Tag: Rocklin Campus

Sierra College Natural History Museum Welcomes Laura Matzer as Director

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Laura Matzer Headshot
Laura Matzer, Director of the Sierra College Natural History Museum

Sierra College has named Laura Matzer as Director of the Sierra College Natural History Museum (SCNHM). Matzer comes to Sierra College from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum in The Dalles, Oregon, where she was responsible for leadership, vision, and direction for the museum. At Sierra College, Matzer will plan, direct, manage, oversee, and provide leadership for the award-winning Sierra College Natural History Museum located on the Rocklin campus.

The Museum has more than 20,000 specimens, with objects to spark the curiosity of every visitor. Currently on view is an Animals of the World exhibit, a Marine Mammals gallery, a Minerology exhibit featuring an array of spectacular minerals, and an Entomology (insect) display featuring California butterflies.

Matzer will establish new connections with the community via public outreach through the coordination, marketing, event planning and general facilitation of Museum tours and lectures, including teacher-training activities. Matzer will also oversee the management of the on-campus nature preserve and arboreta, and plays an active role in the development of an endowment fund to support long-term funding for the Museum.

Laura Matzer states: “Since I arrived, I have found the goodwill and support for Sierra College’s Natural History Museum to be truly remarkable. In seeking to enhance the visitor experience, it is an honor to work with students, faculty, staff, and the public to build upon the foundations already established for our exhibitions, collections, and programming, as the campus – and our audience – continues to grow. I also look forward to developing creative ways of sharing this incredible gem on Sierra College’s campus with those in the surrounding communities who have yet to discover its wonder.”

SCNHM hosts programs and events throughout the year including Free Saturdays (next program is held July 13h from 10 am-2 pm) and Dinosaur Day and Science Fest in May with live animal exhibitions, lectures, tours, Planetarium shows, physics and chemistry demonstrations, face painting, paleontological digs, and maker stations. To stay up to date, visit www.sierracollege.edu/museum.

About Sierra College
Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu.

Sierra College and Partners Lead Sierra Workforce Summit

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Attendees Commit to Making Placer County the California Leader for Lifelong Learning and Career-long Success

Representatives of Placer County’s major employers and education providers came together on Tuesday, June 18 at the Sierra College Rocklin Campus to advance breakthrough strategies for preparing youth and working-age adults for good-paying jobs.  

The Sierra Workforce Summit addressed the needs of employers faced with a growing economy, changing skill demands, hard to fill positions, and new technologies revolutionizing how work gets done. 

Speakers and sessions at the Summit included: 

  • Opening keynote address by Lance Hastings, CEO of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association 
  • Futurist Keynote by Todd Trotter, Senior Vice President for Human Resources, Kaiser Permanente  
  • Employer focused sessions with major local employers, including Bosch, Trane, Placer County, and Kaiser Permanente 
  • Panel on the future of workforce development 
  • Roundtables of local education leaders on employer needs and aligning the workforce pathways  

Working Together Towards Big Goals

Wrapping up the event, Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan challenged the attendees with, “Sharing of ideas is valuable but won’t move the needle on preparing our region for the workforce challenges of today and the future. I would like to offer a call to action, a big goal moving forward. This is a vision, a pathway of our own, and something that we can take from today’s Summit and begin to work on.” 

Together, the attendees of the Sierra Workforce Summit agreed to work towards achieving the following goals by 2028: 

  1. Placer learners of all ages are connected to promising careers and can work or intern in their field of interest while in school.
  2. More than 50 area employers actively engaged with local schools and business-serving organizations to anticipate and fill future workforce needs.
  3. All public and private education providers and community-based organizations in Placer County support career exploration and have created clear educational pathways for all students to access high-demand jobs.
  4. Educators, employers and civic organizations will have assisted more than 2,000 working-age adults to increase their skills to advance in their current job or transition to a new career.
  5. Business, education, government, tribes, and community groups function as one team, leveraging information, learnings, and approaches for preparing students for good paying jobs, making Placer County the leading place in California for lifelong learning and career-long success.

