STAN STANISLAUS STATE
SPRING 2019
MAGAZINE
Building a Student-Ready University
A Word From the
PRESIDENT Ever since I became the president at Stanislaus State in 2016, I knew that we had a rich, vibrant and inspirational story to tell … but perhaps one that had not been fully explored and told. So, to further raise
the stature, visibility and sense of pride for our campus, the University is building momentum for an exciting brand refresh effort this spring that will result in ways of sharing what it means to be a Warrior through a more compelling and consistent narrative. While our visual brand — including our logos and distinctive marks — will not change, this endeavor will result in key messages and narratives that should resonate with our multifaceted Warrior community. And we will bring these messages to life in convincing, engaging and hopefully powerful ways. What does this mean for you? We need your input. We are about to embark on a highly participatory effort that will seek feedback from all members of our campus community — our students, faculty, staff and alumni — as well as those in our region with whom we wish to forge and strengthen solid and lasting partnerships. From community leaders and business owners, to prospective students and their families, high school counselors and neighbors who attend events on campus. We seek to listen to all of these experiences and perspectives as we delve into our own thoughts and ideas about what makes our campus distinctive. 2
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As Warriors, we all have a part in cultivating a strong University identity that will convey our dedication to our mission and to supporting the success of our students. Your voice matters to our story. And I invite you to be an ambassador for Stan State by sharing your Warrior experience. How did your Stan State experience make a difference in your life? How does your education allow you to make a difference in the lives of others? Tell us about your Stan State experience at www.csustan.edu/brand-refresh and join the #stanstate conversation on social media — share a story, a quote or a photo about what it means to you to be a Warrior. Thank you for being a part of our Warrior Family. Warmly,
Ellen
Spring 2019 STAN Magazine is published by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs in the Division of University Advancement at Stanislaus State. President
Ellen Junn Vice President for University Advancement
Michele Lahti
Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement
Jason Geiken
Senior Associate Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Media Relations
Rosalee Rush
Director for Communications and Creative Services
Kristina Stamper (’06) Senior Writer and Content Specialist
Brian VanderBeek Content Specialists
Nan Austin (’79) Gina Oltman
Marketing Specialist
Cristina Soliz (’12)
Senior Graphic Designer
Steve Caballero
Senior Web and Electronic Communications Developer
Mandeep Khaira (’02) Photographers
Tracee Littlepage Justin Souza Josh Hanks
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Stay in touch!
Phone: (209) 667-3131 cpa@csustan.edu www.csustan.edu/stanmagazine If you receive more than one copy of STAN Magazine, please pass it along to a friend of Stanislaus State. If you would like to support Stanislaus State, visit www.csustan.edu/giving. Stanislaus State serves a diverse student body of more than 10,000 at two locations in the Central Valley — a beautiful 228-acre campus in Turlock and the Stockton Campus. Widely recognized for dedicated faculty, highquality academic programs and exceptional value, the University offers more than 100 majors, minors and areas of concentration, along with 15 master’s degree programs, seven credential programs and a doctorate in educational leadership. We are a proud member of the 23-campus California State University system.
COVER STORY Being student-ready is the first goal of the University’s Strategic Plan and Stan State is building programs to meet that goal.
Alumna and San Joaquin County Administrator Monica Nino shares how she is making a difference in her community. Find out more on page 13.
CONTENTS 04 News Briefs 10 Hitting a High Note 13 Working to Move the Needle
16 Building a Student-Ready University
24 Promises Kept 26 A Global Education 30 Bizzini Legacy
SPRING 2019
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NEWS BRIEFS
STUDENT PROJECT MAPS OUT TREES An interactive tree story map completed by Stanislaus State geography major Germán Silva is helping University staff manage the 3,543 trees on campus while serving as an educational tool for botany students and a tree-identification tool for the public. www.csustan.edu/ campus-tree-story-map
STAN STATE EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
JADE POON A FINALIST FOR NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR Former Stan State women’s soccer captain Jade Poon was selected as a top 30 finisher in the nation for the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. As the top offensive player for the Warriors for four seasons, Poon finished her Stan State career at No. 2 in career goals and points. Off the field, Poon worked as a rehabilitation aide at Emanuel Medical Center and served the Stanislaus State campus as the student government ASI budget assistant. Earning a degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science and a minor in psychology, Poon earned the American Kinesiology Award in April 2018 and twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades.
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Stan State has moved into the top 33 among public universities in the Western region by U.S. News & World Report, capping another year in which Stan State received multiple national honors. In August, Washington Monthly ranked the University the No. 1 “Bang for the Buck” four-year college in the West. Earlier in the summer, in its national “Best Colleges for the Money” category, MONEY magazine moved Stan State into the top 50 for the first time, placing the University at No. 49 overall and No. 31 among public schools. Then, in January, MONEY placed the University No. 26 nationally on its list of “Best Colleges for Transfer Students.” For the 13th consecutive year, Stanislaus State was selected as one of the country’s top 384 colleges by The Princeton Review. Further underscoring Stan State’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the lives of its students, the University has been placed on the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index (SMI) for a fifth straight year.
