"I'm Going to College" is a mind-set The Claremont Colleges hope to instill
in 140 fourth-graders from Upland Elementary School when they spend a day on
the five undergraduate campuses Friday through an early outreach program
aimed at disadvantaged youngsters.
The program, now in its eighth year, simulates an actual day at college.
While on campus, the children receive student identification cards, buy
books, visit dormitories and classrooms, eat in the cafeteria and attend
lectures and scientific demonstrations.
Before they arrive in Claremont, the kids spend about six weeks preparing
for the experience, through an activity book designed for the "I'm Going to
College" program and classroom visits from student volunteers from Pitzer
and other colleges in Claremont. The volunteers talk to the children about
college, help them complete mock admission and financial aid applications
and lead tours of the five colleges once the youngsters arrive.
"I'm Going to College" was first conducted in northern California by the
California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and has now
spread to several sites throughout the state. The Claremont program rotates
participation every three years among local elementary schools in areas
deemed appropriate.
"The main thing that attracted me to Pitzer was the sense of community that
exists here, the emphasis of the college on social responsibility, the focus
on undergraduate education and its holistic approach to teaching," says Greg
Saks, newly appointed director of alumni relations at Pitzer. "Beyond
teaching facts and figures, Pitzer is educating students on their
responsibilities as citizens."
Prior to joining Pitzer's advancement team in late October, Greg worked for
two-and-a-half years as assistant director of alumni affairs at Cal Poly,
Pomona. His responsibilities there included designing and implementing a
regional alumni program consisting of 23 chapters; organizing and staffing
student and alumni events, ranging from intimate dinners to major events
involving more than 200 people; publishing a quarterly newsletter for alumni
leaders; and supervising hundreds of alumni and student volunteers.
Before Cal Poly, he worked for two years as coordinator of Greek life at
Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Before that, he was director of alumni
relations for the college student personnel graduate program at Miami
University of Ohio, where he earned his M.S. degree in 1994. He holds a
bachelor's degree in history from Cal State San Bernardino.
Greg sees three key opportunities as alumni director at Pitzer: assisting
the alumni council in its board development, bolstering communication and
helping with the expansion of regional alumni chapters, and "helping the
Pitzer community to further integrate alumni into the life of the College."
Expanding these three points will be the focus of his work at Pitzer, Greg
says. "It is and is going to continue to be an exciting place to work," he
says. "My sense is that there will be many 'advances' in the advancement
area."
Born and raised in Riverside, Calif., Greg lives with his wife, Ann
Gunvalsen, and two cats, Darby and Mac, in Pasadena. The couple met in a
political science class in their sophomore year at Cal State San Bernardino.
They were married in November 1994. Ann works in the marketing department
at the Los Angeles Times. FACULTY & STAFF N E W S
Pitzer employees should have received a packet of benefit information last
week outlining open enrollment information. Read the materials carefully,
since some of the health providers have changed, and failure to enroll under
a new vendor may result in a loss of benefits. If you need to change your
health or dental vendor, you must respond with your choice by Nov. 13. For
specific benefit information, call Sheryl Wingate at x73195.
The Claremont Mellon Project offers a hands-on workshop, "Introduction to
Digital and Streaming Video," on Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 5 of
Steele Hall, Scripps. To reserve a spot, send e-mail to lucke@mckenna.edu.
For more information, point your Web browser to
http://www.mckenna.edu/mellon/calendar/Octo98WW/default.htm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & O P P O R T U N I T I E S
Get your credits on Route 66. Starting this spring, Professor Michael
Woodcock will offer two new courses exploring "the highway that's the best":
"Environmental Studies 65: Off the Mother Road" and "Environmental Studies
66: On the Mother Road." The first part of the course, which takes place on
campus during spring semester, will investigate a variety of issues relating
to highway travel and the adjacent countryside. Topics include road
literature and etiquette, roadside architecture, cultures, communities,
commerce, water issues, oral histories and kitsch. "On the Mother Road"
will continue into the first four weeks of the summer and includes an
automobile road trip to Chicago. Because of the travel component, this
course will not be open to pre-registration. Students must complete a
written application by Nov. 11. Interested students should stop by the
external studies offices for more information and an application.
On Thursday, Pitzer's early academic outreach program co-hosts a college
fair for students at Vina Danks Middle School in Ontario. The fair features
admission and financial aid workshops, presented in both English and
Spanish, and representatives from the four systems of higher education. For
more information, call Leeshawn Moore at x73553.
Pitzer's Student Leadership Retreat--an opportunity for students to develop
and enhance leadership skills, implement social change, talk with other
student leaders, share ideas, develop action plans, and learn techniques and
strategies for event planning--will be held Nov. 21. Space is limited to
30. Sign-ups will be taken at the Gold Student Center Nov. 2 - 6. For more
information, call Micki at x74176 or Emelyn at x73238.
Student senate president Hayden Hamilton encourages all students, faculty
and staff to attend student senate meetings. "Even if you are not a member
of senate, you are allowed to voice your opinion on every issue that arises
at senate, and even bring issues, just like official senate members," he
said, adding that non-members do not, however, have the right to vote.
"Student governance began at Pitzer in a 'town meeting' format where
students and a great deal of faculty and staff got together to discuss
pertinent issues. I would really like to see senate carry on that
tradition." Student senate meets Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. in the Founders
Room of McConnell Center.
Want to spend a semester living and working in the local community, learning
how to build stronger, more self-reliant and egalitarian neighborhoods and
communities? Then don't miss an information meeting on the Pitzer in
Ontario program on Tuesday, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ontario
program house. The program includes dinner. Transportation will be
provided from the Gold Student Center. To learn more about the Ontario
program, visit /Academics/ilcenter/external_studies/ontario_ca.htm.
To reserve a space, call 983-4233.
The following people have agreed to serve as peer counselors or members of
the sexual harassment hearing panel during 1998-'99. Faculty: Jacqueline
Levering-Sullivan, Stuart McConnell (chair), Peter Nardi, Kate Rogers, Harry
Senn (fall only), Maria Soldatenko; peer counselors: Betty Farrell, Jim
Lehman. Staff: Jennifer Berkley, James Gates, Susanne Faulstich, Teresa
Flores, James Marchant, David Perez; peer counselors: Chris Freeberg, Sharon
Kaatmann. Students: Marisol Camarena, Reies Flores, Trent Nam, Soma
Rodriguez, Jennifer Rowley, Brad Termeer; peer counselors: Kelly
Kimball-Richardson, David Sawhill. This list will be posted around campus
and available from the dean of students, dean of faculty or the director of
human resources. For questions about Pitzer's sexual harassment policy,
contact a peer counselor or one of the following: Dave Clark, dean of
students, x72821; Susan Seymour, dean of faculty, x18217; Marlene Kirk,
director of human resources, x18254.
F E A T U R E:
Claremont Welcomes 140 Fourth-Graders on Friday
P R O F I L E:
New Alumni Director Applauds Pitzer's Holistic Approach
COMINGS & G O I N G S
Vince Ingram, dorm/network technician in the office of information
technology, left Pitzer on Oct. 27 to become a remote access system
specialist at Momentum Securities in Irvine. Vince graduated from Pitzer in
1996 and joined the full-time staff in February 1997.
COMING U P