2019-2020 Winners

Faculty and leadership came together to brainstorm ways to improve the consistency of DE syllabi to comply with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) requirements. The discussion transitioned into an innovative project with the goal of leveraging technology to provide DE instructors with access to a platform where they could consistently, productively, create syllabi in compliance with HLC standards with the possibility of sharing these tools college-wide. This Pilot project enhanced the quality of syllabus construction and review.  It was through the collaboration between multidisciplinary faculty, administration, the Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment (CTLA), and Information Technology departments that this project met its goals for the pilot project. This summer our CTLA is training faculty on how to use Concourse features, as a new project team was assembled to tackle a college-wide rollout to make this tool available to all faculty, campus-wide.

Team Members

• Dr. William Guerriero, Vice President of Academic Affairs, CGCC
• Gabriela Rosu, Dean of Instruction, CGCC
• Chris Schnick, Dean of Arts and Sciences, CGCC;
• Aryn Peppin, Administrative Specialist Sr., CGCC
• Ángel Fuentes, Astronomy Faculty, Division Chair, CGCC
• Dr. Enjolie Lafaurie, Psychology Faculty, Faculty Development Coordinator, CGCC
• Dr. Renée Rude, English Faculty, Dual Enrollment Faculty Coordinator, CGCC
• Donna Thompson, English & Women's Studies Faculty, Program Coordinator for Co-Curricular Programs, Faculty Senate President, CGCC
• Dr. Brian Woodrum, Residential Faculty, Chemistry, CGCC
• Michael Berry, IT, Director Systems and Infrastructure, Automation, CGCC
• Brien Dieterle, Information Technology, Manager Application Development, CGCC
• Mark Schufletowski, Information Technology, Business Analysis, Project Leader; CGCC
• Nilan Yang, Information Technology, Programmer, Data Integration, CGCC
• Corey Weidner, Associate Vice President, PVCC
• Dr. Jeremy Tutty, Teaching and Learning Director, Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment, CGCC
• Juliet Crocco, Course Production Coordinator, Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment, CGCC
• Hayley Steinberg, Instructional Developer, Center for Teaching Learning and Assessment, CGCC
• Carol Crane, Manager, Dual Enrollment, CGCC.

The purpose of this project was to create a system that would deliver mandatory training and online learning to 10,000+ employees, maintain system-wide employee transcripts, and generate needed reports. We wanted to provide a district-wide solution for registering, delivering, tracking, managing, and reporting formal, informal, instructor-led, and online learning. This workforce development tool provides access to learning online, classroom, and virtual training, and access to online resources such as telework, technology, leadership, and performance management. This has led to being able to create Learning Plans where employees are auto-enrolled and sent system-generated reminder notices as well as transcripts that are accessible 24 hours a day. In addition, online courses are immediately available. Since the system was implemented in October 2017, it has been used by all ten Colleges and the District Office and supported 2,097 sessions of instructor-led courses with 25,646 enrollments and 247,308 online course completions (including mandatory training). In March 2020, 300 online courses were added with over 1000 course completions per week.

Team Members

• Jessica Arthur, Student Services Analyst, MCC
• Karen DeLa Vina, Business Systems Analyst Sr, DO
• Sherrie Faulkner, Human Resources Director, DO
• Megan Faye, Business Systems Analyst Sr, DO
• Briana Haas-Arvidson, Program Coordinator, DO
• Patricia Honzay, Associate Chief Human Resources Officer, DO
• Rayan Klyana, Administrative Specialist, PVCC
• Carolyn Miller, Teaching and Learning Director, PVCC
• Sara McCarthy, Instructional Technologist, DO
• Vicki Nelson, Consultant, DO
• Lin Oliver, Administrative Assistant, DO, retired
• Karen Russo Anderson, Acting Teaching and Learning Director, GWC, retired
• Stephanie Williams, Instructional Services Manager, MCC. 

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has innovated how it provides professional development training to faculty and staff.  Historically the CTL has provided traditional one-hour workshops, which had spotty attendance as a rule. Our new multi-week "Skills Credentialing" Programs (e.g., Assessment Practitioner, Advanced Canvas, Basic Video Production) were designed to develop skills and recognize skill acquisition by employees through clear and measurable learning outcomes, authentic assessment, and issuance of digital badges and physical certificates in a college celebration. This innovation improves the leadership and organization of our college by creating, enhancing, and documenting clear and measurable professional development outcomes. It demonstrates quality through alignment with Quality Matters best practices, is replicable to all 10 colleges, is original to the District, and is timely as it was introduced just last year.  52 employees completed trainings in the fall and 54 are in progress this semester.

Team Members

• Chris Celeya, Web Services Specialist, EMCC
• Deborah Cotton, Training Development Consultant, EMCC
• Heather Edwards, Administrative Specialist Sr., EMCC
• Erik Huntsinger, Faculty Director, EMCC
• Najmah Muhammad, Instructional Designer/Technologist
• Daniel Reichstein, Course Production Specialist Sr., EMCC
• Chris Wacaser, Course Production Specialist Sr., EMCC

When schools and libraries are closed, many students have no access to the internet required for them to complete college classes, certificates, and degrees. Even in the face-to-face classes, students are expected to have access to a computer with internet access for a large portion of their assignments. And for the online classes, it is required for 100% of their coursework. 

Gateway was the first community college in Arizona to receive the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funds for this program. It is a common misconception that everyone who has a phone has internet access. Students told us that they were searching at all hours of the night and on weekends for internet access to complete their assignments which is an added burden and barrier to student success. Looking back, we were one step ahead of the pandemic's impact of the move to 100% online. 

One of the requirements of the grant is that students fill out a survey when they bring the device back. To learn more, please see https://libguides.gatewaycc.edu/WiFiHotspots 

Team Members

• Beth Malapanes, Library Faculty, GWCC

The Library and ePortolio System (LibPorts), gives students, faculty, and staff a place to upload their scholarly and creative works.  These collections of scholarly and creative works can then be searched like a library, effectively sharing student knowledge with the community and showcasing all the quality work done by the campuses.  In addition, all the works a person uploads are placed in their own ePortfolio, where students can showcase themselves.  These ePortfolios can be organized in any way a person sees fit and can contain works, resumes, and digital badges. LibPorts provides a critical piece to workforce preparation and development in helping students build their brand and market themselves to employers.  Finally, the LibPorts system offers a lot of interaction options and suggests different works based upon a person’s college and pathway to help build a community of scholars.  

Team Members

• Sean O'Brien, Librarian, GCC

Building Powerful Partnerships is a dynamic process essential to ensure that colleges address the workforce needs most important to the economic vitality of their communities.  At Mesa Community College, the Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AzAMI) serves as a labor-market-responsive Institute designing workforce solutions, connecting and growing a pipeline of talent for the manufacturing sector. Together our Boeing partnership designed a solution to address the need for 450 additional electrical wiring harness technicians through 2022.  

Team Members

• Cesar Becerra, Career Navigator, MCC
• Robert Blawat  Manufacturing Operations Manager, Boeing Company
• Phat Cao, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Robert Creek, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Julie Gram, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Corey Holly, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Denise Johnson, New Hire Focal. Electrical Center of Excellence, Boeing Company
• Harvey Johnson, Program Director, Faculty, Automated Industrial Technology, MCC
• David Medrano, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Maria Ornelas, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Leah Palmer, Executive Director, Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute, MCC
• Matthew Rayman, Program Coordinator, MCC
• Tyler Ray, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Leann Schaffer, Arizona/New Mexico Community Investor, Boeing Global Engagement
• Eric Shulke, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC
• Travis Webb, Boeing Company and Adjunct Faculty at MCC.

The Open Educational Resources (OER) Specialist Program, builds upon the Maricopa Millions project and is based upon the work at the College of the Canyons, to facilitate more OER content development and increase the number of low/no-cost courses.  The two OER specialists, part-time technology-savvy students, work with faculty to locate materials and create digital content. The OER specialists adapt content to new/different mediums and can remix/revise content to the faculty member's needs. In the Fall of 2019, eight courses were converted from using traditional textbook materials to OER low/cost content materials resulting in a total student savings of $26,891.45. In the Spring of 2020, nine courses were revised with an estimated savings of $43,952.50. The OER Specialist Program provides low/no-cost OER course options to reduce student's cost to attend college and reduce the time and technology skills needed for faculty to redesign their course with quality content.

