CAMPUS DIGEST. Newsom Gets Aquainted With MC. President Big things coming in the next couple months Page 2

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1 CAMPUS DIGEST A Merced College News Magazine Vol. VIII Edition III Published by the Office of Institutional Advancement October 2018 President Big things coming in the next couple months Page 2 Breakfast High school adminstrators and College touch base Page 6 Athletics The fall teams are setting the bar high with fast starts Page 9 Newsom Gets Aquainted With MC Vice President of Instruction Kelly Fowler, front, leads a tour of the College s Industrial Technician facilities during Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom s, right, visit last week. Page 3

2 CAMPUS DIGEST OCTOBER 2018 Exciting Things Ahead at the College By Chris Vitelli Superintendent/President Over the past several months, I have been incredibly proud of our team and the efforts to take this College to new heights. We have been discussing the implementation of new state regulations, advocating for additional resources, developing strategic operational plans, and reminding this community that we matter. AB 705 Task Force. I ll start with the new state regulations requiring community colleges to essentially eliminate prerequisite coursework in math and English unless evidence suggests the student is highly unlikely to succeed in the college-level course. I have been proud of the work of our own internal AB 705 Task Force and discipline programs as they sort through regulatory language, implementation options, and balancing the nuanced needs of our students. While I am certain we will find a solution to meet the letter of the law, I am appreciative of the thoughtfulness and creativity of our faculty to ensure we maximize student success and finding a solution that works best for Merced College. Advocacy. As many of you Page 2 know, we have one major building left from the bond measure approved by local voters back in We have been actively advocating for the release of the matching bond funds from the State (Proposition 51 funds) to finally get our Agriculture and Industrial Technology Building. This month, we were honored to have Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and Assemblymember Adam Gray visit with us on the Merced Campus to discuss this facility project, physically see the disrepair of our current facility, and talk directly with students and community members about the importance of releasing the state funds needed to build this facility for Merced College. It was a great day for Merced College and I am hopeful we will be in the line-up when the Governor s Budget is released next year. Strategic Planning. With the completion of the Educational Master Plan, we began work on operationalizing the goals and objectives with the development of the strategic action steps and implementation plan. Last month, several action teams, with representatives from all constituencies, met to formalize the first draft of the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP). This month, administration and management will work through the draft plans and finalize the details and then the real work begins. In the coming months, we will share and discuss the details of the plan and get to work on implementation efforts. Merced College Matters. Finally, I have observed a newfound appreciation among this community regarding our presence and purpose. Community leaders are reengaging with us and discussing how we can better serve our students, legislators are visiting us, economic developers are asking us about our workforce training, and we have a presence and voice at important meetings, events, and programs. This is a team effort and I am thankful for the strategic and outstanding work you all are doing to share our message and elevating how we matter to this economy and our community. I hope this message finds you all enjoying the cooler weather and fall term. The 2018 calendar year will come to a close soon and I could not be more pleased with what we have accomplished. I am continually thankful to be a part of such a talented team of professionals keep up the great work, this community is noticing and our students deserve our very best. Thanks for all you do!

