Breakout sessions are the educational backbone of the MCCA Annual Convention. Our comprehensive programming is designed to give you a full range education, from the basics that every professional needs to the innovative ideas that are changing how you work. With a wide variety of topics during each time slot, these 45 minute sessions allow you to focus on the areas that are most relevant to your needs. No matter where you are in your career, there is something for you.
Program Tracks
Sessions are organized by seven thematic tracks designed to help illuminate overarching focus areas and help attendees easily navigate the event.
Sessions are organized by seven thematic tracks designed to help illuminate overarching focus areas and help attendees easily navigate the event.
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Recruiting, retaining and graduating students are ongoing challenges for community colleges. Join your colleagues in exploring new strategies and best practices for increasing enrollment and driving student success from start to finish.
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
A robust economy depends upon a highly skilled workforce. These sessions explore the many ways colleges are meeting the workforce needs of their communities, particularly through apprenticeship programs and partnerships with local employers.
Learning & Teaching
College professionals continue to develop new and innovative ways of approaching learning and teaching. These sessions afford educators the opportunity to share their ideas and innovations with colleagues.
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Accountability mandates, fluctuating funding, demographic shifts, and the rapid pace of change within higher education continue to challenge college administrators to explore innovative strategies for leadership and organizational change.
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Every day, both teaching and non-teaching professionals work to advance the mission of Missouri’s community colleges and workforce partners. This ongoing track will explore innovative and forward-thinking initiatives that will impact the future of community colleges, from financial planning and human resources to continuous improvement, strategic management and everything in between.
HLC Accreditation
HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution meets standards and is engaged in continuous improvement. HLC's institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as on-site and online offerings. This track will ensure participants going through this process or preparing for an upcoming review will have the most up-to-date information and communication about best practices.
Special Topics
Interested in something more specific? Explore a variety of targeted topics, trends and challenges within higher education today.
Business Meetings
Wednesday, November 13
12:00 - 2:00 P.M.
TBA
2:00 - 3:00 P.M.
TBA
2:00 - 4:00 P.M.
TBA
Breakout Sessions
Our comprehensive program is designed to give you a full range education, from the basics that every professional needs to the innovative ideas that are changing how we work. No matter where you are in your career, there is something for you!
Our comprehensive program is designed to give you a full range education, from the basics that every professional needs to the innovative ideas that are changing how we work. No matter where you are in your career, there is something for you!
Thursday, November 14
8:45 - 9:30 A.M.
Fall Creek
Is Your College Designed to Serve Your Learners and Communities?
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Chett Daniel | Associate VP of Workforce and Innovations, Crowder College
Matt Newlin | Senior Education Designer, Rural Initiatives, Education Design Labs
The mission of a community college is to serve students and their communities. But, are your solutions designed for the learners and communities you’re seeking to serve? Come and learn how the Education Design Lab’s human-centered design process is helping community colleges to think differently about how they are engaging and designing with their local learners and communities to create sustainable and scalable approaches focused on increasing access, employment, community buy-in, and more. Participants will learn more about the work of Education Design Lab and how Crowder College is partnering with the Lab and 11 other colleges as part of the Rural College Design and Data Academy.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
Construction Management for Campus Capital Projects
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Hart Nelson | Chief Operating Officer, St. Louis Community College
Nick Fiehler | Project Director, Navigate Building Solutions
Capital projects are complex. Hear how STLCC engaged a construction manager advisor to identify needs, onboard design professionals, ensure campus programming needs were met to smoothly move into the construction phase.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Improving Future Accessibility: Insights From the ABIDE Disability Awareness Simulation
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Josephine Kershaw | Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Jefferson College
Linda Ladendecker-Corley | Accessibility Resource Coordinator / ADA Coordinator for Students, Jefferson College
How do initiatives like disability simulations serve as powerful tools for raising awareness and fostering inclusivity within academic institutions? During the Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ABIDE) disability simulation, top college leaders were tasked with experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by individuals with impairments, such as blindness, deafness, and mobility issues while navigating various campus activities. This session will discuss ADA compliance issues and share lessons learned and insights for implementing a similar simulation on your campus. Join us as we explore the transformative potential of empathy-driven initiatives in creating more equitable and supportive environments for all members of the campus community.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Encouraging LGBTQ+ Gen-Z Student Success
Special Topics
Sav Campbell | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
20% of Gen-Z identify as LGBTQ+ in some way - more than double that of previous generations. While some of our best practices remain, it's important to recognize that we need to adapt to meet the needs of the new generation of LGBTQ+ students. In this presentation, we will talk about the differences to keep in mind when supporting LGBTQ+ Gen-Z student success and the best practices we need to know moving forward. You don't have to know all of the lingo to be an ally. You just have to come to the table with best intentions in mind.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Goofus & Gallant: A Tale of Two Students
Learning & Teaching
Ross Lowrance | Instructor - CIS, Ozarks Technical Community College
Using the classic highlights magazine characters Goofus and Gallant, my session aims to train teachers to develop ethical AI statements for their classes, and teach their students how to use AI as a resource, not a crutch.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
From Perfectionism to a Healthy Pursuit of Excellence
Special Topics
Stacey Gillette | Behavioral Health Support Department Coordinator and Social Science Instructor, Mineral Area College
This presentation will help individuals differentiate between perfectionism and healthy pursuit of excellence. Participants will be given strategies to reinforce healthy boundaries when it comes to graded tasks in classroom settings to prevent reinforcement of perfectionist tendencies.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Past Learning Leads To Future Results: The Impact of Missouri’s Adult Learners
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Megan Wadley | Coordinator of Adult Education & Literacy and High School Equivalency, Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Alice Whalen | Adult Education Program Director, East Central College
Over 350,000 workforce-aged Missourians do not have a high school diploma or its equivalency, and approximately 275,000 people in Missouri do not have proficiency in the English language. DESE’s office of Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) serves these adults by offering free educational services that allow Missouri’s postsecondary training institutions to connect with this population. DHEWD’s “Sixty for All” strategic plan outlines two tactics supported by a partnership with DESE AEL. In this session, delve into Tactic #3, Ability to Benefit (ATB), and Tactic #21, Integrated Education and Training (IET). Discover how institutions implement these strategies, foster enrollment diversity, and contribute to workforce development. Learn how to partner with DESE AEL educational services to equip students for a successful postsecondary journey.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Agilities and the DeBruce Foundation: An MCC Case Study
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Robin Allen | Career Explorations Coordinator, MCC
Stephen Smith | MCC Trainer, MCC
The DeBruce Foundation is committed to expanding pathways to economic growth and opportunity. Through helping people identify Agilities to partnering with leading educational institutions to increase efficiency and effectiveness, the DeBruce Foundation helps activate education, helps establish career goals and pathways, and prepares people for a brighter tomorrow. This session will review MCC's experience working with the DeBruce Foundation and how your college can benefit from adding the DeBruce Foundation's work with Agilities to your workforce development efforts.
Is Your College Designed to Serve Your Learners and Communities?
