The campus once again feels alive with students, and time already seems to be flying by. We kicked off our theme of Embracing our Values at the all college professional day a few weeks ago, with an overflowing room of in-person participants, and almost 200 people online. 104 people responded to the evaluation survey,  and we will share the results with everyone in a separate email.

We have a robust schedule of professional development opportunities for staff and faculty to engage in over the next few months. Some highlights include our Enduring Racism 2.0 series, a Staff Mentor program, a Faculty Speakers series, Communities of Practice, our We’re Engaged series, and our HCC Community Read. We will also be launching the new Learning Collaborative website, which will have information about programs, funding, data and resources for faculty and staff. 

We hope you all have a good start of the semester, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you have questions or suggestions.

The Learning Collaborative Team

Adina Giannelli (agiannelli@hcc.edu)

Alex Moriarty (amoriarty@hcc.edu)

Camille Close (cclose@hcc.edu)

Jane Lerner (jelerner@hcc.edu)

Shakara Acoff (sacoff@hcc.edu)

Yoga with Tiffany Joseph

Join yoga instructor Tiffany Joseph for drop-in yoga in the Learning Collaborative on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30pm this fall, beginning September 11. All are welcome! Please bring your own yoga mat.

Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30pm this fall - In person in the Learning Collaborative

Equity Speaker Series: From Inclusive to Equitable Pedagogy - Michel Estefan (UC San Diego)

From Inclusive to Equitable Pedagogy: How to Design Course Assignments and Learning Activities That Address Structural Inequalities

His work on pedagogy has appeared in Inside Higher Ed and his current projects are focused on developing innovative teaching methods that center the experiences of minoritized students in higher education. He has trained more than 1,725 teaching assistants, faculty, and postdocs in the UC and CSU systems on how to build inclusive and equitable classrooms, encourage student participation, and design student-centered integrated courses. His results in the classroom have been recognized with awards from the section on Teaching and Learning in Sociology of the American Sociological Association, among others.

Friday 9/22, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - On Zoom - Click here to join!

Equity Speaker Series: Navigating Difficult Conversations About Race - Dr. Taj Smith

Friday 10/27, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - On Zoom - Click here to join!

Equity Speaker Series: Building a Trans-Inclusive Campus - Dr. Genny Beemyn

Friday 11/17, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - On Zoom - Click here to join!

The goals of the Faculty Speaker Series are to facilitate cross-disciplinary engagement, develop a platform for experts across campus to share knowledge among colleagues, and create a space where faculty learn from one another in a lively and supportive environment.

Faculty speakers will provide a brief (30-40 minute) talk on a topic related to their area of expertise, followed by a facilitated conversation with colleagues across the disciplines. A schedule will be forthcoming in early October.

2023-2024

Confirmed Faculty Speakers

Raúl Gutierrez (Latinx Studies)

Nicole Hendricks (Criminal Justice)

Naomi Lesley (English)

Vanessa Martinez (Anthropology)

Pat Sandoval (Theater)

Gordon Snyder (Engineering)

Greg Toulson (Biology)

Ileana Vasu (Mathematics)

Z Zinter (Business/Psychology)

Lending Library

The Learning Collaborative’s Lending Library is a valuable resource that helps HCC’s faculty and staff stay informed about current developments in their fields, support engagement, improve teaching methodologies, and foster professional growth. The library is located in the Staff and Faculty Lounge and is based on the honor system. This means there is no formal check out system, however please fill out the check out card with the requested information and place it in the check out box. Click here to view the Lending Library

Staff Mentor Program 

It is a proven fact that ‘mentoring increases employee retention and increases job satisfaction’. The Learning Collaborative's Staff Mentor Program is geared towards building strong, trusting relationships that support professional growth and retention among staff members. The connections that these relationships create will build community and a sense of belonging. The program aligns with the college's strategic plan and is designed to support the college's mission and vision. The 2023-2024 cohort will start in October.

Public Speaking Workshop

The Learning Collaborative is offering a 6 week public speaking working for staff starting in October. The workshop is designed to equip workplace professionals with the essential skills and techniques needed to confidently and effectively communicate in various public speaking situations. Whether presenting to colleagues or larger audiences, participants will develop the skills to deliver presentations or conduct workshops in and outside departments and the college community. An email will go out on Monday, September 25th with additional information and the workshop registration. Facilitated by Pat Sandoval. For more information please contact cclose@hcc.edu.

