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Thursday, February 15, 2024

2024 PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DAY

ASPIRE • WONDER • CULTIVATE

Thursday, February 15, 2024

2024 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

ASPIRE • WONDER • CULTIVATE

Professional Development Day Icons Bar

The Professional Development Day Committee 2024 would like to invite you to participate in Professional Development Day on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, beginning at the Schoening Conference Center North in the 3C Building at the Yuma Campus of Arizona Western College. Although there will be no classes on that day, our college is open for business; therefore, please work with your team to ensure coverage and enable as many colleagues as possible to attend the day’s activities. 

This event's purpose is to provide professional development to all full-time Faculty, Professional Administrative and Classified employees of Arizona Western College. This year the theme is to Aspire, Wonder and Cultivate by coaching, teaching, inspiring, empowering, learning, engaging, and growing, our employees and our students. 

Photo of Professionals

Locations

  • Matador Activity Center (MAC)
  • College Community Center (3C)
  • Technology Building (T4)
  • Business Administration (BA)
  • Academic Library (LR)

Maps

Downloads

Agenda

View detailed information about breakout sessions below.

Thursday, February 15

All events on Monday will be held on the AWC Yuma Campus. Please park in P1.

  • 8:00-8:30am - Check-in
    Breakfast will be served
    3C Schoening Center North, Yuma Campus
  • 8:30-8:45am - Welcome/Agenda
    Ashley Herrington, Chief of Staff
  • 8:45-9:15am - Keynote Speaker
    Dr. Kathleen Iudicello, Vice President of Learning Services
  • 9:15-9:30am - Transition
  • 9:30-10:30am - Breakout Session 1
  • 10:30-10:45am - Transition
  • 10:45-11:45am - Breakout Session 2
  • 11:45am-12:00pm - Transition
  • 12:00-12:45pm - Table Topics Activity 
    Lunch will be served
    3C Schoening Center North, Yuma Campus
  • 12:45-1:00pm - Transition
  • 1:00-2:00pm - Breakout Session 3
  • 2:00-2:15pm - Transition
  • 2:15-3:15pm - Breakout Session 4
  • 3:15-3:30pm - Transition
  • 3:30-4:00pm - Closing/Door Prizes

 Headshots available for the Employee Directory in Studio - BA 117
8–10am and 1–4pm

Breakout Sessions

View detailed information about breakout sessions below.

Breakout Session 1
9:30-10:30AM

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies/Practices: An Open Forum
  • Controlled Chaos: A Method of Organizing a General Chemistry Lab
  • Career Readiness in Curriculum
  • From Academic Dishonesty to Future Fraudster
  • Project Management – AWC Templates, Tools, and Techniques
  • Climate Change, Food Security, and Malnutrition: What it is and what it is not. Are we ready?
  • Creating an Engaging Online Welcome Video
  • How to Do A Submission Builder
  • Become More Active @ Work: A Roundtable Discussion of Activities and Classes that are Available @ AWC
  • Job Description – What should be included?

Breakout Session 2
10:45-11:45AM

  • Mastering the Art of the One Button Studio: Tips for an Optimal Recording Experience
  • Minding the P’s and Q’s of Policies and Procedures
  • What is Discover AWC?
  • Arizona Rocks! Virtual Field Trips (vft) for AZ Geologic & Hydrologic Sites
  • Cultivating Wonder on the Camino de Santiago
  • The 411 on AI in Higher Ed...the Conversation Continues @ AWC
  • Colleague Access – I’ve Waited Too Long for Access
  • Homemade Probiotic Foods OR Probiotic Supplements?
  • Tagging PDF Documents for Accessibility
  • Earning Statements Unveiled: Decoding Your Payday Puzzle

Breakout Session 3
1:00-2:00PM

  • Wellness Your Way
  • Employee Performance Reviews - Who Needs Them?
  • Revealing the “Monsters” in Slavic Science Fantasy
  • Colleague Navigation: Tips and Tricks
  • Automotive Basics and Maintenance (Session 3 & 4 - back-to-back)
  • Customer Service at AWC: Aiming for an A+ Experience!
  • Growing in Servingness: Reflecting upon the needs and strengths of our NAU and AWC students
  • Maxient 101: Submitting an Incident Report

