APR / MAY 2009 - Merced College

STRUCTION fOCUS
inSiDE
INSIGHT:
Waitlisting / WebAdvisor
- Begins Summer 2009
INSPIRE:
Keith Law Nominated for Social Justice,
Diplomacy, and Tolerance Prize.
INFORM:
Jorge Valadez Guest Speaker of the
Philosophy Department
Theatre Gets More Visible Marquee!
INSTEP:
with the Diagnostic Radiologic Technology
(DRT) and Diagnostic Medical
Sonography (DMS) Programs
- anxiously awaiting moving into the
Allied Health Center
INCLUDING...
Canned Food Collection
For the Student Activities Food Pantry!
M.C. Successful in Learning Communities
College for Kids Accepting Applications
in
APR/MAY
2009
- news from the -
OFFICE of INSTRUCTION
MER CED COLLEGE
Los Banos Campus Hosts Annual
EduCAtionAL Fun FEst!
The Los Banos Campus recently hosted a day of fun and information
for students. The educational part of the day featured
approximately thirty community agencies and businesses,
all eager to share information. A bingo game with prizes lured students to visit agencies in all their
diversity, from Al-ANON and the Army, through Health Plans to Wells Fargo Bank. Students stocked
up on free goodies and connected with the resources in our area. They also gave back generously.
Phi Theta Kappa’s food drive collected barrels of canned goods for our local food pantry. The Red
Cross blood drive actually had to turn people away, after collecting 24 units of blood!
It was the FUN in the Educational Fun-Fest that added to the great vibe that day. A talent show, a frst
for the Los Banos Campus, was a huge success. Students cheered on acts such as our frst place
winner Jeremy Graham performing his original composition “Winter Comes” on vocals and guitar.
The Jazz Band rocked the house with their version of “Sleep Walk” to take third. The fabulous Folklorico
dancers with Juan Camarena took second place, and later heated things up with a sizzling
Latin dancing demonstration. The used book sale across the quad was another highlight. A reading
of children’s books brought in parents and their children. Students browsed the titles, and bought
bookmarks and even bookshelves to complement their purchases. The bookshelves were crafted
by local Rotarians, and donated towards the event. The fabulous art bookmarks, handmade by volunteers,
sold like hotcakes. In all, the event raised almost $300 towards our Visiting Writer’s Program.
We’ll be hosting our frst writer, Dr. Francisco Jimenez, author of “The Circuit”, next November.
The biggest draw this year was the Tricycle Race, featuring our own faculty members Dee (Leave-
Me-Be Dee) Wilson, Jim (Start-At-The -Top) Bryan, Ray (Road-Rash Ray) Latham, Susan (All-Terrain
Susan) Kimoto, and Debbie Cox (2FST4U). After a two week build-up of trash talking bravado, it was
Susan Kimoto who sped ahead of the others to take home the trophy. There is talk of a scooter race
next year, so stay tuned!

inSiGHT
The waitlist process allows students to place their names on a waitlist for a class section that is full.
Students move up the list as openings occur and are filled.
NOTe: Being on a waitlist is no guarantee that you will get into a class. Students must still meet
pre-requisite and/or probation requirements for the class before they can be enrolled.
HoW Do I WAITLIST?
NO MORe WAITING IN LINe!
Waitlisting Beg i n s sum m e r 2009
• Go to WebAdvisor at http://webadvisor.mccd.edu (see below for sign-on instructions)
• Attempt to register for the class. If the class is closed/full you may be given the option to
WL-waitlist for the class. If there is a waitlist spot available and you choose WL-waitlist, you will
be placed on the waitlist for that section. You may only waitlist for one section of any given
course. You can see the classes you are waitlisted in by checking Manage my Waitlists section
of WebAdvisor.
• You may also be placed on a waitlist by submitting a schedule request form at the registration
counter in the Lesher Building on the Merced Campus or the Admissions/Registration counter at
the Los Banos Campus.
• Qualifed waitlisted students will be added to class sections by instructor signature on a schedule
request form using the student waitlist as it appears on the instructors class roster. Signed schedule
request forms must be turned in to the registration desk for enrollment to occur.
• You must attend the first session of any class that you are waitlisted for in order to be considered
for enrollment in that class. Failure to check in with the instructor of a class you are
waitlisted for can lead to your being dropped from the waitlist for that class. Online students
must contact their online instructor through email at the time of their first online class meeting
to express their continued desire to enroll in the class.
