Norco College will open a new family friendly outdoor market the weekend of April 27 and 28. Located on the college campus, the Norco Trading Post has over 300 vendor spaces available. The Trading Post will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on opening weekend and every weekend thereafter.

Included in the venue are: a farmers market, specialty foods, pony rides, and a kids’ petting zoo. The Norco Trading Post combines fun, specialty foods, and value shopping, with vendors offering an ever-changing inventory of brandname clothes and shoes, jewelry, home décor, furniture, bedding, sporting goods, toys, beauty products, and electronics. Vendors are encouraged to apply by calling Shaunna Winn (951) 358-9111 or email shaunna@norcotradingpost.com.  

“This is an opportunity for entrepreneurship for the College, jobs for students, and convenient shopping and entertainment for the community,” said Dr. Paul Parnell, president of Norco College.

The Norco Trading Post’s western theme fits the city of Norco’s Horse Town USA reputation. Residents who ride their horse to the outdoor market will have access to a tie-up area.

The Norco Trading Post and college campus are located at 2001 Third Street, two blocks west of the I15, with access from Hamner Avenue.

Anthropology Professor to Give Riverside Community College District's
2013 Distinguished Faculty Lecture on May 9

Norco College Anthropology Professor Alexis Gray will present Riverside Community College District’s 53rd Annual Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Thursday, May 9. Dr. Gray’s lecture is titled, “Oh Dear, It’s a Doe, a Female Doe.”

A forensic anthropologist is called upon to examine deceased individuals who are otherwise unidentifiable. Gray uses her knowledge of human variation and applies it to the medico-legal context. This lecture will cover techniques as to how these determinations are made and several case studies are shown to illustrate the processes.

In projects great and small, one of Gray’s responsibilities is the training of law enforcement personnel in the techniques used to recover remains as well as the training of students interested in the field. In this discussion, Gray addresses pedagogical techniques for nurturing the emotional health of the student while making sure the quality of their education and their output does not suffer.

Dr. Alexis Gray attended Santa Monica College and California State University, Los Angeles earning her B.A. in Anthropology. She received her M.A. in Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton. At the University of California, Riverside, she completed the requirements for a second master’s degree and completed her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 2006 when she was hired as a full-time professor at Norco College.

In addition to teaching, Gray has been a forensic anthropologist for over ten years. She consults for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department on matters of skeletal, decomposed or traumatic accident victims.

The Distinguished Faculty Lecture is scheduled from 12:50 to 1:50 p.m. in the Digital Library & Learning Resources Center Auditorium at Riverside City College. Gray will then take the lecture on the road the following week with scheduled presentations at Moreno Valley College and Norco College (May 16, 12:50 - 1:50 p.m. at Center for Student Success Room 217). The May 9 lecture is open to the public; admission is free.

Spring Break at Norco College is April 8th to April 12th. Please see the following modified schedule for our Student Services departments.

Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, a Manzanar detainee and author, will visit Norco College for a book signing and discussion at the final meeting of the spring Read 2 Succeed @ Norco College event. At age seven, Wakatsuki Houston and her family were relocated to a World War II internment camp, where they remained for two years. In her book, “Farewell to Manzanar,” she writes about her camp experiences and how they shaped her life and view of the world.

Manzanar, now a national historical site, is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, California. During World War II the camp housed over 11,000 detainees. “Farewell to Manzanar” has become a part of the curriculum in schools and universities across the United States and is used to educate students about the experiences of the Japanese Americans confined in American internment camps during the war.

Read 2 Succeed @ Norco College gives students, faculty, staff, and community members the opportunity to read and discuss a common book. Three review sessions will be held: March 28, April 25, and culminating May 23 where participants will meet the author for a book signing and discussion, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., in CSS 217. For more information email Damon Nance, dean of Technology and Learning Resources, at damon.nance@norcocollege.edu.

Thirty employers are expected at Norco College’s fifth Career and Job Fair. Seventy-eight percent of employers who participated in the fall event reported successfully filling vacancies, said Ashley Etchison, employment placement coordinator for Career & Technical Education at Norco College, who coordinates the event each semester.

Industries represented include building and trades, logistics, public service, health care, military service, early childhood education, insurance and finance. The Career and Job fair will be held Thursday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Services Walkway and is open to the public; both job seekers and employers are welcome.

“We complete the circle when students land a job that matches their education and training right here on campus,” Etchison said. Norco College offers 35 career and technical programs to prepare students for the workforce.

Return job fair sponsors are Horace Mann and Technical Employment Training Inc. (TET). Horace Mann provides insurance and financial products for educators. TET is a non-profit business and education cooperative providing education for the manufacturing industry.

For additional information, email Ashley Etchison.

