CCQ Newsletter: Vantage Point (Fall 2012)

Vantage Point, the Community College of Qatar’s newsletter, is pleased to formally welcome all new and returning students to the C-Ring and West Bay campuses. With a new school year comes many new and original experiences, including never before seen courses such as the Introduction to Fiction class which focuses on the use of monsters, vampires, and ghosts. More science and business classes should also increase students’ opportunities.

Additionally, the Community College has paired with Qatar’s General Directorate of Customs and the government of Australia to create a program aimed at educating customs employees. Our exclusive, on CCQ’s new Associate’s of Applied Science Degree looks into this initiative and explains how two countries 10,500 kilometers apart have joined hands in this new venture. Most promising of all, new faculty, staff, and administrative hires from around the world will help to broaden CCQ’s reach as the college moves forward into its third year.

Download printable version of CCQ Newsletter: Vantage Point (Fall 2012) (PDF)

Message from the President

Dear CCQ Students,

It’s a new year… It’s a fresh start. That’s what the Fall Term is offering all of you.

So, WELCOME to the CCQ New Year!

Did you know that the CCQ is now 950 students strong? That’s a phenomenal growth that reflects how much the CCQ has become part of the community of Qatar… as well as the community’s response by entrusting your education and your future direction in this young but very dynamic and forward-looking institution of learning.

For the new students, this Fall Term is truly a fresh start. But for the returning students, it is a fresh start to find more ways to keep improving their skills, having more friends and enjoying their college life. I am pretty sure that you all have summer stories to share with one another as you see your friends again and definitely make new ones.

Likewise, you will see your previous instructors and probably be in their classes again. There will be new classes with new people who could have a lot in common with you. But definitely you will be meeting new faculty members who are just as excited as you to start the learning journey together. We have a highly qualified team of teachers/instructors/professors who can surely enrich your classroom experiences.

You will also experience new things around the College such as new courses, new facilities and renewed way of doing things to serve your needs better. The college has added many new courses this academic year, so it is a great opportunity for many of you to study subjects of your interest, or others that will prepare you for your university in the future.

This is your academic home for the next few months. Settle down, be at ease and assured that the College is here to help and partner with you. Education is a right and a privilege.

You are most welcome to express yourself in an acceptable and respectful manner and within the prescribed guidelines that the College has set out for your benefits.

So, without much ado, I wish all of you, my students and my colleagues, all the best for this Academic Year. May your enthusiasm and desire to reach your goals rise as you encounter challenging situations and as you turn them around to your advantage and succeed every step of the way.
-Acting President Ibrahim Saleh Al Naimi Ph.d.

Eight Community College of Qatar Students Receive Houston Community College Diplomas

The Community College of Qatar held a small ceremony to confer Houston Community College diplomas on eight students. The eight recipients, members of CCQ’s first graduating class, successfully completed all the requirements needed to obtain the HCC diplomas.

All 11 members of the CCQ 2012 inaugural graduating class are now attending various universities in Qatar and in the United States including Qatar University, Carnegie Mellon University-Qatar and Woodbury University in Los Angeles, California.

In his commencement address, CCQ’s Acting President, Dr. Ibrahim Saleh Al-Naimi, congratulated the students for their efforts and success. “Two years ago, in September 2010, we welcomed the first batch of students to the Community College of Qatar. On 15 May 2012, 6 young ladies and 5 young men marched up the stage to receive their CCQ diplomas. We proudly celebrated Qatar’s inaugural community college graduates. With CCQ degrees already in hand, eight of those eleven graduates decided to complete a few more courses in the summer and are now receiving their second diplomas”, he said. Dr. Al-Naimi also extended “his heartfelt gratitude and admiration to the college faculty and staff for their hard work and unwavering commitment to providing quality education to our students”.

In his welcome address, CCQ Acting Dean Dr Butch Herod congratulated the students on the completion of their HCC degrees and on their recent admission to universities.

Dr. Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor and COO of Houston Community College, travelled from Houston to award the HCC diplomas to the students on behalf of Chancellor Mary Spangler and the HCC board of trustees. Dr. Tyler congratulated the students and he recognized their dedication and hard work in completing two college degrees within two years. He also wished them well in their educational and career journeys.

”Houston Community College is our partner institution with whom we share the same purpose of opening up opportunities for young men and women of Qatar to pursue lifelong learning and further education and achieve their dreams so that they are able to serve this country with what they do best,” said Dr. Al-Naimi.

CCQ announces the new Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Customs Management

So what exactly does a Community College in Qatar have in common with a University in Canberra, Australia? In addition to general education, community colleges, like universities, have the ability to develop customized programs aimed at the betterment of new employment programs. With the tide changing and more educational programs being tailored to specific areas of employment, CCQ’s new Department of Workforce Education and Community Development has implemented a innovative program geared towards Qatari men and women interested in customs. Dr. Abdulnassir Al-Tamimi, who is now the Associate Dean of the Department of Workforce Education and Community Development, explains how this new program came into being.

“We were approached by the General Directorate of Customs to build a tailor made custom’s program that would be recognized around the world,” he said. “A program that would not only serve the state of Qatar, but with future goals of serving customs authorities in the Gulf and around the world. We initially looked for institutions in the US that we could partner with but could not find any that offers a degree in Customs Management. Luckily, we found what can argua-bly be the most recognized institute for programs modified to customs and to customs management- the Center for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra in Australia. The Center’s CEO is one of the top officials for the World Customs Organization (WCO) and will not only help us build a strong and well recognized program, but will assist the college, as part of the partnership agreement, in getting the program accredited by the essentials of customs management and border control. Upon completion of the AAS students would be able to transfer to a university to complete another two years of education and graduate with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Applied Technology. The University of Houston in Houston, Texas is being considered as a candidate for the transfer students.

