Campus Weekly
Congratulations SFCC Graduates
We’re sending our best to all of the Spring Class 2020. We thank all of the faculty and staff who helped more than 400 students reach their goal. Today’s world needs SFCC’s graduates more than ever.
Although in these extraordinary times we could not celebrate together as planned last Saturday the college will host a special virtual commencement ceremony this summer. We will keep you posted on the date and time once we have finalized the details.
Enjoy this special video salute to the Class of 2020.
News and Announcements
Operation Bandana still needs help with mask making, phone calls, deliveries and more!
Nursing students and CNAs Erin Price and Robin Carrillo Ortiz have been making masks to help the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. They started the group, Operation Bandana New Mexico in March to make face masks for NM health care workers. Note, these are not N95 masks, but masks for extra protection.
Follow the Operation Bandana New Mexico link to sign up to help. If you aren’t on Facebook, you can sign up to volunteer in different capacities (sew, cut, make phone calls, etc) at this link, which is at the top of the Facebook page, too:
Operation Bandana NM Google Forms Sign-up
The group provides mask materials and needs people to sew at all levels. Please disclose your sewing skill level so they can determine what is appropriate as some of the material is like gold!
We recently spoke with the duo and their main request: We Need More Help With All Tasks. They are hoping now that the semester has ended that others can help out!
Vote for SFCC in Santa Fe Reporter's Best of Santa Fe survey
We know you love the William C. Witter Fitness Center! Please let Santa Fe know how great it is by voting in Santa Fe Reporter’s Best of Santa Fe survey. Get your vote in before May 31!
The categories are:
Best Fitness Classes
Best Pilates Studio
Best Yoga
Vote here.
School of Fitness Education Newsletter, 2020 Vol. 3
The School of Fitness Education Newsletter 2020 Vol. 3 is packed with great information on meditation, thinking positive, activating your glutes, improving the mind-muscle connection, inspiring quotes, healthy eating tips, and so much more!
Listen! Richard Eeds show about World Central Kitchen
In case you missed it, hear World Central Kitchen’s Robert Egger talk with Richard Eeds about Santa Fe Community College’s partnership with World Central Kitchen to provide fresh, free meals to the community.
OIT Maintenance, Sunday May 24, 2020 7 a.m. - 12 p.m
OIT will be performing system maintenance on Sunday, May 24, 2020, starting at 7 a.m. All systems will be affected by intermittent outages.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the OIT Service Desk at 505-428-1222
SFCC Counts! Census 2020
Why is the census important? If New Mexico undercounts residents by only 1%, we would lose $780 Million Dollars. (https://www.icountnm.gov/why-is-the-census-important/)
Be counted! If you have received an invitation, respond using your Census ID.
If you haven’t received a census letter or paper questionnaire with your Census ID, wait to respond. Census workers will drop off paper questionnaires at your front door.
When people respond online or over the phone using their Census ID or mail back their completed paper questionnaire, we can get the best count of the community.
See KOB-TV feature on SFCC and World Central Kitchen
Kai Porter of KOB-TV 4 produced a terrific story, “Santa Fe Community College students earning credit for cooking meals for those in need” It aired May 8.
May 8 Governing Board Meeting
At the May 8 Governing Board meeting, the Board declared a “bona fide financial emergency.” Watch the virutual Board meeting in it’s entirety on SFCCC’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hH-m9AhMnM.
See The Santa Fe New Mexican’s May 10 story, “Santa Fe Community College to raise tuition, fees by 22 percent.”
See the Albuquerque Journal’s May 8 story, “Expected drop in enrollment prompts SFCC to raise fees.”
Automotive Technologies Center progress
Construction is progressing rapidly on the Automotive Technologies Center. All steel has been erected and the building will soon be fully enclosed. Though the project may experience some delays due to covid-19, it remains well within budget and on track to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.
View larger photo here.
Continuing Education update
Continuing Education has launched a new online registration system featuring summer class offerings. Now students can register for noncredit classes anywhere, anytime. Continuing Education will offer online personal enrichment classes along with online professional development classes on UGotClass and Ed2Go. To use your EEBs for Continuing Education classes, complete the EEB form before you register, then contact Continuing Education at ce@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1676. Their team will help you and your dependents complete registration.
SFCC receives funding from VW settlement for Auto Tech Center
The college received great news from the New Mexico Environment Department regarding funding from the Volkswagen Settlement. The notification stated:
Congratulations!
The VW Settlement Steering Committee has selected the Santa Fe Community College project for funding in the following amount:
• Automotive Tech Center: $22,298
This funding is for the Light Duty Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (LDEVSE) Program.
Here’s also a recent story about these projects on KRQE.
Student Emergency Assistance Fund
SFCC Foundation has established the Student Emergency Assistance Fund to help students in need during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Please help us grow this fund and help as many of our students as possible at this difficult time by making a donation today!
If you have trouble accessing the donation site, please try a different browser. Google Chrome is recommended.
If you are a student and wish to apply for emergency assistance, follow this link to apply online.
Summer and Fall registration is now open! Consider taking a class
SFCC’s fall semester registration has begun. All online fees have been waived for the summer and fall semesters.
