Congratulations Tenured Faculty!
At the March 18, 2025 regular monthly meeting of the Siskiyou Joint Community College Board of Trustees, the board concurred with the recommendation to grant tenure to the following fourth year faculty members:
To learn more about each newly tenured faculty member, please see the Academic Senate President’s Campus Connection submission. Both faculty members will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 15 at 4:00 pm in the Yreka RHSI Lobby. Our newly tenured faculty are to be commended for upholding high-quality pedagogical practices while simultaneously contributing to the overall effectiveness of our institution!
Gamma Nu's Teacher of the Year (as selected by Siskiyous Students)
Congratulations Shirley Louie! Shirley has been employed as a full-time Math faculty member at College of the Siskiyous since 2015. She is currently participating in a number of committees including Curriculum, Student Learning Outcomes and Student Services Council. Shirley has gained a reputation as an exceptional Math teacher who is approachable, positive, connects with students personally and she has a sense of humor.
One student stated, 'When I started statistics, I was so intimidated. I have always been intimidated by math but by week 3, Instructor Louie made me feel comfortable and capable. In fact, I even helped another student with a couple problems. She is an exceptional teacher, and she has the best disposition. I enjoy math now.'
Shirley will be honored at the Gamma Nu Teacher of the Year Ceremony scheduled for May 20, 2025 at the Rain Rock Casino in Yreka. Congratulations Shirley! We are so very proud of you!
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shedding light on this critical issue and fostering a culture of safety, respect, and empowerment. The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2025 is "Together We Act, United We Change".
According to The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), education is the first step to action, empowering our communities to be part of the solution. This campaign works to shift the ways our communities understand, talk about, and respond to sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. We can challenge harmful misconceptions and foster safer communities by learning and acting together. This campaign also seeks to unite us in uplifting the voices of survivors—particularly those most vulnerable in our communities—to build a stronger movement. This campaign aims to develop a movement where younger generations feel included and encouraged to participate and shape a better future.
'Together, we act with purpose! United, we have the power to change the world for the better.'
Throughout the month of April, the Siskiyou Domestic Violence & Crisis Center (SDVCC) will be offering workshops specifically for our students. SDVCC, which is located in Yreka, offers the following services:
For more information contact the SDVCC Business Office by calling (530) 842-6629 or Toll-Free 1 (877) 842-4068.
Diversity Equity Inclusion Awareness Month
April also marks California Community Colleges' DEI Awareness Month, a time for us to reflect deeply on our dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable spaces for students, faculty, and staff. We reaffirm our commitment to creating learning and working environments where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging, safety, and support.
During the April 15, 2025 Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees will be reaffirming its resolution (No. 2020-2021-12), Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, first adopted on April 20, 2021. This reaffirmation is in acknowledgement of DEIA Month as well as the district’s ongoing commitment to DEIA efforts.
Missing Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) Day Event
Sunday, May 5, 2025 will be recognized across the United States and Canada as the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. MMIP Day 2025 provides us with the opportunity to unite in solidarity to honor the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals who have been taken from us too soon.
On Monday May 6, College of the Siskiyous will recognize the ongoing crisis of violence and systemic injustices that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. It's a day to amplify their voices, demand justice, and commit to meaningful action to end this epidemic of violence. The campus and community are invited to join us from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in the Weed Campus Student Center to obtain information and to advocate.
Together, let us strive for healing, accountability, and the empowerment of Indigenous peoples everywhere. This event is coordinated in partnership by College of the Siskiyous, First Five Siskiyou, Quartz Valley Indian Reservation DV services, Karuk AOD and Victim Services, Youth Empowerment Siskiyou, and the Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center.
About the MMIP Red Hand
According to Native Hope, a red hand over the mouth has become the symbol of a growing movement, the MMIP movement. It stands for all the missing sisters whose voices are not heard. It stands for the silence of the media and law enforcement in the midst of this crisis. It stands for the oppression and subjugation of Native women who are now rising up to say #NoMoreStolenSisters.
