible and how to best apply the information they come across.

“I think the most important thing academic librarians do is teach students to be information literate,” said Sarah Kaip, an SPSCC librarian. “In our world of fake news, junk news, comfort news, social media’s can’t-even-call-it news, and all the other Internet and media landmines in the information landscape, the ability to find and evaluate information for credibility and use it ethically is more important today than ever before.”

In addition to teaching CCS classes and helping others navigate bookshelves or databases, librarians also organize community events held in the library, such as their quarterly dog therapy day.

On these days, students can stop by the library to visit between seven and ten dogs brought in by various organizations.

“I started organizing this event to help alleviate students’ stress just before finals week,” said Kaip “The first time we did it, we got over 500 students in the library petting the dogs over a two-hour period. Some students even get permission from their professors to leave class so they can come see the dogs. That’s how important it is to them.”

The executive director of Cascade Service Dogs, one of the organizations that bring dogs to the library, offered Kaip a golden retriever to adopt. She happily accepted, naming her new friend Charlie (featured on the cover). Although events like dog therapy days have been put on hold, the SPSCC Library looks forward to hosting them again once more students are back on campus.

The magic of the SPSCC Library comes from its ability to be both a place for learning and a place to relax and have fun.

Whether you come to the library to check out books for your next research paper or to pet some dogs before your next class, you’re guaranteed to have a magical experience.

“Our collections are not just about writing papers,” said Kelly.

“It’s about lifelong learning and deepening your own knowledge and interests." ■

FIND THE MAGIC YOURSELF STUDENTS CAN: Browse nearly 32,000 circulating books and 102,000 e-books.

Access article and film databases for all your researching needs.

Request specific resources through interlibrary loans.

Why buy?

Check out textbooks for the quarter.

Chat with a librarian 24/7 through their website.

Enjoy solo study rooms and computer stations.

Get a free New York Times subscription.

Look forward to events like dog therapy days and Maker’s Day.

spscc.edu/library

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PATHWAYS

spscc.edu/areas

Pathways allow you to take classes related to your interests, earn your degree faster, and graduate. ● Certificate ● **AAS: Associate in Applied Science ● *AA: Associate in Arts (transfer degree) *AS: Associate in Science (transfer degree)

Arts & Communications Art ● Communication Studies ● Drama ● English ● Film ● Music ● Philosophy ●

Automotive, Welding & Machining Automotive Technology ● ● Machining Technologies ● ● Welding Technology ● ●

Business, Finance & Office Administration

Accounting ● ● Business ● Business Administration ● ● Economics ● Entrepreneurship ● Office Technology & Administration ● ●

Cultural Studies

Anthropology ● History ● Humanities ● International/Intercultural Studies ● Languages ●

Food, Beverage Arts & Hospitality Baking & Pastry Arts ● Craft Brewing & Distilling ● Culinary Arts ● ●

Government, Public & Non-Profit Administration Criminal Justice ● pre-Law ● Paralegal ● ● Political Science ●

Pathways, degrees, and certificates are subject to change.

Healthcare

Allied Health ● ● ● Dental Assisting ● ● Medical Assisting ● Medical Coding & Billing ● pre-Medicine ● Naturopathic Medicine ● Nursing ● ● Nutrition ● Physical Therapy ● pre-Veterinary Medicine ●

Information Technology

Architecture, Engineering & Construction Technology ● ● ● Computer Science ● Cybersecurity & Network Administration ● Information Systems ● Information Technology Computer Support ● ● Software Development ●

Science, Engineering & Math Astronomy ● Biology ● Botany ● Chemistry ● Earth Science ● Engineering ● Environmental Science ● Geology ● Math ● Oceanography ● Physics ●

Social Services & Education Early Childhood Education ● ● ● Education ● Parent Education ● Psychology ● Sociology ● Social Work ●

Pre-College & ESL Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), High School Completion (High School+, GED®), I-BEST

South Puget Sound Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance inquiries: Executive Human Resources Officer, 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, WA, 98512, 360-596-5361. SPSCC publications are available in alternate formats upon request by contacting the Access Services Office at 360-596-5306.

