A Season of Growth

December 2025

As we wrap up 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a very busy and productive fall for the Division of Instructional Innovation. Across the division, we have seen increased demand for our services, along with several major projects moving forward at the same time. I'm incredibly grateful for the flexibility and collaboration our colleagues have shown throughout the semester.

I'll start with a quick update from Instructional Support. As many of you know, we have officially transitioned from ITCS to the Instructional Support Department. This change better reflects what the team does every day: supporting teaching, course design, curriculum processes, technology integration, and professional development in meaningful and practical ways. I also want to congratulate Dr. Broyles on his new role as department chair. Instructional Support remains closely aligned with divisional and college priorities, and we will continue adjusting our work as those priorities evolve.

A huge thank-you to our Instructional Design faculty and Blackboard Project Lead Andi De Bellis, the LMS transition team, and faculty across the college for your patience and flexibility during the Blackboard migration. This is a major undertaking, and we truly appreciate everyone’s partnership. Blackboard training sessions and office hours will continue through January, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities as we prepare for spring courses that will be taught in Blackboard.

Library Services continues to be a key access point for students and a hub for learning and engagement. This fall, a total of 103 laptops were checked out! The Laptop Checkout Program remains in high demand across locations and continues to make a real difference for students who need reliable access to technology.

Work on the Kayenta Library design is also moving forward. Director Crosby and I had the opportunity to meet with our Kayenta Project Team and the architect to discuss what works best for our learners and community members, and updates will be shared as the project continues. Community events such as Fantastic Book Club and Discovery Nest have been very successful and drawn large attendance. Our final Discovery Nest of the year will be held on December 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the SCC Library. Thank you to everyone who helps spread the word and support these community learning and engagement opportunities.

Student Accommodation Services has been especially active this fall. Our SAS Coordinator, Kate Buckhorn, and the team delivered 15 student presentations across campuses (WMC–6, PDC–2, LCC–1, STJ–4, SCC–2). Altogether, they reached 335 students, with 37 requesting follow-up. A total of 87 students received direct accommodation support, including ASL services. The number is up significantly from 55 students last fall. This growth reflects increased awareness and trust in the services SAS provides. The department also continues to play an important role in helping the college meet ADA requirements and WCAG 2.1 standards, particularly as we prepare for upcoming DOJ digital accessibility expectations.

The Testing Center has also experienced increased demand this semester. Despite some capacity challenges, the team proctored on campus academic exams for 256 students enrolled in the EMT, Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Math, Nursing, Nutrition and Surgical Tech courses. We have been working closely with faculty to improve processes and communication. Currently, faculty schedule proctored make-up exams by contacting testing.center@npc.edu. Our Testing Manager, Tony Rhineheart, has partnered with Marketing to develop an online scheduling form that has already been reviewed by faculty. We’re hopeful this will launch in the spring and help streamline workflows and reduce bottlenecks.

I’m also excited to share that we’re moving forward with a dedicated academic testing room at the WMC Learning Center. Since WMC has the highest testing demand, this will significantly improve our ability to schedule and manage proctored exams.

I want to thank the Testing Advisory Council and the Testing Stakeholders Group for their thoughtful input and collaboration. Their feedback has been incredibly helpful as we continue refining our scheduling and proctoring processes. As always, feedback from faculty, staff, and students is welcome.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the many ways DII team members support the college beyond our division. Our staff serve on a wide range of campus groups, including LC, IC, FA, CASO, SSA, CARE, TGAC, ASK, OER, ERP, Title IX, EVPLSS Council, and Procedure and Archive Committees. We also continue to publish our monthly newsletter, Innovation Connections, as part of our commitment to staying connected and communicating clearly.

All of this work ties back to our shared mission: to support innovative and effective teaching and learning, strengthen partnerships, and foster an inclusive, learner-centered environment that increases access for all students.

Wishing everyone a restful and happy holiday season!

Wei Ma, PhD
Dean of Instructional Innovation
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