December 18, 2008

JOSHUA TREE, Ca– The Copper Mountain College Foundation is accepting donations for its 14th Annual Alumni Association Art Auction, to be held February 28, 2009, at the Helen Gray Education Center. Benefits from the auction support the CMC art department and provide funding for 33 scholarships, including 16 awarded annually to seniors at all 4 local high schools.

In an effort to support the art community, a group that is generous throughout the year with all the Morongo Basin non-profits, the CMC Foundation is offering a 20% commission for all artists and art owners who donate art for the auction.

“This art auction has a long tradition of being a major February event that is fun for everyone. This year’s auctioneer, Gary Daigneault from Z107.7, an artist in his own right, will bring his high energy and appreciation of our local talent to support an event that funds the bulk of our annual scholarships,” said Foundation Executive Director, Syndee Slayton.

The Art Auction event will feature a festive environment of color and excitement with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. Admission to the event is free, but there is a $10 fee to bid.

“Local art buyers tell us they are especially interested in originals and smaller format pieces,” says Foundation Board President and 29 Palms Inn owner, Jane Smith, “but we want to offer a wide variety so that there is something for everyone. This is a fundraiser, but it is also a gala event that celebrates the close connection the college has had with our art community throughout its history. 2009 is the 25th anniversary of our campus and our receipt of the Volunteer Action Award from President Reagan that recognized the Morongo Basin for creating the ‘Community College Built by the Community.’ 2009 is a big year for us, so we are looking to make our next Art Auction a truly memorable event.”

To arrange for an art donation or for more information, please contact Syndee Slayton at the CMC Foundation at 760-366-5296 or via email at foundation@cmccd.edu. More information about this event and the Alumni Association is also available online at the Foundation website, www.theCMCF.org.

For more information regarding this event or how you can become involved with the CMC Foundation please contact Syndee Slaton at 760.366.5296. For general information regarding Copper Mountain College visit us at www.cmccd.edu or call 760.366.3791.

December 11, 2008

JOSHUA TREE, Ca– The Copper Mountain College Foundation announced today that Wells Fargo will sponsor the cost of the college’s new AlertU emergency notification system.

In August, Copper Mountain College announced the activation of AlertU, an emergency alert notification system that enables the college to send critical text updates to students, faculty and staff during a campus emergency. With AlertU, school administrators can send text alerts to subscribers’ mobile devices that communicate critical, potentially life-saving information in real-time.
Martha Jimenez, community banking district manager for Wells Fargo in Coachella Valley said, “Wells Fargo is proud to support Copper Mountain College and congratulates them for providing such an important emergency alert service to the college community. We hope this program will allow for the faculty, staff and students to put more resources into education instead of focusing on safety issues."
“Finding new ways to keep our students and employees safe is always a top priority. AlertU is another tool to help us stay informed and connected, and we are grateful to Wells Fargo for keeping this system available,” said Dr. Roger Wagner, the Superintendent/President of CMC.

AlertU is an easy-to-use, web-based emergency text alert system designed by Waterfall Mobile for enterprises, institutions and school campus communities. There are no fees to subscribers for enrolling in the service however standard text message rates apply.

AlertU is available to the entire Copper Mountain College campus community including students, faculty, and staff, as well as friends and family. To subscribe and receive Copper Mountain College text alerts, please text CMC to 253788 (ALERTU) and reply Y to confirm.  Sign up can also be completed online through the homepage widget on the school website, www.cmccd.edu.
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $609 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance services via the internet (www.wellsfargo.com), as well as through almost 6,000 stores across North America and worldwide. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks in the world, to have the highest possible credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service (“Aaa”) and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“AAA").

For more information regarding AlertU, contact the college at 760-366-3791 extension 5442. For general information regarding Copper Mountain College, visit us at www.cmccd.edu. If you would like to support a program at Copper Mountain College, please contact the Foundation at 760-366-3791 extension 4200, or visit us online at www.theCMCF.org.

December 9, 2008

JOSHUA TREE, Ca – Copper Mountain College is giving graduating seniors and juniors  a head-start on their college education through the Bridge Program being offered this winter on campus through Title V.

