This week, with the invitation of the faculty, I had the pleasure of attending seven classes on campus with varied subject areas. It reinforced for me everything that is wonderful about higher education with the opportunity to engage, learn and explore ideas.
My first major observation is that the statistics are true. We really are a campus of about 77% women with rich diversity in ethnicity, age and life experiences. This led to robust and varied class discussions from a variety of perspectives. Our students are amazing.
My second major observation is that are faculty are talented, respectful of student thoughts and opinions, and have designed coursework to engage students. Our faculty are passionate about what they do and truly caring about students. Our faculty are incredible teachers.
My third major observation is that hands on learning is pervasive in the classroom. Whether it was the debate on merit vs. need based financial aid in Dr. Pazargadi’s English 102 Nepantla cohort, blood typing in Professor Silva’s Biology 189 Lab (I’m A positive), or coming up with small group interventions in Professor Marshall’s class on the Psychology of Inequality to get more men to come to college and stay here, students are learning how to apply knowledge in very practical ways.
My final major observation is that the content of the coursework is very important to the professions that students are pursuing. In Dr. Navarette’s class on Introduction to Special Education, students learned from CCSD’s Dr. Scott on how the District addresses special needs populations with lots of questions from students. In Dr. Sprouse’s Class on Ethics in Interpreting, students learned about application of professional ethics standards in interpreting and further engaged in some spirited dialogue on those standards. In Professor Price’s Intro to Women’s Studies class, important information was shared about sexual assault and abuse, with students openly sharing experiences from their lives that highlight widespread issues that our society must correct. In Professor Nill’s class on Mental Health, nursing students considered proper treatment of patients with short term delirium and long term dementia, a subject dear to me with my father’s struggles with dementia and death last year from related causes.
It really is true that as challenging as it is to stay in college and finish a degree, I still look back on my college experiences as some of the best times in my life. This week brought a flood of memories about those college experiences that have stayed with me all of my life. Those memories center around the three most important things I observed this week: the bond I shared with my classmates, the teachers and staff that encouraged me and made me feel important, and the hands on learning experiences built into my studies. For our students, keep going. Enjoy the learning and engagement. Make lifelong friends. For our faculty and staff, keep doing what you are doing. You are making a difference, and the students will remember both what you are teaching, and how you made them feel. Thank you for letting me share a bit of the excitement!
My first major observation is that the statistics are true. We really are a campus of about 77% women with rich diversity in ethnicity, age and life experiences. This led to robust and varied class discussions from a variety of perspectives. Our students are amazing.
My second major observation is that are faculty are talented, respectful of student thoughts and opinions, and have designed coursework to engage students. Our faculty are passionate about what they do and truly caring about students. Our faculty are incredible teachers.
My third major observation is that hands on learning is pervasive in the classroom. Whether it was the debate on merit vs. need based financial aid in Dr. Pazargadi’s English 102 Nepantla cohort, blood typing in Professor Silva’s Biology 189 Lab (I’m A positive), or coming up with small group interventions in Professor Marshall’s class on the Psychology of Inequality to get more men to come to college and stay here, students are learning how to apply knowledge in very practical ways.My final major observation is that the content of the coursework is very important to the professions that students are pursuing. In Dr. Navarette’s class on Introduction to Special Education, students learned from CCSD’s Dr. Scott on how the District addresses special needs populations with lots of questions from students. In Dr. Sprouse’s Class on Ethics in Interpreting, students learned about application of professional ethics standards in interpreting and further engaged in some spirited dialogue on those standards. In Professor Price’s Intro to Women’s Studies class, important information was shared about sexual assault and abuse, with students openly sharing experiences from their lives that highlight widespread issues that our society must correct. In Professor Nill’s class on Mental Health, nursing students considered proper treatment of patients with short term delirium and long term dementia, a subject dear to me with my father’s struggles with dementia and death last year from related causes.
It really is true that as challenging as it is to stay in college and finish a degree, I still look back on my college experiences as some of the best times in my life. This week brought a flood of memories about those college experiences that have stayed with me all of my life. Those memories center around the three most important things I observed this week: the bond I shared with my classmates, the teachers and staff that encouraged me and made me feel important, and the hands on learning experiences built into my studies. For our students, keep going. Enjoy the learning and engagement. Make lifelong friends. For our faculty and staff, keep doing what you are doing. You are making a difference, and the students will remember both what you are teaching, and how you made them feel. Thank you for letting me share a bit of the excitement!
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