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Tuesday, March 19 at 2 pm to 3:30 pm in CSS 217

Learn how to work effectively with each of the four generations in today’s workforce. The training promises to be upbeat and motivational showing you how to focus on the positives from each age group.

This spring Norco Legacy will host events focusing on our multi-generational workforce, and a diversity awareness campaign in April, including Equity Monitor Training.

Norco Legacy, comprised of 20 people from every constituency within the college, is charged with providing opportunities for all to learn about diversity and its many facets. Join us this semester so we can grow together in community.

Over 30 years of loyal service and commitment to Norco College and the Riverside Community College District will be celebrated at the dedication of a building named after Drs. Brenda and William Davis.

The Brenda and William Davis Center for Student Success will be unveiled at Norco College during a ceremony Tuesday, March 5, at 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Brenda Davis became Norco College’s first president in 2006 after serving as provost for 13 years. She was pivotal in the growth of what started as a small branch campus, and led the way for it to be named California’s 112th community college. Davis’ career spanned 45 years as a nurse, educator and college administrator; she retired in July 2011.

“This is a day of wonderful celebration for me,” Davis said. “Bill is smiling down on us right now feeling the pride and honor this dedication does us. We were partners in everything.” Together, the Davises were a force to be reckoned with as they supported the community and worked together to grow Norco College.

The Davises established an endowed scholarship and worked tirelessly in the campaign for Measure C., which brought millions of dollars in local capital construction funds to Norco College and the district.

Dr. William Davis’ career included 30 years of service beginning in the U.S. Army and ending as a physician. Dr. William Davis passed away in July 2009.

“You see them in everything from our buildings and facilities to our programs and technology. But most importantly, you see them in the people associated with the College,” said Dr. Paul Parnell, president of Norco College. “The College is on firm ground because of her leadership.”

The building dedication is open to the public; a short reception will immediately follow. Norco College is located at 2001 Third Street, Norco. For more information, email Debra Creswell.

Norco College releases the first issue of Mustang News published by the Office of the President.

In this Edition:

• The "Norco" Way
• Norco Budget News
• Student Centeredness
• Academic Senate & Accreditation
• Norco College Art Gallery

Download the entire Fall 2012 issue now.

Norco College will hold its 5th Bi-annual Game Student Showcase Friday, December 14, 2012 from 6 - 9 pm in the John F. Kennedy Middle College High School multi-purpose room, 1951 Third Street, located on the Norco College Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Top student work in game art modeling and animation, game design and game audio will be displayed and demonstrated and awards will be given for Outstanding Achievement and Best in Class.

“The game showcase is the highlight of the semester,” said Norco College Professor Judy Perry. “We’re able to bring students together from all of the game development disciplines for recognition and support. As more advanced courses are offered, student skills increase, and I’m amazed at the quality of the work produced.”

New courses offered this fall included Anatomy Drawing and advanced 3D modeling classes in Character Design and other core game design aspects. According to Perry, game development teams—both in industry and on campus – function as interdisciplinary units, with members using skills learned in traditional art, digital art, programming, audio, and design classes. The outcome is one cohesive product – a video game.

Other new classes such as Character Rigging and Portfolio Production will be offered in spring 2013. In fall 2013 a new Game Programming track will be launched, completing the suite of game development certificate and degree programs created at Norco College as part of the $2.8 million Title V Portal to Your Future grant. The curriculum was developed with input from game industry professionals and utilizes the latest software and industry standard techniques, says Perry.

The Norco College Art Gallery will unveil its second exhibit with a special reception Friday, November 9, from 6-9 p.m.; the exhibit titled, “Creación Artística,” features the work of professional, contemporary Latino artists.

“Creación Artística” is co-curated with Cosme Cordova from the Division 9 Gallery in Riverside. Exhibitions include lino block prints, photos, paintings, fabric work, sculpture, and mixed media. Artists featured in the exhibit include: Cosme Cordova, Jesus Cruz, Jr., Maxx Gramajo, Irvin Guzman, Jacalyn Garcia Lopez, Oscar Magallanes, Carlos Puma, David C. Rosales, and Maggie Tello Case.

“This is a great mix of work showcasing Latino artists in our community. Many are well known local artists, teachers, and alumni from Norco College, Riverside City College and other institutions,” said Karin Skiba, director of the Gallery and Norco College professor emerita.

According to Skiba, lectures are planned for Norco College students and interviews with the artists will be on digital screens in the gallery. “This is a great learning experience for students about working methods, inspiration, and the creative process of a professional artist,” Skiba said.

The exhibition, co-sponsored by the Lake Norconian Club Foundation and Miguel’s Jr. of Corona, opens on November 9 and runs through December 12. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 11a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, email Karin.Skiba@norcocollege.edu.

