This regional gathering united education teams to showcase innovative projects, programs, partnerships, and strategies that are creating positive change on our campuses and in our communities. Check out the photos from the day: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCoR8g
Agenda
Tuesday, July 29:
- 3:45-7 p.m. - Networking Dinner by Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria at The Commons (grassy area between PCPA and library)
Wednesday, July 30
- 8 -9 a.m. - Breakfast by Panera & Welcome
- 9 -11 a.m. - Best Practice Showcase - Part 1 (See Tracts for locations and specific times)
- 11 a.m.-12 p.m. - Lunch by The Maya Restaurant
- 12 - 2 p.m. - Best Practice Showcase - Part 2 (See Tracts for locations and specific times)
- 2 - 2:30 p.m. - Popsicles by La Michoacana Azteca & Popcorn (Thanks to ACCCA)
- 2:30 - 4 p.m. -Spark Conversations
Best Practice Showcase Information
Academic Division
Student Athlete Learning Communities
Mary Patrick & Kim Ensing
12 p.m.
Band Room F-100
This innovative educational framework connects faculty across multiple academic disciplines to provide coordinated instructional support for student-athletes.Through collaborative curriculum development and team-based teaching approaches, educators work together to create learning experiences that are bothacademically rigorous and responsive to the specific needs of student-athletes. This integrated model prioritizes student success by combining diverseacademic perspectives to support comprehensive learning and ensure student-athletes can successfully balance their educational and athletic responsibilitieswhile progressing toward graduation.
Contact:
Mary Patrick
mary.patrick@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3475
Kim Ensing
kensing@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3359
Presentation:
Academic Division
Culturally Responsive Higher Education Curriculum Assessment Tool
LeeAnne McNulty
10:20 a.m.
Band Room F-100
The Culturally Responsive Higher Education Curriculum Assessment Tool provides an opportunity for faculty (individually or as a team) to dive deep into theircurriculum and discover whether it is culturally responsive and sustaining, or if modifications are needed. If necessary, steps can be taken to revise or adjustcurriculum. Culturally responsive changes can bring about increased success, retention, persistence, and academic achievement among all students, especiallythose from historically oppressed cultures and ethnicities.
Contact:
LeeAnne McNulty
leeanne.mcnulty@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3450
Presentation:
student services Division
Helping Justice Involved Students to Transition
Johnnie Owens
1:20 p.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
Empowering students with criminal justice involvement to achieve their educational and career aspirations. We offer specialized guidance for college enrollmentand completion, career pathway development, and wraparound services that address the systemic challenges encountered during successful communityreintegration.
Contact:
Johnnie Owens
johnnie.owens@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3273
Presentation:
administrative services Division
Inclusive Leadership Through Collaboration: A Management Development Program
Bob Curry & Thomas Lamica
9:20 a.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
This program brings together campus managers to learn, grow, and support one another in becoming more effective inclusive leaders. Through a carefullydesigned progression of activities and discussions, participants will develop both the mindset and skill set necessary to create environments where allindividuals can thrive. The collaborative approach ensures that managers learn not only from expert facilitators but also from each other's experiences andperspectives. By working together throughout the program, participants build lasting connections and establish a community of practice dedicated toadvancing inclusive leadership principles across the campus.
Contact:
Bob Curry
rcurry@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3247
Thomas Lamica
thomas.lamica@hancockcollege.edu
(805) 922-6966, ext. 3261
Presentation:
Academic Division
Revolutionizing Career Advancement Through Community College Baccalaureate Degrees
Dr. Jedidiah Lobos & Rick Motawakel
9:40 a.m.
Band Room, F-100
The Antelope Valley College (AVC) district covers a large and somewhat isolated geographical space, and as such, the residents of the Antelope Valley (AV) havelittle to no access to baccalaureate degree education. As the AV is also home to major aerospace companies and limited healthcare opportunities, AVC hasaddressed these workforce challenges by establishing two baccalaureate degrees, one in Airframe Manufacturing Technology and one in Respiratory Care. Withstrong alliances with industry partners, AVC has adapted its curriculum and training to the ever-evolving demands of the job market. These two programs addressregional workforce shortages by preparing students for high-wage, high-demand careers through locally accessible, affordable programs of study.
