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Division NewsLetter
Division NewsLetter
The Instructional Innovation Division is growing from its start date, July 1, 2020 and has acted quickly to serve the needs of the NPC Community. The division houses support from the Libraries, Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support, Perkins Grants, Early College, and Office of Accessibility and Inclusion. We serve our students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
Innovation Connections is a monthly newsletter that features division updates and college-wide innovation and collaboration. Contact Shannon Motter if you wish to contribute to the content.
Dean's Message
Dean's Message
Over the past several months, the College has engaged in a series of discussions about our next strategic plan. These discussions have led to three strategic goal areas identified by the Strategic Planning Task Force: increasing enrollment, improving student success, and improving college sustainability - with a main focus on how we can become more student-centered as a college. While there is no question that we all want to serve our students’ best interests, what specifically does it mean to be student-centered from our individual perspectives?
meet our staff
meet our staff
Cassie Dows, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Instructional Innovation
Cassie Dows, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Instructional Innovation
Where are you from, originally, and/or currently?
I am originally from a small town called Waterboro, Maine. It isn't known for much, unless you are a football fan, Danny Amendola's dad coached the football team at the high school I attended (Massabesic High). Since growing up there, I have lived in Minnesota, Florida, and (of course) Arizona. I now live in Hope Mills, NC. The housing craziness of the mountain forced our family to look elsewhere when our landlord raised our rent by $900.00/month. We miss the mountain terribly! The humidity here is h. . . .
What is your educational background and what makes you great at your job?
I graduated from NPC in 2019 with an AA degree and transferred to ASU where I am pursuing my Bachelor's in English. I am set to graduate in May 2022. I do not want to stop there though. I eventually would like to earn a Ph.D. and earn a living talking about and sharing my love of literature!I think that there are three main things that help me with my job as the Administrative Assistant to the Dean and division of Instructional Innovation. One, I love to learn. I love that learning is something that you can never outgrow! Two, I love this college. When I graduated NPC and started up classes at ASU, I missed being on campus so much that I would pack up my laptop and supplies and head to the WMC library to do my class work. When I saw the chance to apply for a position here, I jumped at it! And three, I truly love helping people. If you need help and I know how to help you, that is what I am going to do. If I don't, I will help you figure it out to the best of my ability.
What do you love about your job?
I love that I get to be a part of helping transform lives, part of helping people achieve their dreams!
What areas in this job are your strong points and how will this make you a great resource?
Not to sound repetitive (oops, too late), I think mainly it is my desire to help and to learn. When I learn something, I like to share it with others. I also like to find a better, faster way of being more efficient. I loved the black and white version of the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen." In the movie the main character, Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr., is obsessed with finding a better, faster, more efficient means of doing just about everything. I often think I am a lot like that character, although I have never accidently had someone's tonsils removed!
What are your favorite things to do/eat/read?
I love to quilt. My grandmother taught me when I was in my 20's, and I have been hopelessly addicted ever since. I hope some day to attempt a picture quilt! I love to read and write fantasy/sci-fi novels and short stories. I am not so fond of submitting them for possible publishing however...maybe some day!
What's something you want to do once the pandemic is over?
I want to travel to France. I have wanted to visit there since I took French in high school! I would love to spend days wandering through museums, along the countryside, or just taking in the sights (and tastes) at a sidewalk café. Oh, and I must someday experience the Catacombs!
What goal are you dreaming about completing?
I eventually would like to return to the Arizona and teach literature for NPC. I also would like to be published (although that would require more diligence on my part when it comes to actually submitting my work)!
The Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support Department
The Instructional Technology and Curriculum Support Department
Did you know that we have a strong Faculty Mentoring program here at NPC? New faculty participated in an Orientation mid-August. The ITCS Department provides this service and so much more. Are you currently using our instructional guides and materials to make your classes awesome? Find recommendations, resources, and a range of support from ITCS. Click the link below to learn more:
Library
Library
Book Clubs to Storytimes. . .Sessions on OERs, Disinformation, and Finding Things We Have Lost. And some really great new titles from hundreds we've recently purchased. Check out the September Newsletter below.
Want to go right to the Library Events Page? Then click below (all event links are listed):
Subject Guides
Need resources for your class? Check out the Subject Guides link below to access guides on every program at NPC and many topics.
EARLY COLLEGE
EARLY COLLEGE
We are excited to move forward with a new software to streamline our processes. Dual Enroll is designed to provide a smooth admissions-to-registration process, while keeping all critical parties involved along the way.
To learn more about it, please click on the link below.
Early College September Goals
Early College September Goals
Complete Dual Enrollment registration by Friday, September 24th
Build Spring 2022 Early College classes by Friday, October 1st
Create new videos and resources for our next round of Presession in January
Office of accessibility and inclusion
Office of accessibility and inclusion
META help for Students
META help for Students
NPC began working with Meta last May to provide mental health counseling and informative newsletters. Below are samples of what students are receiving. Please be aware that there is a set budget amount to pay for Meta services and once that budget has been expended, the cost of services will fall 100% on the student. This is not the best way to offer these types of services, but it is the current method with which we are working. Please keep this in mind when recommending these services. As always, if you have questions, you can email me at sandy.manor@npc.edu
Click the links below to access The Early Signs of Mental Illness and How to Help a Friend:
Find more from OAI:
ODds and Ends
ODds and Ends
Yale University's Happiness Course is available via Coursera, for free, of course!
In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.
THE SCIENCE OF WELL BEING WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE DAVID F. SWENSEN FUND FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING.
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