Campus Weekly

SFCC welcomes Cabinet Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez as keynote speaker for commencement Saturday

New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez will address graduates at the Spring Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14 in the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center. The in-person ceremony will honor graduates who graduated in Fall 2022, as well as those who are completing this spring semester and summer. Last fall, the decision was made to postpone the fall commencement and to combine it with the spring commencement due to a particularly active cold, flu and COVID season in December.

At commencement, the college will honor First-Generation graduates – the first in their families to complete a college credential – by having them wear special First-Generation honor cords. SFCC is proud that 70 percent of SFCC graduates are First-Generation students. The college recognizes they are now role models for their families and community members who are looking to them as trailblazers to a new life.

“We’re honored to welcome Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez to join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our graduating students,” said SFCC President Becky Rowley, Ph.D. “We appreciate her dedication to higher education, as well as her work with the governor and legislature to expand the Opportunity Scholarship to include part-time students. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I know she’ll inspire our graduates on this momentous day.”

Keynote Speaker bio: Stephanie M. Rodriguez, Higher Education Cabinet Secretary

Stephanie M. Rodriguez joined the New Mexico Higher Education Department as Acting Secretary in 2020 and was confirmed by the legislature in 2021. Previously, she served as Senior Policy Advisor under Governor Lujan Grisham and covered topics and policies surrounding education, military affairs and the national laboratories.

Prior to joining state government, Rodriguez worked for Governor Lujan Grisham in Congress from 2014 to 2018, where she reviewed the impacts of federal policies on New Mexico communities and engaged in local and statewide outreach efforts. She served as the liaison for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on state initiatives surrounding equity and inclusion.

Rodriguez is committed to ensuring that students can pursue education and career opportunities right here at home.

She earned a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning, and she is a former provost fellow and guest lecturer at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning.

Student Speaker bio: Monty Mangum

Monty Mangum, 26, received his Associate of Arts in Accounting in December.  The former Student Government Association treasurer shared he had a rocky start at another college and left discouraged with no plans for his future education. That all changed after he met Teagan, now his wife. Mangum said her passion to earn her biology degree inspired him to take a second chance at pursuing college.

At SFCC, Mangum said he found the resources to succeed, as well as access to valuable real-world experiences. “Mentors I met during Internships at CRI (CPAs and Advisors) and the N.M. Department of Tax and Revenue gave me solid career advice,” he said. He also gained confidence by serving as SGA treasurer and working with SFCC Foundation. “The SFCC Foundation helped tremendously with financial support and encouragement,” he added.

Mangum now works as a tax associate with H&R Block. He attended Eastern New Mexico University full-time as an online student this semester and is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration – with his sights on earning a master’s degree.

Work on Richards Ave. and Avenida del Sur begins May 22; note road closures

Please read this important message regarding the latest construction for the Santa Fe Connector. Commission District 5:

EFFECTIVE MAY 22, 2023
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
NE/SE Connector Road(s)Project
(Richards Ave. and Avenida Del Sur Intersection)
Beginning Monday, May 22, 2023, the Contractor for Santa Fe County Public Works Department (SFCPWD) will begin construction of the roundabout at the Richards Avenue and Avenida Del Sur intersection. To safely accommodate the construction, it will be necessary to close a segment of Richards Avenue and Avenida del Sur.

Richards Ave. will be closed from south of the Santa Fe Community College main entrance to East Chili Line Road in the Rancho Viejo Subdivision. Avenida del Sur will be closed from Canada del Rancho to Richards Ave. These closures will be in effect for up to 60 calendar days. During this time, SFCPWD will provide detour and business access signage identifying alternative routes around the closures.
Motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are advised to seek alternate routes and urged to allow additional time to accommodate the detours.
For additional information regarding this project, please visit www.sfcconnectors.com or contact SFCPWD at (505) 992-3010.
Thank you for your patience, continued cooperation, and please use caution in the work zones.

See the maps in greater detail by clicking on these links:

https://www.sfcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/NE-SE-2022-0168-PW-APS_CTM_TTC-Detour_6_13.pdf

https://www.sfcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CR_64L_Temporary-Closure_5-15-23_Map.pdf

The college will continue to share information on the project as it receives information from project managers and county officials.

March with PDAC for Santa Fe Pride on June 24

Santa Fe Pride takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 24 at the Santa Fe Historic Plaza.

SFCC’s PDAC invites you to march with us for this year’s annual celebration of Santa Fe Pride. Those who wish to march, we will meet at the Lamy Building at 413 Old Santa Fe Trail at 11 a.m. The GSA from The Masters Program will march with us!

The route will head north on Santa Fe Trail, turn left and then right, and head past La Fonda Hotel. At the Plaza, the route will turn left, head to Lincoln Ave, and turn right. The parade stops at Palace Ave. All parade participants must continue moving up Lincoln Avenue to Federal Place and turn left. Parking is available in the Convention Center lot.

For more information on the week’s festivities, visit this web page: https://hrasantafe.org/pride-2023/

Also, if you are interested in assisting a PDAC subcommittee with planning SFCC’s role, please contact sj Miller, Ph.D., at sj.miller@sfcc.edu.

Meow Wolf hosts Katie Besser Awards from 5 to 7 p.m. this Thursday; SFCC community invited to free event

Santa Fe Community College’s emerging writers and artists will be recognized during the Katie Besser Student Writing Awards celebration hosted by Meow Wolf on from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11. Celebrate the winners at this free event in Meow Wolf’s new Rainbow, Rainbow Room. The awards were named for the late Katie Besser in recognition of her love of literature and creative writing. The event celebrates students’ creative expression through writing and image. Writers representing SFCC’s diverse community will read from their winning works.

