Employees

Cerro Coso Community College is hosting a parent night on Tuesday, May 12 at from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. 

If you are the parent of a junior or senior in high school, find out how your student can get a head start in earning college credits before they leave high school, ultimately making their college experience more affordable, efficient, and enriching.

Cerro Coso Community College offers dual and concurrent enrollment programs for high school students throughout its service area.   

Find out more about both programs, processes, and how it can benefit your high school student’s future.

Parents are being asked to pre-register for the Zoom meeting at https://cccconfer.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrf-iuqTgiHdAm7QQ1P3gbzGrQuIiwdseB

For more information contact the College Outreach Office at 760-384-6219 or email outreach@cerrocoso.edu .

Cerro Coso is now registering for summer and fall classes.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso student Patrick Larmour is one of twenty-six Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) members to have his writing published in the 2019 issue of PTK’s online literary journal, Nota Bene.

Nota Bene, Latin for "note well," is Phi Theta Kappa's honors anthology. It recognizes outstanding writing of Phi Theta Kappa members and demonstrates to the literary public the academic excellence and commitment to scholarship found at colleges. The first issue of Nota Bene was published in 1994. More than 550 entries were submitted to the 2019 competition, that was judged by current and retired college faculty and staff from across the country. The digital issue is available at ptk.org.

As a student in Cerro Coso’s Incarcerated Student Education Program, Larmour’s writing entitled "Catalyst: How College is Changing the Culture Inside Prison," is a testimony to the changes he has witnessed in prison culture since the college began offering classes. He explains, "where 'doing time' once meant gambling and getting high to avoid boredom, it now means hurrying to class, meeting with study groups, flipping through textbooks, or cramming for a midterm. For those of us enrolled in college, idle time is a thing of the past. We’re simply too busy to waste time with prison politics or petty arguments."

His story is not unique. Imprisoned for half of his life, many inmates like Larmour simply languish in prison, lacking quality services such as education, employment training, and drug treatment. Most are released to their communities without transitional support to acquire jobs, housing, health care and education

Recidivism studies have demonstrated repeatedly, that those who receive a college education while in prison fare better when they rejoin society than those who do not. They are less likely to re-offend, more likely to find employment, and to become active and productive members of their communities..

Higher education in prison is an investment in public safety. It enables those who have been incarcerated to rejoin society as responsible neighbors and productive co-workers.

"I wish to say thank you—on behalf of the incarcerated members of Phi Theta Kappa—to the educators, the policy makers, as well as to the taxpayers who made these college programs available. You have given us a chance to return to society as better people with brighter futures, and we plan to repay you by being better sons, better fathers, better husbands, and better neighbors," Larmour concluded in his writing.

Higher education can open minds, and in prison, it can change lives.

A full copy of Larmour’s writing is available at ptk.org.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 250,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso has been teaching classes remotely for over 23 years, in fact one of the first in the state to offer an entire degree online.  But, not everyone from the college was prepared for the sudden transition to a fully remote workforce due to the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus.

The work of the college has not come to an end as departments and programs seek to engage with students face to face, but from a distance.  Registration for the Summer and Fall semesters begins April 14, 2020.  Class schedules are now available online at www.cerrocoso.edu.

A virtual Open House with a number of sessions has been scheduled week of April 20^th that will include counseling, financial aid, Access Programs, Career Center, admissions, Promise, athletics and more.  A complete list of upcoming Zoom sessions is available on the college website at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/event/virtual-open-house

Connect with admissions staff and students to learn more about academic opportunities, applying to Cerro Coso, and campus life.

No special equipment is necessary to attend, all that is needed is a computer, tablet, smartphone, or telephone.

Cerro Coso Community College is your local community college.  Offering associate degrees, associate degrees for transfer, job skills certificates, and workforce training. Cerro Coso offers something for everyone.  Call a counselor today at 760-384-6219.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso is offering a virtual Application Workshop via Zoom on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at 11am.

A step by step process of how to apply at Cerro Coso Community College, an Admissions and Records Technician will be available to answer questions and provide guidance. 