Day of the Dead or Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration that captures the unity between life and death. The event will include: learning about Day of the Dead and its cultural tradition, sugar skull decorating, placing a note to ancestors or loved ones on an Altar Wall, face painting, music and other activities.

Norco College has launched Career Coach, a free online tool that allows students and community members to explore potential careers.

Career Coach can be accessed at http://norco.emsicareercoach.com/ or by visiting Norco College’s Career & Technical Education site at www.norcocollege.edu/CTE.

Ashley Etchison, Norco College’s employment placement coordinator for Career & Technical Education, said, “Career Coach will give Norco College students a quick and easy way to research careers, link them to programs at the College, and connect careers to the local job market.”

Through a simple keyword search, students or a visitor to the College’s website can learn about a career, the current employment data in the area, and employment prospects. Career choices can be narrowed by education level, wages, and number of people currently employed in the field. Career Coach uses data from a number of sources in an effort to maintain the most current data available.

The real-time information is customized to the College’s geographic region and includes detailed wage estimates and up-to-date job postings associated with a career. Users are directed to the College’s programs when searching for specific jobs.

If a career doesn’t look like the right fit, individuals can search for similar jobs or identify skills they need before moving to that career. They can also search for careers based on the College’s top training programs or a program/major.

Career Coach has a built-in resume builder to help students and jobseekers quickly and efficiently create a resume, and uses key words from the individual’s work history to suggest additional skills that may have been acquired when in that field. “This helps the student create a more robust resume that will be attractive to employers in today’s job market,” said Etchison.

On October 4, 2012, Norco College hosted the Fall 2012 Career & Job Fair. The Student Services walkway was filled almost end to end with 34 employer’s booths, company displays and even a 44 foot semi. Industries represented included building & trades, logistics, public service, health care, military service, early childhood education and more. Over 1800 student interactions were recorded.

New to the Career & Job Fair this Fall was the availability of sponsorships. Two companies chose to purchase our top package, the Blue Rosette. These companies included, Technical Employment Training, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit business and education cooperative. TET provides manufacturing trades education and hands-on machinist skills training where Students, Instructors, and Machinists are co-located in a real-world environment.

Horace Mann also chose to sponsor this year. Horace Mann provides insurance and financial solutions for teachers and school employees. Their mission is to provide lifelong financial well-being for educators and their families through personalized service, advice, and a full range of tailored insurance and financial products.

Students and employers noted a positive experience. Of the 22 employers that responded to our survey, 78% stated that they did find successful candidates.

The Career & Job Placement Center at Norco College plans on hosting the next Career & Job Fair during the Spring semester, tentatively planned for the end of March. We look forward to growing the Career Fair in an effort to serve Norco College students and the surrounding communities.

Norco College’s Dean of Career & Technical Education Kevin Fleming and National Science Foundation Project Director George Walters will present a report at the upcoming Joint Conference of the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Science Foundation on October 25 in Washington, DC.

The presentation, "Supplying Workforce Needs: The National Center for Supply Chain Technology," discusses an emerging business model that is presenting challenges for companies. Norco College operates such a center on its 141-acre campus.

“As consumers are demanding faster delivery of goods, industry is faced with a shift in how products are shipped,” said Fleming, who is the principal investigator for the grant. “Increasingly, single items are delivered directly to customers rather than full pallets sent to retailers.”

Fleming noted that warehouses are no longer filling as many traditional minimum wage jobs. “There are not as many $9-an-hour jobs unloading trucks, but there are $40,000 to $50,000 technician jobs for maintaining sophisticated equipment,” he explained. “Modern warehouses now have higher white-collar/gray-collar types of occupations that require technician skills.”

Walters agreed that there is a definite need for supply chain technicians who have an interdisciplinary understanding in the areas of industrial maintenance, logistics management, information technology, and total quality management. A shortage of qualified technicians to maintain these new inventory and material handling technologies currently exists. National Centers for Excellence in Supply Chain Technology intend to solve that problem.

Diversity committees at Norco and Riverside City colleges are sponsoring two public events in October to promote understanding and emphasize the importance of inclusiveness, dialog, a sense of community, and harmony. The events are the first in a series of films, plays, and panel discussions scheduled throughout the year.

“Each event includes a facilitated discussion in order to grab the teachable moment and see how new knowledge can affect positive change in our lives,” said Dr. Monica Green, dean of Student Services at Norco College and the administrator who directs the diversity committee known as Norco Legacy.

On October 18, Norco College will host Not Until You Know My Story, a play based upon interviews with 15 characters about race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, size and privilege. Each character’s experiences help paint the whole picture of growing up, working and living in a country teaming with differences. Participants will be invited to share their own stories and experiences as they relate to their work environment as a way to address current obstacles to inclusion in the workplace. Curtain is at 1 p.m. in the Center for Student Success (CSS) 217. Admission is free.

