Designing Assignments that Foster Academic Integrity

Eric Salahub, Kerri Mitchell

Do your assignments foster academic honesty and learning or could they be motivating students to rationalize dishonesty? After reviewing the research on the factors that influence student honesty and dishonesty, we will think and write about our current courses and assignments, reflect on case studies of honesty and cheating, and work together to consider ways to motivate academic integrity and student learning. This workshop isn’t focused on catching and punishing cheaters after the fact! Instead we will spend our time considering effective Active Learning design and teaching strategies that foster integrity and motivate students’ desire to learn.

Eric Salahub has been a Philosophy faculty at FRCC Larimer Campus since 1999. Over the past 10 years, Eric’s main teaching and research focus is in Active Learning and related issues including equitable student success, assessment of student learning, and fostering academic integrity. Eric is the co-creator and director of the Active Learning Institute, a semester-long professional development program focused on evidence-based approaches to course design aimed at improving student success and closing equity opportunity gaps.

Kerri Mitchell is English Writing faculty at Front Range Community College, Larimer. She is the co-creator and co-director of the Active Learning Institute, facilitating ongoing trainings and workshops for faculty and instructors within the Colorado Community College System. In 2018, Kerri received the Colorado Community College System’s Outstanding Faculty Award

What is Culturally Responsive Pedagogy? History, Disambiguation, Terminology

Amy Buckingham, Toni Nicholas, Jenna Alzona

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) is a crucial approach in education that seeks to create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students. We will explore the history of CRP, clarify its terminology and diverse interpretations of CRP, in order to promote a comprehensive understanding of CRP’s significance in higher education. Participants will be provided with actionable strategies and best practices for integrating CRP into their community college classrooms, cultivating inclusivity, and promoting academic success for all students.
*We are hosting a conference on 10/27 on the RRCC campus as well and would like to request accommodation to attend morning sessions there. If possible, we request a late afternoon or remote session. Thank you for your consideration.

Toni Nicholas is the Chair of the History Department at Red Rocks Community College where she is entering her 11th year as a faculty member. Toni has been invested in teaching “the other side of the story” since she began teaching and strives to create an inclusive and culturally relevant environment for all students in her courses. She creates student-centered environments where all students feel supported in the learning process and is passionate about creating equitable outcomes for all learner as is evident by her being voted the 2021-2022 Faculty of the Year by the students at Red Rocks.

Amy Buckingham (She/Her) is the psychology and social work department chair and full-time faculty member entering her 13th year at Red Rocks Community College. With a Master of Counseling degree from the University of Denver, she welcomes teaching psychology to people of diverse backgrounds, working and listening to others with empathy, while creating relationships both in and out of the classroom. This foundation has led to participation and leadership in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion in college classrooms, with a focus on creating equitable learning environments in which all students are supported to succeed, regardless of age, background, gender, or belief system.

Jenna Alzona (she/her) is a full-time English faculty and adjunct coordinator at Red Rocks Community. Jenna has been focused on DEI work throughout her teaching career for six years teaching in San Diego before joining RRCC one year ago. In particular, she is passionate about how instructors can mentor and support student agency by reframing language to be more inclusive and equity-minded. Jenna believes that identity and introspection are at the center for creating transformative, institutional change to address social inequities.

Enhancing Equity and Relevance in Assessment through ePortfolio

Abby Crew

Updating our Institutional Student Learning Outcomes drove improvements assessment and relevance for students and faculty. At our dual mission institution outcomes apply to certificate, bachelors, multilingual learners and dual enrollment high school students. Leveraging ePortfolio to capture student learning and help connect the dots within and between classes and to relevant job ready skills has enabled our institution to drive meaningful change in our assessment process, enhance equity in student success and expose students to folio thinking to better prepare them to connect what they are learning in the classroom to applicable workforce skills (like critical thinking, communication and teamwork).

Dr. Abby Crew is the Assistant Dean of Academic Planning, Assessment, and Improvement: Curriculum Review and Innovation at Colorado Mountain College. She also served as a Department Chair for Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Humanities for nine years while an adjunct instructor. She earned the distinguished honor of adjunct faculty of the year in 2021. She has an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Humanities from New York University.

Empowering FWYS Success: Data-Driven Strategies for CCCS Community Colleges

Nate Bertz, Karl Sparks

Come and explore the remarkable achievements of the Community College of Denver with the COSI Finish What You Started (FWYS) grant. In our session, we’ll unveil the potent impact of data on recruitment, retention, and graduation rates. You’ll leave with actionable insights to apply at your institution. Attendees will gain a deep understanding of data’s role in decision-making, effective student recruitment, proven retention methods, degree completion initiatives, and success strategies for FWYS programs. Our engagement approach involves real-world storytelling, interactive discussions, live data demonstrations, networking opportunities, and resource sharing. Join us to equip CCCS community colleges with the tools for FWYS success, ensuring students genuinely “Finish What They Started” in their educational journeys.

Hate Speech, the 1st Amendment & Ensuring Safe Classrooms

Jordan Hill

As civil discourse in US society has deteriorated, many faculty have found themselves faced with an increase in both subtle and overt hate speech and behavior in their classrooms. Drawing from specific instances at CCC campuses, this session will provide a few examples before transitioning into a roundtable discussion of the importance of ensuring that CCCs campuses are providing safe classrooms that are conducive to robust learning environments amidst the contemporary reality of an ever more divided society.

Dr. Jordan Hill, Philosophy & Religious Studies Faculty, Front Range Community College
Ph.D. Philosophy
MA Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
MA History