The Sandbox @ Coastline: Volume 113 - March 20th, 2022

Happy Spring Break, Dolphins! No classes will be in session Monday, March 28th - Sunday, April 3rd. 16-week classes will resume (and second session 8-week classes will start) Monday, April 4th.

It's finally time - Spring Break is almost here! Although vaccines are here, mandates are disappearing, and masks have gone from required to "highly-recommended" in many businesses, we must understand that COVID-19 is still sticking around with a variety of new variants, which can still pose some risks when going out and traveling. We're still not quite back to 100% "normal" in the way we celebrate, gather, and relax.

In conjunction with Coastline’s Campus Safety, we have outlined some resources and a few tips you can follow for a safe Spring Break. No matter how you spend your break, be mindful that you and those around you are being safe!

From the Coastline Blog:
How to Have a Safe 'Safecation' During Spring Break

By Saul Rubin

Do you hear that sound? It’s calling out to you, from beyond. An indistinct noise, but becoming more discernible by the minute, by the day, by the week. Perhaps you hear the rousing cheers from your favorite sports bar. Perhaps the rollicking clap-trap of a passing rollercoaster and the unrestrained yelps of its passengers. Perhaps you hear something simpler: the quiet, yet buoyant conversation of a mid-sized dinner party among friends, sipping wine, playing games, having fun. All this and more is promised to come at some point in the future, but we’re not quite there yet.

We have arrived at one year later, one year of the pandemic, and thus back to Spring Break. As vaccinations rise, people may feel the urge to leap back to ‘normalcy,’ but, as I said, we’re not quite there yet. We have to remain cautious, wary of coronavirus variants, each distinguished by their place of origin: the UK Variant, the Brazil Variant, the South African Variant, etc. etc.

So Spring Break can’t yet be beaches and parties and raucous good times. But it doesn’t have to be entirely locked down, as it was last year, either. Here at Coastline, we’re calling it a ‘Safecation.’ It’s more than a staycation, but less than a vacation, all handled with social distancing and safety in mind. Here are some ways you can do it too…

Safe Travels:
How to Stay Safe On Your Spring Break Trip from Coastline's Campus Safety

Before Your Trip

Taking the proper precautions to keep yourself safe while you travel actually starts before you leave.

Research the area you are traveling to and locate emergency stations. Be sure to write down all local emergency numbers and store them in your cell phone.
Become familiar with the local laws and customs. Remember: even though you are just visiting, you are still expected to follow the laws.
Do not pack expensive items. Extravagant items and jewelry make you an easy target for thieves.
Give your family members the address where you will be staying and the contact information of anyone you will be traveling with. Also, give your travel buddies your emergency contact information as well.
Make copies of your itinerary, license, passport and credit cards to bring with you on your trip. Having copies will make it easier for you to get replacements in case anything is stolen or lost.
Put your name and telephone number on your luggage in case it gets misplaced.

During Your Trip

Whether traveling abroad or taking a quick trip within the country, you should use the following travel safety tips to keep yourself and your friends safe once you reach your destination.

Utilize the buddy system, especially at night.
Only travel or go out with people you know and trust.
Never leave personal items or electronics unattended.
According to a University of Wisconsin study, 75 percent of college males and 43 percent of females reported being intoxicated on a daily basis during spring break. While it is OK to have an alcoholic beverage, be sure to drink responsibly, especially when you are in a foreign place.
Never accept food or drinks from strangers.

Once you educate yourself and learn what precautions and spring break safety measure to take, you can have the memorable break you always wanted. Happy travels!