3 OCTOBER 2018 CAMPUS DIGEST October Events Friday, Oct p.m. Columbia at MC Volleyball 7:30 p.m. Community Performance: Merced College Concert Band at the MC Theater Saturday, Oct p.m. Monterey Peninsula at MC Football Tuesday, Oct a.m. Breast Cancer Awareness Week in the Merced campus Quad 2 p.m. Student Workshop: Preparing for Midterms: Test Taking Strategies 4 p.m. Merced College Farmers Market in the Tri-College Center Parking Lot Wednesday, Oct. 17 Gavin Newsom s 51st birthday is one he hopefully won t soon forget. Thanks to the advocacy of Assemblymember Adam Gray, the California Lt. Governor and democratic gubernatorial candidate spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with Merced College and Merced County leaders and touring the campus current Agriculture and Industrial Technology facilities that were built in 1968 and As the Merced County economy continues to grow, a yearly estimated 1.5 percent total wage and salary employment increase forecasted from , Merced College is preparing 9 a.m. Breast Cancer Awareness Week in the Merced campus Quad 10 a.m. Fall Career Fair in the Merced Campus Quad 4:15 p.m. Ohlone at MC Men s Water Polo Thursday, Oct a.m. Breast Cancer Awareness Week in the Merced campus Quad 5 p.m. President s Circle Dinner at the Merced Campus Saturday, Oct a.m. U-Pick Pumpkin Sale at the Farm Saturday, Oct a.m. U-Pick Pumpkin Sale at the Farm Monday, Oct. 22 9:30 a.m. Aaron Donovan Painting Exhibit Opens at Merced College men s aquatics coach Scott McCall poses for a photo while dressed as Thor last Halloween the MC Art Gallery Wednesday, Oct a.m. Aaron Donovan Artist Reception at the MC Art Gallery Saturday, Oct a.m. U-Pick Pumpkin Sale at the Farm the future workforce and meeting industry standards for agriculture 6 p.m. Reedley at MC Football Sunday, Oct a.m. U-Pick Pumpkin Sale at the Farm Wednesday, Oct p.m. Porterville at MC Volleyball Newsom Celebrates Birthday With the College Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and Assemblymember Adam Gray, middle, pose with students during their visit to campus last week. and industrial technology. Continued on Page 5 Page 3

4 CAMPUS DIGEST OCTOBER 2018 Page 4 Hispanic Heritage Speaker s Message Finds Mark Dean of Student Equity and Success Lonita Cordova, left, introduces poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo to the gathered crowd on Sept. 21. Like passengers on a roller coaster, the Merced College Theater s emotions quickly swung from hysterical highs to melancholy lows and back again. Poet and scholar Joaquin Zihuatanejo took the gathered crowd on an emotional journey, as he told stories of his rise to poetic fame and life s bittersweet obstacles he had to endure along the way. The audience, for its part, appeared willing participants on the ride, cheering as he described his victory at the World Cup of Poetry and falling into a respectful silence as he talked about the tragic car accident that robbed him of his grandfather. Zihuatenjo kicked off the Office of Student Equity and Success #MCHATEFREE fall speaker series with a pair of one-hour keynote speeches followed by one-hour workshops on Sept. 21. Zihuatenjo s speeches were part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. For me, the appeal isn t just spreading the awareness of poetry and how important the written word is for everyone, Zihuatanejo said. The dual appeal for me is that this time of year is sacred. This is National Hispanic Heritage Month, so any chance I have to come out, be in front of audiences and talk about my abuelo, my tios and the people that shaped me into the poet that I am, I jump at the opportunity to honor them. The other main appeal for me is that a college like this college is filled with some of the realest students that a campus can have. Colleges of this size, working people come here. People that are working their tails off and just trying to find a way to make the best possible life for themselves that they can. That s inspirational. The crowd seemed to find Zihuatanejo s story of growing up in a poor broken home in Texas equally relatable. A few were even moved to tears as some of the trials and tribulations hit close to home. I tour colleges, junior colleges, high schools, Continued on Page 5

5 OCTOBER 2018 CAMPUS DIGEST NEWSOM Countinued from Page 3 Making good on bond measures passed in the early 2000 s, Merced College is preparing to build the last facility left on the measure. With the passage of Proposition 51 by California voters in 2016, the College is seeking to get the matching funds in next year s budget cycle to build the approximately $21-million facility. We recognize agriculture as a vital part of our economy and we want our educational facilities to match the quality of our programs, Merced College Superintendent/President Chris Vitelli said. This state-of-the-art agriculture and industrial technology facility will be one of a kind and Superintendent/President Chris Vitelli, left, welcomes Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 10. will give our students a leg up as they enter high-wage, high-demand careers in this industry. Spearheaded by the Associated Students of Merced College, the Agriculture Ambassadors and students in political science classes, Newsom was welcomed to the College by a large group of cheering students and colorful signs. The College Leadership, Board of Trustees, Merced County and state officials met for a quick presentation on the new Ag/IT Building project and then went on a tour of the current dated facilities. The tour consisted of stops in the HVAC, automotive technician and welding labs and ended with a student-led rendition of Happy Birthday, followed by blue and gold cupcakes for Newsom. We were honored to have Lt. Governor Newsom and Assemblymember Gray recognize the importance of this project to our community, Vitelli said. This was a great day for Merced College. SPEAKER Countinued from Page 4 middle school, senior centers. Wherever someone wants me to come talk about poetry, I ll go, Zihuatanejo said. But whenever I find young faces that remind me so much of my young face, that s what I enjoy the most. When I was younger I was alone and angry and scared. A lot of these things the audience is feeling in front of me, so to be able to make a connection with them is life affirming. It makes all the rental cars and all the flights and all those things that are very unpoetic, worthwhile. Joaquin Zihuatanejo passes out paper to students in the audience during one of his workshops. Page 5

