2016 Conversation Day & Accreditation Reports
Conversation Day
HLC Accreditation Faculty & Student Accomplishments (March 2016)
Engaging Students: Every degree program offered by the institution engages students in collecting, analyzing, and communicating information; in mastering modes of inquiry or creative work; and in developing skills adaptable to changing environments.
- Career Awareness Curriculum: Through a partnership between the Student Success Center, Division III and First Year Experience, a comprehensive career planning process was infused into the course curriculum to increase student career self-actualization. For more information see http://aims-aaa.foliotek.me/aqip-career-awareness.
- "True Colors" 50 minute workshop facilitated in every AAA 090 class during week 9-10. “True Colors” was chosen explain personality to career connection because it can be done in a relatively quick, engaging, and easy to understand process.
- Career Awareness Video designed to introduce AAA classes to the importance of intentional career planning through our career decision making process of “Ready, Reflect, Research.” Student informational interviews are highlighted as a process to understand the career decision making process. Students take notes on advice from those interviewed within the assignment.
- Career Research Essay where students are asked to research a career that they are interested in pursuing. Kiefer Librarians present reliable research sources available through the Kiefer Library during a 50 minute presentation.
- AAA Peer Coaches: Leveraging social norming positive psychology (Schultz, Nolan, Cialdini, Goldstein, & Griskevicius, 2007), peer coaches norm academic struggles and problem-solve by connecting students with academic support services such as tutoring and iFocus academic workshops. Peer coaches who are currents students that successfully completed AAA090 to attend class and provide individual and group support and referrals for current students. They lead classroom discussions, meet 1-1 with students, and host drop-in peer coaching sessions to connect with students in a myriad of ways. Peer coaches will be comprehensively trained by the staff in the Center for the First-Year Experience, journal about their experience, and receive feedback from the AAA Instructor on an ongoing basis. See http://aims-aaa.foliotek.me/embedded-aaa-peer-coaches for more information
Honoring or Recognizing Diversity: The education offered by the institution recognizes the human and cultural diversity of the world in which students live and work.
- During the Fall 2015 semester, a professional development goal and theme to offerings for AAA instructors was chosen to be “Preparation and Practice of Culturally Responsive Teaching” in response to data indicating it to be a high priority from the Instructor Self Assessment (Fall 2015). For an outline of initial discussion and professional development offerings planned, see http://aims-aaa.foliotek.me/instructor-professional-development-training.
- The following books were purchased for the FYE library as a resource for continued learning. Culturally Responsive Leadership in Higher Education: Promoting Access, Equity, and Improvement- Edited by: Lorri J. Santamaría and Andrés P. Santamaría and Culturally Responsive Reaching: Theory, Research, and Practice – Geneva Gay
Contribute to Knowledge of Specific Field: The faculty and students contribute to scholarship, creative work, and the discovery of knowledge to the extent appropriate to their programs institution’s mission.
Presentations
- Ryan Barone (Director of Student Leadership & Development, Former AAA Part-time Instructor) and Denise Pearson (AAA Assistant Professor) presented at the FTLC Spring Faculty Conference, “Create, Collaborate, Evaluate” on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 “Bridging the Gap: Guiding Unprepared Students to Achieve Success.”
- Ryan Barone (Director of Student Leadership & Development, Former AAA Instructor) and Rachel Veretto (Assistant Director of FYE and Part-time AAA Instructor) presented at the League for Innovations – Learning Summit in June 2015 “Fostering a Mindset of Completion: From AAA to Catalyst” Specific to AAA the integration of the Growth Mindset into the curriculum was shared.
- Shannon McCasland (Associate Dean of Student Services; Former AAA Part-time Instructor) presented at the CCSSE High Impact Practices Institute in 2015 “Fostering a Mindset of Completion: From AAA to Catalyst.”
- Francie Rottini (Full Time AAA Instructor) presented "Berthod High School Nights" with the Aims Recruitment Office in 9/2014
- Janet Chase (AAA Part-time Instructor) has developed and facilitates the following workshops for the iFocus Academic workshop series offered to students.
- “Study Strategies for Biology” (Fall 2013 - Present) Description: Does your biology class seem overwhelming? Come to this workshop to get some tips, tricks and tools to help you study and master the subject of biology.
- “Exploring Healthcare & Help Careers” (Spring 2016) Description: Are you interested in a healthcare career but may not be a candidate due to the highly competitive nature of some program admission standards? Hear this panel of experts to explore other healthcare-related careers with similar general education requirements for a parallel path to your future.
- Francie Rottini (Full Time AAA Instructor) has developed and facilitates the following workshops for the iFocus Academic workshop series offered to students.
- “Self-Care 101”(Spring 2015 – Present) Description: Did you know that nearly 30% of all college students report feeling "so depressed that it was difficult to function" at some time in the past year? When it comes to your mental health, it is better to be proactive rather than reactive. Come to this session to learn the basics of self-care and how these techniques and strategies can help you manage the everyday stress of being a student.