Breakout Session 4
2:15-3:15PM

  • WAC@AWC
  • A Salsa a Day Keeps Stress Away...Fun for ALL with AWC Zumba Fitness
  • CyberSecurity – Not Just a Malicious Email
  • Automotive Basics and Maintenance (Session 3 & 4 - back-to-back)
  • Building Connection and Agency to Support Healthy Work Culture
  • Violence in the Workplace Awareness and Prevention

Breakout Session Details

Jump to: Session 2 | Session 3 | Session 4

Breakout Session 1

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies/Practices: An Open Forum

    Professional Development
    Dr. Scott Donnelly, Professor of Chemistry, scott.donnelly@azwestern.edu
    Dr. Joann Chang, Executive Director & Dean of Healthcare Programs, joann.chang@azwestern.edu
    Description: Session addresses the following Strategic Plan directive: Improve student success by leveraging [modern classroom teaching strategies] that personalizes the student experience.

    Almost a quarter of the way into the 21st century, it is evident that the teaching-learning nexus of higher education has changed relative to the 20th-century way. The past ways of teaching are being replaced with a spectrum of new approaches and/or mindsets. One of those new teaching mindsets centers around cultural responsiveness.

    This interactive session will explore what culturally responsive teaching strategies or practices AWC faculty are using in the classroom. An expected outcome of this session is an authentic discussion about as-yet undiscovered common challenges in making this work in the classroom across multiple disciplines with different academic goals and purposes.
    Location: Maker Space MAC (102)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Full-Time & Adjunct Faculty. This initiative is applicable to all disciplines.

  • Controlled Chaos: A Method of Organizing a General Chemistry Lab

    Professional Development
    Robert Killin, Professor of Chemistry, robert.killin@azwestern.edu
    Description: A talk about how I run a general chemistry lab (specifically CHM 152) in a non-traditional style, with background/history and a discussion period for feedback/what could be done in the future. This session will share information about how I run a chemistry lab (“Increase awareness about your department’s/institution’s/organization’s processes, services, and/or tools”) and allow for feedback/discussion on how things should be in the future (expanding a skill set and increase conversations and sharing of ideas).
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (170)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Science Faculty (but useful to all faculty in showing how a science lab is run and to allow for their input/discussion)

  • Career Readiness in Curriculum

    Student & Career Services
    Patrick Cunningham, Career Development Coordinator, NAU-Yuma, patrick.cunningham@nau.edu
    Description: Introduction to the NAU 100% Career Readiness initiative and its transition into course curriculum. In addition to the empowerment of students as they navigate their academic and career paths, NAU’s 100% Career Readiness initiative will contribute to the following:
    • Expand a skill set
    • Connect employees, departments, and groups
    • Increase conversations and sharing of ideas.
    • Inform stakeholders about recent or upcoming changes to education, industry, processes, departments
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (173)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Student & Career Services
    Target Audience: AWC Faculty (initiative is applicable to all disciplines)

  • From Academic Dishonesty to Future Fraudster

    Professional Development
    Dr. Kristine Duke, Professor of Accounting, kristine.duke@azwestern.edu
    Description: Does student unethical behavior in higher education transfer to the workforce? Because I wonder if I can find/report the data to support an affirmation of the above session description. Even though the subject matter is serious, the session will be interesting. The goal of the session is to emphasize the importance of reporting and consequences.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (168)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All Staff & Faculty (with a curiosity for fraud)

  • Project Management – AWC Templates, Tools, and Techniques

    Professional Development
    Tyler Vodehnal, Director of Project Management Office, tyler.vodehnal@azwestern.edu
    Description: In the session, we will cover templates, tools, and common techniques that are utilized as part of the AWC Project Management Office. We would like to expand AWC staff understanding and knowledge of PMO tools that they have at their disposal to streamline and track work.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (172)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All Staff & Faculty (with a curiosity for project management tools)

  • Climate Change, Food Security, and Malnutrition: What it is and what it is not. Are we ready?