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Chett Daniel | Associate VP of Workforce and Innovations, Crowder College
Matt Newlin | Senior Education Designer, Rural Initiatives, Education Design Labs
The mission of a community college is to serve students and their communities. But, are your solutions designed for the learners and communities you’re seeking to serve? Come and learn how the Education Design Lab’s human-centered design process is helping community colleges to think differently about how they are engaging and designing with their local learners and communities to create sustainable and scalable approaches focused on increasing access, employment, community buy-in, and more. Participants will learn more about the work of Education Design Lab and how Crowder College is partnering with the Lab and 11 other colleges as part of the Rural College Design and Data Academy.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
Construction Management for Campus Capital Projects
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Hart Nelson | Chief Operating Officer, St. Louis Community College
Nick Fiehler | Project Director, Navigate Building Solutions
Capital projects are complex. Hear how STLCC engaged a construction manager advisor to identify needs, onboard design professionals, ensure campus programming needs were met to smoothly move into the construction phase.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Improving Future Accessibility: Insights From the ABIDE Disability Awareness Simulation
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Josephine Kershaw | Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Jefferson College
Linda Ladendecker-Corley | Accessibility Resource Coordinator / ADA Coordinator for Students, Jefferson College
How do initiatives like disability simulations serve as powerful tools for raising awareness and fostering inclusivity within academic institutions? During the Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ABIDE) disability simulation, top college leaders were tasked with experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by individuals with impairments, such as blindness, deafness, and mobility issues while navigating various campus activities. This session will discuss ADA compliance issues and share lessons learned and insights for implementing a similar simulation on your campus. Join us as we explore the transformative potential of empathy-driven initiatives in creating more equitable and supportive environments for all members of the campus community.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Encouraging LGBTQ+ Gen-Z Student Success
Special Topics
Sav Campbell | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
20% of Gen-Z identify as LGBTQ+ in some way - more than double that of previous generations. While some of our best practices remain, it's important to recognize that we need to adapt to meet the needs of the new generation of LGBTQ+ students. In this presentation, we will talk about the differences to keep in mind when supporting LGBTQ+ Gen-Z student success and the best practices we need to know moving forward. You don't have to know all of the lingo to be an ally. You just have to come to the table with best intentions in mind.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Goofus & Gallant: A Tale of Two Students
Learning & Teaching
Ross Lowrance | Instructor - CIS, Ozarks Technical Community College
Using the classic highlights magazine characters Goofus and Gallant, my session aims to train teachers to develop ethical AI statements for their classes, and teach their students how to use AI as a resource, not a crutch.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
From Perfectionism to a Healthy Pursuit of Excellence
Special Topics
Stacey Gillette | Behavioral Health Support Department Coordinator and Social Science Instructor, Mineral Area College
This presentation will help individuals differentiate between perfectionism and healthy pursuit of excellence. Participants will be given strategies to reinforce healthy boundaries when it comes to graded tasks in classroom settings to prevent reinforcement of perfectionist tendencies.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Past Learning Leads To Future Results: The Impact of Missouri’s Adult Learners
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Megan Wadley | Coordinator of Adult Education & Literacy and High School Equivalency, Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
Alice Whalen | Adult Education Program Director, East Central College
Over 350,000 workforce-aged Missourians do not have a high school diploma or its equivalency, and approximately 275,000 people in Missouri do not have proficiency in the English language. DESE’s office of Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) serves these adults by offering free educational services that allow Missouri’s postsecondary training institutions to connect with this population. DHEWD’s “Sixty for All” strategic plan outlines two tactics supported by a partnership with DESE AEL. In this session, delve into Tactic #3, Ability to Benefit (ATB), and Tactic #21, Integrated Education and Training (IET). Discover how institutions implement these strategies, foster enrollment diversity, and contribute to workforce development. Learn how to partner with DESE AEL educational services to equip students for a successful postsecondary journey.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Agilities and the DeBruce Foundation: An MCC Case Study
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Robin Allen | Career Explorations Coordinator, MCC
Stephen Smith | MCC Trainer, MCC
The DeBruce Foundation is committed to expanding pathways to economic growth and opportunity. Through helping people identify Agilities to partnering with leading educational institutions to increase efficiency and effectiveness, the DeBruce Foundation helps activate education, helps establish career goals and pathways, and prepares people for a brighter tomorrow. This session will review MCC's experience working with the DeBruce Foundation and how your college can benefit from adding the DeBruce Foundation's work with Agilities to your workforce development efforts.
10:15 - 11:00 A.M.
Fall Creek
Advancing Higher Education Through Philanthropy
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Brent Bates | President, State Fair Community College
Dr. Matt Beem | Chairman & CEO, Kinetic
Dr. Kimberly Beatty | Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College
Community colleges, especially today, are one of the best investments of time and resources available. Our missions reside in the sweet spot of affordable and relevant, experiential and goal-oriented. The wisdom of choosing a community college—taking advantage of an authentic college experience while staying the course, efficiently, toward a defined career goal—has never been more apparent. In addition, many donors have tired of giving to higher education without seeing real- world, positive outcomes. Giving students more hands-on learning using cutting-edge equipment as well as providing workforce training that’s informed by companies providing in-demand jobs... it is truly our time.
The question is: Are you leveraging this season for all it’s worth? When you look around your campus, are you still thinking in terms of “doing more to make do” or are you envisioning big improvements for your students, staff, faculty and wider community? Some of the biggest challenges facing community colleges include academic affairs, financial matters, governmental relations and external fundraising, (collegepresidentresearch.uark.edu). In other words, 50% of the challenge is money related; and the other 50% is easier to address when money isn’t a problem. So, how can you help your community college leverage this season to change the trajectory of your institution forever, for good. For State Fair Community College, it was taking the bold, brave step to undertake a campaign. This session will break down the pre-campaign steps necessary to ensure your efforts are success. A brief overview of topics include:
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
The Footprints of Women in Higher Education That Lead to the Future
Special Topics
Genia Harrison | IR Coordinator/Data Analyst, Crowder College
The Rise of Women in Higher Education: How, Why, and What’s Next (Berg, 2020) is a brief history of women’s roles, growth trends, and changes over time to 2020. The data is compelling in describing future implications; however, it is now the future. In an effort to fill the gap between 2020 and the present, the latest data collections will be reviewed regarding topics that were presented in this book.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Navigating Student Success: Implementing the Student Success Model at Ozarks Technical Community College
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Daniel Gutirrez | Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jordan Schreiber | College Director of Student Success, Ozarks Technical Community College
Matthew Simpson | Chief Research and Governmental Affairs Officer, Ozarks Technical Community College
After years of planning, the student success model was implemented at Ozarks Technical Community College in the Fall 2022 semester. Learn about the college’s shift towards a more data-informed, holistic, proactive, and student-centered approach to serving students. We'll explore the challenges, victories, and invaluable lessons learned throughout the process, along with preliminary results shaping the future of student support.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Back By Popular Demand: Microsoft PowerPoint — Let's Add Some Pizzazz
Special Topics
Susan Burden | Director of Instructional Technology, Moberly Area Community College
Have you ever wanted to take your PowerPoint presentation “up a notch”? Do you wish you could add some professional elements that will impress your audience and add visual interest? This is the breakout session for you! We will work with graphics, master slides, action buttons, video, and themes. Come join me for an interactive and upbeat presentation that will inspire you. Handouts and step by step instructions will be distributed during the session.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Empowering Adult Learners: Insights From Jefferson College’s Task Force & Beyond
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Saranda Lund | Student Services Specialist, Jefferson College
Lora Warner | Director of Workforce and Employment Services, Jefferson College
Julie Johns | Director of Adult Education and Literacy, Jefferson College
With the looming 2025 enrollment cliff and the charge from the state of Missouri, Jefferson College has developed a task force to focus on supporting adult learners. The session will discuss the charge of the Adult Learner Task Force at Jefferson College, share survey data from adult learners at Jefferson College (all students 25 years or older, including AEL and Workforce students), discuss action items to support adult learners and lessons learned from the Adult Learner Taskforce. The task force has found ways to provide wrap-around services for our adult learners while not siloing students or campus departments. Moreover, a discussion about how journey mapping has influenced the process after attending a Student Journey Mapping workshop for adult learners hosted by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development will be held so fellow community colleges can utilize this information to implement similar initiatives to support adult learners.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Human-Generated Content: Discussing AI Among Colleagues
Special Topics
Emily Lewis | English Instructor, Crowder College
Dr. Keith Zoromski | Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mineral Area College
Jackson Lewis-Hite | Computer Information Sciences Instructor, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jason Johnson | Instructor and Coordinator of College Studies, Jefferson College
Erin Anglin | Executive Director Learning Center & Academic Support, East Central College
"But how do I keep them from using AI?" That isn’t the question we should be asking, but it is the conversation we should be having. Let’s chat (not just GPT) about how different disciplines and multiple community colleges are embracing AI; in and outside the classroom. This panel will also discuss AI questions pertaining to policy and procedures used by fellow institutions. Come with your questions, ideas, and concerns, and let's create a new narrative on AI-generated content.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Unlocking Potential in the IT Workforce: The Apprenticeship Advantage
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Julie Fickas | Campus President and Chief Academic Officer, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park
Bill Mitchell | Executive Director, Access Point
The Access Point program provides a direct pathway to employment using a Department of Labor apprenticeship model. This program increases enrollment in IT coursework at community colleges and also provides hypercare for students who begin as dual-enrollment students until they complete their bachelor's degree.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Focusing on Learning: Implementing Specification Grading
Learning & Teaching
John Fishback | Bioclinical Sciences Instructor, Ozarks Technical Community College
Dr. Sarah Nixon | Professor of Literacy, Missouri State University
As educators, we continuously strive to enhance student learning experiences and optimize assessment strategies. One progressive method gaining popularity is specifications grading. This presentation will detail the integration of specifications grading into two college science courses, with a particular emphasis on how it enhances learning, the obstacles encountered, and the resulting student achievements. How to implement it in other disciplines will also be discussed.
Advancing Higher Education Through Philanthropy
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Brent Bates | President, State Fair Community College
Dr. Matt Beem | Chairman & CEO, Kinetic
Dr. Kimberly Beatty | Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College
Community colleges, especially today, are one of the best investments of time and resources available. Our missions reside in the sweet spot of affordable and relevant, experiential and goal-oriented. The wisdom of choosing a community college—taking advantage of an authentic college experience while staying the course, efficiently, toward a defined career goal—has never been more apparent. In addition, many donors have tired of giving to higher education without seeing real- world, positive outcomes. Giving students more hands-on learning using cutting-edge equipment as well as providing workforce training that’s informed by companies providing in-demand jobs... it is truly our time.
