S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

EOPS Mission

The mission of EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) at Los Angeles Valley College is to assist eligible students who have historically experienced economic and educational challenges. The program provides “above and beyond” services through counseling, tutoring, financial assis-tance, workshops and other services in order to increase access, retention and goal completion.

Over & Above EOPS/CARE Newsletter

Los Angeles Valley College Student Services Center, 2nd floor, (818) 947-2432, www.lavc.edu/eops

Accounting Sylvia Allen Howard Levine Administration of Justice Michael Frias Nicholas Wade African American Studies Keidra Morris Anatomy Pamela Byrd-Williams Michelle Le Erika Brockmann Biology Ronald Bigelow Joseph Frantz Melia Tabbakhian CAOT Frances Aguon-Garrido Gerry Clark Naja El-Khoury Annette Jennings Clarissa Leiva Michael Rahni Steven Sachs Chemistry Edmond Anderiassian Chicano Studies Pete Lopez Child Development Tracey Baca Elmida Baghdaserians Renee Berg Lucy Chakerian Gloria Daims Veronica Getskow Joan Iaccino Nancy Ramsey Marnie Roosevelt Heidi Taglyan Kourouyan Leonor Vazquez Cinema Eric Swelstad Computer Science Lyn Robinson

Dance Kiha Lee Maya Zellman English Deborah Hall Elana Kent Stacy Joan Koplow Jane Magwood Lilit Manucharyan Rod Moore Tracey Oberman Robert Olsberg Virginia Requa La Vergne Rosow Nancy Shiffrin Jennifer Smith Scott Weigand Lynn Woods Brian Yablon Kristina Yegoryan Alfred Zucker English as a Second Language Vartan Alexanyan Rafael Arias Reginald Hubbard William Lomen Mohammad Rafii Cheryl Stoneham Gordon Veatch Geology Jacquelyn Hams German Victor Fusilero Health David Buchanan Frances Garcia Christopher Johnson Virgil Watson History Daniella Hovsepian Michael Kerze Rick Murray Jonathan Saxon Kinesiology Raymond Follosco Patty Melody Billy Reed Law Juanita Ardavany Learning Skills Lilit Davoyan

Marketing James Powder Math Steve Barakat Steven Castillo Oren Eisenberg Luis Enriquez Lynn Goodman Kalavathi Iyer John Kawai Adam Littig Masoud Nassimi Glen Paget Yuri Patvakanyan Norm Siever Alan Stillson Teresa Sutcliffe Phuong Thao Vo Susan Vo Music Jan Abell Ian Lewis Richard Kahn Personal Development Kristine Aslanyan Marie Dahan Denise Grzesiak Mark Hobbs Anaid Mushegyan Yurica Yamaguchi Philosophy Zachary Knorr Christopher Pallotti Nathan Placencia Political Science Samuel Lingrosso Henry Shockley Psychology Janet Carney-Clark Ruby Christian-Brougham Todd Farris Ali Ghassemi Nina Kaylor Sue Meier Ron Mossler Minna Ng Stephen Saltzman

Sociology Tiffany Lanoix Sally Raskoff Laura Scott Steven Sherwood Darby Southgate Spanish Librada Hernandez Speech Communication Betty Ballew Kevin Briancesco Pat Calder Helen Fountaine George Potsic Roana Thornock Yoga Elizabeth Casebolt

“It is with great pleasure that I accept such an honor and gesture of

appreciation for my efforts as in instructor. I truly

love my students…”

David Buchanan, Health Instructor

Dates To Remember 1ST COUNSELING

CONTACT DEADLINE April 25, 2014

SPRING BREAK

April 7—April 13, 2014

CESAR CHAVEZ DAY

March 31, 2014

SUMMER 2014 PRIORITY REGIS-TRATION

April 8-14, 2014

PROGRESS REPORT DEADLINE

April 25, 2014 by 12:00 noon

FALL 2014 PRIORITY REGISTRATION May 9-11, 2014

EOPS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE

April 18, 2014 by 12:00 noon

DROP CLASSES WITH A “W”

May 11, 2014 (by Internet)

MEMORIAL DAY

May 26, 2014

EOPS ANNUAL AWARDS CELE-BRATION

May 28, 2014, 5:00-7:00 pm

2ND COUNSELING CONTACT DEADLINE

June 6, 2014

EOPS/CARE Students Nominate 127 “Over and Above” Instructors! EOPS/CARE students selected the Los Angeles Valley College instructors listed below as outstanding and going “over and above” for students. Nominated instructors attended a reception in their honor where they received a certificate. Instructors were very appreciative of being recognized by students. Congratulations to all of the instructors!

.

