Volume I, Third Edition

President's Greeting

Dear Faculty, Staff and Administrators,

I begin this edition of the Gaucho Gazette on a very somber note. January was sadly a month of loss for Saddleback College; we lost our beloved Howard Adams, a wonderful instructor and a friend to students, faculty, and staff alike, and we were grief-stricken by the news of Hally Savio's passing. Hally, who was the Executive Assistant to Vice Chancellor of Human Resources David Bugay, was loved for her warmth, charming personality, and sense of humor.

I had the pleasure of attending Howard Adams' memorial service on Saturday, January 31st, and was awed by the outpouring of love that was shown for Howard. It is very clear that Howard played a huge role in the lives of those who were lucky enough to know him. It is an understatement to say that his kindness, compassion, and wit will be missed. Donations in Howard's name may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Melanoma Foundation.

I've found that whenever someone speaks of Hally, they always mention her great personality and the love she had for her family. Our Saddleback College family will miss her terribly. Memorial services for Hally will be held on campus on Thursday, February 12th at 3:30 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room in the Health Sciences Building.

While we mourn these losses, our business at Saddleback College moves on.

As you know, we recently received the good news that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has reaffirmed the college's accreditation. I'd like to congratulate the college and all who were involved in writing our Accreditation Progress Report that responded to WASC's Recommendations 3, 5, and 6. Everyone involved in responding to these recommendations showed tremendous resolve to get the job done. I want to thank Dr. Bob Cosgrove in particular for his leadership and devotion to our college's accreditation process.

We are also moving forward with exciting plans to develop new college vision and mission statements to guide us in our strategic planning process.

The spring semester is in full swing and we have many wonderful events in the coming months, including Black History Month celebrations, the dedication of the Saddleback College Veterans Memorial, and of course, our scholarship banquet and commencement. I look forward to attending these great events that celebrate diversity, commitment, and student success.

I will be hosting a President's Chat on Wednesday, February 11th from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in BGS 144. I invite you to come by and hear the latest news on our college and provide you with an opportunity to ask me questions in an informal setting.

Thank you and I'll see you around campus!

Sincerely,

Tod A. Burnett, Ed.D.
President

On Wednesday, February 4th, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) stated its acceptance of the College’s 2008 Progress Report that addressed recommendations made by WASC concerning student learning outcomes and College governance. The positive news from WASC comes as Saddleback College begins its upcoming Accreditation Self Study, a process required by all colleges every six years to reaffirm accreditation.  Saddleback College has already started its Self Study with unprecedented participation from students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Dr. Tod A. Burnett, President of Saddleback College, stated, “All involved in the Progress Report did impressive work and I thank everyone for their unending dedication and commitment to this effort, and I thank the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees for their unending support.  Saddleback College has made a great deal of progress over the past few years and we look forward to working together to continue this progress and reaffirm the College’s accreditation in our upcoming  Accreditation Self Study.” 

South Orange County Community College District Chancellor Dr. Raghu P. Mathur said, “I congratulate Saddleback College for this positive outcome which is a recognition of faculty, staff and trustees all working together to address pertinent issues for the good of students, with the utmost respect for each other’s areas of responsibilities. We also greatly appreciate all the hard work, leadership, and expertise of the Commission during the Accreditation process.”

President Burnett stated, “I thank WASC for recognizing the excellent progress made by our faculty in adopting campus-wide student learning outcomes, and I thank our faculty for their tremendous efforts in completing this extremely daunting task.  In a matter of months, our faculty wrote 1,490 student learning outcomes for as many courses for a 100% college completion rate, a huge and critical undertaking that promotes student success.”

Student Learning Outcomes enable colleges to measure how well students master the objectives of courses and programs.  Professor Morgan Barrows, Chair of the Committee that responded to WASC’s recommendation concerning Student Learning Outcomes, stated, “It was a pleasure to team up with such a great and devoted group of people, who worked tirelessly to ensure that our response to WASC would demonstrate the extraordinary commitment Saddleback College has made to Student Learning Outcomes.  I am so pleased that our work did not go unnoticed by WASC.”