The Sierra Workforce Summit was powered by Sierra College and local business partners, including:

  • Placer Business Alliance 
  • Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Valley Vision 
  • Greater Sacramento Economic Council 
  • County of Placer 

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information is at www.sierracollege.edu.  

Sierra College and Partners Announce Workforce Summit

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Sierra Workforce Summit: Future Proof Your Workforce

Business, Cities, Counties, and Education Coming Together on June 18, 2024 to Help Local Employers to Future Proof Their Workforce

Placer County’s major employers and education providers are coming together Tuesday, June 18 at the Sierra College Rocklin Campus to advance breakthrough strategies for preparing youth and working-age adults now for good-paying jobs.  

Sierra College and local partners are convening this first-ever Sierra Workforce Summit to address the needs of employers faced with a growing economy, changing skill demands, hard to fill positions, and new technologies revolutionizing how work gets done. 

“The needs of employers and the expectations of employees are changing fast with the advent of new technologies and evolving workplace expectations and demands,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President. “The Sierra Workforce Summit brings together those who know what the job market will need with those who will provide the necessary education and training. We hope everyone can join us for a dynamic conversation at Sierra College on June 18th.” 

The schedule will include: 

  • Opening keynote address by Ben Chida, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor for Cradle to Career in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom 
  • Futurist Keynote by Todd Trotter, Senior Vice President for Human Resources, Kaiser Permanente  
  • Employer focused sessions with major local employers including Bosch, Trane, Placer County, and Kaiser Permanente 
  • Panel on the future of workforce development 
  • Roundtables of local education leaders on employer needs, and aligning the workforce pathways  

The Sierra Workforce Summit is powered by Sierra College and local business partners including:  

  • Placer Business Alliance 
  • Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce 
  • Valley Vision 
  • Greater Sacramento Economic Council 
  • County of Placer 

Who Should Attend 

Leaders from the private and public sector who are looking to participate in discussions on how we can work together to meet future workforce needs in our region. 

Registration 

Registration for the Sierra Workforce Summit is open at sierracollege.edu/sws. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited. 

About Sierra College 

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information is at www.sierracollege.edu.  

Sierra College Hosts California State Leaders to Highlight Successful Programs, Business Partnerships that Prepare Students for Well-Paying Jobs

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Ca First Partner Siebel Newsom College Visit
First Partner of California Siebel Newsom (far left) receives a tour of the mechatronics lab at Sierra College.

Event Spotlighted Mechatronics Program, Student Innovation

On Tuesday April 2, 2024, Sierra College hosted leaders from across California to highlight the success of higher education programs that empower community members with training and access to well-paying regional jobs through business partnerships. Visitors to Sierra College included the First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Governor’s Council for Career Education, which includes members from state government leadership, higher education, and the business community. 

During the visit, First Partner Siebel Newsom and members of the Council and Governor’s Office visited with students from the Sierra College Mechatronics program (created to meet regional industry needs) and experienced examples of student innovation in the Makerspace. 

“The Sierra College Mechatronics program is a great example of the commitment the Governor and I share to provide Californians with pathways to well-compensated careers so they have the resources to provide for themselves and their families,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “The focus on recruiting more women into STEM fields like mechatronics also furthers our goal to close the wage, wealth, and opportunity gaps by uplifting women in industries that traditionally exclude us.”

Among those speaking with the First Partner was Sara Lausmann, the Line Maintenance Manager at Bosch Semiconductors, a soon-to-be 200mm silicon carbide (SiC) Fab plant in Roseville. Prior to moving into management, Sara worked as a Line Maintenance Technician for eight years with TSI in the Dry Etch Area. During this time, she went back to school to earn a Mechatronics Certificate at Sierra College. This enabled her to build a great relationship with the Mechatronics Program and onboard many of their graduates. 

“It was a pleasure welcoming California leaders to Sierra College to see the results of the hard work of faculty, staff, and students in changing lives,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President. “Working closely with the local business community and with the support of our community and the State of California we are helping students find new opportunities.” 

Mechatronics provides life-changing career opportunities for many, and unfortunately, it is not being taken advantage of due to not enough women being aware of the potential in these industries or thinking that it may not be for them. Sierra College has increased coordinated enrollment outreach for this program so more can learn about these opportunities, see themselves here, and broaden the pipeline to success. 

