If you’re looking for a dynamic space to share as a resource for your students - the brand new Mt. SAC Student Center is truly a hub for all activities - from quiet dedicated spaces for studying, or meditation or worship to a mother’s lactation room to a bustling multicultural center, and places to grab a bite. ​​

Students share what they love about the new Student Center and staff members, Nancy Campos and Dalia Khalil give us an insider's tour, detailing the extensive offerings across its three floors.

Resources:

Mt. SAC Student Center: https://www.mtsac.edu/studentcenter/

Rising Scholars Program: https://www.mtsac.edu/rising-scholars/

Study Rooms – Rules & Reservations: https://www.mtsac.edu/studentcenter/rules_reg.html

RSCO Co-Lab Space: https://www.mtsac.edu/studentlife/rsco_co-lab_space.html

Event Services: https://www.mtsac.edu/eventservices/

Run time: 34:15 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Is there a secret to cultivating student success? In this episode we delve deep into the transformative power of the learning culture in higher education. Inspired Teaching Day keynote, Rafael Alvarez, SDCC Mesa Program Director, shares insights on fostering a mindset for learning, implementing strategies for success, and empowering students through the learning culture revolution.

Join us as we explore the impact, challenges, and successes of incorporating the learning culture to enhance student experiences and drive equitable participation in education. Rafael shares stories of empowerment, leadership, and advocacy that are shaping the landscape of learning in his dynamic and passionate presentation.

Run time: 01:04:22 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

We are thrilled to have Nalleli Cobo, an award-winning environmental activist and Mount San Antonio College's keynote speaker for our 2024 Earth Week events. Growing up next to a toxic oil drilling site in South Los Angeles, Nalleli began her activism journey at just nine years old. Despite severe health impacts on her and her community, Nalleli's relentless efforts not only led to the shutdown of the oil well but also fueled significant legislative changes in California.

Join us as Nalleli shares her powerful story of community, resilience, and the ongoing fight for environmental justice. Her experiences underscore the importance of solidarity and collective action in driving change and safeguarding public health against profit-driven exploitation.

Resources;

PROTECT CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOODS FROM TOXIC OIL DRILLING! : cavsbigoil.com

Visit: Mt. SAC’s Sustainability Website

Run time: 16:09 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

We're thrilled to sit down with Dr. Connie Gutierrez, our new Dean of Access and Wellness, who joined our community in January of 2024. Today, Connie shares her compelling personal journey, marked by her roots in community college that dramatically altered her family's course. From her mother's transformative experiences to her own unique path through higher education and various professional roles. Connie's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and profound commitment to accessibility and support services.

As she leads the Access and Wellness department, Connie brings a wealth of experience in working with diverse populations including the deaf and hard of hearing community and individuals with disabilities. Get ready to explore the impactful programs under her leadership and hear inspiring stories that highlight the crucial services provided to our students.

Resources:

Access: https://www.mtsac.edu/access/

Run time: 25:55 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Are you doing all you can to support the needs of your students in and beyond the classroom? In this inspiring episode, host Tania Anders leads a powerful conversation with a dynamic group of faculty and students who delve into the realities and stigmas surrounding the Access Program at Mt. SAC. Students, Jason Chico, Jesus Ramirez, Joshua Flores, and Becca Garcia bravely share their personal educational journeys, highlighting their resilience and determination to overcome challenges such as incarceration, learning barriers, and a lack of support.

They discuss the crucial need for self-advocacy, the strengths gained through the Access Program, and the power of faculty allies like Peter Churchill, Michelle Nava, and Julie Cortez who share effective teaching strategies and the importance of empathy in creating an inclusive learning environment. The group addresses the faculty’s role in fostering an Access-friendly atmosphere and the significance of accommodations, while urging educators outside the program to be cognizant of and responsive to students' needs.

Resources:

Access: https://www.mtsac.edu/access/

Writing Center: https://www.mtsac.edu/writingcenter/

English Department: https://www.mtsac.edu/elcw/

Run time: 36:32 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

The conversation of Burnout continues as our host Tania Anders catches up with Chisa Uyeki, Collection Development Librarian Faculty of 17-years, to have a deeper discussion about her recent presentation from Spring Flex day 2024, on her findings regarding Burn-out during her sabbatical. We revisit the defining factors of Burnout from how it feels to how to recover and how we can take on the work of social and environmental justice and anti-racism in a sustainable manner.

Resources:

Mental Health Support

EMPLOYEE COUNSELING CENTER (ECC)​

• Free, voluntary, and confidential counseling, workshops, and referrals.​

• In-person & zoom ​

• (909) 274-6211 www.mtsac.edu/ecc ​

• employeecounselingcenter@mtsac.edu ​

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE SERVICE FOR EDUCATION (EASE)​

• Confidential counseling, phone consultation, and community referrals. ​

• (800) 882-1341 ​

• https://www.lacoe.edu/Home/EASE

NATIONAL SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE​

• 24/7 free and confidential support

• Dial 988​

National Alliance on Mental Illness: www.namiurbanla.org/resources ​

Black Mental Health Resources

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-

Dimensions/Black-African-American

Asian Mental Health Collective www.asianmhc.org​

Therapy for Latinx

www.therapyforlatinx.com​

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission-

Health & Mental Health

https://lanaic.lacounty.gov/covid-19-resources/covid-19-health-

mental-health/

Videos About Stress:

Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D., is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University. In this clip from his talk for the Science of a Meaningful Life series, Sapolsky explains why the stress response, which evolved for short-term physical crises, can become a long-term, chronic problem for human beings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEcdGK4DQSg

Madhumita Murgia: How Stress Affects your Brain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuyPuH9ojCE&t=3s

Well-Being Resources:

Mt. SAC Exercise Science/Wellness Center: https://www.mtsac.edu/wellness/index.html ​

Greater Good Science Center: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/ ​

UC Berkeley center for studying the science of happiness - podcasts, meditations, articles, and more resources all backed by empirical studies, especially Stress Management for Educators: https://ggie.berkeley.edu/collection/stress-management-for-educators/ ​

The BIG JOY Over a week helps you identify what micro-acts of JOY work best for you:

https://ggia.berkeley.edu/bigjoy guided

Mindfulness & Meditation​

Andrea Torres, M.S., MFT, Counselor/Professor; Mindfulness, Meditation and Breath Work

Guide:

https://www.mtsac.edu/healthcenter/mindfulness/index.html

Check POD calendar for workshop

Healthy Minds free evidence-based app for learning about meditation and guided meditation ​

Calm meditation app free to Faculty Association Members offers guided searchable database

of guided meditation, music, sleep stories, and more: https://www.ctamemberbenefits.org/calm ​

Run time: 26:11 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

What is burnout? What causes burnout? How can we recover from burnout? How

can we take on the work of social and environmental justice and anti-racism in a sustainable

manner that won’t leave us burnt out?

While most of us have, unfortunately, seen the impact of burnout on ourselves, colleagues, and students, we may not have a shared understanding of the root causes or how to address burnout, manage stressors, and develop meaningful ways to break stress cycles and build resiliency. Additionally, the role and responsibility of individuals, institutions, and systems play a role in perpetuating a culture which leads to burnout.

Chisa Uyeki, Collection Development Librarian Faculty of 17-years embarked on a year-long sabbatical research project during which she studied burnout, it’s causes, and how to recover, and she shared her findings with us at our 2024 Spring Flex Day to contribute to building a community of care at Mt. SAC. Enjoy

Resources:

Mental Health Support

EMPLOYEE COUNSELING CENTER (ECC)​

• Free, voluntary, and confidential counseling, workshops, and referrals.​

• In-person & zoom ​

• (909) 274-6211 www.mtsac.edu/ecc ​

• employeecounselingcenter@mtsac.edu ​

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE SERVICE FOR EDUCATION (EASE)​

• Confidential counseling, phone consultation, and community referrals. ​

• (800) 882-1341 ​

• https://www.lacoe.edu/Home/EASE

NATIONAL SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE​

• 24/7 free and confidential support

• Dial 988​

National Alliance on Mental Illness: www.namiurbanla.org/resources ​

Black Mental Health Resources

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-

Dimensions/Black-African-American

Asian Mental Health Collective www.asianmhc.org​

Therapy for Latinx

www.therapyforlatinx.com​

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission-

Health & Mental Health

https://lanaic.lacounty.gov/covid-19-resources/covid-19-health-

mental-health/

Videos About Stress:

Robert M. Sapolsky, Ph.D., is the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University. In this clip from his talk for the Science of a Meaningful Life series, Sapolsky explains why the stress response, which evolved for short-term physical crises, can become a long-term, chronic problem for human beings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEcdGK4DQSg

Madhumita Murgia: How Stress Affects your Brain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuyPuH9ojCE&t=3s

Well-Being Resources:

Mt. SAC Exercise Science/Wellness Center: https://www.mtsac.edu/wellness/index.html ​

Greater Good Science Center: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/ ​

UC Berkeley center for studying the science of happiness - podcasts, meditations, articles, and more resources all backed by empirical studies, especially Stress Management for Educators: https://ggie.berkeley.edu/collection/stress-management-for-educators/ ​

The BIG JOY Over a week helps you identify what micro-acts of JOY work best for you:

https://ggia.berkeley.edu/bigjoy guided

Mindfulness & Meditation​

Andrea Torres, M.S., MFT, Counselor/Professor; Mindfulness, Meditation and Breath Work

Guide:

https://www.mtsac.edu/healthcenter/mindfulness/index.html

Check POD calendar for workshop

Healthy Minds free evidence-based app for learning about meditation and guided meditation ​

Calm meditation app free to Faculty Association Members offers guided searchable database

of guided meditation, music, sleep stories, and more: https://www.ctamemberbenefits.org/calm ​

Run time: 32:07 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Welcome back to the Mt. SAC podcast, today we have a fun recap of the opening session highlights from 2024’s Spring FLEX Day, so you can catch up easily or recap easily and stay in the know. Here is Shiloh Blacksher to kick us off!

Run time: 20:52 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE