2009-10-20
More than 120 educators from around Ohio traveled to the University of Rio Grande on Friday, Oct. 16 for the 42nd annual Ohio Association of Two-Year Colleges (OATYC) conference.
The conference attracted faculty and staff from community colleges across the state, and proved to be very successful. Each year, the conference is held on a different college campus in order to allow the educators to hear presentations on a wide range of issues related to teaching at community colleges.
At Rio Grande, the educators met in large group and small group sessions inside Bob Evans Farms Hall and the Davis University Center.
“Everyone seemed really impressed with the sessions they attended,” said Amber Fellure, a Rio Grande alumnus who assisted with organizing the conference.
Rio Grande faculty member Ellen Brasel, who is the OATYC president-elect, coordinated the event and said she was extremely happy with how smoothly everything went.
“I was very pleased with the conference,” Brasel said. “I was very proud of Rio Grande.” Brasel said she heard nothing but positive comments from those attending the conference. The attendees said they enjoyed the presentations, were impressed with the campus and the surrounding area, and were pleased with how everyone made them feel welcome.
“It was a great effort, “ Brasel said. “It was a community effort and a Rio Grande Family effort.”
One participant, in fact, wrote on his conference evaluation form that the one thing he did not like about the conference was “having to leave at the end of the day.”
Barbara Hatfield, Ph.D., associate provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science, served as one of the keynote speakers for the conference and spoke about several different issues facing higher education today.
“I was extremely impressed with how well organized the conference was,” Hatfield said, adding that she especially thanked Brasel for all of her hard work on the event. It was great to talk with so many faculty members from around the state, and to see the camaraderie between those in attendance, Hatfield said.
The conference also served as an excellent place to discuss how community colleges fit in with new University System of Ohio plan and the proposal to increase enrollment in Ohio’s colleges and universities by 250,000 students. Community colleges will play a key role in this effort, Hatfield said.
In addition, colleges and universities are being asked to work together more effectively in order to best benefit the students, much in the same way that Rio Grande Community College and the University of Rio Grande work cooperatively in order to best reach its students and serve the people of the region.
Rio Grande alumnus and administrator Jake Bapst gave the luncheon speech at the conference. In his remarks, Bapst shared some of Rio Grande’s history, gave information on Gallia County and the surrounding area, discussed the exciting things happening at Rio Grande’s new Meigs Campus facility, and explained other items of interest happening on campus today.
“He did a fabulous job,” Brasel said.
Brasel also said that the food served in the Davis University Center cafeteria was excellent, and she also thanked the Rio Grande Women’s Club for providing refreshments during the day.
“It was an outstanding conference,” said Rio Grande faculty member Chris Pines, Ph.D. He took part in panel discussions that looked at topics such as teaching international students, Internet courses, the transition from a quarter calendar system to semesters, and assessing students.
“I love to hear the different ideas shared at these conferences and discuss the issues that are having an impact on campuses around the state,” Pines said. “We have a lot of different things happening on our campuses and in higher education.” The conference was a great way to network with faculty members from around Ohio, and Pines said he found it to be very valuable.
“It was a real positive for the region and for Rio Grande,” Pines said.
For more information on the OATYC conference, call Brasel at 1-800-282-7201.
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