The new academic year kicked off with Professional Development Day 2018 – a great time to reconnect with colleagues and welcome new faculty and staff. With the theme "Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning," the college community had an opportunity to discuss the importance of engaging and supporting a variety of different learners. We were pleased to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Frank Harris III, who discussed, "Centering Equity and Equity-Mindedness in Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning." Dr. Harris is a professor of postsecondary education and co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) at San Diego State University. He is best known for his expertise in racial [in]equity in postsecondary education and has made important contributions to knowledge about college student development and the social construction of gender and race in college contexts. His message of understanding equity and how educators can connect with students so they can be successful in college was an inspiring way to begin the academic year.
Breakout sessions throughout the informative day included topics such as building an inclusive classroom, supporting low-income students, using humor in the classroom, and appreciating cultural diversity.
President Maloney also gave a presentation focusing on the new community college funding formula to be implemented statewide over the next three years, the 2018-19 ECC budget and corresponding enrollment trends, and support for students via the South Bay Promise, Guided Pathways, open educational resources, and AB 705. The success of Compton College was also highlighted, with congratulations on celebrating the first commencement ceremony as the 114th California Community College this past June. Compton College is now preparing to complete the transition into becoming a fully independent institution.
We look forward to a great year – welcome back to El Camino College!
President Maloney's presentation and the student video are available online.