#MoreThanMyBrainInjury
for National Brain Injury Awareness Month

Coastline Brain Injury Awareness Day Virtual Panel
Wednesday, March 23rd
11:00am - 12:00pm
Coastline's Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program invites you to join us for this important day aimed at educating and advocating for the needs of individuals who have sustained a brain injury, their families, and caregivers. With moderator Michelle Wild, Coastline ABI Professor and Department Chair, you can learn more about brain injuries and hear from ABI students about their experience and recovery. The event will include a Q&A with ABI students and an interview with Matt Quinlan, Coastline Psychology Professor.
Online via Zoom | 954 5127 6843

Help spread awareness and show your support for National Brain Injury Awareness Month with these Coastline awareness Zoom backgrounds! Simply right or control-click and save!

Break Out Your Crazy Socks for World Down Syndrome Day!

World Down Syndrome Day Virtual Sock Hop
Monday, March 21st
3:21pm (for approx. 21 minutes)
Mingle with Coastline Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Program students, staff, and faculty while enjoying fun games and crazy socks, all while learning and spreading awareness about Down Syndrome and the purpose and goals of World Down Syndrome Day. Support the #LotsofSocks Campaign and wear crazy socks! When people ask you about your socks you can tell them, "I'm wearing them to raise awareness of Down syndrome". Need some crazy socks? Contact Special Programs today to get your pair! Supplies are limited, so email specialprograms@coastline.edu or call (714)-241-6214 today!
Online via Zoom | 98481679038

Join in on the fun and festivities during the sock hop or help spread awareness about Down Syndrome with this Down Syndrome awareness Zoom background! Just right or control-click and save!

Podcast Recommendation:
The Well Woman Show

From wellwomanlife.com:

"Well Woman Life® was created by Giovanna Rossi to support women who are on a journey to reach their full potential, personally and professionally, on their terms. Rooted in feminist principles and leadership, a Well Woman is deeply committed to making her community and the world an equitable, just place to be. She also values her skill and experience and is able to earn an income to sustain her and her family. The Well Woman Life® journey is all of this, and more. It’s messy, it’s not linear and it is definitely challenging. And, it is rewarding and fun!"

New Veterans Resource Center
Items Available on The Pier!

Show your support for Coastline veterans with our new Veterans Resource Center (VRC) Collection exclusively on The Pier!

Coastline's VRC provides student and community veterans with an informative and supportive environment so that they may explore the comprehensive array of resources available to them. The VRC provides veterans with transition assistance, including personal assistance, educational guidance, and professional resource support services.

Grab your VRC items now and use the code VRC25 for 25% off your entire purchase! Don't wait - sale ends March 31st!

Are You Ready to Graduate?
Be Sure to Register!

Coastline's next commencement ceremony will be June 3rd, 2022. The graduation ceremony will be in-person with a component for graduates unable to attend due to distance. The commencement ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Robert B. Moore Theater on the Orange Coast College Campus in Costa Mesa.

All students who want to participate in the commencement ceremony must submit a petition to graduate. For assistance with the petition to graduate process, watch this instructional How to Petition for Graduation video.

The deadline to submit a graduation petition for Spring 2022 is April 1st, so don't wait!

LAST WEEK! Student Design Contest:
#Investinourplanet This Earth Day

Show your love and support of planet Earth and design a T-Shirt to be sold in Coastline’s online student shop, The Pier!

At Coastline, we take pride in being located on the beautiful Southern California coast. Not only do we value and appreciate our rich, natural environment, but we also strive to nurture and protect it by investing time, education, and resources into our local ecosystems. The theme for 2022’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet.” For our latest Student Design Contest, we’re challenging you to design a t-shirt for our Sustainability Collection on The Pier showcasing this theme!

The contest will run Sunday, February 27th - Sunday, March 27th (11:59pm). The top two submissions will be featured and sold in The Pier’s Sustainability Collection along with a small highlight of each student. If the design allows, it may even be featured on other types of merchandise such as tote bags, posters, mugs, and more!

The Prizes:
1^ST Place - $100, your designed t-shirt, Coastline Swag Bag
2^ND Place - $50, your designed t-shirt, Coastline Swag Bag
*Cash prizes in the form of a VISA or Mastercard gift card.

From earthday.org: "This is the moment to change it all - the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods... together, we must Invest In Our Planet.

So, what will YOU do? How will you #InvestinOurPlanet and take action? And more so, how can being a Coastline student help you take that action? Create a design showcasing ways we can invest in our planet to be featured on our sustainable cotton t-shirts (and possibly other items!) as part of our Coastline Sustainability Collection!

Are You TikTok-Savy?
Coastline Needs You!

The Coastline Marketing Department is actively hiring TikTok Creators! Coastline is seeking student TikTok Creators that will produce short-form video content to be published on Coastline’s TikTok channel. Students will work on TikTok content from the pre-production to the post-production process, including any additional edits or animations. The Coastline TikTok Creator should ideally be passionate and knowledgeable about the use of TikTok and social media in general.

Play to your strengths
A Coastline TikTok Creator should ideally possess excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. This is because Coastline TikTok Creators are ultimately responsible for heading the entire short-form video content production. You would have to communicate and collaborate efficiently with the marketing team to help bring to life your creative vision and our marketing goals via effective video content. Having good project management skills is a plus as well. In this case, you would have to work with the Coastline’s Marketing Department to ensure the production stays on time and within budget.

Show your passion
As a Coastline TikTok Creator, you would be expected to be passionate about the social media landscape as well as the different platforms used. This bodes well for you as you can make use of this opportunity to illustrate your passion and interest as you explore and experiment with creative content while maximizing the use of TikTok’s unique features. We are looking for dedication and the ability to think outside the box when producing a range of quality content.

This opportunity can be done as an internship, or the student can apply and get paid as a Work-study Student. Interested students should contact marketing@coastline.edu for more information!

Tsunami Preparedness Week:
Are You Ready?

From tsunamizone.org: Everyone, everywhere should know how to be prepared for tsunamis and what to do to be safe. This is true for people who live or work near the ocean, but also for anyone who may visit someday. Are you in the Zone?

TsunamiZone.org provides suggestions and resources for your family or organization to “know your zone” and to learn how to be safe.

Be counted among people and organizations worldwide by registering your 2022 tsunami preparedness activities! You can register to participate in California’s Tsunami Preparedness Week, March 21 – 25, in 2022! Learn how to participate too, from attending a virtual lecture to downloading and viewing tsunami hazard maps near you and even participating in a social media conversation about tsunamis – it’s up to you. Don’t forget to register your participation here! Remember, we’re all in this together.

Coastline Students Can Now Ride OC Bus for FREE!

Coastline students can now ride the OC bus to school, work, shopping, and the beach for free!

With unlimited rides on all OC Bus local fixed routes*, it is easy and convenient to get to Coastline College. Relax in air-conditioned buses and avoid paying parking costs. Students of Coastline can ride safely and with peace of mind knowing that you are contributing to a healthier and greener environment.

What do I need to do?
It's easy! Simply download the OC Bus app on your mobile device.

To create your account, you must use your registered Coastline College email address. Your pass will appear in the "My Ticket" section.

For students who do not have access to a mobile smartphone, please contact the Coastline Info Center at (714) 546-7600 or infocenter@coastline.edu. You can also contact the Info Center with any additional questions about the program.

With heavy-duty safety protocols in place and limited capacities, zoos and (outdoor) aquariums were some of the first institutions allowed to re-open during the pandemic, and many of those same protocols have remained in place in some form to ensure continued safety. Grab your mask (just in case) and hand sanitizer (still a good idea) and set out to visit some of your favorite furry or scaled friends. SoCal residents can check out the annual Butterfly Safari at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Just make sure to verify that the institution you choose to visit is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) - that way you know it's a reputable facility that meets strict standards for the care of its residents.

Reminder:
Register for 2nd 8-Week Courses Now!

Coastline's 2nd 8-week session is just around the corner! While 8-week courses are much faster-paced, you finish them in half the time. They're a great way to get those general education courses done quickly that you may not have wanted to spend all semester on. Or perhaps you didn't get the class you wanted when the semester started? Many popular courses that might have filled up at the semester start also have 8-week offerings!

Be sure to check out the class schedule to find all the open courses that are still available!

8-week classes start on Monday, April 4th, so don't wait and register today!

Save the Date:
Black Student Success Week

Black Student Success Week is back and will take place April 25th - 29th, 2022.

This year’s theme is A Vision for Black Student Success: Creating a New Landscape to Succeed. The week will focus on new approaches to ensure Black and African American students succeed at California Community Colleges as we recover from the pandemic.

The week’s activities will be held virtually and include:

Daily webinars hosted from Noon – 1 p.m., called The Black Hour.
Daily small group discussion forums from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., called The After Party.
A virtual advocacy day on Thursday, April 28, called The BlackOut.

Webinar registration will open the first week in April. Stay tuned to The Sandbox and Coastline social channels for more!

Coming Soon:
A Month of Healing for
Mental Health Awareness Month

Coastline will once again be participating in spreading awareness, support, and healing during Mental Health Awareness Month, taking place every May.

This year, Coastline's Student Mental Health Services invites you to join them for a month of fun and mindful events, including a 4-part Art Therapy series that will focus on a different aspect of healing each week while taking part in four different artistic activities including painting, pottery, and more!

Materials for each session of the Art Therapy Series will be provided, so prior registration will be required, so stay tuned to The Sandbox and Coastline's Highlighted Events for more information and registration links!

Art not quite your thing? Don't worry - various webinars and other virtual activities will also be available throughout the month!

EVENT:
General Self-Care Group

Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Does it feel like life is so busy you don't have time for yourself? Please join us for a self-care group where you will learn how to prioritize yourself by learning how to practice self-care strategies and incorporate them into your daily life. This group will have practical application as well as the opportunity to process the techniques you will learn with other members of the group. This week's topic: The mind-body connection: mindfulness practice and skills.

Tuesday, March 22nd
1:00pm - 2:00pm (PST)

EVENT:
College Survival Skills Group

Explore tips and tricks to maintaining mental health while balancing course loads, personal life, work, and more. The group will explore barriers to time management, healthy communication, self-care and tips for accessing mental health help, and psychoeducation on depression and anxiety. This week's topic: Explore time management, creating balance, and stress breaks. We will practice mindfulness and get active with taking breaks.

Thursday, March 24th
12:00pm - 1:00pm (PST)

EVENT:
Parenting Self-Care Group

Being a parent can be a full-time job, and when you add in the responsibilities of being a student, things can feel very overwhelming or impossible to cope with. Join us as we dive into some of the challenges that come with being a parent while in school. Share and find support with others who are juggling the many roles and dealing with the same issues and/or concerns as you are. Learn how you can take care of your own physical and mental health, while still meeting the demands of parenthood and student life! This week's topic: Mindful Parenting.

Thursday, March 24th
4:00pm - 5:00pm (PST)

Coastline College will host once again the Western Regional Collegiate Cybersecurity Defense Competition (WRCCDC). The competition will take place March 24 -26 and the award ceremony will be held on March 27. Last year the competition was held completely virtual due to the pandemic but this year it is back again live.

This annual event is the Western Regional part of the nation's largest college-level cyber defense competition, the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC). The NCCDC is the first competition that specifically focuses on the operational aspect of managing and protecting an existing "commercial" network infrastructure. Not only do students get a chance to test their knowledge in an operational environment, but they also get a chance to network with industry professionals who are always on the lookout for these specially trained engineers.

Teacher Feature with Geology Professor Kelly Ruppert

By Max Lamare

Continuing in our celebration with Women's History Month at Coastline College, the school proudly presents their faculty with the Teacher Feature Series. This week showcases Kelly Rupert, Geology Professor at Coastline. Professor Kelly has been teaching at Coastline for 13 years!

How long have you been teaching and how long at Coastline?

I started teaching at the college-level 21 years ago. My first jobs were at Mt. San Jacinto College in Hemet and Cal State Fullerton. I started teaching at Coastline part time in 2009 and full time in 2019.

What do you love about working at Coastline College?

I love that almost all conversations are centered around how to better serve students. At four-year institutions, research goals are often a main driver. While that is a valuable endeavor, my heart is in inspiring and supporting students as they reach their goals. Consequently, Coastline's mission of meeting students where they are, aligns perfectly with my passion to serve students.

Join in the Game!

As a college student, there couldn't be a better time to be involved with esports, and at Coastline everyone is welcome to join in the fun! You don't have to be a big-time gamer to participate.

The mission of the esports club is to build a supportive community for students interested in the esports/gaming ecosystem. The club will provide its members not just opportunities to improve their esports/gaming skills but also for networking and team building.

Interested? A great way to find out more is to attend club meetings which happen every other Thursday!

Stay tuned to coastline.edu/esports for all upcoming esports events and meetings!

From the Coastline Blog:
Firing Up The Voice of Female Gamers!

By Max Lamare

Discussing Representation, The*Gamehers community, the Coastline Esports Club's award nomination with The*Gamehers co-founder Rebecca Dixon!

You might have missed the exciting news for Coastline College! The school has been nominated by the*gamehers organization for being a rising star in the collegiate category. The*gamehers is an organization that is female led that specializes in supporting female gamers and its members of the LGBTQ+ community. Gamehers help female talent and organizations get their voices heard through its awards and support. We are thrilled and more than delighted to have been nominated for this award!

Girls and women in gaming has been a controversial topic for a long time - but the barriers are being broken down - as females can now have successful careers in gaming, esports, and streaming. According to the*gamehers, our school is being nominated for the following reason: “the collegiate organization who run a diverse, inclusive and caring community that uplifts the students within their group. This organization is comprised of more than 50% women and femme identifying folks and has shown tremendous growth within the last 12 months.” This is a big achievement for the Coastline College Esports program. The program was founded by our very own Katherine Amoukteh, Dana Emerson, and Stephanie Bridges. The esports club is headed by student and club president Shiela Do. She has been the club president for over the past year; leading the club in its activities. The school and the esports program are delighted to have been nominated for this award. The gameHERS vision lines up with the vision of the Esports club - to support all gamers, regardless of sex, age, or race!

Certificate of the Week:
Data Analytics Certificate or Degree Program

Data is constantly being created, collected, and analyzed with an average of 40,000 search queries per second on Google. The future of Data Analytics careers couldn’t be any brighter. You can help organizations make sense of the data to optimize performance with strategy-based solutions. You can learn in-demand technical skills from industry experts… while you earn a degree or certificate in Data Analytics from Coastline College.

Food Pantry Pick-Up Services

Coastline College has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to create a pantry of non-perishable items for students who are experiencing food insecurity and are in need of immediate help. Student Services can also provide CalFresh Program information.

You may pick up free groceries weekly between 11am and 1pm at our Garden Grove Campus on Mondays or the Newport Beach Campus on Fridays.

Coastline Cares Pantry staff will be maintaining safety precautions and social distancing. We ask that when you pick up groceries, you remain in your vehicle while we check you in and deposit your groceries into your vehicle on your behalf. Have questions about grocery pick-up or food insecurity? Contact basicneeds@coastline.edu.

Get Free Textbooks for Spring Courses!

Need books for Spring classes? Complete the application to check to see if you qualify for a Student Equity and Achievement (SEA) book voucher.

The Student Equity book voucher is awarded to eligible students in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms based on program funding availability, student program eligibility, and financial aid eligibility.

Students taking 7+ units may receive a $300 voucher. Students taking 1-6 units may receive a $150 voucher. Purchases may be for your required course books/materials only.