The question is: Are you leveraging this season for all it’s worth? When you look around your campus, are you still thinking in terms of “doing more to make do” or are you envisioning big improvements for your students, staff, faculty and wider community? Some of the biggest challenges facing community colleges include academic affairs, financial matters, governmental relations and external fundraising, (collegepresidentresearch.uark.edu). In other words, 50% of the challenge is money related; and the other 50% is easier to address when money isn’t a problem. So, how can you help your community college leverage this season to change the trajectory of your institution forever, for good. For State Fair Community College, it was taking the bold, brave step to undertake a campaign. This session will break down the pre-campaign steps necessary to ensure your efforts are success. A brief overview of topics include:
- Research-based fundraising
- Setting the campaign goal
- Campaign gift sources
- Building a campaign team
- Campaign readiness
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
The Footprints of Women in Higher Education That Lead to the Future
Special Topics
Genia Harrison | IR Coordinator/Data Analyst, Crowder College
The Rise of Women in Higher Education: How, Why, and What’s Next (Berg, 2020) is a brief history of women’s roles, growth trends, and changes over time to 2020. The data is compelling in describing future implications; however, it is now the future. In an effort to fill the gap between 2020 and the present, the latest data collections will be reviewed regarding topics that were presented in this book.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Navigating Student Success: Implementing the Student Success Model at Ozarks Technical Community College
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Daniel Gutirrez | Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jordan Schreiber | College Director of Student Success, Ozarks Technical Community College
Matthew Simpson | Chief Research and Governmental Affairs Officer, Ozarks Technical Community College
After years of planning, the student success model was implemented at Ozarks Technical Community College in the Fall 2022 semester. Learn about the college’s shift towards a more data-informed, holistic, proactive, and student-centered approach to serving students. We'll explore the challenges, victories, and invaluable lessons learned throughout the process, along with preliminary results shaping the future of student support.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Back By Popular Demand: Microsoft PowerPoint — Let's Add Some Pizzazz
Special Topics
Susan Burden | Director of Instructional Technology, Moberly Area Community College
Have you ever wanted to take your PowerPoint presentation “up a notch”? Do you wish you could add some professional elements that will impress your audience and add visual interest? This is the breakout session for you! We will work with graphics, master slides, action buttons, video, and themes. Come join me for an interactive and upbeat presentation that will inspire you. Handouts and step by step instructions will be distributed during the session.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Empowering Adult Learners: Insights From Jefferson College’s Task Force & Beyond
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Saranda Lund | Student Services Specialist, Jefferson College
Lora Warner | Director of Workforce and Employment Services, Jefferson College
Julie Johns | Director of Adult Education and Literacy, Jefferson College
With the looming 2025 enrollment cliff and the charge from the state of Missouri, Jefferson College has developed a task force to focus on supporting adult learners. The session will discuss the charge of the Adult Learner Task Force at Jefferson College, share survey data from adult learners at Jefferson College (all students 25 years or older, including AEL and Workforce students), discuss action items to support adult learners and lessons learned from the Adult Learner Taskforce. The task force has found ways to provide wrap-around services for our adult learners while not siloing students or campus departments. Moreover, a discussion about how journey mapping has influenced the process after attending a Student Journey Mapping workshop for adult learners hosted by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development will be held so fellow community colleges can utilize this information to implement similar initiatives to support adult learners.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Human-Generated Content: Discussing AI Among Colleagues
Special Topics
Emily Lewis | English Instructor, Crowder College
Dr. Keith Zoromski | Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mineral Area College
Jackson Lewis-Hite | Computer Information Sciences Instructor, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jason Johnson | Instructor and Coordinator of College Studies, Jefferson College
Erin Anglin | Executive Director Learning Center & Academic Support, East Central College
"But how do I keep them from using AI?" That isn’t the question we should be asking, but it is the conversation we should be having. Let’s chat (not just GPT) about how different disciplines and multiple community colleges are embracing AI; in and outside the classroom. This panel will also discuss AI questions pertaining to policy and procedures used by fellow institutions. Come with your questions, ideas, and concerns, and let's create a new narrative on AI-generated content.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Unlocking Potential in the IT Workforce: The Apprenticeship Advantage
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Julie Fickas | Campus President and Chief Academic Officer, St. Louis Community College-Forest Park
Bill Mitchell | Executive Director, Access Point
The Access Point program provides a direct pathway to employment using a Department of Labor apprenticeship model. This program increases enrollment in IT coursework at community colleges and also provides hypercare for students who begin as dual-enrollment students until they complete their bachelor's degree.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Focusing on Learning: Implementing Specification Grading
Learning & Teaching
John Fishback | Bioclinical Sciences Instructor, Ozarks Technical Community College
Dr. Sarah Nixon | Professor of Literacy, Missouri State University
As educators, we continuously strive to enhance student learning experiences and optimize assessment strategies. One progressive method gaining popularity is specifications grading. This presentation will detail the integration of specifications grading into two college science courses, with a particular emphasis on how it enhances learning, the obstacles encountered, and the resulting student achievements. How to implement it in other disciplines will also be discussed.
1:00 - 1:45 P.M.
Fall Creek
Show-Me Synergy: Growing the Healthcare Workforce in St. Louis
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Jeff Pittman, Ph.D. | Chancellor, St. Louis Community College
William Hubble, Ph.D. | District Division Dean - Health Sciences, St. Louis Community College
Jordan Cooper, MSN, RN, FNP-BC | District Division Dean - Nursing, St. Louis Community College
Kim Kraft, MSN, RN | RN Student Placement Coordinator, St. Louis Community College
This presentation will discuss successful efforts at St. Louis Community College to address the healthcare workforce shortages in the St. Louis region.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
AI & Academic Integrity: What Happened to Critical Inquiry?
Special Topics
Kami Hancock | English Instructor, East Central College
In January 2023, a survey of over 1,000 university students reported that over one-third were using ChatGPT for assessment writing. Of these students, 75% thought it counted as cheating but did so anyway. These student behaviors led some universities to ban the use of ChatGPT and prompted some academics to describe such tools as a “threat” and a “plague on education” (Sullivan 2023). The goal of this session is to provide scaffolding for institutional conversations surrounding AI, and practical strategies in developing critical inquiry skills through alternative assessment options in the classroom. The session will begin with the narrative of my home institution's pathway in responding to the influx of Academic Integrity reports in the era of AI. In the spring of 2022, the institution created the subcommittee, AISS (Artificial Intelligence Sub-Committee). Its charge was as an advisory committee comprised of faculty and staff to gather information and policy recommendations regarding the use of AI by faculty, students, and staff. The committee worked with Academic Affairs and Students Affairs to create a response to student use of AI in the classroom. The discussions of AI use in the classroom were divided. How did we resolve issues surrounding academic integrity and academic freedom for instructors in the classroom? How did we share information about AI developments? Also, how did we support faculty in their quest to aid students in developing their ability to engage in critical inquiry? This session will discuss the methods and teaching techniques that were used to respond to these questions.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
1-2-3-4! What Do You think Our PREP Squad's For?
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Becky Rose | Technical Project Coordinator, State Fair Community College
Darci McFail | Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness, State Fair Community College
Allison Brosch | Dean of Health Sciences, State Fair Community College
Dr. Michael Murders | Vice President, Academics and Student Success, State Fair Community College
5-6-7-8! Gonna make those programs great! SFCC's Program Review Effectiveness Project (PREP) set out to improve the effectiveness of program and discipline review for its intended purposes: identifying areas for improvement, making meaningful changes, and improving the quality of programs/disciplines. Members of the team (dubbed the PREP Squad) will share how they defined the scope and process, gathered input, and communicated with faculty stakeholders. While the outputs of the project will be unveiled, each institution’s end product may be different, depending on the needs identified.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
The VIP Student Program: Intentionally Recruiting Our Next Student Leaders in the New Era of Student Engagement
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Sav Campbell | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
Richard Monroe | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
The Covid-19 pandemic hit student organizations and the student leader base hard. At MCC - Blue River, we created the VIP Student program to intentionally rebuild our next group of student leaders from the ground up, and have found incredible success. This new era of student engagement is different from the past ones, but through creating intentional connections with our students, we can recreate and rebuild student involvement and engagement to meet the needs of our current generation of students. Throughout this presentation, we will discuss how we built this program to rebuild student involvement and how we have connected with Gen-Z students through intentional programming.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
FAFSA Simplification: Changes, Impacts & Lessons Learned
Special Topics
Paula Carpenter | Director of Financial Aid, Jefferson College
Amy Hager | Director of Financial Aid, Moberly Area Community College
Kimberly Meeker | Director of Financial Aid, North Central Missouri College
Stacy Bogier | Director of Financial Aid, East Central College
Significant changes to the form, terminology, user experience, and backend processes have changed the FAFSA for everyone. Join financial aid directors as we discuss how students, families, and financial aid offices have experienced the 2024-25 FAFSA, as well as the challenges, outcomes and opportunities it has created.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Getting Funded: How to Work With Your College's Grants Office
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Calie Holden | College Director of Strategic Planning and Grant Development, Ozarks Technical Community College
Josephine Kershaw | Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Jefferson College
D'Andrea Weeks | Director of Grants, St. Louis Community College
Have an idea that needs funding? This session will explore working with your college’s grants office, from developing an idea through to the final report. Hear from three grant writers across the state on the ins and outs of restricted funding. This session will include a panel discussion of the tips and tricks to help you get your next idea funded. A mix of the fundamentals and examples of funded projects, along with plenty of time for Q&A. This session will cover topics relevant to both veteran and new project managers.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Transactional & Stopgap Relationships Between Community College Department Chairs & Their Adjuncts
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Keith Zoromski | Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mineral Area College
As community colleges continue to rely heavily on adjunct faculty to provide instruction, institutions can better serve these instructors by considering the perspectives and experienced relationships between adjunct faculty and their department chair administrators. This session will present researched findings and opportunities to move past transactional relationships with limited depth through prioritizing relationship-building to meet student needs beyond course scheduling demands.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
What is Academic Coaching?
