Office of Instruction Update - July 2024

Good morning, all!

June was a quiet but productive month. With considerably fewer meetings to fill my days, I had the opportunity to catch up and begin planning for next year, which made me very happy! Among other task, the Instructional team continued our work on the Ad Astra implementation. Thanks to the initial pilot implementors (Vicki Cockrell and Whitney Menefee in PCSDE and Katrina Sheets and Ruben Diaz in Social Science), who launched, tested, and worked closely with our staff and Ad Astra staff to improve functionality for us. Staff, administrators, and Department Chairs were trained in spring semester on using the program, and I’m optimistic that this program will allow us to streamline the schedule development process and schedule more efficiently for our students. More to come this fall!

This past year, I joined Central California Asian Pacific Women’s (CCAPW) as a Board member, so this spring but especially in June, I had the opportunity to help with some of their efforts. The group provides educational scholarships for Asian American women from the Central Valley. Planning for the June 27 scholarship gala where winners were announced accelerated this past month and this kept me busy. I was honored to help with the effort, though I missed the gala because I was traveling.

On June 15, I had the privilege to watch Anna Martinez at the California Arts Academy in a performance of Between the Lines...wow! The show was powerful and moving with Anna's performance a definite standout! I was happy to see quite a few Clovis CC staff and students in the crowd, so I know Anna felt the Crush spirit and love that day.

I also had the great honor to serve as a judge on June 16 at the Golden Palace Teeyan 2024 Mela (festival) organized by our own Physics faculty, Dr. Kuldeep Mann. This festival originates in Punjab, India, from where many Central Valley residents of Indian descent immigrated. It honors women and their experiences in rural Punjab and is attended only by women, so I took a small break from celebrating my husband on Father's Day to join these festivities. A heartfelt thank you to Kuldeep for including me!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I'm sending you good wishes from Ottawa, Canada where today I'm celebrating Canada Day with my Canadian family!

Thanks,

Monica Chahal, Ed.D. (she, her)
Vice President of Instruction