- “Revolutionize Relationships” (Spring 2015 – Present) Description: Who are you? Why are you the way you are? What can we do to improve human interaction? Explore these questions via two TED Talks followed by group conversion.
- Denise Pearson (AAA Chair & Assistant Professor) has developed and facilitate/facilitated the following workshops for the iFocus Academic workshop series offered to students.
- “Build Grit & Grow Your Mindset ” (Fall 2015 – Present) Description: How do grit and mindset impact your success? Join us for a lively discussion following the viewing of TED Talks featuring experts Carol Dweck and Angela Lee Duckworth sharing their important research.
- “Reset Your Mindset for Success” (Fall 2014-Spring 2015) Description: Improve your grades and get more out of school and life by adopting a set of attitudes based on growth and opportunity. You’ll get a self-test checklist and tips for moving from a “fixed” to a “growth” mindset.
- “Portfolio Power” (Fall 2014-Spring 2015) Description: More than a resume, a portfolio can be your best lifelong self-marketing tool! This fun-filled workshop will explore the new way to showcase your job skills, experiences, and college coursework. You’ll see portfolio samples created by real Aims students.
- “Stress-Proofing Yourself” (Fall 2013 – Fall 2014) Description: Are you tired of feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do you want to feel more relaxed despite the pressures in your life? Come to this workshop and learn simple ways to reduce your stress through diet and lifestyle. Your health and success in college will thank you!
Recognition
- Shannon McCasland (Associate Dean of Student Services; Former AAA Part-time Instructor) was selected as an Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience, February 2015
- Shannon McCasland (Associate Dean of Student Services; Former AAA Part-time Instructor) was selected as a Faculty for the Institute on the First-Year Students Success in the Community College, Nov 6-8, 2016 at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
- Denise Pearson (AAA Chair & Assistant Professor) was selected for the Aims FYE Advocate award (nominated by a former student Nicole Suttle) Spring 2015
- AAA Instructors and students in Catalyst received a Team Award at the President’s Reception Spring 2015
- AAA was recognized by the State of Colorado’s Colorado Completes! campaign in October 2014 as a best practice across the state as a completion initiative. http://www.aims.edu/about/departments/marketing/news?id=436
Conference Attendance: AAA Instructors attended the following local and out of state conferences to expand their knowledge and share with other AAA instructors during meetings.
- Part-time AAA Instructor Linda Zamora: HACU Latino Higher Education Leadership Conference www.hacu.net/hacu/ October 11-13, 2015
- Chair & Assistant Professor Denise Pearson: AAEEBL Western USA Regional Conference Harnessing the Power of the ePortfolio: Transformative Practices in Pedagogy and Assessment April 8-9, 2014
- Rachel Veretto (Assistant Director – FYE & Part-time AAA Instructor) attended the Institute on First-Year Student Success Nov 6-8, 2015 at the University of South Caroline, Columbia, SC
- Full Time AAA Instructor Francie Rottini: 26th Annual eLearning Consortium of Colorado Conference “Reach the Peaks: Scale to New Heights” April 15-17, 2015, CCCOnline’s CONNECT to Excellence Conference “Cultivating Excellence” October 16, 2015, 2-2 Faculty Conference, 9/25/2015 at Pueblo Community College
- (Approved and Planned) Part-time AAA Instructors Nadia Navarro & Robert Garcia: AACU Diversity, Learning and Student Success conference “Shifting Paradigms and Challenging Mindsets” March 17-19. 2016.
- (Approved and Planned) Rachel Veretto (Assistant Director – FYE& Part-time AAA Instructor) will attend the League for Innovation in the Community College Innovations conference March 19-23, 2016
- (Approved and Planned) Denise Pearson (Chair & Assistant Professor) and Francie Rottini (AAA Instructor) will be attending the 2016 Rocky Mountain Peer Leadership Conference on March 12, 2016 along with three student peer coaches (Dawn Boll, Nicole De La Fuente & Noehli Batres)
- (Planned) Francie Rottini (AAA Instructor) will be attending the eLearning Consortium of Colorado conference, April 13-15, 2016
Committees
- Denise Pearson (Chair & Assistant Professor) - Member of Grants Advisory Committee (Fall 2015 - Present), FYE Advisory Team (2012-2014), CTE Infused AAA Committee (2013-2015), iFocus Planning Committee (2012- 2014), Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee (2013-2014), AQIP Proposal & Implementation Team for “Creating a Seamless and Intentional Career Engagement Continuum: Awareness to Career Choice” (Spring 2014-Present), Early College High School Academic Support Committee (Spring 2015) and Unaccompanied Youth Task Force (Fall 2015 - Present).
- Francie Rottini (Full Time AAA Instructor) - AAA Assessment Committee Chair (3/2015 - present), AAA Assessment Committee Member (8/2014 - 2/2015),Phyllis Gosch Scholarship Committee Reviewer (3/2015 - present), iFocus Planning Committee (8/2014- present)