View February 2014 www.citruscollege.edu

institutional support leads to success

“Keep your eyes on the prize.” With competing for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, this Citrus College ’s high CertifiCate and degree Completion rates are among the reasons it has been phrase takes on new mean - reCognized by the aspen institute . ing. Citrus College to Compete for prestigious prize Participating in this presti - gious competition affirms Citrus College is one of only record of degree completion the college’s commitment to 150 community colleges in the nationally. Recognized by both providing a high-quality edu - nation – and one of eight in the The Hispanic Outlook in Higher cation. While a $1 million state – to be selected for a Education and Community award is exciting, the true chance to compete for the College Week as a top com - prize is knowing that Citrus $1 million 2015 Aspen Prize munity college in the United College is delivering excep - for Community College Excel - States for degree completion, tional student completion lence award, which aims to Citrus College has pledged to outcomes. shine a spotlight on community two years by the Aspen be a College of Completion. This issue of the Citrus colleges that deliver excep - Institute College Excellence “Citrus College is honored View highlights a few of the tional student completion out - Program – recognizes institu - to be recognized for its strong programs and people that comes. tions for exceptional student commitment to providing a contribute to our national Colleges were selected from outcomes in four areas: stu - high-quality education that recognition. It also serves a national pool of more than dent learning, certificate and fosters success among every as a reminder that success 1,000 public two-year colleges degree completion, employ - single one of our students,” is a collective effort. based on an assessment of ment and earnings, and high said Superintendent/President Thank you for all of your institutional performance, levels of access and success Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. “We contributions that make improvement and equity – for minority and low-income will continue to raise the bar to Citrus College shine! evidence of strong completion students. ensure that our students have results for minority and low- Citrus College’s nomination the support to meet their edu - sincerely, income students. for the Aspen award validates cational goals.” Dr. Geraldine M. Perri The prize – awarded every the college’s outstanding Superintendent/President

Citrus Community College district board of trustees dr. patricia a. rasmussen mrs. Joanne montgomery dr. barbara r. dickerson dr. edward C. ortell mrs. susan m. Keith President Vice President Clerk/Secretary Member Member Glendora and portions of San Monrovia/Bradbury and portions of Azusa and portions of Duarte and portions of Azusa, Claremont and portions of Pomona Dimas Representative Duarte Representative Duarte Representative Monrovia, Arcadia, Covina and and La Verne Representative Irwindale Representative ms. mariana Vega dr. geraldine m. perri , Superintendent/President Student Representative News Page 2 “Kinetic Connections” propel College into spring semester On February 18, the Campus Center exuded fleX day positive energy as Citrus College faculty and Workshop topics staff gathered for FLEX Day and welcomed one another back to the college after winter break. Retention & Success The official Spring Semester 2014 kickoff and staff development day featured a welcome mes - Clutterology sage from Superintendent/President Geraldine Active Shooter on M. Perri, Ph.D. Citing accomplishments that in - Campus Training cluded the college being selected to compete for the Aspen Prize; the start of the Accreditation DSP&S self-evaluation process; and the progress made Officials from Santa Monica College participated in a lunchtime presentation and panel discussion regard - Sexuality Matters towards the College of Completion initiative, Dr. ing the importance of emergency preparedness. Perri reminded the college community that its Hot Topics at Academic Senate 2013-2014 accomplishments exemplified the gency preparedness was again emphasized. FLEX Day theme “Kinetic Connections: Moving Santa Monica College officials participated in a Dealing with Conflict Forward Together.” panel discussion, “Preparing and Responding to In the Workplace FLEX Day offered workshops and presenta - the Unthinkable—Lessons Learned and Moving PowerPoint tions on a variety of topics that included student Forward,” where they recalled their experiences engagement, personal organization techniques, during the active shooter incident on their cam - Fire Extinguisher and emergency preparedness. During the col - pus in June 2013 and shared the ways in which Safety Training legewide luncheon, the importance of emer - they handled the various aspects of that event.

