Breakout Sessions

In-Service Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1: 10:15-11:00 AM

Building Foundations on Equity & Inclusion – Workshop

Room: River Birch C
Presenter: Krishna Pattisapu, Executive Director of Equity & Inclusion; Harris Armstrong, Coordinator of Equity & Inclusion

The Division of Equity & Inclusion will discuss previous, ongoing, and future efforts to embed Equity & Inclusion into the foundation of FRCC. In this interactive workshop, the presenters will provide strategies and tools for attendees to approach this work within their divisions and collaboratively across the college.

Inclusive Excellence

 

Concurrent Enrollment:Planning our future -Workshop

Room: Elderberry
Presenter: April Menzies, Associate Vice President K-12 Partnerships;Caitlin Evans, Concurrent Enrollment Director (LC); Anitra Galicia, Concurrent Enrollment Director (WC); Courtney Graeff, Concurrent Enrollment Director (BCC)

The number of students enrolled simultaneously in both high school and college has grown quickly and significantly over the past few years. The options for students to earn college credit while in high school have grown as well. How FRCC engages in these opportunities and challenges is a question that impacts nearly every part of the college - academic affairs, enrollment management and student success, human resources, facilities, etc. 

This workshop will provide an update of the current scope/scale of Concurrent Enrollment and gather input from a variety of stakeholders that will guide future implementation and K-12 partnerships. Join us for an active exploration of what the future may hold.

Teaching Excellence 

 

Conflict Management: Navigating Difficult Situations for Productive Outcomes – Presentation

Room: Big Thompson
Presenter: Chelsea Stow, Communication Faculty/Math Department Chair

Do you find it challenging to address conflict in the workplace in productive ways? Employees often sweep tension under the rug, which unfortunately allows it to build (until someone explodes or leaves) and ultimately harm the productivity and culture of a working group or team. In this session, Dr. Chelsea Stow will outline the most common causes of conflict in the workplace, help participants identify their own strengths and weaknesses, and finally, share simple and constructive steps toward resolution.

Organizational Excellence 

 

Digital Accessibility Basics – Presentation 

Room: River Birch A
Presenters: Stephanie Wickman, Director, Learning Design and Technology; Shea McCowan, Director of Assistive Technology and Accessibility; Connie Hannig, Student Technology Support Coordinator

This session is for anyone who creates digital content to share with others! During this session, we will cover the current FRCC digital accessibility landscape (current legislation and FRCC efforts) and the basics of accessibility to create Word, PowerPoint, and MyCourses that are universally designed. Topics will include headings, images, hyperlinks, use of color (contrast and context), optimized writing, and accessibility checker tools. 

During breakout session 2, practice accessibility techniques during a hands-on workshop.  Focused on the application of the topics covered in the Digital Accessibility Basics breakout session, you will get a deeper understanding applying them to a simulated work assignment. Attendance at breakout session 1 is recommended, but not required to attend the hands-on workshop. Participants should plan to bring their own device.

Inclusive Excellence, Teaching Excellence, Student Access & Momentum, Organizational Excellence

 

Elevating the College’s Brand: Unleashing the Power of Identity and Influence – Presentation

Room: Lake Loveland
Presenter: Daniela Circonciso, Director of Marketing; Jessica Peterson, Director of Communications; Jeanine Kennedy, Web/Digital Content Manager; Laura Bircz, Multimedia Producer; Caitlin McKernan, Senior Graphic Designer 

Brand identity is a set of visiual elements like logo, design, and colors that help a brand stand out, differentiate it from competitors and influence how people perceive our institution. A strong brand identity is the foundation for conveying ideas and building trust and loyalty. In this session, the Strategic Marketing & Communications team will present workplace resources and tools to streamline your marketing needs.  

Key Takeaways 

  • An introduction of the Marketing team and our role in elevating the College’s brand
  • We’ll showcase an overview of brand guidelines and best practices  
  • Introduction of new products and resources that adhere to brand guidelines and will make you look great 
  • Learn how to use our helpful new tools, including: 
    • Brand & Editorial guidelines  
    • Flyer templates 
    • PowerPoint templates 
    • Video backgrounds   

Organizational Excellence 

 

Linguistic Servingness: Experiences of Designated Bilingual Staff and How to Support Them – Presentation

Room: Snowberry
Presenter: Becky Chavez, Senior Director Retention & Support Services

Designated bilingual staff are essential to FRCC's mission to become a Hispanic-Serving Insitution. These staff members act as cultural brokers, bridging the gap between the institution and Spanish-speaking communities, aiding in the navigation of higher education systems. This workshop explores a phenomenological qualitative study that captures the stories of bilingual staff and their supervisors, shedding light on their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Participants will gain insights into the concept of linguistic servingness, the support needed for these crucial roles, and the profound impact being able to do their work in their native language. Through rich, participant-driven stories, attendees will understand the importance of these positions in fostering trust and a sense of belonging among students and families, as well as the ongoing advocacy challenges faced by bilingual staff and their supervisors.

