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Choose Your Own Adventure

ECC’s Professional Development Day covers wide range of topics

Faculty members began their spring semester in an informative way. Professional Development Day for Curriculum was held Friday, Jan. 2 in the Fleming Building on the Tarboro campus. Traditionally, the annual event includes an educational message from a keynote speaker on strategies to enhance student success. This year, after participants were treated to snacks and a welcome from ECC President, Dr. Greg McLeod, they had the opportunity to “choose their own adventure.”

Johanna Owens, instructor and team lead of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, said the organizers created this platform to encourage professional conversation and collaboration.

“We thought about what some of our initiatives are at the college–advising support, future-ready workforce skills, student aid, onboarding and meeting new faculty, the one-college model, accreditation, active learning strategies—and created a space to learn from each other, to ask questions, and to provide input,” said Owens. “Hearing from our very own subject matter experts launched a dialogue we hope will continue throughout the semester and beyond.”

Repeating breakout sessions focused on a variety of topics, and faculty learned more about the areas that interested or impacted them. Topics ranged from Future Ready Workforce Skills and Partnerships, to Financial Aid, Scholarships and the ECC Foundation.

Sherlock McDougald, ECC’s dean for financial aid, spoke with faculty about last date of attendance (LDA), as well as grants, scholarships and institutional aid available for students.

“LDA, or the last academically related activity, is one of the most critical data points we collect in financial aid,” shared McDougald. “It determines the student’s aid eligibility and how much financial aid students are eligible to receive.” McDougald also stressed that accurate LDA reporting prevents student debt and institutional liability.

Tameka Kenan-Norman, executive director of public information and institutional advancement, said that students may apply for scholarships from the ECC Foundation.

“There are currently five annual scholarships and 77 endowments available through the Foundation,” said Kenan-Norman. “Scholarships range from $100 to $3,500.”

The additional 25-minute sessions also offered updates, information that can be shared with students, and initiatives that are on the horizon.

Other topics included:

• Accessibility, Active Learning and Moodle 
• New Programs, People and Onboarding   
• Strategic Plan
• One College Model at ECC
• Gen Ed Advising, Math and Course Timing

For Owens, the day was a chance to also gain additional details that will assist faculty in being even better ambassadors for the college.

Owens stated, “I’ve been trying to talk up some of our initiatives—the Construction Academy, Customized Training and the Small Business Center—when the opportunity arises with community members who might benefit from an employer or potential employee standpoint.”