Team Members

• David Dwork, Mathematics Faculty, PVCC
• Jessica Parsons, OER Specialist, Carolyn Miller, Director of the Center For Teaching and Learning
• Loretta Mondragon, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Neighborhood College, a community partnership concept, delivers college classes in the community, making them accessible to an ever-increasing population. The concept was born out of a desire to meet students where they are, not just in the philosophical terms of where they are in life, but also in geographical terms at their workplace. Students find it easy to register and enroll off-campus at their place of business.  Almost all students who have enrolled in a class have completed that class. This has demonstrated a way to increase not only enrollment but also retention outcomes as these students are more likely to complete a class than traditionally enrolled students.  The partners have seen positive outcomes as their staff further their education, which leads to personal improvements, and boosts self-esteem.  The data has shown 223 students served at three locations.  They have generated 110 FTSE in 3 Fields of Interest while pursuing 5 degree or certificate pathways.

Team Members

• Orlando Alcordo, Faculty Member, Fire Science EMT, PC
• Emily Anderson, Academic Advisor, PC
• Carrie Armsby, Fiscal Manager, Bursar, PC
• Doug Berry, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, PC
• Vonzell Cash, Student Services Specialist, Recruitment, PC;
• Shelyn Celaya, Faculty Member, Business, PC
• Cindy Cloud, Department Chair,  Business, PC
• Dawson Dopp, Faculty Member, Business, PC
• Marty Etchart, Chair, English Department, PC
• Angela Genna, Associate VP of Administrative Services, PC
• Abeer Hamden, Department Chair, Physical Sciences, PC
• Kay Harrison, Academic Advisor, PC
• Julie Humphrey, Academic Advisor, PC
• Che Jones, Recruiter, PC
• Erika Keenan, Marketing Manager, PC
• Heather Kruse, Vice President of Student Affairs, PC
• Brandon Larkin, Director, Information Technology, PC
• Michael Matos, Director of Recruitment & Outreach, PC
• Brenda Maynard, Faculty Member, Business, PC
• Debi Moser, Supervisor of Testing Services, PC
• Doug Northway, Faculty Member, Business, PC
• Heather Patterson, Neighborhood College Liaison, PC
• Robert Pelletier, Adjunct Faculty Member, EMT, PC
• Cindy Ramos. Director, Financial Aid, PC
• Maria Reyes, Dean of Industry & Public Service, PC
• Nick Rouse, Faculty Member, Business, PC
• Brenda Starck, Director of Student Services, PC
• Joe Sueyoshi, Chair, Math Department, PC
• Daniel Villa Contreras, Student Services Specialist Sr., Enrollment Services, PC
• Julie Voller, Interim Dean of Enrollment Services, PC
• Teresa Wadman, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Services, PC
• Deborah Webster, Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences, PC
• Bill Williams, Faculty Member, Administration of Justice, PC
• Mardy Wilson, Software Developer, PC
• Rick Wilson, Department Chair, Administration of Justice, PC. 

Participants in the Scholars Academy form a year-long community of practice where they learn about the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and engage in an action research project, transforming their natural curiosity about student success into a scholarly approach to teaching and learning. The goals of the program include having the participants (1) engage in an action research cycle: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting on their professional teaching practice, and (2) build a community of practice. Participation in the Scholars Academy directly impacts the category of “Learning and Teaching” through its focus on SoTL and the use of an evidence-based assessment strategy that actively addresses the criteria of “Quality.” 27 faculty have participated in the Scholars Academy, contributing to a growing community of practice, and have engaged in action projects that directly improved the teaching and learning in their courses.

Team Members

• Dennis Abry, Psychology Faculty, SCC
• Karryn Allen, Dance Faculty, SCC
• Stephanie Fujii, Vice President for Academic Affairs, SCC
• Eric Haas, Psychology Faculty, SCC
• Joseph Ortiz, Communication Faculty, SCC
• Ted Uran, Art Faculty, SCC
• Merry Wilson, Geology Faculty, SCC.

South Phoenix Oral History is a student-founded, student-led initiative to capture and preserve the history of South Mountain Community College and South Phoenix, Arizona. This student-led initiative captures and preserves the history of SMCC and South Phoenix through archival research and academic scholarship. Since its founding, over 100 students have contributed to the project. Students research and interview people about their experiences and contributions to SMCC and South Phoenix. Students then analyze interviews and prepare the digital content for academic publication. To date, students and faculty have published more than seventy interviews and bios at southphoenixoralhistory.com. Student work has also contributed to a full-length documentary, a virtual and guided historic campus walking tour, and an academic manuscript. Community college students – from arguably the most disenfranchised neighborhoods in the city – are collectively writing the book on the history of South Phoenix.

Team Members

• Summer Cherland, Residential Faculty, History, SMCC
• Travis May, One-Year-Only Faculty, Storytelling, SMCC
• Liz Warren, Residential Faculty, Storytelling, SMCC