    Professional Development
    Dr. Hikmet Budak, Professor of Agriculture, hikmet.budak1@azwestern.edu
    Description: Given the opportunity, we will discuss the history and current status of “Climate Change, Malnutrition, and Food Security” and their relationship with novel and innovative technologies Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Genetically Modified Organism and Genomics. This will be a great help to students as well to discuss the basic principles of genetics and the relationship with innovations.

    The session would connect to AWC's strategic plan as they can apply these in new contexts and create knowledge. My goal is to deliver upgraded tools and technology so our students can learn/use now or in the future.
    Location: Lecture Hall MAC (106)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All Staff & Faculty

  • Creating an Engaging Online Welcome Video

    Professional Development
    Luis E. Landeros, Creative Director/Adjunct Faculty (GRA103 Computer Illustration), luis.landeros@azwestern.edu
    Description: Join this workshop to learn how to create engaging online welcome videos that will make a lasting impression on your students. Discover the key elements of effective video introductions, including scripting, presentation skills, technology utilization, and engaging.
    Location: Academic Library - Digital Humanities Classroom
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All full-time and adjunct faculty members will benefit from this workshop and enhance their first impression of online classes. Limited space available in lab.

  • How to Do A Submission Builder

    Student & Career Services
    Holly Banes, Director of Testing Services, holly.banes@azwestern.edu
    Description: In this session, faculty and staff will learn how to do a Submission Builder for Make-Up and Accommodated student exams. Faculty will be given the opportunity to enter a Submission Builder during this session using the online scheduling platform.

    This session connects to the theme for the 2024 Professional Development day. The purpose of Professional Development Day is to allow for others to be coached, learn and bring back skills to their divisions, empower others to engage and grow in learning the “in’s and out’s” of doing a Submission Builder. In this session, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to ask questions and dive into how to create and use the scheduling platform.

    In addition, AWC’s Strategic Plan has a Student Experience Statement. As part of the learning environment, faculty will be utilizing a user-friendly scheduling platform which allows students to easily and quickly schedule themselves for Make-Up and Accommodated exams. The Testing Services staff is committed to delivering an amazing student experience that connects the student community with contemporary technology that supports and enhances the student experience. This session will allow for the end-user to experience the ease and use of a tool which enhances the student learning experience. The hope is to allow for those in attendance to aspire, wonder and cultivate the knowledge needed to use the scheduling platform to their advantage.
    Location: 3C Computer Lab (2206)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Student & Career Services
    Target Audience: This session is geared towards faculty, adjunct faculty, and those who support staff members in the Learning Services and Career and Technology area.

  • Become More Active @ Work: A Roundtable Discussion of Activities and Classes that are Available @ AWC

    Health & Wellness
    Dr. Michelle Sims, Professor of Economics, michelle.sims@azwestern.edu
    Jane Peabody, Coordinator of Physical and Wellness, jane.peabody@azwestern.edu
    Adrienne Noriega, YABC Health Coach, Wellness Council of Arizona, adrienne.noriega@azwestern.edu
    Description: There are many reasons why we need to find practical ways to become more active at work. Improving our physical health and reducing stress are two important reasons. Recently, a study of 200 employees from England and China examined the effect of physical activity on work performance. The results indicated that as little as 20 minutes of physical activity each day can improve one’s vigor, task focus, and quality of sleep, as well as one’s next day physical health and work performance (Cheng and Li, 2023).

    If you want to improve your energy level, focus, physical health, and work performance, adding short spurts of regular physical activity may just do the trick. At AWC, there are a variety of activities and classes that you can pursue to help you achieve this goal. Join us in a roundtable discussion about this important topic at AWC to discuss a variety of activities and classes that employees can pursue to help improve physical and mental health. When this is an institutional priority, employees tend to participate more readily in these programs.
    Reference: Cheng, B. H. & Li, N. Y. (2023). To Improve Your Work Performance, Get Some Exercise. Harvard Business Review Digital Article. https://hbr.org/2023/05/to-improve-your-work-performance-get-some-exercise
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (169)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Health & Wellness
    Target Audience: All AWC Faculty & Staff

  • Job Description – What should be included?

