Annual forum showcases 2012-13 academic year

Concerns regarding the immediate, and not so distant, future of Contra Costa College’s budget and the overall state of the college are common topics for administrator after enduring four years of district-wide cuts equaling more than $21 million.

In the presence of more than 100 faculty, classified staff members, administrators and students, speakers revealed and reiterated news that could offer temporary refuge for the district at All College Day in the Knox Center on Aug. 16.

A few of the morning’s highlighted topics included the Contra Costa County parcel tax, Proposition 30, Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) results, the announcement of the district’s adoption of new online operating systems and a generous donation of $1.1 million from community members Antonio and Trinidad Carrico.

“Interest isn’t much these days. However, I want to make (the donation) build upon itself and make sure it lasts. We have to be mindful. We will spend some, but the idea is to make it last,” CCC President Dr. Denise Noldon said referring to the donation on behalf of the former owners of the Hacienda Mexican/American restaurant in Richmond.

According to Antonio Carrico’s lawyer, the funds are not available until six months after the army vet’s death, Dr. Noldon said. Carrico passed away June 15 at the age of 91.

In his address, United Faculty President Jeffrey Michels mentioned the Contra Costa County parcel tax initiative and Proposition 30, both of which will be on the Nov. 6 ballot. Both measures will put revenue back into the budgets of the district and CCC.

The parcel tax is estimated to bring in $3.9 million annually to the district for six years by taxing county property (parcel) owners $11 per parcel. Proposition 30 will raise state sales taxes by one quarter of one cent and income tax rates for those making at least $250,000.

In his presentation about the key findings of the CCSSE administered, Academic Senate President Wayne Organ revealed how CCC’s benchmark results compare to the top 10 percent of all colleges who participated.

Active and Collaborative Learning, a category in Organ’s presentation, showed that 58.6 percent of survey participants were satisfactory in this category. Colleges in the top 10 percent show 59.6 percent.

CCC ranks higher than the CCSSE cohort average in the category — encouraging contact among students from different economic, social and racial or ethnic backgrounds.

The average is 51.2, CCC’s score reads 65.1.

Although some college scores compare, and in some cases, surpass the averages of the cohort, there are areas where CCC needs to improve — registration being one of them.

Average numbers report that 89.5 percent of students surveyed said they registered for college before class sessions began. Only 69.3 percent of CCC students did the same. Furthermore 6.2 percent of CCC students revealed they did not register before the first class session, the average is 1.9 percent.

After four of his players were murdered within the last 18 months, men’s soccer coach Rudy Zeller took to the podium with a heavy heart, asking attendees to participate in a one minute moment of silence for the most recent of victims, Santiago “Santi” Manriquez whose life was taken Aug. 12.

Manriquez is the brother of Andrew “Andy” Manriquez who was murdered on April 8, 2011.

“We need to have a ‘no violence’ policy. We (CCC) are a key element to this community,” Zeller said.

“I want to talk to Denise about organizing a symposium and bring in people from the community and city officials so we can talk about what we, as a community, can do. We can’t just stand by (stagnate) and pray that it won’t happen to us.”

Zeller expressed feelings regarding Manriquez and his loved ones — “I’m keeping the heart and soul of Santi’s mother in my prayers. (Santiago) was a wonderful person. His smile — his pure love, and his lust for life,” Zeller said.

Despite the emotional ups and downs during the event, All College Day provided a delight to professors.

At the event, two instructors were presented with awards. Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society presented the “Golden Bell” award to astronomy, physics and engineering professor Mark Wong. It’s an award voted on by AGS students honoring their favorite professor.

The “Martin Padilla Service Award,” presented by the ASU, went to culinary arts department Chairperson Nader Sharkes.