The thirteenth annual winner of Santa Fe Community College Foundation’s Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship will be announced at the conclusion of the awards celebration. Named for the author of the 1968 classic Red Sky at Morning, the scholarship was initiated by author Michael McGarrity, the late arts advocate Charmay Allred, and former Santa Fe city councilwoman Rebecca Wurzburger.

These are this year’s Katie Besser Student Award winners by category:

Image
First Place:
Ayla Humphrey – “Illusion”

Poetry
First Place:
Laurie Hilton – “Border”

Runners Up:
Aja Riggs – “Autofill”
Christine Schwatken – “When No One’s Looking”
Charmayne Samuelson – “Mesmer Mirage”

Honorable Mention:
Ian Reschke – “Disillusionment”

Fiction
First Place:
Jesse Colvin – “Lessons in Adobe”

Runner Up:
Abigail Rael – “Pass Through Me”

Honorable Mention:
Aja Riggs – “Missing Piece”

Creative Non-Fiction
First Place:
Abigail Rael – “Who Learned What?”

Runners Up:
Brielle D. – “y = mx + b, maybe?”
Rosalie Calhoun – “Toad Tripping”

Honorable Mention:
Charmayne Samuelson – “The Vortex of Death”

Academic Essay
First Place:
Virginia Gonzales – “Getting Better”

Runners Up:
Luis Ramirez – “Tech in Time”
Saif Mahmood – “Televising Criminal Trials”

The Katie Besser Awards are presented through a collaboration of SFCC’s English and Creative Writing programs, SFCC’s Media Arts department, SFCC Foundation, and with the generosity of SFCC Media Arts graphic design student Vitória Oliveira Dos Santos. The Katie Besser Student Writing Awards are directed by Genevieve Betts.

Note: A copy of Accolades, which includes the winning entries, can be obtained by contacting Genevieve Betts at genevieve.betts@sfcc.edu.

SFCC Student Art and Design exhibition opens 4-6 p.m. Thursday in Visual Arts Gallery

SFCC’s Student exhibition will open from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in the Visual Arts Gallery.

Work will include: Jewelry, Sculpture (including Glass, Santos, Fiber Arts), Printmaking/Book Arts, Fine Woodworking, Ceramics, Photography, Painting/Drawing, Media Arts and Film).

The show will run from Thursday, May 11 until Friday, August 18, 2023.

Camilla Bustamante, Ph.D, to keynote HSE completion celebration at 5:30 p.m. May 16 in Jemez Rooms

SFCC will celebrate 55 students who successfully completed their High School Equivalency exams in the Adult Education, Academic and Career Education (ACE) program at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 in the Jemez Rooms.

Camilla Bustamante, Ph.D., the keynote speaker, serves as the Santa Fe County Commissioner for District 3 and has more than 25 years in education, training and community advancement.  She previously served as SFCC’s Dean of Trades and Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Health Education and has dedicated her career to public health and higher education, through traditional sustainability and the hope for providing citizens the tools needed to improve their quality of life.

The Student Speakers are Amanda Gonzales and Elizabeth Zambrano.

The SFCC Academic and Career Education (ACE) program helps students prepare for their High School Equivalency (HSE) credential as well as college and career upon completion of their HSE. Students prepare for the GED or HiSET exams to fulfill requirements for the HSE set by the state of New Mexico. The Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) Program at SFCC provides students with career pathways for automotive, early childhood education, or health care.  Students learn job-related skills while strengthening their reading, writing, and math abilities.

For more information contact Adult Education ACE Program Manager Kristen Krell by phone at 505-428-1142 or via email at kristen.krell@sfcc.edu. 

Veterans Legacy Grant Program had Dept. of Veterans Affairs annual review; gained valuable feedback

Stephen Martinez, Ph.D, Director of Veterans Legacy Grant Program (VLGP), reports the SFCC VLGP had its Department of Veterans Affairs annual review April 24 and 25. Antonio Addessi and John Williams visited the college. Dr. Martinez added “We met with each of our VLGP units, Community/Veterans Outreach, the Research Team, the Spanish Translation Team, the K12 Team, our Website and Social Media vendor, our grant Budget manager Veronica Hernandez, our SFCC VLGP faculty, President Rowley and members of the Executive Team. Antonio and John provided us with valuable feedback and support. Antonio will be back to visit us in July.”   

Read more about the Veterans Legacy Grant Program.

Respiratory Care hosts info sessions on Tuesday and Thursday

Respiratory Care Therapy program will host a free series of information sessions:

• 10 a.m. to noon Tues, May 9
• Noon to 2 p.m. Thurs., May 11

All sessions are in Room 433 in the Health and Sciences Building, SFCC Campus, 6401 Richards Avenue.  Learn more about Respiratory Therapy and how to apply for admission. Read more about the Respiratory Care Therapy program at https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/respiratory-care/. Applications open on July 1 for the Spring 2025 semester. For more information, contact Jessica Barrera, Program Director of Respiratory Therapy Care, at Jessica.Barrera@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1723.

Dean Wysong and Milton Riess met with Raton Public School District to expand dual credit film tech training classes

On Friday, April 14, Dean James (Jim) Wysong, Ph.D., and professor Milton Riess traveled to Raton to meet with staff from the Raton Public School District concerning an agreement to expand SFCC’s Dual Credit Film Technician Training Program to Raton.  SFCC Dual Credit Specialist, Niki McKay,  joined the meeting remotely. This new agreement will offer students in Raton the same opportunities that SFCC will be begin providing at Santa Fe High School and at the New Mexico School for the Arts in the upcoming school year.

 Dr. Wysong said, “It is important to remember that the film industry has the potential to bring economic development and job opportunities to all parts of New Mexico, not just the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metropolitan areas. With new ventures starting in the rural areas of the state, such as Raton, we are ready to work with our partners at Raton High School to prepare students for work in this field.”  Later, Wysong and Reiss met with officials from the City of Raton and Colfax County to tour a repurposed elementary school, where El Raton Media Works plans to begin operating a production facility through a public-private partnership with the city and county.  The SFCC Film Department has been an advisor and consultant to this project for the past two years, seeing this as a logical part of the plan to expand training and create job opportunities in the industry.     

