Equity in Action: Meeting the Diverse Needs of Students
Reflecting on Progress, Celebrating Successes, and Moving Equitable Practices Forward
August 14 — 18, 2023
Flex sessions will include in-person, online, and dual delivery (in-person and online) options.
Flex activities are open to all faculty and staff. Please register for all Flex sessions on the ProLearning Workshop Calendar. You can view and register (REQUEST) workshops from the Workshop Calendar and find Zoom links. After each session, please complete the short evaluation.
Pre-Flex Week Benefits and Wellness Sessions
August 7—11, 2023 (Kentfield Campus and Zoom)
Date/Time |
Program Descriptions |
Presenter/Facilitator |
---|---|---|
MON, AUG 7
|
OMNI 403(b) / 457(b) - What You Need to KnowGeneral overview of OMNI's administrative services. During this session, we will walk through the OMNI website and review the most used features of Marin Community College District's 403(B) AND 457(B) webpage. This will also be a great time for employees to ask any questions that they may have. Session Outcomes
|
Ryan Phillips |
MON, AUG 710:30 am - 11:30 amAC 240 |
Your Retirement Plan at WorkIn this workshop, you will learn about how your CalSTRS or CalPERS pension, Social Security Benefits and individual retirement savings complement employer pensions and help you maintain your lifestyle well into retirement. In addition, the presenters will discuss the reasons people delay saving for retirement, how much you should save for retirement, the benefits of participating in your employer-sponsored retirement plan and planning for your retirement early or mid-career. Session Outcomes
|
Jeff Isley |
TUES, AUG 8
|
CalSTRS – My Retirement System and CalSTRS Pension2CalSTRS will be conducting a webinar, designed specifically for Marin Community College District employees, combining two of our most essential webinars, My Retirement System + Start Saving Now with Pension2, into one. PART I:
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Pablo Bermudez |
TUES, AUG 8
|
Benefits 101 / Open Enrollment 2023 / BenefitBridgeIn this educational workshop, SISC will present an overview of the medical benefits and the added value services available to College of Marin employees. Also, Keenan & Associates will give an overview of the College of Marin’s new employee benefits portal, BenefitBridge. This platform will host all enrollments, benefit plans, and rates, health plan resources, and more! This is a perfect time to ask all your benefit-related questions! Session Outcomes
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Shawna Smith Patrick Foley |
WED, AUG 9
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(REPEAT)
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Shawna Smith Eddie Barfield |
WED, AUG 9
|
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)Attendees will obtain a deeper understanding of Health Savings Accounts, their benefits, and the rules and eligibility guidelines for opening an HSA! Receive answers to your personal questions! Session Outcomes
|
Beto Borja |
THUR, AUG 10
|
Introduction to Cultivating Compassion Through NatureScientific studies suggest that nature plays an important role in enhancing our creativity, compassion and joy. In this 90-minute introductory session, we will explore how the ABCs (Awareness, Belonging and Caring) have a positive impact on reducing stress, anxiety and lifting our spirits. You will experience ways of slowing down and relaxing through guided meditations and engage in activities that stimulate your curiosity. You will practice being in the present moment by using your five senses in nature. Bring a box lunch if you wish to stay after the workshop and eat with the other participants. This 90-minute session is a prelude to a half-day workshop that will be offered on Friday, September 8, 2023. Note: This session will be outside and mobile for part of the workshop (walking from the Academic Center to Fusselman Hall). Please bring appropriate clothing for the day and a hat for sun protection, if appropriate. Session Outcomes
|
Andrés Edwards |
THURS, AUG 10
|
Using Creative Play and Applied Improvisation to Develop and Reinforce Psychological Safety within our WorkplacePsychological Safety is a big buzzword these days, and thank goodness it is because it is so important for employees to feel safe to share and be their authentic selves! However, awareness of the importance does not always improve our behavior, right? Employees, leaders, and teams need to practice and experience the skills and takeaways to reshape and reinforce the foundation of psychological safety within their organization. That is where Applied Improvisation comes in. The skills of improvisation that are used to sustain a scene on stage, such as “Yes, and…” (or accept and build), listening, looking at mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, and making your scene partner look good, are also the same skills that can help establish psychological safety within your workplace and other environments. It’s not enough to just read and hear about what works. This workshop is all about practicing and advancing our essential life skills to truly understand what it takes to create a psychologically safe environment for everyone in our workplace. This workshop is not just for those in leadership positions. ALL employees can use these applied improvisation skills to improve their mindset and perspective, which can shift and shape psychological safety and engagement at work. Session Outcomes
