• College consults with expert in faculty evaluation systems
• Development begins on faculty evaluation system to place more emphasis on instructor accountability for student learning

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2000

• Developmental Studies Division created (winter)
• Student Success textbook authored by faculty
• Faculty portfolio evaluation system piloted

Learning Communities:

• “Adapting to Change—Past, Present, and Future”: Improved College Reading, Composition Strategies, and General Psychology (spring)
• Biology Science Community: General Chemistry, Technology and Society, Introduction to Ethics, and American Literature (spring)
• Developmental Community: Basic Language Skills, Basic Math Skills, and Essential Reading skills (spring)

Professional Development:

• In-service technology workshops offered featuring Blackboard Course Platform, Internet as Research Tool, Web Page Construction, Microsoft Office Computer Basics, PowerPoint (August)
• Roger Johnson, University of Minnesota, conducts two-day workshop on cooperative learning (September)
• Chris Anson, Director of NC State ’s Campus Writing and Speaking Program, conducts workshop: “Writing to Learn and Think” (November)
• In-service workshop offered on student assessment
  

• Division Chairs, Academic Deans, and Vice-President for Instruction attend League for Innovation conference in Atlanta (February) www.league.org
• SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis conducted by Dean of Arts & Sciences; analysis depicts strong interest in developing pilot projects assessing writing and critical thinking
• Academic Support Center established (August)
• Computer/Web-based developmental mathematics courses adopted to allow for faster student advancement through developmental courses (fall)
• Mission statement revised to highlight teaching and learning: “The mission of SCC is to promote personal growth and community development through excellence in teaching, learning, and service ” (summer)

TOP

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2002

• Forums held for faculty and staff to evaluate SCC processes, programs, and policies in light of the learning college model (February)
• Steve Atkins, Dean of Arts & Sciences, presents the learning college model to the President’s Cabinet for approval

Conferences and Presentations:

• Selected Division Chairs, Dean of Arts & Sciences, and Student Service Representative attend League for Innovation conference in Boston (March)
• Steve Atkins, Dean of Arts & Sciences, and Michael Ayers, Biology Instructor, present at the League conference in Boston: “Developing Multimedia Presentations that Appeal to Multiple Learning Modalities ”
• Jami Woods, Director of Academic Support Center, and Connie Wolfe, Language Arts Division Chair, present at the League conference in Boston: “Fostering Critical Thinking in Traditional and Online Classes”
• Michael Ayers, co-presenter at the League conference in Boston: “Facilitating Collaborative Learning Online”

• “Lunch and Learn” series launched: Under prepared Students Panel (August)
• “ Lunch and Learn” workshop held on critical thinking assignments and activities (October)

• Community College Survey of Student Engagement distributed (spring) www.ccsse.org
• Faculty surveyed about their perceptions regarding the extent to which Surry’s students are engaged in higher order/critical thinking skills (summer)
• CCSSE results published on the college intranet
• Faculty focus groups convene to discuss CCSSE results, rank order faculty priorities for more actively engaging students in the classroom, and develop strategies to promote engagement (August)
• Faculty surveyed to determine learning outcomes relevant to all degree programs; survey indicates the following outcomes: communication, critical thinking, culture & ethics, quantitative literacy, information literacy, technology skills (fall)
  

TOP

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2003

• Steve Atkins, Vice-President for Instruction, presents the SCC Learning Initiative (including learning college model, student engagement and learning outcomes assessment) at a college-wide meeting (March)
• QEP Newsletter,The Exchange, is launched (July)
• SCC Roundtables begin (July)

• Critical Reading for College and Intro to Psychology (spring)
• “ The American Experience”: Major American Writers, The Nature of America, and Survey of American Art (fall)
• Plant Science Community: Plant Science, Composition Strategies, Basic PC Literacy (fall)
• Engineering Technologies and Composition Strategies (fall)
• Biology and English -- online community (fall)
• Anatomy & Physiology and Critical Reading for College (fall)

NOTE: Of the 2003 learning communities planned, only the Engineering Technologies and Composition Strategies community was actually conducted.

Conferences and Presentations:

• Selected Faculty, Director of Institutional Planning, Academic Deans, Vice-President for Finance, Vice-President for Instruction, and President attend the first annual League of Innovation Learning Summit and the League conference in Phoenix (March)
• Jami Woods, Dean of Arts & Sciences, and Connie Wolfe, Director of Academic Support Center, present at the League conference in Phoenix: “Whenever I See Your Smiling Face: The Importance of Tone in the Online Classroom ”
• John Brame, Director of Planning and Institutional Research, presents at the 2003 CCSSE Annual Workshop at the University of Texas: "Getting Your Hands Around the CCSSE Data"
• A team from the Council on Innovation in Student Learning (Initiative steering committee) presents SCC’s Learning Initiative at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: “Developing an Integrated Quality Enhancement Plan ” (December)

• “Lunch and Learn” interactive workshop conducted on Writing Student Outcomes (April and May)
• “ Lunch and Learn” interactive workshop held on “Learning More about Learning Communities and Linked Courses” (May)
• Linda Elder, President of the Foundation for Critical Thinking, conducts four days of critical thinking workshops for faculty (June) www.criticalthinking.org
• Anne Nelson, of Nelson Management Associates, conducts a two-day workshop on online course assessment and evaluation (June)
• Rusty Holmes and David Smith of AB Tech conduct a two-day workshop on online student assessment and evaluation (June)
• Chuck Claxton, professor of education at Appalachian State University, holds a meeting with the President’s Council (President, Vice-Presidents, Deans, and Directors) on the administrator’s role in the learning college (June)
• Terry O’Banion, President Emeritus and Senior League Fellow for the League of Innovation, holds meetings for all college employees on the learning college model (July) www.league.org/terry/default.htm

• John Brame, Director of Planning and Institutional Research, publishes an article in CCSSE Highlights, a national newsletter for the Community College Survey of Student Engagement. The article outlines Surry ’s use of CCSSE results to improve student learning (September)
• Mt. Airy News publishes an article on Surry ’s use of CCSSE: “Surry Community College Uses Results of Community College Survey of Student Engagement to Improve Educational Practices” (May)
• QEP website launched to disseminate Learning Initiative progress, concepts, and resources (summer)
• QEP newsletter, The Exchange, launched to report on the Initiative, review learning college resources, and exchange ideas campus-wide (summer)
• Elkin and Mt. Airy papers run stories on SCC's Learning Initiative (summer)
• Steve Atkins (Vice-President for Instruction) and Connie Wolfe (Director, Academic Support Center) publish Learning Abstract for League for Innovation: "Toward a New Way of Learning and Thinking: Becoming a Learning College" (September)

• Science Division Chair Michael Ayers and Academic Support Center Director Connie Wolfe present "The 'Naming Game': Strategies for a Successful First Day at a Learning College "
• Vice-President for Instruction Dr. Steve Atkins, Math Instructor Paula Gupton, and ASC Director Connie Wolfe present "Toward a New Way of Learning and Thinking: Becoming a Learning College "
• Humanities and Social Sciences Division Chair Danajean Mabry and ASC Director Connie Wolfe present "The 'American Experience': A Unique Learning Community and Online Supplement "
• ASC Director Connie Wolfe presents "The Best of Both Worlds: Designing Hybrid Instruction "
• Math Division Chair Dwight Atkins and Science Division Chair Michael Ayers present "Remodeling Assignments to Foster Critical Thinking "

Other conferences and presentations include:

• Vice-President for Instruction Dr. Steve Atkins and Developmental Studies Chair Dr. Susan Worth present "Coordinating Outcomes Assessment and Critical Thinking "
• Dr. Steve Atkins, Vice-President for Instruction, presents SCC's critical thinking activites and strategies at the 24th International Conference on Critical Thinking in Palto Alto, CA (July)
• Mayland Community College invites members of SCC's leadership team to present the SCC Learning Initiative
• Southwestern Community College visits SCC to learn about the SCC Learning Initiative (June)
• Director of Distance Education, Candace Ring presents "Ensuring Quality in Online Courses" at the NC Distance Learning Alliance Conference (March)
• Director of Distance Education, Candace Ring presents "Ensuring Quality in Online Courses" at the Regional Distance Learning Administrators Roundtable (April)
• SCC hosts the first annual Western Regional Distance Learning Roundtable

• SCC Roundtables held monthly
• TACT members receive advanced critical thinking training at a 3-day retreat in Boone, NC conducted by Linda Elder, President of the Foundation for Critical Thinking (June)
• SCC hosts Virtual Learning Community under the leadership of the Director of Distance Education, Candace Ring, which promotes developing quality online courses