UC schools have an additional benefit of starting at a community college. All UC’s offer Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements through us! This means that if you have a UC in mind for transfer, you can set up a TAG agreement to guarantee your admission. It will be based on your school of choice, your major and your GPA.

See the Counseling Office for details.

“When we have female cadets, they are actively sought out by local agencies. They are considered an invaluable asset to law enforcement, we just don’t see enough women interested in the profession,” according to Steve Ames, CJTC Coordinator. “Law enforcement offers great career opportunities for women, and many of our female graduates are highly successful such as Jackie Gomez-Whiteley, Cypress Police Chief. ”

Ames is thrilled to see the increase in female enrollment. Some of these women are bilingual—a large asset in law enforcement. One cadet is GWC’s own Annie Nguyen, former campus security professional, and three cadets have already been recruited and are sponsored by Irvine PD.

When the group was asked about their interest in becoming a peace officer, their answers were not gender specific, “ I’ve wanted to be a police officer since I was nine years old,” “I am following a family’s tradition,” “I want to give back to the community,” “I want to be a good role model,” “I feel a moral obligation to contribute to society.”

The Police Academy Regular Basic Course is an intensive 24-week program. Of the many challenges that all cadets experience in this course, women typically struggle with their upper body strength. However, it is stated that women generally excel in their writing skills and in their ability to de-escalate situations. On the job, female officers hold the same positions as their male counterparts in all areas of law enforcement.

Programs offered at the Criminal Justice Training Center meet the constantly changing training needs of the law enforcement profession. The state certification standards for police officers are established and mandated by the State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).

Information about the CJTC is at www.goldenwestcollege.edu/cjtc

Life changes quite rapidly from our beginning plan at times, and this is no different when it comes to school. We would love to have things align perfectly, however what if things take a detour? Are you prepared to still move forward? Have you covered your bases? Think about it…the key to success is partly determination, but the main substance of success is built around preparation.

Today I am going to discuss with you this topic of preparation so that you can apply it to your goals,for your education and your life. One of my main reasons for choosing to address this topic is that I have been hearing a lot of mis-guided information about students not transferring, getting stuck, not getting classes, and not getting into programs. So, let’s talk about this. If you take a look at the history, students that come to the community colleges have many goals for education ranging anywhere from retraining to transferring. Now, with the “budget impaction” with the state this does mean that we have cut some courses and altered our schedules so that we can adhere to our funding. Rest assured that we are FULLY aware that the only reason we have classes, a college, a school system, and at the end of the day…a job, is because we are here to educate students. We do have students that are not getting their courses, some due to lack of flexibility in their weekly schedule, and most because they didn’t prepare and have now gone into a late registration.

So, how can you become prepared?
1) put your applications in online ASAP for the following semester. Keep in mind you only have to re-apply if you didn’t enroll in the prior semester. (HS SOAR students- sit for your test and mark GWC on the application for priority registration-local feeder HS only!)
2) Go to your scheduled orientation time! If you must re-schedule this, do it ASAP.
3) REGISTER on the date and time that is sent to you! (It will be sent to your mygwc account). Now let’s talk registration for a minute…you can go online at any point and take a look at the courses you are going to be enrolling in. It will tell you if there is still space in the class or if you need to possible have a back up course in mind. Word of advise…no matter where you are in the world, REGISTER ON TIME!!! Get to a computer and register. If you are late, it means classes are closing! Additionally, petition your ideal classes (meaning show up to the first class!).

You can also entertain the thought of backing yourself up by having applications in at other campuses. Hey, it’s free…and you only use your registration time if you need it! I tell this to high school seniors all the time, back yourself up with us even if you are “positive” you are being accepted to your four-year university of choice. The consequence of not doing this means you could be in late registration (meaning less class options).

So in remaining in today’s theme…BACK YOURSELF UP, BACK YOURSELF UP, BACK YOURSELF UP! You hold the keys to your success, so lets get moving!

Contact me with any questions you may have!

Best,
Anna

For last week’s Design show, held Friday, December 9^th, our program obtained some of the props used in the Halloween event, embellishing them for display. In addition, the students took the time to build new and innovative displays, using animatronics, in order to turn the evening into an “Enchanting” experience, open to the public.

The Design program holds a student show each semester. Come check out the program. You could be part of the new wave of what the USA does best…Design.

I enjoy being able to put this in perspective again for those that are reading my blogs…that education is KEY in providing a future of success for our economy. I cannot stress enough to my student readers…empower yourself to take on the challenges of your future, find a career and educational path that you are inspired by, and take advantage of what GWC can offer you. YOU are the leaders of our future. WE need you to be ready!

Dr. Anthony Noble creates and funds a Halloween extravaganza every year, transforming an entire street into a Halloween ‘Movie Set’.  This year’s theme was ‘Haunted Fairy Tales’ ­— last year it was ‘Star Wars’.  An estimated 18,000 people came out to see the amazing displays.