No. 10 Public University West Region U.S. News & World Report
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STRONG FALL SEASONS FOR CROSS COUNTRY AND VOLLEYBALL The Stan State men’s and women’s cross country teams both posted very strong eighth-place finishes at the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships in Billings, Montana. The Warrior women, who finished second at the California Collegiate Athletic Association meet, took a No. 19 national ranking into the NCAA meet. The Warrior volleyball team matched its second-highest win total in 16 years, finishing the season 16-11 after bowing in the first round of the CCAA Tournament in Fitzpatrick Arena. 6
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STAN STATE RECEIVES COLLEGE FUTURES GRANT Stan State received a $186,000 grant from the College Futures Foundation to assist the University’s efforts to improve support for transfer students and streamline transfer pathways by redesigning the Warriors on the Way (WOW) program. The University is developing an implementation plan to align and promote Associate Degree
for Transfer (ADT) Pathways with its three largest feeder community colleges — Modesto Junior College, Merced College and San Joaquin Delta College. These pathways will assist students in making a successful transition to Stan State and lay out a clear route to completing a four-year degree.
MOU CLEARS TRANSFER PATHWAY FROM MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE Stan State is completing a Memorandum of Understanding with Modesto Junior College that will help to ease the transfer of MJC students to Stan State. As part of this MOU, MJC is designating space to house Stan State staff, and Stan State will provide an academic advisor to be stationed on the MJC campus for up to 40 hours a week. In addition, this memorandum will promote the Associate Degree for Transfer program, a certification process that guarantees priority admission to a CSU campus. SPRING 2019
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ART SPACE OPENS IN NEW DOWNTOWN LOCATION Student and faculty artwork can be viewed six days a week at the new Stan State Art Space in Downtown Turlock. Located at 226 North 1st Street, the gallery is just steps from shopping and dining on Main Street. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and noon to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
SOYDEMIR: VALLEY GROWTH WILL REMAIN SLUGGISH Various pressures continue to have a more significant impact on the farm-based economy of the Central Valley, resulting in slow economic growth in the Central Valley through 2018 and possibly beyond. That outlook is according to the biannual San Joaquin Valleyโ ฏBusiness Forecast produced by Gรถkรงe Soydemir, the Foster Farms Endowed Professor of Business Economics at Stanislaus State. www.csustan.edu/sjvbf
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EXPAND YOUR STAN STATE NETWORK Stan State’s Alumni Association has launched an online platform that connects alumni with students for one-on-one career conversations. Warrior Mentoring allows you to give the next generation of alumni the advice you wish you’d had. Create a profile at www.csustan.firsthand.co to grow your network and become a Warrior Mentor!
ERICKSON NAMED VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS Dr. Christine Erickson joined Stanislaus State as Vice President for Student Affairs, effective March 4. She previously served as dean of student services at Monterey Peninsula College, where she was the founding dean of the Marina Education Center. Previously, Erickson served as the associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Cal State Monterey Bay, where she had responsibility for all the co-curricular departments and programs and division-wide strategic planning. A first-generation college student, she completed a B.A. in Psychology, a B.A. in Human Services and an M.A. in Education, Counseling Option, from CSU San Bernardino. Erickson earned her Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.
DREAMERS GET SUPPORT The Stanislaus State Catalyst Project (SSCP), focused on assisting Dreamers and their families, will contribute multi-language laptops, translation assistance and a staffed space within the Diversity Center. The project is funded by a $125,000 grant from the California Campus Catalyst Fund. “The Dreamers’ struggle is a family struggle, and we can’t fully help Dreamers without supporting their family,” said Jill Tiemann-Gonzalez, AVP for holistic student support, organizational operations and strategic initiatives.
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HITTING A
HIGH BY BRIAN VANDERBEEK
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ALUMNI
If not for a misplaced piece of mail, Owen McIntosh most likely would be a civil engineer, happily toiling in his chosen vocation. Instead, he’s a widely renowned vocal artist, applying his chosen vocation for the happiness of audiences around the world. The 2006 Stan State graduate already has amassed an impressive career resume, both as an operatic soloist and as a chamber vocalist with classical ensembles around the world — notably for the last 10 years with the Bostonbased chamber vocal music ensemble Blue Heron. In August, Blue Heron won the world’s most prestigious classical music award from the British magazine Gramophone in the category of early music for its recording of a 16th century piece written by an anonymous composer that had gone unsung and unheard for centuries. It was the first time in the award’s 41-year history that a Gramophone Classical Music award has gone to a non-European group. And all this success can be traced back to not receiving his mail. “I was all set to go to UC Davis to become a civil engineer,” McIntosh said. “That’s what my dad’s degree was in and he went to UC Davis. I was valedictorian at my high school (Etna Union High School, Siskiyou County) earned nine varsity sports letters and was on student council. I was set.” He was so confident of his path and his choice that UC Davis was the only college to which he applied. But for some reason, he never received a letter sent by UC Davis requesting his SAT scores. He had missed the opportunity to complete that application requirement. “I had put all my eggs in one basket because I was sure I was going to get into UC Davis,” he said. “I was crushed and I immediately moved out of the house and started attending Shasta College. It was a clean break, a fresh start, because everything I’d worked for in my life up to that point was gone.”
Owen McIntosh (’06) has emerged as an in-demand tenor in the area of early music.
McIntosh always was a singer around the house, so while at Shasta College he joined a heavy metal band made up of his high school soccer teammates. One day, while perusing the college catalog in search of an elective, he noticed an offering for a basic voice class. “I’d never taken a singing class, and it was in that class — taught by Elizabeth Waterbury — that I was first told I had a great voice,” he said. “She asked if I’d ever consider singing classical music, and up to that point opera to me was the music my dad would put on the radio to get his four boys to stop screaming in the back of the car. “She told me about the program at Shasta and how you could actually major in music, which I’d never
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At far left, Guillermo Garcia Jr. (’14), baritone, and Owen McIntosh (’06), tenor, rehearse with the Stan State Concert Chorale under the direction of Dr. Daniel R. Afonso, Jr.
heard. I was beholden only to myself at that point, so I decided to become a music major.” In his second year at Shasta, McIntosh participated in a master class on Central American choral music presented by Daniel Afonso, the director of vocal and choral studies at Stan State.
of Wiggett and Afonso, he found and developed his voice. “When I came here, Joe Wiggett reset my whole vocal mechanism — turned my voice inside-out. I went from singing really heavily and pressed, to really tiny and small, just so I could feel how everything worked.
