Summer 2011 and Fall 2011 Schedule Cuts

Because of the continuing budget shortfall, DVC will be cutting numerous class sections from the Summer and Fall 2011 schedules. I would like to encourage all international students to complete their English classes as soon as they are able. Waiting until the last year to take ENGL-122 and the Critical Thinking class might result in great difficulty in scheduling all of the classes you need for graduation and/or transfer. And because of the budget crisis, instructors are very reluctant to admit more students than the maximum number allowed for the class, so do not depend on "begging" your way into a class that you need. You should also be flexible in your academic planning. Transferring in 1.5 years might not be a realistic goal considering the current contraints created by the budget cuts. Another strategy is to be sure to register just as soon as you are able. Confirm your registration date and time on WebAdvisor. Be aware, though, that your assigned registration time cannot be changed, as it is based on the number of units you have completed at DVC.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Resources

Following are some online and community resources that might be helpful to you if you are experiencing distress due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan:

JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI
CRISIS RESPONSE RESOURCES

Google Crisis Response Page
http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Japan Consulate General
50 Fremont St.
San Francisco (415) 777-3533
http://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/e_top.htm

Diablo Japanese American Club
3165 Treat Blvd.
Concord (925) 682-5299
http://www.diablojaclub.com/

Japanese Community Center
The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC)
1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco (415) 567-5505

Faith-based Resources:

Buddha Gate Monastery
3254 Gloria Terrace
Lafayette (925) 934-2411

Buddhist Churches of America (BCA)
1710 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel: (415) 776 5600, Fax: (415) 771 6293
Head: Bishop Hakubun WatanabeMinister: Rev. Kodo UmezuEmail: bcahq@pacbell.net
Tradition: Jodo Shinshu (Pureland)

Berkeley Buddhist Temple
2121 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Tel: (510) 841-1356, Fax: (510) 841-1435Minister: Rev. Seigen YamaokaEmail: bsangha@pacbell.net
Web site: home.pacbell.net/bsangha
Affiliation: Buddhist Churches of America (BCA)
Tradition: Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Buddhist Church of Oakland
825 Jackson Street, Oakland, CA 94607
Tel: (510) 832 5988, Fax: (510) 832 0709Minister: Rev. Seigen Yamaoka
Affiliation: Buddhist Churches of America (BCA)
Tradition: Jodo Shinshu (Pureland)

Buddhist Church of San Francisco
1881 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Contact Person: Chizuko Kakiuchi or Jeff Matsuoka (web)
Tel: (415) 776-3158, Fax: (415)776-0264Email: jeff@bcsfweb.org
Web site: www.bcsfweb.org
Tradition: Jodo Shinshu (Pureland)
Affiliation: BCA (Buddhist Church of America)
Spiritual Director: Rev. Hiroshi Abiko

JAPANESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF WALNUT CREEK
1955 Geary Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Rev. Jiro Fujioka (J), Rev. Chris Doi (E), Pr. Wai Gong (E)(925)944-5252(E), (925)944-3408jccwcadmin@earthlink.net http://www.jccwc.com/

BERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1710 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 -1906
Naomi Southard (E)(510)848-4680, (510)540-9490
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bmuc/bmuc@transbay.net

CHRIST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1700 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Rev. Grace Suzuki (E)(415)567-3988

EAST BAY FREE METHODIST CHURCH
5395 Potrero Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Rev. Royce Tanaka (E), Rev. Hideo Furuki (J)(510)232-5410(E), (510)233-6405(J)

If you need further assistance or support, please do not hesitate to visit the Counseling Center or the International Student Admissions and Services office, 210 Student Services Building.

UC TAG for Fall 2012 Admission

Many students are already asking about submitting a Transfer Admissions Guarantee, or TAG, application for Fall 2012 admission. You can learn more about the TAGs at this website:
http://uctag.universityofcalifornia.edu

You can start filling out your TAG application now, but you cannot submit it until September 2011. If you apply for a TAG with UC Davis and/or UC Santa Cruz, you will have to ask a DVC counselor to review your TAG application.

Remember these important things about TAGs:
1. Even if you submit a TAG application in September, you still have to submit the UC application in November. UC applications are available at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu. Just select "Admissions" from the drop-down menu.
2. If you submit a TAG application and later have changes to your Fall or Spring schedule, you must report those changes to each UC campus individually.
3. You must meet the minimum criteria for the TAG, otherwise you do not qualify for the TAG. No exceptions.
4. Even if you don't qualify for the TAG, you might still qualify to apply for admissions.
5. You do not have to attend the UC campus with which you have a TAG. You may choose to attend another UC campus, or no UC campuses at all.