Inclusive Excellence 

 

Knowing Your Students and the Resources They Can Access – Presentation 

Room: River Birch B
Presenters: Summer Cushman, Coordinator of Student Support; Kaitlin Luna, Program Manager - CCAMPIS 

Student Success and the CCAMPIS team will lead discussions exploring two perspectives to gain an understanding of our student demographics, fostering a learning setting that prioritizes equity, inclusivity, and safety. ​Attendees will walk away from the session knowing more resources on campus and how to best support students in overcoming barriers to success. 

Student Access & Momentum

 

Microsoft Teams Overview, Tips and Tricks – Presentation  

Room: Carter Lake
Presenters: Brandi Patrick, Service Desk Manager; Derek Satchell, Service Desk Analyst; Michael Tarno, Service Desk Analyst; Desten Brown, Service Desk Analyst

Join us to learn more about the basics of MS Teams. In this session, we’ll review the Microsoft Teams chat functionality, creating and navigating teams, how to schedule/hold meetings, how to call someone and more. If you would like to bring your laptop and follow along, you are more than welcome to do so. However, it is not necessary. There will be a time for questions at the end, so please bring any you may have.

Organizational Excellence 

 

Three Years of Learning: How Clear Instructions Boost Student Success – Presentation 

Room: Goldenglow
Presenters: Jen Sheaman, Director - Assessment and Accreditation; Marty Church, Faculty Assessment Fellow; Amy Holly, Faculty Assessment Fellow; Aaron Leff, Faculty Assessment Fellow; Eric Salahub, Faculty Assessment Fellow

For three years, we have assessed FRCC’s five student learning outcomes. Now, focusing on the discoveries from our assessment cycle, we will share a powerful finding: clear instructions significantly and positively impact student learning.

This session goes beyond instruction in the classroom! We will show you how to communicate purpose, process, and expectations in all your student learning experiences (SLEs) such as assignments, group activities, advising sessions, intake appointments, and more! Learn how clear communication in these areas leads to improved student success and walk away with practical skills to craft effective learning tasks, ensuring your students understand what is expected and how to achieve it.

Teaching Excellence

 

Wellness with Mind and Body Movement – Workshop 

Room: General Session/Mountain Holly, Canyon Maple
Presenter: Julie Berenger, Administrative Assistant - Learning Design & Technology; Laura Shiels, Faculty, NS Biology & Wellness Committee Chair

This session is designed to offer a holistic approach by integrating breathing techniques, yoga, and energy methods to enhance every day life and reduce stress. Participants will learn several techniques to incorporate into their daily routine, including a 5-minute breathing meditation, a demonstration of beneficial chair yoga poses, and a ten-minute energy routine. This is an informational session at a beginner level, and we accommodate everyone who participates.

Community Impact 

Breakout Sessions

11:15 am - 12:00 pm

Appreciation in the Workplace – Workshop

Room: Goldenglow
Presenters: Sherry Bahnsen, HR Training Coordinator

When is a time you were appreciated in a way that was meaningful to you?  What made it so memorable?  Research indicates that 64% of Americans who leave their jobs say they do so because they don't feel appreciated.  On the flip side, genuine, specific appreciation is key to retaining good employees.  Let's discover your language of appreciation and how each of us can appreciate others in ways that make it meaningful and memorable!

Organizational Excellence 

 

Building a Student-Centered Schedule: A Collaborative Workshop On Defining FRCC's Scheduling Values – Workshop 

Room: River Birch B
Presenters: Anne Marie Jacobson, Academic Dean - School of Social Sciences, Education & Public Service; April Menzies, Associate Vice President K-12 Partnerships; Angie Peach, Academic Dean - School of Health Sciences & Wellness

The course schedule touches on almost every aspect of life at FRCC and has the potential to increase enrollment, retention, and completion rates. This session provides a platform for stakeholder groups across the college to share their perspective on what makes an effective, student-centered schedule and what values we need to prioritize. Ensuring students can take the courses they need to complete their educational goals in a timely manner is foundational to promoting student success. Please join us to share your thoughts! Your voice will contribute to the formation of a college-wide scheduling philosophy that articulates the why of our scheduling approach.

Student Access & Momentum

 

Confident Communication: Integrating Digital Accessibility into Your Workflow in Outlook (a bring your own devices session) – Workshop

Room: River Birch A
Presenters: Dustin Raiken, Alternate Media Specialist, Accessibility Remediation Coordinator; Catherine Stager, Accessibility & Assistive Technology Specialist; Connie Hannig, Student Technology Support Coordinator

Building on the foundations from the Digital Accessibility Basics breakout session, bring your own device to this hands-on workshop for practical experience in applying accessibility principles to a simulated work assignment. With expert guidance, you'll practice making your messages and documents accessible. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the skills and confidence to create communications that effectively reach and engage all members of our community. This session will be a “Bring your Own Device” format. Before this session, participants are invited to attend the Digital Accessibility Basics breakout session to gain awareness of the current digital accessibility landscape and basics to apply in content creation. Attendance at breakout session 1 is recommended, but not required to attend the hands-on workshop.