newest transfer degree provides pathway to Journalism Career

A new addition has olution.” increased Citrus College’s i worked closely with my teaching colleagues During the summer of ever-growing list of associ - through the statewide Journalism association 2013, Citrus College ex - ate degrees for transfer of Community Colleges. the curriculum ceeded its 100 percent (AA-T). “ transfer degree goal when committee and i used this information The AA-T in Journalism to update classes to reflect the 21st century its 14th degree was ap - was recently approved by journalism revolution. proved. The journalism de - the Community gree, and a 16th degree that College Chancellor’s Office, Margaret O’N eil , F aculty MeMber is currently in the approval bringing the college’s total “ process, have put the col - number of transfer degrees O’Neil, communications in - changes that have occurred lege well over its target. to 15. structor and faculty advisor in the field. “I worked Students interested in “Students who plan ca - to the Citrus College Clarion closely with my teaching col - learning more about the reers in journalism and re - newspaper. “Earning an leagues through the AA-T in Journalism are lated fields will be able to AA-T in Journalism may statewide Journalism encouraged to visit the transfer to the California serve as a predictor of suc - Association of Community transfer degree section of State University system as cess on the university level, Colleges,” she said. “The the Citrus College website juniors without having to re - as well as in a highly com - curriculum committee and I or to make an appointment peat courses that they have petitive workplace.” used this information to up - at the Citrus College completed at Citrus According to O’Neil, the date classes to reflect the Career/Transfer Center. College,” said Margaret new degree reflects 21st century journalism rev - Students Page 3 first-year student attends state Conference Josielyn (Josie) Mercado, a first-year Citrus College it was an exciting opportunity for me to student and foster youth, re - go to sacramento, have direct access to our cently traveled to Sacra - local legislators and have a voice in mento to attend the California “ shaping child welfare policy statewide. Youth Connection’s (CYC) JOsie MercadO , c itrus cOllege studeNt annual “Day at the Capitol” aNd FOster yOuth advOcate “ conference. CYC, founded in 1988, provides opportunities for foster youth to develop College’s Youth Empower - Attending the conference leadership and advocacy ment Strategies for Success was a positive experience for skills. The CYC selected (YESS) and Independent Mercado. “It was an exciting Mercado to attend the two- Living Program (ILP) classes opportunity for me to go to day conference, where she as a Gladstone High School Sacramento, have direct ac - participated in communica - student. Upon enrolling at the cess to our local legislators tions and policy workshops college, the Azusa resident and have a voice in shaping and met with legislators to was hired as a peer mentor child welfare policy state- advocate for sibling visitation for the YESS Program. wide,” she said. rights. Mercado’s goals include Josie Mercado was selected to attend Mercado, an honor becoming a registered nurse - the two-day California Youth Connec - student, attended Citrus and a physician’s assistant. tion’s “Day at the Capitol” conference.

interdisciplinary student team to design efficient Car

Seven Citrus College amount of energy. They will physics and automotive stu - also be conducting outreach dents are joining forces to workshops to local K-12 build a high-efficiency proto - schools to increase young type car. students’ interest in science, Patricia Barroso, Kyle technology, engineering, Beers, Alexus Fraire- and mathematics (STEM) Gamell, Enrico Gutierrez, and publicly present their Alex Leu, Susan Vong, and research findings. Alex Nystrom comprise the “Their main goal is to Citrus Automotive and function as a group of stu - Physics Eco-Marathon Seven Citrus College students known as the CAPE Owls will be dents sharing different ap - traveling to Houston, Texas to participate in the 2013-2014 Shell (CAPE) Owls. Together, Eco-Marathon Competition. proaches, experiences, and they will be traveling to expertise from two different Houston, Texas in April to said Lucia Riderer, one of a new body of knowledge disciplines for the benefit of participate in the 2013-2014 the team’s two faculty advi - and enhance their overall solving a common research Shell Eco-Marathon Com - sors. “The formation of the educational experience.” problem,” Riderer said. “As petition. CAPE Owls research team As part of the competi - a result of this type of inter - “Creating and developing at Citrus College is an inter - tion, the team will be de - action, the students feel an interdisciplinary research disciplinary innovation, signing an energy-efficient connected to the team and team at a community col - where team members com - car that will travel the fur - to the college.” lege is ground-breaking,” bine different skills to obtain thest distance with the least & Staff Page 4

College Welcomes new Vice president Claudette Dain Brings Knowledge, Experience to Position

The Citrus College community recently ices for Fullerton College and held man - welcomed Claudette Dain, the college’s agement positions with the North Orange new vice president of finance and adminis - County Community College District. She trative services. Dain, a veteran college also served as senior manager for the ac - administrator with more than 16 years of counting firm Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, experience in community college finance, LLP, where she was the lead auditor for succeeds Carol R. Horton, who recently Citrus College. retired. “Ms. Dain is an accomplished adminis - “I am honored that I have been selected trator who demonstrates a depth of knowl - to take on this important position,” Dain edge that will optimize Citrus College’s Claudette Dain, a veteran commu - said in a recent statement. “It will be an ex - standing as a leading institution of higher nity college administrator as well citing new undertaking, and I look forward learning,” stated Superintendent/President as a certified public accountant, to working with the faculty, staff and ad - Geraldine Perri, Ph.D. has been named Citrus College’s vice president of finance and ministrators.” administrative services. Prior to joining Citrus College, Dain was the vice president of administrative serv - dedicated employees recognized as department mVps

Fred The Citrus College Facilities Angie. This has enabled her to Diamond, Department recently recognized affect other employees in a posi - director of two outstanding employees as tive manner.” facilities and their MVPs for 2012-2013. Skilled Maintenance Technician construction, presents Custodian Angie Trujillo was the James Callahan was the honoree Angie Trujillo honoree from the department’s from the department’s daytime (above) and evening shift. Her job duties shift. A longtime employee, James include custodial, grounds Callahan is responsible for per - Callahan cleanup, and light maintenance of forming a variety of skilled con - (below) with their MVP campus classroom, multi-use, and struction, alteration, maintenance, awards. office facilities. and repair duties on campus. “Angie has dedicated her “On a daily basis, Jim displays career, which encompasses nearly his creative and proficient aptitude forty years of service, to the in everything he does for Citrus students and staff of Citrus College,” said Fred Diamond, di - College,” Diamond said. “Working rector of facilities and construction. behind the scenes, she makes “He is a consummate professional sure that the facilities are clean, who is always ready to assist with safe, and presentable to all guests all that needs to be remedied. His who visit our campus. In addition, talents surpass expectations and the care and support of her fellow the quality of his work is always staff members is a priority for number one.” News Page 5 Community College league of California legislative Conference 2014

The Community College Barbara R. Dickerson, Susan League of California (CCLC) M. Keith, and Student Trustee Annual Legislative Conference Mariana Vega attended and provides a unique opportunity heard from prominent state for community college stake - leaders, including Lt. Governor holders throughout the state to Gavin Newsom. In addition, connect and learn the latest representatives from the news on higher education in , California. The two-day confer - California State University, ence, which takes place in California Community Colleges, From left to right, Citrus Community College District Trustee Barbara Sacramento each year, also and the Association of R. Dickerson, Chaffey College Manager of Government Relations presents information on issues Independent California Colleges Lorena Corona, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, and Citrus Community College District Trustees Susan M. Keith and Joanne Montgomery. currently impacting the state’s and Universities presented a 112 community colleges, as session on ways in which the attendees to work with CCLC to with Assemblymember Chris well as legislative proposals that segments can work together to develop advocacy strategies for Holden to discuss topics such will affect them. promote economic growth and the current legislative year. At as concurrent enrollment, the At the 2014 conference in further innovation in California. the close of the conference, the Governor’s budget proposal for January, Citrus College An important feature of the Citrus College delegation 2014-2015, veterans’ issues, Trustees Joanne Montgomery, conference is the opportunity for walked to the Capitol and met and the Gold Line.

Community organization gets to Know Citrus College

Members of the Glendora forming Arts Center, dis - Newcomers Club recently Citrus College deeply values our friendship cussed the Fine and Per - visited Citrus College for a and collaboration with the glendora forming Arts Program. Jim tour. “ community, and we will work to maintain a Lancaster, dean of curricu - Founded in 1962, the productive relationship long into the future. lum, career technical, and Glendora Newcomers is a continuing education, pre - dr. g eraldiNe M. P erri , s uPeriNteNdeNt /P resideNt non-profit organization “ sented information on com - whose membership is open munity education. Fred to residents of Glendora, as dent, highlighted several of tive relationship long into Diamond, director of facili - well as neighboring cities. the college’s recent accom - the future,” she said. ties and construction, pro - The purpose of the club is plishments and told them of During the meeting, club vided an update on to provide a variety of activi - Citrus College’s commit - members enjoyed learning Measure G. ties that will facilitate the de - ment to Glendora. about the many ways in velopment of friendships “Citrus College deeply which Citrus College im - within the community. values our friendship and pacts the surrounding com - In her welcome to the collaboration with the Glen - munity. John Vaughn, group, Dr. Geraldine M. dora community, and we will faculty member and interim Perri, superintendent/presi - work to maintain a produc - director of the Haugh Per -