Students were able to hone their skills, and get some practical experience, working on Disneyland-type sets, characters and projects at 16 different sites on the street. Many students worked on multiple projects and sets, which included the Ariel/Triton set,  Snow White and Matterhorn sets, Humpty Dumpty, Alice in Wonderland, Jack in the Bean Stalk, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Old Lady in the Shoe, Beauty and the Beast, The Three Pigs, and the Rapunzel Tower/Dragon set.

On Halloween night, students acted as tour guides, and others were fairy tale cast members. “It is inspiring to see that kind of hard work, passion, sacrifice and commitment from our students,” said Greg Wight, Design Instructor.

Many of the props were delivered to the GWC Design Studios and will be on display during the Fall 2011 Design Student Show on December 9 at 6PM.

The students have already begun design and preparation work on next year’s theme – ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

Our Design department will be putting on a show (incorporating some of the life-size props) on Friday, December 9th from 5-10pm. Come check it out!

Photo Gallery

In order to get the job you want now, the career you want later, the life you want, the income you desire, the soul mate you may be looking for, the connections to your future…you have to learn how to market your best asset…YOU!

When you look at what a resume’ is, an interview, a first date or your college applications are, the most common ground is that it is a reflection of you. These are ways to build and create buy-in from the person, company, or college of your choice.  There is never a better time than now to learn skills to help you create a blueprint for the ways to market you as a person and what you are capable of.

Some ways to learn and refine these skills are certainly offered here at GWC. The possibilities are endless. You have your interpersonal communication classes to learn how to interact with others effectively (and network), public speaking classes to help in times when you need to address a group of people (or put to rest any fears of interviews), Writing and English classes to refine your writing skills, foreign language courses to be an asset to your employer and the community, and the Career Center and workshops to help you build your resume’. These are just a few of the endless opportunities to advance your skills and deliver your message. Remember to ask those you work for, learn from, or do community service with for letters of recommendation. Start building a portfolio. In some cases businesses like to see your work, not just hear about it.

Have you ever spoken to someone after hearing him or her give an amazing and effective speech? Nine times out of ten, if you ask them how they got to be such a motivational speaker you may receive the response “I get so nervous and dread public speaking!” It is a refined skill, not just a passion. I can relate to this, as I speak in public situations all the time, and trust me when I say I did not race to the podium when I first learned this would be part of my career.

Most of the time in school or your career we all tend to look to the next task to complete for some other purpose. Start paying attention to what you are learning or creating and find a way to make it work toward your goals. Open your eyes to the things and people around you. Every moment you leave your house, desk or office is an opportunity to connect with new people…and you never know what role that person could play in your future.

To our upcoming generation…you are the leaders of our future. Use us to get there!

Golden West College  instructors Tom and Jon Kubis were brought on board by  FOX network’s hit television show “America’s Got Talent” and Sony Records to create musical arrangements for this year’s million dollar winner, vocalist Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

Landau won the nationwide voting with his vocals that have a remarkable similarity to the the late Frank Sinatra. “Jon and I were part of a team brought in for the daunting task of creating a CD’s and DVD’s worth of musical arrangements and compositions for 35 musicians in one week”  Tom explained.

Tom conducted his two recording sessions at Capitol Records in the famous Studio A, where Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Barbra Streisand recorded. The musicians on the recording session were the “who’s who” list of Hollywood studio musicians, singers, recording engineers and video personnel.

“It was such a thrill and a privilege to work with such great and talented players. Some were Grammy winners and nominees by themselves. It was also an honor to conduct in the historic Capitol Records Studio A,  where some of this music was first sung by Sinatra himself,” says Tom.

Jon Kubis (GWC Digital Media instructor) wrote the orchestral string arrangements, again having the privilege of working with Hollywood’s finest string players.

Jon and Tom also got to work closely with producers Steve Tyrell and Jon Allen, Joann Tominaga of the Quincy Jones production company, and legendary recording engineer Bill Shnee.

All of Jon’s and Tom’s music was created on the computer and sent around the country to New York, Houston, and Hollywood with pdf’s, mp3′s and sound files to get ready for the final recording sessions. “Everything is done through e-mail now, so different than the old days when we just used paper and sent everything by “snail mail”  Tom says.

“Interestingly enough, another show, “Dancing With The Stars” has brought back “Jazz Swing” music for the younger generation so that a talent like Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. can have the nationwide forum,” explains Tom, ” jazz and contemporary players are now playing in Swing bands at many high school proms and homecomings and the younger crowd have really attached themselves to the “Swing Jazz” music, giving us gigs we thought were gone in the 70′s.”

Tom’s credits also included creating music for Grammy winners Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, noted composer David Raksin, (along with Jon) Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Cy Coleman and the Disney company to name a few. Jon and Tom also arranged the closing credit music Trust Me to the recent movie “The Informant” with Matt Damon.

“This is such a great opportunity to show our GWC students how a company like Fox and Sony Records works and how a large project like this is put together each step of the way” says Tom.

The CD and DVD will be out in a few weeks then Landau opens in Las Vegas using Tom’s, Jon’s and Don Sebesky’s arrangements.

“This is so much fun I wish this would happen every week!” quips Tom.

I have been in my position here with the college for over four (4) years now, and without fail the most common question I get is “do students get stuck for years at GWC?” The answer is no, when you are speaking of the word “stuck.” In taking a look at this term, it assumes that something happened to the student that is out of their control. This “getting stuck” phrase is a complete mis-conception. Now, this being said, students can (in any college atmosphere) set themselves behind in their education, causing them to put in additional semesters and therefore spending more money.

Before I get into the various causes for student set-backs, let’s take a brief look at why students come to a community college to begin with. Being one of the 112 community colleges in the state of California, GWC is designed to offer students options for their education and/or career training at a fraction of the cost of a private vocational school and four year university.  We offer options for transfer, re-training, career certificates and Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees-which are your two-year degrees. In identifying each student’s individual needs, we find that not all students’ original plan involves a transfer to a university.  Some students come to take exploratory classes, some re-train after losing a job or changing careers, and some follow the career certificate path in order to get the training necessary for careers in such fields as Nursing, Criminal Justice, Automotive, Cosmetology, etc. These are all careers that do not currently require an advanced degree.

Ok, now let’s talk how a student who is transfer bound can set themselves back.  First word of advice for High School Seniors…TAKE MATH YOUR SENIOR YEAR! If you are anything like me, when you don’t keep up your math skills, you lose them. This can set you back in the number of classes you will have to fulfill, and therefore semesters depending on where you place in math on your SOAR placement tests (Math/English placement) and what your major will require.

Next possibility is one that is most common, not knowing your major. Community Colleges are geared to help these students explore their major options at minimal cost. It is very common for students to be uncertain at the end of their senior year, and even for those who seem certain, the average major change per student even at the UC and Cal State level is 3 times. Students need to be careful when switching majors at the university level as it can change their admission to the college, the school they attend may not have the desired major of their choice, and it is expensive to add classes to your overall goal at the four year level. But in simple terms, adding classes= more time and more money no matter where you go to school.

One of the common set-backs I have currently heard about from students who have been part of our GWC family are those that have chosen one of our career certificate programs as their path, and decided not to take their math and English placement tests because it is not required. Well, they later decided to get their AA or to transfer, and now they hardly even remember the basics in math, and writing essays in a certain format has become foreign. When they did test for placement, they were placed in a remedial course (which doesn’t even count, it is a refresher). The way to avoid this is to take your placement tests in the spring time of your senior year (SOAR testing- stay tuned for the SOAR blog). These placement tests will sit on your records in our system for 2 years, giving you some time to decide what direction you are headed in your education. If you took the placement tests at another community college, or you want to attend another community college and you did your testing with GWC, keep in mind that we accept each other’s testing scores. Just take your test results to the assessment center at the school of your choice.

I certainly hope that this has helped clear up this topic. Please feel free to contact me at anytime with your questions and/or concerns. We can address any of these in a part 2 of this blog if they come up.

Best Regards,

Anna

I woke up this morning to the news that we had lost one of our generation’s most influential innovators, Steve Jobs.  As I read through a few of the articles posted in regards to his passing, I came across one of his motivational speeches- in my opinion, his most life-changing motivational speeches. As I watched this YouTube video of his 2005 Stanford University Graduation Speech (PLEASE watch at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd_ptbiPoXM&feature=player_embedded#!), I realized how much of an influence this speech could be for our current, as well as our incoming students.

In his speech he addresses the most pivotal points that shaped his career and personal life. He also discusses the importance of finding your passions, which we convey to students that their major of choice should reflect. To look at your education, not as a task, but as a path to teach you the tools to get where you want to be…wherever that is. Take tools from your everyday learning and apply them to how they can help move you forward towards YOUR goals. As Steve mentions, you will learn to connect your dots.

I cannot tell you how often I hear the question “What if I don’t know my major or what I want to do?” My answer is open ended. Explore. But don’t waste your exploration either. Take a look at what jobs intrigue your interest. Then look at what educational experiences can help you get there.  I say experiences because you do want to make every class you take work for your goals. In the video, Steve addresses how he related his education to his goal…and look where that took him! Education is in basic terms exactly that, to learn about something-or everything. Now that you are headed into college, the fun part is to find your passion…and pursue it. Connect with your teachers and build your networks. This opens future doors, and to connect with those doing the job is priceless.

Now, one thing you will learn from this speech (if you didn’t already know) is that Steve Jobs dropped out of college. What he does talk about is how he “dropped in” to learn about subjects that interested him. He used his educational experiences to refine his product empire. One major point I need to make is that there are a few human beings that have become extremely successful without going to college. But hey, if it didn’t happen to me- and trust me I begged for the opportunity to be “naturally genius”- then most likely you are like the rest of us, and need some fine-tuning when it comes to learning what will help you succeed.

Keep in mind that everybody’s passion is different. Everyone’s success is self-measured. So, take the time to explore yours. You never know, you could be the one who changes our future, so don’t live someone else’s life…create YOURS!