May 5 – 9, 2025 is Teachers Appreciation Week!
As we approach Teachers Appreciation Week in May 2025, it's a profound moment to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary dedication, passion, and transformative impact of our educators. Here at College of the Siskiyous, we understand that educators are the cornerstone of our present and the architects of our future.
This year, more than ever, we acknowledge the incredible resilience and adaptability educators have demonstrated. They have navigated evolving educational landscapes with grace and ongoing commitment, ensuring that learning continues to inspire and empower our students. From fostering foundational knowledge to igniting critical thinking and nurturing individual potential, their influence extends far beyond the classroom walls.
Graduation 2025
Students who have petitioned to graduate will be sent information about the event and what to expect. The first email will be going out the week of April 15. If you have questions about Graduation 2025 or would like to help with the event should send an email to pio@siskiyous.edu. Graduation will be held at the Weed Campus Football Stadium on Friday, May 16 beginning at 6:00 pm. All students who plan to participate in the ceremony should also plan to attend rehearsal to be held earlier in the day at 1:00 pm.
Stay Connected
Sign up today for COS Connect. This is a free system used to notify students and staff of emergency-situations, campus closures, or general information. To sign up click on the COS Connect button located on the COS homepage and follow the directions to get signed up.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
April 2025
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The 2024-2025 audit interim visit by the external auditors was very productive during the last week of March. At this point, we are close to 40% complete and on-track to complete the audit on time. The next phase of the audit will take place after the Business Office has completed year-end processes and reporting. The auditors will be back for a visit in early Fall. We anticipate having the audit for review and approval by the Board of Trustees in either November or December.
New paint and carpet were installed in the Business Office, which created a temporary 'move out' of the office for two weeks. The staff are slowly moving back into the office and getting reorganized. Thank you to all for your patience during this temporary transition. We are very appreciative of the Facilities and Operations staff for helping us with our needs.
The purchasing deadline is coming up quickly. The last day to make orders for any purchases in the 2024-2025 fiscal year will be Friday, April 25. Summer programs should be making their purchases now in preparation of the deadline. There will be a few exceptions, but those should be minimal after this date. This ensures that the Business Office can fully close the fiscal year activity in a timely manner in order to complete the audit on-time.
Budget Development for 2025-2026 is now closed for the Tentative Budget, with a few exceptions. The Business Office, along with the Administrative Services is working to determine payroll items and will begin entering these items in the next week or two. There is one more IPB session for Open Hearings on April 18 in which the Academic Affairs area will present their RAR requests. The final figures for the 2025-2026 Tentative Budget will be reviewed and presented to IPB and College Council by May 9, followed by a joint IPB and College Council meeting on May 21, 2025.
Please join us in welcoming our new Custodians to the team… Phillip Regis and Adam Booth. We are excited to welcome them to our Team!
Installation of new carpet and paint in the Student Services wing has been completed. Throughout the next week, there will be touch ups, clean ups, and airing out of the area. Please contact the Facilities Office if there is something missed.
The Welding Shop restroom remodel is nearing completion. A few items still need to be installed before it is open for full use.
The Beach Volleyball Sand Court project has been awarded to Northwest ADU, a general contractor from Redding. Work will begin June 1 and the contractor will have four weeks of construction to complete the project. The sand and equipment for the project has been ordered and will arrive in time for the project to be completed on time.
Hanes Flooring is working inside the Gym Foyer and is installing new carpet. This project will be completed by April 11. Stop by soon after to check out the new carpet design.
Upcoming projects include painting the exterior of the Maintenance Warehouse; roof replacement and exterior paint at the Fire Engine Garage; and, the Gym Annex exterior stucco repair and paint.
The new Amazon locker has arrived. It’s located outside of the Student Center in the Patio area. Stop by to check it out.