Currently, 40 students are enrolled who are sponsored employees of the General Directorate of Customs in Qatar. The agency has stated they are willing to hire interested CCQ students and will sponsor a limited number in exchange for the students agreeing to work for the General Directorate of Customs after graduation. If interested, please contact Ms. Mariam Al-Barazi, CCQ’s Scholarship and Sponsorship Advisor, at 4401-1372.

This is the first of many new AAS programs to be developed at CCQ in the coming years that will help meet the workforce needs of the State of Qatar. Dr. Al-Tamimi (Associate Dean) is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Interior to implement an AAS in Telecommunications Technology as well as an AAS in Early Childhood Education requested by the Supreme Education Council.

C-Ring Club Rush

The annual club rush began on September 12th with faculty, staff, and student sponsors promoting their unique organizations in the hope of recruiting new members to help build and broaden their club’s versatility. The event was held at C-Ring’s cafeteria where club sponsors set up tables with their club name, sign-up sheets, and anything they could think of to bring attention to their organization. The Photography Club, sponsored by English Professor Bernadette Russo and assisted by ESOL Professor Bryan Corbin, made use of multiple cameras and lenses to excite students about the opportunities the organization offers. When asked about student interest, Professor Russo offered, “The rush was a huge success for us. We now have more members, and the students will be doing more this year than last.”

The C-Ring Student Government was present and came prepared with miniature cupcakes and bundles of brightly colored balloons, both of which worked well at gaining student attention and tempting other club sponsors. Students of Professor Barbara Loggins made use of the walls behind their table by posting very tasteful banner and a roll-up sign specially made for the occasion. Others used projectors and laptops to display what they were offering and what things new members could do as part of the club.

Ultimately, many of the clubs were successful at collecting new members. Previously established clubs, such as the Business Club, had no trouble in collecting new members, while newer clubs also picked up some interest. Each new member will have the opportunity to participate in club activities, to plan events, and to vote for their club leadership.

Student clubs are centered on common interests and can be used by students to help improve their skill set prior to graduation. Many students use these clubs as an opportunity to prepare for the careers they wish to pursue or simply to add to their CV. While no club can be said to be better or worse than another, it is important that students consider what their interests are before joining. A student may still be able to join a group later in the semester if the club sponsor agrees. To get into contact with a specific club, contact Mashael Al-Mohammadi, Student Activities Coordinator.

Community College of Qatar’s Newest Stars

The Community College of Qatar is happy to welcome its newest Faculty and Staff to its hallowed halls. Nearly every department has a new face. Let’s meet them!
Administration:

President’s Office: Dr. Said A Mubarak Law Expert
Operations: Nahed Mohamed Korshy, Service Worker
Human Resources:
Noor Riyas, Receptionist
Ahlam Aiedhhz Reshidi, Office Assistant
Mohammed Ali Ah, Office Assistant

Student Services:
Cheryl Johnson, Associate Dean of Student Services
Admissions: Makeba Brown, Registration/Enrollment Associate Student Activities: Sara Al Sherouqi, Student Activities Officer Counseling & Advising: Chameeta Denton, C-Ring Counselor
Information Technology:
Systems Administrator: Adnan Bleik
Systems Analyst: Wissam Maadarani

Instruction:
Dr. Robert Ford, Associate Dean of Instruction
Math: Fearase Al-Neimi and Sahar Saleh Computer Science and Business: Saman Desilva
English: Camille Alexander
ESOL: Carol Lafferty, Carmella Payne, James Herst, BJ Jumnadass, Ravathy Ratnasekar, Bryan Corbin, Fe Liza Bencosme, Deborah Dixon Ali, Cecelia (CC) King, Bridgette Dennis, Joseph Mitchell, Marvis Kilgore, and Bratislav Stojic.
Library: Reem Abdul Qader Al-Ansari, Library Assistant

Congrats: Scott Gehman & Bernadette Russo

Please join us in congratulating two of CCQ’s finest professionals.

First, Professor Bernadette Russo on presenting her paper, “Shackles of a Distant Self and the Damning Complicit.” Professor Russo read her work at the “Making Sense of Madness” conference at Mansfield College on the campus of Oxford University. This prestigious multi-disciplinary conference included presenters from around the world. Scholars in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, anthropology, social work, post colonialism, literature, philosophy, and theology presented papers, gave seminars, and led discussions questioning the construction and role of madness in society.

Oxford University is one of the most venerable institutions of higher education in the world. The fact that CCQ was represented among this gathering of celebrated thinkers is a great testament to Profes-sor Russo’s intellectual and scholarly abilities.

And Second, congratulations to our colleague Scott Gehman, whose third musical production for the Chinese government, Metropolis, will debut in the city of Shenzhen (China’s fourth largest city) in early December 2012. Scott wrote the music for this musical which is about Shenzhen’s meteoric rise from a small fishing village in the 1970s to a city of 14 million people. Shenzhen is China’s electronics industry capital with Apple Computers manufacturing many of its products there as well.

Shenzhen’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism commissioned the musical last year. It is a Broadway style production in both English and Mandarin and was initiated to help promote the city’s global profile in hopes of continuing to attract international business and industry. So, please join us in congratulating Scott and Bernadette on their wonderful, creative enterprises.

Have you met?

Bryan Corbin: He comes to us from Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in Communications, a master’s degree in Professional Writing, and a TEFL certificate. When not teaching or planning lessons, Bryan is working on a second graduate degree in Adult Education from Colorado State University. He has been married for one year, and previously taught ESL in China and South Korea. In his free time he enjoys kayaking, hiking, writing, traveling, and snapping photographs of Doha. He has traveled to every continent and is thrilled to be working in this beautiful nation and learning about life in the Middle East.