And just like that, summer was over. Was it just us or did it go by in the blink of an eye for everyone? Regardless, we here in Marketing & Communications hope you all enjoyed yourselves, found a little rejuvenation time, and are ready to jump into another action-packed school year! Let’s hear it for the 2022-23 Academic Year! We’re feeling really good about this one. Quick reminder — Campus Updates comes out the first and third Wednesday of the month during the spring and fall semesters. If you have something you’d like us to include in the newsletter, by all means, fill out this form and tell us all about it! You can also upload photos and graphics via the form so please include those as well.

Did you know that EMCC is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year? Seems like only yesterday we were donning our finest duds for a huge gala at the swankiest resort in the West Valley in celebration of our silver milestone. It’s hard to believe we actually started as a satellite campus for Glendale Community College back in 1992 and went by the name “Estrella Mountain Community College Center.” We had a grand total of three buildings — Estrella, Montezuma, and Komatke halls — on a campus surrounded by nothing but empty land. The campus has continually expanded since then, with additions to existing buildings and the construction of several new halls, the Performing Arts Center, the Estrella Conference Center, the Student Union, the Police and Fire Station, the Southwest Skill Center, and the Physical Plant. We became our own school in 1997, receiving initial five-year accreditation as an independent institution from the Higher Learning Commission, and dropped “Center” from our name.

Marketing and Communications is happy to provide promotional items for your student and/or recruitment events. We can provide up to 50 individual promotional items (20 for larger items such as T-shirts and sunshades) or 25 swag bags total for your student recruitment event. If you need more items than we can provide, please reach out to us and we can connect you with a vendor.

Any promotional items that come out of the Marketing and Communications budget must be used for current and/or potential students. If you would like assistance ordering promotional items for non-student events (with your division budget), feel free to contact us and we’ll gladly help you out. Additional information about ordering promotional items will be communicated soon.

Please submit your request at least three weeks before you need the items. Late requests may not be fulfilled if Marketing staff is unavailable.

To request promo items, click here.

Kudos once again to everyone who had something to do with the second annual Rev Up for Registration. It was another huge success! About 80% of the nearly 200 students who attended the in-person events on June 11 and July 16 have enrolled for the fall semester! “This event required collaboration from departments across student and academic affairs and is a shining example of why EMCC thrives in service excellence,” Catrina Kranich said.

EMCC nursing students Chase Glenn and Julia Weiss are headed into Block 4 with less financial stress thanks to $1,000 scholarships from the West Valley Nurses Club. The club, which is based in Sun City West, chose to gift the scholarships to Block 3 nursing students to help offset the financial burdens that come with RN licensure applications during their Block 4 semester. “I felt a sense of weight lifted off my shoulders,” Julia said. “Because I knew how much the award would help toward my future expenses come this fall semester.”

EMCC students Angel Barriente, Dylan Lapham, and Carlo Santos are all headed to ASU this fall on full-tuition scholarships after having been accepted into the university’s Next Generation Service Corps (NGSC) leadership program. While maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA and completing at least 30 credits per academic year, Angel, Dylan, and Carlo will take several leadership courses, complete three internships, and participate in service and leadership events. “NGSC is a great opportunity for EMCC students who are transferring to ASU because not only does it help pay for tuition, but it also helps students develop as individuals and form new connections,” Carlo said.

Zane Green, who graduated from EMCC in 2021 and transferred to ASU on a full-tuition scholarship, just wrapped up a summer internship with NASA. During his internship, which took place in person at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, he worked on a project called a Composite Radiator-Based Atmosphere Revitalizer, which is an alternative to the current air revitalization system on the International Space Station. When Zane found out that he’d been accepted into the prestigious internship, one of the first people he told was our very own Liahla Roberts, who mentored him during his time here at EMCC. “When I got my internship at NASA, besides jumping out of my chair in excitement, I wanted to call everyone that has been along watching and helping me on my journey,” Zane said. “Liahla helped introduce me to my first internship in STEM last summer and I will forever be grateful for that.”

Studio is now available in Canvas for a select group of Maricopa Community Colleges including EMCC. This new tool comes with some really cool features, such as the ability for students and instructors to engage with media content by commenting directly on the media timeline. The tool also allows instructors to create videos with embedded quiz questions. Tutorials and videos are available to help you learn more about Studio. Watch this video for a brief overview of some of the Studio functions or read through this basic guide. Since Studio is not available to all District colleges, you must access Studio from within your course using the course navigation. Click on the video on the left for more information.

Would you like to exhibit your artwork on campus and get paid to do it? EMCC is currently accepting submissions for two art exhibition series — one in the fall and another in the spring — that pay each selected artist $1,400! Artists do not need to be EMCC students but must be Arizona residents and at least 18 years old. Artwork may be any media/medium and content. Artwork will be displayed throughout campus in Agave, Estrella, and Komatke halls and in the Performing Arts Center. Artwork may be submitted by going to https://go.estrellamountain.edu/art-exhibit-form.

In need of a massage but don’t want to break the bank? You can get a massage from a Gateway massage therapy student for $10 per hour during a clinic held through Aug. 23 in Arroyo Hall, Room 178. Appointments are available from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To reserve your spot, click here.

Bylaws for Ability Maricopa, the District’s affinity resource group for employees with disabilities, have been revised to be more clear and specific in order to meet the needs of the members long term. An open comment period runs through Aug. 26 and you’re invited to review and comment on the proposed changes. Voting to ratify the bylaws is planned for September.

If you are interested in seeing improvements made for employees and students with disabilities, consider joining Ability Maricopa. Membership is open to all Maricopa Community Colleges employees.

Want to know when Ability Maricopa meetings and events are happening? Subscribe to the calendar.

