Also: Financial Literacy Academy graduates class; culinary career 'boot camps'College of Marin has received a $106,500 workforce grant for its dental assistant program.
This will help the college meet legislative training mandate and will allow 10 additional students to participate in the 24-student program.
"This is great," said Roz Harman, director of health services at College of Marin. "This is a program that really prepares people to get a job immediately. In this economy, it's particularly important. By the end of the program they will be getting a job."
The grant also funds teaching staff and a tutor to help with the student's progress in addition to new equipment.
New curriculum mandated by the California Legislature this year include digital impression scanning, intraoral and extraoral photography and operation of caries detectors.
***
The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University is looking into purchasing chairs to use for special events until the school can order the permanent chairs.
The school is working with both the budget and the fire marshal to see if it will work out.
According to spokeswoman Susan Kashack, the school has hopes to order the permanent chairs in November.
It is dependent on whether the state can give Group Two capital to the school.
"We know we are high on the list," Ms. Kashack said.
The music center was also the recipient of a $115,000 Steinway grand piano. It was donated by an anonymous Sonoma County family and after being tuned will be available for use.
***
Dominican University announced the promotion of Dr. Luis Calingo from dean of the School of Business to executive vice president and chief academic officer.
Dr. Calingo came to Dominican in 2007 with a long history in the California State University system.
"What attracted me to Dominican," he said, "was the international programs it had."
In his new position, he is in charge of the entire academic program of the university. The schools report under his supervision, and he is in charge of the reorganization of the strategic planning of the university.
Taking his place as dean of the business school is Dr. Gary Williams.
Dr. Williams is the immediate past dean of the school of business at the University of San Francisco.
He had retired and took part in an external reviews process of Dominican in the spring of 2007. At that point he came to Dominican as adjunct faculty.
***
Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena has identified an area to help career changers who want to get into the food service or hospitality fields.
It is offering Career Discovery Boot Camps to answer the questions midlife career changers may need to know.
What is it like to be immersed in the world of chefs, restaurants and professional kitchens? What is a day in the life of a professional chef like? What jobs are available in the culinary world?
In addition to the culinary arts boot camp, there are classes in baking, pastry arts and wine studies.
For information, visit www.ciachef.edu/enthusiasts/programs/hp_bootcamps.
***
In order to increase understanding of economics and finance and encourage young people to make responsible financial decisions, Redwood Credit Union, Santa Rosa City Schools and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce partnered this summer to host a Financial Literacy Academy for local high school students.
The 16-hour course was taught by Rebecca Gallagher and was the brain child of RCU President and Chief Executive Officer Brett Martinez.
***
Paul Bozzo, a business adviser with the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center, was named a Certified Master Trainer by the NxLevel Education Foundation.
The SBDC has been delivering the NxLevel course since 2003.
***
College of Marin is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the Science Math Central Plant Complex on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m.
•••
Submit items for this column to Jenna V. Loceff at jloceff@busjrnl.com, 707-521-4259 or fax 707-521-5292.