College of Alameda’s Career Discovery Day Provided Introductions to Popular Programs

Dean of Career & Workforce Education, Customized Training, and Community Education Eva Denise Jennings and her talented team were excited to share their unique career education (CE) programs during CoA’s online Career Discovery Day. The event took place virtually over two full days, on Thursday, May 13, 2021, and on Friday, May 14, 2021, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Videos of all the presentations from the event are available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCca6rlx3hiS0i9FEIZBl0Aw

An average of 18 participants per session explored the College’s full-range of vocational and technical programs including:

• Apparel Design and Merchandising (ADAM) was presented by ADAM Instructor Derek Piazza,
• Automotive Technology was presented by ATECH Facility Supervisor Candido Mejia and ATECH. Department Chair/Faculty Richard Greenspan
• Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) was presented by AMT Supervisor Esther Cheng and AMT students Caroline Viehmeyer and Matt Wyder
• Business and Entrepreneurship (BUS) was presented by BUS Department Chair and Instructor Rochelle Olive
• Dental Assisting (DENTL) was presented by DENTL Department Chair and Instructor Carla Pegues
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) was presented by Project Manager, Adult Education Transitions Liaison Kawanna Rollins
• Diesel Mechanics (DMECH), presented by DMECH Department Co-Chairs and Professors Blair Norton and John Taylor
• FabLab was presented by our FabLab Technicians Miguel Vega and Vince Stevenson
• Equal Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) was presented by Project Manager
• EOPS/CARE/NextUp/CalWORKs Lydell Willis, and
• Financial Aid information was presented by Financial Aid Officer Jackie Vo.

CoA's AMT Program Is On Schedule to Graduate 20 Students

Notwithstanding the recent pandemic restrictions, CoA Aviation Maintenance Department Chair Hoi Ko and AMT faculty were able to continue instruction this past year using a combination of in-person instruction (requiring appropriate social distancing and masks) and online classes with the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The AMT classes are normally taught in-person.

Ko recently wrote a letter to United States Flight Standards District Office Principal Maintenance Inspector Kenneth Greenwell thanking him for allowing the department to operate with a hybrid schedule during the pandemic.

"Dear Ken, Thank you for the support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in allowing CoA to continue with a hybrid schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, CoA AMT was able to have 35 students completing their A or P or A and P rating at the end of the Spring 2021 semester,” wrote Ko in the letter.

According to Ko, the AMT program also is on track to graduate 20 students by the end of summer 2021.

Puente Program Doubles Its Enrollment

CoA’s Puente Program’s enrollment has doubled since last year. Puente is now enrolling students for Cohort Two for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. Seventy new students have signed up for this Puente cohort compared to 35 students last term.

ACCESO Teams Up with Oakland Unified School District

CoA’s ACCESO Program has partnered with the Oakland Unified School District’s (OUSD) newcomer transition program to host a one-day bridge event this fall for “newcomer” students attending College of Alameda. (Newcomer students are defined as recent immigrants.

For more information about newcomer students click here: https://www.kqed.org/news/11797218/what-itll- take-to-help-newcomer-immigrant-students-in-oakland)

CoA Holds Its First Annual Family Night for High School Students

Graduating high school seniors and their families from Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) and Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) attended CoA’s First Annual Family Night on April 22, 2021. The inaugural event was well-attended by prospective students and their families from both school districts. Vice President of Student Services Dr. Tina Vasconcellos and her associates kicked off the event with a virtual student orientation followed by an in-depth question and answer session. Dr. Vasconcellos presented a range of information about the benefits of and challenges to attending college, including strategies on how to overcome language, economic, social, and cultural obstacles in order to be a successful student.

After the orientation, a series of speakers highlighted specific programs and services, including Dean of Enrollment Services Dr. Amy Lee, who walked participants through the financial aid application process and also introduced them to the California Dream (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, which extends state funded financial aid benefits to qualifying undocumented students.

Attendees also had an opportunity to choose from three breakout sessions that included presentations by representatives from various College programs, including Adelante con Comunidad, Excelencia, Sabiduría y Oportunidad (ACCESO),Puente, Umoja, Student Accessibility Services (SAS), Equal Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS), Career Technical Education Programs, Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA), Veteran’s Resource Center (VRC),and the Career and Employment Center.

The final presentation of the evening was by College Promise and School Transition Counselor Cynthia Haro. Counselor Haro discussed the benefits of and eligibility requirements for the College of Alameda Promise Program, which offers specialized services and programming for both the Peralta (Oakland) Promise and the Alameda Promise scholarships.

Strategic Enrollment Management Update – Spring Intersession Is in Full Swing!

CoA’s popular Spring Intersession classes started on June 1, 2021, and continue for four weeks ending June 25, 2021. Intersession courses offer students the opportunity to earn full-term credit for classes that meet the requirements for transfer to the California State University (CSU) or the University of California (UC) in just four weeks. Thirty classes were offered this spring with an average enrollment of about 23 students per class.

EOPS and ACCESO Programs Host Free ZUMBA Sessions for Students

CoA’s EOPS and ACCESO are hosting Free Zumba Dance Workout Sessions for students on Tuesdays (women only) and Fridays (everyone welcome), from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring Zumba Coach Beatriz Vela. Registration is in advance by clicking: Zoom Registration link.

This article is taken from the President’s Report, written by Dr. Nathaniel Jones III, College of Alameda President, that was presented to the PCCD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.