Professor Carmen Dominguez, Chair of the task force that responded to WASC’s recommendations concerning governance, stated, “Our college has made tremendous progress in resolving the recommendations given to the college by WASC in 2005. I am optimistic that the Accrediting Commission will recognize the sustained effort made by the entire college community to improve our institution when we submit our 2010 Accreditation Self Study.”

The College has already started its Self Study, a three-part process of accrediting an institution.  This process includes an institutional self appraisal, an on-site visit by a team of peers, and a review and a decision on the accredited status of the college by the Commission. The Self-Study is due in June of 2010, and WASC will send a team to visit the campus in Fall of 2010.

Click here for more infomation on our accreditation.

Photo: Members of the Accreditation Steering Committee meet to discuss the upcoming Self Study. Pictured are (from left) Professor Carmen Dominguez, Director of Fiscal Services Carol Hilton, Professor Bob Cosgrove, Professor Miki Mikolajczak, and Vice President of Instruction Rajen Vurdien.

College Works to Refine Strategic Planning, Create Vision and Mission

To improve and close gaps in Saddleback College's strategic planning process, the Planning and Budget Council (PBC) had a full-day retreat in December to review the strengths and weaknesses of the current strategic plan and refine the process and structure. The group agreed that while the current planning process is thoughtful and thorough, gaps and overlaps must be corrected and that greater campus-wide participation is needed.

At the retreat, which was facilitated by Kari Blinn of Strata Information Group, PBC agreed that a clear college vision and mission must be developed to help guide planning decisions. A campus-wide workshop was held on January 28th, where faculty, staff and administrators worked in groups to develop themes for a vision and mission that shows our desired state for the college. During the workshop, which was also facilitated by Kari Blinn, themes were explored to help PBC develop the college's vision and mission. The themes that came out of the workshop included but were not limited to sustainability, innovation, and local/global.

Another action item that was identified during the PBC retreat was to hire a Director of Planning, Research, and Grants, an academic administrator-level position that will provide leadership in long- and short-ranged planning and educational research and grant writing. The job description for the position has been completed and is pending approval by the Board of Trustees.

To ensure that the college's planning process coincides with district planning, the PBC has worked on recommended district goals that the district will address in its district-wide planning meetings, which are scheduled on Thursday, February 12th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and Thursday, March 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Library 213 at Irvine Valley College.

Photo: Multimedia Technician Dana Manley outlines his group's ideas for the college's vision and mission.

Faculty Spotlight: Reverend Canon Brad Karelius

Brad Karelius' students don't just know him as their distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Saddleback College. They also know him as an Episcopal Priest who teaches them world religions and, in his words, seeks to honor all religions by unlocking the treasures of each one.

Professor Karelius has been an Episcopal Priest for 38 years and has taught at Saddleback College since 1973. He currently teaches a world religions class on Thursday nights with 90 students attending. He is also a priest at Messiah Episcopal Parish in Santa Ana, where he offers some services in Spanish to accommodate his parishioners, a third of which are Latino. To offer early childhood education in Santa Ana, he founded Hands Together, which cares for and educates 100 young children. Professor Karelius also started an after school learning program focusing on literacy and math to tutor high school juniors and seniors to help them finish high school and move on to college.

Professor Karelius was lucky enough to be a longtime friend of Howard Adams, who he met in 1970. Because his wife Jan was a good friend of Howard's and considered him to be like a big brother, Professor Karelius jokes that he had to get through Howard first to marry his wife. He spoke at Howard's memorial service, and he explains that seeing the number of people at the service showed the profound impact Howard had on so many lives, and that his students and friends clearly saw him as something more than a freind and teacher, but as a godfather of sorts.

Professor Karelius explains that he loves teaching at Saddleback College and that his students are highly motivated. He says that often, philosophy is a subject that gets students to want to learn more and that his students are a pleasure to teach. He recently ran into a former student who now teaches philosophy himself at Irvine Valley College, who told Profesor Karelius that it was his world religions class that made him pursue his career.

Professor Karelius earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and German from USC, and received his Master of Divinity degree at the Theological Union in Berkeley. His wife Jan is a former nursing instructor at Saddleback College, where she worked for 25 years. She now is a nurse practitioner in a hospital emergency room.

