OHLONE COLLEGE
MONITOR
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 Vol. L No. 2
We’re nerding out at Comic Con in San Jose.
FREMONT, CA OHLONEMONITOR.COM
Board passes budget BRIANNE O’SULLIVAN News editor
COURTESY OF OHLONE COLLEGE
Instructor Barbara Myslik, right, trains Antonio Reza, left, and Veronika Mentante at the Ohlone Communication Lab in Newark.
Communication Lab gains national certification SAM CAMPBELL Opinions editor Last semester, the Ohlone Communication Lab became the first communication lab in California to become certified by the National Association of Communication Centers (NACC). Only 13 labs are certified in the United States, and out of those, Ohlone is the second community college to become certified. The Ohlone communication department has created a peer teaching system, in which students who have completed the courses are teaching other students. “Our communication center is where theory and practice come together, and it’s wonderful to see students being able to exercise rhetorical practice in a risk-free environment,” said Brenda Ahntholz, professor and director of the Communication Department
at Ohlone. The student tutors help with everything from workbooks to writing to presenting speeches. Along with the student tutors, there is always at least one instructor in the lab offering their time to help students. “The training you’ve detailed looks purposeful and mindful of oral communication; we believe that you have a solid foundation for building your program,” the NACC said in its approval letter. There are two labs, one at the Fremont campus and one at the Newark campus, in which students in need of help are able to get assistance. “If it were only professors in the lab, the lab wouldn’t be nearly as helpful because students would be too scared to ask questions or ask for help,” said Carly Jordan, a student Continued on Page 3
The Board of Trustees last week approved the college’s final budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, after listening to speakers from the Ohlone community. The budget, approved at the board’s Sept. 9 meeting, anticipates General Fund unrestricted revenues of $54.8 million. Expenditures are budgeted at $50.1 million, including two new full-time faculty positions but no costs related to salary increases. Before the budget was approved, six staff and faculty members asked trustees to consider increasing salaries or raising the COLA (cost of living adjustment). When the college hit hard economic times, staff and faculty members agreed to no pay raises and minimal COLA. However, the college’s financial health is improving. According to financial reports, the net activity is positive for the first time in four years and Ohlone’s deficit factor was lowered from .75 percent to .318 percent. In the fourth quarter of 20142015, Ohlone’s estimated expenditures were lower than budgeted. In the final budget, there are undesignated funds, which the board can allocate for any purpose, and a 27 percent reserve. When Continued on Page 3
Students can meet with college reps on Transfer Day AGNES MADRIAGA Features editor Transfer Day on Sept. 29 will provide Ohlone students with an opportunity to explore transfer options and meet representatives from universities and colleges. The event will be held at the Newark campus from 10 a.m. to noon and, in the afternoon, various workshops will be conducted. About 45 universities and colleges will attend this event, including University of California and California State University schools, Holy Names and St. Mary’s College, to name a few.
Elisa Castro, Transfer Center coordinator, recommends that students come with questions and keep an open mind. At the event, she suggests that students gather materials and be aware of the schools’ requirements. “This is an opportunity that will benefit everyone, whether you’re starting the transfer process or in the middle of it,” she said. On the day of the event, two vans will shuttle students from the Fremont campus to the Newark campus. Space is limited, so call ahead of time at 510-659Continued on Page 2
LAURA GONSALVES / MONITOR FILE PHOTO
Students meet with college representatives during last year’s Transfer Day on the Newark campus.