Friday, January 30, 2015

Engineering alum first undergrad to graduate from MasterCard Foundation Scholars program

Arizona State University news highlighted the accomplishments of CGCC alumnus and soccer player Ibrahima Diop as the first undergraduate student to graduate from the $500-million MasterCard Foundation Scholars program. Diop credits engineering faculty Bassam Matar for his guidance, advice and for “being a good father figure” who helped him excel and reach his goals. Read the article.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Where do I go?


When Chandler-Gilbert Community College's Pecos Campus began in 1987, the two small buildings made it easy for students to find what they were looking for. Hundreds of thousands of square-feet of building space have been added since then, scattering offices and student services across the campus.  Though many services were centralized with the opening of the Coyote Center, resources for students exist in other buildings as well. Use the guide below to help you find what you are looking for and view the map to help you get oriented.

New student? Start in the Coyote Center. Here you’ll find all you need to get you started: Admissions and records, testing, advising, financial aid, cashiering and more. Check in at the welcome desk on the west end of the building and, after a short discussion to determine your need, you’ll be directed to the appropriate department.

Currently enrolled or returning student? Head to the Coyote Center for advising and assistance with career services, support with class registration on the self-help computer stations, or to speak with the dean of student affairs.

Student with a special status? Student athletes, veterans, international students and honors students will find their program offices in the Coyote Center as well. Students needing disability services and resources can find them in the Bradshaw Hall, just north of the Coyote Center.

Interested in doing more than just attending class? Visit the Office of Student Life and Leadership in the Student Pavilion. Here you can learn about our many student clubs or our nationally recognized service-learning program. Or just hang out, play ping pong and meet other students.

Want to work off some stress? Check out the gorgeous 4,000-square-feet fitness center on the east side of the Coyote Center offering a full line of cardiovascular exercise training equipment, resistance training machines, a complete free weight training section and an outdoor turf field.

Need some help with schoolwork? The second floor of the library offers tutoring for math, science, English and writing as well as a Student Success Center with various programs to support student achievement. Attend a workshop or get one-on-one assistance, all for free.

Having a rough time and need some support? The Bradshaw Hall adjacent to the Coyote Center houses the counseling faculty staff who can help.

Still attending high school? Learn about our programs in dual enrollment and early outreach including Achieving a College Education (ACE) and Hoop of Learning at their offices in the Coyote Center.

Need a nosh or caffeine fix? The Coyote CafĂ© located in Bradshaw Hall offers snacks as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner options with daily specials. Or grab a cup o’joe at Grounds for Thought in the Ironwood Hall.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Boeing engine donation helps aviation program hit new heights

New A160 engines to provide valuable hands on experience for students

A160 Hummingbird
Hands-on experience is essential for aviation students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), and thanks to the generosity of one of the program's most valued partners, students are taking the controls like never before. The Boeing Company’s recent donation of four new A160 helicopter engines will expose students to the latest industry technology and prepare them for a career in today's aviation field.

The A160 engine was originally designed for Boeing's A160 Hummingbird, an unmanned aerial vehicle helicopter used by the military from 2002-2012 for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communications relay and battlefield resupply during military mission. Its design incorporated many new technologies never before used in helicopters, allowing for greater endurance and altitude.

"We are pleased the technology developed for the A160 platform will continue to support Chandler-Gilbert Community College and its students," said Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing Unmanned Systems. "Our hope is that these engines provide valuable experience for students pursuing a career in aerospace, helping them to develop the skills that they need to be prepared for the 21st century workforce."

Students in Aircraft Maintenance Technology program will begin working on the new engines  this spring during the lab portion of their Aircraft Turbine Engine Technology class taught by CGCC Aviation Chairman Mike Hutto.

"It is our responsibility to provide the very best training in a highly complex field,” said Hutto, “A gift of this magnitude allows us to give our students advanced, hands-on exposure to technology that they will see in the aviation industry for many years to come.”

