Since the 1980s, Father Greg Boyle has embraced his parish community with the radical approach of love, compassion, and humanity. He founded Homeboy Industries' gang rehabilitation and re-entry programs to engage former gang members and others in need, in their own healing through building kinship and connection.

At Mt. SAC, the Rising Scholar's program fosters the potential and promise of formerly incarcerated or system-impacted students by providing wrap-around support through pathways at Mt. SAC. In today's episode we are featuring a talk by Fr. Greg Boyle that was sponsored by Mt. SAC Equity Center and Rising Scholars.

Our host, Chisa Uyeki, also had the opportunity to sit down with Father Boyle before he spoke to the campus audience while he was signing posters and copies of his book, The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness.

As you listen, consider where you see applications for Father Boyle's approach to our work at Mt. SAC - Enjoy.

(Please note: You may also notice some distortion and feedback from the mic Father Boyle was using that we were not able to fix in the production of this episode - but we felt that the conversation was valuable to share with you.)

Resources:

The Rising Scholars Program at Mt. San Antonio College seeks to assist students directly impacted by the criminal justice system through education. Students can choose between four educational pathways that would best fit their strengths, desires, & educational/ career goals: High School Diploma/GED Completion Pathway, Career & Technology Pathway, Associates Degrees Pathway, and Four-Year College Transfer Pathway.

Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years, we have stood as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community. You also can learn more about Father Greg.

At Mt. SAC Library:

Boyle, Gregory. The Whole Language : The Power of Extravagant Tenderness. Avid Reader Press, 2021. Print. General Collection; 259.5 B6971w

Fremon, Celeste. G-Dog and the Homeboys: Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles. University of New Mexico Press, 2004. Print. General Collection; 259.5 F886f 2004

Lester, Terence, and Gregory Boyle. When We Stand : The Power of Seeking Justice Together. InterVarsity Press, 2021. Ebook. [requires Mt. SAC sign-in]

Boyle, Gregory J. "The Voice of those Who Sing." Spiritus, vol. 5, no. 1, 2005, pp. 79-87. ProQuest [requires Mt. SAC sign-in]

https://login.mtsac.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/abidateline?accountid=12611

Run Time: 42 min, 12 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Ensuring equity of access is core to the mission of Librarians- whether that is access to information, physical access to materials, digital access, or access to technology. So it is a natural fit for Librarians to provide leadership in creative methods to support student access to textbooks.

In today's episode we'll talk about the many ways that faculty can impact student access to textbooks and instructional materials–including Open Educational Resources (or OER), zero textbook cost (ZTC) courses and pathways, as well as the long-standing library reserves textbook lending program for students to use textbooks in the library.

You'll hear from:

• Esteban Aguilar, Electronic Resources Librarian, and Mt. SAC Liaison for the Statewide Open Educational Resources (commonly referred to as OER) Initiative, and Zero Textbook Cost (or ZTC) Library Coordinator, and Co-lead for the Library Initiative for Equitable & Affordable Learning, or LIEAL

• Monika Chavez, Mt. SAC's Career and Tech Ed Librarian, also a LIEAL leader, Co-chair of the Textbook, Instructional Materials, & Digital Equity Committee, and LIbrary Department Chair.

Resources:

• Library Initiative for Equitable & Affordable Learning: Empowering Faculty. Supporting Students. Advancing Equity. Learn more about OER and ZTC, ZTC Pathways, related professional development and funding opportunities, and how to get support exploring our options.

• Faculty Resources at the Library including Course Reserves (textbook collection), OER, and Class Sets Explore the many ways the Library and Librarians can help students in your classes access materials, improve student research experiences and outcomes, and that you can partner with the Library. https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/committees/tide/

• Mt. SAC Textbook, Instructional Materials, & Digital Equity (TIDE) Committee purpose, function, and additional support materials.

• Zero Cost and Low Cost Designations in the Schedule FAQ

• Recommendations for Adoption of Required Instructional Materials by TIDE

• California Community Colleges Open Educational Resources provides links to searchable OERs by discipline, transfer curriculum, C-ID, and identified gaps in OER availability

• Research:

• • Jenkins, J. Jacob, et al. "Textbook broke: Textbook affordability as a social justice issue." Journal of Interactive Media in Education 1.3 (2020):1.

