The Cuesta Newsletter | September 2018
Stay up-to-date each month with the Cuesta College Newsletter!
In this issue
What's New • College Governance Communications
Shout-outs! • In the News • Calendar
What's New
Encourage Students to Check Out Late Start Courses
Although the Fall semester is in full swing, the college continues to offer a variety of courses that begin throughout the semester. These courses offer Cuesta students valuable flexibility in their schedule. Classes are available in anthropology, business, communications, ESL, health education, nutrition, and more. Know any students who might be interested? Encourage them to check out Class Finder and choose the “Less Than Full Term” course length.
Nominations are now Open for the 2019 Honored Alumni Awards
It’s time to submit your nominations for the 2019 Cuesta College Honored Alumni Awards! The Honored Alumni Awards were established in 1989 to recognize the achievements of former Cuesta College students who have made outstanding professional contributions, served the community, and/or served Cuesta College. For a look at past recipients, visit the college's Foundation webpage.
Check your email inbox for the nomination form and submission guidelines – both were sent out on September 4th. Nominations are due October 26th. Questions? Call the Cuesta College Foundation at (805) 546-3279.
The 2019 Book of the Year Author Announced
It’s official - Cuesta College’s 2019 Book of the Year program will bring renowned Mexican-American Chicana scholar, novelist, and poet Ana Castillo to Cuesta College in March of 2019! Castillo will discuss her memoir Black Dove: Mama, Mi’jo and Me, which includes a collection of essays that offer an intimate look at pivotal experiences in Castillo’s life across three generations.
Castillo will appear for a presentation and book-signing event on March 5th, 2019, at the Harold J. Miossi CPAC. Leading up to the March event will be various cultural activities that will focus on the book’s themes of family, bi-culturalism, bi-sexualism, careers in writing, and social injustice. Keep an eye out for the full listing of activities in the coming months. For more information, check out this press release.
Upcoming College Events
From athletics to the arts to anniversaries, there is A LOT going on at Cuesta right now! For a full listing of all the events and activities planned over the next few weeks, head to the bottom of this page to the Events section. But here are a few highlights you won't want to miss:
Clay Stomp
Get down and dirty at the college’s Clay Stomp on September 19th! A tradition of the Ceramics Program, the Clay Stomp is open to anyone who would like to participate. The event involves stomping 6,000 pounds of clay by foot. Set to take place from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in front of the SLO Campus cafeteria, the popular event will also involve making a mural. Check out more details in this press release.
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Central Coast Writers Conference
Want to hone in your writing skills? Cuesta College Community Programs 34th Annual Central Coast Writers Conference is currently open for registration and this year offers participants new educational panels and workshops involving successful writers from around the world. Taking place September 27th-29th on the San Luis Obispo Campus, the conference will feature three keynote presentations and 80 workshops across seven tracks, covering all aspects of the writing process. Check out their new Master Class workshops, a Wine, Women, Wisdom, and Words Panel, and a Teens Program in this press release.
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Athletics Events
Our student athletes are back at it this semester, so come out and cheer on our Cuesta teams! The upcoming game line-ups include men’s water polo (September 21st and 26th, October 13th-14th), Women’s Volleyball (September 22nd and 26th, October 12th), and Women’s Soccer (October 2nd and 12th). Stay up to date throughout the year on our men's and women's teams by checking out the Cuesta College Athletics webpage.
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Harold J. Miossi CPAC Events
The Harold J. Miossi CPAC is kicking off the Fall semester with some great musical performances. Tickets for all - plus more information - can be found at tickets.cuesta.edu.
- Don't miss Grammy Award-winner Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band in action on September 16th on the main stage at 3:00 p.m. The CPAC fundraising gala begins at 1:30pm with a free salsa dance class to the first 50 guests. Attendees can also enjoy food, beer, wine, and raffle prizes.
- Check out a performance by the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra on September 23rd in Movies & Video Games POPS. In a nod to Hollywood and its rich history of melody, the group’s principal flutist, Miriam Grisso, performs the love theme from Cinema Paradiso, and Puerto Rican soprano Alba Franco-Cancél offers songs from The Wizard of Oz, Funny Girl, The Music Man, and others.
- On September 28th, catch The Jason Harnell Solo Drum Experience, featuring a world-renowned jazz drummer, educator, composer and bandleader. Plus, the show will be opened by a small group from the award-winning Cuesta Jazz Program.
- On October 13th, the “Autumn Blessings” Choir Concert celebrates the fall season with reflections on the past year, the impending excitement of holiday festivities, and gratitude for all we have harvested this year. The concert will feature the Cuesta Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and the vocal jazz ensemble Voce.
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Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery Exhibit
Through sculpture, text, photography, video and performance, Industry of the Ordinary (IOTO) are dedicated to an exploration and celebration of the customary, the everyday, and the usual. Artists Adam Brooks and Mathew Wilson will exhibit their works of art throughout the month of October, and hold an opening reception in the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery on October 4th from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The gallery's website has full details.
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Groundbreaking Ceremony for the SLO Data Center
Join your colleagues on the San Luis Obispo Campus for a Data Center groundbreaking ceremony on October 3rd. The 4,400 square-foot building will soon be under construction and upon completion house the main data/server room. The groundbreaking ceremony will include complimentary ice cream and take place from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. between buildings 3400 and 2400. More information on the bond-funded Data Center can be found on the Measure L website.
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North County Campus 20 Year Anniversary Celebration
On November 1st, from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. the college will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the North County Campus. In March of 1998, ground was broken on the North County Campus after more than $2 million in private donations were raised by the college’s Foundation. Faculty, staff, and the public (over the age of 21) are invited to reflect on the past and celebrate the future of our thriving North County Campus with an evening involving wine stations, live music, and more. Additional information will be sent out via email in the coming weeks.
In Case You Missed It: Artist Talk With Tributaries
Cuesta College’s Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery is currently exhibiting the works of eight diverse artists from Marin, CA in 'Tributaries.' The exhibit runs through September 19th. If you missed the opening reception last month, you can check it out on Cuesta’s You Tube channel.
College Governance Communications
Each month, the Cuesta Newsletter serves as a communication conduit for College Council, Planning & Budget Committee, Academic Senate Council, and the Board of Trustees.
Board of Trustees Meeting of September 5th, 2018
The Board of Trustees unanimously passed a motion to award a contract to AMG Associates to build the Measure L-funded new Data Center on the San Luis Obispo Campus. The 4,400 square-foot, one story building will include the campuses main data/server room, along with support offices, restrooms, and an employee break room.
Academic Senate Council
Greetings from the Cuesta College Academic Senate. We return from summer break with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Some good news about Guided Pathways, we now have two faculty coordinators, Heidi Webber, effective Fall 2018 and Lara Baxley effective Spring 2019. The faculty are grateful to have them leading us as we embark on implementation of the Guided Pathways framework at Cuesta.
We are also thrilled to announce that Cuesta has been accepted into the OEI Consortium.
In addition, we have some new senate council membership. Michelle Johnson Gordon has been appointed to fill the Secretary position on the Academic Senate Council. We are also welcoming new Senators which include: Anthony Gutierrez representing DSPS, Gabriel Searcy representing Applied Behavioral Sciences, Mackenzie La Rue representing ASCC, Kelli Gottlieb representing Physical Sciences, and Canguo Liu representing Fine Arts.
College Council
At the August 28, 2018 College Council meeting, the committee had a full agenda including:
- Providing an orientation on the Integrated Planning Manual, Participatory Governance Structure and Workflow, and the Decision Making Process
- Discussing the updates to the Faculty Prioritization Faculty Handbook approved by Academic Senate.
- Approving a proposal create an “ACCT” prefix for the use of designating already existing Accounting courses.
- Approving revisions to AP/BP 4300
- Retiring AP 4270 (Field Trips Alternate Instruction Sites) and BP 4270 (Supplementary Activities)
Planning & Budget Committee
The Planning and Budget Committee has spent the first two meetings of the term providing an orientation and reviewing the state’s new funding formula for community colleges. The committee has also taken several actions of note:
- Approved the District’s 2018-19 Budget for submission to the Board of Trustees
- Made an initial recommendation to explore the hiring of six full-time faculty positions (note: this is a not a final recommendation)
- Adopted several committee initiatives for the year, including:
- Completion of a new Technology Plan
- Identify alternative revenue sources and additional areas of savings for the District
- Identify adjustments needed for the new funding formula
- Educate the campus about the new funding formula
Other initiatives are also under discussion for future meetings.
Shout-outs!
Cuesta College Awarded a 2018 Champions for Higher Education Award
For the second year in a row, Cuesta College has been named a 2018 Champion for Higher Education for its exemplary work in awarding Associate Degrees for Transfer. According to the Campaign for College Opportunity, Cuesta is a leading example of strong implementation of the associate degree for transfer pathway for students and a model for other colleges in California to emulate. More details on this award are to come.
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In the News
Over the past few weeks, the following information was included in media segments:
- 10 Years After Tragedy, Cuesta Psych Tech Program Offers Mom a Chance to ‘Better My Life’: Tribune
- Cuesta Psychiatric Technician Program Earns Accolades: Paso Robles Daily News
- Introducing the Community to the New Cuesta College President: KSBY | Tribune | KVEC | KCBX | New Times
- Career and Technical Education Programs Offer a Pathway to Employment: New Times
- Hone Your Writing Skills at the 34th Annual Central Coast Writers Conference: KCBX | Paso Robles Daily News
- Harold J. Miossi CPAC Benefit Concert to Feature Poncho Sanchez: Paso Robles Daily News | KVEC
- New Courses Available at Cuesta College: Atascadero News
- Cuesta alum Miranda Daschian Awarded Big West Conference and Cal Poly Athlete of the Week | KSBY
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Calendar
Here’s a look at some of the events going on around campus. For the full calendar, visit the Cuesta College Events Calendar:
- September 16: Harold J. Miossi CPAC Benefit Concert Featuring Poncho Sanchez
- September 18: Food Bank Distribution sites open
- September 19: Clay Stomp
- September 21: 40th Cuesta Water Polo Invitational
- September 22: Women’s Volleyball v. Canada Colts
- September 23: San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra: Music & Video Games POPS | Concert
- September 26: Men’s Water Polo v. Citrus College
- September 26: Women’s Volleyball v. Mission College
- September 26: Men’s Water Polo v. Cal Poly SLO
- September 27-29: Central Coast Writers Conference
- September 28: The Jason Harnell Solo Drum Experience
- October 1: Application opens for Spring 2019 semester
- October 2: Women’s Soccer v. Citrus College
- October 3: Board of Trustees Meeting
- October 4: Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception for Industry of the Ordinary - Transience
- October 4-31: Industry of the Ordinary – Transience Exhibit
- October 12: Women’s Soccer v. Allan Hancock College
- October 12: Women’s Volleyball v. Ventura
- October 13: “Autumn Blessings” Choir Concert
- October 13-14: Cuesta II Men’s Water Polo Tournament