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ranger Serving San Antonio College since 1926
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Volume 90 Issue 11 • Feb. 15, 2016
210-486-1773 • Single copies free
Unified English labs now called Word Play Page 3
online now Staff Council hopes to ignite employee of the month award
SGA pleased with results of Charity Ball, Pizza with the President
Departments play musical chairs By Wally Perez
gperez239@student.alamo.edu
In the heart of America Wildlife biology freshman Curtis Bitterly studies a soap bar on display at the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Association encampment Wednesday in the mall in celebration of Black
History Month. Clarence Thompson, coordinator, and Clay Leslie, assistant supply, discussed the equipment and supplies available to Buffalo Soldiers of the 19th century. Read the story on theranger.org. Aly Miranda
This college is undergoing a reorganization of departments and programs that will also change for some which dean they report to. Nothing is set in stone, but there is a plan for where certain programs will possibly be moved so they best align with the AlamoInstitutes. There are 19 department chairs, but the proposed plan is to lower that number to 12. Chairs were notified of the proposal in a joint chairs meeting Feb. 4 and were given until Friday to report any feedback. Dr. Conrad Krueger, dean of arts and sciences, has worked with others on the plan since last December. The proposed plan started with a conversation between Krueger and Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technical education. They took it to Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice president of academic success, and eventually to the college
See CHAIRS, Page 7
Trustee faces class conflict
SGA seeks applicant for board
By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@student.alamo.edu
Deadlines vary at colleges, but board receives five nominees by Feb. 29 and then interviews each. By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@student.alamo.edu
Student trustee Sami Adames was absent from January’s regular board meeting, allowing student trustee alternate and web design sophomore Hannah Mahaffey to sit in for her. Board liaison Sandra Mora said Adames, a criminal justice sophomore at Northwest Vista College, missed the meeting because of a Tuesday night class. The board’s committee and regular session are scheduled on Tuesdays each month. Adames said despite lab courses at 5:30 and 9 p.m. she has made the necessary arrangements with the respective professors to fulfill her responsibilities. Adames declined to give the names of the courses and professors.
Student trustee Sami Adames at a committee meeting Oct. 20. File She said the courses are not part of her degree plan and simply supply extra courses that will benefit her transfer. Adames com pleted her degree plan in spring 2015 and is enrolled in the minimum six hours required to serve on the board as a non-voting member. To contact Adames, email sadames3@alamo.edu or call board liaison Sandra Mora at 210-485-0030
Since May, criminal justice sophomore Sami Adames has represented students on the board of trustees as student trustee; however, her term will come to a close at the end of this semester. To find the next student trustee, student government associations from all five colleges are now taking applications. Each Alamo College’s SGA this month will interview each of their applicants and choose one candidate to submit to the board of trustees by Feb. 29. This college’s deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Feb. 19. Harley Williams, psychology sophomore and SGA president, said the date allows plenty of time to review each candidate. Palo Alto College’s applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 15 in student center 10. The Ranger was unable to reach Saint Philip’s College’s SGA because its president, LaTonya Jones, is out of town, according to the office of student life.
Northwest Vista College will be accepting applications until 5 p.m. Feb. 23 in Room 110 of Huisache Hall with interviews to follow. Northeast Lakeview College’s SGA currently has not set a deadline, said Marlon Anderson, director of student development, activities and leadership and SGA adviser. Williams said this college’s SGA is looking for someone who is passionate and committed to the job but also balanced in their approach. Applicants must go above and beyond to make themselves available to students. Williams and Jami Keeton, liberal arts sophomore and SGA vice president, said former student trustee Jacob Wong and Adames are examples of going above and beyond. Wong, who was the first student trustee appointed by the Alamo Colleges, would try to attend every student government meeting at each of the respective colleges to hear student concerns. Williams and Keeton said Wong’s approach isn’t for everybody and said Adames’ approach was acceptable as well. Adames, who has work commitments, has made herself available via phone and email for any concerns
See SGA, Page 7
Panelists: Proper prep can end ‘S.A. swirl’ Educator want students to find and stick to a degree plan for quick transfers. By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@student.alamo.edu
Students must be comfortable at the university they transfer to and able to communicate when they run into an issue about degree plans, a panel of San Antonio university leaders said Feb. 8 during the Alamo Colleges 2016 strategic stakeholders retreat. The panel consisted of Dr. Richard Romo, University of Texas at San Antonio president; Dr. David Jurenovich, vice presi-
dent for enrollment management at the University of the Incarnate Word; and Dr. Cynthia TenienteMatson, president of Texas A&MSan Antonio. Romo said the biggest key to success for a sense of perceived institutional fit is being proactive when engaging with students early on and making them feel welcomed. “Welcome the students and engage with them early so students know that this is going to be their home,” Romo said. “None of us want to be ignored, none of us want to be slighted.” He continued, “Once they are in the right place, that’s the begin-
ning where they can feel comfortable dents to make sure they understand seeking all the help possible.” what they need to do and where they The panelists talked of their expe- are going. riences with students with excess Matson said the idea of credit hours and agreed with Romo’s AlamoAdvise and AlamoInstitutes is sentiment, noting the critical and suggested “San Antonio swirl’” offering more dualSee Page 7 which describes stuenrollment opporfor more dents bouncing all tunities to reach stuon strategic over the city trying to dents even in middle stakeholders find the right fit. school. retreat. Matson said the In the Q&A porbest thing for Alamo tion, a faculty memColleges was to preber talked about the pare students by teaching the lan- difficulties transferring to four-year guage of higher education, suggest- institutions because of a lack of coming that the colleges need to “reach mon course numbering in the state, back” earlier, engaging with stu- forcing students to retake classes
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they already completed. On the potential of getting a common course number system, the panel said it would be very difficult with the current Legislature. “We have too many distractions and not enough time,” Romo said of state policy. Matson echoed the sentiment, but said she did feel it was possible, having seen it done when she was in California. “It’s hard to get everyone to agree. It took five years to get faculty to agree on a common curriculum,” Matson said. “We all think it’s a good idea in theory.”