    Human Resources
    Kathy Ocampo, Chief Human Resources Officer, katheline.ocampo@azwestern.edu
    Description: Gain a better understanding of how to write an impactful job description. Participants will be able to review the job description template and changes being made to strengthen job description roles. This session will cultivate a better understanding of the job descriptions and how the job description is a tool for employees and the institution.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (171)
    Breakout: Session 1 – 9:30 – 10:30 AM
    Category: Human Resources
    Target Audience: Supervisors who conduct reviews or employees who would like to know more about the review process and how they can be active contributors to the process.
 

Breakout Session 2

  • Mastering the Art of the One Button Studio: Tips for an Optimal Recording Experience

    Professional Development
    Wendy Hoag, Information Technology Librarian, wendy.hoag@azwestern.edu
    Description: This session focuses on the  Library's Digital Humanities Center One Button Studio and what we’ve learned over the past year while creating content with this amazing technology. We will talk about current best practices to get the recording you desire, how and where to set up reservations and training on the equipment, troubleshooting tips, and touch upon editing in our Digital Humanities Lab.
    Location: Library – One Button Studio (Note: Limited to up to 10 participants)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Faculty and Staff may use this dynamic tool to create engaging videos to present material in courses or presentations, to market services, or tell a story.

  • Minding the P’s and Q’s of Policies and Procedures

    Professional Development
    Ashley Herrington, Chief of Staff, ashley.herrington@azwestern.edu
    Description: Join this workshop to de-mystify the Purpose and Function of the Policies and Procedures at Arizona Western College. This includes how they are reviewed, updated, and communicated. The session will share college best practices and the importance of transparency.
    Location: Lecture Hall MAC (106)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All Staff & Faculty

  • What is Discover AWC?

    Student & Career Services
    Julissa Vargas, Career and Academic Advisor/Academic Restart Coordinator, julissa.vargas@azwestern.edu
    Eva Aviles, University Partnership Manager, eva.aviles@azwestern.edu
    Description: This session will guide you and help you learn about AWC’s New Student Orientation, called Discover AWC, and what it has to offer for our students. Discover AWC is our orientation that we host for all NEW students planning to register for Fall or Spring semesters and want comprehensive assistance in getting started on their first step into college. Discover AWC provides them with the necessary information, resources, and advising assistance to help them have a successful start and experience at AWC.

    Participants will learn about AWC degrees and certificates, the importance of Guided Course Placement, tips on how to choose classes, ideas on how to build a semester schedule, how to register for classes using Student Planning, an introduction to other digital services like Canvas & Student Email, and other important topics necessary for a successful transition into college. Students are also connected with valuable support programs and resources that will enrich and support their academic and student experience at AWC.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (173)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Student & Career Services
    Target Audience: Faculty/Staff, anyone who doesn’t know about Discover AWC this way they can spread the word to colleagues/family/friends who might come in contact with a new student coming to AWC.

  • Arizona Rocks! Virtual Field Trips (vft) for AZ Geologic & Hydrologic Sites

    Professional Development
    Catherine Hill, Geoscience Professor, catherine.hill@azwestern.edu
    Description: AZ is a geoscience wonderland. We have world-class geology at our doorsteps. Less than 1/6 of my students have seen the Grand Canyon, much less the other amazing sites. During my sabbatical, I roamed the state and created virtual field trips. There was a lot of unforeseen difficulties and a baptism in technology, but I have created 7 vfts which are available on the AWC web. Let me take you for a brief exploration. I ASPIRE to bring the geoscience to our students. I want to inspire a WONDER for our natural resources and CULTIVATE an appreciation of natural science.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (170)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Natural science teachers could be served by this resource. A more diverse audience can appreciate the wonders of our state without leaving their chairs and hopefully inspire people to stop and see some of these sites themselves when they travel across our state. With some luck the links may be shared with younger members (K–12) of our community (families of our faculty and staff) generating interest in STEM fields.