6 CAMPUS DIGEST OCTOBER 2018 The Merced College Office of Student Engagement and Outreach hosted its fourth annual breakfast for high school administrators on Sept. 21. Hosted on the second floor of the Learning Resource Center, the breakfast presents an opportunity for Merced County high school counselors and administrators to get together with Merced College personnel and collaborate on how the two can better serve their students. Director of Student Engagement & Outreach Ivan Peña hosted the event, which focused primarily on requirements for high school students to attend and find success at Merced College. Peña also emphasized the Community College Promise, which allows first-year, full-time students the opportunity to waive their tuition for their first year. We want to let them know that we want them here. Merced College Superintendent/President Page 6 Chris Vatelli said to the gathered administrators. We want the faculty to share that message with the students, and that whatever their educational goal is, we want to help them pursue that. Presenters throughout the breakfast supplied the high school counselors with all the relevant info to help prospective students make a plan for their academic futures. This included an introduction to Guided Pathways (GPS), which gives students a clear direction with which to follow during their time at Merced College. They also displayed program maps that explored the steps each student can take in ensuring their success. There s a huge comfort in knowing we re all on the same page. Merced High School guidance counselor Regina Newton-Cherf said, It s critical that we all have this information, so we can ensure our students make it to that next level. Left: Merced County high school administrators and counselors chat with Merced College staff during the annual High School Administrator Breakfast on Sept. 21. Above: Director of Student Engagement & Outreach Ivan Peña served as the event s facilitator. Breakfast Gets College, High Schools on Same Page Some of those students were even involved in the breakfast. Following the initial presentations, a panel of three students discussed their experiences in connection to Merced College. The first was a high school student preparing to attend in Fall 2019, the second was a current Merced College student in the process of transferring to a four-year university, and the third was a Merced College alumnus who transferred and graduated from UC Berkeley. That graduate, Morgan Lincoln, explained how her experiences both at Merced College and Berkley inspired her to present on Friday. It s such a huge honor. Lincoln said, The ability to share my experience from both a transfer perspective and a graduate is wonderful. Hopefully it gives some insight that will help the new class. -- Alessandria Pedretti

7 OCTOBER 2018 CAMPUS DIGEST Merced College Farmers Market Well Received The Merced College Farmers Market is off and running with the first couple installments under its belt. The weekly event will take place every Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., showcasing the finest products from vendors across Merced and the surrounding area. It offers Merced residents produce, meat, nuts, olive oil and personal care products at a convenient hour and reasonable price. The market is a smorgasbord for the patron s senses with options like brightly colored pumpkins and vinefresh grapes painting the backdrop in a rainbow of colors, textures and smells. In addition to the quality produce, local ranchers supply their freshest cuts of meat, dried preserves and accompanying seasonings. Located at the Tri-College Center parking lot, the farmers market gives the College another positive tie in to the Merced community and an opportunity to showcase some of the school s amazing programs. The convenience is Thanks to some great fresh produce from places like Raw Root Farms, the Merced College Farmers Market has been an early hit with the community. amazing, a first-time patron said on Tuesday evening. The hours make it a perfect place to stop by after work, and it gives more options to people that live in different parts of town. The idea of a farmers market had been expressed around the Merced College campus for years, but Director of Landscape, Farm Management and Special Projects Bryan Tassey took it upon himself to finally make that idea a reality. Tassey saw the school s Plant Science program and a famers market as a perfect pairing. It made too much sense, Tassey said, It gives the community an alternative to getting fresh food, and it s local. It also allows those who are unfamiliar with the agriculture world a chance to ask farmers questions in a direct way. The farmers were equally eager to bring their crop to a new crowd. Andrew Glikin, a Catheys Valley native and owner of Raw Root Farms, was excited to offer up his tomatoes, peppers and various types of squash to the Merced College crowd. We re bringing some great diversity to a new demographic. Glikin said, This current market allows for us to fill a void that has been empty, and the timing couldn t be better. Tassey said that he sees growth in the event s future, with more businesses gearing up to participate in the coming months. -- Alessandria Pedretti October Events at the Market Oct. 9: Homecoming (100 free tickets to the football game) Oct. 16: Free Reusable Shopping Bags (200) Oct. 23: Pumpkin Painting Contest Oct. 30: Trick-or- Treating Page 7

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9 OCTOBER 2018 CAMPUS DIGEST MC Athletics Starting Strong The athletics program almost made history a year ago with all four fall sports in contention for a postseason berth. It would have been the first time in school history the feat had been accomplished, but the volleyball team came up just short the final week of the regular season. Fast forward a year and the teams are picking right back up where they left off. In fact, they might be even better. Volleyball, football and the men s and women s water polo teams have combined to go 23-5 over the last three weeks. The men s water polo The Merced College men s water polo team has won 15 of their first 17 games this season. team has led the way, jumping out to a 15-2 mark to open the year, with the only losses a shootout in overtime and a 13-9 loss to the seventh-ranked team in the state. The Devils have an all-star lineup that coach Scott McCall calls the best in his coaching tenure. The team is currently ranked No. 9 in the state and has aspirations for serious runs at the NorCal Continued on Page 10 Melissa Ward is our October campus profile. Six Questions With Melissa Ward What s your position here? Ward: Human Resources Technician How long have you worked at Merced College? Ward: Almost two years this go around. I left five years ago after about three years working here and came back home about two years ago. What s your favorite part about the college? Ward: I love the family feel we have here. The dynamic of multiple generations of families working and attending here is awesome too. What s your favorite part about Merced? Ward: It s home. There aren t a whole lot of bells and whistles here, but there s consistency and pre- Continued on Page 10 Page 9

10 CAMPUS DIGEST OCTOBER 2018 Photos contributed by Kay McKee and Pat Kelly Dallas Reins, above, and the MC football team are looking to defend their Golden Coast Conference title. The MC volleyball team, right, has won their 11 of their first 12 matches to start the season. ATHLETICS Countinued from Page 9 and State Tournaments. As impressive as men s water polo has been, they don t even have the campus best record. That distinction belongs to Jessica Casey s volleyball squad, which has raced out to an 11-1 mark and earned a spot in the state top-25. Sophomores Anela Kalavi, McKenzie Powell and Jessica Pinasco have led the way during the best start of Casey s coaching tenure. The ladies sit in second place after the first round of league play and will get a shot to avenge their lone loss to state No. 9 Fresno City at home in November. The women s water polo team hasn t been far off of the pace of their counterparts. Coach Billy Halpin got the team back in the NorCal playoffs a season ago with an almost entirely freshman cast. He s built upon that with another good recruiting class that s helped see the Devils jump out to a The Merced College football team, which has set the fall athletics bar the last two years, has had the slowest start. Bob Casey s squad dropped three close games to open the season, two of which came down to the final minutes. The young group seems to be finding its legs, however, answering back with consecutive victories to go into their bye week 2-3. They ll host Monterey Peninsula at home on Saturday. WARD Countinued from Page 9 Page 10 dictability. I love that the UC has had a positive impact on growth in our community and look forward to seeing what Merced looks like in 10 years. What s your best Merced College memory? Ward: I would have to say my best Merced College memories are in the theater! My daughter, Makayla, performed in a College for Kids play back in 2011 and every year takes the stage for Kaleidoscope and Festival of Dance with her dance studio. What s something you really enjoy when your away from the school? Ward: My daughters! I have also taken on a new love for fishing and camping. Spending time with loved ones outdoors in the hills or by the ocean is one of my most favorite things!