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May 4, 2007

1. A meeting of the combined CalWORKs/VTEA/Tech Prep Advisory Committee was held on December 7, 2006, in the new LearningResourceCenter of the Menifee Valley Campus. The following members were present.

Irene Barnhouse / Economic Development Agency/WDC
Korine Barrick / Hemet CalWORKs/GAIN
Walt Brubaker / Superintendent, Hemet Unified School District
Lisa Campbell / Hemet CalWORKs/GAIN
David Candelaria / Business Department Chair, Mt San JacintoCollege
Rick Collins / Career Education Dean, Mt San JacintoCollege
Rhonda Dixon / Community Education Coordinator, Mt San JacintoCollege
Lucinda Edmunds / Asst. Superintendent, Educational Services, San Jacinto USD
Anabel Franco / Case Manager, AFLP/Cal Learn
Donna Greene / Mt San JacintoCollege
Kimberly Harts / Alternatives to Domestic Violence
Caren Hennessy / Business Instructor, Mt San JacintoCollege
Pat James / Interim Dean, Technology, Mt San JacintoCollege
Joyce Johnson / Associate Dean, Allied Health, Mt San JacintoCollege
Jill Lanphere / Clerical Assistant, Mt San JacintoCollege
Laurie McLaughlin / Associate Dean, Career Education, Mt San JacintoCollege
Kaye Melsheimer / Mt San JacintoCollege
Mario Muela / Hemet CalWORKs/GAIN
Rosa Penaloza / PerrisYouthOpportunityCenter, Arbor Education and Training
Mary Jo Ramirez / CaliforniaFamilyLifeCenter
Janis Ruggiero / Hemet CalWORKs/GAIN
Nancy Obenberger / Executive Director
Dottie Smith / VTEA Coordinator, Mt San JacintoCollege
Joan Todaro / Banning CalWORKs/GAIN
Kathy Valcarcel / CalWORKs Coordinator, Mt San JacintoCollege
Kurt VanKershaver / Hemet CalWORKs/GAIN
Manolito Vitug / Retired Vice President, Bank of America
Donna Wilder / Tech Prep/Occupational Internship Coordinator, MSJC

2. Welcome and Introductions

Mr. Rick Collins opened the meeting at 11:52 a.m. by introducing himself. He welcomed the members, thanked them for attending the meeting, and reminded everyone of the importance the advisory committee process holds for the college. Mr. Collins asked the members to introduce themselves.

3. Program Updates

  1. CalWORKs – Kathy Valcarcel

Ms. Valcarcel gave a PowerPoint presentation to update the CalWORKs program. There will be increase emphasis on data collection. The program has received an additional $8,568 to increase the work study program. They are currently serving 119 students and have slots for 25 more. We need to find clients who meet our income criteria.

b.VTEA – Laurie McLaughlin

Ms. McLaughlin gave a brief description of what VTEA is and what it does for the college. VTEA provides the college with funding that is legislated through the Federal government to assist with improvement of career education programs. The program began in 1972 and was recently approved for an additional six years. For the 2006-2007 school year, our funding was approximately $408,000. One of the items we have spent money this year is marketing materials. We can provide you with brochures if you can use them in your organizations. We also would like to hear your comments on ways you think we should spend of VTEA funds.

c.Tech Prep – Donna Wilder

Ms. Wilder described how the Tech Prep program works at Mt San Jacinto College (MSJC). We have developed a Tech Prep consortia and offer mini grants to the members. Districts can use these funds to write courses that can be articulated with MSJC and they can write courses that will lead students to attend college. Funds can also be used for such things as posters and other marketing materials. Ms. Wilder explained the matrix of courses included in the packets. This matrix shows the courses that are articulated with high schools in our district.

d.Child Development and Education Program – Donna Greene

Ms. Greene had a PowerPoint presentation about the Child Development and Education program (attached). She told the members that they have funding to help students who can’t pay for childcare if they are going to school. They also train new teachers. In the preschool program they are working with the students to prepare them to be successful in school.

There was a question regarding funding childcare during school breaks (between fall and spring semester, summer). Ms. Greene stated that currently they cannot hold a slot open for the children and they encourage their parents to find a part-time job while they are on break. They are working to find funds to help parents with this problem.

