Published in part by the Porterville College Foundation August 2013

UPDATE

PC UPDATE - AUGUST Page 1

Staff/Faculty Participate in 2013 Flex Day

PHOTOS BY MO MONTGOMERYAbove: Dr. Rosa Flores Carlson speaks to staff and faculty at the 2013 Flex Day on Achieving the Dream (ATD). The ATD panel also included (from left to right) Dr. Val Garcia Jr. , Ann Marie Wagstaff, Miles Vega and Cindy Pummill. Below: Jan Galvin, President and CEO of the Galvin Group speaks to staff and faculty on serving students with disabilities. Day one of Flex Day also focused on curriculum, Student Learning Outcomes, meetings with the Division Chairs and the Academic Senate, as well as, orientation for new faculty. Flex Day continued on Friday, Aug. 23 where staff and faculty attended additional training, meetings and workshops.

PC Welcomes New Administrators Porterville College welcomed two new administrators this fall, but only one isn’t a familiar face. Dr. Val M. Garcia, Jr. is the new Dean of Academic Affairs and Erin Cruz, formerly Financial Aid Director was promoted to Director of Admissions & Records/Financial Aid. Val Garcia was born and raised in Bakersfield. He attended Garces Memorial High School and Bakersfield College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Science in Counseling from the University of La Verne. He has completed all of the course work necessary for a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Val has 20 years of teaching experience at the secondary and post secondary levels and has served as a high school counselor. He has 13 years

See ADMINS on page 4

Dr. Val Garcia Jr.Dean of

Academic Affairs

Erin CruzDirector of

Admissions & Records/

Financial Aid

100 East College Avenue. Porterville (559) 791-2216 www. portervillecollege.edu/cte/career-center

Your Future Starts Right Here

COME GET CONNECTED AND SEE ALL THE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR,

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JECC E N T E RPORTERVILLE COLLEGE

SEPTEMBERSEPT. 10 - “MARKETING TO THE

PORTERVILLE CONSUMER“5:30 P.M. PORTERVILLE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

reservations call (559) 782-7460

SEPT. 12 - “CTE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR, AND CAREER READINESS “

2:30 P.M. ROOM CA-4

SEPT. 17 - “STARTING AND RUNNING A BUSINESS, THE BASICS”2:30-4:30 P.M. ROOM CA-4

reservations call (559) 791-2216

OCTOBEROCT. 7 - “CTE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR,

AND CAREER READINESS “4-6 P.M. ROOM CA-4

OCT. 15 - “CTE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR, AND CAREER READINESS “

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NOVEMBERNOV. 13 - “CTE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR,

AND CAREER READINESS”5-7 :30 P.M. ROOM SM102

NOV. 14 - “CTE JOB, ENTREPRENEUR, AND CAREER READINESS”

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DECEMBERDEC. 5 - “JOB SEARCHING SKILLS”

7:30-9:30 A.M. ROOM CA-4

PC UPDATE - AUGUST Page 3

Porterville College now taking Alumni Hall of Fame Nominations The Fourth Annual Porterville Col-lege Foundation Hall of Fame Banquet will take place Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the River Island Country Club. The PC Foundation is now taking nomina-tions for Athletics and Distinguished Alumni. The Alumni Hall of Fame award recognizes former Porterville College students who have made outstanding contributions to both their professions and their communities; these alumni embody the highest standards of excel-lence. Induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor given to alumni by the Porterville College Foundation. Selection Criteria should include the following: A) The nominee has achieved a high level of success in his or her professional career. B) The nominee has demonstrated outstand-ing involvement and leadership at both PC and within their community. C) In order to be eligible for this award, five years must have passed since the nominee attended Porterville College. D) The nominee must have success-fully completed 24 units at PC. The majority of the units completed should be in general education, major or certificate courses. F) The nominee may not nominate themselves. G) All

nominations must be submitted using the proper Athletic or Alumni form. Mail all nominations to PC Founda-tion, Attn: Alumni Hall of Fame, 100 E. College Ave, Porterville, CA 93257. For more information call Carol Bodine, Foundation Secretary at (559) 791-2319 or email cbodine@portervil-lecollege.edu.

