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- Written by: Valley City State University
The Dean’s Honor Roll recognizes students who completed 12 semester hours or more of VCSU classes for which grade points were earned with a grade point average of at least 3.50.
On the list is Nicholas Aaron Vargas of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
The full VCSU Dean’s Honor Roll can be found online at www.vcsu.edu/news/deans-honor-roll-fall-2018.
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- Written by: California Community Colleges
The platform will replace the various library systems currently used by participating community colleges in the state.
Through the Library Services Platform, students will have access to technology that is not currently available across the community college system, with improved search capabilities, check-outs, overdue book issues, interlibrary loans, and reserves, all available in a modern, mobile-friendly environment.
“This opens opportunities for unprecedented digital and physical resource sharing across the state, increasing all students' access to quality library resources,” said Barney Gomez, vice chancellor of digital innovation and infrastructure for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. “Students who take courses at more than one college will now experience very similar search interfaces, making it easier to navigate library collections across the state.”
The value of the LSP will also be enhanced at the staff level, providing better systemwide access to resources covering patron records acquisitions, materials processing, licensing, electronic resource management, cataloging, inventory, analytics, interlibrary loans, reserves and more.
These shared records and processes across the system will afford opportunities for streamlined workflows, making it possible for colleges with limited staff to more directly meet student needs.
“The Library Services Platform is a great example of how the Council of Chief Librarians, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and vendors pulled together to implement a solution that benefits our colleges and students,” said Doug Achterman, president of the Council of Chief Librarians for the California Community Colleges.
To date, 110 of California’s 115 community colleges have committed to participate in the systemwide implementation that begins this month. The effort aligns with the California Community Colleges Vision for Success and its commitment to encourage innovation in the pursuit of closing achievement gaps.
For more information, visit https://ccctechcenter.org/projects/library-resources .
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
ScholarShare 529 is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan that helps families and individuals save and plan for the cost of higher education.
The plan is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Just about anyone can open a ScholarShare account, including grandparents, other family members, and friends.
AB 211, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon and sponsored by Treasurer Ma, would provide a state income tax deduction when an individual contributes to one or more ScholarShare 529 accounts up to a limit of $5,000 for single taxpayers and $10,000 for those who file jointly.
Blue Sky Consulting Group, whom the ScholarShare 529 plan engaged to study tax incentives for 529 programs, estimates that Californians have invested between $4- to $26- billion in other state 529 programs because California does not offer an income tax incentive, or their financial advisors recommended other plans because of perceived limitations to investing in California’s plan.
“This bill gives California’s strong and vibrant program even more appeal, so much so in fact that we would not be surprised to see residents of other states move to participate in California’s plan,” said Treasurer Ma. “Meanwhile, Californians who might be contributing to 529 plans set up in other states will be happy to find that California’s 529 plan costs will be lower. The ScholarShare 529 fee structure could be further reduced when out-of-state assets are invested again in California. In fact, the ScholarShare 529 fee structure would be reduced by nearly 13 percent when the plan reaches $10 billion in assets. What we want to achieve is a greater incentive for more families to save for a child’s higher education."
Assembly Majority Leader Calderon added, “One of the greatest challenges students and families face when preparing for higher education is the increasing cost of attending college, which has grown at a rate of two to three times the rate of inflation. Providing tangible, financial incentives for California families to save for their academic future is critical to mitigating their financial concerns and avoiding student debt. AB 211 provides a necessary and meaningful tax incentive to assist students and their families as they prepare for their college future.”
In sum, the tax benefit will have a direct impact on the program’s growth and will thereby reduce the cost of the plan to those Californians already participating in the program. Greater growth has multiple benefits for Californians. Children with 529 accounts are seven times more likely to attend college; they graduate with less debt; they are more likely to be employed; and, they more quickly become contributors to the state’s economic vitality.
For fast facts on ScholarShare, click here.
- Details
- Written by: California Community Colleges
Established in 2012, the awards honor top, exemplary campus energy projects demonstrating excellence in annual energy cost savings, environmental sustainability and job creation.
“We commend these community college leaders who are improving energy and environmental sustainability on their campuses,” said California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Tom Epstein. “Achieving climate goals is a top state priority and we encourage community colleges to take aggressive action consistent with those goals.”
Awards are granted in the following categories:
o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Proposition 39 Projects;
o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiatives;
o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion.
Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Proposition 39 Projects
Best Overall District – (Large): Coast Community College District—Interior Lighting Retrofit
Coast Community College District completed a campuswide interior lighting retrofit at the Golden West College campus. The project is estimated to save 611,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $120,000 in cost savings each year.
Honorable Mention: San Francisco Community College District – Controls Upgrade in the Batmale Classroom Building
Best Overall District – (Medium): Peralta Community College District – Interior Lighting Retrofit
Peralta Community College District performed a campuswide interior lighting retrofit at its Berkeley City College campus. The project is estimated to save 443,310 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $59,000 in cost savings each year.
Honorable Mention: San Mateo County Community College District – Skyline College Exterior LED Lighting Project
Best Overall District – (Small): Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District – Multiyear Tehama Solar Photovoltaic Project
Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District funded a 126 kW solar photovoltaic parking lot shade structure system at their Tehama campus. The solar power generated will reduce the energy purchased by 167,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $44,000 in cost savings each year.
Honorable Mention: San Luis Obispo County Community College District – Boiler Retrofit
Retrofit Project Winner: Orange Coast College – Stadium, Gym and Theatre Lighting Retrofit
Orange Coast College performed interior and exterior lighting retrofits at their stadium, gym and theater facilities. The project is estimated to save 777,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $72,000 in cost savings each year.
Honorable Mention: College of San Mateo – Exterior LED Lighting Project
Commissioning Project Winner: Butte College – Main Campus Monitoring Based Commissioning (MBCx) Project
Butte Community College District implemented a Monitoring-based Commissioning (MBCx) project in 29 buildings to improve operational efficiency of various HVAC systems. The project is estimated to save 47,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $2,500 in cost savings each year.
Honorable Mention: Butte College, Skyway Center – Skyway Center Monitoring Based Commissioning (MBCx) Project
Renewable Energy Winner: Butte College, Skyway Center – Solar Photovoltaic Project
Butte College constructed a new parking lot photovoltaic shade structure system at its Skyway Center campus. The project will generate approximately 232,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, offsetting utility purchases and saving $43,000 each year.
Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiative Award
Dr. William T. Scroggins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mt. San Antonio College – Climate Action Plan
Three faculty members at Mt. San Antonio College developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion
Marlene Dunn, Vice President of Business Services, Long Beach Community College District
Marlene Dunn created an Integrated Energy Master Plan with the goal to meet and exceed the legislative requirements of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act and several executive orders to reduce energy usage in buildings and achieve Zero Net Energy.
Medhanie Ephrem, Interim Director of Facilities, Long Beach Community College District
Medhanie Ephrem developed projects ranging from central plant optimization measures, energy management system improvements, retro commissioning of two buildings for more energy efficient operations, and several LED lighting retrofit projects.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year.