July 2018

Preparing for the AccreditationVisit 1

Falk New Program Manager 1

Students Supporting Students 2

Child Development CenterReceives Recognition andAward 2

Professor Ward Now a LicensedAttorney in California 2

Phishing Scams Continue toEvolve 2

Leading from the Middle 3

Psychology Professor RundellRetires 3

Native American EducationSummit at Bishop Campus 4

Foundation Feature:Foundation Scholarships 4

Inside this Issue

Preparing for the Accreditation VisitThis fall, a team of administrators and faculty will visit Cerro Coso Community College October 1-4 (Monday through Thursday) to participate in the accreditation process which occurs every six years with additional reports and visits as needed. Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards required for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice. Cerro Coso is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the US Department of Education. All three colleges in the Kern Community College District: Cerro Coso Community College, Porterville College, and Bakersfield College undergo evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation at the same time. The accrediting process starts on each campus with many hours of hard work by faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure ACCJC’s standards are well represented by district and college-wide practices. The KCCD Board of Trustees approved the Institutional Self-Evaluation Report for reaffirmation submitted by each college at the June 14, 2018 board meeting. Want to learn more about accreditation and why it is important? Visit the ACCJC website at www.accjc-accreditationcourse.org. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Falk New Program Manager Meet new Program Manager for Foundation and Institutional Advancement Lauren Falk. Her passion for engaging with people from all walks of life, and gaining new perspectives, is a catalyst for serving the college, foundation, and the many communities in the college’s service area. She will assist the foundation in developing programs, and executing activities that ensure growing and sustainable private and public support. Alumni relations is an important part of the college’s advancement activities, and Falk is working on building a robust and active alumni program that will foster a spirit of loyalty and promote the general welfare of Cerro Coso. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Falk moved to California last year to be closer to her husband Aaron’s family. Her dedication and hard work are fueled by the words of her hero, Ronald

Reagan, “If we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose. Somehow we win out.” She holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from La Salle University, and a Master’s degree from American University in Public Policy. Welcome to Cerro Coso Lauren! NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Have a safe & happy Independence Day!Wednesday, July 4th (College Closed)

Child Development Center Receives Recognition and AwardThe Child Development Center (CDC) recently received recognition and award from Kern Early Stars (KES), a statewide movement to enhance early childhood programs through the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). Using a QRIS program model, Kern is now able to bring training and resources to teachers and directors working in child development programs as well as family childcare providers throughout Kern County. Cerro Coso’s CDC has been participating in the voluntary, intensive assessment for continuous quality improvement since 2016. A lengthy and comprehensive process, centers are rated on seven different domains. The Ridgecrest CDC received a four star rating, indicating a “Mastering of High Quality Standards.” The rating and recognition entitles the program to a cash award based on number of awards, as well as a coach, professional development opportunities, and other resources. “This award identifies our program’s commitment to providing the best possible learning experience for children,” stated College President Jill Board. “Congratulations to the hardworking and committed employees on having their excellence and the high quality of our centers recognized.” FOCUSED. NURTURED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Professor Ward Now a Licensed Attorney in CaliforniaParalegal Professor Dawn Ward was sworn in as a member of the State Bar of California in the Ceremonial Courtroom at the Historic Riverside Courthouse on Thursday, June 7th. Ward is now a licensed attorney in California, Ohio, and Illinois. A 1995 graduate of Burroughs High School, she joined the faculty of Cerro Coso in the fall of 2015. She holds a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. Congratulations Professor Ward! FOCUSED.

2 COYOTE HOWLER

Phishing Scams Continue to Evolve

A portion of this message is a reprint of the Security Handout located on the KCCD Information Technology Security website.

Be on the lookout for emails that could be part of a targeted Spear Phishing campaign! If you receive a suspicious email, ask yourself a few questions before clicking anything: What exactly are you paying for? What is a “wire confirmation?” Have you done this for the sender before? Do you know the individual who sent the email? Is it normal for them to send this kind of email? Did this individual have a real conversation about this? When in doubt, ask! Pick up the phone and ask! Did you know, PDF attachments are often infected with malware? You should only open them if they are sent from trusted colleagues. Be suspicious of unknown emails and attachment. Do NOT respond, and do NOT open any attachments. Report all suspicious emails IMMEDIATELY. Recently, one of our vice president received a phishing email that used the college logo. Had he not been paying attention it could have been easy to assume it was a legitimate email. Please report all spam and phishing emails to report-spam@kccd.edu. Be suspicious. Don’t click on unrecognized links. When in doubt check it out. Let the Information Technology Department determine if the email is legitimate or not. Better safe than sorry. Stay informed by regularly visiting the KCCD Information Technology website at https://it.kccd.edu/resources/. This is where you will find videos and security handouts to protect you and your information. CONNECTED. VALUED.

Student Marlo Soto (left) and Jannice Estrada (right) enjoy some fun in the sun with bubbles.

Ward poses for photo with husband David and daughter Arya.

Leading from the MiddleAs a part of our efforts on the Guided Pathways initiatives, Cerro Coso applied to the Central Valley High Education Consortium Leading from the Middle (LFM) Academy. We were accepted into the program and sent a team of five to participate. The team, consisting of Christine Small, Ryan Khamkongsay, Missy Gross, Tyson Huffman, and Chad Houck, have attended two of three “convenings” at Cal Poly Pomona where they worked with a LFM coach through a series of activities focusing on helping to lead our school through some of the challenges that could manifest during our Guided Pathways work. During the first session, the team distilled the essence of Guided Pathways and created a short video primer that could be shared to help demystify the initiative. An excerpt from the transcript of the video is: “As our students progress through their experience at Cerro Coso, there are countless decisions they must make that directly affect how long it takes for them to reach their goal. When making these decisions, information and support may not be easily accessible resulting in choices that extend their stay with us. This is a product of a long-standing paradigm for community colleges that focuses on experience more than completion. If we could decrease the number of decisions required while simultaneously increasing the available information and support, then we could perhaps shift the paradigm so that completion is as important as the experience. This is all that Guided Pathways is: the conscious effort to decrease the number of decisions required by students while increasing the support at those decision points. That’s it. By doing these two things, we can get better outcomes for students. We can do a better job at helping students finish what they start.” During the second session, the team identified and began work on a project specifically to help with ongoing efforts to improve the Cerro Coso experience. The project is in its infancy as a guide to Cross Functional Inquiry Teams (CFIT). CFITs are modeled after the successful Inquiry Groups project from the 2016-17 school year that collected feedback about specific aspects of the Cerro Coso experience. The CFITs could collect data in a similar fashion and then go further to explore initiatives, and recommend actions in order to improve student success. Chad, Tyson, Missy, Ryan, and Christine will be attending one more session in late September where they are hopeful to have at least a first draft guide to using CFITs, and to be making a positive impact on our Guided Pathways efforts. DIRECTED. FOCUSED.

COYOTE HOWLER 3

Top l to r: Chad Houck, Tyson Huffman, and Missy Gross. Bottom l to r: Christine Small, and Ryan Khamkongsay.

Psychology Professor Rundell RetiresFaculty Marshal for the forty-fifth Commencement Ceremony in 2018 was retiring Psychology and Human Services Professor Debra Rundell’s final act of service to the College. She has served Cerro Coso with distinction since 2002. Rundell began as an Adjunct Instructor at the Lake Isabella Campus in the spring of 2002, and became full-time in the fall of 2007. She was granted tenure by the Kern Community College District in 2011. Rundell’s excitement and enthusiasm for teaching is known to bubble over into her classrooms, leading students through exercises that support behaviors that benefits others, and inspire kindness through a “random acts of kindness” project, like the most recent KRV stuffed animal drive to help first responders comfort kids in emergencies. She consistently embraced new and exciting technologies in her classrooms, teaching classes in Bishop and Mammoth Lakes from the Lake Isabella or Ridgecrest campuses via interactive television, also known as iTV. This form of distance education provides opportunities for students located at other campuses to participate in classes that might not otherwise be available. Named three times as the “Outstanding Full-Time Faculty of the Year” by the students at the Lake Isabella Campus, and the recipient of the 2016 Access Programs

Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award at the Ridgecrest Campus, Professor Rundell served as the advisor for the Human Services Club, and served on many Mental Health Panels to help others embrace a disenfranchised population with compassion and understanding. In retirement, Professor Rundell and her husband plan to travel the United States in their new fifth wheel and rebuild their home lost in the Erskine Fire. She holds a Bachelors of Art’s and Master’s in Psychology & Human Services from California State University, Northridge. We wish Professor Debra Rundell all the best in her retirement! DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. ENGAGED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

The Coyote Howler is a publication of Cerro Coso Community College. For more information about the stories in this publication, or to include information in this publication, contact Natalie Dorrell, Public Relations

Director, at 760-384-6260 or email ndorrell@cerrocoso.edu.

BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE

CERRO COSOCOMMUNITY COLLEGE

PORTERVILLE COLLEGE

About this Publication

4 COYOTE HOWLER

Foundation ScholarshipsNow more than ever, students need to consider their finances long before stepping foot on a college campus. College costs continue to skyrocket and the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation Scholarship Program is here to help. The CCCC Foundation awarded more than $44,000 in scholarships to Cerro Coso students in 2017/2018, due to the extraordinary generosity of our wonderful donors, community partners, faculty, and staff. Applying for CCCC Foundation scholarships and awards is fast and easy with the online automated scholarship system located at www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/financial-aid/scholarships. One simple application and students are automatically matched up with any scholarship for which they meet the criteria. The CCCC Foundation investing in the future of our students. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. CONNECTED. VALUED.

FOUNDATION FEATURE

Foundation President Deidre Patin (left) and Foundation Director Derrick Hu (right) award the Ronald Curtis Wilson Scholarship to student Ryan Richards.

Native American Education Summit at Bishop CampusThis spring, Cerro Coso’s Eastern Sierra College Center hosted the 3rd Annual Native American Education Summit at the Bishop campus. The event was co-sponsored by Cerro Coso Community College, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools, and the Owens Valley Career Development Center. The purpose of the annual Education Summit is to encourage collaboration between tribal and non-tribal organizations, educational institutions, and parents and students, and to increase awareness of new educational strategies while continuing to honor traditional, cultural education. This year’s summit included a full day of sessions at Cerro Coso’s Bishop Campus, as well as literacy tables, live cultural demonstrations, tribal youth films, and hands-on workshops. Breakout sessions included: Tribal Nations: The Unique Status of Indian Tribes and Native American People by Topah Spoonhunter of the Bishop Paiute Tribe; Positive Parenting by Melissa Ruiz and Serena Johnson from Inyo County First 5; A Joyful Noise: Reading and Storytelling with Children by Dr. Lisa Fontana, the Inyo County Superintendent of Schools; Culturally Based Parenting Curriculum by Victoria De La Riva of the Owens Valley Career Development Center; and many more. Lunch was served in the Bishop Campus Community Room while participants enjoyed an engaging presentation from keynote speaker, William Madrigal, Jr. Mr. Madrigal has a PhD in Native American Studies,

California Indian Regional History and Cultural Reclamation, and has recently released a DVD titled Keeping the Songs Alive: California Indian Historical Perspectives. The DVD is widely used as an educational and tribal resource throughout California. The event was extremely well received by everyone in the community, and planning for the 4th Annual Native American Education Summit is already in the works! Anyone interested in participating next year should contact Caroline Sanderson, Campus Manager of the Eastern Sierra College Center. DIRECTED. FOCUSED. NURTURED. VALUED.

Keynote speaker, William Madrigal, Jr., holds a PhD in Native American studies.