Along with First Partner Siebel Newsom, visitors included the following members of the Governor’s Council for Career Education: 

  • Ben Chida, Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Governor 
  • Michael Drake, President, University of California 
  • Sonya Christian, Chancellor, California Community Colleges 
  • Kristen Soares, President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities 
  • Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education 
  • Joe Stephenshaw, Director, California Department of Finance 
  • Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor and Director, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development 
  • Jennifer Barrera, President and CEO, California Chamber of Commerce 
  • Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers 
  • Stewart Knox, Secretary, California Labor and Workforce Development Agency 
  • Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer, California Volunteers 

About Sierra College  

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at sierracollege.edu  

Ridley Gallery at Sierra College Presents the Work of Vincent Pacheco

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Upstanding Citizen, Jan. 30 – Feb. 22, 2024

The Ridley Gallery is pleased to present the work of Vincent Pacheco: Upstanding Citizen.

Vincent Pacheco explores ancestral memories through an installation of hand-made piñatas. As a third-generation Mexican American caught between two worlds – an oppressed minority, and an upstanding citizen in white society – Pacheco uses this traditional craft to forge new cultural understanding. He embeds each piñata with familial memories, akin to a totem, and aims to forge new connections about his family’s crime-ridden past, his fading knowledge of ancestry, and his place in the world.  

Pacheco is a full-time faculty member in the Applied Art and Design department at Sierra College. He has exhibited his art nationally and internationally, and has recently completed artist residencies at MASS MoCA, and Verge Center for the Arts. He is the principal creative of Vincent Pacheco Design Co., a branding and illustration studio with a client list that includes Kinfolk Magazine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Elle Magazine, Disney, Hennessy, and the Nature Conservancy. 

Visitors should note this exhibition references gun violence and drugs. Please plan accordingly. 

Ridley Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 11am – 6 pm.    

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at  www.sierracollege.edu. 

Sierra College Showcases 2023 Cohort of Innovators

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i3 Students Proudly Presented Their Ideas, Celebrated Their Accomplishments

Innovation and entrepreneurship are in-demand skills that students want to hone and employers want to hire.

At Sierra College, students are building them through the pilot Invention and Inclusive Innovation (i3) cohort and student showcase, an exciting finale where they present their ideas to faculty, community business members and entrepreneurs. 

Sierra’s cohort enrolled in three classes that integrated specific skill sets: Social Entrepreneurship, 21st Century Skills, and Rapid Prototyping. The showcase event – held in December – featured four unique team presentations, each addressing a special community need or social venture with the support of the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA). 

The presenting teams were: 

  • “Ghost Power,” with Vincent Amihan, Jeffrey Serpa, Manual Hernandez and Duncan Arnett; 
  • “Recycle Think,” with Andrea Gutierrez; 
  • “Styrofarm,” with Claudio Aravena, Emily Combs, Killian Lesher and Simon Leonard; 
  • “Clean & Go,” with Christiaan Myburgh, Caleb Caudill and Jean Bikindou; and 
  • “Datewise,” with Rel Schoonover and Sorayda Maldonado. 

“It is inspiring to see the i3 Program students so excited about innovation and manufacturing creative solutions for tackling some of the problems in the waste and recycling industry,” said Emily Hoffman, Public Information Assistant at WPWMA. “We were honored to give these students a peek behind the curtain as they toured our facility to learn how waste is sorted, processed and recycled in Placer County.”

She added, “There’s a very bright future for our region with programs like i3 at Sierra College.”  

The i3 program is a collaboration between the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and the Lemelson-MIT Program, modeled after the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams. The InvenTeams are groups of high school students, educators, and mentors that invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their own choosing. 

Schoonover of the Datewise team encouraged other students to participate in future cohorts by saying, “Keep an open mind, let go of barriers. This is a great opportunity.” 

Caudill of the Clean & Go team added, “If you want to be an entrepreneur or run a business, this is [the program] you need to take.” 