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Dayna Gowan |
FRI, AUG 11
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Self-Care Practice: Sleep, Exercise, Love, and FoodThese all make up the SELF in self-care. At this point, you have probably heard all the self-care tips and tricks that you can do to take better care of yourself. But how well are you implementing them into your daily life? We get it — the busy days go by fast, and it can be hard to create and fit into your self-care routine and practices. This interactive session will be about practicing self-care techniques and learning what works and resonates for you. Session Outcomes
|
Dayna Gowan |
FLEX WEEK SESSIONS
Monday, August 14, 2023 (Kentfield Campus and Zoom)
Time |
Program Descriptions |
Presenter/Facilitator |
---|---|---|
8 am – 12 pmPE 22 |
Adult First Aid/CPR/AEDCome learn valuable life-saving skills needed in case of cardiac arrest or other emergencies at this class hosted by the Red Cross. All training classes include 2-year certifications, free digital training materials, and free digital certificates. Session Outcomes
|
Paul Stewart Red Cross Representatives |
9 am – 12 pmAC 255 |
Department Chairs’ and Coordinators’ MeetingAll chairs/coordinators, deans, and directors should attend. This meeting will offer a concentrated, dedicated time for chairs and coordinators to discuss important topics for the semester. The information and discussion will be applicable to share at department meetings. |
Jonathan Eldridge |
10 am – 11:30 amAC 245 |
Accommodations: Access, Equity, Diversity, and InclusionIn this session, come to learn and have your questions answered about COM's Student Accessibility Services (SAS). We will be covering a diverse set of topics related to SAS. This includes information on how a student can contact SAS and what a SAS counseling appointment can entail with a student. There will also be information on what accommodation is at the college level and what an accommodation is not. Additional information about the SAS testing center and the timeline for instructors receiving accommodation letters during the semester will be covered. We encourage everyone attending the session to feel free to participate and ask any questions that you would like answered regarding SAS. Session Outcomes
|
Carl Freschl Luna Finlayson |
12:30 pm – 1:30 pmFH 110 and Zoom |
Mandatory Revision in eLumenThis workshop will provide step-by-step instructions about how to complete mandatory revision in eLumen for faculty who need a refresher or are new to eLumen. We will also review criteria for revisions that require a presentation to the Curriculum Committee when there are substantive changes to a course outline of record. Session Outcomes
|
Gina Cullen Cari Torres-Benavides Grace Mengqi Yuan |
12 pm – 12:55 pmAC 255 |
Prof Learning through Serving on an ACCJC TeamThe ACCJC peer review teams that conduct the comprehensive review of COM during our accreditation process are composed of faculty members and administrators from other ACCJC member colleges. Did you ever wonder how they are recruited? Or how are they trained to do these visits? Perhaps you want to be on a team that evaluates another college. Join COM faculty and administrators who have been on accreditation teams and a special guest speaker, Kevin Bontenbal, ACCJC Vice President, to learn the inner workings of peer review teams and how you, as faculty, can participate in this great professional development experience and provide service to other institutions at the same time. Lunch provided. Session Outcomes
|
Yolanda Bellisimo Jonathan Eldridge Kevin Bontenbal |
1 pm – 2:30 pmZoom |
Fostering Student Success: Supporting Basic NeedsWith approximately a third to half of community college students facing challenges with accessing food and/or housing, the classroom and spaces on campus can be a refuge from the everyday challenges of life. Faculty and staff play an integral role in cultivating this safer space for students to ask for help. In this session, participants will gain tools to support delicate situations and learn about resources to refer students who are experiencing financial difficulty, limited access to healthy food, mental health concerns, relationship concerns, and more. Session Outcomes
Links to other resources given during the presentation:Community Action Marin Community Resource Guide |
Lia Lara Sadika Sulaiman Hara Community Partners |
1 pm – 2 pmAC 255 |
Hiring Committee Training: Elimination of BiasPrior to serving on a recruitment and screening committee, all individuals must receive training on the elimination of bias in hiring and employment from the Human Resources Department on the following requirements and topics:
Session Outcomes
|
Nikki Harris Mia Robertshaw |
3 pm – 4 pmAC 240 |
Elimination of Sexual Harassment In the WorkplacePursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 1343, all employees must be trained in sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention every two years, and this session provides the opportunity to complete this training in an in-person format. Note: This session is for non-supervisory employees and does not meet training requirements for managers and supervisors. Session Outcomes
|
Mia Robertshaw |
3 pm – 4 pmZoom |