Got a question? Have some information to share? Or just want to connect with others in the group? Join the Ability Maricopa chat group.

Want to get more involved? Officer elections take place in September. Other, non-elected positions are available as well. Reach out to any of the current Officers for more information.

Do you know someone who would like to get into the exciting field of semiconductor manufacturing? EMCC is offering a rolling 10-day Semiconductor Technician Quick Start program AND reimbursing everyone who successfully completes the program $270, the cost of in-state tuition, AND guaranteeing every program graduate an interview with one of our industry partners. Share this page: http://www.estrellamountain.edu/semiconductor with your friends and family members today!

Know someone who wants to enroll for the fall semester here at EMCC but thinks they’re too late? They’re not! Let them know that we are open this Saturday, Aug. 20, to help them with registration, financial aid, testing, and more! Tell them to head over to the Komatke Enrollment Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to begin their educational journey.

Your Marketing and Communications peeps would greatly appreciate it if you’d share the following announcement with your students via Canvas:

Hey, Mountain Lions, we’ve got some exciting Welcome Week events planned to get your fall semester off to a great start!

On Aug. 22 and 23, stop by the north entrance to Estrella Hall anytime from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and pick up a welcome bag. Information tables will be there, as well.

On Aug. 24, spend some time in the courtyard outside of Komatke Hall anytime from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and get yourself some free snacks while learning about our student clubs and organizations.

On Aug. 25, hang out in the Student Union anytime between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and help yourself to some free popcorn and treats.

Has your household income been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? Maybe you were laid off from your job. Or perhaps you had to stop working to care for a sick family member or to watch your children who were attending school virtually. Route To Relief provides eligible students with free tuition, monthly stipends, and employment assistance. Eligible students must also be enrolled in a program in one of the following fields of interest: Applied Technology, Behavioral Science and Human Services, Business, Entrepreneurialism, and Management, Computer and Information Technology, Education, or Health Sciences. To learn more, go to https://info.maricopacorporate.com/r2r-student.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Then you should attend Maricopa Entrepreneur Days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 31 on campus. You’ll learn about scholarship opportunities and get help applying for them, you’ll hear from faculty and staff about courses and programs, outcomes, and opportunities, and you’ll discover what community resources are available to you as an entrepreneur. The event is also being held at several of the other Maricopa Community Colleges on different dates and it will be live-streamed. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maricopa-entrepreneur-days-tickets-372890243757 to learn more.

EMCC is now participating in Grow with Google’s HSI Career Readiness Program, which offers students free digital skills training and career workshops. If you’d like to take advantage of this exciting opportunity, email workforce@estrellamountain.edu. Read more about the program at https://www.estrellamountain.edu/news/grow-with-google.

Do you have children age 6 or younger and need help paying for their childcare? Email Samantha Dean at samantha.dean@estrellamountain.edu and find out if you qualify for EMCC’s Childcare Assistance Program, an income-based awards program designed to supplement the cost of childcare. Students who qualify must be enrolled in at least three credit hours.

EMCC’s Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams are searching for runners. If you can run 5 miles and are interested in joining the team and learning about some awesome scholarship opportunities, email Samantha Dean at samantha.dean@estrellamountain.edu.

Do you need help managing your time? Developing effective study skills? Getting connected to campus resources? Head on over to Estrella Hall S-133 and meet a PAL. PALS, or Personal Allies for Learning Success, are here to help you with all that and more! PALS are fellow students who come from diverse backgrounds. They have faced some of the same challenges you are experiencing and can share ways they overcame them. PALS are available in-person or virtually through Cranium Cafe from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to https://www.estrellamountain.edu/titlev/pals.

Did you know that your college has an extremely active presence on social media? If you’re not yet following EMCC, you’re missing out. We post about upcoming events, tweet out registration deadlines, and share lots of stories about our students. Whatever your social media platform preference, we’ve got you covered. Click on any of the links below to get to our page and follow us!

Welcome to the fall semester! Here are the hours of operation for the Academic Success Center, Computer Commons, and the Library, all located on the first floor of Estrella Hall:

Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 p.m. for math)

Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please share/retweet our recent social media post. Just click on one of the social media icons below to help spread the word.

With nearly a month left of the monsoon, ADOT is reminding drivers to follow these safety tips if they find themselves behind the wheel during a dust storm:

You’ve probably never even thought about it, but the only way you can see a rainbow is if you have your back to the sun. And, according to The National Center for Atmospheric Research & the UCAR Office of Program, the center of the arc of the rainbow is in the direction opposite to that of the sun. We still have about a month left of the monsoon and our nice big open skies already make those spectacular displays pretty easy to spot, but hopefully, we’ve made it even easier for you now that you know exactly where to look!

The proposed Academic Calendar for 2023-24 is posted here for review and open comment. If you would like to participate in the review, email your comments and/or questions to governance@domail.maricopa.edu by Aug. 30.

Do you have some news you’d like for us to shout out to your colleagues? Maybe you know a student who is participating in a really cool internship. Maybe one of your coworkers just published a book. Maybe you’re planning a campus event. Let us know so we can include it in an upcoming Campus Updates. Simply select “Article for Campus Updates” on our online request form. Please provide us with as much detail as possible — quotes, weblinks, photos, videos, and other attachments. Campus Updates hits inboxes the first and third Wednesday of the month during the spring and fall semesters, so keep that in mind if you have a time-sensitive announcement you’d like for us to share.

The Campus Updates is a project of the EMCC Marketing and Communications department. It is an internal communication for EMCC employees. For questions or concerns, please email mpr@estrellamountain.edu

The Maricopa Community Colleges do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 Concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit the following weblink: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/non-discrimination-statements