Great news! After much consideration following an extensive review of the surveys, as well as collaboration with the team, it is more than apparent the 'Grill' side of Food Services is very valuable to the students and the district. As such, it has been decided to reopen the Grill! Staff are working on a plan that will allow the reopen to take place in early May, and possibly sooner. We will be working to reach out to various groups across the district for additional feedback. Thank you to all for providing the information in the surveys to help us reconsider this needed service!
The last month of the spring semester is finally here. That means reports, budget hearings, conferences, and wrapping up before the end of the semester. In March I attended the CSSO Spring Conference with our campus BIT Team. We were able to participate in a wonderful training provided by the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment. This training was so valuable to the team and we look forward to providing a larger scale training at COS. Details to come in the future.
This semester has been 'a lot to handle.' It feels like there has been a lot of challenges, unexpected surprises, and many 'fires' to put out. It’s been a struggle to balance, but I am still standing upright and still love what I do. Many years ago, someone told me something about working in Student Services that has stuck with me. He said "those who won’t laugh, won’t last." I’ve always known that to be true and laughter and humor are big components of my personal and professional life. The laughter and smiles still come each day but they seem to come with increased challenges as well. It has been a tough semester… probably the toughest in my career
What gets me through the tough times though are the remarkable staff. Student Services is filled with classified staff, faculty, and ASM who are dedicated, professional, student-centered, and just fun to be around. We laugh at the silly things and we laugh at the absurd things. We work together for the benefit of our students and try to put our differences aside. We aren’t perfect, but we are a team. We support, lean on, and acknowledge one another. We get our work done and then some. I am so grateful for those who I work with each day. It is because of them and the students that I show up each day prepared to face whatever comes our way. I have their back and I know they have mine. Thank you, Student Services team, for making College of the Siskiyous so special. Thank you for your valued contributions. Thank you for keeping the laughter and fun in our jobs.
Lastly, I wanted to share that it is important that we still remember that all of us at College of the Siskiyous are on the same team. It is important that we remember that our way is not always the only way to do things. We need to break down barriers and be willing to compromise and listen with the intent to learn and understand. Give your colleagues some grace. We are all here to help students and if we always keep that in mind then perhaps, we can walk into meetings or start conversations with a common goal in mind instead of immediately putting up our defenses or throwing out barbs. I have felt this a lot lately, I have been guilty myself, and I plan to do better. We really are fortunate to work here and serve who we do. I hope we each remember that and acknowledge that first in all we do.
8th Grade Inspiration Day 2025
Another successful 8th Grade Inspiration Day under our belts. College Options told us that this year’s event was our 25th year doing the event, in partnership with them. That’s pretty astounding and I’ll tell you what the 25th did not disappoint!
As always it is essential to acknowledge the many departments and individuals at COS that helped pull it off. We have many outside COS as well that make it possible but this email won’t reach them but we do appreciate them as well. So here goes and I hope to catch all but if I miss anyone, I am sorry for the unintentional oversight.
On a personal note, my daughter was in attendance this year and it made it extra special for me. My kids know how much I love where I work and what I do. It was fun to have her on campus today so I thought I would share a photo of the two of us. Thanks for reading and we will see you all in a few weeks for Kinder Caminata!
Our Transfer Center activities and student transfer success is a focused priority. This is demonstrated by our Transfer Tuesday activities and workshops. The second Tuesday of each month a "Transfer Tuesday" workshop is held in the "Fish Bowl" of the ASC. Transfer topics and guests speakers have been offered. Two colleges have presented including Southern Oregon University as well as North State Student Ambassadors from Chico State. Wrapping up the year will be our "How to Transfer, Get Your Questions Answered" workshop. Planning for next year is underway with workshops featuring UC and CSU applications, Financial Aid, and transfer success.
College of the Siskiyous has 11 confirmed students on the ADT pathway to transfer. The ADT (Associate Degree for Transfer) is specific within the CSU system. Our current UC TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) students include one (1) 'acceptance,' one (1) 'pending' and two (2) 'in-progress.'' Also in the works, revamping the Transfer Center webpage. This is a priority so we are able to provide clear and concise information to our students to help them be able to transfer successfully.