  • Cultivating Wonder on the Camino de Santiago

    Personal Development
    Lori Stofft, VP for Advancement & Executive Director for AWC Foundation, lorraine.stofft@azwestern.edu
    Description: Sometimes what we need for a robust work life is a chance to get away from it all, unplug and focus on ourselves. In this interactive session, participants will hear about a larger theme of Type 2 Fun, how learning about how we handle stress outside of work can teach us about our own capacity, and some of the basics of planning a multiple day trek in another country. For many people, foreign travel is something they aspire to. Learn and ask questions about setting up a trip like this.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (168)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Personal Development
    Target Audience: The target audience is adults, 25–64, who might be planning their next adventure, either domestic or foreign.

  • The 411 on AI in Higher Ed...the Conversation Continues @ AWC

    Professional Development
    Dr. Michelle Sims, Professor of Economics, michelle.sims@azwestern.edu
    Angie Creel, Director of Library Services, angela.creel@azwestern.edu
    Dr. Scott Donnelly, Professor of Chemistry and OER Lead Faculty, scott.donnelly@azwestern.edu
    Anthony Gier, Professor of Business & Economics, anthony.gier@azwestern.edu
    Description: Roundtable Discussion – In August 2023, some AWC faculty and staff met to learn the most current information about Generative Artificial Intelligence and share ideas about how to adapt our teaching to ensure student learning. In this session, the conversation will continue in a round table setting.

    The goal is to keep AWC faculty and staff aware of the most current AI capabilities and to share best teaching/learning practices. Given developments in generative AI, it is important for faculty to continue to learn about how these ever-changing capabilities affect teaching/learning practices.
    Location: Maker Space MAC (102)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All AWC Faculty & Staff

  • Colleague Access – I’ve Waited Too Long for Access

    Technology
    Jan Jacobson, Enterprise Apps Analyst, jan.jacobson@azwestern.edu
    Description: This is an informational and interactive discussion on the NEW Colleague Access process. I will teach users how to request access, how personas or pre-approved roles play into the request and the turnaround time when requesting access. I will also explain how the new system will streamline the process of gaining access for you, your current employees and new employees. I would like employees to ASPIRE to a higher understanding of the importance of requesting Colleague access. Create a WONDER of what access they should be requesting and CULTIVATE an environment of best practices district-wide.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (172)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Technology
    Target Audience: All employees in supervisory roles.

  • Homemade Probiotic Foods OR Probiotic Supplements?

    Health & Wellness
    Kitchka Petrova, PhD, NBCT, Assistant Teaching Professor, NAU Yuma, kitchka.petrova@nau.edu
    Amalia Garzon, PhD, Arts & Sciences Coordinator, Teaching Professor, NAU Yuma, amalia.garzon@nau.edu
    Description: This workshop will introduce the participants to the process of preparing simple probiotic foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and yogurt at home. We will share our personal experience of making these foods and provide tips for success! The session addresses the importance of employees’ health and well-being. *The workshop will not involve food tasting or distribution of food samples.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (169)
    Session: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Health & Wellness
    Target Audience: Anyone who is interested in natural ways of achieving health, wellness, and balance.

  • Tagging PDF Documents for Accessibility

    Professional Development
    Ila Peterson, Professor of Mathematics, ila.peterson@azwestern.edu
    Brett Peterson, Professor of Mathematics, brett.peterson@azwestern.edu
    Description: We will be showing attendees how to tag a PDF in order to make it readable by screen readers. Attendees are encouraged to bring a PDF of their choice to tag as practice during the session. Improving accessibility for a diverse student body is always a part of what we do as an institution. The classroom will require a computer classroom with PDF Pro Software.
    Location: 3C Computer Lab (2206)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Anyone who uses PDF documents to communicate information with students, the community, or faculty/staff will benefit from knowing how to tag them for accessibility. We will be spending the session walking attendees through how to do this.