Interview with President Rowley about CHESS featured in Inside Higher Ed Report

An interview with President Becky Rowley, Ph.D. on CHESS is the first case study in the report from Inside Higher Ed: “Adaptation across the higher ed landscape.”

Click on this link to access a free download for the full report. Find the president’s interview beginning on Page 8.

Hear podcasts about recent Community College Month events

ICYMI: Hear Academic Director Richard “Charlie” Shultz talk with KTRC 1260 | 103.7 Radio Host Richard Eeds about SFCC events celebrating National Community College Month and the Controlled Environment Agriculture Open House and Seedling Giveaway April 29. Listen here.

ICYMI: You can also hear Charlie in an interview on Que Suave with Estevan Gonzales, KSWV 810 | 99.9 here. They discussed how the Controlled Environment Agriculture program promotes food security, water conservation, and caring for the environment as well as the Community College events at SFCC.

Career & Transfer Fair was a success

Holly Beamon, Director of Advising, First Year Experience and Career Services, reports, “It was so great getting the opportunity to host our Spring Career & Transfer Fair for the first time since being at SFCC; however, it totally wouldn’t have been possible without all the help and support of so many of my fabulous colleagues at SFCC!

“We had 78 employers, and 12 transfer college representatives present at the event – it was amazing to be surrounded by so much positive energy in the West Wing and connect in person with so many lovely members of the community!  We had 61 students and 21 members of the community formally check-in for the fair; although, we know that there were even more who were sharing their résumés with employers, engaging in dialogue and scheduling follow up interviews.”

She heard that some students were offered internships and job offers during the fair! Need help finding a job? Visit Career Services.

Enjoy Poetry Posts through May 31

The SFCC campus community is invited to enjoy this semester’s Poetry Posts displayed throughout the campus featuring the beautiful melding of words and colors created by Sudeshna Sengupta’s Color Theory students for their Color & Emotions module in this Online-Synchronous class.

“The posts at SFCC function as a curated gallery, where the posts enliven a familiar place for staff, faculty, and students with art and poetry,” said Miriam Sagan, a former professor of Creative Writing at SFCC, who brought this project to the campus.

Congratulations to Deborah Alexander, Maria Bacelona, Rena Espinoza, Ann Hogan, Lisa Rossbacher, Rebecca Sanchez, and Lisa Wermeling for the excellent work exploring emotions expressed through colors and words that are featured in this project. The display continues till May 31.

For more information please contact Sudeshna Sengupta at sudeshna.sengupta@sfcc.edu

SFCC celebrated Diversity Day

Thank you to all in the President’s Diversity Advisory Council (PDAC) and everyone else who participated in SFCC’s Diversity Day. Thanks to: sj Miller, Ph.D., who chaired the event. Also, a special thank you to Dr. Aamna Nayyar for recruiting so many participants for booths, as well as Director of Student Engagement & Recruitment Marcos Maez and Student Involvement Coordinator Mary Eleas for their assistance in bringing in Pantry Dos, which provided a very tasty free lunch.

The college had a lot of participation from the various programs, as well as outside nonprofits and organizations. The Masters Program (TMP) also participated. Thank you to all for making the event such a success!

Thank you to Jacque Anderson (Clinical Coordinator Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy and Community Health Worker) and Ben Lauer (Marketing & Public Relations) for sharing these terrific photos! To learn more about PDAC email sj.miller@sfcc.edu.

Listen to KSFR podcasts spotlighting Community College Month events

Check out these podcasts from Andrew Lovato’s program Our Santa Fe, which featured guests from SFCC.

Last Thursday’s broadcast focused on the SFCC car show and the upcoming Diversity Day. Guests included Automotive Technology faculty and sj Miller, Phd., speaking about equity and Diversity Day. Listen here.

Another recent broadcast featured Richard “Charlie” Shultz talking about the Controlled Environment program and the CEA Open House. Hear his interview here.

Book as Sculpture summer class offered Mondays and Wednesdays

New class: THE BOOK AS SCULPTURE: Narratives in Visual Play & Form
Marci Easterbrook
Arts and Design Advanced Projects – ARTS 2115L D1 CRN 10117 3 Credits
Jun 05 – Jul 29 Eight weeks Monday and Wednesday 9-2 p.m. ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS

Explore materials to create unique books with sculptural dimension and content. Play with ideas, text and forms. Traditional and contemporary methods of book binding
combine surface with 3-D structures.

This ONLINE SYCHRONOUS CLASS will use paper pulp, fabric, wood, clay, metal, fiber, altered books and re-purposed materials to create a home studio of learning.

Art making is intensive, fun and creates sculpture and book objects. Discover new ways to tell your story.
For more information contact Marci Easterbrook marci.easterbrook@sfcc.edu, Illustrator Book Artist Papermaker Printmaker. Visit: marcieasterbrook.com For Registration contact Melba Ramos melba.ramos@sfcc.edu or Patricia Pearce patricia.pearce@sfcc.edu.

Summer CE schedule is available online

Listen to recent KSFR show featuring Steve Martinez, Ph.D., talking about Veteran’s Legacy Grant Program

SFCC Assistant Professor of History Steve Martinez, Ph.D., discussed the Veterans Legacy Project with Andy Lovato on the KSFR-FM show Our Santa Fe. Listen to the whole interview here: https://www.ksfr.org/…/03-23-2023-with-dr-steve-martinez .

Visit the Veleteran’s Legacy Grant Program Official Site: https://sites.sfcc.edu/vlgp/ .

To learn more to email vlgp@sfcc.edu.