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
David Smith | Advising Specialist--STEAM; President, MACADA, Jefferson College
Just exactly what is academic coaching? Well, think of it in terms of an athletic coach. Successful coaches are and were at least good players at their sport in high school or college. Coaches, however, do not play the sport any longer, so they are not a participant, especially in your event. The coach is a teacher, an encourager, a cajoler, and a trusted companion. This presentation will inform and encourage you to consider academic coaching as a skill, or even a program within your institution. We’ll talk about what coaching is, what it isn’t, and how to do it effectively.
Show-Me Synergy: Growing the Healthcare Workforce in St. Louis
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Jeff Pittman, Ph.D. | Chancellor, St. Louis Community College
William Hubble, Ph.D. | District Division Dean - Health Sciences, St. Louis Community College
Jordan Cooper, MSN, RN, FNP-BC | District Division Dean - Nursing, St. Louis Community College
Kim Kraft, MSN, RN | RN Student Placement Coordinator, St. Louis Community College
This presentation will discuss successful efforts at St. Louis Community College to address the healthcare workforce shortages in the St. Louis region.
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Short Creek 1
AI & Academic Integrity: What Happened to Critical Inquiry?
Special Topics
Kami Hancock | English Instructor, East Central College
In January 2023, a survey of over 1,000 university students reported that over one-third were using ChatGPT for assessment writing. Of these students, 75% thought it counted as cheating but did so anyway. These student behaviors led some universities to ban the use of ChatGPT and prompted some academics to describe such tools as a “threat” and a “plague on education” (Sullivan 2023). The goal of this session is to provide scaffolding for institutional conversations surrounding AI, and practical strategies in developing critical inquiry skills through alternative assessment options in the classroom. The session will begin with the narrative of my home institution's pathway in responding to the influx of Academic Integrity reports in the era of AI. In the spring of 2022, the institution created the subcommittee, AISS (Artificial Intelligence Sub-Committee). Its charge was as an advisory committee comprised of faculty and staff to gather information and policy recommendations regarding the use of AI by faculty, students, and staff. The committee worked with Academic Affairs and Students Affairs to create a response to student use of AI in the classroom. The discussions of AI use in the classroom were divided. How did we resolve issues surrounding academic integrity and academic freedom for instructors in the classroom? How did we share information about AI developments? Also, how did we support faculty in their quest to aid students in developing their ability to engage in critical inquiry? This session will discuss the methods and teaching techniques that were used to respond to these questions.
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Short Creek 2
1-2-3-4! What Do You think Our PREP Squad's For?
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Becky Rose | Technical Project Coordinator, State Fair Community College
Darci McFail | Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness, State Fair Community College
Allison Brosch | Dean of Health Sciences, State Fair Community College
Dr. Michael Murders | Vice President, Academics and Student Success, State Fair Community College
5-6-7-8! Gonna make those programs great! SFCC's Program Review Effectiveness Project (PREP) set out to improve the effectiveness of program and discipline review for its intended purposes: identifying areas for improvement, making meaningful changes, and improving the quality of programs/disciplines. Members of the team (dubbed the PREP Squad) will share how they defined the scope and process, gathered input, and communicated with faculty stakeholders. While the outputs of the project will be unveiled, each institution’s end product may be different, depending on the needs identified.
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Short Creek 4
The VIP Student Program: Intentionally Recruiting Our Next Student Leaders in the New Era of Student Engagement
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Sav Campbell | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
Richard Monroe | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College - Blue River
The Covid-19 pandemic hit student organizations and the student leader base hard. At MCC - Blue River, we created the VIP Student program to intentionally rebuild our next group of student leaders from the ground up, and have found incredible success. This new era of student engagement is different from the past ones, but through creating intentional connections with our students, we can recreate and rebuild student involvement and engagement to meet the needs of our current generation of students. Throughout this presentation, we will discuss how we built this program to rebuild student involvement and how we have connected with Gen-Z students through intentional programming.
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Cooper Creek 1
FAFSA Simplification: Changes, Impacts & Lessons Learned
Special Topics
Paula Carpenter | Director of Financial Aid, Jefferson College
Amy Hager | Director of Financial Aid, Moberly Area Community College
Kimberly Meeker | Director of Financial Aid, North Central Missouri College
Stacy Bogier | Director of Financial Aid, East Central College
Significant changes to the form, terminology, user experience, and backend processes have changed the FAFSA for everyone. Join financial aid directors as we discuss how students, families, and financial aid offices have experienced the 2024-25 FAFSA, as well as the challenges, outcomes and opportunities it has created.
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Cooper Creek 3
Getting Funded: How to Work With Your College's Grants Office
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Calie Holden | College Director of Strategic Planning and Grant Development, Ozarks Technical Community College
Josephine Kershaw | Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Equity, Jefferson College
D'Andrea Weeks | Director of Grants, St. Louis Community College
Have an idea that needs funding? This session will explore working with your college’s grants office, from developing an idea through to the final report. Hear from three grant writers across the state on the ins and outs of restricted funding. This session will include a panel discussion of the tips and tricks to help you get your next idea funded. A mix of the fundamentals and examples of funded projects, along with plenty of time for Q&A. This session will cover topics relevant to both veteran and new project managers.
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Compton Ferry
Transactional & Stopgap Relationships Between Community College Department Chairs & Their Adjuncts
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Dr. Keith Zoromski | Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Mineral Area College
As community colleges continue to rely heavily on adjunct faculty to provide instruction, institutions can better serve these instructors by considering the perspectives and experienced relationships between adjunct faculty and their department chair administrators. This session will present researched findings and opportunities to move past transactional relationships with limited depth through prioritizing relationship-building to meet student needs beyond course scheduling demands.
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Bee Creek
What is Academic Coaching?
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
David Smith | Advising Specialist--STEAM; President, MACADA, Jefferson College
Just exactly what is academic coaching? Well, think of it in terms of an athletic coach. Successful coaches are and were at least good players at their sport in high school or college. Coaches, however, do not play the sport any longer, so they are not a participant, especially in your event. The coach is a teacher, an encourager, a cajoler, and a trusted companion. This presentation will inform and encourage you to consider academic coaching as a skill, or even a program within your institution. We’ll talk about what coaching is, what it isn’t, and how to do it effectively.
2:30 - 3:15 P.M.
Fall Creek
Effective Advocacy: Understanding & Motivating Students for Life Outside of the Classroom
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Laurie Hawkins | Sr Health Program Manager, STLCC CHW Program, St. Louis Community College
Ciearra Walker | President & CEO, STL CHW Coalition
Ryan Smith | Director of CHW Leadership & Development
Sandra Ginger | STLCC CHW Lead Facilitator
In this breakout session, we will explore the critical role of advocacy in preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Focusing on the St. Louis Community College’s Community Health Worker program, we’ll discuss strategies for empowering students to advocate for their profession, define their roles, and contribute to integrated healthcare teams. Attendees will gain insights into building coalitions, forming professional associations, and fostering workforce development. Session Objectives: Understand the importance of student advocacy in shaping professional roles. Learn from the success story of the STL CHW Coalition and its impact on the CHW workforce. Explore practical steps to engage students in advocacy efforts. Discuss mentorship programs as a means to support graduates in their advocacy journey.
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Short Creek 1
Digital Marketing: Connecting Business Owners With Student Consultants
Learning & Teaching
Kelly Asbury | Director, MO Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College
Renee Anthony | Instructor, State Fair Community College
Rochelle Hockett | State Fair Community College
The Missouri Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College has partnered with the accredited Digital Marketing class to offer one-on-one consultation and collaboration to benefit both business owners and students
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Short Creek 2
Recruitment Through the Ages: A Look at Where We've Been, Where We Are & Where We Are Going
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Carrie Greer | Director of Admissions, Jefferson College
Jared AuBuchon | Admissions Specialist, Jefferson College
Jessica Bartlett | Jefferson College
Recruitment strategies have evolved significantly over time, adapting to demographic shifts, societal changes, and advancements in technology. In this presentation, we will explore the historical context of recruitment at Jefferson College, examine the current recruitment structures for both high school and adult populations, and outline strategic approaches going forward as we approach the demographic cliff. Additionally, we will discuss how we are focusing on more data driven strategies and leveraging our supplemental relationships such as early college programs, Adult Education and Literacy (AEL), Workforce Employment Services (WES), and Area Technical School (ATS), as well as the importance of partnerships and overlap in achieving recruitment goals. Attendees should come prepared to discuss and share ideas on recruitment strategies.
