Cherry blossoms
Submitted by John.Bowers@se… on Fri, 03/25/2022 - 16:01

Updated 6/17/2022

Coordinator vote

Thanks to those who nominated themselves for 2022-23 faculty coordination. We are now on the final step of the process, where faculty vote on the nominees.

Click here to vote for 2022-23 faculty coordination. (Opens in a new tab.)

There were two comments from the nomination process that I want to address. First, one comment asked if the Transitional Studies coordinator might take on responsibilities for helping our students transitioning our students to I-BEST or other college-level programs. Teresa Romaneschi has an exempt position providing Pathway services, so we have someone doing this work. Vanessa Colonzo, South's Director of New Student Services, also informed me that she got approval to hire a position that can also support our students (along with other students from across the college). 

The other comment questioned the need for the new Transitional Studies coordinator. Similar to what I mentioned last week, I acknowledge that the duties in that position could be handled by an Associate Dean or other office staff if we decide to request this position. I need to do more assessment, and position approval takes a while, so I am proceeding with the coordinator for now. Further, I want to share that this position has similar duties to existing faculty coordination positions at Central, North, and other divisions at South. Finally, it was supported by 11 of the 16 faculty who chose to provide input. 

Finally, I want to acknowledge that faculty supported the idea of beginning to split some coordination duties into co-coordinator positions. In the nomination process, I proposed potentially splitting the ESL Assessment Coordinator and the Transitional Studies Division Coordinator. I only received one nominee for the ESL Assessment position, so I do not expect to split that position in 2022-23. I will await the vote for the Transitional Studies position, but I expect it may become co-coordinators. I'd like to revisit this idea in the fall to see if there are more ideas for ensuring equitable opportunities for coordination, which could include future co-coordination or term limits (which North and Central employ).

I just want to affirm that I take your input seriously, even when it's not unanimous. Voting will stay open until close of business on July 1.

Updated summer schedule

Summer enrollments are mostly complete, and we have lots of changes to the summer schedule. 

Click here to view the latest summer schedule. (Opens in a new tab.)

Updated fall schedule

Thanks to everyone who turned in their preference form. The latest draft of the fall schedule is below. It includes all full-time faculty and all priority-hire part-time faculty except one. It does not yet include part-time faculty who have not reached priority-hire status.

I need to revisit fall preferences with last remaining priority-hire part-timer before I add the others. So if you don't see your name, don't worry. I just need to confirm that last priority-hire assignment before I contact you about fall possibilities.

Click here to view the latest fall schedule. (Opens in a new tab.)

New class for ORIA students (and others)

To comply with our ORIA contract, we will be offering a new 4-credit Special Topics class this summer. The class will be offered as a level 1-2 class taught by Jill McDonough and a level 3-4-5-6 class taught by Ila DeLeon. Ila's class will also welcome GED and high school completion students.

ORIA students will be required to attend this class in addition to their 8-credit language class (since the ORIA contract requires that we offer these students 12-credits of instruction every week). Though the class is built for the ORIA contract, any interest student can attend.

Please support your ORIA students by encouraging them to attend this class. You can also promote it to non-ORIA students using the descriptions below.

Special Topics level 1-2 with Jill McDonough:

The focus will be digital literacy with student success strategies fused in. This course will prepare students for digital elements to be successful in hybrid/online courses.  

Special Topics level 3+ with Ila DeLeon

This 4-credit class will focus on how to use your superpowers, access campus and community resources, and gain digital literacies. 

 

Updated 6/10/2022

2022-23 Faculty Coordination Nominations

Thanks for everyone to participated in the needs assessment for 2022-23 faculty coordination. Today I am opening the call for nominations. First, I want to share some feedback I received and how I incorporated the feedback:

  • I was asked about the number of hours assigned to the ESL Assessment position and the ABE Assessment position. Those hours historically have been assigned based on conversations with faculty who served in these positions and based on the hours those faculty report needing. There was no reduction/addition to either position in the earlier survey. For 2022-23, I will re-evaluate the hours for both positions based on discussions with Kris Lysaker (current ESL Assessment coordinator) and Jon Nachman (current ABE Assessment Coordinator).
  • I received one comment encouraging co-coordinators for all positions. We will start by exploring co-coordination in one or two positions next year, and add co-coordinators to other positions over the coming years. This is meant to minimize the impact of this change on students, staff, and faculty.
  • There is interest in using a Directed-Self Placement tool in BTS. This is something I will explore with the tenured faculty and, if a proposal emerges, with all faculty. I don't see this as something we'd simply assign to a coordinator but rather a division-wide decision.
  • I decided to fold the Computer Lab Coordinator duties into the new BTS Division Coordinator position.
  • There were some questions about whether we needed a BTS Division Coordinator or if instead we should hire more staff and/or an Assistant Dean. I am moving forward with the BTS Division Coordinator for now, because there's a clear need. We can explore the possibility of hiring new positions in the coming year--and re-assigning these duties accordingly if we get approval to hire.
  • A small majority of faculty voted against splitting any existing coordination into co-coordinators. I am still considering this for the reasons I mentioned earlier--so more people have opportunity to learn, so more opportunity is spread in general, etc. So I will take nominations for some potential co-coordinators, and I will make a decision once I see who's actually interested in doing this work.

If you have questions about this or other feedback, let me know. In the meantime, I am opening nomations. I am asking only for self-nominations, so please only nominate yourself for any positions you would like to be considered for. If there is someone else who you wish to nominate, please contact them and ask them to self-nominate:

Click here to self-nominate for 2022-23 faculty coordination. (Opens in a new tab.)

I will take nominations through Wednesday, June 15. 

Give us summer teaching times and Zoom links

Click here (opens in a new tab) to provide the front desk team with the days, times, and Zoom links or other info for your classes. Please also provide the contact information you would like us to share with your students. As a reminder, we need this information because students regularly call the front desk trying to access your classes, and we want to help them right away. 

English Language instructional hours clarification

I want to clarify expectations around English instruction this summer. Per our ORIA requirements, we have extended to 8-credit classes this summer (where in the past it had been 7 credits). As instructors, you must deliver 8-credits of instruction--a combination of online Zoom meetings, CANVAS work and in-person instruction (for those assigned hybrid classes). Students have been told to expect classes to take place between 9 am and 11 am Monday through Thursday for morning classes and 6 pm to 8 pm Monday through Thursday for evening classes.

This does not mean you are required to hold in-person or face-to-face instruction four days per week. As has been true throughout the pandemic, online/CANVAS instruction is expected for at least part of your 8-hour/week class. If you are teaching remotely, and you are offering 2-3 Zoom sessions per week and delivering the rest of the instruction through Canvas, that's completely acceptable. If you are teaching hybrid, you need to teach in-person two days per week, but your remote instruction can take place at your discretion--again, as along as you are offering 8-credits worth of instruction weekly.

Let me know if you have questions.

Chromebooks/Hot Spots may be limited this summer

Just a heads up that the college has only a limited number of Chromebooks and Hot Spots to loan this summer. While the college intends to continue with the technology loan program, we are reaching a point where we are counting on departing students to return their equipment so it can be loaned to new students. We'll do our best to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.

Summer tuition collection

This summer, we will follow the same approach we took in the spring as far as tuition collection. Specifically, we want to encourage students to pay the $25 tuition, and the info below will show how students can do that through the mail, through ctcLink, and at the cashier's office.

If students cannot or simply do not pay the $25 tuition, we will continue to ask students to complete a waiver. Ultimately, however, we will continue to waive tuition for all students until we have these payment systems 100% up and running. Options for paying summer tuition include:

  • Credit card payments in ctcLink: Click here (opens in a new tab) to learn how to pay the $25 fee in ctcLink. You can also click here (opens in a new tab) for a helpful video.
  • Credit card payment by email or mail: Click here for a form students can use to provide their credit card information to the cashier office. The form will either download or open in a new tab, depending on your browser settings. It can be emailed to ssccCashier@seattlecolleges.edu or mailed to Cashier's Office, South Seattle College, 6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
  • Check by mail:  Students can write a check payable to South Seattle College. Students should be sure to include their Emp ID on the check and mail it to Cashier's Office, South Seattle College, 6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106. Cash payments should not be sent through the mail. 
  • In person payment at the cashier's office: Students can pay in-person at the cashier's office in RSB office, Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 4:30. 