“I’ve always been an ambassador for everything I love, so now I’m an ambassador for chamber music and I’m out there telling people that there are avenues for singers other than opera.” - Owen McIntosh “I talked with him at the master class,” McIntosh said. “I had applied to Oberlin and was wait-listed, and remembered that conversation I had with Daniel Afonso. I came to Turlock and took a lesson with Joseph Wiggett (Stan State professor of voice) and decided to transfer here.” McIntosh came to Stan State as a fine singer, but under the guidance
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“Daniel exposed me to so much incredible chamber music. He planted seeds, which I didn’t realize at the time. He saw me as a chamber musician, an early-music singer, for my imagination, for my ability to tell a story and for being a sophisticated musician. All of those traits really serve chamber music.”
McIntosh met his future wife at Stan State — fellow music major Lindsay Hollingshead, an oboist. They moved together to Boston, where McIntosh completed his master’s degree at New England Conservatory. Lindsay earned a master’s degree in modern oboe at Boston University, then was accepted into Julliard for a historical performance master’s degree. It forced a move to New York City, which ultimately led to the formation
of their ensemble — New Vintage Baroque — as well as countless other engagements with prominent vocal ensembles, including the Grammynominated choir of Trinity Wall Street, TENET, ARTEK, the Sebastians, Holy Trinity Bach Vespers and the American Classical Orchestra. McIntosh returned to Turlock in October to perform with the Stanislaus State Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers, directed by Afonso, and in January Owen and Lindsay became first-time parents. The sky remains the limit for McIntosh’s vocal career, but he also knows that beyond singing there’s a greater calling. “I’ve always been an ambassador for everything I love, so now I’m an ambassador for chamber music and I’m out there telling people that there are avenues for singers other than opera,” he said. “With so many colleagues working in this genre, I’m convinced there’s going to be a tipping point where this music will spill into every college.” Yes, McIntosh is enthused about spreading the gospel of chamber music. Perhaps not by letter.
ALUMNI
San Joaquin County Leader
WORKING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE By Nan Austin
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Monica Nino, the top administrator of San Joaquin County, strides down the hallway to her office, squeezing a few minutes to talk between meetings. Overseeing 26 departments with 7,200 employees and an annual budget of $1.7 billion means having a lot of meetings. But for her, those points of contact keep communication and energy flowing. Energy is the Stan State alumna’s hallmark, and after five years at the pinnacle of San Joaquin County’s organizational chart she still covers ground at remarkable speed. At 55, she has 30 years in public sector service, starting with an accounting gig in the Stanislaus County Auditor-Controller’s office after graduating from Fresno State. Her dreams of working at a Fortune 500 company shifted as she gained experience. Today she works to spur economic development and improve lives across a wider horizon, and credits her Master of Public Administration degree from Stan State with helping her advance those goals. “Finance is my background, but I needed that wider focus,” Nino said. Networking proved to be a key benefit of going back to school. “I loved engaging with
San Joaquin County
• 700,000+ residents • 15th largest county in California
• 1,426 square miles of area • 26 departments and agencies • www.sjgov.org
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professors who have the same interests,” she said. “There’s a level of energy and commonality among your peers when you’re face to face. It doesn’t feel like school.”
who recognize those factors. I see two leaders trying to do whatever they can to make higher education more accessible,” Nino said. The two schools recently signed an MOU for the Warriors on the Way program to create pathways from the community college to CSU degrees completed entirely in Stockton.
She applauded expanded course offerings at the Stan State Stockton Campus, most offered as night classes geared to working parents. “That’s what situates the Stockton Campus Employer assistance from to be a major component of Stanislaus County helped her development here,” she said, pursue her master’s in the pointing to the need for an 1990s. Seeing her degree as educated workforce to draw key to job advancement added living wage jobs, which in turn will keep “I am one of many who aspiring graduates encapsulates energy, in the area. “I see the support of creativity and leadership.” critical leadership, and that’s what it takes to get the - Monica Nino job done.” incentive. “I think students The job, to Nino, means need to see the light at the end transforming San Joaquin of that tunnel,” she said. Nino lives for the long run. “We have rose to Stanislaus County CEO generational poverty. What before taking the San Joaquin are we doing to move that County post. needle? Do we have more kids graduating from college? Are As the head of San Joaquin we building a better, stronger County’s largest employer, she community?” she queried. now views education from the Those questions will drive her other side of the tunnel and next initiative, a data-driven would like to be able to hire deep look at services, dollars more local graduates with and results. training in health, engineering and technology. But the county The effort puts all her education has long had above-average and energy to work. “I’m rates of poverty and stubbornly not the policymaker. I’m low education rates. the implementor, looking for efficiencies and better She draws hope from forward outcomes, making the best use movement at San Joaquin’s of those taxpayer dollars,” she college sites. “At Delta said. “When I one day leave College and the Stan here, I want to leave it better State Stockton than when I came. As leaders, Campus I see a we must be focused on moving President (Kathy the needle.” Hart) and a Dean (Faimous Harrison)
Monica Nino, who earned her MBA at Stan State, has risen to the post of San Joaquin County Administrator.
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COVER FEATURE
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Building a Student-Ready University By Nan Austin
THE BLUEPRINT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS Stanislaus State had had a change of mindset, laying out its Strategic Plan with “Be a student-ready University” as Goal 1. “We need to shift the paradigm from expecting students to be college-ready to being a University that is studentready,” said President Ellen Junn. We need to make all students feel like they belong, no matter what background or circumstance they come from.” An extensive array of practical student services, support and opportunities back up this lofty idea, vetted with research and evaluated with data. From high school outreach for young prospects to career planning for graduates, the University works to help students find their path and fulfill their dreams.
process, the choices, the workarounds ― without any in-house help or innate confidence that they can do this. About 9 out of 10 Stan State students qualify for financial aid. Over half self-identify as Latinx, among them significant numbers of Dreamers and DACA students. These are the students the University needs to be ready to serve and help to succeed. The following stories divide student success efforts into categories, covering help for a better start, better grades, a better university experience, better career prospects and, ultimately, a better life.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit Supporting Student Success: From Application to Graduation, and Beyond www.csustan.edu/great/ supporting-student-successapplication-graduation-andbeyond
In any given year, nearly 75 percent of Stanislaus State’s incoming freshmen come from families in which no one has attempted to earn a four-year degree. These promising pioneers have to figure out the college code ― the Touring the construction site of the new University Student Center are University Student Union Board Chair Allysa Gonzales, Associated Students, Inc. Secretary Mi’Shaye Venerable and USU Student Representative Dylan McAlister-Becker. www.thenewstanstate.org SPRING 2019
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1 | GETTING IN Every California State University admissions office sets out pamphlets at career fairs, offers tours and explains A-G course requirements to high schoolers. Stan State
goes a step further, taking its show on the road and traveling to area elementary, junior high and high schools to explain what college is like, how to apply and how to pay for it. These off-campus programs reached nearly 33,000 area students last year. As a part of the immigrant-rich Central Valley, Stan State offers
information sessions for families in Spanish, developing a culturally relevant program other CSU campuses look toward as a model. The University, named a 2018 champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer, is using a $186,000 College Futures Foundation grant to work with community colleges in Modesto, Merced and Stockton to help their students move on to four-year degrees. This summer the University inked a deal with San Joaquin Delta College to smooth the path for
San Joaquin county students planning to earn a degree at the Stanislaus State Stockton Campus. The University has also established a Center for Excellence in Graduate Education, offering workshops and information for prospective grad students to explore.
University Application and Admissions Support
• Admissions and
Outreach Services
• Center for Excellence
in Graduate Education
2 | WARRIOR WELCOME Getting the acceptance letter brings cheers, excitement — and so many questions. Past
the first flush of triumph, incoming students must make a host of consequential decisions. Stan State is ready for them with programs in place to help newcomers make the shift to college life. New Student Orientation is designed to transition incoming freshmen to the University. This past summer, the program was expanded to include an overnight stay in the residence halls and a second day for more than 1,600 freshmen. This was done to allow students time to develop stronger relationships with their peers, faculty and staff, increase their understanding of campus resources and strengthen their sense of belonging to the University.
Freshmen parents, families and guests were invited to attend their own orientation offered in both English and Spanish. The University provided day-long orientation sessions for more than 1,000 incoming transfer students. There was also a welcome event for new graduate students. Every fall, soon after classes start, Stan State holds Freshman Convocation, where the newcomers hear words of wisdom and encouragement from University leadership. Transitioning to University Life
• New Student Orientation • Freshmen Convocation • Transfer Welcome Program • New Graduate Student Welcome Event
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Welcome
4 | STRONG STARTS Students arrive at Stan State with a wide array of preparations and skills, from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Stan State has
designed programs to meet students where they are in their academic journeys, building strategies to bolster success. The Elevate program is one of those strategies, an immersive residential experience that supports roughly 60 incoming freshmen each year. They live on the same floor in the residence halls and fill three sections of a University English class expanded with practical support like notetaking and test-taking skills. The same expanded course is available to all freshmen.
3 | DOLLARS AND SENSE A majority of Stan State students receive financial aid, which can involve multiple scholarships, grants or loans from different types of institutions. Every university offers help in navigating those complexities. Stan State adds an extra component for student financial stability: Savvy.
More than 1,400 students took advantage of free financial literacy workshops and speakers this summer and fall. Topics of the 25 presentations included spending smart, managing debt, buying a car and identity theft. A Finance and Resource Fair is held each spring. “The goal is to bring useful, real-world financial information to students and have them learn at the point where decisions are made,” said financial aid advisor Landy Gonzalez-Hernandez. Financial Aid and Financial Literacy Courses
• Financial Aid Workshops • Financial Literacy Education
Wojciechowski and her team created a program to meet common needs widely seen among newcomers transitioning to college life and University-level classes. “There are a lot of students who come to the University feeling nervous and apprehensive,” she said. “We have found it’s really about students making the most of their first year. Finding a space where they feel affirmed and where they make connections.”