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Short Creek 4
In My Swift Lit Era: Connecting Past & Present Literature to a 21st Century Audience
Learning & Teaching
Leandra Toomoth | Instructional Designer, Crowder College
Kayla Branstetter | English Instructor, Crowder College
Stephanie Witcher | Communications Division Chair, Crowder College
Interest in traditional humanities has fluctuated throughout the decades, resulting in poor enrollment and limited course offerings. To confront these challenges and encourage enthusiasm for literature studies, a new course was born: Women in Literature (featuring Taylor Swift). A Communications Division Chair, an English Instructor, and an Instructional Designer from Crowder College will present their work of developing, collaborating, and co-teaching an online course that challenges students to compare the work of Taylor Swift to the work of both past and present female writers, including Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Using Data to Tell Your Story
Special Topics
Victoria Rice | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College
Kaitlyn Kelly | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College
In this session, you will learn how to use data to tell the story of the work that you do each day on your campus. The presenters will explain how they utilize data to paint a picture of the impact of campus life and student involvement to help shape the student experience and retention. We will provide information on methods of collecting data, how to analyze data, and how to turn data into a narrative. While examples will be primarily from campus life, the information presented will be relevant for many offices and departments.
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Cooper Creek 3
Educational Excellence Through Process Alignment: A Tailored Framework Approach
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Elizabeth Desrosiers | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Angela Carson | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Valerie Missi Sieth | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Understanding and streamlining your college’s day-to-day business processes can be difficult without a framework to provide structure for the effort. Standard industry process models and frameworks are available for corporate and government businesses, but they fall short of addressing the unique needs of community colleges. In this session we will describe our path to creating an effective process framework for our college. Then we’ll share how our college applies the framework to document and improve our business processes and strategic planning initiatives. The session will wrap up with small group discussions, where we will explore the development and use of process frameworks in more depth, together with you, to deliver excellence for Missouri’s community college students.
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Compton Ferry
Confessions of a High Performance Technology Support Organization
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Jeffrey Wetherill | Director of Technology Support Services, St. Louis Community College
Megan Greathouse Gause | Sr. Manager, Campus Technology and Helpdesk, St. Louis Community College
Muhamed Hadziselimovic | Sr. Manager, End User Support Services, St. Louis Community College
Kris Dysert | Technology Asset Manager, St. Louis Community College
Reggie Richards | Lead IT Support Project Coordinator, St. Louis Community College
The Technology Support Services Leadership Team at St Louis Community College will share best practices, operational insights, and lessons learned about providing support to faculty, staff, and students across 4 campuses and 2 education centers. The team will provide a transparent look at leading teams, managing customers, and implementing technology change.
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Bee Creek
Harnessing AI: Empowering Collegiate Staff With ChatGPT
Special Topics
Sarah Bargo | College Director of Student Care and Engagement, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jonathan Staats | Assistant College Director of Project Management, Ozarks Technical Community College
The current discourse on AI in academia primarily revolves around its implications for teaching and learning. However, this session shifts the focus towards the untapped potential of AI for college staff, highlighting how ChatGPT can become an essential part of their productivity toolkit. At Ozarks Technical Community College, initiatives such as the OTC AI Advisory Group are pioneering efforts to navigate the complex landscape of AI in an effort to increase staff efficiency and reduce apprehensions associated with generative AI technologies. This session will introduce the basics of ChatGPT, followed by a dynamic exploration of its practical applications in the daily operations of higher education staff. Attendees will engage in hands-on activities designed to familiarize them with the tool, fostering a better understanding of how to adapt AI solutions to their specific professional operations. By simplifying the technology and illustrating its practical benefits, attendees will learn how valuable and accessible AI can be in the collegiate employment toolkit.
Effective Advocacy: Understanding & Motivating Students for Life Outside of the Classroom
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Laurie Hawkins | Sr Health Program Manager, STLCC CHW Program, St. Louis Community College
Ciearra Walker | President & CEO, STL CHW Coalition
Ryan Smith | Director of CHW Leadership & Development
Sandra Ginger | STLCC CHW Lead Facilitator
In this breakout session, we will explore the critical role of advocacy in preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Focusing on the St. Louis Community College’s Community Health Worker program, we’ll discuss strategies for empowering students to advocate for their profession, define their roles, and contribute to integrated healthcare teams. Attendees will gain insights into building coalitions, forming professional associations, and fostering workforce development. Session Objectives: Understand the importance of student advocacy in shaping professional roles. Learn from the success story of the STL CHW Coalition and its impact on the CHW workforce. Explore practical steps to engage students in advocacy efforts. Discuss mentorship programs as a means to support graduates in their advocacy journey.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
Digital Marketing: Connecting Business Owners With Student Consultants
Learning & Teaching
Kelly Asbury | Director, MO Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College
Renee Anthony | Instructor, State Fair Community College
Rochelle Hockett | State Fair Community College
The Missouri Small Business Development Center at State Fair Community College has partnered with the accredited Digital Marketing class to offer one-on-one consultation and collaboration to benefit both business owners and students
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Recruitment Through the Ages: A Look at Where We've Been, Where We Are & Where We Are Going
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Carrie Greer | Director of Admissions, Jefferson College
Jared AuBuchon | Admissions Specialist, Jefferson College
Jessica Bartlett | Jefferson College
Recruitment strategies have evolved significantly over time, adapting to demographic shifts, societal changes, and advancements in technology. In this presentation, we will explore the historical context of recruitment at Jefferson College, examine the current recruitment structures for both high school and adult populations, and outline strategic approaches going forward as we approach the demographic cliff. Additionally, we will discuss how we are focusing on more data driven strategies and leveraging our supplemental relationships such as early college programs, Adult Education and Literacy (AEL), Workforce Employment Services (WES), and Area Technical School (ATS), as well as the importance of partnerships and overlap in achieving recruitment goals. Attendees should come prepared to discuss and share ideas on recruitment strategies.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
In My Swift Lit Era: Connecting Past & Present Literature to a 21st Century Audience
Learning & Teaching
Leandra Toomoth | Instructional Designer, Crowder College
Kayla Branstetter | English Instructor, Crowder College
Stephanie Witcher | Communications Division Chair, Crowder College
Interest in traditional humanities has fluctuated throughout the decades, resulting in poor enrollment and limited course offerings. To confront these challenges and encourage enthusiasm for literature studies, a new course was born: Women in Literature (featuring Taylor Swift). A Communications Division Chair, an English Instructor, and an Instructional Designer from Crowder College will present their work of developing, collaborating, and co-teaching an online course that challenges students to compare the work of Taylor Swift to the work of both past and present female writers, including Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Using Data to Tell Your Story
Special Topics
Victoria Rice | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College
Kaitlyn Kelly | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College
In this session, you will learn how to use data to tell the story of the work that you do each day on your campus. The presenters will explain how they utilize data to paint a picture of the impact of campus life and student involvement to help shape the student experience and retention. We will provide information on methods of collecting data, how to analyze data, and how to turn data into a narrative. While examples will be primarily from campus life, the information presented will be relevant for many offices and departments.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Educational Excellence Through Process Alignment: A Tailored Framework Approach
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Elizabeth Desrosiers | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Angela Carson | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Valerie Missi Sieth | Process Improvement Manager, St. Louis Community College
Understanding and streamlining your college’s day-to-day business processes can be difficult without a framework to provide structure for the effort. Standard industry process models and frameworks are available for corporate and government businesses, but they fall short of addressing the unique needs of community colleges. In this session we will describe our path to creating an effective process framework for our college. Then we’ll share how our college applies the framework to document and improve our business processes and strategic planning initiatives. The session will wrap up with small group discussions, where we will explore the development and use of process frameworks in more depth, together with you, to deliver excellence for Missouri’s community college students.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Confessions of a High Performance Technology Support Organization
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Jeffrey Wetherill | Director of Technology Support Services, St. Louis Community College
Megan Greathouse Gause | Sr. Manager, Campus Technology and Helpdesk, St. Louis Community College
Muhamed Hadziselimovic | Sr. Manager, End User Support Services, St. Louis Community College
Kris Dysert | Technology Asset Manager, St. Louis Community College
Reggie Richards | Lead IT Support Project Coordinator, St. Louis Community College
The Technology Support Services Leadership Team at St Louis Community College will share best practices, operational insights, and lessons learned about providing support to faculty, staff, and students across 4 campuses and 2 education centers. The team will provide a transparent look at leading teams, managing customers, and implementing technology change.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Harnessing AI: Empowering Collegiate Staff With ChatGPT
Special Topics
Sarah Bargo | College Director of Student Care and Engagement, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jonathan Staats | Assistant College Director of Project Management, Ozarks Technical Community College
The current discourse on AI in academia primarily revolves around its implications for teaching and learning. However, this session shifts the focus towards the untapped potential of AI for college staff, highlighting how ChatGPT can become an essential part of their productivity toolkit. At Ozarks Technical Community College, initiatives such as the OTC AI Advisory Group are pioneering efforts to navigate the complex landscape of AI in an effort to increase staff efficiency and reduce apprehensions associated with generative AI technologies. This session will introduce the basics of ChatGPT, followed by a dynamic exploration of its practical applications in the daily operations of higher education staff. Attendees will engage in hands-on activities designed to familiarize them with the tool, fostering a better understanding of how to adapt AI solutions to their specific professional operations. By simplifying the technology and illustrating its practical benefits, attendees will learn how valuable and accessible AI can be in the collegiate employment toolkit.
