LC Steering committee 4-26-11
Attendees:
Janice Rogers
Bonnie Doherty
Tom Greene
Duane Quinion
Barbara Stachniewicz
Trish Schade
Judith Kamber
1. Applications
Barbara said Heroes & Villains, Smoke & Mirrors, have run close to the cutoff for student numbers in the past, and so that might be an issue that Lane would ask about. Also for Infinite Space, right now there are only night and online astronomy classes, so will they add another astronomy section? Bonnie added that astronomy is not a popular science choice—students are put off by the chemistry in the course and tend to drop.
The committee discussed the question of whether Lisette has to attend the lab. Barbara says that integrated teachers have always had to attend in the past, and Janice added that Jim & Joanna get credit for Marcy's lab when teaching integrated LCs.
Committee might suggest Infinite Space as a linked LC to avoid adding a third astronomy and issues of the cost.
And Lisette and Mark will need a marketing plan.
Smoke & Mirrors
Has a marketing plan (detailed in a supplement to the LC application).
For presenting the LC applications to Lane:
-The new LCs can be presented as primarily for faculty development, especially for the new LCs
-Since the LC applications have been approved by deans, suggest that the LCs with doubtful enrollment histories be scheduled and then uncoupled if they don't fill by the cancellation meeting.
-For Heroes & Villains and Smoke & Mirrors, they have run enough that they're building a following—students and advisors are more aware of them.
-The other repeat LCs won't have enrollment problems.
Trish suggested that members spread the word about having linked LCs as trials at division meetings, especially under the auspices of integrated assignments and integration for LEAP and core academic skills.
2. Publicity
Hanna Arnold has agreed to put LC descriptions on the college Facebook area
A “Learning Community co-enrollment” note is in the catalog and the CRN is in red in the online catalog.
Bonnie pointed out that right now DegreeWorks doesn't have a way of flagging LCs (or instructor names incidentally). Bonnie will send an email to the programmers about adding flags
Judith asked whether students go into LCs because of advisors, or on their own?
Bonnie answered that students now mainly sign up because of advisors, but later DegreeWorks will be able to point students to LCs directly
Duane suggested that it would be nice to have the information “what is an LC” embedded on DegreeWorks
Judith suggested an interactive Web site that tells about upcoming LCs, added that perhaps a talented student would design the site for resume building and/or service learning
Bonnie suggested also a promotional video that students watch while they're waiting for advisors, but agreed that currently there’s no funding for video equipment.
Trish asked where the interactive Web site would be hosted, and the committee discussed how the site would have to be built within WordPress with links to faculty and interactive elements allowing students to explore LCs. The committee agreed that funding would be an issue in the publicity efforts.
3. Mission Statement:
The committee reviewed and decided not to revise the mission statement.
Trish suggested that the committee review the mission statement each semester.
4. Faculty Development
Barbara asked for a twice per-semester workshop for all integrated LC teachers: each a brown bag session to review (1) integrated assignment samples and (2) samples of student work. Two or three veteran teacher pairs will bring in samples to show. Possibly later sessions will feature a speaker on evaluating integrated work.
Trish will implement the brown bag sessions in the fall 2011, one in October and one in November. Also this could be done at the retreat.
5. Retreat Scheduling
Tentatively Wednesday 31 August 2011
6. Other Business
Committee changes: the committee is short a few members, especially in particular departments, and needs to recruit. Judith suggested the committee invite some newer faculty hired in the last 3 years to join. Trish added that it would be nice to have someone from DCE. Barbara pointed out that NECC has a lot of new science faculty members who might be approached.
ACLC is coming up in October. Trish suggested some members might present the CSS at ACLC