In addition to a residential advisor, each residential floor has an embedded peer mentor who sits in during their class time at least weekly in order to provide personalized academic support to students. Intensive advising and tutoring are included. A faculty and curricular coordinator arranges research opportunities and other academic enrichment experiences. The program developed at Stan State has few parallels. “It’s not common to find living-learning communities predominately focused on student support, and I’ve never seen a configuration quite like we have,” said Jessica Bettencourt-Wojciechowski, assistant director for residential education, who facilitates the Elevate program. “One of the things that I think is unique is we use peers to blend the in- and out-of-the-classroom experience.” Bettencourt-Wojciechowski served as advisor in Stan State’s grant-funded PACE (Program for Academic & Career Excellence) and did her doctoral research on the impact of residential living-learning programs on students from underrepresented populations. Bringing together her experience, research and passion for supporting student success, Bettencourt-
Elevate is in its third year. Early numbers show promise for the living-learning approach. After their year together, 92 percent of the Fall 2016 group had GPAs of C or better, compared to 81 percent of all Stan State freshmen. Campuswide, 12 percent of freshmen ended their year on academic probation, versus 8 percent of the Elevate group. Some Elevate students from each cohort have continued for a second year, when the program focuses on career preparation. Academic Preparation
• Early Start • First Year Completion with Embedded FYE
• ELEVATE • First Year Seminars SPRING 2019
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5 | BEEN THERE. DONE THAT. HERE'S HOW. Even for excelling students, some courses prove a challenge. In addition to programs targeting individual needs, Stanislaus State has created a layer of peer support for classes where students may need some additional help. Eleven biology, chemistry and political science courses chosen by their departments receive extra help. Each section of the courses has a dedicated student instructional leader who runs two to three study sessions a week for class participants. “We go to every single class with them and we have been where they are. We see when their faces look really confused,” said Jacqueline Cerda, a junior in communications. “I ask the professor questions and walk up and talk to him. It helps them see students can do that,” said Jacklyn Heslop, a graduate 20
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student in English. Both are student instructional (SI) leaders for sections of introductory biology. They see their primary job as helping class members become independent learners. They plan study sessions aligned with the lectures and provide support to students struggling with any of the material. Success comes, both said, when students start asking the questions themselves. Heslop has been an SI leader for three semesters, or ever since it began in fall 2017. She was Cerda’s SI leader in biology and recruited her for the program. In fall 2018, Heslop and Cerda were among 23 SI leaders assisting in 29 course sections, serving more than 400 students. On average, roughly one-third of students in the targeted classes stop by for extra help at some point in the semester.
Early data show an academic boost for those students. Study group attendees earned a mean course grade of 2.50, compared to 2.12 for students who did not take advantage of the study sessions. “Supplemental instruction can have an impact on student retention and graduation rates by moving more students successfully through these key gateway courses,” said Erlynn Johnson, academic support lead for the program. Academic Support
• Supplemental Instruction • Tutoring Center and Writing Center
• The Commons • University Library • Disability Resource Services • Graduate Student Academic Support
5 | LEARNING WHILE SERVING At Stan State, service learning adds real-world experience to the mix. Nearly 200 classes across two dozen majors guide students as they participate in meaningful community service experiences directly related to course content. Over 15 years, more than 200 students have trained in income tax preparation to provide free assistance to low-income adults at the Turlock Salvation Army Community Center. Science Days draw in STEM majors, who also pitch in for K-12 STEM campus tours. Kinesiology students lead exercise classes in Turlock public parks, learning how to tailor workouts for the very old and the very young. Geography students worked with the county of Merced to plot annexation documents on an interactive, online parcel map. All told, 3,180 Stan State students took service learning courses in 2017-18, providing an estimated 67,220 hours of community service at 283 sites. (Left) Stan State Art Department students joined with community volunteers to create a mural at Turlock’s Columbia Park, supported by former Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth's Public Policy Award.
6 | CHARTING A COURSE It can be a winding road from a freshman’s first day to graduation. Changing majors can happen multiple times, with each shift calling for a fresh mapping of requirements and matching existing credits. Academic advising has added emphasis at Stan State, where about 75 percent of students are first generation college-goers who tend to need more intensive guidance. Professors in each major and professional academic advisors at the Academic Success Center listen and explain, offering traditional, in-person advising. For what-if scenarios, the “can I squeeze in a minor” and “can this class count as” queries — there’s an app for that. The University tapped three online programs under My Academic Pathway (MAP) to let students explore options 24/7 and check their progress. Stan Degree Progress tracks student transcripts against major and general education requirements. Stan Planner organizes a course-taking roadmap, laying out what to take when. That planning also helps the University allocate classes to meet student needs. Stan Scheduler integrates a student’s plan for the semester’s courses with times they are offered, simplifying class scheduling. As an added backstop, the University has adopted on-the-cusp advising. The system flags seniors needing just a few credits to graduate. Advisers step in to help them find alternatives and finish on time. Advising
• Academic Success Center (ASC) • ASC Faculty Fellows • Educational Opportunity Program • Promise Scholars Program • On-the-Cusp
• Student Support Services • Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) for STEM
• Athletics • Stockton Campus
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7 | IN THE FIELDS Curiosity rules in Jennifer Cooper’s lab, where 10 students study California ground squirrels. “Every student brings their own skill set and research interests to the team,” said Cooper. “The students drive the research. They are doing the work. They are generating the science.” For Cesar Estrada Aguila, a junior in biology, the science focuses on foraging behavior gauged against food density. His query: As food supplies dwindle within a foraging patch, at what point do squirrels give up and move on? Rajnee Johol, a senior in biology, studies squirrel gut parasites and compares the amount of infestation to the animal’s overall health and genetic diversity. Her research question: Do squirrels with greater genetic diversity have greater resistance? Over three years Cooper's team has captured, tagged, swabbed and released about 650 different squirrels across three nearby national wildlife refuges. Many of the critters have been caught multiple times. Many even have names. Stanislaus State students are among few scientists deeply studying the species, creating an ever-expanding trove of squirrel traits, genes, health and migration habits.