Learning Outcomes Basics and Curriculum MappingThe beginning of this workshop will cover the basics of Student Learning Outcomes: what they are, how they are measured and assessed, why we assess SLOs and how data from outcomes can lead to innovative teaching. The second half of the workshop will take a deeper dive into how the assessment of our learning outcomes can provide us with information on disproportionate impact on student subpopulations. We will begin by taking a look at how SLOs are mapped to PLOs and ILOs and discuss how mapping can provide faculty with disaggregated data at the program and institutional level. Session Outcomes
|
Logan Wood SLOAC |
2:30 pm – 4:30 pmFA 214 |
Learning to See, Drawing ExerciseThis workshop is a hands-on activity encouraging participants to trust the relationship between looking and drawing. This process reveals the universal relationship between visual skills and their application to other subjects. No prior experience with drawing or charcoal is necessary. (Some mess will be created. Don't wear clothes that shouldn't get dirty) Session Outcomes
|
Carol Lefkowitz |
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 (Kentfield Campus and Zoom)
10 am – 1 pmAC 103 |
New Faculty OrientationAre you new to teaching at COM? If so, welcome! We’re glad to have you as part of our faculty. We want to give you the support and information you need to be successful, so please join us for this orientation session. You will meet other new faculty and learn important information about COM policies and procedures to help ensure that you are ready for the first day of classes and beyond. Session Outcomes
|
Cara Kreit Cari Torres-Benavides Stacey Lince |
9 am – 10:20 amZoom |
UndocuAlly Training: Supporting Undocumented StudentsThis presentation will provide participants with knowledge, tools, and resources to support undocumented students at COM. We will cover common terms, state and federal laws affecting undocumented students, resources available on and off-campus, and share best practices. Session Outcomes
|
Hugo Guillen |
9:30 am – 10:20 amZoom |
Leveraging Pronto (Canvas) for Increased Classroom CommunicationLearn how to increase student engagement and communication using Pronto, a chat tool integrated right into Canvas. Pronto makes it easy to communicate with your students, allows students to communicate and collaborate with each another, builds community, and satisfies RSI requirements while creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable community for us all. Session Outcomes
|
Stacey Lince Sydney Dutson |
10:30 am – 11:30 amZoom |
NameCoach (Canvas): Celebrating Students and Their Unique IdentitiesNamecoach is a DEI focused software integrated into our Canvas instance that places an emphasis on individual identity through proper name pronunciation. We ensure your diverse student body is welcomed with open arms from the moment they step on your campus. Facilitating proper name pronunciation promotes engagement between your teacher and students. Studies have shown that when a teacher knows how to pronounce a student's name correctly, they are most likely to address them in class. This in turn promotions student engagement in the classroom and outside in the community. Please join our Namecoach representative, Noelani Obermeyer, for an introduction/refresher and learn inspiring ways to incorporate Namecoach into your classes. Session Outcomes
|
Stacey Lince Noe Obermeyer |
11 am – 1:50 pmSMN 207 |
Equity Practices in the STEM Classroom/LabIn this interactive session, you will be the "student" for many of the activities. You will learn about inequities students may experience in our STEM labs and perhaps may have also experienced in their K-12 school districts. You will learn some practical applications that you can do in the labs/classrooms to increase equity, participation and respect for students preferred names/gender. This session will also teach you about "growth mindset" practices and show you activities that you can do to incorporate growth mindset into your classroom. Note: This workshop is open to all but geared particularly toward supporting equitable practices in STEM labs. Some of these activities can also be incorporated into lecture classes as well. Session Outcomes
|
Tina Christensen |
12 pm – 12:50 pmFH 110 |
Collection Development in the Library StacksFind out how you can ensure the Kentfield Library’s physical collections provide access to anti-racist materials to support teaching and learning in your discipline as we prepare to move to the new LRC in fall 2025. Session Outcomes
|
Sarah Frye Dave Patterson |
1 pm – 1:50 pmFH 110 / Zoom |
Collection Development of Library DatabasesCome learn more about the library’s databases to ensure we are providing access to anti-racist materials to support teaching and learning in your discipline. Session Outcomes
|
Sarah Frye Dave Patterson |
2 pm – 2:50 pmSMN 106 |
Building Student Engagement with Immediate Feedback AssessmentCome learn about adding team-based activities to your classroom through the Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT forms) to increase student engagement! In this approach, after an individual quiz, students work in teams of 3-4 to complete a quiz using an IF-AT form that provides immediate feedback. Teams discuss, debate, and come to a consensus on an answer, receiving instant feedback and additional attempts until a correct answer is reached. IF-AT forms may also be used for individual summative exams to improve accuracy and provide instructors with more information about student learning as well as provide a mechanism for partial credit in multiple-choice exams. Participants will have the opportunity to be the students -- come learn and have fun! Session Outcomes
