LCC Hosts 5th Annual Conversation Day January 27

CONVERSATION DAY BRINGS OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH  

(Lamar, Colorado; January 24, 2012)  With spring semester courses in progress, Lamar Community College staff and faculty as well as LCC Advisory Council members and student representatives will pause to meet for the college’s fifth “Conversation Day” on Friday, January 27. Originally designed to be an introductory step of reaccreditation, LCC’s Conversation Day has become an extraordinary opportunity to extend continuous improvement efforts, communicate across departments, and discuss new initiatives.   

Most campus offices will be closed on Friday January 27, from 8:30a – 2:00p, so employees can participate in the day’s activities.  The meeting is scheduled for 9:00a – 1:45p.  LCC’s Student Services Center and the Learning Support Services Tutoring Center will remain open with limited services available.  

LCC will welcome Colorado Community College System Vice President and Provost for Student & Academic Affairs Geri Anderson for the day.  She will present on “Pathways to College & Beyond,” a workshop designed to assist the LCC community to identify best practices and opportunities to increase student success.   In the role of Chief Academic and Student Affairs officer, Dr. Anderson provides leadership for all community college academic and student affairs policy development and review.  Anderson ensures the creation and enhancement of high quality career and technical and transfer education programs through ongoing program review, assessment of student learning, high academic standards, and the expansion of scholarship/creative activity.  In addition to providing leadership at the postsecondary level, Dr. Anderson is responsible for the administration of the Colorado Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Plan and the Colorado Technical Education Act for all secondary and postsecondary programs.   

Prior to joining the Colorado Community College System, Dr. Anderson served as the Vice President of Student Learning at Front Range Community College, the largest community college in Colorado. She began her career as a middle school science teacher and administrator in Nebraska. In her 30 years experience as a higher education administrator and faculty member she has worked at large public research institutions, private liberal arts colleges and public community colleges.  

After a working lunch, LCC staff and faculty will also discuss its campus-wide branding efforts. As part of the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) continuous improvement re-accreditation process guided by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the college has made monumental strides in its strategic planning efforts.  These efforts help employees, departments, and the college reach for and attain milestones in services to its students and communities, improving instruction, and building enrollment.