Inclusive Excellence, Teaching Excellence, Student Access & Momentum, Organizational Excellence

 

Crafting AI Guidelines: A Discussion & Collaborative Workshop for FRCC – Hybrid Panel/Idea Cafe

Room: River Birch C
Presenters: Laura Puls, Senior Librarian; Stacey Herron, Instructor - Department of Music, Art and Design; Matt Stilwell, Larimer Campus Instructional Coach & English Faculty 

Got an opinion on generative artificial intelligence and education? Skeptical, nervous, or excited about using AI? We want to hear from you! Our panel of FRCC faculty, instructors, and staff discuss how we currently use AI tools for our own instructional purposes and professional lives, from curriculum development to graphic design to writing to online research. Then, panelists and attendees will review other colleges’ AI educational guidance and borrow, adapt, generate, and share ideas to shape an AI code of conduct at FRCC. Attendees will leave with fresh perspectives, a sense of curiosity, and drafts for updating their syllabus and course activities. 

Teaching Excellence

 

Fostering an Inclusive Learning Environment—A Neurodivergent Perspective – Panel 

Room: General Session/Mountain Holly, Canyon Maple
Presenters: Megan Wolff, Senior Director Disability Support Services; Craig Weathers, Director of Accommodations and Support Services

This interactive panel discussion will explore the experiences of neurodivergent students and employees at Front Range Community College, with the goal of fostering a more inclusive learning and working environment for neurodivergent individuals. A panel of neurodivergent students and employees at FRCC will share their experiences and insights on microaggressions and ableism, the importance of universal design, and the prevalence of implicit bias. Interactive elements will encourage open discussion about helpful strategies for supporting and empowering all learners and employees. By fostering a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and promoting inclusive practices, this presentation can lead to:

  • Improved student success rates for neurodivergent learners.
  • Enhanced employee morale and productivity.
  • A more welcoming and inclusive college environment for all.

Inclusive Excellence 

 

Grants 101 – Presentation 

Room: Lake Loveland
Presenters: Ed Chusid, Director of Resource Development/Senior Grant Manager

Join FRCC's Grants Team if you are interested in how grants work at the college, how to find a funding opportunity, how to understand it, and how to write a grant narrative.  Ideally by the end of this presentation you will walk away with the confidence to find a potential funding opportunity and write successfully for it.

Organizational Excellence

 

Improving the On-Campus Student Employment Experience – Workshop 

Room: Big Thompson
Presenters: Tansy Fox, Coordinator, HR Information Systems; Caralee Sommers, Manager, HR Operations; Grace Lyon, Career Counselor; Jen Cummins, Financial Aid Work Study Coordinator

This presentation will provide tips for improving the work experience of student employees on our campuses and include a student employee panel. We will look at challenges faced by student workers and examples of typical roles. We will identify opportunities for improvements, emphasizing the benefits of a positive work environment for student satisfaction and retention. Proposed strategies will include training, job description development, improved communication channels, and initiatives promoting work-life-school balance. Through this presentation, we will foster discussion, gather feedback, and bolster support for enhancing the overall work experience of student employees across our college community.

Student Access & Momentum

 

Measuring Learning: Why Quantitative Measures of Learning Fall Short—and an Overview of Possible Alternatives – Presentation 

Room: Elderberry
Presenters: Mark Hussey, Online Instructional Coach & English Faculty

How teachers measure learning impacts everything that happens in the classroom: from student behavior and motivation all the way through to assigning final grades.  Measuring learning is fundamental to the teaching and learning environment. Unfortunately, our most commonly used method for measuring learning – using points as a quantitative measure –fails to measure learning, undermines student motivation in the process, and distracts from the learning process.  Realizing this, many educators have sought alternative grading methods to address these problems, but why exactly do points fail as a system for measuring learning?  And how do alternative grading systems address those same problems in different ways?  This session presents an overview of the reasons why many educators are abandoning points in favor of alternative methods, and it provides an overview of the range of possible alternatives.  Participants should bring their grading policies to the session and be prepared to explore alternatives.  

Teaching Excellence 

 

Navigate360 For Faculty and Instructor Users – Presentation 

Room: Snowberry
Presenters: Kris Cote, Manager of Retention Technology; Kyla Antony, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management

An introduction to EAB Navigate360 for Faculty and Instructors. What is it, how to access and use the tool? Examples of faculty and instructor use. And presenting about the shift to Early Intervention (Early Alert and Student of Concern) into the Navigate360 platform. 

Organizational Excellence, Student Access & Momentum

 

What is B R P? – Presentation

Room: Carter Lake
Presenters: Amy Comstock, Contracts Coordinator; Rowena Lim, Purchasing Coordinator; Kara Rudnick, Facilities Coordinatoe; Jade Cheng, Disbursement Accountant

Attendees will learn what all is required for purchasing, how items need to be received, and what is required to ensure payment is process in a timely manner.

Organizational Excellence