|
 As
the current dean responsible for faculty development, I would
like to give each of you a hearty welcome to Santa Barbara
City College.
I know how excited I was on my first day at SBCC 34 years
ago in September 1969. I was a young music instructor thrilled
to be working at such a beautiful college after beginning
my career as a high school music teacher just two years before
that. At that time I did not endure the grueling interview
process that each of you has had and knew next to nothing
about the California community colleges. My college work had
been done at San Jose State University and Stanford University
in Northern California and I soon learned that not only were
the two-year college students different than my four-year
college classmates, but that Northern and Southern California
were like two different states. I soon discovered that the
distractions of the beautiful weather and surroundings of
our campus had a definite effect on the student work ethic
(easier going) of students at Santa Barbara City College.
However, now that I have spent
30 years in our fine Music Department and 14 years as the
Instructors' Association President, and have endured a very
grueling interview process and nearly four years as a dean
for English, Fine Arts and Social Science, I know how it feels
to begin a new adventure, as well. A dedicated team of faculty,
administrators and staff from this college and nine other
colleges in California has constructed a face-to-face seminar
and online course for new faculty with all materials posted
on the web. It is my hope that this course will give you an
excellent introduction to the California community colleges,
SBCC specifically, and pedagogical materials that will insure
an excellent teaching experience for you at Santa Barbara
City College.
New faculty who have attended the
Faculty Teaching and Learning Seminar have consistently improved
their teaching from the fall to spring semester of the first
year and all faculty taking the seminar have had higher
success rates in their classes than the college average. I
am confident that you will have the same experience and will
find this seminar an excellent beginning to your teaching
career at Santa Barbara City College. You will treasure the
time that you spend with your colleagues in the Faculty Teaching
and Learning Seminar.
Welcome to an outstanding teaching and learning
institution,
Dr. Jack Ullom
Dean of Educational Programs and Professional Development
Introduction
to Community Colleges | Next
>>
|
