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Professional Development

Calendar of Events

October 24

How to Disagree Agreeably
Presented by the National Humanities Center
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration is required 
Based on the political causes they've championed as public intellectuals, you'd expect philosopher Cornel West and legal scholar Robert George to bitterly dislike one another. But nothing could be further from the truth. The progressive West and conservative George are good friends, united by their interest in great thinkers from the past and by their commitment to lively, respectful debate on the questions that matter most.

For this "In Conversation" event, they will be joined by award-winning journalist Jane Ferguson, whose experiences as a decorated war correspondent in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan have made her keenly aware of how entrenched disagreement can lead to violence and unspeakable suffering.

October 28

AHC Presents: De-escalation Training
Attend online or Face-to-Face
9-10 a.m.
Location: Face-to-Face at the LVC (Lompoc Valley Center) 1-102H
Or attend in Zoom
Come learn de-escalation techniques from our AHC Chief of Police, David Millard

Physics and Open Educational Resources (OER) Office Hours
9-10 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
The OERI is pleased to offer a series of Physics Open Educational Resources (OER) office hours throughout the term. These office hours will serve as a question-and-answer session where attendees bring in their Physics OER needs, requests, and questions. Attendees can also use this space to receive guidance and ask questions about MyOpenMath.

Trump and Higher Education: Understanding the Latest
Presented by the Chronicle of Higher Education
10-11 a.m.
Pre-registration required
Attend in Zoom
The Chronicle’s free webinar series continues this fall with four more sessions analyzing the Trump administration’s evolving impact on higher education. Join Chronicle journalists as they unpack the latest developments out of Washington — and what they mean for your institution.

OERI Accessibility Office Hours
1-2 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Drop in to chat and ask questions about accessibility in OER. Join colleagues to ask questions and get feedback on how to make your OER more accessible.

Trends in Dual Enrollment: Building Pathways to College Success in California
1-2 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Dual enrollment continues to be one of the most powerful strategies for expanding college access, equity, and student success in California. With recent state policy investments and shifting K12–community college partnerships, education leaders are seeking effective, scalable approaches to grow their programs while ensuring quality and sustainability.

In this session, a panel of California community college leaders will share emerging trends, proven best practices, and innovative models that are transforming how high schools and colleges collaborate. Attendees will gain insights into how to build and scale dual enrollment pathways that improve college-going rates, close equity gaps, and maximize the impact of recent state investments.

Participants will also learn how  Innovative Educators’ student success content can support dual enrollment initiatives by equipping students with the time management, study strategies, and digital literacy skills needed to thrive in both high school and college coursework.

This session is designed for higher education and K12 leaders who want to strategically invest in dual enrollment as a lever for student success and institutional growth.

Re-examine ADAPT to Create Chemistry Problems
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required 
In this webinar, we will demonstrate how to use ADAPT's molecular sketcher tool to create chemistry problems where students can build and manipulate molecular structures directly within their assignments. Join us to learn more about this tool and bring your questions.

October 29

Mental Health and Mental Illness: What’s The Difference?
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
While these terms are often used interchangeably, mental health and mental illness are not the same -- and this misunderstanding can cause us to overlook the signs that someone needs help. Explore what mental health is, the categories of mental illness, and how they’re treated in this one-hour seminar 

AI vs Authentic Assessment: Can Authentic Assessment Combat AI Use?
10-11 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
As AI reshapes how students approach coursework, instructors are searching for ways to promote authentic learning while minimizing shortcuts that AI provides. This session explores how Auburn University used video responses, peer interviews, and other non-text-based assessments to deepen engagement, highlight student voice, and sidestep the pitfalls of AI-generated writing. We’ll share examples of assignments that encouraged students to tie content to their own lives, build a personal brand, and connect meaningfully with peers through constructive critique and feedback.

Research shows that authentic assessment, paired with intrinsic motivation and UDL principles, not only strengthens learning but also reduces the likelihood of academic dishonesty. We’ll discuss how fostering genuine student-to-student and student-to-instructor connections makes the work itself more rewarding—encouraging students to invest in the process rather than outsource it. By the end, you’ll have practical ideas for designing activities that both elevate student learning and model ethical AI use while leveraging multi-modal tools to raise barriers to AI outsourcing.

Stigma in the Workplace 
10-11 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 support, and workplace culture. Learn tips for correcting negative perceptions and reducing stigma in this one-hour seminar 

AI on Campus: Emerging Governance Models
Presented by the Chronicle of Higher Education
11-12 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
Finding ways to make AI work across campus to support administrators, faculty, and students must start by creating an AI-governance framework that puts them on paths toward AI literacy. Join the discussion in this upcoming forum.

October 30

Understanding Social Anxiety
8-9 a.m.
Attend in Zoom
Pre-registration required
It's normal to feel nervous in some social situations, but for people with social anxiety disorder, everyday interactions cause intense feelings of anxiety and fear that disrupt relationships, daily routines, and performance at work and school. Explore the symptoms of social anxiety disorder, learn what the causes are, how it is treated, and strategies to manage symptoms in this one-hour seminar 

October 31

Open Educational Resources (OER) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Office Hours
Presented by OERI
12-1 p.m.
Attend in Zoom 
Drop in to chat and ask questions about AI and OER. Questions can range from attribution, citation, ethics, hypothetical, discipline-specific, small, or large! Join colleagues, get feedback, or brainstorm ways that AI can be a helpful brainstorming tool in your OER work. 

AHC Program Review and Planning or Core Topic Help with Patrick McGuire 
Meeting ID: 822 1354 3932
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Attend in Zoom
If you are working on your yearly Program Review and Planning or Core Topic documents and need assistance, you are welcome to join my weekly Zoom meeting. You may also contact me at pmcguire@hancockcollege.edu  to schedule a face-to-face meeting or to arrange another time.

Recordings