April 2020
President's Message
Greetings Student Leaders!
It is a difficult time for all of us as COVID-19 has drastically changed all of our lives. I cannot imagine what our most vulnerable students are going through. We already know that students are struggling to cover their most basic needs and now transitioning to online education can be an almost impossible task.
Although the future is unclear, I know that we will get through this together. The SSCCC is dedicated to ensuring your voice is heard on a state level. We have also established a webpage with resources and information to help you navigate through these uncertain times. Click here to visit the webpage.
As you may know, we canceled our in-person General Assembly and converted it to an online event which was held on April 3 - 5, 2020. Over 200 people called in to participate in the discussion and debate. It gave me hope to see everyone come together for a common goal. That is what we must do now, come together and support each other in these difficult times. If you know of any resources available for students -- no matter where they live please share them with us and we can help get the information out. Stay healthy and stay safe!
In Solidarity,
Danny Thirakul
2020 General Assembly
April 3 - 5, 2020
We did it! The 24th General Assembly was held online and by most considered successful. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, THE STUDENT VOICE COULD NOT BE SILENCED! At one point, there were more than 200 individuals on the teleconference and over 85 voting delegates.
At the conclusion of the General Assembly, delegates passed an updated Constitution, new Bylaws, a three-year Strategic Plan, and 23 resolutions.
In an exit survey, delegates said in response to the question "What aspects of the online General Assembly do you feel worked?":
- "I believe the greatest feat the GA accomplished was allowing the meeting to be accessible online while complying with Roberts Rules of Order and Ralph M, Brown Act."
- "Agenda and final resolutions were sent out on time. People chairing the meeting were well prepared."
- "I would like to state my appreciation for President Danny T. and his cohorts' ability to set up this year's GA and make it happen despite this rapidly evolving environment and transition into a completely online platform."
- "Given that this was the very first time that it was held entirely online, I believe it went really well. The way voting was handled was decent, and was transparent. the overall order of the meeting was very good, there weren't too many distractions that impeded my ability to make an informative vote."
- "We adopted governing docs, held elections for all positions, and managed to hold votes on all resolutions slated. That's a total success considering the cards we were dealt with. Seriously 100 kudos on all the work you put in to create an event like this and dealing with interruptions, and weird issues with the format. Y'all operated well!"
While the online General Assembly has been completed, we also have a series of webinars planned that would have been in workshops during a "physical" General Assembly. Watch the listserv and our Facebook page for announcements. In addition, the Executive Officers will be publishing a State of the Senate to provide the Delegate Assembly and interested parties with an annual report of the year.
Thank you to all the Delegates who participated in the online General Assembly and the advisor who facilitated their attendance.
Until next year!
COVID-19 - Advice from the Regions
Mental Health During COVID-19
by Ernesto D. Garza Lopez, Region VIII Communications Officer
Mental health awareness is key, especially given the current circumstances. Most of our extroverted friends are not used to the confined environment of their rooms or homes for a prolonged period of time. This may take a toll on people’s mental wellbeing. So, as an introvert myself, I encourage other introverts to take up some possible schedules to keep our extrovert friends at ease.
- Adopt a check-in schedule: Set an alarm to remind you to check-in daily on all your friends to see how they are feeling. It is imperative to see how your friends are coping with the situation and offer a helping hand if you can afford it.
- Schedule virtual activities: If your friends are not opposed to the idea, schedule some activities with them that can be done virtually. Recently, I made a Minecraft server where my friends and I play for about an hour or so. Another idea is possibly getting on a Skype or Discord call and play some Kahoot! games or karaoke.
- Just hang out and chill: Call up your friends (or text them) and just have some conversations. Maybe watch some television shows or a movie and provide commentary through the lines of communication listed above.
Quarantine Coping Mechanisms
Cheyenne Loftus, Region IV Communications Officer
I’m so excited to share two of my favorite quarantine coping mechanisms with you this month. In addition to the stress brought on by the transition to online classes, layoffs (leading to financial insecurity), and community health as a whole, many community college students are also dealing with the pressure of looming admission decisions from four-year institutions.
Here are two ways I’ve been staying sane:
- First, I’ve made a point to try and move my body in some way every day. This doesn’t necessarily mean a high impact workout - I’ve done everything from guided yoga practices to walking my dogs to dance parties in my bedroom. If you don’t feel like working out, just sitting in your yard (if you have one) is also a great way to get some vitamin D and improve your mood!
- Second, I’ve been deliberately taking breaks throughout the day to do things that I enjoy. Between Zoom lectures, homework assignments, and remote work, take a short walk around your neighborhood or try a deep breathing exercise and have a glass of water. These might seem like simple things, but they can be incredibly grounding when used with intention.
Resources for Emotional Support and Well-being
Chancellor's Office Resource
The Chancellor's Office website provides resources for emotional support. During this time, many of us will feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, depressed, lonely, or frustrated. The website linked above provides strategies for managing stress, hotlines if you need to talk to someone, resources to find behavioral and mental health services, people to speak with if you feel unsafe, and who to call to help others who are having struggles.
You are not alone! There are support systems in place to provide you, your family, and your friends with help during this difficult time. The SSCCC encourages you not to be silent but to reach out for help or assist others who are vulnerable and need support services. Together -- we will survive!
Pathways to Equity Conference
Transforming Together
September 29-30, 2020
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel
Empower and inspire your colleagues by sharing your insights, discoveries, promising practices and successes related to equity-infused Guided Pathways work.
Student-centered design informs Guided Pathways and Student Equity—two key elements designed to help reach the goals of the Vision for Success. This conference will bring together a diverse community of college practitioners to discuss implementing a Guided Pathways framework with an equity lens. What will you share that can help our system in an equity transformation?
The event will focus on how equity is the foundation of and drives Guided Pathways planning and implementation, and will include inspiring speakers, breakout sessions designed to provide actionable takeaways for college teams and other activities designed to build awareness and knowledge of equity as an institution-wide effort. Be one of our featured speakers, present your work in an informal session or engage attendees with interactive group work. We’re looking for presentations by faculty, classified professionals, students, and administrators featuring innovative approaches, data insights and challenges to overcome. Interactive sessions are encouraged, as is student voice inclusion!
Lightning Sessions – 30 mins
Active Learning Sessions – 1 hour 30 mins
A select number of sessions are planned, so submit your proposal soon. The submission deadline is Friday, April 10, 2020. Applicants will be informed via email about final selections at the end of Spring 2020. Presenters will receive a discounted registration rate.
Please email any questions to Barbara Lezon in Educational Services and Support - blezon@cccco.edu.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are seeking volunteers to serve on SSCCC Shared Governance Committees. This is your opportunity to serve at the state level without making an extensive commitment since some committees meet only two or three times a year. If you are interested in serving on any of the shared governance committees listed below, please visit the SSCCC website "Serving at the State Level" page to learn about the appointment process and to access the application.
- Accessibility Standards Workgroup
- Distance Education Technology Advisory Committee
- Library and Learning Resources Program Advisory Committee
- Next up/Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support
Serving at the state level can be very rewarding. Consider serving today!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, April 24, 2020, Online
- SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, May 1 - 2, 2020, Online
- SSCCC Executive Committee Meeting, May 29, 2020, Online
- SSCCC Board of Directors Meeting, June 12, 2020, Online
- Check out all the SSCCC events including Regional Meetings, caucuses, and webinars on the SSCCC Calendar.
All SSCCC Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings are available via teleconference. Check out the calendar on the SSCCC website (link above) for the agendas and call information at least 72-hours prior to the meeting.