Contact:
Dr. Jedidiah Lobos
jedidiah.lobos@avc.edu
(661) 722-6300 ext 6447
Presentation:
Student Services Division
Serving Students Through Basic Needs
Dr. Jedidiah Lobos & Kathryn Mitchell
12:20 p.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
Antelope Valley College's Basic Needs Center focuses on supporting students with access to on-campus and community resources to maximize student success inachieving educational goals. We strive to connect students with resources that will address their basic needs so they can remain focused on education. We gobeyond the traditional resources of food, transportation, and technology support to offer housing resources, parenting/family resources, access to hygieneproducts and showers for our homeless students, and laundry cards. Our Basic Needs Center works closely with our other student services, including access tohealth care (vision, dental, medical, and mental health) to support students holistically in their academic journey.
Contact:
Van Rider
van.rider@avc.edu
(661) 722-6300 ext 6709
Administrative Services Division
Reimagining an Educational Oasis in the High Desert
Kathryn Mitchell
9 a.m.
2nd floor Film Screening Room
In 2016, Antelope Valley College added a bond measure to the general election ballot. Most of the facilities at AVC had not been updated in more than 50 years.Academic facilities needed safety upgrades, roof repairs, plumbing and electricity issues, and basic technological updating so we could remain relevant to ourcommunity. The bond measure passed, and over the past nine years, AVC has been working diligently to reimagine our campus spaces so we can provide studentssafe and innovative facilities that offer current equipment, access to technology, and generally a beautiful learning environment. By the end of 2026, among manychanges, AVC will have built five new buildings, updated all of the infrastructure and repaired many of the remaining buildings, added new signage and safetymeasures, and created a place that truly stands out and supports the community.
Contact:
Kathryn Mitchell
kathryn.mitchell@avc.edu
(661) 722-6300 ext 6554
Presentation:
Academic Division
Building AI Literacy for Faculty and Students
Chloe McGinley
10:40 a.m.
Band Room, F-100
In this presentation, we will share how College of the Canyons is equipping faculty and students with AI literacy through professional development and non-creditcourses, ensuring faculty have the critical literacy to examine their pedagogical practices while students develop AI competencies that will serve them academicallyand professionally. We will also share links to openly licensed, adoptable versions of these courses.
Contact:
Chloe McGinley
Chloe.McGinley@canyons.edu
(760) 216-7923
student services Division
Inclusive Access for Social Good: How a Refugee Assistance Program Builds Enrollment and a Better Life
Dr. Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine
1 p.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
College of the Canyons will share the process of how a new Student Services program was developed out of necessity and good will. In Spring, 2022, when a groupof 176 Afghan refugee families were temporarily resettled close to the College, the Student Services division, working with the Non-credit program and the BasicNeeds Center, along with local charitable foundations and individuals, secured pro bono legal services, laptops, rental assistance, employment opportunities, andESL instructions, to assist the families to enroll in our non-credit classes as well as eventually to settle in an area of their choice.
Contact:
Dr. Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine
jia-yi.cheng-levine@canyons.edu
(661) 862-9345
Presentation:
administrative services Division
Community Star Party Engagement
Contact
9:40 a.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
The bi-annual Star Party at College of the Canyons’ Canyon Country Campus has become a signature event that brings together our campus and localcommunities through a shared love of astronomy and science. This event features telescope viewing guided by local astronomy clubs, a portable indoorplanetarium run by students, interactive science demos/activity tables led by student clubs and academic departments, student presentations, building tours, andguest speakers from top institutions like JPL, NASA, Caltech, and the College. This free event engages students, faculty, staff, administrators, facilities, andcommunity partners, working collaboratively to celebrate science.
Contact:
Anthony Michaelides
Anthony.michaelides@canyons.edu
(661) 313-3059
Presentation:
Academic Division
Cougar FAST Way: Empowering Students' Journey to Success
Aubrey Kuan Roderick & Jessica Strano
1 p.m.
Band Room, F-100
Join us for an inside look at Cougar FAST Way, Cuesta College’s new program designed
to help first-time students start strong and stay on track.