Interested individuals are encouraged to register for the workshop at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/event/application-workshop-zoom

Cerro Coso is utilizing Zoom and other video conferencing platforms to communicate and host classes, webinars, and meetings face to face in virtual forums.  The college has been utilizing Zoom and distance education and communication platforms for years to meet the needs of its widely separated service area, but the recent Coronavirus outbreak has taken it to a whole new level of interaction.  “We will miss interacting one on one with students and the community,” said Outreach Director Katie Bachman.  “But we will continue to reach out and meet their needs from a distance, and we get to interact face to face.”

For more information on the Application Workshop contact Outreach Director Katie Bachman at 760-384-6150.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Zoom is a great tool, which is allowing us to have remote videoconference meetings and virtual classes.  Many of us are starting to use Zoom extensively, so it is important to be aware of a new annoyance that has started called Zoom Bombing.   Because of the design and defaults set when creating a Zoom meeting, it allows anyone that has the Zoom meeting ID to join the Zoom session.  There are some not so pleasant individuals who are searching the internet for Zoom meeting IDs and then joining those Zoom meeting sessions as an uninvited guest.  These individuals then disrupt the Zoom meeting session with annoyances and in some cases are screen sharing inappropriate images or videos, in effect Zoom Bombing the Zoom session. 

 

The links below are short articles on the types of mayhem these individuals have caused. They also offer tips on how you can set up the Zoom meeting session to help prevent these individuals from joining the session.   

https://threatpost.com/as-zoom-booms-incidents-of-zoombombing-become-a-growing-nuisance/154187/ 

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/stop-zoom-bombing 

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/03/25/zoom-bombing-usc-conejo-valley-unified-school-district/ 

 

One of the first things I would recommend is that when you create a Zoom meeting, have the Meeting ID generated automatically for each meeting, instead of always using your same Personal Meeting ID.  This way, if your Personal Meeting ID is compromised, not all of your Zoom meetings will be open to someone using that ID.   

 

Also, when setting up the meeting, consider requiring a meeting password and unchecking the “Enable join before host” option and checking the “Enable waiting room” feature.  For more information on how to setup a Zoom meeting and the different options available, visit the Zoom support website at this link: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362603-What-Are-the-Host-Controls-. 

 

Taking some precautionary measures when creating a Zoom meeting session may help reduce the chances of your Zoom meeting session becoming a victim of a Zoom Bombing. 

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

The last day to drop classes has been extended to April 9th for all students.This is in response to the current health crisis and the unexpected transition of many on-ground classes to remote delivery.

We have extended this deadline to allow you to make this transition and for us to assist you with resources to support you. Please take this time to discuss your resource needs and educational goals and plans with your advisors/counselors and to discuss any Financial Aid implication with the Financial Aid Office. Please go to https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/counseling to set up an appointment with an advisor at your campus.Please call 760-384-6221 or e-mail cc_faid@cerrocoso.edu to talk to a financial aid representative.

[More Updates]

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

As many of you have heard, COVID-19 is now present in the Indian Wells Valley. Last night, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital had a test returned positive, according to a blog post today. The “when” (not the “if”) has happened to Ridgecrest, which now joins Bishop and Mammoth as Cerro Coso Community College communities with confirmed cases. In context of that, this week saw 3.3 million unemployment claims filed nation-wide, the most in history.

Some updates:

• The last day to drop classes has been extended to April 9^th for all students. The extension was implemented for all students in light of the transition of some face-to-face classes and for the college to assist them with resources. Although a CC Information has gone out, please take the time to reassure your students that they have time to assess how they are doing in your class and can make a decision unpressured by an impending deadline. Also inform them they can discuss resource needs and educational goals and plans with advisors/counselors and discuss any Financial Aid implications with the Financial Aid Office.
• Even after April 9^th, students will still be able to drop classes through Admissions and Records. Refer students to the counseling department who have any questions about dropping or the implications of dropping.
• The last day for you to drop students has also been extended to April 9^th. Because we have passed the 60% date, it is not required that you drop students who are no longer actively participating, but please consider doing so in these crazy times when it may be hard to judge why a student suddenly silent. A drop will save a student from a sub-standard grade on the transcript and may be the difference between him or her eventually continuing or dropping out.
• Face-to-face instructors: did all your students make it through the transition? If you think you lost someone, submit an Early Alert through Navigate. Filing an Early Alert will ensure that a counselor follows up directly with the student to see if he or she needs any help or can be supported with any resources.
• If your class is in paused mode—or even if it’s not—know that we are expecting guidance from the Chancellor’s Office in the next few days on grades, grading policies, and extension of the semester. As soon as we know something, you will know it.
• The Cerro Coso library has created super helpful guides for students and faculty about the coronavirus, navigating information about it, and how to keep yourself safe and sane. Check it out at the Library Resources for Social Distancers page.
• The open computer labs are now closed for good at all campuses except KRV/Lake Isabella, where it will continue for one more week (March 30-April 3). The needs-assessment survey that went out to students this week indicated a variety of technology needs, but not anything that couldn’t be addressed by a laptop-loan program. The college is in contact with these students already, but if a student communicates to you that they are in need of a laptop to finish this semester’s classes, refer them to this request form. Student services will take it from there and reach out to the student.
• The student survey this week identified a broad range of needs students are communicating, everything from toiletries to help with mental health issues. While it has always been important to encourage students who are encountering life challenges to contact student services, it is especially important to do so now.