• To remove yourself from the Waitlist, go to the Manage my Waitlists section of WebAdvisor
and check the remove box and update. This will remove you from any waitlists that you have
checked. You can also go to the registration counter at either campus and ask to be removed
from any waitlist.
It is important for you to monitor your registration/waitlists through WebAdvisor whenever possible.
You are responsible for any class enrollment resulting from waitlisting yourself in a class.
WebAdvisor is a great tool that allows students to check their grades, register for courses, search classes,
drop classes, waitlist for classes, pay class fees online and more.
To use WebAdvisor you must be a regular continuing student or a new student who has previously registered
in at least one class. Returning, probationary and high school students cannot utilize WebAdvisor
at this time.
Access WebAdvisor through http://webadvisor.mccd.edu
Your User Name: frstname.lastname
WeBadv i s o r
Your Password: birth date in mmddyy format, i.e. 060188
Once you are signed in you can search for open class sections, register for those classes that you meet the
requirement for, or waitlist for classes that are full. WebAdvisor is also where you can find your grades
after the end of the semester, print an unofficial transcript, or pay your outstanding fees.
IN
If you have diffculty accessing WebAdvisor contact the Student Help Desk at
MyHelp@mccd.edu or 209-381-6565. Hours are M-TH 10am-7pm, F-8am-3pm.
struction line
inspire
Keith Law
The Students for Social Justice organization
at Merced College is pleased to announce
the nomination of SSJ faculty advisor
Professor Keith Law for the Alice and
Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice,
Diplomacy, and Tolerance.
The Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice,
Diplomacy and Tolerance was formally established
at University of California, Merced in 2006 to honor
a scholar, author, artist, or citizen who exemplifes in
their work, the delivery of social justice, diplomacy
and tolerance in the diverse local and global society.
The prize was made possible through an endowment
gift from Sherrie Spendlove in honor of her parents
who were lifelong professionals dedicated to the
lives of citizens, youth, and students of the Merced
region.
Professor Law was recommended to receive this
award for many reasons some of which are listed
here: 1) Because of his teaching ethics for the 18
years. 2) He was one of thirty faculty across the
nation selected to attend the U.S. Institute of Peace
Summer Seminar for Community College Faculty,
Washington D.C., in 1995. 3) Started Students For
Social Justice (S4SJ) at MC in 1995. 4) Current faculty
adviser of S4SJ. 5) Volunteered as a member of
Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC) ethics
committee. 6) Frequent contributor to the Sun Star
on social justice issues. 7) Initiated the formation of
Justice Alliance of Merced. 8) Several sabbatical
projects, studying religion and philosophy.
Please use the links below if you are interested in
knowing more about:
Students For Social Justice (S4SJ) – http://www.mccd.
edu/organizations/student/social_justice/index.html
Justice Alliance of Merced – http://www.jamerced.com
www.mccd.edu

inFORM
Jor g e Val a d e z
On April 2nd Professor Jorge Valadez came to Merced
College as a guest speaker of the Philosophy
Department. He offered an evening of philosophical
conversation with a talk titled “Through the Eyes of
the Poor: How Socio-economic Class Affected my Perception
of Reality.” Professor Valadez described his life
as a migrant farm worker during his high school years,
and he explained how the study of philosophy helped
turn his life around. Not only was Professor Valadez
the first member of his family to graduate from high
school, he went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from
Yale University.
Professor Valadez is currently an Associate Professor
and the Department Chair of Philosophy at
Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas.
He is an expert in social and political philosophy, theories
of justice, philosophical issues in multiculturalism,
and Aztec and Mayan pre-Columbian philosophy.
instep
the diagnostic Radiologic technology (dRt) and
diagnostic Medical sonography (dMs) Programs
are anxiously awaiting moving into the Allied
Health Center at the end of this semester.
Each medical imaging program will have their own designated lecture room. In
addition, students will have the benefit of receiving hands-on-experience in stateof-the-art
labs.
Two of the three x-ray suites/labs are equipped with brand new full featured computer
radiography systems. These systems are built with image intelligence, so
each image produced will be of the highest quality. The third x-ray suite will be
used strictly for practicing radiographic positioning.
The sonography lab was designed to allow a large open space for demonstration
purposes and privacy curtains for individual cases. Joy Guthrie, the DMS Program
Director has been instrumental in acquiring a number of sophisticated ultrasound
(general & cardiac) machines that will be moved over to the new center.