Become a volunteer tutor & help change a life

Are you passionate about literacy and enjoy helping people one on one? Become a BL (Basic Literacy) or ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor today and support a student in learning vital speaking, reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

Tutors and students meet twice a week for about 90 minutes (based on their schedules). A 9-month commitment is needed. Please fill out an application on the Literacy Volunteers of Santa Fe website: https://lvsf.org. Call 428-1353 for more information.

ESL Tutor Training June 1-3, 2023

• Orientation: 4 – 6 p.m. Thursday, June 1
• Session 1: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, June 2
• Session 2: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 3

Orientation will be held online, and training sessions will take place at SFCC. An introductory meeting and all sessions are required.

Greenhouse STEM Kits are back in stock at the library!

The very popular and free Greenhouse STEM Kits are available once again for kids ages 4-7. All materials are included in the kits courtesy of the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.

Come by the library to pick up a kit to use and explore growing plants from seeds with your kids! Kits are available during the library’s regular hours.

For more information contact: valerie.nye@sfcc.edu.

NMHED Updates on Required COVID-19 Reporting

In a March 10 email, Vice President for Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Yash Morimoto shared the following update regarding the college COVID reporting policies and best practices:

Stop by The Exchange for free clothing and children’s items

Check out this Facebook video tour of “The Exchange,” SFCC’s new, free clothing closet, located next to the Campus Cupboard. Student Involvement Coordinator Mary Eleas leads the tour (with an assist from students Katia, Liam, Gabe, and Jessica) of the new family-friendly space. Kids are welcome to enjoy a small play area while you “shop” for free clothing. (There are clothing items for children from 0 to 4 years of age, as well as casual and professional clothing for adults and teens.) Students and employees, come by! Lower-level rooms 305 & 304A.

Hours:

Tuesday and Thusdays: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Would you like to donate items to The Exchange?

The Exchange is accepting donations during the hours mentioned above. Bring donations either to Room 304 or 305a. You can also drop them off in Room LL311. The Exchange is not accepting any more children’s clothes at this time. They are accepting children’s books and gently used toys. The Exchange is particularly seeking men’s and women’s professional clothing.

The Exchange and Baby Cupboard are expanded services of Campus Cupboard Food Pantry Campus Cupboard is supported by SFCC Foundation. For information call: 505-428-1775 or email: cupboard@sfcc.edu.

New spring semester hours for East Wing Eatery

Café con las Comadres every second Wednesday

SFCC presents Café Con Las Comadres, hosted by Doctora Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos, every second Wednesday of the month.  Join us for our next gathering on May 10 in the West Wing Upper-Level Student Affairs comfort area  (next to the I-Room),  from 8:30 a.m – 9:30 a.m.  This is a gender-inclusive community of friends who gather to empower the lives of one another through advocacy, navigation, support, and resources.   This is a safe shared space. 

RSVPs are welcomed but not necessary – please contact Loretta at loretta.lopez1@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1919.  Sponsored by Student Activities and hosted by Doctora Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos.

Mask wearing strongly encouraged when indoors on campus

Due to the recent surge in Covid cases, SFCC is sharing this message at its entrances:

We strongly encourage face masks inside the building. Recomendamos encarecidamente el uso de mascarillas dentro del edificio.

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.

Participating in Commencement? Watch your email for important information

Students can meet author Colum McCann at Story Exchange event from 9 a.m. to noon on May 19

(SFCC) will host a Story Exchange Narrative 4 event with author Colum McCann from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 19 in the SFCC Jemez Rooms. English and Creative Writing students from Santa Fe’s colleges and high schools are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event and meet the author. Refreshments will be served.  Please register at https://bit.ly/santafestoryexchange.  For more information, email Kate McCahill at sflr@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1903.  This event is sponsored by the Santa Fe International Literary Festival’s Young Writers and Readers Program, Story Exchange Narrative 4 and SFCC.

Colum McCann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. His most recent novel, Apeirogon, became an immediate New York Times bestseller and won several major international awards. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honors, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish Arts Academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. His work has been published in more than 40 languages.  He is the president and co-founder of the nonprofit global story exchange organization, Narrative 4. See  more about him at https://colummccann.com/

Registration now open for summer and fall

Do you know someone who’s interested in taking classes at SFCC, but doesn’t know where to start? Encourage them to visit the Educational Pathways. Find classes at https://www.sfcc.edu/look-for-a-credit-class/.

Encourage your friends and family members to come to the college. Remind folks about the Opportunity Scholarship, as well as the Lottery Scholarship for recent high school graduates.

For information on applying and registering visit https://www.sfcc.edu/get-started/apply-and-register/ For more information, please contact the Welcome and Advising Center, 505-428-1270, wac@sfcc.edu. 

Important dates to know for Summer session

NMHU Transfer information
Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A representative from New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) will be on campus to discuss options for continuing your educational journey to earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree. The representative can provide information on admissions, academic programs, scholarships, financial aid and more to prospective students. The NMHU representative will be available from from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through May 9 in the main hallway outside the Welcome and Advising Center. For more information, contact Mary E. Angell at angell@nmhu.edu.

Online FAFSA Workshops/Talleres FAFSA en línea – workshops restart April 19

Financial Aid Office  English FAFSA Workshops
Online Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – No workshops April 5 & 12.

For the link and more information: https://www.sfcc.edu/fafsa-workshops/

Oficina de Ayuda Financiera Talleres FAFSA en español
en línea los jueves de 11 a.m. a 1 p.m. No hay talleres el 5 y 12 de abril.

Para más información, elige la fecha que quieres atender:
https://www.sfcc.edu/fafsa-talleres/

Students: Need childcare? Make sure you’re on the Kids Campus waitlist

When a spot comes available at the Kids Campus, students get priority placement. Kids Campus wants to support student parents and hopes that those needing childcare will get on the waitlist.

Children of degree-seeking SFCC students, SFCC employees, and full-time students at the Higher Education Center are prioritized for placement to support a two-generation philosophy of education at the college.

