“Pa’ashi (Tulare Lake) Past, Present and Future” is the subject of a five-session speaker series at College of the Sequoias lecture hall, 915. S. Mooney, beginning Thursday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.

The series, hosted by River Ridge Institute, features speakers who will present their knowledge and views of Tulare Lake (Pa’ashi in the Tachi Yokuts’ language). You’ll learn how the lake came to be over 10,000 years ago (once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River), the flood that brought it back to life in 2023, and opportunities we now face for the Tulare Lake basin.

This month’s speaker is Robert Hansen, retired COS biology and ecology teacher. After 55 years spent studying the ecosystems of Central California, Hansen enjoys every opportunity to share his passion about Tulare Lake and the Tulare Lake Basin when he leads field trips, teaches classes, writes articles and makes presentations about his favorite part of the world (what he likes to refer to by its historical name, the “Tulare Valley”.)

Before his COS career, Hansen served for nine years as biologist and wildlife preserve manager with The Nature Conservancy of California. During that time, he was land steward for seven major habitat types on nearly 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat at six wildlife preserves in the Tulare Lake Basin.

Other speakers in the series are:

Feb. 13 – Robert Jeff – Tachi Yokut Tribal vice chairman

Feb. 27 – Mark Arax – author of The King of California and The Dreamt Land

March 20 – Vivian Underhill – UC Santa Cruz ethnographer and feminist scholar

April 10 – Julie Rentner – River Partners president

Parking is free on campus for these lectures, Information: info@river-ridge.net

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“I am excited about the early support I have received so far across the district for my campaign to continue my passion for education and commitment to public service on the College of the Sequoias Board. As a college board trustee, I plan to support students who are seeking higher education opportunities with the resources they need to succeed and recognize and value the work of faculty and staff members who dedicate their careers to making a difference for them”, stated Diaz.

Connie was elected to serve on the Tulare City School Board in 2020, unseating a 24-year incumbent and re-elected in 2022.  As a city school board member, Connie has provided strong leadership in assuring teachers have the resources they need in the classroom, parents have an advocate on the board and led the effort to bring strong leadership in the superintendent’s office.

“I am proud of the work I have done on the Tulare City School District as a member of the board to bring important resources to students and their families.  I have worked to create more transparency, inclusiveness and trust in our children’s education.  I am proud of my effort to lead the effort to hire new leadership in the school district that will place a focus on student success.  I plan on bringing the same dedication and commitment to the College of the Sequoias board”, continued Diaz.

Diaz enters the race with a strong and growing list of supporters., including: Rudy Salas, Congressional District 22, Greg Ojeda, Council Member, City of Corcoran, Sid Palmerin, Council Member, City of Corcoran, Hipolito Cerros, Council Member, City of Lindsay, Rosaena Sanchez, Council Member, City of Lindsay, Dr. Perla Soria, Board Member, Lindsay Unified School District, Jevon Price, Board Member, Tulare Hospital District, Willard Epps, Board Member, Tulare City School District,  Jose Sigala, Council Member, City of Tulare, Dr. Randy Villegas, Board Member, Visalia Unified School District, Greg Gomez, Council Member, City of Farmersville. Her list also includes three of the campus labor organizations representing the classified staff, adjunct faculty and teachers at the College of the Sequoias.

Over the next few months, Connie will continue working hard to secure additional endorsements, which will include labor and community advocacy organizations, community and business leaders and additional elected officials.

“I appreciate the support I have received so far.  I look forward to running a strong campaign and meeting with voters door to door across the district.  I want to share my vision with as many of them as possible about the importance of providing a quality higher education to all students seeking to improve their lives”, concluded Diaz.

Connie Diaz has lived in Tulare County for over 30 years and attended local public schools graduating from Tulare Western High School.  She is also a graduate of the College of the Sequoias receiving her Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration.  She is the mother of three school aged children with one attending COS in the fall.

The College of the Sequoias Board Ward 4 includes the cities of Lindsay and Corcoran and portions of the City of Tulare as well as the unincorporated communities of Tipton, Pixley, Alpaugh, Allensworth, Waukena and Matheny Tract.  The election will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

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Located on the corners of Mooney Blvd. and Meadow Ave. in Visalia, the marketplace — previously a dance studio — underwent a remarkable three-year renovation, culminating in the creation of a small yet significant resource for COS students.

The mission behind The Giant Marketplace was clear and resounding: to alleviate the concern of students struggling to meet their basic needs and to provide a dignified location where they could access essential resources without feeling embarrassed.

During the inaugural ceremony, the COS President and Superintendent, Brent Calvin, spoke passionately about the profound importance of addressing students’ basic needs.

He painted a vivid picture of The Giant Marketplace as a place where Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, ranging from physiological and safety needs to social and esteem needs, were all catered for under one roof.