3:30 - 4:15 P.M.
Fall Creek
So You're Thinking About a Redesign
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Sarah Leassner | Vice President, Student Development, East Central College
Is your department or division needing a revamp? Are you interested in moving towards a more best practice model, but are stuck in historical preference by staff. Are communication breakdowns and inefficiencies hindering your ability to achieve strategic goals? In this session we will discuss the good, the challenge, and the ugly of a re-design consideration and implementation.
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Short Creek 2
Programming on a Shoestring
Special Topics
Victoria Rice | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College
Kaitlyn Kelly | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College
We know that budgets across the state are tight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t offer high-quality, engaging programming for your students. In this session, you will learn about methods to help maximize your budget to engage your students. Examples of a variety of program options will be provided. While examples will be from campus life and activities, many could be utilized in other areas, such as recruitment programs, welcome programs, and staff and faculty engagement.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
The Future of Learning: Exploring AI Integration in Education for Enhanced Teaching, Learning & Administration
Learning & Teaching
Phyllis Davis | Associate Professor of Computer and Information Technology, St. Louis Community College
Feng Hou | Chief Information Officer, St. Louis Community College
Renita Luck | Associate Vice Chancellor for Distance Learning & Academic Support, St. Louis Community College
Elida Kraja | Professor of Accounting, St. Louis Community College
Karana Phillips | Assistant Professor, St. Louis Community College
In this dynamic breakout session, explore the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education, with a special emphasis on its practical applications and strategic integration within St. Louis Community College (STLCC). Discover how AI is revolutionizing student services and refining the student experience, while uncovering its capacity to amplify teaching effectiveness and enrich learning journeys. Gain valuable insights into seamlessly integrating technology into educational settings and join us for an engaging exploration of leveraging AI to elevate educational outcomes.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Challenge Accepted: 21 Days in April
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Pam Jaycox | Arts & Communications Division Chair, Mineral Area College
Dan Jaycox | Director of EXCEL/SSS, Mineral Area College
Leslie Evans | Accreditation and Assessment Coordinator, Mineral Area College
Sarah Rodgers | Dual Credit Coordinator, Mineral Area College
In April 2021, Mineral Area College’s president assembled a task force and challenged members to re-envision MAC’s dual credit program and create a proposal to overhaul dual credit with a due date 21 days later. Projects of this magnitude can take committees years to accomplish, but the compressed time frame and the campus-wide focus and investment in improving dual credit led to the project’s success. The subsequent improvement in the relationships between area high schools and our campus has directly led to a steady increase in enrollment, stronger partnerships, and improved campus and community perceptions of dual credit. While the presenters will focus on sharing their own experiences and thought-processes, the presentation team will also invite participants to share the challenges they face in their programs and discuss possible strategies.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Fueling Innovative Technology With an Innovation Academy
Learning & Teaching
Monica Swindle | Instructional Designer, St. Charles Community College
Andrea Compton | Assistant Vice President of Learning Enterprises, St. Charles Community College
Jerol Enoch | Instructional Designer, St. Charles Community College
Interactive multimedia patient simulations for nursing. Adaptive modules and think aloud activities for developmental math. Online annotation to think like a historian when working with primary sources. Interactive online lab activities for bio labs. These are all projects faculty have created as part of our FIT (Fueling Innovative Technology) Academy at St. Charles Community College. Join us to learn more about how FIT was designed, funded, and implemented and how the results have positively impacted our faculty, students, and college so you too can Get FIT!
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Shaping OTC's Future Through Integrated Planning
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Misty Tollett | Assistant Director of Strategic Planning, Ozarks Technical Community College
Marcia Wheeler | Director of Accreditation and Assessment, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jennifer Severson | College Director for Finance, Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) has long recognized the critical importance of strategic planning, assessment, and budgeting to enhance institutional quality, effectiveness, and innovation. Recognizing the need to ensure these processes are meaningful, streamlined, and collaborative, OTC developed and implemented an Integrated Planning process that applies to every unit across the system, including all instructional, student support, administrative, divisional, and campus/center leadership. This session will explore how Integrated Planning has transformed our planning processes, fostering a cohesive, proactive strategy that is shaping the future of OTC.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Young Authors' Conference: Igniting Literacy in Our Communities
Special Topics
Stephanie Witcher | Communications Division Chair/Chair, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Emily Lewis | English Instructor/Secretary, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Leandra Toomoth | Instructional Designer/Instructor/Treasurer, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Kayla Branstetter | English Instructor/Author/Liason to Presenters & Teachers, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Aaron Sumler | Education Division Chair/Student Liason, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Many of us remember creating our own first author book during elementary school, but somehow this tradition has taken a back seat. We believe bringing Young Author Conferences back to multiple regions of the state will help combat low literacy rates and help bridge connections to K-12 public, private, and home school groups, fostering literacy among all ages. Crowder College just held their 1st Annual Young Authors’ Conference, and in this session, we are excited to share key takeaways, ah-ha moments, and how this ‘why’ can engage humanities at your own college and in your community. Our vision is to encourage other community colleges to establish their own conferences and build a state-wide competition/conference to encourage literacy and creativity for a new generation of students.
So You're Thinking About a Redesign
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Sarah Leassner | Vice President, Student Development, East Central College
Is your department or division needing a revamp? Are you interested in moving towards a more best practice model, but are stuck in historical preference by staff. Are communication breakdowns and inefficiencies hindering your ability to achieve strategic goals? In this session we will discuss the good, the challenge, and the ugly of a re-design consideration and implementation.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Programming on a Shoestring
Special Topics
Victoria Rice | Campus Life and Leadership Coordinator, Metropolitan Community College
Kaitlyn Kelly | Student Engagement Manager, Metropolitan Community College
We know that budgets across the state are tight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t offer high-quality, engaging programming for your students. In this session, you will learn about methods to help maximize your budget to engage your students. Examples of a variety of program options will be provided. While examples will be from campus life and activities, many could be utilized in other areas, such as recruitment programs, welcome programs, and staff and faculty engagement.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
The Future of Learning: Exploring AI Integration in Education for Enhanced Teaching, Learning & Administration
Learning & Teaching
Phyllis Davis | Associate Professor of Computer and Information Technology, St. Louis Community College
Feng Hou | Chief Information Officer, St. Louis Community College
Renita Luck | Associate Vice Chancellor for Distance Learning & Academic Support, St. Louis Community College
Elida Kraja | Professor of Accounting, St. Louis Community College
Karana Phillips | Assistant Professor, St. Louis Community College
In this dynamic breakout session, explore the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education, with a special emphasis on its practical applications and strategic integration within St. Louis Community College (STLCC). Discover how AI is revolutionizing student services and refining the student experience, while uncovering its capacity to amplify teaching effectiveness and enrich learning journeys. Gain valuable insights into seamlessly integrating technology into educational settings and join us for an engaging exploration of leveraging AI to elevate educational outcomes.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
Challenge Accepted: 21 Days in April
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Pam Jaycox | Arts & Communications Division Chair, Mineral Area College
Dan Jaycox | Director of EXCEL/SSS, Mineral Area College
Leslie Evans | Accreditation and Assessment Coordinator, Mineral Area College
Sarah Rodgers | Dual Credit Coordinator, Mineral Area College
In April 2021, Mineral Area College’s president assembled a task force and challenged members to re-envision MAC’s dual credit program and create a proposal to overhaul dual credit with a due date 21 days later. Projects of this magnitude can take committees years to accomplish, but the compressed time frame and the campus-wide focus and investment in improving dual credit led to the project’s success. The subsequent improvement in the relationships between area high schools and our campus has directly led to a steady increase in enrollment, stronger partnerships, and improved campus and community perceptions of dual credit. While the presenters will focus on sharing their own experiences and thought-processes, the presentation team will also invite participants to share the challenges they face in their programs and discuss possible strategies.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Fueling Innovative Technology With an Innovation Academy
Learning & Teaching
Monica Swindle | Instructional Designer, St. Charles Community College
Andrea Compton | Assistant Vice President of Learning Enterprises, St. Charles Community College
Jerol Enoch | Instructional Designer, St. Charles Community College
Interactive multimedia patient simulations for nursing. Adaptive modules and think aloud activities for developmental math. Online annotation to think like a historian when working with primary sources. Interactive online lab activities for bio labs. These are all projects faculty have created as part of our FIT (Fueling Innovative Technology) Academy at St. Charles Community College. Join us to learn more about how FIT was designed, funded, and implemented and how the results have positively impacted our faculty, students, and college so you too can Get FIT!