Students are invited to join the research because of their interest, not their grades, but their grades seem to rise with the workload, Copper said. “It made me more capable as a student,” said Estrada Aguila, who plans to study marine ecology. His experience is borne-out in data from the Stan State Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (SERSCA) program, which provides about 15 undergraduate and 10 to 15 graduate assistantships a year, as well as 30-50 mini-grants. While the six-year graduation rate for all freshmen starting in fall 2010 at the University was 57 percent, every student (100 percent) who participated in a SERSCA project graduated within six years. “SERSCA-funded research, scholarship and creative activities have impacts well beyond the intellectual and professional development of students,” said Matthew Cover, who facilitates the SERSCA program. SERSCA and other programs fund Cooper’s team. What the team has taught her, Cooper said, “is the more that I ask of students, the more they deliver. Every time they think they’ve hit their limit I ask them for more and they find more to give.” Mentoring and Professional Development
• Career and Professional • • •
Development Center Faculty Mentor Program Warrior Mentoring The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Study Abroad • Student Engagement in •
Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (SERSCA) College/Department/ Program-Based Opportunities
8 | STUDENT LIFE More than 80 clubs, organizations and fraternities/sororities offer Stanislaus State students a chance to connect, have fun and lend a hand to worthy projects. The University Art Gallery, musical performances and theatre productions support a vibrant cultural scene. NCAA Division II teams challenge members to stay in top form, while intramural sports focus on the fun side of getting active. Involvement in student government, the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), helps develop leadership skills. Three ASI past presidents ran for public office this November. Student Life
• Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) • University Student Union • Diversity Center • Student Clubs and Organizations • Athletics • Housing and Residential Life • Spaces for Student Life
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AMY BUBLAK (’89) Turlock Mayor
“My service as student body president at Stanislaus State inspired me to seek elective office in Turlock both as a member of the Turlock City Council for ten years, and in my recent election as Turlock’s first female mayor and retired police officer. Stanislaus State made me the person I am today.” ANDREW JANZ (’06, ’09)
2018 Congressional Candidate
“During my time as ASI President, I learned how to collaborate with community stakeholders and operate a grassroots campaign. I cannot overstate how important it was to have these skills during my congressional race.” NICOLE LARSON (’17) Turlock Councilmember
“Stan State's ASI Student Government not only provided the tools for effective leadership, but also provided the opportunity for me to develop as a leader in a meaningful way, and most important, gave me the confidence that my voice is important and can be used to build a better tomorrow.”
9 | STUDENT WELLNESS Being committed to student success means tackling barriers outside the classroom as well as in it, including: Basic needs: The Warrior Food Pantry provides emergency food assistance on weekdays. The program also helps eligible students sign up for the CalFresh food assistance program. Care and concern: Psychological Counseling Services offers individual and couples counseling, workshops and presentations. Targeted programs serve veterans, students Psychological & Emotional Support
• ASI Student Resource Assistant • Psychological Counseling Services
with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community. The Diversity Center provides a welcoming location for get-togethers and presentations. Safety: Stanislaus State Police act as liaisons for students with any outside law enforcement or immigration agency seeking to come on campus. Stan State also has a full array of sexual assault prevention and response programs. Health: The Student Health Center is an outpatient clinic providing primary medical care and health education. Physical Health & Wellness Opportunities
• Student Health Center • Campus Recreation • General Education Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development
Getting active: Besides classes offering jogging to jazz dance, the University has a full-service Student Fitness Center and a full slate of intramural sports.
Ensuring Basic Needs Are Met
• Warrior Food Pantry • California Faculty Association Campus Cares Fund
• Emergency Housing and Meals • Clothing Closet
10 | LOOKING FORWARD A college catalog bursts with fascinating courses, any one of which could lead down a path to a different life. But in a world of so many choices, which path is the right one? Career and Professional Development Center opening
Suit-Up Event
Designing Your Tomorrow
After a nine-year hiatus, the Stanislaus State Career and Professional Development Center reopened in 2017, giving students more tools to plan beyond commencement. Since spring 2018, career counseling and employer connection events have been offered weekly at both the Turlock and Stockton Campuses. The Center provides one-on-one career coaching, help with internship searches, and skills training. The online platform HireStanState connects students with employers in the region. Online resources help students match occupations with interests, research salary data and spot labor market trends. Nothing to wear to an interview? The Center partners with the JC Penney at Vintage Faire mall for the annual Suit-Up Event, where students can get a 40 percent discount on office
wear and advice on professional wardrobe. An office wear lending closet is being organized. Designing Your Tomorrow popup courses prompt students to consider new possibilities and build career resiliency in preparation for a fast-changing future jobs market. A $50,000 CSU Innovation Development Grant is supporting development of Designing Your Tomorrow micro-courses targeting high school students, underclassmen, upperclassmen and community members.
Graduation & Beyond
• Enrollment Servicess • Career and Professional Development Center • Graduate School Exploration & Preparation • Alumni Association
SPRING 2019
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STUDENT PROFILE
Savannah Mendoza is attending Stan State as part of the Promise Scholars program, which helps students from foster care situations achieve the promise of a better future through post-secondary education.
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A FORMER FOSTER YOUTH PREPARES FOR HER BRIGHT FUTURE By Gina Oltman
By the time Savannah Mendoza graduated from the eighth grade, she had spent six years in foster homes and experienced care that ranged from good to appalling. She had been separated, reunified and separated from her mother three times. She bounced between nine elementary schools. She also had been introduced to the Promise Scholars program, which helps current and former foster youth succeed at Stanislaus State by providing an array of advising and support services. As soon as Mendoza learned about Promise Scholars, she made the life-changing decision that, without question, she would one day be a Warrior. “I went to an eighth-grade grad night put on by Promise Scholars. It was all about going to college, how to get there, and telling us that just because we’re foster kids doesn’t mean we can’t go to college.” Mendoza said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to go to Stan State.” Today, she is a third-year kinesiology major. She plans to graduate in May 2020, enter a nursing program and become a registered nurse. Outgoing and naturally optimistic, Mendoza is confident of her future. She credits the Promise Scholars staff with putting together an academic and financial aid plan that will lead her to graduation in four years and keep her on track toward her goals. At the grad night event years ago, she met Wanda Bonnell, the now-retired coordinator of Promise Scholars. As Mendoza progressed through Modesto High, she occasionally emailed
While financial aid has been imperative for Mendoza, she also appreciates Promise Scholars’ help in other areas, such as academic advising and career planning. For example, she says, Bonnell and other staff helped her sift through various career ideas before she settled on nursing. And when her car broke down, the staff found a solution to the problem.
questions to Bonnell who advised her on how to prepare for Stan State. “She also helped me with my FAFSA and applying for scholarships and grants,” Mendoza said. “Through it all, Mendoza also appreciates the she helped me figure out how to get community-building events that bring through Stan State not only without together Promise Scholars students a any loans, but with my whole four years few times a year. paid, including housing and meals.” The financial aid arranged through Promise Scholars was “I knew I wanted to be a Stan crucial to Mendoza because, with no parental assistance, State Promise Scholar since my she had no other way of paying eighth-grade graduation.” for college and housing. She entered the foster care system - Savannah Mendoza at the age of 7 because her mother had a drug addiction. The next several years of her life revolved around failed reunification “Those events are pretty cool because attempts and moving from one foster you meet other people who know what home to another. you are going through,” she said. “You get a sense of camaraderie. It is like a Despite the instability of life in foster family on campus.” care, Mendoza was a good student and graduated from high school with a 3.8 Mendoza says she is happy to be grade point average. She assumes she an unofficial Promise Scholars would have found her way to college, ambassador, recommending the but perhaps without good advice or program to anyone who qualifies. financial aid coordination if she didn’t have Promise Scholars on her side. “It’s important for students who qualify for the program to be informed about it “I probably would have tried to figure when they are young,” she said. “That’s it out on my own, and I’d probably be what happened with me, and I’m glad thousands of dollars in debt by now,” she said. it did.” SPRING 2019
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STUDY ABROAD
A GLOBAL EDUCATION STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE BY GINA OLTMAN AND CRISTINA SOLIZ
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When international business major Juliana Aguiar walked into a Stanislaus State study abroad information session her freshman year, she stepped up to realizing a longheld dream. Passionate about travel, she always wanted to study abroad. In the information session, she quickly learned that her dream was attainable and soon she was studying in Spain for a semester and exploring the region from her new home base.
Study Abroad Ambassador Juliana Aguiar was able to visit several countries during her first semester studying in Spain.
“I was fortunate enough to visit seven countries, opening my eyes to new cultures, diverse foods and social norms,” said Aguiar, now in her third year at Stan State. “Spain is so centrally located in Europe that it was very inexpensive for me to take off to France or Morocco for the weekend.” Her life-changing experience didn’t end when she returned to Turlock. Her semester in Spain made such an impression on her, she became a study abroad ambassador to help other Stan State students coordinate their study abroad experiences. In her ambassador role, she directs students to information on scholarship opportunities and provides firsthand knowledge about what to expect when studying overseas. “The experiences and education I acquired in Europe will stay with me for a lifetime,” Aguiar said. “Studying internationally introduced me to new cities, increased my professional network and diversified my skillset to stand out among a competitive job market in the future.”
More Study Abroad Opportunities Than Ever Stan State recognizes that the value of a study abroad experience extends well beyond the degree a student receives at graduation. That is why Stan State is expanding its study abroad opportunities to allow more students to engage their intellectual curiosity across borders. The Office of Extended and International Education is offering students three study abroad options,
with the newest called Stan State Exchange Programs. Students are now able to study at partnered universities in France, Germany, Japan, South Korea or Spain for a semester, with their sole tuition cost being their Stan State tuition. “Our office is thrilled to offer new study abroad opportunities to our students. The experience of living and studying in another country provides a lifetime of benefits to personal growth,” said Jennifer Helzer, associate dean of Extended and International Education. “Students return from study abroad with increased self-confidence, a more sophisticated view of the world and skill sets that positively affect their educational goals and career paths.” Those skills include interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills. They are the soft skillset a person acquires while traveling through an unknown country, meeting new people along the way and learning about different ways of life. Students are eligible to study abroad once they establish a college GPA, according to Brittany Fentress, international admissions and services coordinator. Students who start
planning early have the most options and the best chance of international courses being transferable for full credit. “I encourage students who are interested in studying abroad to attend an information session and start working with us as early as possible,” Fentress said. “At the session, they will learn how easy it is and get the facts and tools they need to make the best decision possible for their academic and personal needs.” One of the ways Stan State supports study abroad students is by ensuring programs provide comprehensive resources and establishing relationships with the staff at international locations. Over the last few months, Fentress has been visiting the newest partner universities to meet with her counterparts there and become familiar with the facilities and the regions where the schools are located. SPRING 2019
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8 MYTHS OF STUDYING ABROAD Stan State’s Study Abroad Ambassador Juliana Aguiar spells out the facts on studying abroad. MYTH NO. 1: IF YOU STUDY ABROAD, IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO GRADUATE. Truth: You will be required to take 12-18 units for a semester or 3-5 units for the summer/winter terms while overseas. For the semester term, you will be a full-time student. As long as you verify that the classes you take abroad are fully transferable, studying abroad won’t delay your graduation date.