Thanks. Ask questions if you have them.

Corey Marvin

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

The last day to drop classes has been extended to April 9^th for all students.This is in response to the current health crisis and the unexpected transition of many on-ground classes to remote delivery.

We have extended this deadline to allow you to make this transition and for us to assist you with resources to support you. Please take this time to discuss your resource needs and educational goals and plans with your advisors/counselors and to discuss any Financial Aid implication with the Financial Aid Office. Please go to https://www.cerrocoso.edu/studentservices/counseling to set up an appointment with an advisor at your campus.Please call 760-384-6221 or e-mail cc_faid@cerrocoso.edu to talk to a financial aid representative.

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Cerro Coso Community College is much like the rest of the country’s educational institutions, when it comes to the next steps and decisions for its campuses in regards to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Within the past two weeks alone, the college has been reminded (many times) that nothing is certain and that planning for uncertainty is not easy. “It is a challenge to balance preventive measures to avoid escalation and on the other preserving to the greatest extent possible the opportunity for students to complete classes, while maintaining critical learning and student support services,” said Heather Ostash, Vice President of Student Services.

Responding rapidly to the health threat associated with the Covid-19 outbreak, the college closely monitored the crisis, taking precautions, evaluating thresholds, developing contingencies, and staying vigilant to minimize future disruptions to instruction and student services.

Prior to the Governor's orders to shelter in place on March 19th, Cerro Coso had already suspended classes the week on March 16 – 20 to provide instructors time to shift their on-ground classes into a virtual format. Trainings for students, instructors, and staff were already being conducted via alternative delivery modes for both instruction and services.

As conditions for the Coronavirus continued to spread rapidly, classes at the college resumed on Monday, March 23 with almost all of its face-to-face classes transitioned into the online environment. Student services (counseling, advising, financial aid, admissions and records) and learning support services (library and learning assistance center) have also been moved over into remote delivery. The college is still maintaining face-to-face instruction in a very small number of courses that are abiding by the department of public health’s protocols for group gatherings and physical distancing. Instruction in the prisons was moved to a correspondence type delivery.

Proctoring has been cancelled for the semester, and a technology needs survey was conducted and the college is working to provide students with the technology they need to take their classes online.

Cerro Coso is now virtually open for students and the community utilizing a variety of formats to communicate including email, telephone, Zoom, Skype for business, and web forms. “It’s not ideal,” said Ostash, “but it’s necessary. It’s ‘business unusual’ for us all.”

“I’m very proud of how quickly our leadership team, faculty, staff, and students responded and made the transition,” said Cerro Coso President Jill Board. “Knowing that the situation is fluid for us all, we must remain flexible. Above all else, the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and communities will remain our top priority.”

View on the Cerro Coso College website.

Faculty Updates

Since last Thursday’s email, coronavirus conditions have continued to evolve rapidly. Confirmed cases in Bakersfield are now at 14 (all recovering at home, according to the Kern County Public Health Services Department). The college has seen its first cases inside the service area (two in Mammoth, one of whom has fully recovered, according to the Mono County Coronavirus Response website). The Chancellor’s Office has released new rules regarding withdrawals, student refunds, and how colleges are being funded. And then there was of course the Governor’s “stay at home” order, which was followed up on Saturday with fairly voluminous guidance about who is exempted under what circumstances.

