In this issue

What's New • College Governance • Shout-outs! • In the News • Calendar

What's New 

Cuesta Celebrates Black History Month

Black History Month

Cuesta College is celebrating Black History Month in February with a display and poetry/literature readings on both campuses. The SLO Campus Library is now featuring an exhibit entitled “America’s Forgotten Greatness” curated by Cuesta English Professor Eric Atkinson. The exhibit will be up through the month of February. As part of the free Faculty Lecture Series, “Black Ink: The Power of African American Literature” will feature a poetry and literature reading co-hosted by the Cultural Center, Library and English departments on 2/21 at the SLO campus and 2/26 at the North County campus.

Check out the press release for additional details.

Cuesta College Book of the Year Events

Book of the Year

Cuesta College’s 2019 Book of the Year program will bring renowned Mexican-American Chicana scholar, novelist, and poet Ana Castillo to San Luis Obispo on March 5 to discuss her memoir Black Dove: Mama, Mi’jo and Me. Tickets for the presentation and book-signing event at the Harold J. Miossi CPAC are now on sale at tickets.cuesta.edu.

Events leading up to the event include free cultural activities such as film screenings, dance performances, and art workshops. See Calendar of Events for a full program listing or the press release with full details.

Contemporary Puerto Rican Art Exhibit

Topologies of Excess: A Survey of Contemporary Practices from Puerto Rico is currently showing at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery. The exhibition attempts to document some of the emerging practices from Puerto Rican contemporary artists in recent years. Video of the artist talk can be found below.

In Case You Missed It: Spring 2019 Opening Day Video

The Spring 2019 Opening Day included panel discussions on AB705 and Guided Pathways as well as presentations on the new Student-Centered Funding Formula and taskforce recommendations in response to the Student Equity Focus Groups report. Awards were also presented for service and faculty excellence. Superintendent / President Dr. Jill Stearns highlighted the College’s Vision for Success with one intent, one goal, and one vision.

In Case You Missed It: ECE Center Groundbreaking Video

On February 1, Cuesta College held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Measure L-funded R & B Shultz Early Childhood Education Center at the North County Campus in Paso Robles. The building will provide dedicated teaching spaces related to early childhood education, faculty offices, and increased childcare services for children 18 months to 5 years old.

In Case You Missed It: Dr. Stork Gym Dedication Video

A special dedication ceremony for the Dr. Gilbert H. Stork Gymnasium was held on Saturday, February 2nd at Cuesta College’s San Luis Obispo Campus. The naming of the Dr. Gilbert H. Stork Gymnasium was approved by the Cuesta College Board of Trustees in July 2018 to honor the 51-year legacy of Dr. Gilbert H. Stork upon his retirement as Superintendent/President of Cuesta College. 

 College Governance Communications

Each month, the Cuesta Newsletter serves as a communication conduit for College Council, Planning & Budget Committee, Academic Senate Council, and the Board of Trustees. 

Board of Trustees Meeting of February 6th

The Board of Trustees approved faculty tenure and tenure-track contract (see more in Shout-Outs) and sabbatical leave recommendations. The Board also held a Budget Workshop and established the nonresident tuition fee for 2019-2020. For a full look at the Board's discussions and actions, visit the Board Docs website.

Academic Senate Council

Greetings from the Cuesta College Academic Senate. This month's big news is that eight faculty members were granted tenure! Congratulations to Denae Boggs, Mike Fontes, Pamela Michele Gordon Johnson, Canguo Liu, Catherine Ruiz, Wesley Sims, Amy Stapp, and Lisa Wearda. The Academic Council also approved contributing $750.00 from the Academic Senate Foundation to fund three student scholarships in the amount of $250.00 each. The Academic Senate Foundation is financed through voluntary contributions of faculty members.

 College Council

There is no report from College Council.

Planning & Budget Committee

There is no report from the Planning & Budget Committee.

Back to Top

Shout-outs! 

Tenured Faculty 

Tenured Faculty

At the February 6 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the recommendation of the Institutional Tenure Review Committee to award tenure to the following faculty members:

Denae Boggs, Human Development / Human Services
Mike Fontes, Electronics / Electrical Technology & Welding
Pamela Gordon Johnson, Early Childhood Education & Human Development / Human Services
Canguo Liu, Graphic Design
Catherine Ruiz, Allied Health
Wesley Sims, English
Amy Stapp, Business Education
Lisa Wearda, Counseling

Congratulations and thank you for your significant academic service to Cuesta College!

Top Scholar Recognition

Water Polo

The Cuesta College Men’s Water Polo team has been recognized as one of the top Scholar Teams for the California Community College Athletic Association. In addition, both Cuesta College Student Athletes of the Year, Mia Viss (Women’s Water Polo) and Chandler Mankins  (Men’s Water Polo), have been named to the CCCAA Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. Only a handful of the nearly 24,000 community college student-athletes that compete annually are selected for this award. The Men’s Water Polo team, Mia, and Chandler will all be honored at the annual CCCAA Spring Convention on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Hilton Concord in Concord, CA. Congratulations, Cougars!

 Excellence in Community Education Award

Community Programs

Community Programs received the annual Excellence in Community Education Award from the Association of Community and Continuing Education for establishing the UC California Naturalist Program at Cuesta College. Community Programs offered this 40-hour course for the first time in Fall 2018. Upon completion of the course, students receive a certification and pin confirming their role as a California Naturalist. Participants are eligible for four academic credits through UC Extension. Once certified, naturalists have opportunities to volunteer with agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Learn more about the California Naturalist Program at http://calnat.ucanr.edu

Back to Top

In the News

Over the past few weeks, the following information was included in media segments:

Back to Top

 Calendar

Here’s a look at some of the events going on around campus. For the full calendar, visit the Cuesta College Events Calendar:

  • February 15-18: District Closed
  • February 15, 16: Baseball vs. DeAnza
  • February 19: Animation/Layout Design Career Presentation
  • February 19: Food Bank Distribution
  • February 19: Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs. Ventura
  • February 20: Active Shooter Awareness Forum, North County
  • February 21: Active Shooter Awareness Forum, SLO
  • February 21: Baseball vs. Sequoias
  • February 21: Black Ink - The Power of African American Literature, SLO
  • February 22: Future Teacher Chapter Club Meeting
  • February 26: Black Ink - The Power of African American Literature, NC
  • February 26: Softball vs. Moorpark
  • February 28: Baseball vs. Solano
  • February 28: Peter Callas Artist Talk
  • March 1: Peter Callas Ceramics Demonstration
  • March 1: Music Faculty Concert
  • March 5: Softball vs. Santa Barbara
  • March 7: Deadline for Graduation Registration Priority

Back to Top

Email questions and comments to Ritchie Bermudez at claudansid_bermudez@cuesta.edu.