  • Earning Statements Unveiled: Decoding Your Payday Puzzle

    Human Resources
    Kimberly Trujillo, Director of Human Resources, kimberly.trujillo@azwestern.edu
    Description: Whether this is your first job or working toward retirement, understanding the information on your earning statement is crucial to managing your money. Your earning statement provides important information regarding your earnings, taxes, and deductions. This session will help employees have a better understanding of Gross to Net pay and how it ties to their W-2 during year-end. Understanding and reviewing the elements of an earning statement is important to growing strong financial habits.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (171)
    Breakout: Session 2 – 10:45 – 11:45 AM
    Category: Human Resources
    Target Audience: Every employee at our institution is paid a check each pay period. Therefore, this training is meant for all employees whether you are faculty, classified, or PA.
 

Breakout Session 3

  • Wellness Your Way

    Health & Wellness
    Adrienne Noriega, YABC Health Coach, Wellness Council of Arizona, adrienne.noriega@azwestern.edu
    Description: A morning and afternoon session educating the district on the Wellness Your Way Program and wellness offerings at AWC including challenges, health coaching, webinars, fitness access/classes, etc. By being full-time benefited employees, staff has the added benefit of participating in the Wellness Your Way program. This is an opportunity to make sure of all the health and wellness resources they have access to and should take advantage of. During these sessions, the audience will go through a goal-setting practice to help set health and wellness goals for the year/semester.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (169)
    Breakout: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Health & Wellness
    Target Audience: Full-Time Benefited Employees

  • Employee Performance Reviews - Who Needs Them?

    Human Resources
    Kathy Ocampo, Chief Human Resources Officer, katheline.ocampo@azwestern.edu
    Description: Gain a better understanding of the value, purpose, role of an employee performance review. Dive into the employee performance and get to know why you as a supervisor are required to complete the review and how the review may be used as a valuable tool to support employee growth, development, and success within the institution. For us to have an amazing student experience, we also need to have an amazing employee experience. Part of the employee experience is being able to gain valuable feedback on their performance, what may be needed to train-up, or how we as supervisors may support their continued growth and success within the institution.
    Location: Maker Space MAC (102)
    Breakout: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Human Resources
    Target Audience: Supervisors who conduct reviews or employees who would like to know more about the review process and how they can be active contributors to the process.

  • Revealing the “Monsters” in Slavic Science Fantasy

    Professional Development
    Dr. Monica Ketchum-Cardenas, Professor of History and Sociology, monica.ketchum@azwestern.edu
    Description: During the Cold War, writers and filmmakers in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union used “science fantasy” (known as science fiction in the West) as a vehicle through which they criticized economic, political, and social issues that citizens in these regions were facing in their everyday lives. Unlike Western science fiction, monsters are noticeably absent from science fantasy...but the genre is no less disconcerting. This session will explore selected works and the historical events that inspired them, prompting participants to consider how divergent experiences and ideologies produced markedly disparate fears in the East and West.

    This session connects to the Aspire, Wonder, Cultivate theme via its interdisciplinary exploration of a literary genre that was not widely known outside of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Participants will engage in historical inquiry as they learn about science fantasy. This session also shares what was learned from attending the Ohio State University Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies Autumn 2023 K–14 Teacher Training Workshop, “Happiness Without Freedom or Freedom Without Happiness”: Slavic Science Fantasy Literature and Film as Political and Social Commentary.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (170)
    Breakout: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Anyone interested in learning about the genre of science fantasy and its connection to social, economic, and political critique within the context of the Cold War.

  • Colleague Navigation: Tips and Tricks

    Technology
    Jan Jacobson, Enterprise Apps Analyst, jan.jacobson@azwestern.edu
    Description: Session to cover the basic navigation within Colleague. This would involve using the menu structure, creating favorites for menus that are accessed frequently, looking up records through various search features, etc. This session assists in staff being able to navigate Colleague and look up records correctly so that duplicates will be less likely. Data integrity would improve as well as time spent on navigating through Colleague.
    Location: Lecture MAC (172)
    Breakout: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Technology
    Target Audience: Staff with Colleague access (not Self-Service).