March is an exciting month in TRiO. Last month a group of 17 adventurous College of the Siskiyous TRiO students packed their bags and set off for an unforgettable journey to Philadelphia and New York City! From iconic landmarks to Broadway lights, the trip was packed with excitement, exploration, and lifelong memories. Highlights from the trip:
Philadelphia
New York City
Between sightseeing, incredible food, and experiencing the energy of NYC, this trip was truly an experience of a lifetime. As always, stay tuned for more exciting TRiO adventures!
Spotlight on Common Course Numbering… What is Common Course Numbering?
The California Community College system is implementing a student-facing Common Course Numbering (CCN) system, as required by Education Code Sections 66725-66725.5 through Assembly Bill No. 1111 (Berman), to be completed by July 1, 2027.
This system will create common course numbers for comparable courses across all community colleges in the state, facilitating smoother transfers to four-year institutions and reducing unnecessary credit accumulation.
At College of the Siskiyous, our Curriculum Committee and deans have been diligently working with the discipline faculty to ensure we are on track in complying with this initiative. A big thank you to Neil Carpentier-Alting, Sami Sweet, and all others involved.
Recently I attended a presentation with the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges President Cheryl Aschenbach, and she asked all of us in attendance to remind our faculty of the importance of participating in the development of the CCN Course Templates. She indicated that participation has been lower than expected and she is hoping for more input from faculty in the state. To learn more, visit the ASCCC Common Course Numbering (CCN) Development and Faculty Engagement page for more information.
Hello everyone.
I’m excited to spotlight a few exceptional faculty members in this month’s Campus Connection.
First, let's give a big congratulations to Shirley Louie, our newly named Gamma Nu Teacher of the Year, selected by our amazing Siskiyous students! Since joining College of the Siskiyous as a full-time math faculty member in 2015, Shirley has become a cherished presence both in and out of the classroom. Her warmth, humor, and approachability have made her an outstanding educator who builds meaningful connections with students and colleagues alike.
Students consistently praise Shirley for her encouraging teaching style. One student shared: "When I started statistics, I was intimidated. I’ve always been afraid of math, but by week three, Instructor Louie made me feel comfortable and capable. I even helped another student with a couple of problems. She’s an exceptional teacher with the best disposition. I enjoy math now."
Her popularity is clear from the heartfelt messages on the COS Facebook page following the announcement. Shirley’s dedication to COS comes from her deep love for students and belief in the transformative power of education. "What I love most about my job is working with the students — they truly are the heart of everything we do. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow, overcome challenges, and find their path."
Reflecting on her award, Shirley said "I’m so grateful and humbled that the students selected me for this award. Knowing my work has made a meaningful impact on their lives is the greatest honor. Our students inspire me every single day, and I’m lucky to be part of this supportive community."
Shirley Louie truly embodies the heart of College of the Siskiyous: student-focused, community-oriented, and driven by compassion and excellence.
Next, let's celebrate two of our newly tenured faculty members: Dr. Sherice Bellamy and Thad Wallace.
Dr. Sherice Bellamy joined the faculty team in January 2021 as a business instructor, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in California’s university and community college systems. Her classes are more than just academic — they’re spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. Sherice’s inclusive teaching style and mentorship have made a lasting impact, and her entrepreneurial programs provide students with real-world skills and opportunities.
Thad Wallace, a Mount Shasta native, has always been driven by his upbringing in a family of educators. After starting his career at the local high school, he joined the community college system, where his passion for humanizing education continues to shine. Known for his approachable and supportive teaching style, Thad creates inclusive Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces that help all students succeed.
Please join me in celebrating Shirley, Sherice, and Thad. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to our students and college make College of the Siskiyous a better place every day!
Thanks for listening.
Andrea Craddock, President Academic Senate
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