Counseling Division Mini-Retreat

Submitted by Catherine Cochran on
Duration
-
Abstract

During the Spring 2017 semester, our Counseling Division held a retreat with all our residential and adjunct faculty.  At our retreat, we provided a catered lunch and shared best practices from our CPD 150 courses.  We discussed our OER Canvas curriculum for our CPD 150 classes.  We have five modules in Canvas for our CPD 150 courses:  College Resources, Time and Planning, Personal Development, Study Skills, and College and Careers.  We divided our division faculty into five groups, and assigned each group a module from Canvas.  Each group evaluated their module, and shared the positives and negatives for their module. 

From this practice, we learned we need to revise our OER curriculum in Canvas.  Currently, our residential faculty is working on improving the OER curriculum.  

We plan to hold this counseling retreat once every academic year.  At our next retreat, we will give a survey to our division faculty.  We will measure curriculum improvement and division social cohesion through our survey.  We hypothesize that we will receive positive outcomes in both areas.    

Division/Department
Completed Full Cycle
Yes
Course Number
CPD 150
Rating
Average: 4.8 (5 votes)

Comments

Peter Turner Tue, 04/11/2017 - 1:06pm

Catherine, I would maintain that you did close the loop, at least from the perspective that the retreat had a purpose of identifying areas of needed improvement and came up with solution area(s) for that needed improvement. Nonetheless, I applaud you and your colleagues on your quest for continually moving your CPD program forward.

Melinda Sanchez Thu, 04/13/2017 - 8:44am

What a way for Counseling to collaborate with our faculty. I am so glad best practices were discussed regarding CPD 150. I mentored in CPD for 3 years and understand the importance and value of this course in regards to student success. I would love to see ALL of our students take this course. I know that I recommend this course to every student who attends New Student Orientation. Keep up the good work! 

Catherine Cochran Thu, 04/13/2017 - 8:47am

Melinda,

Thank you for supporting our division and CPD 150!  We appreciate your kinds words.

Have a great day!

Catherine

Olga Tsoudis Sun, 04/16/2017 - 9:29am

Catherine, This CATS shows that we have many ways to look at assessment on our campus including employees working on strategies to improve student learning! I am looking forward to future results from the survey. Thanks for sharing! Smiles, Olga

Catherine Cochran Mon, 04/17/2017 - 1:17pm

Please Note:

Jason Martinez, Counseling Division Chair, is a contributor of this CATS too.

Becky Baranowski Tue, 04/18/2017 - 8:37am

Catherine - thank you so much for submitting this.  Like Olga said, this shows that we are assessing everything that we are doing as a college.  Our division always has lunch after the division meeting, but it is off campus.  Hence, not everyone goes.  I may talk to my division chair about having lunch on campus in the classroom.  Thanks for sharing!

Becky Baranowski Tue, 04/18/2017 - 8:37am

Catherine - thank you so much for submitting this.  Like Olga said, this shows that we are assessing everything that we are doing as a college.  Our division always has lunch after the division meeting, but it is off campus.  Hence, not everyone goes.  I may talk to my division chair about having lunch on campus in the classroom.  Thanks for sharing!

Rene Willekens Tue, 04/18/2017 - 1:32pm

This is a great strategy to bring faculty together to improve the curriclumm!  I woulder if it would be possible to determine if the changes to the curriclum impacted student learning. Maybe there are some built-in quizes that can be evaluated to detemine how the changes impacted student learning.  Great work.

Teri Graham Sat, 04/22/2017 - 4:22pm

Even though this strategy was focused on the CPD150 curriculum, I feel it also was very beneficial for the faculty to spend time together sharing ideas, feedback, successes and failures...what a powerful learning opportunity for the faculty too :-)

Laura Dulgar Tue, 05/02/2017 - 1:34pm

Catherine and counseling,

I have always appreciated our counseling department's abilty to come together and discuss best practices and put our students first!! Great job to you all!!!

Patricia Cardenas-Adame Wed, 05/03/2017 - 12:20pm

Very nice way to gather feedback and make improvements.  

Jason Martinez Wed, 05/03/2017 - 1:29pm

This was our process for social cohesion, empowering our adjuncts, revising our curriculum, improving our delivery, and improving student learning outcomes. It was a powerful team builder with residential and adjunct faculty.  

Jill Santy Thu, 05/04/2017 - 9:51am

Lots of follow-up has occured since our mid-term meeting.  Best practices/favorite assignments have been forwarded to our department secretary so everyone will have full access.  Not only is the sharing time together a team-building experience, but also it provided time to network ideas and entertain new student engagement ideas.  Thanks, Jason, for making this happen; and thanks to you, Catherine, for sharing our outcomes!