Through a supportive cohort model, paired courses, and an accelerated schedule, students
take just two classes at a time—allowing for deeper focus and lessstress. What sets
Cougar FAST Way apart is the commitment of our faculty, who collaborate to design
engaging, connected instruction that makes learning moremeaningful and manageable.
Students benefit from a strong sense of community, personalized support, and coordinated
classroom experiences that buildmomentum toward their goals.
Visit our website to learn how Cougar FAST Way helps students Focus, Accelerate, Succeed,
and Transfer — the FAST Way.https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/fast/index.html
Contact:
Aubrey Kuan Roderick
aubrey_kuanroderick@cuesta.edu
(805) 592-9860
administrative Services Division
Bridging the Digital Divide in Nursing Education: Technology Equity for Student Success
Beth Johnson
1:40 p.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
As the nursing profession continues to evolve, technological fluency has become essential for student preparedness and career readiness. This presentation explores why technology equity is critical in nursing education and how Cuesta College is addressing access gaps to ensure all students can succeed. Through intentional retention strategies, high-impact practices, and integrated support services, the college is advancing equity and fostering student success in one of today’s most demanding fields.
Contact:
Beth Johnson
beth_johnson3@cuesta.edu
(805) 592-9578
Presentation:
Academic Division
Your Voice Matters: Shaping Annual Career Education Funding
Robert Cabral
1:40 p.m.
Band Room, F-100
Moorpark College uses a faculty-first allocation model for Strong Workforce and Perkins funding that starts with LMI data and unmet needs and ends with annualallocations that range from faculty stipends and student workers to major capital projects.
Contact:
Robert Cabral
rcabral@vcccd.edu
(805) 553-4138
Presentation:
student services Division
Two-way texting boost student tutoring engagement
Mike Hoffman
10:20 a.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
Faced with poor email performance, Student services offices at Moorpark College shifted their student contact to two-way texting for tutoring help with key Mathand English classes. Tutoring use jumped by seven times and passing rates climbed, too.
Contact:
Mike Hoffman
mhoffman@vcccd.edu
(805) 504-5764
Presentation:
administrative services Division
Sustainable Landscape Program at Moorpark College: An innovative approach to water conservation
Brian Sherman
12:20 p.m.
Band Room - F-100
Moorpark College has a reputation for having a park-like campus, an appearance that’s created through understanding the Soil-Water-Plant relationship. Specific plant selection and a state-of-the-art computerized central irrigation control system helps the college reduce its landscaping water usage by nearly 36 million gallons a year while keeping the campus green and exceeding state water-reduction mandates.
Contact:
Brain Sherman
bsherman@vcccd.edu
(805) 504-5764
Academic Division
Productivity and Class Schedule
Jens-Uwe Kuhn, Dr Beth Taylor-Scott & Rachel Walsh
9:20 a.m.
Band Room, F-100
Increasing productivity of the class schedule by reducing duplicate offerings and
raising class capacities when and where applicable. New credit and noncredit
curriculum.
Contact:
Jens-Uwe Kuhn
jkuhn@sbcc.edu
Dr. Beth Taylor-Schott
eataylorscho@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Rachel Walsh
rewalsh1@pipeline.sbcc.edu
student services Division
Basic Needs Center and Services
Christina Llerena & Monica Campbell
12 p.m.
2nd Floor Film Screening Room
Basic Needs Centers at 3 locations: Cliff Campus, Wake and Schott centers. Dream Center and Housing Services
Contact:
Christina Llerena
cllerena@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Monica Campbell
mncampbell2@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Presentation:
administrative services Division
Automation for HR and Fiscal
Dr. Devin Daugherty, Dr. Eric Hoffman, and Dr. Beth Taylor-Schott
1:20 p.m.
Band Room - F-100
HR Employee evaluations electronically though NeoEd and Fiscal Services implementing Atlassian ticketing system.
Contact:
Dr. Devin Daugherty
dadaugherty@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Dr. Eric Hoffman
ehoffman3@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Dr. Beth Taylor-Schott
eataylorscho@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Presentation:
NeoEd and Atlassian
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