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Shaping OTC's Future Through Integrated Planning
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Misty Tollett | Assistant Director of Strategic Planning, Ozarks Technical Community College
Marcia Wheeler | Director of Accreditation and Assessment, Ozarks Technical Community College
Jennifer Severson | College Director for Finance, Ozarks Technical Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) has long recognized the critical importance of strategic planning, assessment, and budgeting to enhance institutional quality, effectiveness, and innovation. Recognizing the need to ensure these processes are meaningful, streamlined, and collaborative, OTC developed and implemented an Integrated Planning process that applies to every unit across the system, including all instructional, student support, administrative, divisional, and campus/center leadership. This session will explore how Integrated Planning has transformed our planning processes, fostering a cohesive, proactive strategy that is shaping the future of OTC.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Young Authors' Conference: Igniting Literacy in Our Communities
Special Topics
Stephanie Witcher | Communications Division Chair/Chair, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Emily Lewis | English Instructor/Secretary, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Leandra Toomoth | Instructional Designer/Instructor/Treasurer, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Kayla Branstetter | English Instructor/Author/Liason to Presenters & Teachers, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Aaron Sumler | Education Division Chair/Student Liason, Young Authors Conference Committee, Crowder College
Many of us remember creating our own first author book during elementary school, but somehow this tradition has taken a back seat. We believe bringing Young Author Conferences back to multiple regions of the state will help combat low literacy rates and help bridge connections to K-12 public, private, and home school groups, fostering literacy among all ages. Crowder College just held their 1st Annual Young Authors’ Conference, and in this session, we are excited to share key takeaways, ah-ha moments, and how this ‘why’ can engage humanities at your own college and in your community. Our vision is to encourage other community colleges to establish their own conferences and build a state-wide competition/conference to encourage literacy and creativity for a new generation of students.
Friday, November 15
8:45 - 9:30 A.M.
Fall Creek
Enhancing the First-Year Experience Program for Community College Students: Creating a Cohort Model to Encourage Success, Engagement & Sense of Belonging
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Dr. Vicky Herbel | Professor of Sociology, St. Charles Community College
Dr. Kim Mercurio | Assistant Dean Business School of Technology and Workforce Readiness, St. Charles Community College
A dissertation presentation. Community Colleges are facing significant challenges to enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impending enrollment cliff which will require higher education administration to adapt, get creative, and lead change in recruiting and retention strategies. Using the Sense of Community Theory (Serason, 1974) and the Involvement Theory (Astin, 1984), this study aims to evaluate student success, engagement, and sense of belonging. Through a qualitative comparative case study, students in a Men of Color (MOC) cohort, a pre nursing (NUR) cohort, and a baseline group of students in the standard college success seminar course enrollment were evaluated using in vivo, value and pattern coding of course assessments, reflections, and semi-structured focus groups. To provide more detailed and rich comparisons, course completion, course success, and student retention quantitative data were incorporated into each case analysis. The research findings indicate that the cohort model two-semester course format had a positive impact on student success, engagement, and sense of belonging. From this the researchers propose several recommendations for community colleges. First, it is recommended community colleges use a cohort model in assigning students to first year experience programs that are either career focused for students who identify a discipline of study or some other affinity for students who do not identify a discipline of study. Second, it is recommended that community colleges incorporate campus engagement activities within the first-year experience program and incentivize students to attend the activities. Third, it is recommended students receive ongoing follow-up not only during the first year at the college but through their credential completion to encourage retention. Fourth, it is recommended the instructors for the college success seminar course be well-trained, vetted, and highly engaging individuals to achieve the goals.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
Tedious Tasks: Streamlining Repetitive Work
Special Topics
Brandon Scheldt | Website Specialist, Mineral Area College
Learn how electronic devices used by artists and musicians can increase your workflow efficiency, regardless of your role or types of software you might use. Go beyond the keyboard and mouse to explore a variety of peripherals that can help streamline all of your most common tasks. Specifically, this session will discuss devices from TourBox, Elgato, and Loupedeck.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Show-Me Student Success! Innovative AI Strategies at Jefferson College
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Brenna Young | Director of Advising & Retention, Jefferson College
The presenters will explore Jefferson College’s use of EdSights AI technology to support students’ needs and increase student retention. Focusing on data-driven strategies, the presenters will reveal how tailored programming enhances student success. Key insights include using the EdSights program to identify and respond to students in need of support and collaborating with departments across campus to target specific student groups with tailored outreach.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 3
Resilience & Grit: Two Foundations to Build Individual, Organizational & Societal Impact On
Special Topics
Stephen Smith, Ph.D. | MCC Trainer, MCC
Brian Davidson | CEO, Mindvue
Resilience and Grit play a critical role in how people approach personal and professional life. Understanding a person's grit and resilience helps with leadership, coaching, and mentoring. Showing individual and organizational progress is simpler when team members and stakeholders understand the fundamental role that grit and resilience play in our day-to-day lives and how these two measures impact our private and public work. Examples will be shared where building off of grit and resilience measures has improved individuals and academic organizations. Most importantly, our dialogue will identify opportunities for participants to grow their grit, resilience, and influence in their personal and professional endeavors.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Building Skilled Nursing Leaders: CNA Preceptor Apprenticeship
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Todd Tracy | Executive Director, Center for Workforce Development, East Central College
Alice Whalen | Director, Adult Education & Literacy, East Central College
Terri Warmack | Health Careers Outreach Coordinator, East Central College
Melissa Richards | Apprenticeship & Business Training Coordinator, East Central College
East Central College’s Center for Workforce Development and Adult Education & Literacy departments combined efforts to train each Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) student. The outcomes of this alignment with the adult education and literacy program are providing instruction with reading skills to the students, wrapped in workforce preparation, and soft skills lessons. For those students demonstrating leadership qualities, a DOL registered apprenticeship program up-skilling CNA Preceptors was developed to help advance these individuals to bridge the gap between the floor nurse and CNA. At the CNA Preceptor level, the objective is to improve upon and capitalize on the strengths that each of these individuals possess. The program focuses on the development of leadership and mentoring skills necessary to train new or new-to-the-facility nursing team members. From helping students with low reading and math skills to providing leadership training to CNA’s to work as preceptors, the ECC CWD program is providing the skills needed for this portion of the workforce. These experienced healthcare providers (CNAs) will be empowered to contribute positively to mentoring new CNA students and/or new employees by adapting to a culture of accountability and developing their own leadership skills. Quantitatively, the goal is to reduce staffing turnover and maintain CNA retention.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
What About Us?
Special Topics
Stacey Gillette | Behavioral Health Support Department Coordinator and Social Science Instructor, Mineral Area College
In our pursuit of doing good work and looking out for our students, our health and well-being is sacrificed. This session's focus will be on self-care strategies and improving emotion regulation skills among faculty and staff at community colleges.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 2
"What Gets Measured Gets Managed" — Strategic Plan Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Ed Foley | Executive Director | Enterprise Project Management, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Melisa Giese | Executive Director | Institutional Research & Analytics, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
This session will take you through the insights MCC has learned about tracking the progress of our Strategic Plan through the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Come see how we identify, track and report our KPIs.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Preventative Maintenance as a Best Practice
Special Topics
Scott Dobson | Director of Facilities, Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District
Mike Fox | Maintenance Technician, Crowder College
This presentation is about designing and implementing a successful Preventive Maintenance Plan in a facility. We talk about where to start the planning, people that should be included, software options. It will walk through the step-by-step process of starting a plan or improving a current plan.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Competency-Based Learning & Its Place in CTE
Learning & Teaching
Kati Donahue | HVAC Instructor, Jefferson College
So many of our students who are going through the trade programs are already employed in that trade and have many of the skills that we are teaching them. Why then are we requiring them to sit for a classroom lecture to teach them what they are already doing? Why not instead provide those students with the opportunity to accelerate through the class by proving competencies with both hands on and traditional testing on topics that they are expected to learn in class? This allows students the opportunity to accelerate through aspects of the course that they understand, while offering the opportunity to gain assistance on the particulars that they are struggling with.
--- --- ---
Roark Creek
Employee Engagement in a Union Environment — Challenge Accepted!