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FEATURED CAREER PATHWAY

PATHWAY TO A STATE RETIREMENT SPECIALIST

Scan with your camera to hear more from Jason

Jason Neto joined SPSCC as a returning student after serving in the Army for seven years. After receiving his Associate in Arts, he followed his passion for helping others and began his next mission as a Retirement Specialist at the Department of Retirement Systems.

“For the veterans out there, I know that it’s difficult once you transition out of the military,” said Jason. “You’re always trying to find that next mission.”

Jason is a veteran and has served in the Army for seven years.

He began in the infantry before transitioning into Information Technology. “That gave me a nice overview of what the Army does and some of the different jobs they offer,” he said. Once he had finished his time in the Army, he decided to return to college.

As a transitioning service member and returning student, Jason faced many obstacles. In addition to navigating Veterans Affairs and the GI Bill®, he also had to learn to be a student again. “It had been a long time since I had taken any classes,” said Jason.

“Just getting back into that student mindset and figuring out how to complete assignments and use different computer programs was hard.”

Jason knew that was a critical point to his success in college, and he embraced his life experience and positivity to move forward.

He connected with professors and fellow veterans and built a community of his own, working toward earning his Associate in Arts university transfer degree.

“It was difficult, but as long as you continue to turn in your assignments and seek out help from your professors it’s possible,” said Jason. “A lot of students don’t take advantage of office time. Everyone is there to help and there’s a ton of resources.”

As he neared graduation, Jason prepared to begin a career and also continue taking online classes to earn a bachelor’s degree.

He was looking for something that focused on helping others.

“I found that here at the Department of Retirement Systems,” he said. “I get to help a lot of fellow state workers with their retirements and answer any questions to help them make permanent life decisions. The job is very rewarding although challenging.

I’m happy I get help people through this job.”

Jason believes that his experience as a veteran at SPSCC was very positive. “There’s a lot of resources, the Veterans Center, and the teachers are very helpful. Knowing I was an older student, they were there to guide me and gave me any extra help I needed to complete the classes or study to improve my grades.”

“This gives you a set goal,” said Jason. “It gives you that regimented lifestyle that you’re used to. It gives you something to work towards. It will give you that huge sense of accomplishment once you’ve completed it.” ■

State government recognizes the skills and knowledge Veterans bring to the workforce, offering: - Veterans Preference While Hiring - Veterans Employee Resource Group - Skills and Experience Transition Tools Source - ofm.wa.gov

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STEPS TO ENROLL 1

2

APPLY

Submit an admissions application online for free.

spscc.edu/start/steps

ACTIVATE YOUR CLIPPER ID

Activate your ClipperID to access your SPSCC email and mySPSCC portal.

4 GET PLACED

5

Take a Guided Self Placement for English and math or submit test scores or transcripts to get placed in the correct classes.

GET BACK TO CAMPUS THIS WINTER

Complete the Pathway Selection Survey (PaSS) and New Student Advising & Registration (NSAR) to learn about resources, meet advisors, and pick your Pathway and classes.

APPLY BY DEC. 20

Get money for tuition & books as you move into a high-demand, high-wage career.

Find out if you're eligible: spscc.edu/workforce

2021-22 TUITION

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Washington Resident

CLASSES START JAN. 3

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

spscc.edu/pay-for-college

COMPLETE THE FAFSA OR WASFA The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) helps you determine what financial awards, grants, and loans you can receive. Do this important step first, and include SPSCC’s school code: 005372.

Get started at fafsa.gov.

Washington State offers financial aid programs to students who aren’t eligible for federal financial aid, sometimes because of immigration status.

Complete the WASFA at readysetgrad.wa.gov/wasfa.

Technology Fee:

Non-Washington Resident, US Citizen

Non-Resident, International

1

$116.05

$131.27

$299.12

5

$580.25

$656.35

$1,495.60

12

$1,275.42

$1,429.22

$3,121.04

15

$1,447.80

$1,604

$3,315.80

SOUNDWAVES

Fill out the FAFSA or WASFA to apply for financial aid (grants and loans) and learn about funding and payment options.

GET REGISTERED

WORKFORCE FUNDING

Number of Credits

3 PLAN TO PAY

ABE, Parent Coop, ESL, GED® $10.00 per quarter All Other Students $40.00/quarter (1-9 credits) $50.00/quarter (10+ credits and Running Start students) Student Building Fee: All students $6.00 per credit (all credits)

Matriculation Fee: All students $20.00 per quarter Course Fees: Listed in class schedule if required.

Associated Student Programs Fee: Running Start students $5.00 per credit (up to $50 max.)

WE ARE ON INDIGENOUS LAND South Puget Sound Community College is located on the ancestral lands of the Steh-Chass band of the Squaxin Island Tribe and Nisqually Indian Tribe, who have long been stewards of the region’s waters, plants, and animals. The southernmost point of the Salish Sea, these lands were—and still are—a place of gathering, trade, and community for many Coast Salish peoples.

We recognize that all who are not Salish peoples are visitors here. We commit to join these peoples to share their history, build relationships, increase representation, and restore the living world around us.

SPSCC’s native land acknowledgement is more than a statement that is read at the beginning of an event. It’s a commitment that the SPSCC community has made to our Native communities. It has many layers, history, and is constantly evolving with plenty of room to grow—and it can be seen in action through the work our communities do together.

High school seniors who attend the summit can apply for a FIRE Summit scholarship to attend SPSCC and are encouraged to join the college’s IGNITE program, which provides community and targeted supports to help low income students, students of color, and other students facing barriers to get through college and graduate.

Director of Tribal Programming Shanon Millman is a key player in connecting our educational programs with our region’s four Native communities: the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Squaxin Island Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, and Skokomish Indian Tribe. One piece of Millman’s role brings an adult high school completion program directly to the reservations.

Visitors to the Olympia Campus also get a chance to experience many works of art by Native artists such as the Welcome Figure

by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo (American, Squaxin Island, Skokomish), River of Life by Marvin Oliver (American, Quinault, Isleta-Pueblo), and Qaluquq, Winter Whale Ceremonial by Lawrence “Ulaaq” Ahvakana (American, Inupiat). Additionally the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery hosts an annual Native American Art Exhibition, which is now in its 13th year. This year’s exhibition is curated by Philip Red Eagle (Sisseton, Wahpeton, Mdewakanton, Yankton, Steilacoom, S’Klallam) and runs through Dec. 10.

“The relationships I’ve built allow me to continue to help amazing students overcome obstacles—such as a lack of work opportunities and negative educational experiences—and complete their education,” said Millman. "A big part is allowing my students to dream and to realize those dreams can become a reality."

Additionally, her work, in partnership with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Center (DEIC), brings Native youth onto SPSCC’s Olympia Campus for an annual event called the FIRE Summit.

“We have inspiring speakers, workshops, and talk about navigating college as a Native American,” she added.

"My hope is that the relationships between the local tribes and the college continue to be one of mutual respect and a pathway to start healing historical traumas and atrocities," Millman said.

For more information and resources, visit spscc.edu/about/on-indigenous-land. ■

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2011 Mottman Rd. SW Olympia, WA 98512

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PARENT EDUCATION

Supporting families in our community through in-person, hybrid, and online parenting classes.

Parent-Child Weekly Classes Eastside Co-op Preschool Capitol Forest Cooperative Preschool Steamboat Island Co-op Preschool Westside Cooperative Preschool

COMMUNITY INFO SESSIONS Visit us outside at Lacey Timberland Regional Library and at Oly On Ice this December!

Swag | Music | Enrollment Info Dec. 9, 10, 11 | 3 - 6 p.m.

Tailgate @ Lacey Timberland Regional Library

Dec. 1 | 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Oly On Ice Dec. 11 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Oly On Ice Dec. 16 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Oly On Ice

spscc.edu/news/community-info-sessions

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Register now for Winter

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