Fairfield, CA, December 4, 2013: Solano Community College (SCC) Governing Board approved with full support the College’s request to submit a letter of interest to the State Bar of California to be considered one of 20 community colleges to participate in an innovative diversity outreach initiative: Community College Pathway to Law School. Participation in this initiative will provide eligible SCC students interested in law with an opportunity to be granted guaranteed admission or given priority enrollment to a minimum of four top accredited law schools in California.
The Community College Pathway to Law School program would provide a clear pathway from community college to law school. Support for the students, including mentoring and pre-law counseling, will be included in order to provide students with the best possible chance for success. The initiative requires the completion of courses that are based on a defined set of success factors that help make effective lawyers.
“Participation in this initiative is a phenomenal opportunity for the College. Our students interested in law will be afforded a chance to receive high priority into top law schools in California — we are essentially embarking on a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG) with law schools,” commented Dr. Jowel Laguerre, SCC Superintendent-President.
Presently, the State of California is a majority-minority state with approximately 60 percent of its population made up of persons from racial-ethnic minority groups, however, the California State Bar is made up of approximately 20 percent racial-ethnic minority lawyers. Diversity in the legal and judicial system is a priority for public trust and confidence.
For additional information, please contact Professor Joel Powell at joel.powell@solano.edu or 707.864.7000, ext. 4303.
A New High School Concept in the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District
Fairfield, CA, November 21, 2013: At last night’s Governing Board meeting, Solano Community College (SCC) and Fairfield Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) memorandum of understanding (MOU) was approved for the two Districts to move forward with their Early College High School (ECHS) partnership. ECHS is a program in which high school students from FSUSD will have curricula that allows them to complete high school and earn college credit simultaneously.
ECHS prepares high school students for successful educational futures through a full integration of high school, college, and careers. The program goal is to help students to improve their academic performances, develop self confidence, and increase high school and college/university completion rates. Both Districts pledge their commitment to establish the operation of an ECHS starting in the fall of 2014 at SCC’s Fairfield campus.
Currently, SCC and Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD) are in partnership for the same program at the College’s Vacaville Center. There are approximately 50 high school students enrolled that started the program in August of this year. Solano is not the first college in the area to embark on an Early College High School program, however. Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA, has had a long, successful run with their Early College High School program; it was founded in 1989 and is presently thriving with nearly 300 students enrolled. This program has earned the “Best High School in America” award a few times, in addition to other prestigious awards.
Solano and FSUSD’s ECHS program will be designed to prepare students for college success by providing them rigorous coursework and the opportunity to enroll in college classes beginning in the ninth grade. Qualifying students will take high school and degree-applicable college courses at SCC. In addition, some high school courses may be offered at the high school campus.
Dr. Jowel Laguerre, SCC Superintendent-President commented, “This is the culmination of a lot of work between the School District and the College. The program affords an opportunity for students and parents to access college curriculum at an early age, and may allow students to complete an Associate’s degree by 18 years of age and a Bachelor’s degree by 20. I want to thank the voters of Winters and Solano counties for making this ECHS program possible through the passage of Measure Q!”
For additional information regarding ECHS, please contact the Office of the Superintendent-President at 707.864.7112.
SCC Providing Employer Training for Businesses
Fairfield, CA, November 21, 2013: Solano Community College Governing Board approved the Solano Community College’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education (SCC-WDCE) corporate training program at Wednesday’s Governing Board meeting.
SCC-WDCE offers a wide range of educational services to local businesses and organizations. The program offers semester-long credit courses that lead to a certificate or degree and customized, short, on-site, non-credit training classes (both live and online). In addition, SCC-WDCE has the capability to provide academic testing and advisement along with employee assessment and interest surveys to determine the needs of individual employees. The WDCE conducts management and employee focus groups to determine the productivity, improvement training and/or worker engagement programs needed.
“WDCE gives the business community a one-step contact with the College for all their training and education needs. WDCE combines a powerful source of trainers worldwide and locally. This corporate training program represents a great effort on the part of SCC to respond to the training needs of the community,” stated SCC Superintendent-President, Dr. Jowel Laguerre.
Thom Watkins, WDCE Coordinator, shared, “I truly believe in the vision the College Board and President has for this organization. This program will benefit the College in many ways; in the long term, it will not only be self-supporting, but should provide supplemental funding to the College, as well as could open many opportunities for the faculty. Classes will be customized by WDCE, but could also come from SCC’s regular curriculum. I am truly excited to be a part of this venture!”
For additional information regarding SCC-WDCE, please contact Mr. Thom Watkins at 707.864.7168.
First Female Superintendent in Solano County Schools Honored
Fairfield, CA, November 20, 2013: Solano Community College District honored Dee Alarcon at tonight’s Governing Board meeting for her service as the President of the Solano Community College Educational Foundation. Ms. Alarcon served in higher education for forty-two years, having taught at the university level, and worked as a teacher, principal, and administrator in half of Solano County’s six school districts. In addition, Ms. Alarcon served as the first female Superintendent of Schools in Solano County in its 161 year history.
Dee Alarcon stated, “It was a pleasure to serve as President of the SCC Foundation board for the past three years. We were able to work together with Dr. Laguerre, and the SCC Governing board to support and enhance the mission of the College. It is reassuring to know our Executive Director, Curt Johnston and our SCC Foundation Board will continue these efforts for many years to come.”
“Dee Alarcon has been a phenomenal leader and advocate for all. Her experience and involvement throughout the community brought leadership and insight to the College Foundation,” shared Dr. Jowel Laguerre, SCC Superintendent-President. “On behalf of the Governing Board and myself, we wish Dee all the best and sincerely appreciate her service to Solano Community College and its Foundation!”
“It was a pleasure working with Dee. Through her leadership and support, the Foundation has hit the ground running this past year. We’ve added Board members and implemented new programs to support the College. She has really left her mark on this organization for years to come. I’m proud to have served with her,” added Curt Johnston, SCC Foundation Executive Director.
For more information about the SCC Educational Foundation, please contact the office at 707.864.7000, ext. 4596.
FAIRFIELD, CA, OCTOBER 15, 2013:
Solano Community College (SCC) will proudly host this year’s Solano County Math Steeplechase, a county-wide math competition for high school students presented by the Math Educators of Solano County (MESC.) This is the second year SCC will host the Steeplechase. The advantages of the College hosting the event include: increased awareness to high school students of the local College opportunities and collaboration between the high school and College math instructors. The competition will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2013, from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
The purpose of the Steeplechase is to promote problem solving and an enjoyment of math. Teams of four students compete in a problem solving course of twelve stations, solving challenging problems in a collaborative effort. Currently, Dixon, Vacaville, Fairfield, Armijo, Will C. Wood, and Buckingham Charter High Schools are confirmed to participate in this year’s competition. All Steeplechase participants will receive a patch and trophies will be awarded to the top three teams in both junior varsity and varsity divisions.
For additional information about the Math Steeplechase competition, please contact Genele Rhoads, at genele.rhoads@solano.edu or 707.864.7000, ext. 4365.
FAIRFIELD CAMPUS