Registration opened for all on April 21. You need to use the Look for Classes in the drop down menu.
Employees: Please consider using your EEB benefit by signing up for a class this summer or fall. Also, let your friends and family know about the selection of classes they can attend from the safety of their homes.
Perhaps, you have a family member graduating from high school soon. They can get a jump start on college by enrolling now. Have them reach out to the Welcome and Advising Center at wac@sfcc.edu to get started.
For more information, please see President Rowley’s message to students.
Note: Summer online classes will begin on June 8.
Sharing stories related to Midtown Campus
There have been many recent stories related to the development of Midtown Campus. SFCC and Santa Fe Higher Education Center are key partners. Here are some updates:
Albuquerque Journal, 5/17/2020, “Santa Fe Art Institute carves out a niche on Midtown campus”
Albuquerque Journal, 5/12/2020, “Santa Fe hears from Midtown developer”
Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/11, 2020 “Master developer for midtown campus builds entirely local team”
Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/4/2020, “Santa Fe taps Dallas developer for Midtown campus”
SFCC in the news
The following stories either featured or mentioned SFCC or one of its employees.
KOBTV, 5/8/2020,
Santa Fe Community College students earning credit for cooking meals for those in need
Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/7/2020, Editorial,
OUR VIEW: Look for points of light in these dark times
Santa Fe New Mexican,5/7/2020, “Santa Fe Community College students, volunteers prepare meals for those in need”
Albuquerque Journal North, 5/3/2020 “SFCC’s World Central Kitchen feeds the hungry”
Community College Daily, 4/30/20 “Food distro project provides meals, work experience”
Santa Fe New Mexican, 4/19/20, SFCC, “SFCC, Los Alamos lab join to offer machinist program”
Los Alamos Daily Post, 4/16/20 “SFCC and Los Alamos National Laboratory Announce Collaboration”
Student Spotlight
How to retrieve belongings from lockers or cubicles
Students who require access to retrieve belongings from lockers or cubicles can contact the point person listed below for the area that needs to be accessed:
| a. William C. Witter Fitness Center | Lynda Trujillo lynda.trujillo@sfcc.edu; 428-1651 |
| b. SHEM/Woodworking | Tami Crespin tami.crespin@sfcc.edu 428-1323 |
| c. Arts Design and Media Arts | Julie-ann Burgett julieann.burgett@sfcc.edu 428-1731 |
| d. The Masters Program | Tami Crespin tami.crespin@sfcc.edu 428-1323 |
| e. Other areas/td> | SFCC Safety and Security security@sfcc.edu 428-1224 |
Students who have made appointments will be required to come on campus at their appointment time wearing a mask. No one will be permitted access if they have COVID symptoms (dry cough, history of recent fever of 100.4 or higher, fatigue); or recent out of state travel in the past 2 weeks; or confirmed exposure to a positive COVID case; or presents with a temperature of 100.4 or higher.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during these events.
SFCC students receive Nightingale Scholarships
SFCC Students Madison Taylor Hayden and Skye Momaday-McKinney were among 20 students to win $1000 Nightingale Scholarships from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence to assist them in pursuit of Nursing Degrees.
SFCC credit for volunteering
SFCC students continue to make a difference and are receiving college credit for their work!
Culinary Arts and Nursing students receive credit for their work on the SFCC, World Central Kitchen free meals for the community program. Medical Assisting students are also screening volunteers and receiving credit.
SFCC & World Central Kitchen provide food for students
SFCC students can pick up meals to feed either two or four people from 2 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. To find the food distribution location, follow this map.
Schedule a remote appointment with your Advisor
Remote Academic Advising appointments are now available. Click here to schedule a remote appointment with your Academic Advisor.
Note: You must be logged in to MySFCC to schedule an appointment.
Testing Center Update: Placement exam options are available
Options for English and Math placement testing are available for current and prospective students during our current campus closure. Please contact testing@sfcc.edu for further information or to schedule your exam.
Processes for Summer/Fall Registration and end of Spring term
In an email to students, Associate Vice President for Student Success, Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos laid out SFCC’s registration process and dates for Summer and Fall 2020. The email also detailed steps should take to withdraw from or drop classes in Spring 2020 as well as how to petition to graduate.
Access to Wifi
SFCC Wifi is available in the parking lots during daylight hours (https://www.sfcc.edu/sfcc-wifi-access-available-from-parking-lots/), and Xfinity has opened Wi-Fi hotspots for free use.
https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/open-xfinity-wifi-hotspots
LANL Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship (Deadline extended to May 22)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation is now accepting applications for its Spring 2020 Career Pathways Scholarship. The deadline has been extended to May 22.
Career Pathways scholarships provide $1,500 awards for two-year degrees, certifications and trades. Current high school seniors and anyone who has earned a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency (HSE) may apply for these funds. Those currently enrolled in a GED/High School Equivalency program and are near completion are eligible to apply through this application, as well.
Career Pathways scholarships are offered twice yearly. Funds are available for summer or fall enrollment. These scholarships may be renewed for a second year without the need to reapply, as long as certain criteria are met.
