Skip Main Navigation
Skip Navigation
  1. Home
  2. Professional Development
  3. Professional Development

Professional Development

Calendar of Events

October 6

Scroll Less, Talk More: Humanizing the Online Learning Experience
Presented by CVC@ONE
1-2 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
In online learning environments, students often spend more time scrolling through content than engaging with their peers. While we know that human connection—not just information—is the key to deeper academic engagement, is it possible to build these relationships in a scripted online setting like a college course? In this session, we’ll explore what it means to “scroll less and talk more” in the context of online learning and how this shift can support our students’ persistence, motivation, and success.

Participants will explore a range of communication tools—both within Canvas and external platforms—with a focus on strategies that encourage authentic student-to-student connection. Special attention will be given to ways we can replicate the informal spaces where meaningful peer relationships form in face-to-face classes. Attendees will leave with flexible, scalable ideas for building online student communities that support learning in the online classroom and beyond.

October 7

Founding Partisans
Presented by the National Humanities Center
4-5:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
This webinar will delve into the history of American political partisanship and its lasting effects. The framers of the Constitution professed to think political parties would be the downfall of the American experiment in self-government. However, these framers dabbled in the same partisan actions which they claimed would spell ruin. While the parties they founded have changed names over the years, the philosophical divisions that gave rise to the first parties, as well as the resulting bitterness, are still with us.

October 8

Mental Health Communication Do’s and Don’ts
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Understanding how mental health impacts thinking and behavior helps to reduce frustration & stress, and improves outcomes for everyone. Learn simple tools to manage conflict and express feelings in this one-hour seminar 

Social Media Outreach: Connecting or Competing?
Presented by CCC Health and Wellness
10-11 a.m.
Presented in Zoom
As student mental health needs evolve, so must our approaches. This three-part series explores the intersection of digital tools, social media, and culturally responsive practices to reimagine how colleges can support student well-being in more accessible, relevant, and human-centered ways.

Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships 
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Maintaining a balance between caring for loved ones and setting healthy boundaries for yourself can be challenging. Learn how to express your own needs without guilt, strike a healthy balance between caregiving and self-care, and tips for negotiating compromises in this one-hour seminar 

Exploring OER in Hospitality Management: Best Practices and Needs
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Join colleagues for a discussion about the existing OER options for Hospitality Management, what is currently being used, and what key needs still exist. We will also discuss barriers that prevent the adoption of OER and what resources need to be developed. Please bring your questions and ideas to contribute to this important conversation.

Journalism and Newspaper Production OER
2-3 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
News production classes are an important component of the Journalism Associate Degree for Transfer, but the available OER may not be sufficient to support student success. Join journalism colleagues to discuss the OER that are currently used for news production classes and explore what resources may be needed to fill in any gaps. Bring your questions and suggestions and we will investigate the possibilities.

October 9

Tackling Loneliness and Creating Connection
Presented by Calm 
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Cell phones. Social media. Messaging apps. Videoconferencing. Email. Human beings have more opportunities to connect than ever before. So why are so many feeling disconnected?

According to Cigna’s Loneliness in America 2025 report, more than half of US workers (~52%) are feeling lonely–and it’s taking a toll on both individuals and organizations. Loneliness isn’t just a bad feeling; it is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Furthermore, an employee who feels lonely is up to five times more likely to miss work due to stress and twice as likely to consider quitting. The cost of letting loneliness go unaddressed is high–It’s time to invest in building stronger communities and fostering meaningful relationships that last. In honor of World Mental Health Day, join Calm as we celebrate being In It Together with a powerful conversation featuring psychologist and caregiving scientist Dr. Allison Applebaum, psychologist Juli Fraga, Calm CEO David Ko, and retired Navy SEAL commander turned mindfulness coach Jon Macaskill.

American Government and OER: Next Steps
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Please join us for a webinar on OER and American Government and Politics. We will explore what OER has been developed as well as discuss plans to develop additional OER, including modules on methods and congressional action.

Exploring OER for English C1000
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Curious about how OER can support the new ENGL C1000 template? This conversation will give English faculty space to share ideas, explore existing OER texts, and identify gaps. Together, we’ll consider how common course numbering shapes resource adoption and what tools might ease the transition. Bring your questions and experiences; your insights will help guide next steps in making ENGL C1000 truly zero-textbook-cost.

October 10

Courtrooms to Campuses: Navigating New Legal Terrain in Higher Ed
Presented by Innovative Educators 
9-9:45 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
The legal ground under higher education is shifting fast — from court rulings that limit regulatory agency power, to intense scrutiny of admissions, DEI programs, free speech, and institutional liability. In this episode, legal expert Melissa Carleton walks us through the most pressing court cases and regulatory trends that are redefining compliance, governance, and risk for colleges and universities. Whether you lead policy, administration, or student affairs, tuning in will help you anticipate challenges, bolster institutional resilience, and examine institutional policies in light of recent decisions.

Open Educational Resources (OER) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Office Hours
Presented by OERI
12-1 p.m.
Attend in Zoom 
Drop in to chat and ask questions about AI and OER. Questions can range from attribution, citation, ethics, hypothetical, discipline specific, small, or large! Join colleagues, get feedback, or brainstorm ways that AI can be a helpful brainstorming tool in your OER work. 

Breaking Through: Combating the Silent Suicide Crisis in Men’s Mental Health 
Presented by Calm 
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Pre-registration required
Attend in Zoom
Join us for a powerful conversation that shines a light on one of the most urgent and often overlooked mental health issues—men’s mental health and suicide prevention. This one-hour panel brings together mental health champions who will share their personal stories of struggle, survival, and hope. You’ll hear how they’re working to break the silence, challenge stigma, and create space for healing and connection.

AHC Program Review and Planning or Core Topic Help with Patrick McGuire 
Meeting ID: 822 1354 3932
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
If you are working on your yearly Program Review and Planning or Core Topic documents and need assistance, you are welcome to join my weekly Zoom meeting. You may also contact me at pmcguire@hancockcollege.edu  to schedule a face-to-face meeting or to arrange another time.

Recordings