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Susan Horton:
Re-build your life as a WVC Re-entry Student
With a worsening economy and rising unemployment in Santa Clara County you or a family member may have lost the security ...
Freba: ET Priority Registration
April 18 is the priority registration date for all current ET students...
Freba: counseling class
If time management, study skills, managing your career and life is what you need, then register...
Important Dates to Remember
WVC Dates ...
Tricia Chambers: Born Again Student
After taking the longest spring break on record, I’m finally returning to college...
New Peer Advisors to Assist you
The definition of a peer advisor: colleague, friend, and fellow student who can guide, mentor, and advocate for you. If you need help in general, such as homework or finding your way around campus, come see ....
Helen: Recomendation Letters
Following the succeeding guidelines can optimize any student's chance of obtaining a great letter of recommendation...
Helen: Counseling Class
You can complete a 3-Units CSU transferable course in less than 4 weeks
...
Geneva: Are You Looking for a Job?
Focus your job search on specific industries, titles, and job responsibilities...
Scholarship News
AAUW Los Gatos – Saratoga Branch
$500 to $1,000...
Global Education
"Global education" is a term used to describe learning and teaching about international and intercultural issues...
Teacher of the Year Award
Is
there a faculty member who has made a special difference
in your life as a reentry student?...
Women's History Month:
Celebrating Women's Tea Event.
As in past years, we will acknowledge and honor campus and community women...
Health Services Special Events:
Special events sposored by Health Services...
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Susan
Horton ,
ET Program Coordinator
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Re-build your life as a WVC Re-entry Student
Please share the article below with friends or family members who may want to return to education.
With a declining economy and rising unemployment in Santa Clara County you or a family member may have lost the security of having a job and a steady paycheck. Following a layoff, your first reaction may be confusion and uncertainty as you face an unknowable future. You may have reached an unsettling turning point, searching for new opportunities to rebuild your life. When jobs were plentiful returning to college may have been a pleasant dream but an impractical reality. Now with an unstable economy, turning to education may give you the key that will lead to a more rewarding and secure future.
In Educational Transition (ET) both continuing and new students inform us that they have recently lost employment. Students tell us about their fears in handling a sudden loss of income and change in occupational identity. Others say they have been unemployed for a long time or they are working in minimum or low-wage jobs simply to survive and/or to support their families. If you are trying to manage with a low or non-existent income, higher education can prepare you for satisfying and profitable careers that will enable you and your family to escape the stress of financial hardship. West Valley college offers lifelong learning opportunties for adults like you who are standing at the crossroads, needing to change directions in their lives.
ET staff members welcome the opportunity to meet with you and explore various educational/career paths for your future. Please schedule a counseling appointment by calling 741-2022 to receive assistance with academic, career or personal concerns. We can also help you to identify and access campus and community resources including financial aid, book loans, college/community scholarships, and transportation assistance (e.g. bus passes, gascards). Accessing resources may help you to survive while pursuing your education. With West Valley’s numerous career and transfer preparation programs, counselors will assist you in choosing a major that will fully express the best of your interests and talents in your future work life. Counselors can also support you through serious life transisitions such as divorce, loss of spouse, leaving an abusive relationship, substance abuse recovery, child custody disputes and single parenthood. Additionally, ET offers a wide range of support services for ESL students and those who need to take basic skills classes to prepare for college level courses.
Whether your goals include pursuing a certificate, an associate degree, transfer to a 4-year college/university, learning skills for employment or taking courses for personal enrichment, ET’s mission is to offer you support, encouragement and guidance. All of us who work in ET are committed to serving you and lifting barriers that will help you to achieve and persevere on your educational path. Please contact us and we will provide the support you need to have a successful experience at West Valley College. Call (408) 741-2022 or drop into the ET Office, Learning Services (LS) Building 17.
by
Susan Horton
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Freba Cognetta ,
ET Counselor
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It's That Time Again
I hope you are having a great and successful semester. Please remember to schedule an appointment with your counselor to discuss either your current classes or your next semester class selections. Re-entry counseling services are designed to meet the needs of adult students. Re-entry counselors can help you to address barriers and access resources to stay in college and complete your goals. To schedule an appointment, please call our front desk at 408-741-2022.
Our office hours are Monday, Wed. and Thursday from 8:30 - 4:30 pm on Tuesdays from 8:00am - 7:00 pm and Fridays from 8:30 - 12:00 pm.