Visit the Kids Campus website for more information. Students receive a 10% discount on the cost of Kids Campus and N.M. Early Childhood Education and Care Development offers Child Care Assistance to income-eligible students.

SFCC Library family study room now open

If you’re a student parent, we have good news for you! The SFCC Library has opened a new family study room for students who have children. The room has a space for children with toys, books, and special-sized furniture. The room will have three computer stations and room for students working on laptops.

It is open all hours the library is open. It will be available to current students when they have their children with them. Please note: This is not daycare, students must remain with their children. The library’s restroom adjacent to the study room has been updated and is family-friendly with a changing station.

SFCC Library Spring semester hours are:
Mon. – Thurs. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

SFCC 2022-2023 scholarship application available now

SFCC can help you pay for college with scholarships. One simple application puts you in consideration for state institutional and Foundation private scholarships. Scholarships are available for new and returning, part-time and full-time students to help pay for college for the upcoming academic year. Scholarships are also available for second-generation college students, Veterans, Native American students, Hispanic students and students with disabilities (must be registered with the SAS department at kayla.garcia1@sfcc.edu). SFCC offers performance-based scholarships through Contract for a Better Tomorrow (CBT).

For more information and to apply go to:
https://www.sfcc.edu/offices/financial-aid/

If you have questions or need assistance email the Financial Aid Office at finaid@sfcc.edu from your SFCC student email account. Make sure to include your Student ID number in the email.
Se habla Español.

Student Resource Center is here for you

Connect with Community Resources
The Student Resource Center focuses on providing information to students about resources throughout the community and providing appropriate referrals to agencies. The resources focus on basic needs such as: housing and shelter, food, legal services, transportation, childcare services, utility payment assistance, and physical and mental health services. All services are free and confidential.

Conèctese con los Recursos de la Comunidad El Centro de Recursos para Estudiantes se enfoca en proporcionar información a los estudiantes sobre los recursos en toda la comunidad y proporcionar referencias apropiadas a las agencias. Los recursos se centran en necesidades básicas como: vivienda y refugio, alimentos, servicios legales, transporte, servicios de cuidado infantil, asistencia para el pago de servicios públicos y servicios de salud física y mental. Todos los servicios son gratuitos y confidenciales.

505–428-1194 | resourcecenter@sfcc.edu | www.sfcc.edu/offices/student-resource-center

Celebrate Janelle Johnson’s retirement from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday in Campus Center

Please join us in celebrating the retirement of Senior Counselor Janelle Johnson, LPCC next from 3 to 5 p.m. this Wednesday.

CE Director Nicholas Wernicki, Ph.D., has a chapter in soon-to-be-released book: “Warren Zevon and Philosophy”

Director of Continuing Education Nicholas “Nick” Wernicki, Ph.D, shared the exciting news that he will have a chapter in the book “Warren Zevon and Philosophy.” The book can be pre-ordered here. The book edited by John E. McKinnon is scheduled for release on July 18. According to Amazon, “Warren Zevon and Philosophy” is a collection of chapters on Zevon’s life and music, authored by philosophers who are also Zevon fans, providing new and exciting insights into Zevon’s thinking, his cynical lyrics, and the cruel ironies of his roller-coaster life and career.”

It sounds intriguing!

How do you spell the future with AI

See this video of the latest presentation from the SFCC Library – How do you spell the future with AI. This was the conversation from April 27.

Marcos Maez’s “Learning Matters” column focused on dual credit and career pathways

Marcos Maez’s column “Learning Matters” on May 1 in the Santa Fe New Mexican focused on dual credit and career pathways. Here is the content of the column:

What do you want to be when you grow up? What are you going to do after graduation?

The good news is that Dual Credit and Career Pathways help Santa Fe’s high school students begin to answer these questions.

Dual Credit and Career Pathways are two programs that have been developed to help high school students prepare for their future careers. Dual credit programs encourage a high school student from a charter or high school to enroll in a college course and receive simultaneous academic credit for the course from both the college and the high school.

Career pathways provide high school students with the opportunity to discover a variety of career options and gain the skills and knowledge related to those professions.

Dual Credit saves students time and money by providing the opportunity to get a jump start on the career that awaits them. For example, Santa Fe Community College waives college tuition and regular service fees, and the participating student’s high school purchases the textbooks, which in some cases can be more expensive than the cost of the course itself. Students take courses in their desired career field risk free.

To make sure college coursework is relevant and useful to the student, the program is designed to earn a student college credit in a degree or certificate. Depending on the high school, students can earn a credential in a career area such as film, which prepares them to work in a booming industry and/or transfers to regional colleges like the Institute of American Indian Arts. In some cases, they transfer nationally. Not long ago, one SFCC film dual credit student transferred to New York University.

High school students who enroll in dual credit tend to perform at a high level, graduate from high school at a higher rate than their peers and are more likely to earn a college degree within four years. By taking dual credit courses in a career pathway, students gain a clearer idea of what college-level classes will be like, which can help them prepare for the transition to college and career.

Career pathways increase students’ awareness and exposure to careers. They provide students with a better understanding of the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in desired professions. A benefit of career pathways is the hands-on experience in programs, such as welding or phlebotomy that the community college and other regional colleges provide.

By obtaining the skills and knowledge related to specific careers, students improve their chances of employment by having experience and understanding setting them apart from others. Career pathways also can play a major role in motivating students to set goals and remain focused on their education.

Dual Credit and Career Pathways programs ensure access to opportunities for our underserved students. Waiving the tuition and fees, for example, is a significant benefit for high school students and removes a key barrier for those who might not otherwise attend college. These programs also play a crucial role in assisting first-generation students with a better understanding of what college and careers are all about.

Students in these programs have access to support services, including free tutoring, career counseling, and academic advising. The support services are put in place to help students succeed at both an academic and professional level.