Saddleback College Welcomes New Assistant Dean and Assistant Manager

Terence Nelson was hired as the Assistant Dean of Counseling Services and Special Programs, where he will oversee Extended Opportunity Programs and Services/Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education, Disabled Students Programs and Services, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, educational support services to veterans and active duty military personnel and families, and student service-related grants including the Career Technology Education Collaborative.

A graduate of Golden West College before pursuing advanced degrees, Terence looks forward to working with community college students, who he says he personally identifies with.  Most recently before accepting his new position, Terence was a part-time counselor in Saddleback College’s Transfer Center, where he worked with career/technical students in the grant-funded Teacher Preparation Pipeline program, which connects students with mentors to help them pursue careers in the field and become college instructors. Prior to joining Saddleback College, Terence worked as a part-time counselor at Golden West College, Pasadena City College, and Irvine Valley College, respectively.  He previously worked as an athletics counselor at Imperial Valley College, and as a counseling assistant at West Los Angeles College.

Terence earned a Master of Science degree in physical education at Azusa Pacific University, a Master of Education degree in counseling in student affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at the University of California, Irvine, where he transferred after earning an Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts from Golden West College.  He participated in track and cross country at UC Irvine and Golden West College. Terence resides in Huntington Beach with his wife, Alicia, and one-year-old son, Peyton.  He enjoys sports and athletics and has traveled with his wife to 49 of the 50 United States.

Also beginning her tenure at Saddleback College is Jean-Mari Dagarin, our new Assistant Manager of the Child Development Center. In this role, Jean-Mari will assist Director Lisa Cavallaros in the day-to-day operations of the center and will oversee the creation of a new infant/toddler program that will be funded through the Governor's Career Technical Education Collaborative Initiative. Jean-Mari will assist in the design, reconstruction, and remodel of the current space and will be training staff on the policies and procedures that go with operating an infant/toddler child care program.

Prior to joining Saddleback College, Jean-Mari was a site supervisor for Child Development Incorporated and worked at the City of Irvine as a Project and Grant Administrator for the Irvine Child Care Project. Most recently, Jean-Mari was the Center Director of KinderCare in Corona. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in child and adolescent studies at CSU Fullerton and a Program Director Permit at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Jean-Mari and her husband Keith live in south Orange County with their three children, and spend much of their time supporting their children in swim and baseball.

To find out more about the Saddleback College Child Development Center, visit its website or call extension 4582.

Nurses Pinned in Traditional Candle Lighting Ceremony

On the evening of Tuesday, December 16th, fifty-four graduates of the Saddleback College Nursing Program were honored in a candlelight and pinning ceremony in the McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College. 

“I was very moved by the traditions of the nurse pinning and honored to be in the company of so many students who have made the noble choice to pursue a career focused on helping others,” stated Dr. Tod A. Burnett, President of Saddleback College.  “It is evident that our graduates are very fond and appreciative of their instructors, who have no doubt prepared them to be some of the best nurses in the field.”

“Our graduates go through rigorous training to earn their nursing degrees, and I am so proud of these students for their compassion, talent, and work ethic,” stated Tamera Rice, Interim Dean of the Division of Health Sciences and Human Services.

Diane Pestolesi, Acting Assistant Dean of Nursing, stated, “It is such a pleasure to work with our students and see them enter a field where they are so much in need, particularly when the nation is faced with a nursing shortage.”

Highlights of the ceremony included a class remembrance speech by graduating student Karen Ritter and a farewell address by graduating student Karen Mooney.  Saddleback College Acting Assistant Dean of Nursing Diane Pestolesi formally presented the class as Professors Terri Whitt, Ed.D., and Janine O’Buchon honored each graduate with the time-honored nursing pin, a symbol of a nurse’s service to others and his or her induction into the nursing profession.

Saddleback College Professors Betsy Brewington and Phillis Kucharski, together with graduating student Traci Ford, presided over a candle lighting ceremony, symbolizing the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next since Florence Nightingale first brought enlightenment to the nursing profession in the 19th century.  Graduating student Rachel Duran represented the spirit of nursing with a class pledge.