Sierra College is one of only four California Community Colleges in partnership with Lemelson-MIT to offer this program, which invites students into the world of social entrepreneurship and innovation while helping them grow their workforce readiness skills. 

Gutierrez of the Recycle Think team said, “You don’t need to forget who you are to be who you are. You can draw here and you can create here.” 

“The best part of this year’s iteration was to watch how a group of diverse and incredibly talented students can come together in a learning community within a 16-week period, grow exponentially, and create complex, viable prototypes to solve an urgent community problem,” said Denis Bushnell, Sierra College faculty member and i3 program coordinator. 

Starting in fall 2024, the i3 learning community concept will transform from a cohort model into an individual, formal non-credit Certificate of Completion class called Entrepreneurship for Makers. The certificate will consist of three courses: Starting a Small Business; Essential Skills (formerly 21st Century Skills); and Rapid Prototyping.   

More information about the i3 program at Sierra College, visit sierracollege.edu/i3. 

Sierra College Welcomes Students, Community Members for Grand Opening

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Celebration of New Instructional Building and Start of Fall 2023 Semester

Fall 2023 semester instruction at Sierra College began on August 21 with increased enrollment and a new instructional building, Building Q, made possible by the community’s support for Measure E. 

The students were the first priority in the new building when the fall semester began on August 21 and on September 19, Sierra College welcomed community leaders for a tour of the 77,000 square foot building with classrooms, art studios, student collaborative spaces, and an easy to access location on the Rocklin campus. 

“The new instructional building is an inviting space intentionally designed to enhance learning and increase student connections,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President.  “With classrooms built to be both user-friendly and flexible, this building will serve our students for the next 50 years. Thanks to the support of our community, our students are benefiting from incredible updates to our campus.”

Facts About the Q Building

  • With approximately 36 classrooms, including four art labs, the Q Building can accommodate more than 1,000 students  
  • Designed to house about 60 percent of the classes offered on the Rocklin campus 
  • Inviting common spaces encourage students to connect and remain on campus 
  • New technology to improve the experience for the increased number of online students 
  • Classroom and lab spaces built to state standards, which will help the district remain competitive for state funding of future construction projects

The Q Building is the second to be completed through the community supported Measure E bond, the first being the new parking garage, completed in 2021. Information on the new instructional building and other ongoing construction projects at Sierra College is available at www.sierracollege.edu/improvements.

Sierra College Student Journalists Recognized for Reporting on Equity at Community College

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Sierra Mickelson, Alexa Topacio, Luis-Antonio Carreon, Ryder Bouck, and Ethan Yamaguchi were recognized as 2023 Emerging Journalist Fellowship students.

Read the California Humanities story: Everybody is Entitled to Equity: Stories from Emerging Journalist Fellows at Sierra College

Read the Roundhouse story: Everybody is Entitled to Equity

Sierra College Students Win First Place at 2023 RoboGames

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“Sparky” the Robot Beats Global Competitors

Students from the Sierra College Robotics Club won first place at RoboGames, the world’s largest open robot competition, held in Pleasanton, Calif., April 6–9, 2023, with their autonomous firefighter robot named “Sparky.”  

The autonomous firefighter competition requires the robot to navigate an 8′ x 8′ model of a house, search the rooms to find a candle and extinguish it, all with no human assistance. At the last RoboGames in 2018, the Club took second place in autonomous firefighting, losing to a team from Egypt.  

Designing, building and programming the robot required the students to master skills in advanced sensor technologies, high-tech motor control, and complex computer programming. These technologies are also used in real-world applications such as autonomous factory robots and self-driving cars and, in turn, helping prepare students for careers in robotics.  

The Sierra College Robotics Club has a 15-year history of competing all over Northern California in events ranging from robot sumo, robot combat, autonomous firefighter, kinetic artbots and more. The students come from a variety of college majors including mechatronics, welding, engineering, physics, computer science, and art.  

About RoboGames
RoboGames (formerly Olympics of Robots) is an international robotics competition with more than 50 different events, including robot hockey, robot combat, robot kung-fu, and robot stair-climbing, as well as autonomous firefighting. The 2023 participants came from 16 different countries spanning the globe from Brazil to Japan, Germany, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal.  