 

Updated 6/3/2022

Fall preferences due Thursday, June 9

The first draft of the fall schedule is ready for part-timers to review so they can submit their teaching preferences for fall. Preference forms for fall are due next Thursday, June 9 by close of business. 

  • Click here (opens in a new tab) to view the draft schedule.
  • Click here (downloads) to download a copy of the preference form.

If you have trouble downloading the form, please make sure your internet preferences allow downloads from the blog. If you're still stuck, email me. 

2022-23 Faculty Coordination Nominations also due June 9

In accordance with article 4.6 in the collective bargaining agreement, I consulting with faculty about the needs, duties, and nominees for faculty coordination positions for 2022-23. This process takes place in three steps: reviewing the needs and duties, nominating, and voting. This is the first step. 

Click here to provide your input on the needs and job duties (opens in a new tab).

You will have the opportunity to propose any new position or change duties to an existing one. I am proposing:

  • ESL Assessment Coordinator
  • ABE Assessment Coordinator
  • High School 21+ Coordinator
  • New Holly Coordinator (updated with new duties!)
  • Transitional Studies Division Coordinator (new!)

I'm also proposing splitting certain coordinator jobs into co-coordinator positions shared by two faculty. The idea is to allow more opportunity for new people to be trained/qualified for these positions and, by default, reduce the risk of loss of institutional knowledge if someone holding one of these positions decides to move on.

I will seek your input through next Thursday, June 9, when I anticipate I'll announce the positions and open them for nominations. 

Recharge, Refresh, Regroup registration closes June 10

As a final reminder, registration for the biannual SBCTC conference Recharge, Refresh, Regroup (formerly Rendezvous) closes on June 10. Click here to visit the conference web site (opens in a new tab) or scroll down to the 5/27/2022 blog entry for more details. We have filled four seats, but we still have room!

Nominations for the tenure-track search committee

I am pleased to announce that we will be searching for a new full-time, tenure-track English language position to join our division. This is a huge credit to all of your work, and it helps to strengthen our work into the future.

Per Article 6.5.A.2 of the collective bargaining agreement, the search committee will be comprised of three faculty members selected by the full-time faculty of the division. Although the committee will be selected by the full-time faculty of the division, eligibility to serve on the committee is extended to part-time faculty. I would like to invite self-nominations to serve on this committee. If you are interested in nominating yourself, please provide your name in the form below. If you are interested in nominating others, please contact them directly and encourage them to self-nominate at the link below. 

Click here to nominate yourself.

Once we have nominees in place, I will open a vote among the full-time faculty of our division. All nominated faculty will be on the ballot. Full-time faculty will be asked to vote for three members. The three highest vote-getters will serve. The proposed calendar for this process will be:

  • Today through Sunday, June 12: Nominations accepted.
  • Monday June 13 through Thursday June 16: Voting takes place (full-timers only)
  • Friday, June 17: Committee is announced

 

Updated 5/27/2022

Summer Schedule

Click here (opens in a new tab) to view the latest summer schedule. A few quick points:

  • Letters of Intent will be sent out next week.
  • There's an open, evening L4 class that will remain unassigned until I'm sure we have enough enrollment for it to run. I still only have one person who's expressed interest in this extra class. One is enough, but there's still time to let me know if you're interested.
  • Based on faculty preferences and students' enrollment trends, the main campus PM classes will be all remote. Not sure what I'm talking about? Watch the video, below, on the modality survey results. 
  • While I'm committed to re-opening evening New Holly, I'm holding that off until fall. I'm not sure the enrollment will show up, and I hate assigning the class to a faculty member when I feel there's a good chance the job will fall through. 

