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Professional Development

Calendar of Events

May 18

Understanding School Avoidance: Strategies to Support Re-Engagement 
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Explore the common reasons why children avoid school and how to identify the root causes behind school avoidance. You’ll gain practical strategies for re-engaging children in their education and learn how to collaborate effectively with schools to create supportive plans that foster success. Led by a mental health professional, this course provides compassionate guidance and actionable tools to help you support your child’s journey back to a positive, confident school experience. 

CalSTRS presents: My Retirement Benefits
3:30-5 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Find out more in-depth information about your CalSTRS benefits, the difference between earned and purchased service credit, and ways to bridge the gap between your CalSTRS benefit and your retirement income goal. 

May 19

Canopy Management Day at AHC – Professional Development Opportunity
8-9 a.m. or 9-10 a.m.
Location: AHC Campus Vineyard, Santa Maria (behind the softball field)
Join us for a hands-on learning experience in the vineyard while enjoying the outdoors. Participants will learn about canopy management practices for grapevines and fruit trees, and how proper canopy management contributes to high-quality grape production and outstanding wines.

No prior experience is necessary. Gloves and all necessary materials will be provided.

We recommend bringing:

  • Sturdy shoes
  • Water
  • A cap or hat for sun protection

We look forward to seeing you in the vineyard!

Communicating Clearly Under Stress: Strategies for Tough Conversations
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
When stress rises, communication often becomes challenging – people speak faster, listen less, and react more strongly than intended. In this course, you’ll discover how stress impacts communication and learn practical strategies to express yourself clearly, even when emotions are intense. This isn’t about avoiding difficult conversations; it’s about approaching them with confidence, making them safer and more productive for everyone involved. 

ASCCC/ Faculty Role in the TOP to CIP Transition 
12-1 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
The California Community Colleges are transitioning from using Taxonomy of Programs (TOP) codes to Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes on programs and courses in our system. This transition has been years in the making, and faculty have an important role in this transition because of the impacts on curriculum and curriculum processes. This webinar overviews the current TOP to CIP transition project, the history of the TOP to CIP transition, previous efforts to transition curriculum codes, and the role of faculty in this work. The webinar will also discuss other curricular codes such as Standard Occupational Codes (SOC) and Student Accountability Model (SAM) Codes. Considerations for how Curriculum Committees might approach this work will also be provided. 

May 20

Breaking The Stigma: Mental Health in the Workplace
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Research shows that about 75% of employees have struggled with an issue that affects their mental health - but 8 out of 10 workers with a mental health condition say shame and stigma prevent them from seeking mental health care. Discuss the impact of unconscious bias and how stigma influences hiring, organizational supports, and workplace culture. Learn tips for correcting negative perceptions and reducing stigma in this one-hour seminar.   

Early Signs Matter: Strategies for Supporting Youth Mental Health
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
It’s no secret that our youth are struggling with their mental health. Roughly 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or a behavioral disorder. When children are struggling, the whole family suffers. In fact, working parents of a teen with mental health challenges are more likely to struggle with their own mental health challenges, regardless of the cause. They’re also more likely to feel stressed, lonely, and less productive.

Mental health challenges rarely start in crisis–early signs matter and subtle changes are worth noticing. But what’s the key to offering the right support at the right time?  And how can leaders and organizations design well-being programs that help employees and their families thrive?

On May 20, join Calm Health for a special virtual event featuring the Chief Wellbeing Officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Dr. Angie Myers, and child and family psychologist Alison Stoner 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health: The Impact of Stress, Trauma, and Life Circumstances
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Learn why mental health and substance use challenges often occur together and how trauma, chronic stress, work environments, family habits, and life circumstances affect a person’s risk and recovery. This course emphasizes the underlying causes behind these issues and explains how relationships, the body, and daily environments all play a role. Part 1 in a 3-part series. 

ASCCC/ ZTC Program Outcomes and Data Webinar
12-1 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Colleges are in the midst of developing and implementing Zero Textbook Cost pathways across the largest system of higher education in the US. What challenges and successes do colleges identify in developing ZTC pathways? How many ZTC pathways are colleges developing? What cost savings for students are estimated? Join us for a webinar sharing the latest research and data on the Zero Textbook Cost Degree Grant Program. 

Instructor Training for LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Prevent Cheating During Online Exams 
12-12:45 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams in Blackboard, Brightspace, Canvas, Moodle, and Schoology.

LockDown Browser is a custom browser that prevents digital cheating during an online exam. Respondus Monitor is a companion product for LockDown Browser that deters cheating when students take online exams in non- proctored environments. Students use their own computers with a standard webcam to record assessment sessions.

The training will cover:

- How to use LockDown Browser to prevent digital cheating in proctored testing environments

- How to use Respondus Monitor in non-proctored environments, to protect exam integrity and confirm student identity

- The student perspective using each application

- Efficient review of the assessment data collected, including the Review Priority system, timeline, and milestone features

- Best practices and tips for success with both applications 

May 21

CCC Accessibility Center Global Accessibility Awareness Day Workshop
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day by joining the California Community Colleges Accessibility Center at our annual workshop! This year’s theme is Raising the Floor: Building a Culture of Access and Equity with a focus on moving from compliance to commitment. The workshop will highlight accessibility efforts throughout the California Community Colleges (CCC). 

Attachment Styles: How Relationships Are Shaped by Patterns of Safety, Stress, and Communication 
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Learn how attachment theory helps explain adult behavior in relationships, communication patterns, boundaries, and emotional reactions. Learn the four primary attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized—and explore how stress, past experiences, and nervous system responses shape the ways adults connect, withdraw, or seek reassurance. This course emphasizes real-life adult patterns and explains why some people repeat communication cycles that feel frustrating or confusing. Part 1 in a 3-part series. 

CalSTRS presents: My Retirement System
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
This online workshop provides an overview of the CalSTRS hybrid retirement system, your survivor and disability benefits, how your benefit will be calculated, ways you can increase your benefit and other CalSTRS resources available to you. Learn more about this first step in your life journey with CalSTRS. 

Program Review Help With Patrick McGuire
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Meeting ID: 822 1354 3932
These sessions are an opportunity to:

If you prefer, you may also email Patrick at pmcguire@hancockcollege.edu to schedule a face-to-face meeting or arrange an alternative time.

Recordings