By continuously building international partnerships and expanding programs for students, Stan State is equipping future leaders across all industries to be better prepared to interact with people from other countries and cultures. Students who study abroad not only have a lifechanging experience, but more than 80 percent earn A’s and B’s in their international university courses.
MYTH NO. 2: STUDYING ABROAD IS EXPENSIVE. Truth: Housing may be less expensive in other countries than living locally on campus or independently. Most college tuition and fees are comparable regardless of where you study. Additionally, financial aid and scholarships may be used to help offset study abroad costs.
Studying Abroad: Easier Than You Might Think
MYTH NO. 3: I CAN’T STUDY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY BECAUSE I DON’T SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Truth: Of course, learning the language of another country is an advantage and easier to practice while living in that country, but English is widely spoken in most countries and you’ll be with a group of fellow students who will speak English as well. Also, unless specified, your college courses will be taught in English. MYTH NO. 4: THERE WON’T BE A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN MY MAJOR. Truth: There are study abroad programs to suit every major. Many students use their study abroad time to meet general education course requirements. For example, Dances of Spain was used by one student to fulfill a general education requirement at Stan State. MYTH NO. 5: I’LL BE ALL ALONE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. Truth: You’re never alone. Depending on the term, each program generally has 35-70 students, so you’ll meet a lot of people with the same hopes and sense of adventure as you, and you’ll make new friends. The on-site staff is also a great resource for any questions or concerns you may have. MYTH NO. 6: TRAVELING TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY ISN’T SAFE. Truth: Just like visiting certain areas and cities in the U.S., being safe comes down to being aware of your surroundings. Use the same level of awareness as when you’re walking through an unfamiliar city and keep track of your personal belongings. MYTH NO. 7: I WON’T FIT INTO THAT COUNTRY’S CULTURE. Truth: Most countries, especially the ones that have invested heavily in study abroad programs, embrace and welcome foreign students and student tourism. Participants also are informed about specific cultural customs and norms during seminars prior to departure. MYTH NO. 8: I WON’T BE ABLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Truth: You’ll likely be able to use your current cell phone as an Internet device, even if you choose not to install a new SIM card. With apps like WhatsApp and Facetime, you’ll be able to make free texts/calls home while connected to Wi-Fi. In addition, all social media apps work abroad so keeping in touch with family and friends is easy.
As Aguiar learned at the information session she attended her freshman year, the study abroad experience is an attainable goal for almost any student. While in Spain, Aguiar found that the cost of living was surprisingly affordable. Her apartment in Valencia cost roughly $500 a month, and she found that additional living expenses did not exceed typical prices in the United States. In the classroom, she adapted to new teaching styles and gained business insights from international professors. Learning about the product life cycle and operations management for imports and exports from a new perspective was a huge advantage, she said. She was able to compare American and European business approaches and gain a greater understanding of the larger picture of working in a global environment. Looking back, Aguiar believes the information session her freshmen year alleviated a lot of the stress and concerns commonly associated with preparing to study abroad. She was able to research University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) policies and deadlines well in advance, leaving plenty of time to strategically select her courses and international destination of study. “Four and a half months in Spain has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The multifaceted skills I acquired are vital to my future in international business,” Aguiar said. “As a student, it is amazing to have the flexibility to study at a partnered university and select my own academic path. I’m ecstatic to have the ability to continue my studies abroad by taking 15 units in Thailand in spring 2019.” While in Thailand, Aguiar will be blogging to share her passion for travel and perspectives from abroad while encouraging other students to take the leap and start planning their own adventures. Juliana Aguiar, shown riding a camel in Morocco, is continuing her study abroad experiences in Thailand during the spring 2019 semester.
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Follow Juliana's Journey Through Thailand www.julianastravels.edublogs.org
SPRING 2019
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CAMEO BY PROVOST GREER
BILL BIZZINI
DOROTHY BIZZINI
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COMMUNITY
Bizzini Legacy Dorothy and Bill Bizzini have been a part of Stanislaus State since it was just a gleam in the eye of California State University planners. “We got involved in the college before it really got started. Word got out there was going to be another CSU campus and we got all excited about it,” said Dorothy Bizzini, then a nurse helping at her husband’s Atwater veterinary clinic. “When the college first came in 1960, it was at the fairgrounds and there was no place for the faculty and students to live, so I built apartments,” she said. For the next few years she was busy helping at the veterinary clinic by day and at night helping distribute the first polio vaccine across Merced County. But she remained involved with the budding campus, serving on steering and advisory committees. The Bizzinis donated funds for the classroom building that bears their name as Bizzini Hall, one of two buildings in place when the permanent campus opened in 1965. They also are co-chairing and have made an initial gift to Warrior Athletics’ $1 million All-Sport Scholarship Campaign. Dorothy Bizzini remains active on the Stanislaus State Foundation Board and is a fixture at commencement. In the University’s 58-year history she has missed only one ceremony (she was out of the country,) even flying in for the day from another state for one ceremony. In May, she will join the students walking the stage as she is awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) by the California State University and Stanislaus State. “We really enjoy the students and enjoy seeing them become successful,” Bizzini said, adding that care and hope for the next generation strengthen the couple’s ties to the University and motivates them to give. “We want to help those students who can’t fully fund their education, so we support those efforts.”
Dorothy and Bill Bizzini enjoy a Stan State basketball game while surrounded by the Warrior Cheer Team.
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Division of University Advancement One University Circle Turlock, Ca 95382