Last call: Recharge, Refresh, Regroup by June 10

The deadline for the SBCTC summer transitional studies conference is fast-approaching, and we still have some seats. As a reminder, the conference takes place on four Fridays in July, all in Zoom. The dates and themes are:

  • Friday, July 8: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Friday, July 15: Disability Justice
  • Friday, July 22: Equitable Curriculum
  • Friday, July 29: State of Basic Education for Adults

Click here to visit the conference web site (opens in a new tab). Let me know if you're interested in attending. I plan to attend.

Summer MOU

Today I became aware of MOU between the AFT and Seattle Colleges for summer quarter. I will review it next week and contact summer faculty as needed. 

Click here to view the MOU as provided to me. Reach out to me with questions. 

Fall Schedule

Still coming soon. Aiming for next week!

Updated 5/18/2022

Modality Survey Results

The spring 2022 modality survey results are in! Thanks to everyone who either took the survey or helped students take it (or both). Like with fall, I recorded a video walking through the results. This hopefully will give you a reasonably quick look at trends among demand for remote, hybrid, and in-person classes and how those trends inform our summer and fall schedules.
 

Click here to open the video in a new tab which will let you see it on a bigger screen or even make it full screen.

Click here to view the PowerPoint. (Opens in a new tab)

Summer teaching preferences due tomorrow

If you haven't done it yet, please provide your summer teaching preferences to Teresa Yamada by tomorrow, Thursday, May 19. You can find the schedule and preference form in the 5/10/2022 blog entry right below the blue line. 

Fall preferences and coordination vote coming soon

I hope to have the first draft of the fall schedule available and preference form by the end of next week. We will also be voting on faculty coordination for the 2022-23 year. 

 

Updated 5/10/2022

Summer teaching preferences due Thursday, May 19

Thanks to everyone who took the faculty modality survey and to all the students who took the student modality survey. Based on those results, I'm providing the first draft of the summer schedule and calling for your teaching preferences. The preference form is due back to Teresa Yamada by close of business on Thursday, May 19. 

As a reminder, summer assignments work differently than other quarters. Article 4.8.C (page 18) of the collective bargaining agreement discusses this, but essentially summer assignments are rotated equitably among full-time and priority-hire faculty based on previous summer teaching opportunities. Our division places all full-time and priority-hire faculty on one list organized by seniority based on start date with the Seattle Colleges. There are three tiers describing the previous summer for full-time and priority-hire faculty: those who did not teach last summer, those who taught less than a "full load" last summer, and those who taught a "full load" last summer. Our division's summer priority list also includes a fourth tier recognizing faculty who have taught for us but not reached priority-hire or full-time status. 

  • Click here (opens in a new tab) to view the summer assignment rotation tiers.
  • Click here (opens in a new tab) to view the draft schedule.
  • Click here (downloads) to download a copy of the preference form.

When completing your preference form, please take care to ensure you are selecting the location, time and modality you wish. 

Changes for summer 2022

If you've opened the schedule, you'll notice two changes from last summer.

  1. All ESL classes will be 8 credits instead of 7. This was done to simplify the schedule by enabling the hybrid classes to meet in-person two times per week. 
  2. We've added back the evening New Holly classes. This was based on the success of the Georgetown classes this spring. These classes are scheduled as hybrid based on the students' desires for morning New Holly classes. 

Faculty and student modality survey results

I hope to post the results of the faculty and student modality surveys this week. I normally would have posted those results and the new schedule at the same time, but I wanted to get the summer preferences out as soon as possible so everyone can make plans. We had 16 faculty and 196 students take the survey, and the results are pretty interesting. Here are some early highlights...

  • Faculty are more ready than our spring students to move toward hybrid or in-person classes.
  • Students mostly still ask to keep the modality that they are currently in, particularly for summer, but...
  • Almost one-third of students are asking for 100% in-person by next fall.

I'll share more when I know more. I'm still organizing the data. 

Fall preferences and faculty coordination for next year

Both are coming soon!

 

Updated 4/22/2022

Summer and fall modality: Faculty survey

Provide your input on the modality of classes for summer and fall through the link below. In previous quarters, I surveyed students first so you could consider their input. We will still survey students (see below), but we'll be conducting both the faculty and student survey simultaneously to make sure we have input early enough for us to create the schedule in the system. The survey closes May 6.

Click here to take the survey (opens in a new tab).