The medical imaging programs, as well as all the other allied health programs are
deeply grateful to Dr. Lakireddy and the other contributors for making this dream a
reality. It’s been a long and sometimes frustrating process but the end of the beginning
is just around the corner.
Theatre Gets More Visible Marquee!
The Biggest beneft of the new marquee is the visibility. The old marquee was
displayed such that if you didn’t know it was there you wouldn’t see it. A student
here insisted there was no theater on campus. He walked by the building
every day for two years and never saw it! Just as important the new marquee
will save the theatre staff’s time as well. They can now put up the entire semesters
or even year list of events instead of having to change it weekly.
“Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
- Will Durant

CANNED FOOD COLLECTION Merced college is successful
in learning coMMunities
FOR THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES
FOOD PANTRY!
May 18th to May 21st CSEA will be collecting canned or
boxed food to help Merced College students and staff.
CSEA will be donating the canned food to the Student Activity Food
Pantry. This food is available to all students and staff who need help
throughout the year.
!
Note: Please no perishable items.
In the past week alone 48 STUDEnTS have contacted Student Activities
for help regarding food and were given food from the pantry to
tide them over. Student Activities is in dire need of your help to restock
their pantry shelves. Coordinator norma Lamb is very appreciative
that Merced College faculty and staff consider helping our students
in this area of high importance. If you would like more information regarding
the food pantry, contact Norma Lamb at 381-6402
Please bring a can to donate and help the students and staff of our
college community. On Thursday, May 21st all collected cans will be
picked up and taken to the CSEA barbeque our goal is a minimum of
200 CAnS for the pantry.
CollECtion loCAtionS And StAff ArE liStEd bElow:
Administration - Yeng Her / Charlene Reed
Agriculture - Karen Wallace
Allied Health / Business - Corina Jimenez
Art - Stephanie Flowers
BRC - Jennifer Bartlett
Humanities - Robbie Deen
Physical Education - Nancy Bates
SME - Angelica Campos
Social Science - Kristi Wolf
Los Banos - Gloria Mislang
SUMMER 2009
COLLEGE FOR KIDS!
Merced college coMMunity ServiceS
CoLLEGE FoR KIDS
ACCePTING APPLICATIONS
FOR 2009 SUMMeR
PROGRAM
One of Merced College’s most popular
programs, College for Kids is designed
for students going into the 4th
grade through 8th grade. Arranged
in three sessions, the classes and
programs offered to area children
include Summer Youth Theater, aquatics, arts, sports and athletics, martial arts,
robotics, movie making, Spanish for Kids, and much more. The frst session begins
on June 15. Most College for Kids programs are $60 per class. You can
register online at http://www.mccd.edu/community. A complete schedule is
also available online. To register in person, visit the Community Services offce in
the Student Union Building Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For
more information, call the Community Services offce at (209) 384-6224.
Just out this month, the findings
for Fall 2008 showed that students
enrolled in Learning Communities
had a success rate of 77.73%; students
who were not enrolled yielded
a 68.32% success rate. (successful
students are those who passed
the class with a C or higher.)
Merced College is not immune to the rest of
the nation’s rate in underprepared high school
students graduating with significantly deficient
academic skills. As a result of the latest
statistics, Merced College is one of six colleges
chosen to participate in MdRC’s national
Learning Communities study, which is scheduled
to end in december of 2009. in a learning
community (LC), the same students attend
a set of courses together and instructors may
share or integrate assignments so that individuals
will understand the contents and apply
them to real life situations. Previously,
findings at Kingsborough Community College
“offer real evidence that learning communities
can help new students get off to a good start.”
it further discovers “…evidence that students
who had participated in the learning communities
program were somewhat more likely
to be enrolled in college after two years than
students who had not.” (MdRC Press Release,
March 11, 2008)
if we take this type of a learning environment
and add one more layer of student support,
such as the Puente Program, the success
rate is dynamic. in the spring of 2008,
Puente (EnGL 1A/EnGL 41/Guid 48) had a
retention rate of 100% and a success rate of
96.30%. Puente again reached 100% retention
and success rate in Fall of 2008.
With all of the data supporting the success
of this new model, what is the future for Merced
College’s learning communities once the
MdRC grant concludes? Based on best practices
and dr. Vincent tinto’s findings, Learning
Communities and FYE (First Year Experience)
compliment one another towards innovative
teaching and learning. together with the new
basic skills initiative to move towards a First
Year Experience program, the dedicated faculty
hope to increase the success rates even more
in Fall 2009 and spring 2010.
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