These incredible programs help the students of our community achieve their goals and reach their remarkable potential. Their future, and those of our communities, is bright.

Marcos Maez is the director of student engagement and recruitment at Santa Fe Community College and oversees the college’s Dual Credit program and serves as an officer or member of several boards, including College and Career Plaza, the Santa Fe Community College Foundation, the Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The MASTERS Program Early College Charter High School.

Stephen Gomez, Ph.D., to serve on Board of the New Mexico Academy of Science

Congratulations to Stephen (Steve) Gomez, Ph.D, (Assistant Professor and Chair, Department of Advanced Technologies and Sustainability), who will now serve on the Board of the New Mexico Academy of Science! This is a huge recognition of Steve Gomez and his contributions to science education and research. He is the only board member from a community college. The NMAS Board unanimously approved his membership on the board. We’re glad he’ll be bringing our college’s perspective to the board.

Opt-In to get Student Parent Success newsletter

Did you know that more than 1 in 5 college students nationally is a parent and that 42% of student parents are enrolled at community colleges? The Student Parent Success Program, a program of the SFCC Early Childhood Center of Excellence, distributes a monthly student parent newsletter, events, and resources to student parents. Please help us reach more student parents – staff and faculty, use this form to opt-in to our emails so that you receive information on events, resources, and opportunities that you can share with student parents: https://forms.office.com/r/fr3gyHqQBC And student parents, use the form on our webpage to opt-in to our emails directly: www.sfcc.edu/family-resources.

Workday Student is Coming!

Greetings from CHESS!

For those who are new at our member colleges, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kathy Ulibarri, and I am the CEO of the nonprofit Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS).

SFCC is a participating member of CHESS, and we are excited to announce that we are about to begin the implementation process for the Workday Student Information System platform, or “Student,” with our other member Wave 1 colleges: Central New Mexico Community College, Clovis Community College, and Northern New Mexico College. The Workday Student project includes Academic Advising, Recruitment and Admissions, Curriculum Management, Financial Aid, Student Records, Faculty Assignments and Scheduling, and Student Financials.

The CHESS Board, consisting of the member college presidents, has developed the CHESS Student Information System Visioning Statement and Financial Aid Supplement that highlight our two priorities: 1) improving the student experience by increasing modernization, accessibility, and mobility resulting in higher student outcomes and performance metrics; and 2) improving administrative processes to increase productivity, efficiency, capacity, collaboration, and access to data and reporting.

This is a multi-year project, involving many dedicated and talented staff from across the institutions, and the work is already underway. This summer, we will wrap up our key Pre-Planning data collection work with the conclusion of the Operational and Academic Alignment Assessment (O3A) and Deployment Prep Navigator (DPN) and Campus Information Workbook (CIW). We will launch the Planning Phase when implementation teams will be onboarded, and the Project Plan will be developed and finalized based on the results of the Pre-Planning efforts. The Planning Phase is expected to last through September.

We understand that many individuals will be off campus this summer, so be on the lookout for an invitation to a Full Kickoff event when classes resume for the fall term. In the meantime, please enjoy the Workday SIS Wave 1 Kickoff Lite Video here!

Kathy Ulibarri 

CEO, Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services

kathy.ulibarri@chess.edu

(505) 221-4965

Policy Updates: College Branding; Political Activity, Solicitation, and Vending

At their March 29 meeting, the Governing Board approved the policies listed below. Please click on the links to become familiar with them. For more information Contact the Policy Owner Todd Lovato, Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

These are the newly updated Policies:

·       Policy 8-1 College Branding

·       Policy 8-2 Political Activity, Solicitation, and Vending

College Policies and Procedures are posted at SFCC Policies. To learn more, contact Policy Officer Laura J. Mulry.

Jennifer Lynch, Exhibit Spectra at Richard Levy Gallery Apr. 5 – May 13

Jennifer Lynch, adjunct faculty for Printmaking and Book Arts Exhibit Spectra at Richard Levy Gallery, 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

April 5-May 13, 2023

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present Spectra, an exhibition of abstract paintings and unique prints by Jennifer Lynch. This exhibition includes selections from various bodies of work spanning 13 years.

Spectra comprises otherworldly compositions that examine both the macrocosm and the microcosm.  Lynch’s paintings are inspired by networks found in nature, from the nervous system to crystalline structures. In each piece, the artist reconfigures compositions from previous works while playing with scale to present new perspectives. The artist paints using printing inks as the medium which are applied with stencils, masks and rollers. The titles of her paintings are names of asteroids and Latin names of wildflowers.

Please volunteer to make Commencement a success

April WOW – Cheryl Sensibaugh

Kelly Trujillo nominated Cheryl Sensibaugh for the April WOW award.

“Cheryl has demonstrated an amazing dedication to serving regional youth through our Space and Earth Experiences (SEE) project. With her help, we have had over 1000 students (3rd to 12th graders) visit our Planetarium, Science on a Sphere Theater, and Controlled Environmental Agriculture facilities this semester. She has been the main contact point for coordinating such visits, helps to determine the curriculum we deliver, and completely redesigned our webpage to make these opportunities known to the broader community.”

Congratulations, Cheryl!

Please be sure to nominate who you think is doing a great job here at SFCC. The submission form can be found at the SFCC Connect portal, or by reaching out to Katie Cadena Priebe, Katherine.cadenaprie@sfcc.edu.

CHESS Connection Newsletter – May 1

If you’re wondering what’s happening with the Workday implementation, check out the latest CHESS Connection!

This newsletter contains information about the CHESS Acronyms, Training and the Student Information System (SIS).

Read CHESS Connection

Policy Updates: Micro-Credentials and Employee Accessibility

Last month, the Governing Board approved the policies listed below. Please click on the links to become familiar with them. Contact the Policy Owners for more information.