The Marketplace itself was designed with care to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. As visitors open the door, they are greeted by a soft chime, and soothing elevator music adds to the comforting ambiance.

Carolyn Franco, the Basic Needs Coordinator, enthusiastically referred to the Marketplace as “a one-stop shop for students’ basic needs.”

It goes beyond simply offering food; it encompasses clothing, mental health support, housing assistance, and access to financial aid services. The core belief driving this initiative is that by addressing these fundamental needs, students are better equipped to succeed academically.

A recent study from the Community College League of California shows that “two out of every three [California community college] students grapple with at least one basic need insecurity” and that “nearly half of [California community college] students are food insecure, almost 3 out of 5 are housing insecure, and about 1 in 4 are homeless.”

The benefits extend to all students, whether they are living paycheck to paycheck or simply in need of a bit of extra money to cover their educational essentials. At COS, some students are still in high school but are taking college classes, and the marketplace ensures they can focus on their studies without the burden of unmet basic needs.

The store’s offerings, while not extensive, are well curated to cover the essentials that ensure students feel energized and confident throughout their day. Fresh fruit, canned goods, cereal, and dairy products are among the food items available.

Moreover, the school’s commitment to its students goes even further, offering a generous 50% discount on food items within the cafeteria and food court next to the Kern building. This initiative has allowed students to feed themselves for less than $5 per day throughout the school week, making higher education more accessible to those who need it most.

The Giant Marketplace stands as a testament to the power of transformation and community support. With the backing of COS President Brent Calvin and the dedication of individuals like Carolyn Franco, the marketplace is more than a distribution center; it’s a symbol of hope, dignity, and the unwavering commitment to students’ well-being and academic success.

Registered students can contact the Giant Marketplace by telephone at 559-737-3710, by email at giantmarketplace@cos.edu, or by visiting the Giant Marketplace website at cos.edu/giantmarketplace

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Educational Support Services Building

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Tulare County Workforce Investment Board developed and convened the Tulare Kings Healthcare Partnership to address the nursing shortage. With the feedback from this employer collaborative, COS strategically worked to grow the RN program based on industry needs through a three-pronged approach over the last year: adding part-time, evening and weekend RN program; adding 40 new spots for students in the traditional program; adding 10 LVN to the RN students every fall and spring semester. COS has also developed an LVN to RN apprenticeship that will start in January 2024.

“The growth would not be possible without the cooperation with other agencies, their personnel and the fact that our faculty are terrific,” said Dr. Jonna Schengel, Dean of Nursing & Allied Health, CTE & Workforce Development at COS. “The COS RN Program has an excellent reputation and the hospitals want our students.”

Growing a registered nursing program creates new challenges for the college and clinical placement is a difficult piece of the puzzle, said Belen Kersten, Director of Nursing. Kersten, along with the Division Chair, Tina Toth and RN faculty diligently worked to secure additional clinical sites at Adventist Health Tulare, Adventist Health Hanford, Kaweah Health and Sierra View hospitals. These clinical placements were all additions to these sites and did not displace RN students from other programs, Kersten said.

Doubling a program’s capacity places strain on classroom availability. The Executive Director of California State University Fresno South Valley campus, Luz Gonzalez, graciously offered classrooms and office space to meet the growing workforce demand in healthcare. This also benefits CSU Fresno, as the college offers a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing option to the RN graduates in the area.

“COS is thankful to have strong partnerships not only with our local healthcare employers, but also with CSU Fresno; both provide multiple education and career options for our graduates within the industry,” said Schengel.

Grant monies from Nursing Growth and Strong Workforce have supported this growth with new faculty, a nursing counselor, outreach, student support and student success programs. Support is provided to pre-nursing students with Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) preparation workshops, while funding sessions for first-time test takers. The grants also support students with a state-of-the-art simulation lab and fully stocked skills labs for hands-on training. Through conferences, trainings and webinars, faculty are encouraged to gain training in the latest practices and technology within nursing through this funding.

COS welcomed all 110 new RN students to the Visalia campus this week to begin their journey into a high-wage, high-demand career within nursing, said Schengel.

For more information about the Registered Nursing program at COS, contact the Director of Nursing & Allied Health, Belen Kersten (559) 730-3794,mailto: belenk@cos.edu, COS.EDU/Nursing.

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Discussions became more serious during the pandemic, prompting a request to improve the track and field.

COS soccer and football events have historically been held at Riverway Sports Park or Mineral King Bowl. The need for a home stadium was evident as it would provide both sports teams a home field along with increasing inclusivity and community participation.

With the new stadium, graduation ceremonies could also be held on COS grounds.

According to Brent Davis, Dean of Physical Education/Athletic Director, there have been approximately 2000-2500 people showing up to the football and track events. The spectators would sit on temporary bleachers and lawn chairs. During the pandemic, discussions became more prevalent  A post from the COS Giants Football Twitter account says that the new seats could accommodate 2,800 while Davis said it can expand to fit approximately 3,750 fans.