P A G E 2

UC Transfers: Course/Grade

Updates:

Although the Jan. 31 deadline to submit the

Transfer Academic Update (TAU) has now passed,

additional updates of fall 2014 grade changes or

winter/spring 2015 courses changes still can be submitted on the UC

Application website through March 31.

Transfer Checklist 

Submit all transcripts requested by the universities you applied to by the deadline.

Read all emails and letters sent to you by the universities. Respond to all requests without missing any deadlines.

Apply for housing if you are not planning on commuting. It is never too early to start thinking about your housing situation. Some schools may have long waiting lists, so the sooner you decide the better.

If applicable, apply for CSU certification or IGETC certification in the Admissions and Records office .

If applicable, apply for graduation from LAVC by March 11, in the Admissions and Records office .

Submit your Student Intent to Register (SIR) to the one college you plan on attending.

If applicable, apply for EOP at the university you plan on attending. This requires a separate application which requests 2 recommendations.

Set up a tour of your new campus; this way you will not feel lost at your new college.

How can we help you?

The best way to discover if a university is the right university for you is to visit the campus. Luckily this semester we will be offering various field trips to the following universities:

Cal Poly Pomona & Cal State Los Angeles   

Friday April 4th  7:30am‐5:00pm 

UCLA STOMP Conference 

Friday April 25th 8:30am‐4:00pm 

San Diego State & UC San Diego 

Friday, May 30th 8:30am‐3:30pm

All trips are FREE! All you have to do is sign up in the Career Transfer Center in the Student Services Annex. When you sign up you will be asked to leave a $5 deposit, which will be returned to you the morning of the field trip when you board the bus. So don’t miss the bus to a more informed future!

University Field Trips

Funding Your Education Through ScholarshipsFunding Your Education Through ScholarshipsFunding Your Education Through Scholarships

 Win a $500 EOPS/CARE Scholarship! EOPS/CARE is offering ten $500 scholarships just for EOPS students! EOPS/CARE will award scholarships to students who are completing the requirements for transfer to a four-year university, an Associate’s degree or a vocational certifi-cate by the end of Spring/Summer 2014. Scholarship recipients will be honored at the EOPS/CARE End of the Year Celebration. Please stop by the EOPS office to pick up an application. The deadline to apply for the EOPS/CARE Scholarship is Friday, April 18, by 12:00 noon.

EOPS 2013 Scholarships Recipients

EOPS Student Workers

Friday, May 9 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

GRAMMY Museum Field Trip

Join EOPS and TRiO students on a visit to the GRAMMY Museum at LA Live! Learn how music impacts society and shapes your

cultural identity. Limited spaces available so sign up by visiting the EOPS/CARE Office or calling

(818) 947-2432.

P A G E 3

EOPS Tutoring Survey Says... ”I was failing that class and thanks to EOPS Tutoring I passed it. EOPS tutors are great, outgoing , and very friendly. ” - Olga, EOPS Student “It helped me pass every single test with confidence. Thanks to EOPS tutoring, I was able to keep up with the professor’s pace and best of all never fall behind. EOPS tutors are extremely helpful, professional and knowledgea-ble of the material. Thanks to EOPS tutoring , I’m able to face my fear of any subject.”- Ana, EOPS Student “It helped me pass my math combo class. It encouraged me to go to CSUN without fear because I know with tutoring I will be able to pass any class. Jaime and Hilda were beyond extraordinary, their valuable support helped me pass with one of the highest grade in the class. ”- Mayra, EOPS Stu-dent

EOPS/CARE Tutoring Center and Computer lab Student Services Center (SSC), 2nd Floor

818-947-2338

The EOPS/CARE Tutoring Center offers free, individualized help with subjects, such as English, Math, and Biology. Stu-dents can receive assistance through one-to-one or group tutoring sessions. Visit or call the EOPS/CARE Tutoring Center to make an appointment. Tutoring Tips:

Please bring your assignments, textbooks and materials (pens, pencils, etc.). The content of your tutoring session is based on your questions about the lecture or assignment

Our tutors are here to assist you with what you do not understand. They are not here to do your assignment for you.

If you are more than 10 minutes late, it will be consid-ered a "no show" and your appointment will be given to anoth-er student. The EOPS/CARE Computer Lab also has computers and a printer for EOPS/CARE students to work on their assignments independently and print them out for submission. Services also include Internet access for class projects and job search, resume and cover letters revision, and interview techniques.