These are the new and newly updated Policies:

• Policy 3-15 Micro-Credentials (New)
  Margaret Peters, Vice President for Academic & Student Success
  Kris Swedin, Dean of Continuing Education & Contract Training

• Policy 4-16 Employee Accessibility
  Jane Yuster, Chief Human Resources Officer
  Yash Morimoto, Ph.D., Vice President for Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness

College Policies and Procedures are posted at SFCC Policies. To learn more, contact Laura J. Mulry, ext. 1776.

Defensive driving certification class May 18

As per policy 5-10, everyone is required to take a Defensive Driving Class prior to operating SFCC vehicles.

The next Defensive Driving Class has been scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday May 18 in Health and Sciences room 487. Please arrive promptly or the class will end late. To receive full credit for the class, you must arrive promptly at 8:00a.m. and attend the full 4-5 hours.

Please register by calling or emailing either Jackie Gutierrez (jackie.Gutierrez@sfcc.edu, 505-428-1756) or Steve Silva (steve.silva@sfcc.edu, 505-428-1403).

Please provide the following information when you call or email to register for the class:

• Full name of individual attending.
• Department Name
• Individual’s New Mexico driver license number and a copy of the individuals driver’s license if not already on file

Fleet vehicles are a great cost-effective way for employees to travel for work related reasons without incurring any personal vehicle expense and having to wait for a reimbursement.

If you have any questions about the program or the classes, please call Jackie or Steve at the numbers listed above.

Travel Authorization & Expense Reports in Workday

Here are a few reminders regarding Travel in Workday:

1. Spend authorizations must be submitted and approved before any travel-related purchases are made.
2. After travel is completed, an expense report must be submitted with the following: 
   • Note the spend authorization number. 
   • Include all procurement card (P-Card) transactions.

If an expense needs to be reassigned to the traveler, please contact the Purchasing Office. 

1. Once the expense report is complete (contains ALL expenses), check the box to close out the spend authorization. This is the only way to release any remaining travel funds from encumbrance back into the budget. 
2. All spend authorizations in draft form should be cancelled if no longer needed. 
3. Do not use the itemization functionality unless you need to split a transaction between multiple funding sources (ex. Cost centers / grants). 

For more information, check out the Create, Edit, and Close Spend Authorizations Tip Sheet and the Create Expense Reports Tip Sheet. You can also review the Travel 101 on-demand training in My SFCC on the Workday app.  

Message about preferred names

The following message was shared on Friday, February 3:

Dear Faculty,

While the college has always supported our students, we now have another technological opportunity to provide an empowering, safe, and nondiscriminatory educational and work environment.  Beginning on Monday February 6, students will be able update their preferred name in Self Service Banner (SSB9).

The student’s legal name will be on your class roster and their preferred name, if applicable, will appear in parenthesis.  For example, Gonzales, Bernadette (Charmaine).  For legal purposes, the student’s legal name will still appear on all formal documents such as Financial Aid information, 1098-T’s and transcripts.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

With kind regards,

Bernadette Gonzales. MA Ed. (she, her, hers)
Registrar |Office of the Registrar
505-428-1881 | Bernadette.gonzales@sfcc.edu

WOW awards – nominate an outstanding coworker today!

The Office of Human Resources recognizes WOW recipients for their dedicated work and commitment to Santa Fe Community College.

Please be sure to nominate someone who you think is doing a great job here at SFCC.
The award is a $25.00 gift certificate from Amazon.
The submission form can be found at the SFCC Connect portal, Home » Online Forms/Surveys/Tests » Online Forms » Office of Human Resources or nominate by reaching out to Katie Cadena Priebe at Katherine.cadenaprie@sfcc.edu

New employees: We’d like to get to know you!

Staff Senate is encouraging new staff employees to come to an upcoming Staff Senate to introduce yourselves.

Campus Weekly would also love to introduce new staff and faculty members. Please send us your name, job title, when you started at SFCC, brief bio and photo (it can be a selfie!) to Submit News.

If you’re new to SFCC, we’d love to introduce you to the our community. We’re happy you’re working with us at SFCC!

Feature

Controlled Environment Agriculture Student Club Open House was a success

• News
• Students
• Employees
• Feature
• Ongoing
• SFCC in the news

---

Congratulations to the CEA student club, CEA faculty, SFCC Culinary Arts Department, Veteran’s Resource Center, SFCC Foundation and the many faculty and staff for the very successful Open House on April 29!

Thank you to Laura Mulry and Ben Lauer of MPR who supplied these photos, which showcased many current and past employees enjoying the event!

To learn more about the Controlled Environment Agriculture program contact Richard “Charlie” Shultz at 505-428-1205 or email richard.shultz@sfcc.edu.

Ongoing news and events

SFCC Wastewater Treatment Plant closure & decommissioning work through May 2023

SFCC is in its final phase to permanently close our Wastewater treatment plant and transfer our waste to Ranchland Utility regional facility. This will benefit SFCC in several ways, including reuse of treated water for irrigation purposes used in the local community, no additional capitol funding resources needed to support 36+ old infrastructure that has extended beyond its useful life, and future opportunities to repurpose land in accordance with SFCC 2021 Master Plan.

There will be construction activities extending through May 2023. Please note there will be no impact to services during this project. For more information contact Andrea Mueller, Facilities & Operations Assistant Director & Campus Planning at andrea.mueller1@sfcc.edu or 505-930-9781.

---

Museum STEP Passes available at Library

With the STEP Pass, you and up to 5 people can use the card for free admission to:

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
• Santa Fe Children’s Museum
• IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art
• Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Passes check out for two weeks at a time.

For more information contact: library@sfcc.edu.

Recording: ChatGPT’s Implications for Higher Ed

By now you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, the free AI platform that can “write” full-length, college-level essays on virtually any topic in seconds. From academic integrity to assessment, ChatGPT’s impact on higher education will be far-ranging. This session includes a demo of how ChatGPT works, implications for higher education and how other colleges and universities are responding. This session was led by SFCC librarians.