The Planning, Curriculum, and Assessment team will be holding office hours Monday - Thursday afternoons 1-4 pm throughout the Fall semester. We are here to support you in achieving your academic goals, whether it’s getting up to speed in Canvas; redesigning an assignment (or an entire class), incorporating new technology into your teaching, or working on your assessment practices. 

Drop in any afternoon Monday through Thursday, or make an appointment by emailing canvashelp@hcc.edu or any one of the team members. We are looking forward to working with you!

Monday - Thursday 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm in Frost 255 “The Sandbox”

Bob Truskowski, Instructional Technology Assistant

Rebecca Townsend, Associate Director of Assessment

Jennifer Rivers, Coordinator of Instructional Design

Kris Wiemer, Coordinator of Instructional Technology/LMS Administrator

Anti-Racist Community Engagement: Principles and Practices Book Launch Event - Campus Compact

Join us for the launch of a significant book that tackles the critical issue of community engagement in higher education. Anti-Racist Community Engagement: Principles and Practices is a thought-provoking publication that focuses on the community-engaged traditions that BIPOC academics and community members have created through more than a century of collaboration across university and community.

The book showcases how students, community members, staff, and faculty have put distinct principles into practice, both within and beyond college and university campuses in ways that center anti-racist values and attempt to pivot away from the traditional, higher education-centric, and “white savior” ways of doing community engagement teaching, research, and practice.

Comprising four sections, this book offers valuable insights and practical guidance:

• Section 1 explores the reframing of institutional and pedagogical practices to counteract the persistence and impact of racism on our campuses and within our community engagement work.

• Section 2 shares promising practices that promote critical reflection on individual and systemic racism, examining positionality, bias, and the historical roots of systemic racism.

• Section 3 delves into intentional learning and course design through anti-racist learning goals, course content, policies, and assessment.

• Section 4 shows how authors have developed compassionate and reflective classrooms by creating contexts of belonging that acknowledge student cultural assets and contributions and meet students where they are to co-create a supportive, anti-racist learning environment.

Thursday 9/21, 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm - Click here for more information!

Fall 2023 NEFDC Conference: Breaking Convention in Teaching and Learn - New England Faculty Development Consortium

You are invited to our in-person fall conference to explore breaking convention in teaching and learning at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on Friday, October 20. 

The day will begin with registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 AM and wrap up by 4:00 PM. 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lindsay Masland

Dr. Lindsay Masland is the Director of Transformative Teaching and Learning in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Student Success at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She coordinates the Teaching and Student Success Lab which provides instructors support to collect and analyze data about their own teaching. Dr. Masland earned BA and MA degrees in Experimental Psychology at Wake Forest University and a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia.

She will speak on In Defense of Teacher-Centered Teaching ... and Other Things I'm Not Supposed to Say.  

Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent sessions will include 50-minute interactive sessions, 25-minute teaching tips, and poster sessions. Proposals are currently undergoing peer review. A list of concurrent sessions will be available prior to the conference. 

Friday 10/20 8:30 am - 4:00 pm - Click here for more information!

Do Not Fear the Fight Ahead:Abolitionist Responses in Today’s Education Landscape - Abolitionist Teaching Network

Get ready to be part of something transformative! 

Abolitionist Teaching Network is thrilled to announce our third annual conference. This dynamic event serves as a vital space for community building, political education, strategizing, and joy for educators, caregivers/parents, students, and activists navigating the present education landscape. 

Our gathering embodies a space for envisioning possibilities, grounding ourselves in abolitionist strategies and struggles, and responding to current right-wing education campaigns. Rooted in historical context and guided by abolitionist principles, we aim to foster candid conversations with other abolitionists and freedom dreamers. To kick off the conference, we will be joined by the dynamic keynote speaker and ATN co-founder, Bettina Love. You will then have the opportunity to attend sessions curated to deepen your commitment to abolitionist teaching, empowering you to continue the legacy of collective movements for educational freedom. Follow our social media for additional panel details. 

Your involvement in this conference will not only invigorate our mission but fortify the fabric of our collective efforts. Let's shape the narrative of education together, striving for a future where every Black, Brown, and Indigenous child experiences true liberation. Mark your calendars for October 20th & 21st, and join us in this journey towards education liberation!

We kindly request that you email ruth@abolitionistteachingnetwork.org accommodation requests, including preferences for Spanish or ASL interpretation, by September 29. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

Friday 10/20 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm & Saturday 10/21 11:00 am - 6:45 pm - Click here for more information