Important Dates to Remember:
March 8 was the deadlilne for petition for graduation (if you missed the deadline, please see your counselor).
Priority Registration Date for ET Students:
April 18 is the priority registration date for all current ET students. A preliminary copy of the summer session and fall semester schedule will be available in the ET Office. Remember to ask your counselor if you have an updated educational plan on file with the office in order to qualify for priority registration.
April 25 is the last day to drop a class with a W
May 19-24 Final exams are scheduled.
May 8 is the ET End of the Year Graduation/Recognition Ceremony 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm in the WVC Board Room
May 23 College-wide Graduation ceremony
by
Freba Cognetta
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Do You Need Help Managing Your Time?
If time management, study skills, managing your career and life is what you need, then register for Counseling 5, College Success, during the summer.
This highly interactive class will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Class begins June 16 through July 24,
10:30 to 12:30, Monday-Thursday.
Sign up for section 68679 NOW
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Jennifer at Your Service.
Do You Need a Friend?
Come visit Jennifer, our new Peer Advisor in The Education Transition Office. She is available for both morning and afternoon hours everyday of the week except for Tuesdays, Jennifer would like to tell you a little about herself and the services she is so honored to provide for you:
Hello Everyone, my name is Jennifer and I am a new addition to the Educational Transition/Adult Re-entry family. This is my second semester at West Valley College ( not counting the Winter Session), and I have a cumulative 3.8 G.P.A. I am an extremely dedicated, full-time student and thrive on helping others. As a peer advisor, I am available to help with homework, to introduce you to any of the programs here on campus, and of course to be a listening ear when life gets tough. Being a single parent and full time student, I truly empathize with the day to day hardships that parents endure as well as the stresses of grueling class work. As a re-entry student, I understand our need to rely on one another for help, advice, and moral support. Without the help and support from others, including our peers, the excitement of the college experience can easily be reduced to sleepless nights, stressful days, and poor grades. Please allow me to help you whenever and with whatever you may need. I am happiest when I am helping others so your inquiries are most welcome. Thank you for your dedication to your education and best wishes for a successful and fulfilling Spring semester.
--Jennifer
Jennifer Savage
Ask Shahin!
Shahin, a new ET peer advisor, is at your service from Monday through Thursday from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Shahin is familiar with all West Valley College Student Services. He knows the shortest way to get to all classrooms, and he knows how to fill out WVC applications. Most importantly, he is bicultural, bilingual and knows the many needs of students in Iranian/American culture. Who is Shahin?
I am a second semester student at West Valley College. I was born in Iran and immigrated to the U. S. five years ago. Somehow, I found my way to the ET office. I enjoyed staying in their lounge, enjoying their coffee and other goodies, and answering questions for new students about “how to get there from here.” By taking students around the campus and answering their questions, I became a “champion” in finding any service in the shortest possible time. I also enjoy answering simple homework questions in many subjects. I feel that I have all the answers and I am honored to be working at ET as a peer advisor. Please come and let me be at your service. I am looking forward to meeting and knowing all of you. Have a super spring semester.
Shahin, Asgari
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Helen
Khalouyan ,
ET Counselor
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Careers & Life-Styles
You
can complete a 3-Units CSU transferable course in
less than 4 weeks.
Counseling 12 – section 68702,
Careers and Life-Styles,
June 30th to July
24th from 10:30 to 1:40,
M-Th. Please don’t
hesitate to call the instructor,
Re-entry Counselor, Helen Pivk @ 741-2471 should you have any questions.
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Requesting Letters of Recomendation
Even though grade point average, study habits, and leadership skills are important when applying for a scholarship, in competitive cases, letters of recommendation can greatly improve your chances to win an award. The following guidelines can optimize your chances of obtaining a great letter of recommendation from your instructor, counselor or administrator.
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Choose a writer who knows you very well, so s/he can give specific examples of your qualifications.
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Write a brief description of the scholarship, honor, or any other necessary information that might help the writer.
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Provide the writer with a brief description about yourself, your background, your experiences and your current life situation.
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Remind the writer of specific details you want emphasized in the letter.
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Include your contact information in case the writer needs more information.
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Provide the writer with current transcripts and any other documents.
And most importantly, give the writer plenty of time, at least 2 to 3 weeks, so s/he doesn't feel rushed. Preferably, make an appointment to meet with the faculty member and personally request a letter of recommendation and share your information. Please remember that writers must have your information (in plenty of time) to write anything substantive about you. If you wait to request a letter until the last few days before the deadline, your recommendation could be very brief and lacking in depth. Do not be shy about asking for a recommendation, because faculty members want to help you.
Due to the high volume of recommendation requests in ET, we will set a date next year, about 7 dates before the Financial Aid deadline, for turning in your applications and information to your counselors. Following these guidelines will allow you to check back with your recommendation writer in a few days before the deadline. Good Luck!
by Helen Khalouyan
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Geneva
Leighton ,
ET Counselor
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Are You Looking for a Job?
Career Fair at West Valley College
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
10:00 am to 2:00 pm (Campus Center)
Prepare for the Job Fair:
April 15, 2008
Resume review
4:00-6:00 pm (AAS 35)
How To Make A Career Fair Work for you (Advice from a Human Resource professional)
6:30 – 7:30 pm (Baltic Room).
Five Winning Job Search Strategies!
Develop your Marketable Skills:
Who am I?
Communicating your unique strengths sets you apart from your competition!
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Assess your background, accomplishments, and skills.
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Know your strengths that motivate you.
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Describe how your strengths would benefit a new employer.
Explore the Environment: Where do I want to work?
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Brainstorm options and identify high growth jobs.
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Match jobs that fit your values, interests, personality, and skills.
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Determine your specific needs such as size of company, location, & salary.
Design an Effective Resume: How do I present my skills?
A winning resume gets you to the interview.
Build your Network: Who can help me with my job search?
Did you know that 80% of jobs are obtained through networking!
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Tap your existing network and gain support from your circle of friends, neighbors, professional associations, clubs, and former co-workers.
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Expand your network to include: job fairs, college career centers, job banks, informational interviewing, and employment agencies.
Set Realistic Job Goals: How do I get the job I want?
Set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-oriented.
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Focus your job search on specific industries, titles, and job responsibilities.
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Research potential companies.
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Establish a monthly, weekly, daily timetable.
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Prepare and practice for the interview!
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Create a positive attitude!
Contact your ET Counselor about helping you focus on a job and then visit, Amy Brumgard, Career Advisor, about your specific job search. 741-2508
by
Geneva Leighton - Et Counselor
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Born Again Student
After taking the longest spring break on record, I’m finally returning to college. But then marriage, children and divorce court really do keep a person busy. I always loved motherhood, but between the diaper changes and doctor visits, I couldn’t tamp down regrets of quitting school.
Ah, the innocence of youth! Three decades ago, I traipsed across campus on top of the world. I had the perfect Wine and Roses lipstick, four-inch Candies platforms and a hot boyfriend. But when financial and romantic troubles hit, all I could do was run and hide.
The thought of returning to school or accepting a big challenge was absolutely terrifying. I knew from helping my kids with homework that a new morning had broken on the horizon of education. Blackboards were now white boards and formalities like titles of respect were old-fashioned.
“Yo, Dave! How’s it going?” would never sound right to my ear as a way to address a professor.
I often forget my car keys, but I’ll never forget the day I became a born again student. Why couldn’t my three-sizes too-large jog suit fill with air and take me someplace where the pace was slower? Like a secluded rest home.
Trudging up a path while trying to ignore the young people running by wasn‘t easy. That stabbing pain that ran the length of my shin and settled in the hard skin of a bunion, didn‘t help either. I prayed that everybody was too busy “chilling” with their life to notice that mine was sputtering out. But how could they not notice? My breathing was as labored as a two-ton elephant on a rampage!
When I finally reached the class, a hand resembling my Mother’s came from inside my pocket and pulled the door open. Of course, the only empty seat had to be across the room. I shimmied into it and flinched every time it let out a squeak.
What was I thinking? And where did I get the nerve? I expected Dr. Phil to burst in and administer a sanity test.
Single, unemployed 40-something year-old Moms have a better chance to win the lotto than get a college degree.
I snapped back to reality when a small, smooth hand from the right slaps my desk and releases scrap of paper with a phone number. From the left, another hand slaps down another phone number.
And for once I’m speechless. Nobody told me that graying hair was code for, “I'm cool and go to all the best parties!“
In addition to a new respect for the teaching profession, my attitude about the strangers I hid from, got a complete makeover. Most importantly, I began to accept my limitations.
I’ll always be grateful for the supportive faculty members. One school administrator, a former single Mom, offers a hug and says it’s okay to be me. When I need help getting books, she does what she can.
Surprise! Surprise! My classmates don’t consider me a freak. I’ve actually giggled during lectures with students three years older than my daughter. These kids include me in conversations.
Today I’m more than a Mom who nags about chores or a daughter too busy to make a phone call. I’m part of a group working to improve their lives.
Clearing cobwebs from my brain to get into the study groove was not a pretty site. But the “new” me who limps along, is a much better student than the “old” me who flitted around in bellbottoms.
My future is again full of possibilities - even if I am forced to keep a slower pace.
On bad days when I question my decision, it helps to remember the saying: “There is no destination, the journey is the thing.”
by
Tricia Chambers, Re-entry Student
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Global Education
"Global education" is a term used to describe learning and teaching about international and intercultural issues. "International education" usually refers to places and people outside of the United States, but also focuses on the relationships that link the U.S. and others across the world. “Intercultural education” (which is also called "multicultural"), addresses the rich diversity of cultures within the United States. Together, international and intercultural education are considered "global" education.
Many faculty members, staff and administrators at West Valley College feel strongly that all of their colleagues, students and members of the campus community need to consistently learn about their neighbors near and far.
It's one sure way to help prepare students to leave WVC ready to function effectively in a global environment. Global (sometimes called inter-cultural) competency is accomplished when a learner understands that people and systems are interconnected; when a learner grasps a general knowledge of history and world events; when a learner comprehends cultural values and attitudes that are different; and when the learner understands and appreciates the richness and benefits of diversity inside of the United States and elsewhere in the world.
In order to meet that aim, a group of faculty, staff and administrators sat to plan and dedicate a space, now known as the Center for Global Education, in the Student Center. The Center's mission statement is as follows:
The Center for Global Education promotes awareness by functioning as a resource where students, faculty, staff, administrators and the surrounding community find information and participate in diverse multi-cultural activities supports the processes by which students learn about interdependence in our world and prepare for successful integration into varied societies helps to implement the Student Equity Plan, to address issues of recruitment, retention, persistence and success, and facilitates needed conversations about diversity within the United States.
Everyone is cordially invited to attend the scheduled activities and lectures, to use the resources the Center offers and to participate in the growth and development of the Center for Global Education. For further information contact any of the Center for Global Education committee members:
Michelle Donohue
Janine Gerzanics
Vicky Kalivitis
Cynthia Napoli-Abella Reiss
Celine Pinet
Lance Shoemaker
Dulce Maria Gray, Ph.D.
Department of English
West Valley College
Saratoga, California
408-741-2577
dulce_gray@westvalley.edu
http://instruct.westvalley.edu/gray
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Women's History Month -
Celebrating Women's Tea Event
Thursday, March 27, 2008
3:30pm to 5:00pm
WVC Campus Center - Baltic Room
WEST VALLEY COLLEGE
Phenomenal Women Recognition Form
Dessert & Tea Ceremony Scheduled
Sponsored by Office of Student Activities
Once again, the West Valley College is culminating Women's History Month activities with a tea celebration at the end of March. As in past years, we will acknowledge and honor campus and community women, as part of International Women's Month, who have contributed toward creating a more equitable society, promoted peace, and worked towards advancing women's issues within higher education.
We invite nominations (from both men and women), of one or more phenomenal Women and your reason for nomination. All nominees will be honored at the tea event. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of the many women in our community who do wonderful work and are models and inspirations for us all, and who often go unacknowledged.
Please complete the Recognition Form on the bottom of this sheet and return it electronically to yalem_lakew@westvalley.edu in the Office of Student Activities.
TO ENSURE INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAM AND RECOGNITION AT THE EVENT,
ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE TURNED IN BY FRIDAY, MARCH 21st.
Phenomenal Women Nomination Form
Name of Nominee:___________________
Contact Information: _________________
(E-mail address)
Your Name: _____________________________
Contact Information: _________________
Reason for nomination: _______________
__________________________________
__________________________________
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Sincerely,
ET (Educational Transition / Adult Re-entry) Staff
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