Sierra College Breaks Ground on Affordable Student Housing with Support from the State of California and Local Donors

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Sierra College broke ground today on a campus-changing student housing complex that when completed will provide housing for more than 350 students. Construction of the student housing project is made possible through funding from the State of California and Sierra College general funds. Through careful planning, the monthly rent for most students will be substantially below market rate for the area. Additionally, with investments from members of the community, the cost of housing for students with the greatest need will be significantly decreased, in some cases down to no cost to the student. With the beginning of construction, substantial completion is scheduled for Summer 2025 and expected occupancy for the Fall 2025 semester. 

“Housing is one of the biggest barriers for many students to attend and be successful in college,” said Willy Duncan, Sierra College’s Superintendent/President. “I am excited that the State of California has chosen to invest in housing for community colleges, and that Sierra College will soon be able to provide housing for more than 350 students at rents far below the expensive local market rate. Our generous donors providing investments to further reduce the cost for students with the greatest need will be impactful. This project is more than just a building. It will change our students’ lives.” 

The project is supported by $82 million from the State of California’s Affordable Student Housing grant program. Due to this state funding, the District will be able to charge affordable rents at rates of nearly half the local market rate. The ceremony was attended by Acting Governor, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis who also serves as a member of the California State University Board of Trustees. 

“California’s Community Colleges pave the pathway for millions of Californians to achieve the California dream, but a lack of access to affordable student housing leaves too many students behind,” said Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis. “Thanks to projects like this one at Sierra College, more California students will be able to focus on their education and not worry about where they are going to sleep at night. I’m deeply proud of our state’s historic commitment to supporting the total cost of college attendance for students and ensuring every Californian has a shot at achieving the California dream.”

Sierra College Student Housing Facts: 

  • Current available student housing beds: 120
  • Total number of beds when complete: 358 
  • Square feet: Approximately 124,000 
  • Construction budget: $98.3m 

The new student housing at Sierra College will be a central part of the Rocklin campus, adjacent to the Student Union and Library/Learning Resource Center. In addition to housing, the building will include student support services to increase student success.

The cost to students for residence in the new student housing will be approximately $450 per month. Additionally, with the generous investments of community partners who have participated in the Sierra College Foundation’s Endow-a-Bed program, some beds will be offered at zero cost to qualifying students.

Initial community supporters of this project through the Endow-a-Bed program include: 

“We know that housing and transportation are significant insecurities for many people, including college students, and with this endowment to Sierra College, one student for a year will not have to have worry about where they’re going to be able to sleep and the food they eat,” said Dr. Peter Hull, M.D. Interim CEO and Chief Medical Executive, Sutter Roseville Medical Center. “That’s a tremendous benefit and we’re very pleased to be able to offer that to Sierra College students.” 

“When my father and I decided to open a restaurant together, I went to Sierra College and took an English as a second language class, and the teacher there told me it’s never too late to learn,” said Taro Arai, Mikuni Charitable Organization, Chief Dreaming Officer. “That teacher at Sierra College was right, and since then we’ve been growing and remembering to give back to our community.”

According to ASSC, “Housing insecurity is a real challenge faced by many past, current, and prospective Sierra College students. Through the sponsorship of this endowment of a bed at the dorm, ASSC aims to demonstrate its commitment to providing the resources, services, and support necessary to all students, regardless of their backgrounds, circumstances, and/or financial aid status.” 

About the Sierra College Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Sierra College Foundation (SCF) raises money from private donors to support students, college programs, and the future of Sierra College. SCF does this through events such as Taste of Excellence, the Sierra College Athletics Golf Tournament, grant funding, private donations, corporate donations and planned giving. SCF has grown along with the college and encourages gifts to support students, enhance college programs, faculty support, and facility improvements to ensure student success.

Sierra College Foundation is independently audited and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, most of whom live and work in the communities served by the Sierra Joint Community College District of Placer, Nevada, and parts of Sacramento and El Dorado Counties. For more information about Sierra College Foundation and how to give, visit: www.sierracollege.edu/foundation

About Sierra College

Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu.