As the faculty week Coker College workshops got underway this year one of the fascinating topics was, "What makes for good teaching?" It turns out that faculty members seldom get many opportunities to discuss this crucial question in their daily activities. The general feedback was that this was a popular topic and lots of people were happy to talk with colleagues about this most crucial question.
From an audience perspective, I am wondering "What do you think makes a college teacher a good teacher? In sort of a shameless ploy to get comments to this blog, I am seeking some response. So, PLEASE join in this conversation:
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Ribbon Cut for Coker's downtown student apartments
Shared values of community are part of the uniting theme between the city of Hartsville, S. C. and Coker College as the two organizations work toward building a strong town/gown relationship. A very tangible example of this effort was unveiled on Tuesday, August 9 as the ribbon was cut on new apartments in downtown that will be home to 20 Coker students in apartment-like residential living. Dr. Robert Wyatt, president of Coker College, told the crowd that he looks forward to the many ways Hartsville and Coker can become an even stronger partnership because he sees the best of community in both the city and the college.
More than 200 people were on hand for what was an exciting event for downtown Hartsville as Lenora Lefew, director of the Hartsville Downtown Development Association told the crowd that if you were taking "Downtown 101" you would quickly find that downtown residential living would be one of the major requirements. She said the community is excited to welcome the students into the Hartsville downtown.
Jason Umfress, Dean of Students, said that as the relationship between Coker College and Hartsville continues to strengthen, his goal would be see Hartsville recognized as one of the nation's top college towns.
Steve Avant, who owns the buildings in which the new apartments have been created, said this present is a sort of visit to the past. Much of the space that is now the Coker apartments was decades ago the Marguerite Hotel, used for business people on trips to markets in Hartsville. There are many stories about how quickly this project became a reality but Steve Avant summed it up by saying "while I have some visions for the growth of downtown I am only able to implement the vision by responding to the dreams and desires of people in the community."
The students who have seen their new living arrangements are even more excited now than when they found they had won the room draw for the new apartments.
As the quick ribbon cutting broke up and the tours began the prevailing buzz from Mayor Mel Pennington and Lenora Lefew and President Wyatt and many community members and students was how can we keep this partnership building and this excitement growing.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Lots of action in the sauna
that we call Hartsville, South Carolina in August. The Coker College campus is http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnot quite abuzz but it is close. The Resident Assistants are back on campus getting ready for a record enrollment in the living areas. The Commissioners are back, training for the largest first-year class in a long time. The new faculty, 14 of them, have been involved in learning about Coker and occasionally I have run into a colleague or two arranging their offices. Tonight is the first official event for faculty as we meet to greet at a dinner that will open the 2011/2012 academic year. It is exciting! I don't think we had anything in the corporate world to compare with the start of a new year on the college campus.
The reason for the sauna reference is humidity nearly off the charts with temperatures hovering between 95 and 103, depending on where you might be standing.
The reason for the sauna reference is humidity nearly off the charts with temperatures hovering between 95 and 103, depending on where you might be standing.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Good news in the morning
Waking up to the computer this morning there was a note in FACEBOOK and a former Coker student is reporting "I got the role." As I checked email there was another short note from a former student, "I got the job, they sent the offer after the luncheon interview." Education is not all about the jobs but they do play a large part in the assessment of effectiveness. Both of these students have been working for awhile and both these pieces of news show them advancing along their career/life paths. Hearing that kind of news is one reason I really enjoy the professor job in this Coker College learning community!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Coker recognized for strong program
I am including the recent news release that points to the recognition of Coker as a "best' school. This was released by Coker College on August 2.:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coker College Named a Best in College the Southeast by The Princeton Review
HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Aug. 2, 2011 – Coker College is one of the best colleges in the southeast according to the nationally known education services company, The Princeton Review.
Coker is one of 135 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature, “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” released this week on PrincetonReview.com.
“We're pleased to recommend Coker College to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their undergrad degree. We chose it and the other terrific institutions we name as 'regional best' colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's senior vice president and publisher.
“While community members on campus and off understand well the traditions and pride that have shaped Coker College, we know too, that national recognition plays an important role in our future,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.
“When national editors at Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and, earlier this year, at Colleges of Distinction, take note of excellence – in our case, the extraordinary achievements of Coker College’s students, faculty and staff – they lift not only Coker College, but they call much needed attention to the role of education in the nation’s prosperity. I applaud, in particular, Princeton Review’s commitment to speaking to our students, the individuals whom we serve and by whose promise we are driven,” Wyatt said.
Collectively, the 629 colleges named "regional best(s)" constitute about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges. From several hundred schools in each region, the company winnows its list based on institutional data collected directly from the schools, visits to schools over the years, invited input from college counselors and advisors, and the opinions of Princeton Review’s staff.
In addition, the firm considers and publishes information provided directly from current students via an 80-question student survey. The survey asks students to rate their own schools on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.
“Only schools that permit us to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional 'best' lists,’” Franek said.
Representative responses selected from the student survey featured distinctions of Coker’s vibrant student life including the following:
“There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities at Coker College, but the majority of students here are either involved in theater or play a sport. When they aren’t on stage or on the playing field, students may be hanging out at the on-campus coffeehouse or in each other’s dorm rooms, studying, and socializing. During the warmer months, students enjoy taking advantage of Coker’s beautiful campus. The school owns a boathouse at a nearby lake—it’s a nice place to hang out when it’s hot.”