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Jennifer Arvin | Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, St. Louis Community College
Tanya Dupske | Chief Human Resources Officer, St. Louis Community College
If you will be presenting a breakout session, please provide a short description of your presentation. Employee engagement is a critical factor in organizational success. In higher education unionized environments, where the balance of power can be complex, fostering engagement becomes even more crucial. This proposal outlines practical strategies to enhance employee engagement without relying on significant budgets or large staff. Learn from experienced leaders with expertise in corporate business and higher education, on how they launched an employee engagement survey and created a platform for ongoing engagement strategies. By committing to open and honest two-way communication, including tough conversations, and listening and engaging with employees, the College committed to ongoing work to improve employee engagement. Participants will receive relevant templates with actionable ideas to implement within their organizations.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Missouri Apprenticeships in Manufacturing Programs (MoAMP) — The Struggle Is Real
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Kelly Deloch | Business Manager, Workforce Solutions Group, St Louis Community College
Sean Guess | District Director, Workforce & Talent Development, St Louis Community College
Amanda Sizemore | Assistant Vice President, St Charles Community College
Becky Epps | Manager, Center for Workforce Innovation, St Louis Community College
Discuss the obstacles the consortium overcame to implement a successful grant.
Enhancing the First-Year Experience Program for Community College Students: Creating a Cohort Model to Encourage Success, Engagement & Sense of Belonging
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Dr. Vicky Herbel | Professor of Sociology, St. Charles Community College
Dr. Kim Mercurio | Assistant Dean Business School of Technology and Workforce Readiness, St. Charles Community College
A dissertation presentation. Community Colleges are facing significant challenges to enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impending enrollment cliff which will require higher education administration to adapt, get creative, and lead change in recruiting and retention strategies. Using the Sense of Community Theory (Serason, 1974) and the Involvement Theory (Astin, 1984), this study aims to evaluate student success, engagement, and sense of belonging. Through a qualitative comparative case study, students in a Men of Color (MOC) cohort, a pre nursing (NUR) cohort, and a baseline group of students in the standard college success seminar course enrollment were evaluated using in vivo, value and pattern coding of course assessments, reflections, and semi-structured focus groups. To provide more detailed and rich comparisons, course completion, course success, and student retention quantitative data were incorporated into each case analysis. The research findings indicate that the cohort model two-semester course format had a positive impact on student success, engagement, and sense of belonging. From this the researchers propose several recommendations for community colleges. First, it is recommended community colleges use a cohort model in assigning students to first year experience programs that are either career focused for students who identify a discipline of study or some other affinity for students who do not identify a discipline of study. Second, it is recommended that community colleges incorporate campus engagement activities within the first-year experience program and incentivize students to attend the activities. Third, it is recommended students receive ongoing follow-up not only during the first year at the college but through their credential completion to encourage retention. Fourth, it is recommended the instructors for the college success seminar course be well-trained, vetted, and highly engaging individuals to achieve the goals.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 1
Tedious Tasks: Streamlining Repetitive Work
Special Topics
Brandon Scheldt | Website Specialist, Mineral Area College
Learn how electronic devices used by artists and musicians can increase your workflow efficiency, regardless of your role or types of software you might use. Go beyond the keyboard and mouse to explore a variety of peripherals that can help streamline all of your most common tasks. Specifically, this session will discuss devices from TourBox, Elgato, and Loupedeck.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 2
Show-Me Student Success! Innovative AI Strategies at Jefferson College
Enrollment, Retention & Completion
Brenna Young | Director of Advising & Retention, Jefferson College
The presenters will explore Jefferson College’s use of EdSights AI technology to support students’ needs and increase student retention. Focusing on data-driven strategies, the presenters will reveal how tailored programming enhances student success. Key insights include using the EdSights program to identify and respond to students in need of support and collaborating with departments across campus to target specific student groups with tailored outreach.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 3
Resilience & Grit: Two Foundations to Build Individual, Organizational & Societal Impact On
Special Topics
Stephen Smith, Ph.D. | MCC Trainer, MCC
Brian Davidson | CEO, Mindvue
Resilience and Grit play a critical role in how people approach personal and professional life. Understanding a person's grit and resilience helps with leadership, coaching, and mentoring. Showing individual and organizational progress is simpler when team members and stakeholders understand the fundamental role that grit and resilience play in our day-to-day lives and how these two measures impact our private and public work. Examples will be shared where building off of grit and resilience measures has improved individuals and academic organizations. Most importantly, our dialogue will identify opportunities for participants to grow their grit, resilience, and influence in their personal and professional endeavors.
--- --- ---
Short Creek 4
Building Skilled Nursing Leaders: CNA Preceptor Apprenticeship
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Todd Tracy | Executive Director, Center for Workforce Development, East Central College
Alice Whalen | Director, Adult Education & Literacy, East Central College
Terri Warmack | Health Careers Outreach Coordinator, East Central College
Melissa Richards | Apprenticeship & Business Training Coordinator, East Central College
East Central College’s Center for Workforce Development and Adult Education & Literacy departments combined efforts to train each Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) student. The outcomes of this alignment with the adult education and literacy program are providing instruction with reading skills to the students, wrapped in workforce preparation, and soft skills lessons. For those students demonstrating leadership qualities, a DOL registered apprenticeship program up-skilling CNA Preceptors was developed to help advance these individuals to bridge the gap between the floor nurse and CNA. At the CNA Preceptor level, the objective is to improve upon and capitalize on the strengths that each of these individuals possess. The program focuses on the development of leadership and mentoring skills necessary to train new or new-to-the-facility nursing team members. From helping students with low reading and math skills to providing leadership training to CNA’s to work as preceptors, the ECC CWD program is providing the skills needed for this portion of the workforce. These experienced healthcare providers (CNAs) will be empowered to contribute positively to mentoring new CNA students and/or new employees by adapting to a culture of accountability and developing their own leadership skills. Quantitatively, the goal is to reduce staffing turnover and maintain CNA retention.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 1
What About Us?
Special Topics
Stacey Gillette | Behavioral Health Support Department Coordinator and Social Science Instructor, Mineral Area College
In our pursuit of doing good work and looking out for our students, our health and well-being is sacrificed. This session's focus will be on self-care strategies and improving emotion regulation skills among faculty and staff at community colleges.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 2
"What Gets Measured Gets Managed" — Strategic Plan Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Strategic Planning & The Community College Workplace
Ed Foley | Executive Director | Enterprise Project Management, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Melisa Giese | Executive Director | Institutional Research & Analytics, Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
This session will take you through the insights MCC has learned about tracking the progress of our Strategic Plan through the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Come see how we identify, track and report our KPIs.
--- --- ---
Cooper Creek 3
Preventative Maintenance as a Best Practice
Special Topics
Scott Dobson | Director of Facilities, Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District
Mike Fox | Maintenance Technician, Crowder College
This presentation is about designing and implementing a successful Preventive Maintenance Plan in a facility. We talk about where to start the planning, people that should be included, software options. It will walk through the step-by-step process of starting a plan or improving a current plan.
--- --- ---
Compton Ferry
Competency-Based Learning & Its Place in CTE
Learning & Teaching
Kati Donahue | HVAC Instructor, Jefferson College
So many of our students who are going through the trade programs are already employed in that trade and have many of the skills that we are teaching them. Why then are we requiring them to sit for a classroom lecture to teach them what they are already doing? Why not instead provide those students with the opportunity to accelerate through the class by proving competencies with both hands on and traditional testing on topics that they are expected to learn in class? This allows students the opportunity to accelerate through aspects of the course that they understand, while offering the opportunity to gain assistance on the particulars that they are struggling with.
--- --- ---
Roark Creek
Employee Engagement in a Union Environment — Challenge Accepted!
Leadership & Institutional Transformation
Jennifer Arvin | Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, St. Louis Community College
Tanya Dupske | Chief Human Resources Officer, St. Louis Community College
If you will be presenting a breakout session, please provide a short description of your presentation. Employee engagement is a critical factor in organizational success. In higher education unionized environments, where the balance of power can be complex, fostering engagement becomes even more crucial. This proposal outlines practical strategies to enhance employee engagement without relying on significant budgets or large staff. Learn from experienced leaders with expertise in corporate business and higher education, on how they launched an employee engagement survey and created a platform for ongoing engagement strategies. By committing to open and honest two-way communication, including tough conversations, and listening and engaging with employees, the College committed to ongoing work to improve employee engagement. Participants will receive relevant templates with actionable ideas to implement within their organizations.
--- --- ---
Bee Creek
Missouri Apprenticeships in Manufacturing Programs (MoAMP) — The Struggle Is Real
Workforce Development: Partnerships & Apprenticeships
Kelly Deloch | Business Manager, Workforce Solutions Group, St Louis Community College
Sean Guess | District Director, Workforce & Talent Development, St Louis Community College
Amanda Sizemore | Assistant Vice President, St Charles Community College
Becky Epps | Manager, Center for Workforce Innovation, St Louis Community College
Discuss the obstacles the consortium overcame to implement a successful grant.
