Build your addiction for “Minecraft” on page 7
Girls come to learn at Skyline to expand their horizons on page 2
Check us out online -
look us up on Facebook or Twitter!
Career networking Students learn to market themselves Volume XXIX - Issue 5
www.theskylineview.com
March 31, 2011
by Liz McMahon
Networking is key. This was the refrain echoed by several professionals at the campus’ Career Networking Night on March 23. Harry Joel, vice chancellor of human resources and employee relations at the San Mateo County Community College District, emphasized this point. “(E)veryone is a potential contact to someone who may be in a position to hire,” Joel said. He added that we are all at “six degrees of separation.” Virginia Padrón, who is a career counselor, Career Center director, and one of the coordinators of the event, said the purpose of the event was to re-establish the connection between education and work, which she thinks is missing. Professionals from six different industry categories—including Arts/Communications, Business/Administration, Education/Human Services, Health/Medicine, Law/Public Service and Technology/Science—were organized into groups of five panelists. These panelists spoke to students about the everyday realities that their jobs entail as well as effective methods of beginning a career in a specific industry. Skyline student Leticia Lopez, one of 180 students who registered for the event, was hopeful that she would gain valuable knowledge from the panelists. Lopez, who is interested in the medical industry, said she would like to talk to “a nurse and see how their work environment is.” She added, “I like helping
kids and adults, so that’s kind of my munity college any way possible; inspiration.” get their foot in the door. While The event was sponsored by sev- they’re in there, they need to make eral campus organizations, includ- some good connections, and the ing the African-American Success ideal situation is to have a mentor, Through Excellence and Persistence but the biggest deal is to make good Program. Jamela Brown, who was connections.” Students who participata volunteer with ASTEP and had helped to prepare the building for ed in the networking event the event, offered this advice to reacted positively to the students: “(I)f you can’t be disci- experience. Music student plined about your education, you’re Vincent Ionnone said he definitely not setting the right path received good advice for your career. . . . (Employers) from the presenters, and want the students that have a proven he seemed enthusiastic capability, a proven track record of about his prospects. reliability.” “Tonight I learned The event kicked off with coun- about how to gauge the selor Nate Nevado serving as master value of your work and how of ceremonies to introduce various to protect yourself when it student musicians, who played, comes time to start negotiatsang and rapped. With the crowd ing with people you’re wanting to sufficiently excited and engaged, sell your work to,” Ionnone said. Joel took the stage and encouraged “I learned how the freelance students to network and dress for industry differs from the commercial industry, and I learned success. Following the vice chancellor’s a lot about the speed at which speech, students went upstairs to things change within electronic listen to the panelists in their cho- media.” Iannone added that he sen field speak about job success. feels better prepared to pursue Professionals such as Cece Rebele a career in the arts and comimparted knowledge and wisdom to munications industry. The consensus among their attentive audience. Rebele, who is the program services coordinator for the early childhood education department at Skyline, advised students to “start to tailor your education around something that you think is going to be a big job demand. . . . (D)iversify yourself because you’re going to have to market yourself eventually.” Vanson Nguyen, a math professor at Skyline, also had recommendations to offer to would-be teachers. Vanson said they should “volunteer at a nearby com-
Vincent Iannone(Left) talking with Puente counselor Sandra Rodriguez(Right) a facilitator at the event.
Possible changes to registration policies by Blair Hardee
The California State Legislature is calling for reforms to the community college system in order to save money and help students reach their educational goals. Recent data have revealed that a vast number of community college students are not on track to finish their lower division studies within two years. In fact, only about one fourth of students who enter California community colleges are able to transfer within three years. The state government feels this is detrimental to its higher education budget and the success of the community college system. About 85% of first-year California community college students are unprepared for college work. This causes a need for remedial classes so students can get up to speed. About 10% of instruction at California community colleges was at the pre-
collegiate level in 2009-10, at a cost of $550 million dollars. Not only is this type of instruction expensive, but when students need to enroll in these classes, they are usually unable to get the credits they need to transfer within two years. In 1960, the California Postsecondary Education Commission designed its Master Plan for Education, which outlines the purpose of the community college system. The plan has been amended over the years, but the main message is the same. The purpose of the California Community College System is to enable students to (1) earn credits in order to transfer to a four-year institution, (2) receive an associate degree or certificate, and (3) gain basic job or language skills. Currently, the minimum number of units students need to transfer is 60. Once those credits are earned, it is the expectation of the state that
students leave community college and enroll in a university. However, there are many students who have more than 60 units and remain at community college rather than move on. In 2009-10, there were about 120,000 students enrolled in California community colleges who had more than 90 units (which is the maximum many public universities will accept for transfer). There were about 9,000 students in the state with 150 units or more. This can be problematic for a number of reasons. Foremost is the issue of open classes. With class options down and enrollment up, it is more critical than ever that students who intend to transfer are able to get the classes they need. “I only need two more classes,” Jessica Candelaire said. “I can’t get into them, though, because they fill up so fast.” The concern of the legislature
is that long-time students have priority registration over students who haven’t been enrolled as many semesters. In theory, this is to make it easier for students who are closer to transferring to get the classes they need, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Many students, like those mentioned above with more than 90 units, may not intend to transfer. The second issue is state funding. The state currently subsidizes community college fees so students only have to pay a fraction of the true cost, but this is putting a strain on state resources. This, along with the issue of class availability, has led to a number of recommendations from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Regarding the issue of open classes, the LAO recommends that colleges give the highest registration priority to those who are fully matriculated (defined as those who have “participated in assessment,
people involved in Career Networking Night seemed to be that interacting with professionals in your chosen career field is the best way to get involved in the career of your dreams.
Kiriakos Vilchez/The Skyline View
orientation, and counseling, as well as completed an educational plan,” according to LAO’s report) and are making good progress toward their educational goals. As far as the state budget goes, the legislature does have the power to require full (unsubsidized) fees for students who fall into certain categories. The LAO recommends a cap of 100 units, which would prevent those students with more units from receiving full government subsidies. It is currently unknown how the legislature will act upon these recommendations. The state has recently passed legislation that requires the Board of Governors to put together a task force whose primary purpose is to create a plan for student success within the community college system. The plan is due next January and will subsequently be presented to the legislature.