  • Swain, B.K., Pathak, R.K. Benefits and challenges of using oer in higher education: a pragmatic review. Discov Educ 3, 81 (2024).

  • Hughes, Jennifer, and Joseph Taylor. "Textbooks 101: What You Really Need to Know about Textbook Access Codes, Inclusive Access, Open Access, and More!." Association Supporting Computer Users in Education (2022).

Run Time: 44 min, 24 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

In this episode we'll hear from Michelle Newhart, Instructional Designer, that features a Spring Flex Day Session that she originally presented with Hugo Aguilera, Applications Training Specialist called Accessibility By Design-Preparing Accessible Courses to Meet ADA Title II Deadline. The session focuses on why accessibility matters, what the April 2026 deadline means for Mt. SAC, and how accessibility in Canvas is crucial to meeting this deadline.

Some of the themes that are explored are the difference between accessibility and accommodations, how meeting the deadline can be approached in a manageable way, and how the main priority is to make actively used digital content more accessible.

The ADA Title II deadline is not just a legal requirement but related to our commitment to DEISA+ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice, and Access Plus). This work is important in creating an equitable and just learning environment for all students, and not just for those without disabilities.

We hope the session helps you get a clearer sense of the deadline, as well as what compliance involves, and helpful pointers on how to take small steps towards accessibility in your Canvas course shells. Enjoy!

Resources:

ADA Title II 2026 Regulation Changes: Documentation, Training and Other Resources, Collected by Members of the California Community Colleges Council of Chief Librarians

https://www.mtsac.edu/accessibility/ Mt SAC's accessibility website

https://mtsac.instructure.com/courses/96251 Canvas Hub called "Faculty Accessibility Center" available to Mt SAC Faculty only (requires log-in).

https://mtsac.instructure.com/enroll/9R7PTJ Canvas Course called "Accessibility Challenge" again only accessible by Mt SAC Faculty. Meant to help us meet the deadline.

Run Time: 52 min, 25 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

If you're like many faculty, you've probably noticed the sharp increase in courses being offered online. This shift into the online learning space, especially after the pandemic, has made it possible for students to learn in more ways than just sitting in a classroom. It opens the door for students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities, but it has also brought new challenges for faculty as we think about how to design engaging and effective courses.

Thankfully, here at Mt. SAC we have a small but dedicated team called the Faculty Center for Learning Technology, or FCLT. In this episode we talk with them about course design tools, video options, and strategies that help make online and hybrid learning work well for students.

While teaching online can be challenging, it is also worth the effort when it expands access and supports student success. The FCLT team also invites faculty to stop by, connect, and take advantage of the support they offer.

Resources:

Canvas Faculty Center: https://mtsac.instructure.com/enroll/RLCAAP

FCLT Website: https://www.mtsac.edu/fclt/

FCLT Appointment Maker: https://outlook.office365.com/book/FCLTMichelle@mtsac.edu

Accessibility Canvas Center: http://bit.ly/MtSAC-Fast5

Canvas Studio Guide: https://community.instructure.com/en/kb/canvas-studio-guide

Cidi Labs Guide: https://www.mtsac.edu/studio13/dlmd/canvas_themes_templates.html

Run time: 18 min, 08 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

In our ever-evolving work to increase access to college education, Mt. SAC is one of seven California Community Colleges to pilot a new learning modality, Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education, or CBE. Through Mt. SAC's Chancellor's office approved and ACCJC accredited CBE program students will be able to earn an AA in Kinesiology at their own pace. CBE is outcomes-based so students learn and then demonstrate their knowledge and abilities through direct assessment. Although the modality and assessments are different, the classes and the rigor are the same.

In today's episode we are joining Mike Hood, Astronomy Professor and CBE Faculty Lead, Lani Ruh, Co-Coordinator Kinesiology Professor, and Eva Figueroa Morales, Instructional Designer, at their Spring Flex Day session, to learn more about this new modality and the opportunities it offers for those who have not been able to fit traditional classes into their lives.

Resources:

California Community College Chancellor's Office, (2025). Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education. "DA CBE aims to create equitable access to educational pathways and career opportunities. It accommodates diverse abilities, and backgrounds through flexibly-paced learning that focuses on what students know and can do rather than the time spent in the classroom."

California Community College Chancellor's Office, (2025). Direct Assessment: Competency-Based Education, Implementation Blueprint. Resource co-developed with eight early innovator colleges to support the design and implementation of direct assessment CBE programs across California.

Competency-Based Education Network

Access guides, research, case studies, and blogs on CBE.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• DA-CBE Update 5/8/2025 Academic Senate Meeting

Run time: 35 min, 13 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Today's episode comes from a campus film screening and panel focused on Nurses Unseen, a documentary about the courageous efforts of Filipino American nurses who played a key role during the Covid 19 pandemic as they faced a resurgence of Asian hate and cultural invisibility.

Following the screening, Mt SAC's Equity Center hosted a panel discussion with the film's director, Michele Josue, alongside Mt SAC's nursing faculty Sophie Boquiren, Victoria Abatay Motoyer, as well as sociologist Dr. Anthony Ocampo from Cal Poly Pomona, who also appears in the film.

The film is a testament to cultural resiliency and highlights the historical and social forces shaping Filipino migration and nursing experiences. You'll hear panelists share the moments that resonated with them most and reflect on the spiritual and physical toll of being on the frontlines of a pandemic. Other themes touch on the embeddedness of care work within Filipino communities, and how the film itself represents a grassroot act of resistance in support of acknowledging Filipino contributions and encouraging the growth of Filipino media more broadly.

We hope this offers you a concrete example of how films, and film screenings can facilitate impactful dialogues that support learning. And we hope this encourages you to attend future screenings and use film to invite your students into these learning spaces.

Resources:

Nurse Unseen: https://www.nurseunseen.com/

Watch the live stream replay of this event of Nurse Unseen presented by Mt. SAC Arise - Equity Center - Technology Health Division & Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyXWtWEVAeI

Mt. SAC Arise, https://www.mtsac.edu/arise/ Mt. SAC's Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program (AANHPI SAP), provides a dedicated success team to support and empower Arise students to achieve their goals both inside and outside of the classroom.

Mt. SAC Nursing Program https://www.mtsac.edu/nursing/ Mt. SAC has a two-year program designed to prepare individuals at the Associate Degree level for entry into the practice of registered nursing.

Learn more about Director, Michele Josue, and her other award-winning films https://www.michelejosue.com/

Run Time: 43 min, 55 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE

Today we are taking on a topic that sits at the intersection of high school and college education: Dual Enrollment. With the increase of dual enrollment courses at Mt SAC and across the state, we wanted to explore the lived realities of the instructors who are teaching these courses and leading the way for high school student success at the college level.

I had the privilege of sitting down with two seasoned instructors, Felix Jollevet and Sonya Masl as well as Mt SAC's new Dual Enrollment Faculty Liaison, Candace Leuthold. We had a chance to explore what dual enrollment actually is, and what it means to teach college level material to high school students including the unique joys and challenges. Join me as we get into this important conversation together.

Resources:

Mt SAC Dual Enrollment Website

https://www.mtsac.edu/dualenrollment/

Dual Enrollment Slides from Board of Trustee Study (Great info)

https://tinyurl.com/dualenpresen

Great articles about teaching Dual Enrollment courses - discussing the growth of and the nature of achievement/access gaps within Dual Enrollment programs:

https://nortonlearningblog.com/2020/12/creating-positive-dual-enrollment-experiences-six-tips-for-college-and-high-school-teachers/

https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/04/california-dual-enrollment-community-college-growth/

https://www.ccdaily.com/2024/02/deep-dive-into-californias-dual-enrollment-data/

Login to Canvas and Enroll:

https://mtsac.instructure.com/enroll/D8RPY8

Run Time: 37 min, 42 sec

To Find the full transcript for this episode click HERE