Astronomy Jaime: 1

Biology David: 3 and 6

Chemistry David: 51-101 Jaime: 51-102

Math Arturo: 105-125 David: 105-115, 125 Eli: 105- 260 Hilda: 105-259 Jaime: 105-265 Vahe: 105-125

Statistics Arturo: Math 227

English Angelica: All Levels April: All Levels Colette: All Levels Levin: All Levels Vahe: All Levels

Psychology April: 1 and 2

Speech Colette: All Levels

Sociology Levin: All Levels

EOPS/CARE TEAM Dr. Sherri Rodriguez Associate Dean, EOPS/CARE

As Associate Dean of EOPS/CARE, Dr. Rodriguez is responsible for program planning, implementation, compliance and evaluation.

Prior to coming to Los Angeles Valley College, Dr. Rodriguez worked at a variety of educational institutions including El Camino College, USC, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Before her career in education, Dr. Rodriguez was a media buyer for a performing arts center and a promotions director for a radio station.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fullerton in Communications and her doctorate degree at UCLA in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Rodriguez may be reached at (818) 947- 2726 or e-mailed at rodrigsa@lavc.edu.

P A G E 4

Alma Olivares-Luera Counselor, EOPS/CARE As an EOPS Counselor, Alma Olivares-Luera is responsible for providing academic, career, transfer and personal counseling to EOPS/CARE students. Professor of Counseling Alma Olivares-Luera has been an EOPS counselor at Los Angeles Valley College for 13 years. She began her career as a counselor fresh out of graduate school and was tenured by the age of 30. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English at UCLA and her Master’s Degree at California State University, Northridge in Educational Psychology and Counseling with an option in Career Counseling.

Dr. Anaid Mushegyan Counselor, EOPS/CARE

An Associate Professor of Counseling, Dr. Mushegyan has been providing academic, career, transfer and personal counseling to EOPS/CARE students for 11 years.

Before coming to Los Angeles Valley College, she worked as a pre-school teacher at Northridge Hospital Child Development Center.

After earning her Associate’s degree at Valley College, she transferred to California State University, Northridge where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development as well as her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling with an option College Counseling. She continued to obtain her Doctorate from Alliant International University in Educational Leadership.

Jessica Araujo Counselor, EOPS/CARE

As an EOPS Counselor, Jessica Araujo is responsible for providing academic, career, transfer and personal counseling to EOPS/CARE students. She is also the primary counselor for the CARE Program by verifying eligibility and planning all events, workshops, conferences and fieldtrips.

Prior to Valley College, Jessica was a counselor at Los Angeles Mission College in the Teacher Pathways program. In addition, she has over six years’ experience working in EOPS/CARE programs at various community colleges. She was also a Professional Growth Plan Advisor/Counselor at Los Angeles Universal Preschool Workforce and Professional Development where she managed the increase of Early Childhood Education degree awareness and attainment for those interested in the Los Angeles County.

After earning her Associate’s degree at Los Angeles Mission College, she transferred to California State University, Northridge where she earned her Bachelor’s degree of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Family Studies. She obtained her Master’s degree in Educational Counseling from University of La Verne.

Veronica Enríquez Student Services Assistant, EOPS/CARE

As Student Services Assistant of EOPS/CARE, Veronica Enríquez is responsible for the EOPS/CARE Tutoring Center. She supervises the tutors, maintains supplies and assists students with general EOPS/CARE questions.

Before coming to Los Angeles Valley College, Veronica worked with various non-profit WIA organizations as a Case Manager. She helped clients obtain short-term training in various disciplines, such as Certified Nurse Assistant training and Licensed Vocational Nurse training, which allowed them to enter the workforce.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Stanislaus in Sociology.

Veronica Enriquez can be reached at 818-947-2338 or e-mailed at enriquv@lavc.edu.

Carlos Flores Senior Office Assistant, EOPS/CARE As Senior Office Assistant, Carlos Flores is tasked with EOPS/CARE daily clerical duties, managing its database, supervising student workers and assisting students.

Before coming to Los Angeles Valley College, Carlos worked as an ESL teacher in various Latin America countries. Followed by a six year stint as an accounts receivables supervisor for an automotive parts distributors. Carlos also volunteered for non-profit organizations such as Tree People and Neighborhood Legal Services.

As a returning student, Carlos resumed his higher education 10 years after graduating from high school. While working full time, he earned his Associate’s degree from Los Angeles Valley College in Liberal Arts. He transferred to CSUN where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences.

Carlos Flores can be reached at 818-947-2727 or e-mailed at floresca2@lavc.edu

P A G E 5

Corner spring 2014 

CARE WORKSHOPS Highlights from one of the successful CARE workshops for spring 2014

Senior Attorney, Ms. Dozier from Western Center on Law and Poverty presented on the types of services and support available for CalWorks students. This workshop helped students have a better understanding of their CalWorks benefits and some of the services that can assist them with the process of completing their education goal.   