For more information about TAGs, refer to the Transfer Center website:
http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/transfer-center/transfer-agreements.htm

Welcome to Spring 2011 Semester

Hello, DVC International Students!

Happy New Year! I hope your spring semester is off to a good start. I know many of you, especially new students, are having a difficult time getting the classes that you'd like to take. The lack of enough sections to accommodate the demand is due to the budget crisis in California. I want to remind you to check out my Frequently Asked Questions page for suggestions to follow if the classes you want to take are already full. You'll also find the answers to many other commonly asked questions on my FAQs page. Here's the link:
http://www.dvc.edu/international/pdfs/frequently-asked-questions.pdf

I'd also like to remind you how to make a counseling appointment with me. You can call the Counseling Center at 925-685-1230, extension 2276 or 2278, or stop by and schedule an appointment in person. You can also schedule an appointment online at this link:
http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/counseling/online1.htm

I am not able to schedule appointments via email; you must contact the Counseling Center or schedule online.

One new thing this semester is same-day appointments on Fridays! Just call or come by the Counseling Center first thing Friday morning and see if I still have an appointment available for you that day. It's first come, first served, so don't sleep late on Fridays!

Those of you who applied to a UC campus last semester should remember to update your UC application by January 31, 2011. Refer to the communications you have received from the UC application website and from specific UC campuses for instructions and links.

I'm already getting lots of questions about the UC Transfer Admissions Guarantee, or TAG, for Fall 2012 admission. Learn more about UC TAGs from the UC system website:
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/transfer/guarantee/index.html

Or, visit the DVC Transfer Center website for more details:
http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/transfer-center/transfer-agreements.htm

That's all for now. Good luck with classes this spring!

Final Post for 2010

Dear DVC International Students,

We have entered the holiday season here in the U.S. The Jewish holiday of Hannukah is coming to a close. The Christian season of Advent has begun, leading up to Christmas Day, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. African Americans will celebrate Kwanzaa later this month. Many people will observe the Winter Solstice in a couple of weeks. And there may be more holy and special days celebrated by various Americans across the country, occasions of which I am not aware.

Whatever significance this season holds for specific individuals and groups, one central theme seems to unite most or all of the observances, and that is the theme of light. Hannukah is the festival of the lights; Christians celebrate the coming of the Light of the World. Kwanzaa commemorates African heritage and culture by the lighting of a kinara candle. And winter solstice, significant in many religions both old and new, observes the return of the light, of longer days and shorter nights.

We in the twenty-first century claim to be enlightened, to live in the light. Yet there are many who still live in the darkness of ignorance. This sad fact is displayed prominently in the media by the many tragic cases of bullying occuring in this country. In recent years an alarming number of young people who were bullied by others for being different in some way have taken their own lives. Several of these young people were victims of cyber-bullying. In other words, social media websites and cell phone networks were the vehicles used by the bullies to direct cruel words and images to their victims.

Whether bullying occurs in cyber-space or face-to-face, it is simply and plainly wrong. It is never acceptable to cause harm, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, to another person because they are different. Whether they are gay, overweight, or mentally, physically, or socially challenged, difference is not an excuse to express cruelty. Neither should followers of different religions, adherents of different political affiliations, nor members of different socio-economic groups fear for their safety and well-being because of their differences.

As we enter the season of the light, let us all be enlightened individuals. Let's be kinder, more respectful citizens of the world. A bumper sticker on a faculty vehicle at DVC states, "Be the change you want to see in the world." What a better world this would be if bullying at all levels became extinct. Such a global change starts with me and with you.

Happy holidays, everyone!

SFSU International Representative Coming to DVC

Mr. Israeli (Izy) Alilin, the international admissions representative from San Francisco State University, will be visiting the DVC Counseling/Transfer Center on Wednesday, November 17 and Tuesday, November 30. Contact the Transfer Center to set up an appointment to see Izy. Be sure to bring copies of your DVC transcript and copies of any other institutions you have attended since high school, even if you think the courses might not transfer. This will help Izy provide you with the best advice possible.

Best Value U.S. Private and Liberal Arts Colleges

Students often ask me which colleges and universities in the U.S. are the best. Students need to be aware that there are more than 7,000 post-secondary institutions in the U.S. There's no way I can answer that question for students. Students need to do their own research to determine which institution is best for them. However, there are some pieces of information that can be helpful when researching a college or university. The following article concerns the top five private and liberal arts institutions in the U.S. that offer the best value. Click on the link to learn more:
1=-33006">http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/CutCollegeCosts/the-top-private-and-liberal-arts-colleges.aspx?cp-documentid=26283668>1=-33006