foreign exchange - Southwestern Illinois College

2007 ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE
Several SWIC faculty and staff members attended the recent
“2007 Assessment Institute” held in Indianapolis and hosted by
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. The conference,
attended by educators from eight countries, offered a variety of
programs and presentations to help educators determine how
to assess students – especially in General Ed. Paul Wreford, Ph.D.,
Dean of Liberal Arts; Kathy Kufskie, Assistant Professor of
Psychology; Cory Lund and Tom Lovin Assistant Professors of
English Composition; Carolyn Myers, Assistant Professor of Political
Science and Joyce Ray, Outcomes Assessment Coordinator
attended the institute.
Ray, Lund and Lovin presented a workshop entitled “Building
Consensus through Outcomes Assessment” that they hope to
share with their SWIC colleagues. The workshop explains how the
outcomes assessment process at SWIC has impacted institutional
policies, created a conversation across disciplines that has helped
to more clearly define what good writing is, and identified the
role of writing in student learning outcomes.
According to Ray, one exciting new method for assessing
student learning is through the use of an e-portfolio. She
described an e-portfolio as “an academic resumé that consists
of a variety of assignments that have been captured electronically
– such as a video of a student’s oral presentation or a succession
of writing assignments that show how a student’s writing skills
have improved over time.”
Ray pointed out that an e-portfolio can provide transfer
institutions or future employers with a fuller picture of student
learning than many previous assessment methods could.
FOR THE LOVE OF READING – Southwestern Illinois College Site
Rep Carlton Petty reads to local families who attended the SWIC
Family Reading Night recently at the East St. Louis Community
College Center. Families received free books, and enjoyed storytelling,
games and refreshments.
FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
At the regular November meeting the Board of Trustees
approved recommendations to:
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Approve the FY2007 Semi-Annual Report, which reports to the Board
how the college has moved to realize its Strategic Plan.
Approve the first reading of proposed amendments to Board Policy
and Administrative Procedure No. 7006 intended to clarify the differences
between commissioned Public Safety officers and non-commissioned
officers.
Approve the first reading of proposed amendments to Board Policy
No. 7016 regarding Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources
and dealing with security measures to protect the confidentiality of
student records.
Ratify an agreement with S.B. Friedman, Inc., for the consulting group
to help review and negotiate a proposal under consideration for the
development of the southeast corner of the Belleville Campus.
Accept Adult Education grant awards totaling more than $250,000
from the Illinois Community College Board ($104,658) and a variety of
other Illinois state education agency resources.
Renew agreements with eight regional facilities to provide practicum
opportunities to SWIC students enrolled in its Early Childhood Education
program.
Renew an agreement with Western Illinois University to launch a
Web-based instructional program for persons seeking GED certification.
Approve the tentative list of graduates for the 2007 Fall Semester.
Approve the retirement of Red Bud Campus Student/Community
Services Coordinator Deborah Oakley, who has been employed at
SWIC since 1989, effective at year end.
NEW BUILDING, NEW BOOKSTORE – On Nov. 13, the new SWIC Barnes
& Noble Bookstore opened for business in the new Liberal Arts building
which is scheduled to be completed in January 2008. Students, faculty
and staff stopped by to check out the new digs, enjoy some snacks and
refreshments, pick up some free giveaways, and browse for books,
supplies and other merchandise. Remember: when staff members show
their SWIC IDs they receive a 15% discount at the SWIC bookstore on
everything except textbooks, magazines and candy (departments
receive a 20% discount with the same exceptions).
Bookstore Manager Damon Mitchell, left, and his staff hosted lots
of visitors at the bookstore’s grand opening, including Director, Auxiliary
Services Geoff Barratt, and Accountant Mark Becker, both of the
Business Office.