Ms. Valcarcel told the members that if participants get into the TANF CDC program before they time out, they can continue in the program until they finish school.

e.Community Education and Noncredit Courses – Rhonda Dixon

Ms. Dixon informed the members that community education includes fee-based classes and non-credit classes such as: GED prep, non-credit ESL classes, and short-term career education programs.

Ms. Dixon also told them about the new fee-based Pharmacy Technician program. There is a huge demand for trained workers in this area. Most private programs cost $8,000-15,000. We have partnered with BostonReedCollege and the cost for the program is $2,195. It takes six months to complete the program and there is an externship requirement.

In January we will start a non-credit 12-week program for light duty automotive service technician. There will be no cost to the student. A member asked if students must have a high school diploma or GED for this program. The answer is that they do not; however, employers are looking for people with a diploma or GED. Another member asked if current high school students can apply. Ms. Dixon said she would have to check into that, but she knows they need to be close to 18 because they cannot get a job in this field until they are 18.

f.Update on Office Occupations Courses - Caren Hennessy

Ms. Hennessy showed the members a PowerPoint presentation (attached) on planned additions to the Office Occupations program. She told the committees that if they find the need for a skill, call her. We can write a course to fill any need.

There is a growing demand for Virtual Office Assistants. These workers are self-employed, work from home, and support may support several companies at the same time. They must know how to deal with virtual glitches.

  1. Occupational Internship Program - Donna Wilder

Ms. Wilder talked about the Occupational Internship Program. The program is designed to familiarize students with the world of work. Students can earn between 4-8 units per semester. We are trying to increase our internship program. We have hired a faculty coordinator to present the CalWORKS program to employers as an internship program. A member asked if students can develop their own Occupational Internship sites. The answer is yes.

4. Feedback and Future Directions from Business/Community Partners

Mr. Collins called attention to the Feedback Forms in each informational packet. He asked the members to fill them out if they have suggestions they wish to make for any of our programs or for use of the VTEA funds. He then asked each of the members if they had anything they would like to add to the meeting.

  • Questions: A member asked if there was any update on training programs for the casinos. Answer: We have a grant partnership submission to develop a casino training program. There are two casinos interested: Soboba and Morongo.
  • Question: How much of an intern’s wage can be subsidized under the Occupational Internship Program? Answer: Up to 75 percent.
  • Question: Do you think the college will have move to offer a program to training Virtual Office Assistants? Answer: We will be looking at the program. There is a certificate program already in progress at a neighboring college.
  • A member from Workforce Development thanked us for providing information about their programs. They are working to provide services to businesses.
  • Question: Is there anything incorporated within your programs to teach soft skills? Answer: We incorporate these skills in our classes. We also offer a ½ unit class to teach students how to be better prepared for customer service.
  • Question: Within the articulation program, why aren’t all high schools asking for articulation with OTEC 144, Keyboard and Document Formatting? Answer: They have to be able to demonstrate the same level of student outcomes.
  • Rhonda Dixon stated that we are working on getting a better system for verifying attendance for DPSS.
  • Question: HemetUnifiedSchool Districtwants to get back to more articulated courses. Do we have to wait until a specific time to start working on articulation agreements? Answer: No it can be done at any time.
  • Question: What is happening with the pre-apprenticeship program? Laurie McLaughlin answer that we have offered the class and we can offer it again. This class is a preparation class consisting of 10 weeks and includes safety, CPR, and forklift. Each week the students are introduced to a trade. They explain what skills are needed, working conditions, etc. We have a Manufacturing Advisory Committee meeting next week and will be discussing what we can do to help students gain entry into the manufacturing field.
  • Pat James mentioned that there is an SB 70 project that is working on state-wide articulation agreements that will be portable from region to region and college to college.
  • Continuation schools can set up a TA to help students at their location to take our on line classes.

5. Mr. Collins introduced Ms. Pat James who provided a tour of the Learning Resource Center which opened during the summer of 2006. The meeting adjourned at 1:23 p.m. and the members began the tour.

Attachments:PowerPoint Presentation – CDE

PowerPoint Presentation – Office Technology