A monthly digest of SBCC faculty and staff news
A monthly digest of SBCC faculty and staff news

Cliff Notes: OCTOBER 2021

Although many of us have returned to campus, many continue to work remotely. During this time of transition, Cliff Notes employee newsletter is still one way we can keep our campus community together. As usual, if there is news about your department that you would like to share in future issues (awards, recognitions, special lectures, presentations or events you are conducting on campus or via Zoom, etc.), let us know. You can send items of interest to marketing@sbcc.edu and include “Cliff Notes” in the subject line.
Campus Highlights 

Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept. 15 - Oct.15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Read the Board resolution here. For more information and resources, visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month website.
Awards

Hispanic-Serving Institution grant

On Sept. 1, SBCC was awarded a Title V “Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program” grant. The grant award is for nearly $3 million over a five-year period starting Oct. 1, 2021. 

The grant has five main objectives: expand outreach, enrollment and academic planning; increase completion in transfer level math and English; increase first to second year retention rate; decrease time to degree completion; and increase transfers to four-year institutions. 

Dr. Melissa Menendez, chair of the English Department has been selected to lead the college in achieving these objectives as the grant director. 

By definition, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are colleges or universities where Hispanic students comprise at least 25 percent of the full-time equivalent student body. Hispanic Serving Institutions must be certified as such by the U.S. Department of Education.
Faculty

Roger Durling receives UNASB Peace Prize

Through his unending dedication to film and community, SBCC Film and Media Studies instructor and Executive Director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Roger Durling was awarded the 2021 United Nations Association of Santa Barbara (UNASB) Peace Prize. The SBIFF, which has become one of the most important film festivals worldwide, showcases international films that connect audiences to the human condition globally. Read more about Roger Durling in a recent article that appeared in The Channels...
Staff

Longevity Recognitions

Each month the college recognizes the longevity and dedication of our employees and the impact that those employees have on students, the institution and the culture of excellence at Santa Barbara City College. At the Sept. 23 Board meeting, the following employees were recognized: 
Benjamin Crop, Theatre Stagecraft Specialist, 10 years
Jesse Felix, Administrative Assistant II, 10 years
Michael Ghens, Information Systems Specialist, 15 years
Samuel Hammond, Laboratory Technician, 10 years
Kathy King, Laboratory Teaching Assistant, 15 years
Sergio Limon, Lead Custodian, 25 years
Rosa Ruiz, Senior Admissions and Records Technician, 15 years
Kimberly Zermeno, Teacher- Preschool, 15 years
That makes a total of 115 years of service to SBCC. Well done and thank you!
Vaquero Voices Podcast
Webmaster Hong Lieu and and Senior Admissions Tech Akil Hill
Continuing their casual, informal conversations with colleagues, Hong and Akil got together in October with Superintendent/President Kindred Murillo. Check out current and past episodes here...
Episode 23 - On Oct. 1, Akil and Hong welcomed Interim Superintendent/President Dr. Kindred Murillo to talk about SBCC, COVID vaccine requirement planning, closing equity gaps, and leadership. From there, the three discussed mole, tacos, and some essential reading and television watching: Ibram X Kendi, Michael Eric Dyson, James Baldwin, Laura Gomez, Luis Rodriguez, The Wonder Years Reboot and Reservation Dogs. 
Updates

Board approves Juneteenth as official college holiday

At their Sept. 23 meeting, the SBCC Board of Trustees approved Juneteenth as an official college holiday. Observed on June 19, Juneteenth is celebrated in commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. In 2021 Juneteenth was made a federal holiday. Visit the Juneteenth website for more information.
Upcoming Events

The Theatre Group launches the new season with a comedy, Oct. 13-30

The Theatre Group at SBCC begins this season with “Ripcord” by David Lindsay-Abaire, a “deeply satisfying and vastly entertaining story of two elderly women thrown together by a comic cosmic force possessed of a wicked sense of humor.” Free tickets available to SBCC employees to a preview performance, either Oct. 13 or 14. Call the box office at 805-965-5935 for information. For information about the safety protocols now in place, visit The Theatre Group website.

The Scheinfeld Center provides resources to help SBCC students enter global competition

The Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is leading an initiative at SBCC to help student creators and innovators drive positive change on campus and within our local community through the Red Bull Basement global competition. Red Bull Basement empowers student innovators in all areas of study to use technology to drive positive change. The program gives students a platform to pitch their innovative tech ideas for the chance to win a customized package of resources and mentors to bring their ideas to life. Participating students may also have the opportunity to attend a global workshop and present their pitch in the December finals.
The deadline to submit 60-second video entries is October 24th. Submissions will be judged based on creativity, feasibility, impact and community shoutouts. Click for more information...
Recent Press Releases and Media Coverage
Keep up-to-date with all SBCC press releases by checking the website or sign-up to receive press releases in your email inbox. 
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