Faculty from PCC and Glendale Community College addressed many current issues in a joint conference on Saturday in Glendale.The joint meeting entitled “Today’s College Student and You: Putting the Pieces Together” was the first coordinated meeting between the two schools.
Both part-time and full-time faculty from both schools attended the meeting to talk about various topics including information on student services, new technologies at schools, the current budget problems, teaching methods, and grading.
The conference was organized by faculty from PCC and GCC including PCC Counselor Armando Duran, English Professor Nika Hogan, and GCC Professors Alexa Schumacher, and Bill Shamhart.
English Professor Lynn Wright was one of the organizers. She explained how it first started.
“They wanted to do a conference for their school. I wanted to be part of it and then after a few meetings together, we all decided to hold a conference together,” Wright said.
Wright added that the schools wanted to create this conference for part-time faculty who may not know some of the programs the school offers and the fact that they share some teachers.
During the meeting, one session included information on school statistics, which was conducted by PCC Interim Dean of Institutional Planning and Research, Crystal Kollross. Another session discussed student services in the respective schools.
They also held sessions on learning styles and participated in a group activity. Faculty members were assigned to seats with a student’s name with an issue and work to find a solution on the student’s problem.
Assistant Dean of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Kim Miles felt the conference would benefit both schools.
“Despite the fact we are two different schools, the students at our schools are coming with very similar issues and concerns,” Miles said.
“I’m hoping this conference will build a bridge for a better learning environment for both PCC and GCC so we can have a common understanding.”
Miles participated because she wanted to help the adjunct faculty and give them information they may not have previously known.
Counselor and committee member Chuck Ward was satisfied with the first joint conference.
“We had some great response for this conference. It exceeded our expectations,” Ward said.
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