Diversity Corner Activities

This semester the Diversity Corner will be conducting a series of activities to promote diversity on our campus. Below is a list of the activities that are currently planned:

1. "Galapagos: South America’s Pacific Islands"
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2:00-3:30pm
Location: In the Library Alcove (next to the Hawaii Pacific collection)

On September 23, Dr. Carl Stepath will be giving a presentation and discussion on the Galapagos Islands. Dr. Stepath visited the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador last July to make a presentation at the Charles Darwin Symposium 2009. He is giving a slide show of the Galapagos and a short description of the islands. These islands, designated a World Heritage Area and a huge marine protected area, are very unique. They have diverse and interesting animal life, are geologically unique, and were made famous by the publication of Darwin’s 1859 book “On the Origin of Species.” This presentation shows a side of the islands that can only be seen by visiting the “The Enchanted Isles.” Carl has been to the Galapagos three times, and did research there while working with the Charles Darwin Research Station in 2006-7. He was awarded the Punto Azul Medal for his conservation efforts, and feels a deep connection between the Hawaiian Islands and the enchanted isles.


2. Interactive Presentation: The Places We've Been
Dates: Fall 2009 semester

Description: This interactive display will ask KCC faculty, staff, and students to post photos of themselves in different places of the world. The goal is to get a sense of the many interesting places and cultures that we've experienced. (I think we'll be surprised at how extensive our "reach" really is!) This activity will hopefully encourage broad participation; if you have a photo of yourself in a foreign place, please submit it to me or post it directly to the board once the display's up and running! Once I get enough pictures to begin, I will open the exhibit and people can start posting directly at that time. Thanks for your help!


3. Faith: A Pictorial Essay
Dates: September thru October 2009
Host: Linda Sciaroni

Description: This exhibit gives visual representation to the diverse expression of faiths from around the world. In her overview, Linda Sciaroni writes: "Our diversity corner illustrates the elements of faith described in the book Faith by Maya Ajmera. The elements are praying, chanting and singing, reading, listening, learning, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, honoring important events, styles of dress, food and drink, and caring for and helping others. What are the differences and similarities between faith, religion, worship and meditation? What is the difference between tolerance and acceptance? What is the difference between curiosity and empathy? Where is peace and justice found, inside of individuals or among society's members?"

Calling for Nominations for the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents

The Regents Candidate Advisory Council (RCAC), created by Act 56 of the 2007 Session Laws of Hawai‘i, is currently seeking nominations for three seats: Student, Honolulu County, and Maui County for a term to begin July 1, 2010. The candidate for the Student seat on the Board of Regents must be a student of the University of Hawai‘i system at the time of initial appointment.

Visit the RCAC website at: www.hawaii.edu/rcac or call (808)692-1218 for more information.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 2, 2009

Official Advertisement (pdf)

Library Flood - Thanks to All

As you all know, the library had an exciting opening day. One of the sprinklers broke and water poured into the exhibit area and foyer in the front, flowed down to the Hawaii/Pacific collection, and eventually through the library workroom into the surrounding hallways. Here are some cell phone photos that will show you the extent of the flooding. Thanks to all who helped clean and move furniture, as Bob said, we couldn’t have done it without you.

--Academic Support

Mahalo to All!

Mahalo to all of you who made our first day of the 2009-2010 year such a success. And an additional thanks to all who chipped in to respond to our library disaster. I was amazed at how you all just jumped in and did what you could. The library looked SOO much better at the end of the day than it did at the beginning!

Unofficially, we are at 1250 headcount as of this morning, up 20% headcount and 22% SSH. That puts us second for the CCs, with Maui the only college with a higher growth rate. Now let's make sure we deliver what we are capable of: quality and compassionate education!

Mahalo!
Helen

Editor's note: You can check http://www.hawaii.edu/iro/ for up-to-date enrollment numbers.

Influenza Information

Please read below several items regarding KCC's response to a potential outbreak of the flu.

1) At Convocation, I mentioned to everyone that if students (and/or faculty and staff) had questions regarding the flu or KCC's preparations for the flu that are not answered by the email they have been sent or the script faculty are reading in class that you can refer them to a member of the Flu Response Team. The members of that team are:
* Brian Yamamoto 245-8241 btyamamo@hawaii.edu
* Rick Carmichael (phone only) 822-0870 or 245-8307 on Wed only
* Char Ono 245-2310 onoc@hawaii.edu
* Chuck Ramsey 245-245-8229 cpramsey@hawaii.edu
* Gary Nitta 245-8230 gnitta@hawaii.edu
* Helen Cox 245-8210 helencox@hawaii.edu

2) The Wellness Center will start vaccinating faculty, staff, and students with the influenza vaccine in September. We so strongly recommend the vaccination to protect ourselves and others that we are reducing the cost to $10. People with HMSA PPO, do not have to pay for the vaccination as their insurance will be billed and we will not collect the co-pay. Since our supply is limited, we encourage people to sign up soon. Please note that if you or someone else already has the flu, there isn't much the Center can do, so the best thing to do is to go home.

3) Remember that the best thing you can do to keep away the flu is to wash your hands frequently, stay away from people who are sick, and go home if you are sick. You can also pass this message on to your students and others at the College. The College is providing hand-cleaning dispensers around campus and hand wipes in computer labs. We are asking students to wipe their hands and keyboards before use.

For additional information, see the flu information on our website.

Thanks,
Helen

Lost & Found

Lost something? Found something? You can drop off a found item or inquire about a lost item at the KCC Library Circulation Desk (808-245-8233).


Lost in PAC on 12/4/2009...

1. Anonymous said... lost cell phone clip in the theater building on 12/04/2009. If found call sharon at 346-9569.

Found in the Cafeteria on 9/2/2009...

1. A backpack was left in the cafeteria today. To retrieve this item, please see Ms. Mel Bacio or any of the cafeteria staff. --Martina Hildorfer x265

Found after Convocation on 8/17/2009...

1. I have two umbrellas: a green and white UH pride umbrella, and a purple fold-up umbrella. Contact me if either belongs to you! --Cammie Matsumoto x280
2. Someone left a nice blueish-grey vest with a Galapagos patch in the cafeteria. If it's yours, let me know... --Martina Hilldorfer x265

Campus Scholarships

Kauai CC Faculty & Staff:
Your assistance is needed in getting the word out to students about the scholarship opportunities that await them. Attached is a flyer that can be printed and posted in your classroom, bulletin board, or forwarded to your students.

The 2009-10 Kauai CC On-Line Scholarship is now open! Please visit the following web site: https://kauaicc.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/ to complete the application before the priority deadline of: SEPTEMBER 21, 2009.

All admitted Nursing students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) http://fafsa.ed.gov/ to receive consideration for the Nursing Scholarships.
A similar message will be sent to ALL registered students via mass e-mail more than once during the first few weeks of school. Contact me to arrange classroom workshops or to refer individual students for help on the computer.

Thank you,
Frances Dinnan
Financial Aid Counselor
(808) 245-8381