Applicants must be permanent residents of LANL Foundation’s northern New Mexico service area comprising Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe or Taos counties. Funding may be applied to any accredited post-secondary educational institution in- or out-of-state.
Applications are currently being accepted. Visit LANL Foundation Scholarships.
The deadline to submit Career Pathways applications is May 22.
If you have questions or need assistance, email scholarships@lanlfoundation.org
Employee Announcements
Your rights: Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
Human resources provided guidance on employee rights under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, including what leave entitlements are covered and who is eligible.
For a quick overview, see this helpful Quick Benefits Tips poster from the Department of Labor.
Volunteers needed to support food distribution
In partnership with SFCC Foundation and World Central Kitchen, the SFCC Culinary and Controlled Environment Agriculture programs are providing food to people in need in our community. Every protective measure is being taken to assure that we are safely preparing and distributing food.
For those of you who would like to support food distribution, you may sign up at the following link: https://sfcc-mask-exchange.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=48816
By volunteering for this project, you are committing to at least one 3-hour shift to distribute food or help direct traffic. You will receive training and PPE and our gratitude for your service to our community. Please communicate directly with your supervisor regarding the potential use of your time on this project.
Contact: Shirley Vialpando at shirley.vialpando@sfcc.edu.
Want to help with making PPE?
You can be part of the SFCC teams making PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Here’s how some of your colleagues helped:
Ezra Estes, Ondine Frauenglass and Linda Cassel completed 21 hospital gowns for Christus St. Vincent and have received another bolt of fabric that will provide pattern pieces for 60 more gowns. To date, the hospital has received over 220 gowns toward their 1,000 gown goal. Jill Carlson is sewing an additional 23 gowns on her own. All of the fabric for the project has been given to teams cutting pattern pieces and those kits are moving to available stitchers as quickly as possible. Other partners in this project include the Santa Fe Opera Guild, MAKE Santa Fe, and MeowWolf.
Miguel Maestas and Peter Taussig are manufacturing the headband pieces for face shields, and with a recent contribution from the Santa Fe HEC, are now working to complete the face shields and share them where needed.
Other SFCC sewists including Cori Bergin and Emily Powell are helping to stitch masks to support the students, faculty and staff at Cesar Chavez Community School in Albuquerque. Operation Bandana New Mexico will provide all the materials to make 200 masks.
To get involved contact Meghan McGarrity or call 505-428-1604.
Photo shared by Meghan McGarrity from SFCC In This Together Facebook page.
SFCC Welcomes Luis Olivas, Director of Human Resources
Please welcome Luis Olivas, our new Director of Human Resources. He is excited to help serve everyone here at SFCC and further the college’s mission of empowering students and strengthening the community.
This is Luis’ first role in higher education. Past experience has included tech startups, tribal casinos, large insurance brokerages, heavy manufacturing, and consulting. Originally from Albuquerque, Luis received a B.A. in Sociology and an MBA, both from UNM. His interests include hiking the length of the Rio Grande, promoting primary and secondary educational equity, and spending time outside.
OIT cybersecurity tips and training
OIT sent out a message reminding employees how to keep their computer environments safe when working from home.
OIT should be offering cybersecurity training starting next week. The full message can be seen here.
You will also see an email reminding you to take cybersecurity training. KnowBe4 is the Cybersecurity Training System. You can log into to My.SFCC and click on the KnowBe4 Icon to access your assigned Cybersecurity Training.
Let Campus Weekly share your news
Let us know about your accomplishments and other news that you’d like to share. Please remember that the deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday to get an item in the next week’s issue. Submit here.
Katie Besser Awards and Richard Bradford Scholarship winner
Santa Fe Community College’s emerging writers, photographers and mixed media artists were recognized during the Katie Besser Awards celebration hosted online by the SFCC Library on May 14. The awards were named for the late Katie Besser in recognition of her love of literature and creative writing. The event celebrated students’ creative expression through writing, photography and media arts. Writers representing SFCC’s diverse community read from their winning works.
The tenth annual winner of Santa Fe Community College Foundation’s Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship was announced at the conclusion of the awards celebration. Sylvia Pincheira is recipient of the $1,000 scholarship. Named for the author of the 1968 classic Red Sky at Morning, the scholarship was initiated by author Michael McGarrity, arts advocate Charmay Allred and former Santa Fe city councilwoman Rebecca Wurzburger.
Special thanks to Emily Stern who led the celebration, Val Nye who hosted it via Zoom at SFCC Library, Liberal Arts faculty (English & Media Arts) who participated and Kelly M. Smith who announced the recipient of the Richard Bradford Creative Writing Memorial Scholarship on behalf of SFCC Foundation.
Thanks so much to SFCC Foundation’s support of the Katie Besser Student Awards. Winners received $75, Runner-ups received $50 through Amazon ecards.
Read a history of this event.
See all the winning photos and writing award winners here.
Photo: Sylvia Pincheira reacts with excitement to the news that she is the recipient of the Richard Bradford Creative Writing Memorial Scholarship in this screenshot from the celebration.