  • Automotive Basics and Maintenance

    Personal Development
    Mike Murphy, Professor of Automotive, michael.murphy@azwestern.edu
    Description: Learn the basics and maintenance of an automotive vehicle. Including Hybrid and Electric. The session will be available and extended out to two breakout sessions back-to-back in order to fit in a "how to change a tire" demonstration. This session will expand a skill set, connect employees, departments, and groups, and increase conversations and sharing of ideas.
    Location: Automotive Technology Lab – T4 Technology Building
    Breakout: Session 3 & 4 (back-to-back) - 1:00 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Personal Development
    Target Audience: Everyone could use a reliable form of transportation and understanding of its cost.

  • Customer Service at AWC: Aiming for an A+ Experience!

    Human Resources
    Julia Howe, Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Development, julia.howe@azwestern.edu
    Description: Join us as we explore, discuss, and exchange strategies to not just meet but exceed customer service expectations. Discover the art of crafting a warm and inviting atmosphere, navigating challenges with finesse, and raising the bar for service standards. This session is an open invitation to all who are not only curious about but deeply committed to achieving service excellence—for customers and coworkers alike. The college wants YOU to be a part of the conversation to elevate our practice of service excellence!

    This session lends itself to Aspire Wonder Cultivate because we’re asking one another to ASPIRE to excellence, WONDER about possibilities, and CULTIVATE a culture that builds on personal assessment and ownership for our culture. We are asking participants to INQUIRE about possibilities, LEARN from one another, EMPOWER ourselves to own our customer service GROWth.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (168)
    Breakout: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Human Resources
    Target Audience: While all of us are responsible for service excellence as we all work with one another and/or students, most likely this will be attractive to frontline staff and supervisors.

  • Growing in Servingness: Reflecting upon the needs and strengths of our NAU and AWC students

    Professional Development
    Amalia Garzon, PhD, Arts & Sciences Coordinator, Teaching Professor, NAU Yuma, amalia.garzon@nau.edu
    Alma Montemayor-Sándigo, BME/ESL Assistant Clinical Professor, NAU Yuma, alma.sandigo@nau.edu
    Description: Northern Arizona University – Yuma (NAU-Yuma) and Arizona Western College (AWC) have focused on defining the characteristics of their academic identity as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI). The commitment of both HSI institutions to servingness includes a constant reflection upon the strengths and needs of all our students. NAU-Yuma has recently asked its students to share experiences encouraging perseverance, empowerment, and learning in higher education.

    This workshop intends to define servingness and share the outcomes of focused groups that highlight what we are doing well and the areas that need improvement as HSIs. It will engage participants in structured and critical conversations on current practices so that collectively, we can grow in servingness. It meets the goal of the conference in promoting conversations and sharing of ideas to engage faculty and staff in collective growth to empower HSI students.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (173)
    Session: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: Faculty & Staff

  • Maxient 101: Submitting an Incident Report

    Student & Career Services
    Isaac Ceja, Administrative Assistant, isaac.ceja@azwestern.edu
    Description: We will be showing you the Basics and How-To’s on how to properly submit a Maxient Incident Report while it being quick, easy and effective. Coaching - Teaching and Empowering our fellow AWC members on how to benefit from the proper use of Maxient.
    Location: 3C Computer Lab (2206)
    Session: Session 3 - 1:00 - 2:00 PM
    Category: Student & Career Services
    Target Audience: Staff Members - easy and friendly to use system that can be understood by a variety of people for various reasons with great results.
 

