2010 is here! NISOD extends best wishes to our members and partners for a successful year. We hope that you will continue to look to NISOD for new professional development opportunities as the year progresses. Happy New Year!
Excellence Awards Ads
It is not too late to take advantage of the great opportunity to promote your college and Excellence Awards recipients! Complete the Excellence Awards ad reservation form by March 1, to save a space in the 2010 NISOD Excellence Awards Booklet. This publication is distributed at the NISOD Conference, and mailed to award recipients who could not attend and to all NISOD-member presidents.
Excellence Awards Photos, Statements, and Videos
All 2010 NISOD Excellence Awards recipients are invited to submit a photo, statement, and video. Details can be found here.
The winner of our membership survey prize drawing (a complimentary NISOD Conference registration) was Angela Jackson from Baton Rouge Community College (LA). Thanks to Angela and everyone else who participated in this survey!
Richardson Chamber of Commerce Awards Richland the “Environmental Award”
On November 12, 2009, the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, along with Congressman Sam Johnson, awarded Richland College (TX) with the “Environmental Award” at their annual Business and Industry luncheon. Richland was commended for its sustainability efforts, including construction, recycling, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly education to its students, faculty, and staff.
“Richland College was selected for the Richardson Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Business and Industry Environmental Award because it demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to sustainable and green initiatives by establishing ‘green’ administrative policies and by implementing those policies through construction,” said Sue Walker, Vice President of Economic Development for the Richardson Chamber of Commerce.
Among many other sustainability initiatives, Richland is currently seeking platinum status for its new science building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The new facility, scheduled to open in January 2010, will house Richland’s science programs, bookstore, coffee bar, and conference rooms. LEED is a nationally recognized standard for the design and construction of high-performing green buildings. The new, 114,000-square-foot building will feature:
The ability to harvest sunlight
Underground cisterns to collect and irrigate rain water to other parts of the campus
Interactive devices in restrooms that users control to save water
Furnishing materials made of recycled materials, such as the carpet and furniture, from local vendors
A hands-on geology pit
Green terrace roof
Monitoring stations to showcase energy efficiency will also be integrated, providing field learning for students
“On behalf of the faculty, students, and administration of Richland College, we are honored to accept the Richardson Chamber of Commerce’s Award for 2009. We appreciate Richardson’s recognition of Richland College’s efforts in building sustainable local and world community, a vital dimension of our vision,” said acting president Dr. Kay Eggleston.
For more information on the award, please email Anitra Cotton.
NISOD knows that student success is one of your college’s top priorities, and we want to be sure you are aware of a very unique opportunity for student success professionals.
Pearson Prentice Hall, a NISOD Platinum partner, is hosting several Student Success Forums on Inspiring Change throughout the country. Attendance is limited to student success/orientation instructors and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Student Success Forum provides a wonderful occasion for faculty to network with colleagues, exchange teaching ideas and problem-solving solutions, learn about the latest technologies, and discuss current academic issues. The primary goal is to provide you with a memorable and engaging experience, and to send you back to the classroom with a sense of renewal and new strategies to use in your class.
Learn more about the Student Success Forums on the NISOD website, or contact Brian Mount, Events Manager at Pearson at 800-228-7854 x3759, for additional information.
Community College Week–NISOD Student Essay Contest Top Ten Essay
Congratulations to Sonia Waid, a student at Wor-Wic Community College (MD), for writing one of the top ten essays for the 2008-2009 Community College Week—NISOD Student Essay Contest. Sonia’s essay describes a most rewarding learning experience as a student in Kelly Shumate’s class. Kelly Shumate is a Math Instructor at Wor-Wic Community College. This essay is the final essay to be featured from last year’s contest. NISOD will feature the top ten essays for 2009-2010 starting in March. For the month of January, please enjoy Sonia’s masterpiece!
Algebra for Life
Well done! Well done! Well done! These were the consecutive integers I had the pleasure of plotting on the lines of Mr. Kelly Shumate’s graph, the graph of Elementary Algebra, Math 092. The one class I have taken that has had so many variables, yet has taught me with a smile that two negatives surely make a positive. One class where there was truly no division, only perfect angles, and where area and perimeter complemented each other on a daily basis. Algebra for me was always a numerator without a denominator. Nothing whole, only fractions of what could be. Y Intercept? It was time to solve this equation. The rate and time it had taken to learn algebra in the past was not adding up. There was a mixture of interest and no parallel lines. Although the slope I was taking was defined, there was too much shading, because the Y was greater than the negative.
The delightful and humorous manner with which he lightened all of our hearts while instructing us with passion was the greatest common factor of all of Mr. Shumate’s fortunate pupils. His love of teaching and earnest caring for each and every student were multiplied and distributed evenly. He was cool, yet classy, but never square. He was the great monomial, infusing us to become the well-learned polynomials. He never treated any of his students as greater or lesser than, always equaled to; and funny, let me tell you; circles, spheres, and cylinders were rolling all period long. Mr. Shumate was always open to personal tutoring which put into motion interest earned. He never FOILed, but was always consistent when evaluating the expression of the pupils who needed further understanding.
Mr. Shumate made my experience of comprehending algebra the equation of a line that passes through two points, rather than meeting with a perpendicular wall. It was point to point, “look-alike’s,” and the sum of what has made an absolute difference in my life. Algebra for me is no longer just a set of quadratic equations dim with inequalities. No more dashed or broken-lines, shaded on the half-plane; but I can see the light of solidity. The solid line of understanding shoots forth to infinity. My gratitude is sincere appreciation for the best class I have ever had, and I am certain somewhere along that line of infinity, Mr. Shumate and I were ordered pairs.
Discount for NISOD Members at Atwood Publishing!
Atwood Publishing (WI) began publishing teaching enhancement resources in 1997, and since then has greatly expanded its selection of titles. Its broad range now includes books on everything from teaching theory to student services and academic affairs.
With an increasing number of returning students in community and technical colleges, these institutions and their faculty are being forced to accomplish more with less. Acknowledging that educators have less to spend, Atwood continues to offer a 20% discount to all NISOD members to make professional development more affordable, plus a course adoption policy allowing instructors to review books for potential class use before purchasing.
When departments look for suitable materials for teaching centers or to give to new faculty, Atwood’s 147 Practical Tips series provides efficient solutions in an approachable format at affordable prices. These titles are brief and accessible, with specific and detailed focuses, on topics ranging from teaching online to publishing for professors. The 147 Practical Tips series grows and broadens every semester.
As distance education continues to advance in higher education, Atwood Publishing has expanded its selection of innovative books exploring and demystifying online learning. This valuable collection has grown, in scope and depth, alongside titles focusing on traditional classroom education, professional development, and administration.
Atwood has worked closely with NISOD for many years, and Atwood author Angela Provitera McGlynn is a NISOD Excellence Awards recipient.
Recognizing that instructors at community colleges are some of the most dedicated professionals in higher education, with extraordinary commitment to teaching, Atwood proudly partners with you to support quality education by providing exceptional resources and collaborating with educators to develop teaching materials that showcase fresh talents and insights.
What happens when colleges and universities face circumstances where their students have limited access to classrooms as a result of natural disasters or concerns related to public health?
Plans to ensure continuity of operations often focus on using learning management systems to maintain student access. Some systems provide tools for faculty to organize materials, assignments, and assessments, and to allow for interactions. While good for helping with communication and organization, they have little of the content needed to support learning activities—relying on the individual faculty member to develop or include appropriate course content.
MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) (CA) has been used by faculty and students in such circumstances, extending access to learning materials, simulations, and exercises. It is a consortium that supports a well-recognized collection of peer-reviewed learning resources and a growing community of faculty and staff interested in effective teaching and learning.
With more than 21,000 learning materials, the MERLOT collection represents an easily accessible digital library that is free and open for students and teachers. By promoting the shared use and re-use of learning materials, MERLOT helps faculty members ensure that their students can continue progress in their learning and reduces the amount of materials the faculty must create or “reinvent.”
In response to the current challenges with H1N1, MERLOT has created examples of collections of learning materials that may be used to support academic continuity in various courses. “These collections are intended to help faculty members teaching in those areas, as well as serve as models for organizing MERLOT resources in other courses and disciplines,” according to Phil Moss, MERLOT Director of Educational Partnerships and Planning. The collections are found at http://onlinecourses.merlot.org/showcase.html.
The fully searchable online archives contain all articles published over the past 30 years. Innovation Abstracts and Celebrations are password-protected for NISOD members only. Members who do not have a password can complete a password request form.
Publish Your Good Ideas in Innovation Abstracts!
Are you an administrator or instructor who has successful practices, innovations, programs, or initiatives that work for you, your college, and your students? Consider sharing them with NISOD readers in an upcoming Innovation Abstracts. Find out how!
Registration
Conference registration is now open! NISOD offers an early-bird registration fee. Please take advantage of the savings and register before April 30! The registration fee includes:
Admission to the Exhibit Hall with more than 100 exhibits
Orientation for conference attendees and presenters
Refreshment breaks
Coffee break
Receptions
Southwestern-Style Buffet
Email and Internet lab
Participation in Passport drawings in the Exhibit Hall
Sneak Peek Conference Preview: Preconference Seminars
NISOD offers preconference seminars on Sunday, May 30, for conference participants seeking to explore ideas, programs, and initiatives in greater depth. Topics include:
Peruse our website for more information about our Special and Featured Sessions, and listen to the selected mini-podcasts of these sessions to be held at this year's conference. Don’t miss the Schedule-at-a-Glance to begin planning your trip to NISOD’s Conference.
Lodging Book your hotel room early! NISOD has highly negotiated room rates—make sure to reserve your hotel room before the cutoff deadline to take advantage of these discounts.
Exhibit Hall
If you would like to become a NISOD partner and have a booth in our Exhibit Hall, please contact Christy Lewis. The floorplan is already over 80% full. Check out the events that keep NISOD’s partners coming back for more!
Call for Presentations Proposals has Closed
Thanks to those of you who submitted presentation proposals. We received so many outstanding submissions. Presenters of accepted proposals will be notified on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. If you have any questions, please contact Sheryl Powell.
Mailing List
To be apprised of new conference-related developments as they happen, please sign up for NISOD’s mailing list.
This month, the bloggers discuss their New Year’s resolutions. Be sure to check out this month’s blog, and post your comments!
Coral M. Noonan-Terry, Editor-in-Chief Hook’Em Up is published monthly by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), Department of Educational Administration, College of Education, 1 University Station, D5600, Austin, Texas 78712-0378, (512) 471-7545.
National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD)
Community College Leadership Program | College of Education |
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station, D5600 |
Austin, TX 78712-0378
Ph: (512) 471-7545 | Fax: (512) 471-9426 |Email
2010 is here! NISOD extends best wishes to our members and partners for a successful year. We hope that you will continue to look to NISOD for new professional development opportunities as the year progresses. Happy New Year!
Richardson Chamber of Commerce Awards Richland the “Environmental Award”
