Before we say goodbye to spring quarter, make sure to put Clark’s 2014 Fall Orientation on your calendar. Opening Day activities will be on Wednesday, September 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in O’Connell Sports Complex, followed by Fall Orientation through September 19 in various locations. Visit the Fall Orientation home page for the full lineup of events.

Opening Day is a time for us to come together as a community. To make that possible–and so that everyone from all of our locations can attend our opening day celebration–the college will be closed on the morning of Wednesday, September 10. Offices will open and services will resume at 1 p.m. that afternoon.

This year’s Orientation Fair will be held Tuesday, September 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Gaiser Student Center.

Article contributed by the Fall Orientation Committed.

New tenure-track faculty at CTC with Ann Fillmore, far left, Bob Knight, back row in suit and tie, and Lorraine Leedy, fifth from right.

The Teaching and Learning Center was busy during Fall Orientation, helping faculty members prepare for the coming academic year. Below are just a few highlights from the center’s activities in September:

Faculty Focus 2013: More than 200 Clark College educators gathered for Faculty Focus on September 16 and 17 to explore student learning from the perspective of the “Aha Moment.” Day One was held at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center, giving many faculty members a first glimpse at the East County location. Following a welcome address and discussion of the Aha Moment by Vice President of Instruction Tim Cook, nine instructors explained their perspectives on the barriers to student learning as well as how their programs may contribute to student learning. Librarian Kitty Mackey talked about the variety of resources and volume of learning moments in the Libraries; ESL professor Sara Gallow spoke about Fast Track, a career-exploration program for ESL and Basic Ed students; Multicultural Retention Manager Felis Peralta described simple but powerful steps to establish equity and acceptance in the classroom. Automotive Technology professor Mike Godson addressed the teaching-and-learning framework for his department’s program; Kristin Sherwood, Human Development, described First Year Experience and this year’s new College 101 course, which helps students successfully navigate their first year of college. English professor Ray Korpi described the work going on in various learning communities within the college and Spanish professor Erika Nava recounted her year teaching a fully online Spanish class from Mexico. Kathy Chatfield brought the group up to date on the benefits and achievements of those participating in Quality Matters, and Mechatronics professor Chris Lewis spoke about his department’s cohort model. After the morning presentations, the assembled group broke into smaller interdisciplinary cohorts to reflect and share best practices with the goal of engendering student learning.

Day Two began with remarks from President Bob Knight, who then introduced four students who each had a different perspective on their learning experience at Clark. ASCC President Dena Brill described her return to school as an adult learner; Casey Harris spoke of his success in Basic Ed; Lulu Chen talked about the support she receives as an international student navigating unfamiliar customs, cultures, and education systems; and Jordan Robertson shared his experience in the Weekend Degree program. Inspired by the student presentations, faculty then convened with their respective departments to continue their work in outcomes assessment.

President Knight served and cooked pancakes at the New Faculty Retreat before giving his personal welcome to the many new and returning faces that make up our new tenure-track faculty.

New Faculty Retreat: A retreat for new tenure-track and full-time faculty was held at Columbia Tech Center during Fall Orientation Week on September 19 and 20. Representing a wide variety of disciplines, 23 faculty members attended. Modeled after the textbook Teaching At Its Best and facilitated by Outcomes Assessment Liaison Ann Fillmore, the retreat included topics like learning-centered course planning, classroom civility, teaching methodologies, universal design, the interactive classroom and assessing student learning. Presenters included Tiffany Williams, Workforce and Career Pathways; Carole Mackewich, Human Development /Counseling & Health Services; Bevyn Rowland, Human Development /Counseling & Health Services; and Katy Washburne, Adult Basic Education.

New Faculty Orientation: An orientation for faculty new to Clark College was facilitated by Outcomes Assessment Liaison Ann Fillmore on September 13. Twelve new part-time and full-time faculty attended this event, which is held at the beginning of each academic quarter. Everything from Clark policies and resources to parking permits and office keys was covered. Susan Muir from Student Affairs explained the Student Code of Conduct and Behavioral and Threat Assessment (BITA); Mel Favara, English & AEW Faculty Liaison, outlined the Academic Early Warning (AEW) program; and Gracie White, IT Services, provided training on the SMART Classroom podium.

To find out about upcoming training events for faculty, visit the Teaching and Learning Center’s home page.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

After the office of instruction showed their music video “Rock of All Ages” a flash mob started at the front of the gym. The flash mob enticed members of staff, faculty, students and even members of the Clark College board of trustees to get up and dance.

On September 11, Clark College employees gathered in the O’Connell Sports Center gymnasium to kick off another academic year. Opening Day festivities are an annual tradition at the college, a time to recognize employees’ accomplishments and to reinvigorate the college community for the coming year.

This year, the day began on a more somber note than normal, as President Bob Knight took a moment to acknowledge that Opening Day happened to fall on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. He noted that he had been in the O’Connell gym 12 years ago, playing an early-morning game of basketball, when he first learned of the attacks. Knight then asked the gathered crowd to hold a moment of silence in memory of the victims of September 11.

Knight then mapped out some of the challenges and changes the college would face in the coming year. He noted that after years of skyrocketing enrollments, numbers are starting to slip downward again, requiring staff in many departments to focus on recruitment and retention. The college is also gearing up to adopt ctcLink, a new collection of online systems being phased into use at all 34 Washington state community and technical colleges. And while the 3-percent pay cut that affected most college employees has ended, the college is still facing some budget difficulties, partly due to decreased enrollment and partly due to being underfunding by the state. For instance, the college’s new STEM Building was funded by the state–but at $4.5 million less than originally planned.

“I am confident that you will face these challenges and overcome them, just as well as you have done in the past,” Knight said, adding that the college would continue to rely on private support gathered by the Clark College Foundation, which is ending its $20 million Ensuring a Bright Future campaign next June.

Associate Vice President for Planning and Effectiveness Shanda Diehl spoke about another upcoming challenge: crafting the college’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. “Since we will use the strategic plan as a tool to make decisions, we need all of your feedback during its development,” she said, mapping out how that would take place.

But along with the talk of challenges and policies, there was also time for fun and high jinks. Traditionally, Opening Day includes a music video about the college, and this year it fell to the Office of Instruction to create the video. Titled “Rock of All Ages,” it drew cheers and laughter from the gathered employees–and, afterward, sparked an impromptu dance party that lured to the floor faculty, staff, Student Ambassadors, and even the three trustees in attendance.

Clark President Robert K. Knight presents French professor Doug Mrazrek with an award for 35 years of service to Clark College.

The event also was occasion for President Knight to award Presidential Coins to five employees, and for Human Resources to announce the recipients of the 2013 Exceptional Classified Staff Awards and to present service-anniversary awards to employees who had worked at the college for five, ten, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. One employee, French professor Doug Mrazrek, received an award for 35 years at the college–as well as a standing ovation from the crowd. The event was also an opportunity to present plaques to the recipients of the 2012-2013 Exceptional Faculty Awards, whose names were officially announced during Commencement.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

EDITED 9/30/13 to correct end date of Foundation campaign.