Can I change my GAIN worker? There may be no right to change your GAIN worker for reasons other than discrimination. You should try to treat your interaction with your worker as you would any other customer service interaction. Be polite, but advocate on your behalf. Remember, you can always take your concerns up the chain of command.

Does the County pay my transportation? The county must pay recipients the transportation costs to get to and from welfare-to-work assignments and child care providers. By providing students with: • A bus pass • If it takes you more than 1 hour each way on public transportation you may receive mileage and parking reimbursement. (Some coun-ties’ mileage rates are too low and cannot possibly cover the necessary transportation cost check with your county)

What additional Supported Services are available? Students should check with their county about the availability of services and supports to deal with family crises or concerns, including concerns regarding the well-being or health of their children. Beginning January 1, 2014, certain welfare-to-work recipients may be eligible for the Family Stabilization Program, which may cover services and activities for their children. You should check with your county to see if you qualify for the program and what services are available for family members. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Family Source Center Managed by: New Economics for Women

The mission of New Economics for Women is to illuminate pathways to success for women through wealth creation, education, and affordable hous-ing. Their work results in economic security, family wellbeing, community engagement, and dignity for those served.

Free Services offered:

 

 If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Jessica Araujo or visit the EOPS/CARE office!

Parenting classes Recreational Activities Tutoring (K – 5) Referral to Emergency Assistance:

Food Transportation Clothing

School improvement Program Screening for public Benefits:

CalFresh(food Stamps) WIC CalWorks/TANF

Access to computer & Internet Child Passenger Safety workshop (free

Car Seat) Computer classes (Basic) Cultural Activities Employment Support Services Financial Literacy/Money Management GED Support Income Tax Preparation & Filing Legal Services Mentoring

To enroll for free services at the Family Source Center, you will need to provide the following docu-ments:

Proof that you live in the City of Los Angeles A valid CA ID, or utility bill, or a postmarked mail with your name

Proof of Family Income Pay check stub or benefit check/statement or an unemployment check/statement Copy of the most recent report card for students in grades K-12

*All documents must have a date and may not exceed 90 days For more information and hours:

South Valley Family Source Center 6931 Van Nuys Blvd.,Suite 201 Van Nuys, CA 91405

(818)786-4098 www.neweconomicsforwomen.org

A rmenuhi (Monica)

EOPS/CARE helped Armenuhi (Monica) earn her AA degree in

Sociology and transfer to California State University, Northridge in Spring

2013. She changed her life. Now she’s hoping to change the world.

Armenuhi (Monica) is a single parent looking for a way to improve her life,

the lives of her family, and the lives of others. Los Angeles Valley College

gave her the skills and the confidence to do it all.

Armenuhi was born in Armenia. She grew up in a family that instilled the

value of education in her, but were unable to provide the support for her to

obtain education beyond high school. When the opportunity became available

for her family to move to the United States, she was very happy because she knew that it would open the doors to many opportunities for her,

including her dreams to get education. Of course, this was not as easy as she expected.

Once she came to United States she found herself facing many challenges, such as financial difficulties, language barriers, cultural shock and

social adjustments. Just before she thought things could not get any worse, her life turned into a disaster. After only being here in the US for

several months, her marriage ended in divorce. She was alone in a foreign country, with a three-year-old child, and not a single person that

could help her, guide her, or provide any type of support.

These horrible experiences made her feel so helpless and confused that she did not know what she was going to do. What helped her gather

her strength and find a way to move on, was her daughter. She started to attend ESL non-credit classes to learn the English language, but it

wasn’t as easy as she thought. People all around her were Armenian speakers and even though she felt more comfortable around them, she

also knew and understood that she would never learn the English language. Armenuhi tried to find English speaking people and friends, so

that she could improve her English language skills. Making this decision helped Armenuhi to improve her English. Also, she always tried to

have a challenging professors because that professor would make her work harder. Armenuhi found a job on the campus which gave her a

chance for to communicate with English speakers. In the beginning it was hard and scary for her, because every day when she was getting

ready to go to work she was thinking “I cannot do this, it's not fair, and these people need a worker who speak the English language better.”

She is thankful to EOPS’ staff, “they were patient with me and made me feel comfortable and improve my language.”

Armenuhi (Monica) earned her Associate Degree in Sociology and transferred to CSUN to continue her next educational journey. Armenuhi

(Monica) works with a CSUN research project; which opens another opportunity for her to learn the language and get adopted to American

society and culture. She says: “I didn’t come this far without getting frustrated at times and being close to giving up, but somehow, I kept

picking up myself and pushing to move on.”

P A G E 6