This Is Your GCC

Table of Contents

Message from the Superintendent/President 3

Athletic Hall of Fame 4

Forty Years of Field Tripping 6 Baja Field Studies Program

Designed for Customer Service 1 0 New Lab/College Services Building

Mission Statement Glendale Community College serves a diverse population of students by providing the opportunities and support to achieve their educational and career goals. We are committed to student learning and success through transfer preparation, certifi cates, associate degrees, career development, technical training, continuing education, and basic skills instruction. Dedicated to the importance of higher education in an evolving urban environment, faculty and staff engage students in rigorous and innovative learning experiences that enhance and sustain the cultural, intellectual, and economic vitality of the community. As part of its mission, Glendale Community College is committed to student success by promoting: ■ communication, critical thinking, information competency, quantitative reasoning, global awareness, personal responsibility, and application of knowledge; ■ coherence among disciplines and promotion of openness to the diversity of the human experience; ■ student services, learning support, and state of the art technology that enable students to reach their educational goals in an effi cient and timely manner

◄ On the cover: Dr. David Viar and members of the Board of Trustees applaud student commencement speaker Sindura Subanemy Kandasamy, a 2013–14 GCC Woman of Distinction. First Year Refl ections

Message from the Superintendent/President

Graduation for our Glendale Community College class of 2014 was the culmination of my fi rst year serving as GCC President. As I shook the graduates’ hands, I was reminded what a difference our college makes in the lives of our students and the community. As the evening came to a close, I thought back on my fi rst year and could confi rm that the statewide reputation that Glendale Community College is an outstanding educational institution is well-deserved. That reputation also was reconfi rmed with release of the statewide community college accountability data. Although this data is only one way to measure GCC success, it provides valuable insight. In the recent Statewide Student Success Accountability Scorecard, GCC ranked fi rst among the 14 community colleges in the greater Region on seven measures and in the top ten percent in the state on six measures. GCC faculty and staff, however, do not rest on this reputation of excellence. They use that reputation as a challenge to do even better. GCC is in the forefront of identifying new approaches to assure our students succeed in achieving their informed educational goals. Our GCC is a place of creativity, focus, and success. Whether an immigrant needing to learn English or an Dr. David Viar, honors student being prepared for transfer to an outstanding Superintendent/President university, whether a science student engaged in major original research or a person seeking technical skills for a well-paying career, whether a student competing in national debate competition against university students or a student athlete winning in state competition, one can fi nd a program that meets your needs and helps transform your life. “GCC is in the forefront of We are Your GCC. identifying new approaches to assure our students succeed in achieving their informed educational goals. Our GCC is a place of creativity, focus, and success.”

3 A Growing Tradition Athletic Hall of Fame In its fi rst 12 years of existence, the Glendale College Athletic Hall Haney, a 2006 inductee for outstanding athletic achievement in golf. of Fame has inducted fi ve Olympians, a World Junior Champion, His initiative helped re-establish the golf program at GCC, and he a Baseball Hall of Famer, two Major League Baseball players, one has devoted countless hours to the Glendale College Foundation— NBA player, an NFL head coach, three NFL players, four NCAA serving as a board member, Board President and Hall of Fame Champions, fi ve State Champions and six All-Americans. And we’re Committee member. just getting started. “We started to see how the hall of fame could be very benefi cial to Thanks largely to the efforts of J. Walter Smith—the former GCC the college itself,” said Mike. “In the past few years, our fi nancial Dean of Students and track coach—the Athletic Hall of Fame was focus has evolved from just trying to break even on the event to inaugurated in 2002 with an induction banquet and permanent making it a fund raising tool.” exhibit in the student center that bears his name. “It was conceived as a way to honor the great athletic tradition we have at Glendale Last year, the Foundation took on the task of raising funds for the College,” said Alex Leon, Sports Information Director at GCC, “but athletic department’s training facilities. Housed in the lower level the event has grown beyond the capacity of the room. We’ve had to of the 1930s era gym, the training offi ce, equipment storage and put people on waiting lists to attend, and that just goes against what maintenance rooms have been in desperate need of an upgrade we’re trying to accomplish.” for quite some time. “We were able to raise almost $20,000 with last year’s hall of fame—mostly by offering sponsorship packages,” By all accounts, the Athletic Hall of Fame was an immediate success. explained Alex. “We did a pledge request at the event and we received It served to reunite a lot of former teammates and coaches and the support from Lexus of Glendale’s car wash program with a 100% inductees and their families were sincerely moved to be so honored. turnover to the college for every $15 car wash ticket sold.” It was a But as it turns out, the type of people who leave their mark as signifi cant achievement, and the training staff has already benefi ted student athletes are also the type who want to contribute to the next with the purchase of a much-needed electric equipment cart. generation. After reconnecting with the college through the Athletic Hall of Fame, several inductees have dedicated signifi cant amounts of Given the success of last year’s event, but limited by the size of the their personal time and resources back to the college, helping to enrich room in the student center, it was proposed to move this year’s event the experience of our current and future athletes. to the gymnasium and make it bigger and better. “Expanding the event is a bit of a leap of faith for us,” said Alex. “We didn’t have a One such example is NFL head coach Andy Reid. In 2005, when broken system—it has run very well and we’ve been a model for other the athletic fi eld was being refurbished, his family stepped in with a schools—but now we’re all in. We’ll still hold the reception in the major donation that paid for the new scoreboard. Then there’s Mike student center with the beautiful mural and all the inductees’ plaques,

4 but we’ll have the banquet in the gym so we’ll the University of Hawaii-Chaminade and the be able to accommodate hundreds of people.” South African National Team.” The Hall of Fame Committee concluded GCC’s powerhouse track and fi eld program that the best way to fi ll the larger room is to will also be represented by the 1974 Cross have an exceptional inductee class. “We think Country team on the 40th anniversary of their that John Cicuto—our longtime football state championship season, and rounding out coach and current Athletic Director—will the class, longtime GCC supporter Harry attract a lot of former athletes who will turn Hull will be honored for his many years of out to honor him and help us reach our goal,” meritorious service to the college. said Alex. “It just amazes me,” said Jim Sartoris, Hall In addition to John Cicuto, this year’s of Fame Committee Chairman. “Just when inductee class includes Hudson Houck, the I think we can’t do any better in terms of an former NFL offensive line coach of nearly inductee class, we come up with a tremendous three decades. “He coached for about fi ve group like this. It’s a great representation of teams including the and our strong athletic tradition.” ,” said Alex. “He’s coached This year’s goal is to raise $100,000 for the NFL Hall of Famers and three athletic program. “We want to create an Champion teams. He played football at Athletic Success Fund, similar to the Student GCC in 1960.” Success Fund that was launched during the One of Coach Cicuto’s all-time favorite college’s 85th anniversary,” said Alex. “We’re defensive backs is also in this year’s class. Mark reaching out to businesses and individuals McMillian was an All-American at GCC in who understand the value of a great athletic 1987 and played for eight years in the NFL. program, and we’re hoping they’ll want to But the class isn’t all about football. “This help us grow this tradition.” year we’re inducting our fi rst softball player,” said Alex. “Kelly Korras was an all-conference www.glendale.edu/hallofFame pitcher at GCC in 2008 and later pitched for Glendale College Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

5 Forty Years of Field Tripping

Carolina Shepard, Director of the Museo de Naturaleza y Cultura in Bahía, serves as a guest educator on a visit to the prehistoric rock paintings of Montevideo. 6 Baja California Field Studies Program

n designating the coastal islands of Bahía de los Ángeles as a World IHeritage Site, the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) referred to the area’s reputation as a natural laboratory for the investigation of speciation. Overall, the site contains 695 vascular plant species, 891 fi sh species and a third of the world’s marine cetacean species—whales, dolphins, porpoises and the like. UNESCO inscribed their offi cial recognition to the area fewer than ten years ago, but Glendale Community College professors have been taking their students to this living laboratory for the past 40 years. After moving to Glendale in the middle of high school, Dale Van Dellen found himself enrolling at GCC in the fall of 1974. “I didn’t have good grades at all in high school,” Dale confi ded. “I didn’t know it until I was 35 years old, but I’m dyslexic; learning is very diffi cult for me. But the quality of education I received at Glendale College was hard to beat—especially for someone who struggled like I did— because the professors spent a lot of time with us.” During an environmental science class, Dale was told about a way to earn four units in three weeks by taking a marine biology class in Baja. “It seemed like it would be kind of a party—a fun thing to do,” said Dale. “I saw it as an opportunity of a lifetime; I was going to take advantage of it.” He went, but soon discovered that it wasn’t an easy course. “We had our tails worked off down there. There was no monkeying around; there wasn’t time for it. But I survived and I got my ‘C,’ ” he said. Now, some 40 years later, Dale is running a business he founded in 1990. “We have over 700 employees in fi ve offi ces across the U.S.” he explained, “It’s been very successful, so when I have some extra dollars, I want to pay back those people who took care of me so well.” Dale visited GCC a few years ago to make a donation and the college president asked him if he had a fondest memory as a student. “I said, ‘Well, accounting was necessary, but not so fond, and economics was both interesting and rewarding, but the one thing that burned an impression into my brain was the Baja Field Station and the good experience I’d had there.’ At the time, José was looking to outfi t the rented station, so I was able to help them get a couple of things that they needed.” Dr. José Mercadé is “mostly retired” now, but he’s been the coordinator and chief proponent of the Baja California Field Studies program at Glendale College since its second year—the same time that Dale was a student there—and he’s still the Station Director. Former biology professor Lane MacDonald recruited José to help manage the trips, and over the years, José has been the driving force behind its continued success. “We rented an existing fi eld station for fi ve years and then we found a house that had been built for the mayor of Ensenada that we were able to rent from a local family,” José explained. “They gave us a great deal, only charging us $4,100 a year for 28 years.” But sometime in the late 1990s, the family decided they wanted to sell the property. They offered it to Jose for the college to purchase, but he stalled them for a few years, thinking the college would never go for it.

Continued… 7 Estación del Mar Cortés

“One day I got called into Dr. Davitt’s offi ce—the college president Experiential learning is a good term to describe what happens at that time,” José recalled. “He showed me a letter from the family in when you immerse yourself in a subject 24 hours a day with nearly Bahía that said they wanted to sell the property and the college would constant access to professors in a hands-on learning environment. get the fi rst chance to buy. I was pretty upset—I thought we were “We’ve always known this anecdotally—and lately we’ve been able going to lose the program—but Dr. Davitt asked me some questions to demonstrate proof—that this type of learning experience results about it, and then he said, ‘Okay, we’re going to do it.’ When I walked in substantially higher grades,” said Dr. Maria Kretzmann, Associate out of his offi ce I couldn’t believe what had just occurred.” Professor of Biology at Glendale College. She and Dr. Javier Gago are Co-Directors of the program today. “When you compare students But it wasn’t to be. Legal issues with the property’s title made the who take a class that includes a fi eld component to those whose class is purchase unsuitable for the college, but Dr. Davitt wasn’t ready to just on campus, the average scores for the exact same tests and material give up on the idea. He asked José to see if they could purchase land are one or two grades higher. It’s really signifi cant.” and build a new station for the same amount of money. José located a property, negotiated with the owner, worked on a design with a local By observing a class in the fi eld it’s easy to see that the palpable builder and got bids for the materials and labor. connection leads to greater understanding of the subject matter, but according to Maria, there’s more to it than that. “There’s a community The total estimate was about $350,000—the same price the college was created when you live together with other students and your professor, going to pay for the existing house—so the District set up a non-profi t and you’re always talking about the subject and thinking about it, and educational corporation in Mexico, purchased the property and set the you’re not distracted by other things. What’s more, there are often wheels in motion. “Every constituency of the college—the classifi ed highly motivated students who help bring the others along.” staff, faculty union, administration and the Board of Trustees—were united in supporting this new fi eld station,” said José. The college’s Estación del Mar Cortés (the offi cial name of the GCC Baja Field architect and construction consultant looked at the plans and suggested Station) is a living laboratory, but its value isn’t limited to the subjects of some changes, and the Board of Trustees requested that it be built to marine biology and oceanography. The pristine desert that surrounds higher earthquake safety standards. “The Board really came through the station is rich in both physical and cultural sites of interest, for us,” José said. “They sometimes disagree with each other, but they making it an ideal learning environment for geology, geography, have always been in agreement about the value of the program for our natural history, language, art, astronomy and anthropology. “In the students.” With José serving as the construction project manager, the past, we’ve done a variety of courses there, like Spanish, geology and new facility was able to host its fi rst classes in 2009. geography,” said Maria. “This past winter we were able to combine a

This page: Students and faculty heading out in pangas for a morning in the living laboratory. Inset: GCC’s Estación del Mar Cortés, situated just meters from the water’s edge, includes classrooms, dormitories, a living room, dining room, kitchen, garage, and faculty house. Opposite top: Dale Van Dellen’s Baja class in 1976. Opposite middle: Biology and anthropology students and faculty from the winter 2014 class. Opposite bottom: Dr. Maria Kretzmann and Professor Guy Van Cleave (seated) conduct the lecture portion of the day in one of the fi eld station classrooms. Baja Alumni Endowment Campaign

biology and anthropology class in the same trip, and we’d like Campaign. Lisa Brooks, Executive Director of the Foundation to continue to expand the offerings. For example, we’re talking explained the endeavor: “The endowment has been set up using some about offering a photography class, which would be great.” seed money, thanks to Dale and some other donors, and one of our next steps is to reconnect with Baja alumni to build a community. “You know, one of the institutional learning outcomes in the We’re inviting everyone to share their stories and photos—memories of college’s mission statement is raising global awareness in the what their time in Baja meant to them. We’re building a Facebook page students,” Maria continued. “After each trip, we give our students and we’ll probably have some alumni events… maybe even a reunion.” a survey that includes a space for them to write comments about their experience. Totally unsolicited, many students have written Thousands of students have participated in the Baja California Field something about being exposed to another culture, seeing how Studies Program over the past 40 years, and Dale believes, “a lot of the rest of the world lives… that kind of thing. That’s something the alumni from earlier generations like mine would love to hear about you can’t achieve right here on campus. I’ve taken a number of what’s going on down there, and they might even want to contribute.” students to Baja who have never even been outside of Los Angeles.” In 1988, José was interviewed in Bahía by a Glendale reporter about Now that the college has built a fi eld station of its own, making the Baja Field Studies program. He said, “I’m hoping that maybe one person who goes, after 20 years will be in a position of power… sure the program survives and grows for future generations of to preserve this incredible desert.” Today, his words seem quite students has become a priority. And Dale Van Dellen has a plan. prophetic—except for one thing. With the Baja Alumni Endowment “When I visited the fi eld station last summer, I had breakfast Campaign, every person who has gone has the power to help preserve with José one morning and we talked about the program’s the program and ensure that this incredible learning environment budget, which usually comes up short,” Dale said. “I asked remains available for future generations. him, ‘What if we got an endowment going and built it up to $2 million to invest? That way, you could use the proceeds from the investment to keep the program going without having to go to the Board of Trustees for help every year.’ ” www.glendale.edu/baja The Glendale College Foundation has long supported the Baja program with grants to purchase much-needed equipment, and they are taking a lead role in the new Baja Alumni Endowment

9 New Lab/College Services Building Designed for Customer Service s the classic line from the movie “Field The Student Success Act of 2012, a coming to fruition. The new Lab/College Aof Dreams” goes, “If you build it, they statewide reform initiative that restructures Services building, which is now under will come.” But simply attracting the way critical student support services are construction, will enable the consolidation of students to attend Glendale Community delivered, is now being phased in. It requires vital student services in one central location. College isn’t enough. We also want them to new students to complete vital assessment, advance. Quickly. With degrees, certifi cates orientation and Student Educational Plans, “All the key offi ces that assist students in and transfers to four-year universities. and it penalizes continuing students who the matriculation process will be located remain on academic probation, exceed 100 on one fl oor,” explained Dr. Rick Perez, Improving student outcomes has become degree-applicable units without graduating Vice President of Student Services at GCC. a primary area of focus for the California or who have not declared a major by the start “Everything from admissions to assessment, Community College system in recent years. of their third semester. counseling, fi nancial aid and the bursar; it’s Providing easy access to higher education a one stop shop, designed for customer will always be an important role for These reforms are designed to help students service.” community colleges, but in order to ensure transition into college, get focused on their that students and taxpayers are getting the goals and stay on track. But GCC must Although technology has made it easier for most value for their money, steps have been also do its part. Navigating the waters of students to take care of some important tasks taken to increase the rate of students who fi nancial aid applications, picking a major remotely—like registering for classes— achieve their educational goals. and keeping up with transfer requirements there’s still no substitute for face-to-face are not easy tasks for new college students, contact when it comes to counseling and many of whom are the fi rst in their families advising. Especially for those students who to attend college. By making the whole need the most help. By placing the Transfer process as streamlined and seamless as Center, Career Center, Job Placement possible, we can help students overcome the Center, International Student Center and obstacles to their success. Academic Counseling offi ces all together in one convenient location, it should increase Concrete steps toward this end have been the utilization of these services and facilitate on the drawing board for over a decade at collaboration between offi ces. GCC—long before the Student Success Act was conceived—and those plans are now “It will be a better, friendlier customer service oriented unit, and we’re even expanding our services to include Saturdays,” said Dr. Perez.

8 “This building represents a move toward a more effi cient college []that will serve our students well into the future.”

Foreseeing the infrastructure and facilities “We were targeting the fall of 2015 for needs of a college is a complex undertaking. completion, but there wasn’t a lot of room Projects Completed “We look at our educational master plan for error in that time line,” Ron said. “Then, and see what types of programs we intend to when they were drilling the piles for the with Measure G Funds offer and make sure the facilities will support retaining wall, they hit some granite and them,” said Ron Nakasone, Vice President of some water, pushing that part of the project Administrative Services at GCC. Facilities back 35 days. We’re going to keep working ■ Athletic Facilities planning is a long term process, and once as fast as possible, but realistically, it will Sartoris Field and Track, specifi c projects are identifi ed, funding must probably be the winter session of 2016 when Fitness Center and Offi ces, be acquired to build them. we open the doors.” AC for Gym In 2002, the college asked the citizens of In addition to the one-stop student services ■ Glendale and its surrounding communities center, the 94,224 square foot structure will Science Center to approve a $98 million facilities bond include classrooms, computer labs, faculty Planetarium and Exhibit Hall measure dedicated to the improvement of offi ces, speech and creative writing labs, a existing college infrastructure as well as journalism lab, an anthropology lab and the ■ Bhupesh Parikh Health the addition of several new facilities. “We new culinary arts kitchen and dining room. Sciences and Technology had to show the voters what we were going Building to use the money for,” explained Ron, “so “The building will fi t seamlessly into GCC’s a list of projects was included in the ballot beautiful hillside campus environment and Home of Nursing, Media Arts, language.” The new Lab/College Services it’s designed for USGBC LEED certifi cation Maintenance and Operations building is the last project from the Measure rating,” said Shoji Takeshima, lead architect G ballot to be completed. for NTD Architecture. “It includes ■ Garfi eld Campus Expansion numerous sustainable energy features, such Classrooms, Meeting Room, Combined with state construction funds, as connection to the campus central plant Bookstore, Parking and Child the Measure G portion of the $42 million for cooling, high effi ciency HVAC units and building will be lower than originally lighting and an underfl oor air distribution Care Center budgeted. “One good thing about the system.” ■ recession is it brought down construction Parking Structure costs,” Ron continued, “so the timing for Many of the offi ces that are moving into 1185 Spaces this project worked out really well. When the new building will be leaving behind all is said and done, we may have about $9 temporary structures and others will be ■ Cafeteria Remodel million in Measure G funds still available to freeing up space in existing buildings for apply to energy saving projects and deferred even more classrooms and offi ces. This ■ Network/Telephone facilities maintenance.” building represents a move toward a more System Upgrades effi cient college that will serve our students well into the future. ■ Server Room Upgrade

