Senate Standard – July 8, 2024
| Senate Standard 5.24 |
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| In the Standard this week: – Transform ED: A Call to Faculty to Apply – Senate Meeting July 12 Canceled –Juan [email protected] |
| Transform ED: Call to Faculty to Participate |
| About Transform_Ed As you plan for the next academic year, we kindly request that you consider participating in Transform_Ed during the 2024-2025 academic year. Transform_Ed is a year-long research initiative to anticipate the evolution and future impact of change across diverse academic and student affairs areas at Austin Community College District (ACC). The purpose of this research is to inform strategic positioning and decision-making through an analysis of how external factors may impact future programmatic growth and student success at ACC. Furthermore, the research aims to anticipate change in the complex ecosystem of higher education, conduct risk and value analysis, design mitigation strategies, and propose recommendations for the future of programs, degrees, and services to support student success across the district. Teams will design with the North Star goal at the center of their efforts. ACC recently identified a new North Star of a 70% student completion rate by 2030. The current student completion rate is 46%, meaning 24 percentage points must be reached in the next five years. Teams will use the ACC Theory of Change (TOC) as a framework for why and how the college will work together to improve student outcomes. The TOC centers on 4 themes, including strategic onboarding (start strong), logistics and processes (enroll full-time), support and student needs (meet basic needs), and people and connectedness (culture of belonging and connection). Teams will design and employ comprehensive research to analyze how external factors may impact the ACC North Star of 70% completion by 2030. Team Activities Selected faculty will meet weekly with their instructional team colleagues. Meetings are led by Stephanie Long, Associate Dean of the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), who can be reached at [email protected]. Selected faculty will also meet monthly with the student affairs team for professional development, enrichment opportunities, and progress updates. Team members are expected to engage in self-directed research groups that are cross-functional and interdisciplinary. This collaborative approach aims to foster an innovative learning community within Transform_Ed, where diverse perspectives and expertise come together to drive forward-thinking solutions and shared growth. The final deliverable will be a Product Demo Presentation at the Riverbat Experience Student Success Summit the following academic year. This presentation aims to showcase the impact of the proposed product on student success and its contribution to achieving ACC’s North Star goal. Testimonials – I would have to say that if I used a single word to describe working as part of the instructional team of Trasform_Ed, it would be ‘transformative’ or ‘inspiring’. I hope that faculty apply for this, the overall experience was absolutely positive. – My overall experience with the Transform_ED team has been enriching and transformative. It provided me with a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, collaborate with faculty across diverse academic fields, and contribute to strategic planning for ACC. This initiative has also increased my problem-solving and leadership skills for which I am especially grateful. I am very thankful for the opportunity! – In the instructional lane, each member was from a different Area of Study (AoS), and being able to collaborate with that team weekly allowed us to develop a camaraderie and a bond, along with gaining a new understanding of how the different departments across the college operate. We discovered how we can work better together, and reduce redundancies to increase productivity across the college, not just within our own AoS. This team should be an example to the college of how easy it can be to break down the silos if we put in the work as collective members from across the college. – My overall experience with Transform_Ed was incredibly enriching. Each moment contributed to my growth and understanding of our collective mission, which is our students. It was a great opportunity to be a part of a movement that seeks to redefine education, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of our students and our community. – Absolutely, I would recommend the Transform_Ed program to my colleagues. The program offers opportunities for professional development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the ability to have a strategic impact on academic programs. It is an excellent platform for anyone looking to enhance their research skills and contribute meaningfully to ACC’s North Star goals while also bringing insight and information to important stakeholders and leadership at ACC. – Overall, I had a very positive experience. I learned a great deal and I made connections I would not have otherwise made with leadership as well as faculty and student affairs colleagues. Part of what made the experience so positive was simply the time we had to talk to other faculty, the time to reflect on our teaching, and the chance to match our teaching with what we were learning about future workforce needs. The collaboration that we had really is what made this experience special. – Through Transform_Ed, I gained several valuable skills and knowledge. One of the key takeaways was enhancing my ability to collaborate across different departments. I learned a lot about innovative educational strategies and approaches that I can incorporate into my own teaching. These skills have benefited me both academically and professionally, allowing me to bring new insights into my classroom and foster a more engaging learning environment for my students. I have been able to apply what I learned in real-world scenarios, particularly in course development and student engagement strategies. – I wholeheartedly recommend the Transform_Ed program to other colleagues at ACC. It is a transformative experience that fosters growth, collaboration, and innovation. My advice for future participants is to embrace every opportunity, actively engage with your peers, and apply the knowledge gained to make a lasting impact. Faculty Release Full-time faculty who are selected will receive a partial release in the Fall and Spring semesters (9 LEH each semester). Adjunct faculty who are selected will receive a stipend in the Fall and Spring semesters (equivalent to 9 LEH each semester). All selected faculty must have Department Chair approval before committing to join the team. Apply Here Thank you for your interest in joining the instructional team for Transform_Ed during the 2024-2025 academic year. Submit this form to apply. If you have any questions you would like answered before submitting this form, please email [email protected] with the subject: Transform_Ed 2025. Thank you for your consideration. |
| Senate Meeting July 12 Canceled |
| The Senate meeting for this week has been canceled. The next Senate meeting will be at the start of the fall semester. We will keep you updated through the Senate Standards. See you next semester. |