Graduating student Kimberly Root presented a donation from the Nursing Class of Fall 2008 to the United States Army 349th Medical Unit in Afghanistan, of which Sergeant Chuck Farrell, an alumnus of the Saddleback College Emergency Management Training program, is a member. The donation will provide gifts for the soldiers in the unit, and will also allow them to purchase toys to distract and comfort the children they care for.

Photo: Nursing graduates participate in the traditional candle lighting ceremony

Gauchos, Lasers Face Off for the Presidents' Cup

An enthusiastic crowd of more than 900 community members, students, faculty, staff and their families watched part one of the first Presidents’ Cup series on Friday, January 16th in the Saddleback College gymnasium, as the women’s and men’s basketball teams from Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College faced off in spirited games that resulted in two wins for the Gauchos. 

The Saddleback women’s basketball team put together its best 40 minutes of the season in beating intra-district rival Irvine Valley College, 65-40.  The Saddleback men’s basketball team came out with a 51-41 win over Irvine Valley, extending the men’s winning streak to 14 games.  

The next half of the Presidents’ Cup will be held at Irvine Valley College’s homecoming game on Wednesday, February 11th in the Irvine Valley College gymnasium.  After the men’s and women’s basketball teams play again, the college that wins the entire four-game series will be presented the Presidents’ Cup by Dr. Burnett and IVC President Dr. Glenn Roquemore. 

Dr. Burnett stated, “Kudos to Saddleback men’s and women’s basketball head coaches Andy Ground and Fentriss Winn for leading the Gauchos in a great night of basketball, and thank you to the Irvine Valley College teams for playing two exciting games.  The evening was a terrific beginning to a new tradition and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with my friend and colleague Dr. Roquemore to establish an annual Presidents’ Cup between our two colleges.” 

Among the spectators at the event were South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees President Donald P. Wagner, Trustee Marcia Milchiker, Trustee Nancy Padberg, and Chancellor Raghu P. Mathur, Ed.D. 

Between games and during half times, Saddleback College student clubs faced off in a basketball shoot-out and a spirit competition, with the first, second, and third place winners earning $500, $250, and $100, respectively, from the college president for their club accounts.  The Associated Student Government won the basketball shoot-out, with the American Pilipino Appreciation Club and the Gauchos baseball team taking second and third place.  The Inter-Club Council won the spirit competition, with the California Student Nursing Association and the Associated Student Government winning second and third place

Serving as the Master of Ceremonies was Dean of Physical Education and Athletics Tony Lipold, with Dean of Fine Arts Rocky Cifone and Theatre Arts Lighting Designer Tim Swiss teaming up as announcers and disc jockeys.  Entertainment was provided by the cheerleading squads from Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College.

See you at the rematch between the Gauchos and Lasers at Irvine Valley College's Homecoming Game on Wednesday, February 11th at 5:30 p.m.!

Photo: Students representing the Interclub Council collect a $500 check from Trustee Nancy Padberg and Dr. Burnett.

Refreshed from Retreat, ASG Implements New Strategies

The Saddleback College Associated Student Government (ASG) sponsors a leadership retreat every semester prior to the start of classes.  The spring 2009 retreat focused on team-building and strategizing to improve ASG’s services to Saddleback students.  The ASG representatives spent three days in a ranch in the hills of Escondido with a herd of goats and team-cooked meals.  The ASG leadership planned and executed the retreat beautifully and, by all accounts, it was a great success.  ASG will begin to implement their new strategies this semester!  Start looking for representatives presenting in your classrooms – you can’t miss them in their maroon polo shirts!  ASG elections will take place this April.  Please encourage your students to serve the student body and join us!

"A Taste of Home" Delivered to Camp Pendleton Marines

To deliver a “taste of home” to marines at Camp Pendleton during the holiday season, on Wednesday, December 16th, members of Saddleback College’s Classified Senate delivered more than 200 plates of home-made cookies to marines at the Military Police station, the First Marine Regiment, and the School of Infantry at the Oceanside base. 