That evening, Riverside City College will present Not Just Ramps, a theatrical documentary about physical, emotional and societal issues experienced by a diverse group of people with disabilities. The actors-playwrights portray characters sharing vivid stories about themselves and their experiences in the workplace and their communities. The stories are interspersed with comic scenarios about how to deal with people who are “abled.” These humorous reversals allow the audience to laugh at fears and the stereotyping that has long been associated with people who are different. Curtain is at 5 p.m. in the Digital Library Auditorium. Admission is free.

Additional information about each production can be found at http://hadtobe.com

Two Logistics certificate programs at Norco College are the first in the nation to receive the Professional Designation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (PLS) professional designation waiver for testing.

“Congratulations to Norco College for becoming the first non-bachelor degree granting institution to be designated as a PLS waiver school,” wrote Laurie Hein Denham, president of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics (ASTL).

According to the waiver, graduates of the Logistics Management Program at Norco College will be eligible for the PLS exam waiver after earning at least a 2.5 grade point average in coursework within either the Certificate in Logistics Management or the Certificate in Business Administration with Logistics Management Concentration.

PLS is the professional designation of core competency in the logistics and supply chain management industry. It is usually earned as a result of passing a four-hour test offered through the ASTL.

Founded in 1946 by industry leaders, ASTL strives to promote and ensure the highest level of global standards through professional certification in the field of transportation and logistics. ASTL certification programs are used in business, academia, and government sectors worldwide.

“To receive waiver from the testing requirement and be awarded PLS certification, graduates must apply directly to the ASTL, submit a Norco College transcript confirming academic qualification, and pay the scheduled fees,” said Rex Beck, Norco College associate professor of Logistics Management.

The 2012 fall Norco College Career and Job Fair is set for Thursday, Oct. 4th from 10 am to 1 pm in the Student Services Walkway. Join your fellow students to meet and interact with several local employers from a broad range of business sectors. Last year’s event featured over 50 employers and trade unions.

Employers reported a positive experience. Several said they had found a great pool of applicants from which to choose. One trade representative mentioned he found a perfect candidate with the needed skills; he plans on starting that person working in just a few short weeks.

Event partners include Technical Employment Training Inc., Horace Mann and Labor Ready. For more information stop by the Career and Job Placement Center in the Center for Student Success.

Download Flyer

For the first time in its history, Norco College will field athletic teams as the women’s soccer team won its opener 1-0 against Victor Valley College Tuesday on the college’s soccer field. The men’s team lost to College of the Desert at their away game by the same margin. The men’s team home opener will be Friday, August 31, at 5:00 against San Diego Mesa.

“Athletics opens doors and encourages students to continue their education,” said Debbie DiThomas, vice president of Student Services. “Our coaches know that the focus is on student-athletes’ classroom performance first, then their on-the-field play. We are very excited to introduce athletics to Norco College.”

Data from the California Commission on Athletics backs up DiThomas’ view. A recently completed study demonstrated that student-athletes have high success and completion rates in California community colleges.

“The addition of athletics to Norco College will enhance the college experience for all students,” said Associate Professor of Physical Education Tim Wallstrom, who is handling athletic director duties. “We will be holding events throughout the season to help foster Mustang Fever!”

Lynsey Jalayer coaches the women’s team, while Francisco Melgarejo heads the men’s squad. Norco College’s soccer teams play in the Orange Empire conference, which is made up of colleges from around the region. Click here for the team schedules.  For more information, contact Tim Wallstrom at Tim.Wallstrom@norcocollege.edu.

The Norco College Art Gallery will unveil its opening exhibit at a special reception Thursday, September 13, from 6-9 pm.  The exhibit titled, “Beginnings,” features historical photos (circa 1920s-1960s) of the city of Norco, the Norconian Resort and its Hollywood celebrity guests, and the Navy Hospital.

Norco Mayor Kevin Bash and wife, Brigitte Jouxtel, compiled the images with assistance of Peter Clark, son of Rex S. Clark, a photographer who documented local growth, and grandson of Rex Clark, developer of the Norconian.

The Gallery’s new media digital screens will project images from the archive of 1,000 photographs as well as films of Norco from 1928. Traditional exhibits will display photographs and Norconian artifacts.

“This exhibit will provide an opportunity for the community and students to learn about Norco’s history and discover the once famous Norconian Resort and its architectural beauty,” said Bash.

“We are grateful to Mayor Bash for his dedication and energy in bringing this imagery and information to the Gallery to collaborate an exhibit,” stated Professor Emerita Karin Skiba, director of the Gallery.

The Lake Norconian Club Foundation is co-sponsoring the exhibit, which will open to the public from September 17 to October 25, Monday through Thursday from 12-3 p.m. For more information, email Karin.Skiba@norcocollege.edu.