Davis stressed a unique feature that makes the Sequoia Stadium stand out from others: the height and closeness to the track. The stadium seating will be located lower and closer to the track. Davis expressed how this would create an immersive experience for the audience, being closer to the action. This is due to the surrounding seating outlining the track and field.

According to the COS Visalia Track/Football Improvements Addendum there will be 1,200 seats East, 1,000 seats West, 800 seats North, and 500 seats on the South side. The main sacrifice that has been made is the removal of three tennis courts to accommodate some seating and additional construction.

Along with the Stadium a restroom, concession stand, and video board are being constructed. From the West and East ends of the field two pathways are being constructed offering easier access to the stadium and seating areas.

In the process there were a couple of setbacks. An updated EIR report had to be submitted and the heavy March rains delayed construction.

Back on track, Sequoia Stadium is set to be finished in early August.

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While they were still with us, the couple were funding $50,000 in COS scholarships annually to support students in the Nursing Program, the Physical Therapy Assistant Program, and other medical majors. They wished to help build skilled medical professionals locally as they were beginning to interact with so many themselves. They saw COS as a great partner in doing so. The trust’s executor saw sustaining these scholarships forever through a $1.25 million endowment aligned perfectly with the donors’ values.

Beyond these scholarships, the COS Foundation Director, Tim Foster and the trust executor spent some time aligning other needs of the college with what they knew to be the donors’ values. Through these discussions, the executor determined three more areas of support:

A $550,000 capital gift to expand and enhance the COS Nursing and Allied Health simulation lab. Providing quality, hands-on experience and debriefing of simulations is critical to the education of future medical professionals. Simulation became more critical during the  pandemic when nursing students could no longer obtain the hands-on experience and clinical hours required as medical facilities restricted access to non-essential workers. This gift will support the equipment purchases and building modifications needed to complete a three-phase sim lab upgrade master plan.

A $2 million investment in the COS Local Heroes Fund. The Local Heroes Fund collects and directs resources for scholarships and other investments in the recruitment, education, certification and hiring of “Local Heroes”, those in the education, medical, law enforcement and firefighting professions. This gift initiated a Local Heroes Endowment within the Local Heroes Fund to perpetually support scholarships and other investments in students seeking to become teachers locally. One such scholarship supports COS students that transfer to the Fresno State South Valley Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) offered on their Visalia Campus. In this program, participants already have an associate degree. Through ITEP, students earn their bachelor’s degree and teaching credential simultaneously within two years.  Both donors were local teachers for forty years. The executor knew these lifelong educators would have loved to support such a cause.

And finally, a $1.5 million investment in creating a Technology Endowment that will perpetually fund opportunities to put cutting-edge technology in the hands of students. The husband of this donor couple was very interested in science and technology. In honor of his desire to see students engage with technology, this funds COS programs that do just that. One such program is the COS Friday Night Lab, a weekly makerspace that engages students in various projects currently focused on virtual reality, mobile application development, 3D modeling, and many other design projects and competitions. The executor believed he would have really enjoyed participating in Friday Night Lab. Additional projects will be determined annually through the COS Foundation’s existing internal mini-grant program.

Remaining resources were short-term investments in some of these new areas as the endowments begin to generate investment income for sustained use.

“This couple are incredibly philanthropic. Their frugal lifestyle and generosity resulted in three endowments and several other transformative gifts that will bring positive changes in COS student lives forever. We are honored to be entrusted with stewarding such wealth from one family. Our students have much more need for such gifts, but these gifts are real game-changers for the COS Foundation and the college.”, said Tim Foster, the COS Foundation Director.

For more information about the College of the Sequoias and the COS Foundation online go to: COS.edu or call the COS Foundation at 559-730-3861.

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The COS Pharmacy Technician Advisory Board voted in 2018 to pursue the accreditation status from ASHP. Since 2018, Mitchell Andrews, Registered Pharmacist (RPh), Pharmacy Technician Program Director and Full-time Faculty, worked in collaboration with Dr. Jonna Schengel, Dean of Career Technical Education and Workforce Development, on programmatic changes that would meet and maintain the competencies required by ASHP.

Dr. Schengel explains that the new accreditation status allows the COS Pharmacy Technician Program to provide a higher level of curriculum for students who have completed introductory courses at the high school level. Schengel also emphasizes that the COS Health Science programs are leading the way in outside accreditations, providing graduates with opportunities to enter the workforce. Accredited programs, like Pharmacy Tech., require students to participate in clinical hours, where students work alongside potential employers. Pharmacy Technicians are critical to the current workforce and will continue to help with ongoing vaccinations to fight COVID-19.