The winter Bridge Program invites high school juniors and seniors to participate in a preparatory winter bridge to college success at Copper Mountain College. This program allows incoming students the opportunity to become comfortable, adjusted, and ready to be successful.  The program will run the week of January 5-8th Mon-Thurs on the Copper Mountain College Campus from 2:30-4:45pm, with pizza and soda included.

The students participating will learn about college degrees and programs, financial aid opportunities, career exploration and creating an educational plan for their future.  Students will be given tips for surviving College, reducing test anxiety and overcoming Math or English anxieties.  The program will offer them insight on what the expectations will be from their college professors and how college will differ from high school.

“So far, uur program so far has been well received by all the local high schools and we look forward to “jump starting” students into CMC through our Winter Bridge Program” Sheri Holbrook, Title V Coordinator.  This program was offered in three separate sessions throughout the summer and had exceeded expectations in participation. Students who successfully complete the program and qualify can receive free text books and tutoring.

For students or parents who are interested in enrolling their child please contact Diana Morris at 760.366.3791 extension 5816.  For more information on other programs on campus call Laura Hall, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at 760.366.3791 extension 5442 or log on to www.cmccd.edu.

September 22, 2008

September 14, 2008

CMC BREAKS GROUND ON TORTOISE HABITAT

JOSHUA TREE, Ca – Copper Mountain College (CMC) will begin breaking ground for their tortoise habitat by fencing in the tortoise translocation (TA) area on the college campus later next week.

As many in the community are aware, CMC has started an expansion project that will greatly transform the college over the next few years. The first of three new projects begins at the end of this week with the placement of fencing for the tortoise translocation area and quickly followed by the groundbreaking of the Bell Center on October 1st. The remodel for efficiency of various phases of the campus will follow later this year.

CMC has recognized its responsibility as environmental stewards of our beautiful desert and completed a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in 2006 to protect native desert species and habitat during the large expansion. The college’s HCP has been cited as a model of responsible development for other organizations. The HCP designated an 85 acre Translocation Area (TA) to protect the tortoises removed from potential harm in the campus construction areas, and to serve as a permanent tortoise preserve.

Dr. Paul Delaney, a biology professor at CMC, wrote the Translocation Plan for desert tortoises displaced by construction activities at the college. He noted, “CMC’s tortoise preserve will provide a great opportunity for students at CMC to think globally about environmental issues, act locally to help protect a threatened species and gain research experience in conservation biology.”

To help implement the plan, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated Ed LaRue, a private biological consultant, as an Authorized Biologist to remove and monitor tortoises at CMC, along with Dr. Delaney. Dan Cain, Director of Facilities, is CMC’s Field Contact Representative for ensuring implementation of protective measures for the desert tortoises on campus. The tortoise population in the TA will be monitored to determine effects of construction and other activities. The comprehensive monitoring efforts will entail ecological surveys of tortoise population growth, survival and reproduction, as well as the health status of individual tortoise.

In April of 2007 CMC established a Tortoise Awareness Program designed to educate and train visitors, students, contractors, employees, teachers, construction workers and anyone in the community on what to do if they encounter a tortoise. A portion of this program includes tortoise awareness classes that require anyone who will access the construction area to participate. CMC has begun utilizing hardhat decals and rear view mirror hangers to identify people that have been trained and are authorized to work in the area.  CMC wants to ensure that new construction does not harm tortoises that are within the work area.

During the months when tortoises are most active ranging from mid February to June and again in September and October, CMC has had a few encounters with the tortoises that inhabit locations on or near the campus.

The tortoise pictured above was found near the Maintenance and Operations building on campus on August 29th .  To ensure its safety, this hatchling tortoise was monitored by college staff until it returned to the open desert away from college facilities, and its location was recorded with a global positioning satellite (GPS) transceiver.

The large tortoise above was found on September 11th near the rear side of phase III on campus.  This adult tortoise was also monitored to ensure its safety until it returned to the open desert away from campus facilities, and its GPS location was recorded by Dan Cain, Director of Facilities at CMC.

For more information regarding this project please contact Laura Hall at 760-366-3791 extension 5442 or for general information regarding Copper Mountain College visit us at www.cmccd.edu.