Summer and fall modality: Student survey

As I shared above, we also want to survey students about their modality preferences. Please have your students complete the attached survey. 

Click here for the student survey (opens in a new tab). 

You can also give your students this link: https://forms.office.com/r/vwc8h51Hky

Click here to download a paper version (opens in a new tab). If you're using the paper version, please just drop off results in my mailbox. 

Please administer the survey to your students individually, rather than send me an email telling me that "all your students" had a particular preference. We lose individuality when we lump people into one big group. And, again, I hope to finish the survey on May 6. 

Faculty Accreditation Toolkit

The college will be hosting three accreditation evaluators next Monday or Tuesday for our mid-cycle. As part of the process, these evaluators will be interested in meeting with faculty to learn more about how South pursues continuous improvement in curriculum development, our assessment of student learning, and more. You may have been invited to one of the meetings with an evaluator--and the evaluators are free to ask to meet with others who have not yet been invited as well. 

If you have been invited or if you receive an invitation to participate, the faculty accreditation toolkit provides you with background and ideas to help you prepare. I'd recommend everyone take a moment to at least look over the toolkit and keep it in mind as a resource if you  need it. 

Click here for the faculty accreditation toolkit (opens in a new tab). 

Building a trauma-responsive educational practice

I want to echo an faculty professional development opportunity that Zahra and Rebecca sent to you all. Your Faculty Development Committee is excited to welcome back Em Daniels to South. Em will present a two-hour intermediate workshop based on concepts from her book "Building a Trauma-Responsive Educational Practice: Lessons from a Corrections Classroom." Based on faculty feedback from Winter's Development Day, the proposed concepts are de-escalation, power in the classroom, and settling our bodies.

Thursday April 28, 1 to 3 pm

Let Zahra and Rebecca know if you prefer to meet in person or via Zoom: https://forms.gle/4pfsFVu9WVmyNijR6 Part-time faculty will be stipended.

Recharge, Reflect, Regroup (but don't Rendezvous)

The SBCTC transitional studies biennial conference has a new name--Recharge, Reflect, Regroup. Formerly Rendezvous, this year's conference will be 100% online and will take place on four Fridays in July, 9:30 to 3:30 each day. The dates and themes on each date are:

  • Friday, July 8: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Friday, July 15: Disability Justice
  • Friday, July 22: Equitable Curriculum
  • Friday, July 29: State of Basic Education for Adults

There will be conference tracks as well, but unlike in past years, participants can move among the various tracks to meet their needs, rather than having to remain in one track for the entire event. South has been allocated 10 slots, but in the past it has not been difficult to request more. Still, the event ultimately has limited capacity.

Click here to visit the conference web site (opens in a new tab). Let me know if you're interested in attending. I plan to attend.

Congratulations to Yilin and Margo

If you haven't seen the announcement, I'm happy to share that Yilin Sun and Margo Harder were both granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees at their April 14 meeting. Congratulations to Yilin and Margo on their distinguished careers and contributions.

Don't ask ORIA students to pay the $25 tuition

Forgive me for not catching this sooner, but I want to remind everyone that ORIA students never have to pay the $25 tuition, per our contract with ORIA. We started collecting tuition this spring for the first time since the pandemic, and I should have reminded everyone about this in our spring division meeting. 

Thanks for everyone who's helping students try to pay. We're learning a lot about how this needs to work. As a reminder, we will waive the fee for all students who do not pay, but we want to begin collecting the fee again, in part because our sister colleges never stopped collecting it. But please do not ask ORIA students to pay. We always waive their fees.

Free career coaching and financial assistance from ReWA

ReWA is providing free career coaching and other help specifically targeted to immigrants who have some higher education but find themselves stuck in a low-wage job here in the States. They are seeking students who are English 3 and above, and they offer opportunities like tuition and rental assistance. 

Click here to view the flyer (opens in a new tab).

What does it mean for Covid-19 to be endemic?

It was easy to miss (or at least I missed it), but Chistel Olsen at the district Health and Safety office put together a good video explaining the changes we should think about as Covid-19 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic disease. Click on the link below to access the video.

What does it mean for COVID19 to be Endemic? (opens in a new tab).

 

Updated 4/8/2022

How students can pay the $25 fee

As mentioned in the division meeting, we will restart collecting the $25 fee from students this spring. As always, we will waive this fee for any student who expresses a financial need. For students who can pay, here are four ways to do it:

  • Credit card payments in ctcLink: Click here (opens in a new tab) to learn how to pay the $25 fee in ctcLink. You can also click here (opens in a new tab) for a helpful video.
  • Credit card payment by email or mail: Click here for a form students can use to provide their credit card information to the cashier office. The form will either download or open in a new tab, depending on your browser settings. It can be emailed to ssccCashier@seattlecolleges.edu or mailed to Cashier's Office, South Seattle College, 6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
  • Check by mail:  Students can write a check payable to South Seattle College. Students should be sure to include their Emp ID on the check and mail it to Cashier's Office, South Seattle College, 6000 16th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98106. Cash payments should not be sent through the mail. 
  • In person payment at the cashier's office: Students can pay in-person at the cashier's office in RSB office, Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 4:30. 

Again, if students are unable to pay, we will provide a tuition waiver. We will contact students via Talking Points around week 3 or 4 of spring to ask if they need a waiver. Students simply need to reply to that text for us to waiver their tuition. 

Help Afghan refugees enroll for spring/Proctor CASAS online

Also mentioned in the division meeting, we have a large group of Afghan refugees seeking our ESL classes. We still anticipate that a large number of them may require online CASAS pre-testing among other steps to enroll. If any faculty are interested in becoming trained in online CASAS testing so we can assist these students, please email John. I will compensate you for your time.

ORIA students from Gina

I will be on vacation next week (week of April 11). While I am out, Gina will continue to send ORIA students to your classes. As a reminder, we have funding from ORIA to serve these students, and in exchange for the funds they provide, we agree to admit these students to our classes at any time during the quarter. So please accept these students after the second week, which is our normal cut-off for enrollment. If an ORIA enrollment ever exceeds the class cap in the master course outline (35 for most ESL classes), I'll follow up individually to confirm that you do not have any no-shows who we can drop. 

Please drop no-show students and check rosters

Just the regular reminder to drop any no-show students unless they've made arrangements with you. Gateway intake sessions will continue into week 2, and we'll be adding students to your classes on a space-available basis. By the end of the second week, your roster in ctcLink should be correct. Please check that roster for accuracy and send any questions to Teresa, Amber, and/or Gina. 

 

 

Updated 3/29/2022

Division meeting in Zoom on Monday, April 4 at 9 am

We'll hold our division meeting in Zoom on Monday, April 4 from 9 to 11 am. Click here to join the meeting. You also should have received an invitation in your Outlook inbox.

Faculty credentials for federal reporting

Longtime faculty may remember that I must include faculty years of experience and qualifications in my federal reporting every year. Click here to take the survey asking for your qualifications for this year (opens in a new tab). I apologize in advance to those who enter the same info year after year, but we have faculty who earn credentials--and everyone adds years of experience--so it's simpler if everyone just takes this survey every year.

 

Updated 3/25/2022

Latest spring schedule

Click here (opens in a new tab) to view the most recent spring schedule. We finished new student intakes for spring, so we expect this will be the final version. 

Give us your teaching times and Zoom links

Click here (opens in a new tab) to provide the front desk team with the days, times, and Zoom links or other info for your classes. Please also provide the contact information you would like us to share with your students. As a reminder, we need this information because students regularly call the front desk trying to access your classes, and we want to help them right away. 

We will resume collecting the $25 tuition this spring

During the pandemic, we suspended efforts to collect the $25 fee from our students. Starting this spring, we are going to re-start efforts to collect that $25 fee. Look for more info during the spring division meeting, including fliers and videos explaining how students can pay online, by mail, or in person (on main campus only). We will continue to waive tuition for students who express a need or who are unable to pay due to our limited payment options. For spring we do not have plans to collect $25 fee in cash at New Holly or Georgetown. Those students will either need to pay online, by mail, or request a waiver. More to come!