Breakout Session 4

  • WAC@AWC

    Professional Development
    Dr. Sarah Snyder, Professor of English, Administrator of Writing Intensive Curriculum and Writing Program, Chair of Writing Curriculum Committee, sarah.snyder@azwestern.edu
    Description: This session will address questions and ask for feedback on the next generation of Writing Intensive, as WAC@AWC. It will outline the current program and best practices and aspire as to what the next generation will keep, move away from, and innovate. The goal of the session is to:
    • Connect employees, departments, and groups
    • Increase conversations and sharing of ideas
    • Inform stakeholders about recent or upcoming changes to education, industry, processes, departments, etc.
    • Creatively fulfill the purpose of the day
    Location: Maker Space MAC (102)
    Breakout: Session 4 - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: This session is for both WI instructors and future/aspiring WAC@AWC instructors (which includes everyone at the college).

  • A Salsa a Day Keeps Stress Away...Fun for ALL with AWC Zumba Fitness

    Health & Wellness
    Dr. Michelle Sims, Professor of Economics & Zumba Instructor, michelle.sims@azwestern.edu
    Description: Chronic stress puts our health at risk, increasing our chances of anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, weight gain, and much more. It’s important for us to find healthy ways to minimize stress in our lives. According to 2017 survey research about the effects of Zumba Dance on the management of stress, regular participation in a Zumba class helps reduce stress levels and anxiety, which can help improve our physical and mental health (Akmal, 2017).

    During this session, participants will experience a beginning Zumba Fitness class, dancing simple Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, and Reggaeton moves to fun music. Participants should wear comfortable tennis shoes and be ready to smile a lot and sweat a little.
    Reference: Akmal, N. (2017). Effects of Zumba Dance on the Management of Stress – A Survey. International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 9 (06), pp. 51930 – 51933.
    Location: 3C Breezeway
    Breakout: Session 4 - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Health & Wellness
    Target Audience: All AWC Faculty & Staff

  • CyberSecurity – Not Just a Malicious Email

    Technology
    Jan Jacobson, Enterprise Apps Analyst, jan.jacobson@azwestern.edu
    Description: This is an informational and interactive discussion sharing different ways that “Bad Actors” attempt to gain access to not only Arizona Western College’s information; but, also to your personal information. This will be an interactive discussion on how to protect yourself and AWC as we navigate the world of Cyber criminals, and how they plan their attacks and ways to combat them. The purpose of this presentation is to ASPIRE to learn and implement best practices of Cyberattacks and who might want our information, WONDER how we can identify threats and how to act on them and CULTIVATE a better understanding district wide of the importance of Cybersecurity.
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (172)
    Breakout: Session 4 - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Technology
    Target Audience: Any AWC employee can benefit by increasing, not just for their knowledge of Cybersecurity for AWC’s protection, but also for the protection of their personal information outside the college.

  • Building Connection and Agency to Support Healthy Work Culture

    Personal Development
    Dawn Whinnery, Professor of Psychology, dawn.whinnery@azwestern.edu
    Lori Stofft, VP for Advancement & Executive Director for AWC Foundation, lorraine.stofft@azwestern.edu
    Description: Leveraging lessons from more than a year of deep cultural re-alignment, come get a quick dose of tips and tricks on how to elevate your work experience, ask for what you need, and navigate tricky conversations. Participants will receive a printed copy of the New Era workbook and will role play a few scenarios together. We all “aspire” to harmony at work, and reduced suffering in our lives. What if we could “cultivate” that kind of deep connection, and personal accountability that caused us to show up for each other in new ways? Ways that built on our shared mission & vision and helped our students reach their dreams? That would be “wonder”-ful!
    Location: Lecture Lab MAC (168)
    Breakout: Session 4 - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Personal Development
    Target Audience: AWC and partner university employees who would like to increase their job satisfaction and team productivity, aged 18–74, men and women.

  • Violence in the Workplace Awareness and Prevention

    Professional Development
    Stephen Suho, Chief, AWC Campus PD, stephen.suho@azwestern.edu
    Description: Cultivate an agile culture, strengthen the future of AWC and the community. Improve values of empowerment, respect, and unity.
    Location: Lecture Hall MAC (106)
    Breakout: Session 4 - 2:15 - 3:15 PM
    Category: Professional Development
    Target Audience: All Staff & Faculty

Thank you for attending
Professional Development Day 2024