The effort was a collaboration of many campus groups, including students, faculty, and staff, who contributed to the cookie-baking effort.  Students in the college’s culinary arts program baked more than 60 plates of cookies, and kids in the campus Child Development Center decorated the paper plates that the cookies were delivered on. 

In addition to the cookies, gift baskets filled with gift cards, DVDs, CDs, and other goodies donated by students, faculty, and staff at Saddleback College were left on the bed racks of 50 marines who are returning from Iraq on January 2nd. 

“Thank you to the Classified Senate who inspired so many on campus to donate their time or money to this brilliant cause,” said Dr. Tod A. Burnett, President of Saddleback College.  “Their selfless efforts to give our marines a ‘taste of home’ are what the holiday season is all about.”

The Saddleback College Classified Senate started its annual “taste of home” tradition when veterans on campus told the group that home-made cookies are appreciated by service men and women who can’t be with their families during the holidays.

“It is wonderful to bring some holiday cheer to our local marines, who sacrifice so much for our country,” stated Kathy Constance, a coordinator of the “taste of home” cookie drive and an Applications Specialist II at Saddleback College.  “Thank you to everyone who donated their time and money to this important effort.”

Photo:Video Production Specialist Mark Kruhmin and EOPS Specialist Lori Parra deliver cookies to the First Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton.  Photo courtesy of Senior Graphic Designer Diane Smith.

Upcoming Events


Wednesday, February 11th
President's Chat
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
BGS 144

Presidents' Cup, Part II
5:30 p.m.
Irvine Valley College Gymnasium

Thursday, February 12th
District-Wide Planning Meeting
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
SSC 212

Transfer Fair
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Student Services Quad

Tuesday, February 17th
Vernon Van Performs "Brother Malcolm X"
12:00 p.m.
SSC 212

Tuesday, February 25th and Wednesday, February 26th
ASG Blood Drive
SSC 212

Thursday, February 26th
A Celebration of Black History: Legacy, Liberation, and a New Beginning
1:00 to 8:30 p.m.
SSC 212

Thursday, March 5th
District-Wide Planning Meeting
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Library 213, Irvine Valley College

Dean's List Reception
Time to be Announced
SSC 212

Friday, March 6th
Annual Women's Conference: "Women & Technology"
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
SSC 212

Thursday, March 26th
Tech Prep
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
SSC 212

Senior Day
12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Student Services Quad

Thursday, April 30th
Veterans Memorial Dedication
4:00 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Site

Thursday, May 14th
Scholarship Ceremony
5:00 p.m.
Saddleback College Gymnasium

Thursday, May 21st
Transfer Celebration
5:00 p.m.
Saddlebac College Stadium

Friday, May 22nd
Commencement
10:00 a.m.
Saddleback College Stadium

Presidential Highlights

The following is a quick overview of Dr. Burnett's schedule during the months of December and January:

December

Attended women's basketball game...Attended "Feast of Lights" performance let by Professor Carmen Dominguez and Professor Scott Farthing at McKinney Theatre...Hosted the college's Holiday Open House...Held and participated in a Planning & Budget Council retreat...attended the SC Football Banquet...Attended the "Christmas Carol" performance at McKinney Theatre...Attended the Tutoring Awards with Director of Learning Assistance Pattie Weekes...Attended the Men's Bill Brummel Basketball Classic...Attended the Women's Soccer Awards Banquet...Attended the Laguna Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at McKinney Theatre.

January

Attended Classifed President's Lunch...Attended Faculty President's Lunch...Served as guest speaker at the Emeritus Guest Lecture Series...Attended Presidents' Cup basketball competition at Saddleback College...Toured the Advanced Technology & Education Park...Attended an Alumni Association Luncheon with the Division Deans...Hosted the College-Wide Vision/Mission Workshop...Attended Howard Adams' Memorial Service at McKinney Theatre.

Photo: Dr. Burnett and Dean of Liberal Arts and Learning Resources Kevin O'Connor congratulate Saddleback College Student Benson Moshinsky (middle), who earned the "100 Club Award" for volunteering 100 hours of tutoring service in the Learning Assistance Program. Photo Provided by Patti Weeks.