Porterville College adopts “8 Keys to Success” for student-veterans Porterville College is one of ninety-three California community col-leges that is implementing President Obama’s “8 Keys to Success” plan to help student-veterans on campus, and more colleges are signing on each day, California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice W. Harris announced Aug, 19. The “8 Keys to Success” highlight specific ways that colleges and uni-versities can support veterans as they pursue their education and employ-ment goals. It aims to aid veterans in their effort to afford and complete their college degrees and certificates in preparation for jobs in high-growth sectors of the economy. President Obama introduced the “8 Keys to Success” in August at the Disabled American Veterans National Convention in Orlando, and California community colleges began joining the

initiative immediately. The nation’s largest system of higher education has been leading the way for years in the national efforts to train and educate re-turning veterans and service members. The keys to success encourage insti-tutions of higher education to support veterans with access to the courses and resources they need to ensure that they graduate and get good jobs. The “8 Keys to Success” include the following: 1.Create a culture of trust and con-nectedness across the campus commu-nity to promote well-being and success for Veterans. 2. Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus leadership. 3. Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before challenges become overwhelming.4. Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space (even if limited in size).5. Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including govern-ment agencies, to align and coordinate various services for Veterans.6. Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on Veter-ans, including demographics, retention

September2 - Labor Day holiday - Campus closed6 - 10% date-Last day to drop semester-length courses and qualify for a refund9 - Last day to enroll in and add semester-length classes for the Fall.Last day to drop semester length courses and not have it appear on the transcript.Deadline for changing to Pass/No pass OR letter grade options.Census processed at Midnight of Septem-ber 8th. 9-10 - Club Rush

10 - Tulare County College Night at the Visalia Convention Center17 - C.H.A.P. Constitution Day, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PC Theater20 - C.H.A.P. Presentation on the Cristero War (La Cristiada), 7-8 p.m. PC Theater

October24- Pirate Madness 6, PC Gym

November4-8- Homecoming Week8 - Homecoming Night

Campus Calendar

See VETERANS on page 4

Page 4 PC UPDATE - AUGUST

PORTERVILLE COLLEGEFoundation

100 E. College AvenuePorterville, CA 93257Phone (559) 791-2319

Fax (559) 791-2488 www.portervillecollege.edu/

foundation

The Porterville College Foundation will support Porterville College in developing activities, programs and facilities to the best interest of students; will actively solicit gifts, bequests and other income; and will demonstrate prudent fiduciary re-sponsibility in the administration of those funds. To join the PC Founda-tion call 791-2319.

The PC Update is produced monthly by the Porterville College Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Development. The publication is distributed to the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees, Porterville College employees and retirees, local school administra-tors and counselors, PC Foundation board members and Porterville Chamber of Commerce. Issues are also available online using Acrobat reader.

To submit information to the next Update contact Mo Montgomery at (559) 791-2209 or email maureen.montgomery@portervillecollege.edu.

Porterville College is part of the Kern Community College District.

and degree completion.7. Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on is-sues and challenges unique to Veterans.8. Develop systems that ensure sustain-ability of effective practices for Veter-ans. The Obama administration’s “8 Keys to Success” build on its work to provide veterans and military families with a high-quality, affordable education. In April 2012, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the Principles of Excellence (POE), which provide protections for our nation’s military, veterans, and their families, including making sure veterans have

the information they need to succeed in higher education. The Post-9/11 GI Bill has also played a large role in helping returning service members attend college. The Veterans Administration has issued approxi-mately $30 billion in Post 9/11 GI-Bill benefit payments since its inception in August 2009, and helped nearly 1 million service members, veterans, and their families pursue their education. Nearly 40 percent of all California veterans receiving GI educational benefits attend a California community college for workforce training, to earn an associate degree or to work toward transferring to a four-year university. To see a list of all of the 93 California community colleges that have joined the effort, go to www.ed.gov/veterans-and-military-families/8-keys-success-sites.

of management experience in higher educations having worked at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield, CSU Bakersfield, University of La Verne-Kern County Campus, and Taft College. Val and his wife Denise have three children (Isabella, Gianna, and Nicholas). His oldest son (Trey) is an aspiring comedian and lives in Santa Maria. Val has seven brothers and sisters. He is #4 in the line but he is #1 in his mom’s heart (so he thinks). Val is an rabid Notre Dame Irish fan and can be found glued to the TV on Saturday mornings rooting on his favorite team. Erin Cruz has been part of PC since 1997 when she was first hired as a part-time Financial Aid clerk. In addition to her education at Porterville College, she received her Bachelor’s

degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and her Master of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership from Fresno Pacific University. Erin has been actively involved in campus, local, and regional activities, committees, and organizations. She was also a graduate of the Kern Community College District Leadership Academy in 2009. In an effort to ensure a smooth transition process both for Erin and PC, Erin assumed her new duties on April 1. She worked with now retired Admissions and Records Director Virginia Gurrola through the end of the school year. In addition, Erin attended some conferences, workshops and training sessions on issues and processes pertaining to the registrar’s office. Anyone who has worked closely with Erin will agree that she will continue to move our campus forward in issues relating to admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.

ADMINS:Continued from page 1

VETERANS:Continued from page 3