ASHP was established in 1942 and serves as the accrediting agency in partnership with Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC) and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The mission of ASHP is to support pharmacists and help people achieve optimal health outcomes. ASHP helps its members achieve this mission by advocating and supporting the professional practice of pharmacists in hospitals, health systems, ambulatory care clinics, and other settings spanning the full spectrum of medication use. ASHP serves its members as their collective voice on issues related to medication use and public health (ASHP, 2021).

Mitchell Andrews, RPh, Pharmacy Technician Program Director explains that to meet the requirements of the ASHP accredited Certificate of Achievement, Entry-level Pharmacy Technician, students must complete 350 hours of didactic work, 210 hours of one-on-one simulation with an instructor and complete a 120-hour externship rotation in a local pharmacy. Andrews continues, completion ensures graduates receive an educational experience with curriculum covering all 15 ASHP Standards which establish competency measures
for: Personal/Interpersonal Knowledge and Skills, Foundational Professional Knowledge and Skills, Processing and Handling of Medications and Medication Orders, Patient Care, Quality and Safety Knowledge and Skills, and Regulatory and Compliance Knowledge and Skills.

Earning ASHP accreditation ensures our program meets increasingly rigorous industry standards and helps us maintain the level of consistently high quality, employable graduates that our industry partners have come to expect, Andrews explains. A certificate of completion from an ASHP accredited program also ensures our graduates are eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) national certification exam. Passing an ASHP accredited training program and having national certification is a highly desirable combination and maximizes opportunities for our graduates in all pharmacy practice settings

College of the Sequoias would like to thank Pharmacy Technician Advisory Board for their support and vision for the program.

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Students, faculty, staff, K12 education partners, and community members-

In light of continued developments surrounding COVID-19, the College of the Sequoias will continue modified and remote operations through the Fall 2020 semester. Instructional delivery methods will include online and hybrid models, based on course requirements. Student Services and Library/Learning Resource Center are available virtually for students through zoom, phone, email or live chat.

Additional resources have been made available to students, staff and faculty with detailing the Fall semester.

Fall 2020 FAQ and Resources for Students

Crosswalk for Fall 2020 Instructional Delivery Changes

Video tutorial: How to utilize Crosswalk for Fall 2020 Instructional Delivery Changes

Please continue to monitor District email, the District website, and District social media for further developments and information.

Sincerely,

Brent Calvin, Ed.D.

Superintendent/President

College of the Sequoias

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Over 13,000 students will attend College of the Sequoias’ three campuses this week.  While Monday starts the first day of the Fall 2019 semester, Friday provided a time for reflection for faculty, staff and administrators at College of the Sequoias.

At Friday’s convocation, Superintendent/President Brent Calvin released official numbers that illustrated the District’s growth and success in Kings and Tulare Counties.

Since 2013-14, the District has realized an increase of 15% in funded enrollment.   During that same time span, the District has seen an 87% increase in awards including a 136% jump in certificate completions and 60% more degrees.  These awards, totaling nearly 3200 for 2018-2019, are an all-time high for the College of the Sequoias.

The last five years of success have led to financial prosperity and stability as well.  The District has an annual operating surplus of over $1M (on revenue of $70M) and maintains an overall general fund reserve of over 30%, approximately $21M.

On Friday, Calvin also announced that the District now offers 31 approved Associate Degree for Transfer (AD-T) Degrees.  These degrees, which are approved by the California State University System, assist students with seamless transfer to any of the twenty three campuses.  The District’s 31 AD-Ts are the third most at any college within the 114-community college system and the most in the San Joaquin Valley.  “Having this breadth and depth of degrees allows our students to choose a major that is right for them, and then be guaranteed that those units will count when they transfer to a CSU,” stated Calvin.  These options have led the Sequoias District to realize a 79% increase in AD-Ts awarded in the last two years — from 387 to 692.

“Our transfers to the University of California and California State University systems, remain very strong,” stated Calvin. College of the Sequoias had the third most UC and CSU transfers in the San Joaquin Valley behind only the much larger Bakersfield College and Fresno City College during the 2017-18 year.  Transfers to UC and CSU campuses represent approximately half of the College’s overall transfers in any given year with the other half opting to go to a private college or university or go out of state.

Calvin continued, “While we are currently waiting for the official transfer numbers for 2018-19, we have every reason to believe that numbers will be even higher, with our record number of degrees awarded last year.”

The College of the Sequoias operates three campuses—Visalia, Tulare, and Hanford—and offers the College Promise which allows nearly 100% of its students to attend tuition free or at least be reimbursed for successful completion of their classes.  Each campus offers a full slate of general education courses needed for transfer in addition to Career and Technical Education anchor programs specific to that campus. Visalia offers Nursing and Allied Health programs; Hanford hosts the Police and Fire Academies; and Tulare offers Agriculture, Welding, and Architecture.

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