Cerro Coso Community College now has almost all of its face-to-face classes transitioned into the online environment after a week of being closed. Classes resumed Monday. Student services (counseling, advising, financial aid, admissions and records) and learning support services (library and learning assistance center) have also been moved over into remote delivery. The college is still maintaining face-to-face instruction in a very small number of courses that are abiding by the department of public health’s protocols for group gatherings and physical distancing.

In addition, this week the college is providing open computer labs at all campuses for students without internet access or computers at home. A survey has gone out about student technology needs to see what else (or different) we could be doing. In the prisons, instruction has transitioned to a correspondence-type approach with faculty providing packets of materials for students to complete on a weekly basis.

Withdrawals

We are fast approaching the withdrawal date for full-term classes (Friday, March 27^th). Students are understandably nervous. The Chancellor’s Office has provided some guidance at the system-level. What has been proposed at our own Kern Community College District level is delaying the W date as a first step. We should have confirmation of that early tomorrow morning, and a notice will be sent out. What you can do for students is reassure them that a decision does not have to be made right now, that the college and the entire system understands the unprecedented nature of this event, and that more information will be forthcoming very soon. We will have the flexibility to support a non-punitive withdrawal at any point, so are scrambling for now to put in as many supports as possible to help students to be able to stay in classes.

Summer and Fall Scheduling

The advisement we are receiving from the Chancellor’s Office is to expect these coronavirus conditions to last through the summer. Our KCCD Chancellor, Tom Burke, has directed the three colleges to remain in telecommuting mode until at least June 30. For this reason, the consensus at the faculty chairs workgroup yesterday was to move ahead with a summer schedule that is entirely online. For the fall, since we may not be out of the woods even then, we agreed to keep the fall schedule as originally drafted but develop a Plan B for every face-to-face course on the schedule. The Office of Instruction is committed to providing resources, purchasing OER materials, arranging for training, and supporting professional development across the curriculum for those who need or want it. Look for more information from my office in the following weeks.

Coming to Campus

On the subject of coming to campus, please know that the college is largely closed to students and entirely closed to the community, but the buildings are not shut down (like they were at IWV for the earthquakes). So you are free to come onto campus. But we ask for disinfecting and emergency preparedness reasons that you please arrange it first with your dean (Chad Houck for letters and sciences, Maura Murabito for career technical education, Christine Small for counseling), and they will be in touch with the appropriate campus personnel so no one’s taken by surprise. If you are at a non-IWV site, please copy your site director (Deanna Campbell at Bishop and Mammoth, Lisa Stephens at Lake Isabella and Tehachapi). To the extent possible, we ask that you notify your dean 1-2 hours prior to your expected visit.

Zoom Q and A

Finally, we know many of you have questions about the college’s response, the guidance we are getting (or not getting) from the Chancellor’s Office, continuity of services, expected and possible timelines, and other topics—far more than I can anticipate in these emails. For that reason, the deans and I would like to offer two Q and A sessions specifically for faculty. We will start with an update where we are and then take what questions you have.

Wednesday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/315639049 

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll):  +16699006833,315639049#  or +13462487799,315639049#  

Or Telephone: 

   +1 669 900 6833 (US Toll) 
   +1 346 248 7799 (US Toll) 
   +1 646 876 9923 (US Toll) 
   +1 253 215 8782 (US Toll) 
   +1 301 715 8592 (US Toll) 
   +1 312 626 6799 (US Toll) 

    Meeting ID: 315 639 049 

    International numbers available: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/u/adpVDUtSQZ 

Thursday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/169534405 

Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll):  +16699006833,169534405#  or +13462487799,169534405#  

Or Telephone: 

  +1 669 900 6833 (US Toll) 
  +1 346 248 7799 (US Toll) 
  +1 646 876 9923 (US Toll) 
  +1 253 215 8782 (US Toll) 
  +1 301 715 8592 (US Toll) 
  +1 312 626 6799 (US Toll) 

    Meeting ID: 169 534 405 

    International numbers available: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/u/adpVDUtSQZ 

Thank you. As always, if you have any questions, please ask. And stay healthy.

Corey Marvin
Vice President of Instruction

Faculty Updates

View on the Cerro Coso College website.