|
Dayna Quick |
3 pm – 4:30 pmFH 110 / Zoom |
A Conversation about ChatGPT: Deterring Misuse and Exploring Pedagogical ApplicationsThe use of OpenAI and large language models (LLM), such as ChatGPT are becoming increasingly common in workplaces, in the private sphere, and in education. Because of this increase in use, it is critical that faculty and students understand the nature and pitfalls of these systems. You don’t need to be an expert to get started on having digital literacy conversations with your colleagues and your students about these tools! In this workshop, we will introduce background information on language models to spur discussion on AI capabilities, shortcomings, ethical concerns like bias and privacy and specific impacts of AI in our fields. We will also discuss assignment and writing prompt design to deter the use of AI, address concerns about academic honesty, and explore some of the exciting ways to incorporate language models in our pedagogy. Session Outcomes
Links to other resources given during the presentation:
AI Text Generators and Teaching Writing: Starting Points for Inquiry
MLA/CCCC Joint Task Force on Writing and AI Quick Start Guide
Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools
Using ChatGPT: Strategies for Faculty, Staff and Administrators, webinar recording |
Anna Mills Elle Dimopoulos Kathleen Smyth Stacey Lince |
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 — CONVOCATION (Indian Valley Campus)
Date/Time |
Program Descriptions |
Presenter/Facilitator |
---|---|---|
8 am — 8:45 amJonas Center |
Meet and Greet – Coffee, tea, and light refreshments |
- |
9 am – 11 amJonas Center |
ConvocationJoin your friends and colleagues as we prepare for the new year and hear important updates and information about the College. Keynote: Learning Communities Student PanelStudents across the learning communities at COM will be discussing their experiences in conversation with COM Learning Communities Program Coordinator Nequeshe Dyer. |
David Wain Coon |
11 am - 12 pmBlack & African American Affinity SpaceMiwok, Room 124Non-Black People of Color Affinity SpaceBuilding 5, Room 116 (Pomo Cluster)White Antiracist Affinity SpaceFarm Building/28B
|
Post-Convocation Breakout Session: Communities in Practice;Following the model of COM’s monthly Community in Practice, we will convene in our affinity groups to strengthen our diverse community as we reflect, engage, and strategize on how to deepen our equity practices and solidarity in the classroom, our departments, on campus, and in our greater community. Session Outcomes
|
IDEA Committee Communities in Practice Facilitators |
12 pm — 1:30 pmJonas Center |
UPM Meeting and LunchUPM members are encouraged to attend this meeting to hear the latest on UPM activities. Lunch provided. |
Patrick Kelly |
1:30 pm — 3:30 pmVarious Locations |
Academic Department MeetingsJoin your academic department meeting for updates and planning information. Check your ProLearning Workshop Calendar for room locations, or download the PDF for reference. |
- |
Thursday, August 17, 2023 (Kentfield Campus)
Time | Program Descriptions | Presenter/Facilitator |
---|---|---|
9 am — 3:30 pmKTD |
COM Equity in Mental Health Symposium 2023 — Day 1
This year, the last two days of Flex Week, Thursday, August 17, and Friday, August 18, will feature a specific focus on mental health for all Flex sessions, organized as the Equity in Mental Health Symposium 2023. Participants will include COM employees (staff, faculty, and administrators) and community members. Organized by COM Psychological Services and the Umoja Equity Institute, the symposium sessions will tap into ancestral wisdom, the power of nature, culturally responsive pedagogy, healing, and mental health to create a culture of community rooted in equity. Because this is a COM and community event, please register for this opening session directly through the event site rather than ProLearning: www.equityinmentalhealth.net. You'll receive Flex credit by signing in at individual sessions. |
Umoja Equity Institute COM Psychological Services Marin County Department of Health and Human Services's Behavioral Health & Recovery Services |
4 pm – 5:30 pmCafeteria |
President’s ReceptionAll faculty and staff are invited to join Dr. Coon for an informal time of refreshments and conversation. |
David Wain Coon |
Friday, August 18, 2023
Time | Program Descriptions | Presenter/Facilitator |
---|---|---|
9 am — 3:30 pmKTD |
COM Equity in Mental Health Symposium 2023 — Day 2This year, the last two days of Flex Week, Thursday, August 17, and Friday, August 18, will feature a specific focus on mental health for all Flex sessions, organized as the Equity in Mental Health Symposium 2023. Participants will include COM employees (staff, faculty, and administrators) and community members. Organized by COM Psychological Services and the Umoja Equity Institute, the symposium sessions will tap into ancestral wisdom, the power of nature, culturally responsive pedagogy, healing, and mental health to create a culture of community rooted in equity. Because this is a COM and community event, please register for this opening session directly through the event site rather than ProLearning: www.equityinmentalhealth.net. You'll receive Flex credit by signing in at individual sessions. |
Umoja Equity Institute COM Psychological Services Marin County Department of Health and Human Services's Behavioral Health & Recovery Services |