This donation is just one more milestone in a long-time partnership between these two institutions.  For more than 20 years, Boeing and CGCC have worked together to prepare students for successful careers in the field of aviation. Boeing is a member of CGCC's aviation advisory council, it provides thousands of dollars annually in student scholarships and offers internship opportunities for students looking for industry experience. In return, CGCC has become a source of qualified talent for Boeing. To date, Boeing has hired over 80 CGCC graduates to work at their Mesa plant, which builds Apache helicopters for the U.S. Army and electrical components for Boeing commercial and military products.

“Our mutually beneficial partnership also serves the broader community as graduating students transition easily into high skill, high wage jobs and channel those resources back into their communities” said Hutto.

The aviation program at CGCC is the only one in the East Valley and is designed to meet the aviation industry's need for well-prepared pilots and technicians in aircraft maintenance, electronics/avionics and aircraft construction. For more information on the program visit cgc.edu/aviation.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Local sixth grade students participate in CGCC Hour of Code Event


Sixty sixth-grade students from Humphrey Elementary School in Chandler recently visited Chandler-Gilbert Community College's computer labs, not to play computer games, but to learn how to write code for them. Hosted by CGCC computer science and business students, the project was an Hour of Code event designed to teach participants the basics of computer programming.

With the help of CGCC student coaches, the children learned how to create their own Angry Birds game using a simplified version of block coding to control the little red birds. Students had to put the codes in the right order to navigate their birds around the blocks to catch the naughty green pigs.

"The computer labs were buzzing with excitement as each student created their own Angry Birds game," said Patricia Baker, computer science faculty member at CGCC. "It was amazing to see how quickly the students became engaged and how much they enjoyed learning about coding. Our goal was to introduce the basics of computer programming to the students and hope they develop an interest to want to continue learning this field on their own."

The Hour of Code event is part of a national platform hosted by Code.org®,  a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools and increasing participation by women and under-represented students. Code.org's vision is that every student in every school will have the opportunity to learn computer science. More than 59 million students from 180 countries worldwide have tried the Hour of Code event.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

CGCC recognized by Carnegie Foundation for community engagement

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized Mesa (MCC) and Chandler-Gilbert Community Colleges (CGCC) by awarding each a 2015 Community Engagement classification, a significant and competitive recognition that highlights dedication to community service. This is the first classification for MCC and a renewal of CGCC’s initial 2006 designation. The colleges represent two of only three Arizona schools and just 361 colleges and universities nationwide that currently hold the designation. Between MCC and CGCC, more than 5,000 students performed upwards of 115,000 hours of community service last year.

“Mesa Community College is honored to be among a select group of colleges and universities across the country that enjoy the designation of Carnegie Community Engaged Campus,” said Shouan Pan, president, Mesa Community College. “As guided by Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board outcomes, MCC values student learning and development through community and civic engagement on and off campus. I want to express my deep appreciation to our faculty, students, and staff for their leadership and commitment to living out our value."

Both MCC and CGCC have long been recognized for exceptional community outreach; collectively, the colleges collaborate with more than 250 community partners, including the American Cancer Society, local United Way agencies, A New Leaf, Paz de Cristo, Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley, Special Olympics as well as local senior centers and school districts.

“Community engagement is part of our culture,” said Linda Lujan, president, CGCC. “From its early years, nearly 30 years ago, until today, CGCC has held community engagement as an enduring core value through a variety of initiatives and programs including service-learning, global and civic engagement, curricular and co-curricular linkages, community partnerships, and executive leadership’s involvement with and service to our region.”

Both colleges have received grants to support community engagement activities from national and local organizations. Dedicated staff at each college oversee and track the multiple projects and grants and work closely with hundreds of faculty members representing every academic department who serve in coordinating roles.

“It is heartening to see this level of commitment and activity,” wrote Carnegie Foundation President Anthony S. Bryk in a notification letter to the colleges. “Clearly, higher education is making significant strides in finding ways to engage with and contribute to important community agendas.”

View the full list of 2015 winners.