For more information about Measure G and the Citizen’s Oversight Committee that monitors Rendering of the Lab/College Services building, shown next to the existing elevator tower and in front of the Measure G funds and projects, parking structure, courtesy NTD Architecture. please visit: www.glendale.edu/MeasureG Glendale Community College NONPROFIT ORG 1500 North Verdugo Road U.S. POSTAGE Glendale, CA 91208-2894 PAID GLENDALE, CA PERMIT NO. 1

HOW DO you GCC? Not a student? Don’t let that stop you! There are many wonderful events you can enjoy at GCC throughout the year. ART GALLERY SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES Located in the library building, the Glendale College Art Gallery presents several GCC’s outstanding science program hosts monthly public lectures on topics exhibitions every year featuring accomplished area artists and students. Details as varied as “The Biology of Cancer” to “Artifi cial Intelligence: Where’s My can be found at www.glendale.edu/artgallery. Robot Companion?” For details, go to www.glendale.edu/sls. ATHLETICS SWAP MEET Sixteen men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic teams all host exciting Held from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month, the competitions at GCC. Check the Vaquero athletic department web site for Glendale College Swap Meet features more than 70,000 square feet of season schedules: www.glendale.edu/athletics. antiques, furniture, dolls, jewelry, tools and other items for sale in the upper parking lot off Mountain Ave. Admission is free, preferred parking is $2. CAMPUS TOURS www.glendale.edu/swapmeet. A campus tour is a great way to learn about the college and its programs. Prospective students and parents can call Student Outreach Services (SOS) at THEATRE (818) 240-1000, ext. 4505. Community members, donors, alumni and friends Staging as many as six productions per year, the Theatre Arts department should contact the Glendale College Foundation at (818) 551-5199. is where great stories come to life! Find schedule and ticket information at www.glendale.edu/theatre. DANCE If you are inspired by the art of bodies in motion, attending a dance For a monthly calender of events, visit: www.glendale.edu/events. performance at GCC will surely move you. For information and a list of upcoming performances, go to: www.glendale.edu/dance. GCC is on TV! MUSIC Gateways to Glendale College television show broadcasts to the greater The Glendale College Choir, Jazz and Vocal Pops Ensemble, Concert Singers, Glendale area on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at Community Orchestra, Jazz Band and Chamber Music Ensembles all stage 12:00 p.m. on Charter Cable channel 15 and on AT&T U-verse channel 99. Join public performances throughout the school year. Schedules and information Gateways host Deb Kinley as she presents the many exciting faculty, staff, about each group can be found at www.glendale.edu/music. events, news, and offerings at Glendale College.

Glendale Community College

Superintendent/President Main Campus Dr. David Viar 1500 North Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000 Board of Trustees Garfi eld Campus Anita Quinonez Gabrielian 1122 East Garfi eld Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205 Dr. Armine Hacopian (818) 240-1000, ext. 5678 Dr. Vahé Peroomian Community Services Education Ann H. Ransford 1122 East Garfi eld Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205 Anthony P. Tartaglia (818) 240-1000, ext. 5015 Published by Professional Development Center The Offi ce of Communications and Marketing 2340 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020 Dr. Paul Schlossman, Interim Director (818) 957-0024 www.glendale.edu