Cafe Victoria

Lately, with the news on California budget cuts and the unknown of what the next two years will bring to Higher Education, I’ve been wondering;
-If there are no jobs, how will our students pay for their classes? Or their housing?  How will they be able to stay in school?
-If they are predicting that more people will need to come back to school for job training, why do we start offering less courses instead of more?
-If colleges are having to cut back, why are we not asking what is best for the students?

This past weekend, I and seven other students attended the Fall General Assembly sponsored by the Student Senate of the CA Community College (SSCCC). It was held at the Double Tree Hotel in San Jose. My new favorite thing is Double Tree Chocolate Walnut cookies. Soo good! My other new favorite thing is this whole idea of the Student Senate General Assemblies. This was my first time attending the annual conference. I usually would send two students by themselves. This year, I decided to join them. I am really glad I did and that we sponsored more then just two students.

The Student Senate group of student leaders really impressed me. Through out the assembly, my students joined many other students from 74 out of the 110 community colleges to write resolutions, attend workshops, run for senator-at-large positions (there were 25 candidates alone!) and vote on 22 different resolutions. The resolutions address counseling needs such as more freshmen seminars, support towards equity and diversity regarding the Umoja Community and AB540 programs, decreasing international student fees, student involvement at the Board of Trustee level and Environmental/Sustainability issues. There were 6 resolutions alone addressing sustainability issues! My students alone presented 5 resolutions.

As I watch the students’ debate, take action and network across college campuses, I kept thinking that the media needs to be here. Today’s community college students are putting a new face to who the community college student is. The community college student is no longer lost or unmotivated. Today’s community college students are serious about their education. They are willing to learn and can be an inspiration for us all.

To find out more about the action being taken at the CA statewide level by community college students, visit the Student Senate web site at www.studentsenateccc.org

With enrollment being up 23% for us, and most of the new students being 18 to 21 years, I started thinking about the similarities and differences to going to college today compared to 10 years ago. The main difference is the cost. More and more students have to work while going to school. The hardest part for a student affairs professional working at a community college is I want these students to experience campus life, enjoy their classes and transfer some day. Right now, they pay $60.00 for a class. In two to three years, they are going to be paying triple that amount at the four-year level. If these students are struggling to stay in school now, how are they going to pull if off down the road? They are going to pull if off thanks to the support and guidance from all the Financial Aid departments out there.

I have to give a huge hand for I Can Afford College.com campaign and Napa Valley College’s own Financial Aid department. Many of our students are making it to class because Financial Aid made it happen.

If you are a college student either attending a Two-Year or Four-Year college and you are not receiving Financial Aid, I encourage you to visit your Financial Aid office today. Even if you qualify for $1.00, its one less dollar you do not have to work for.

I presented my capstone on tax day! It was an amazing experience. I started out with a small video shot by me and directed by Matthias. Then I shared three competences that I thought I was the strongest in and then two competences that I would like to grow more in.  Prior to attending my capstone, my committee members review my website. They were great! I appreciated how much work they went into reading and understanding all the 12 competences. They also asked me great questions and shared some encouraging feedback.

The capstone experience was affirming.

Yes! Ladies and gentlemen, the Vickster has finished all her grad school assignments. Wow, such a great feeling. The funny part is it took me FOREVER to just finish it. Maybe there was a small part of me that was going to miss it. What’s next? In one week I do my capstone presentation. I hope you have enjoyed the fun changes to my website. For the time being, my website has shifted from a blog to a professional portfolio. Do keep checking in. I plan to still update my blog. For now, I think I will enjoy the feeling of being done. Let me tell you, the thought of not having to write a literature review for a while..is so nice!

• Having dinner with my student workers and their family at the EOPS/SSS/CalWorks Spring Banquet.
• Meeting with my boss in my office.
• Driving the new round-a-bout.
• Listening to live music in the cafeteria.
• Making time to eat an apple outside my office.
• Spending time with my board members as we wait to make quorum.

• dark chocolate
• water
• green tea
• Internet radio
• outlines

Yahoo! I’m excited to share that I published my first grad school paper. For my Foundations in Education course, I had to research and write about a current issue in Higher Education. I chose to write about the rise in Veterans attending college and lack of funding from the GI Bill. After finishing the paper, I felt so good about it that I sent it to the online journal for CA Community College Student Service Administrators called “Ijournal”.  They agreed and published it in their Winter Issue Vol. 18, February 2008. The article is titled: Higher Education’s Critical Role in the GI Bill

All of us, in some shape or form are balancing something. Sleep, meetings at work, love, homework, our next big adventure. As I walk this fun yet a bit overwhelming balancing beam to graduation, I think about the journey. Along the way I must stop for ice cream, drink green tea and play the game Sorry. Homework will get finished. Projects at work will come and go. But in the mist of it all, I must throw in a road trip to my sister’s in SLO. Ahh…the destination is near but it will be the journey that will stay with me.

Thank you everyone who has heard me stressing about all the papers I have to write this month. I am doing much better. I can’t believe the Capstone Final project is really here. On the 30th, I turn in the first part of it. Wow, that means I am really finishing my Masters.  I remember in the beginning thinking how far off Capstone was. I also remember thinking, damm..that is a huge project. Now, I am more excited about gathering all the work I’ve done and sharing it. Please keep Matthias and I in your thoughts and prayers. This last semester will be fast and full. In the end, my blog will turn into a sweet Capstone project showcasing the last three amazing years of becoming an Student Affairs Professional.