See ChatGPT information and resources: https://libraryhelp.sfcc.edu/Chat-GPT.

Work has begun on connector roads to SFCC

Work expected to continue until fall

New OIT Service Desk Hours
Phone service 24 hours a day Mon. – Fri.

On November 1st the OIT Service Desk extended its phone hours to better serve students, staff and faculty.

Phone Hours
505-428-1222

Monday – Friday: 24 hours
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Office Hours
Room 528

Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to noon
Sunday: Closed

Free STEM Kits at SFCC Library

The kits are made available to the SFCC community through the Santa Fe Children’s Museum. Kits are available during the library’s regular hours. For more information contact: valerie.nye@sfcc.edu

Balancing Robot STEM Kits at SFCC Library

Come by the SFCC library to pick up a kit to use to explore balance with your kids!  Kits are available during the library’s regular hours.

For more information contact:  valerie.nye@sfcc.edu

Solar System Bracelets

Solar System Bracelet STEM kits are available for kids ages 4-7 at the SFCC library. Instructions are in English and Spanish and all materials are included in the kits.

Come by the SFCC library to pick up a kit to use to explore the solar system with your kids!

Name Rockets!

Available at the SFCC Library

Free Name Rocket STEM Kits are available for kids ages 4-7 at the SFCC Library.

All materials are included in the kits courtesy of the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.

Come by the library to pick up a kit to use and explore shapes & rockets with your kids! Kits are available during the library’s regular hours.

For more information contact: valerie.nye@sfcc.edu

Early Childhood Center of Excellence offers free early childhood speaker series with equity and social justice focus; last talk on Friday

The Early Childhood Center of Excellence (ECCOE) offers a free early childhood speaker series featuring national and New Mexico experts focused on equity and social justice in early childhood teacher preparation. This series is for higher education faculty and anyone interested in bringing equity to their work with young children and families. This free virtual series runs from September 2022 through May 2023. Registration is open now!

You can see the full schedule through May, as well as register for any events for the speaker series here.

Watch video to learn more about tuition-free college

The recording of the public information session on tuition-free college provided by the New Mexico Higher Education Department on August 19 is now available. You can view it via the link below or at the main website at hed.state.nm.us.  Thank you to the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation for hosting this session.

Understanding Tuition-Free College in New Mexico – YouTube

Need food? Campus Cupboard welcomes all

The Campus Cupboard (Room LL302E) in-person shopping hours are:
Mondays: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesdays: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thursdays: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

If you cannot visit during the current open hours listed or are not
comfortable with in-person shopping, check out Bookings for more options. To access Bookings, log in to MySFCC, look under Schedule an Appointment, and click on the pink button labeled Campus Cupboard (Online). You can access the reservation and delivery option 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to visit the Campus Cupboard weekly for free groceries and other household items that may be available. Personal hygiene (menstrual) products are available from Free Flow NM.
Contact cupboard@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1775 for more information.

Visit Campus Cupboard for more information.

Campus Cupboard is supported by SFCC Foundation.

SFCC in the news

The following stories or radio shows either featured or mentioned SFCC or one of its employees. Some stories also are related to NM higher education.

• News
• Students
• Employees
• Feature
• Ongoing
• SFCC in the news

---

04/24/23, KRQE News, “Community: New Mexico offering free bootcamp to be a fiber optics technician”

04/24/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Smartboard “- Santa Fe Community College announces graduation ceremony for environmental technician program; Santa Fe Community College seeking applications for free fiber optics technician boot camp”

04/24/2023, Los Alamos Daily Post, “SFCC, Santa Fe County, Workforce Connection Announce Applications Open For Free Training Bootcamp To Become A Certified Fiber Optics Technician”

04/20/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, editorial: Our View “At SFCC, students can realize opportunity”.

04/20/2023, Los Alamos Daily Post, “Santa Fe Community College Respiratory Care Therapy Program Information Sessions Begin May 2”

04/15/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “City wants to add midtown campus library to local system“

03/29/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Ceremony in Santa Fe honors ‘ultimate sacrifice'”

03/21/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Explaining veto, governor says dual-credit task force would be unfunded, redundant”

03/12/2023, Of Interest: Santa Fe New Mexican, “MY VIEW LEO JARAMILLO: Keep New Mexico a leader for college access, affordability”

03/12/2023, Roswell Daily Record, “Local Students Visit Santa Fe”

03/11/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “BARBARA GUDWIN, 1947-2023
Former school board member had passion for helping kids, community” (Former SFCC Foundation board member)

03/10/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Students present STEM projects”

02/21/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Santa Fe Community College’s auto repair program receives accreditation”

02/18/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “PHILL CASAUS: Sometimes, it’s the certificate, not the degree, that makes a difference”

02/12/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Paramedic students looking deeper. Focus on new portable ultrasound equipment in classroom with EMSI instructor Drew Congdon.

02/11/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Film industry figures say commissioner Jennifer LaBar-Tapia helps make Santa Fe great place to film”. Story includes quotes from Milton Riess, SFCC Film faculty and PROTEC television and film production assistant instructor.

02/08/202, New Mexico Magazine, “The Story Behind Ethyl the Whale.”

01/28/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “State Public Education Secretary Steinhaus announces retirement”. (He previously taught at SFCC.)

01/28/2022, Santa Fe New Mexican, “Former inmates lobby for bill to restore voting rights”

01/25/2023, KRQE-TV, “Santa Fe school district creates initiative after rise in non-English-speaking students”

01/25/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, City Council Actions Noted: Allocation of $900,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support an early child care work development program with Santa Fe Community College.

01/23/2023, Santa Fe New Mexican, “County hopes construction of connector roads leads to growth south of city”