Other Coker students appreciated advantages of attending a residential college that might sometimes go unnoticed:
“‘In the surrounding community of Hartsville, Coker students take advantage of ‘free Fridays that allow us to bowl, skate, and eat for free,’ and many say they like to ‘go to the local coffee shop or catch a movie for $1.50.’”
For more information about Coker’s listing with the Princeton Review, visit www.coker.edu. For information about admission to Coker College, visit http://www.coker.edu/future-students.html.
-------------------------------------------------
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
www.coker.edu
SUBSCRIBE TO COKER’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/cokercollege
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coker College Named a Best in College the Southeast by The Princeton Review
HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Aug. 2, 2011 – Coker College is one of the best colleges in the southeast according to the nationally known education services company, The Princeton Review.
Coker is one of 135 institutions The Princeton Review recommends in its “Best in the Southeast” section of its website feature, “2012 Best Colleges: Region by Region,” released this week on PrincetonReview.com.
“We're pleased to recommend Coker College to users of our site as one of the best schools to earn their undergrad degree. We chose it and the other terrific institutions we name as 'regional best' colleges mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's senior vice president and publisher.
“While community members on campus and off understand well the traditions and pride that have shaped Coker College, we know too, that national recognition plays an important role in our future,” said Coker College President Robert Wyatt.
“When national editors at Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and, earlier this year, at Colleges of Distinction, take note of excellence – in our case, the extraordinary achievements of Coker College’s students, faculty and staff – they lift not only Coker College, but they call much needed attention to the role of education in the nation’s prosperity. I applaud, in particular, Princeton Review’s commitment to speaking to our students, the individuals whom we serve and by whose promise we are driven,” Wyatt said.
Collectively, the 629 colleges named "regional best(s)" constitute about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges. From several hundred schools in each region, the company winnows its list based on institutional data collected directly from the schools, visits to schools over the years, invited input from college counselors and advisors, and the opinions of Princeton Review’s staff.
In addition, the firm considers and publishes information provided directly from current students via an 80-question student survey. The survey asks students to rate their own schools on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life.
“Only schools that permit us to independently survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional 'best' lists,’” Franek said.
Representative responses selected from the student survey featured distinctions of Coker’s vibrant student life including the following:
“There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities at Coker College, but the majority of students here are either involved in theater or play a sport. When they aren’t on stage or on the playing field, students may be hanging out at the on-campus coffeehouse or in each other’s dorm rooms, studying, and socializing. During the warmer months, students enjoy taking advantage of Coker’s beautiful campus. The school owns a boathouse at a nearby lake—it’s a nice place to hang out when it’s hot.”
Other Coker students appreciated advantages of attending a residential college that might sometimes go unnoticed:
“‘In the surrounding community of Hartsville, Coker students take advantage of ‘free Fridays that allow us to bowl, skate, and eat for free,’ and many say they like to ‘go to the local coffee shop or catch a movie for $1.50.’”
For more information about Coker’s listing with the Princeton Review, visit www.coker.edu. For information about admission to Coker College, visit http://www.coker.edu/future-students.html.
-------------------------------------------------
Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
www.coker.edu
SUBSCRIBE TO COKER’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/cokercollege
Good questions from potential new student
A great thing about our Coker College learning community being situated in the middle of the small cityhthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff Hartsville, SC are the serendipitous happenings. Coach Muns of the women's soccer team was leaving Bizzels with a potential recruit recently when he stopped to introduce her. She'd had a relatively long drive in that day and they had just finished supper. I was heading to the Midnight Rooster for an iced Americano.
She is interested in marketing and at this time business marketing. So we had a quick talk about Coker academics there in downtown Hartsville. How is the marketing curriculum was one question. Melinda Norris, who teaches a lot of the Business marketing, would, I think have been happy with the answer. And, for some communication department promotion, I also mentioned the way things like Public Relations, Organizational Communication, Public Relations Writing and some of other courses could also supplement what she picked up in the business courses. That led to another question. What about double majoring, can I do that too?
A double major leads to a discussion she will want to have with an advisor at a later time. There is a simple answer. Yes, you can double major and many students do, even athletes. But the question of should a student double major involves lots of other questions and is one of those issues best answered with an advisor who can have access to a bigger picture. Double majors, while a great academic development strategy, can often lead to some frustration as both majors offer "Must have" courses at the same time during a day -- making it hard for students to schedule. These are often bumps that can be smoothed but are among the considerations when looking into that strategy.
Anyway, we got to the easy answers in the serendipitous meeting in the middle of downtown and I think that gave her a sense that when she NEEDS the more complex guidance she could find it at Coker. That was an assurance that Coach had already made and getting it reinforced seemed good for the prospect.
A real interesting part of the Coker College learning community is being able to have these important serendipitous conversations, sometimes right in the middle of downtown Hartsville.
She is interested in marketing and at this time business marketing. So we had a quick talk about Coker academics there in downtown Hartsville. How is the marketing curriculum was one question. Melinda Norris, who teaches a lot of the Business marketing, would, I think have been happy with the answer. And, for some communication department promotion, I also mentioned the way things like Public Relations, Organizational Communication, Public Relations Writing and some of other courses could also supplement what she picked up in the business courses. That led to another question. What about double majoring, can I do that too?
A double major leads to a discussion she will want to have with an advisor at a later time. There is a simple answer. Yes, you can double major and many students do, even athletes. But the question of should a student double major involves lots of other questions and is one of those issues best answered with an advisor who can have access to a bigger picture. Double majors, while a great academic development strategy, can often lead to some frustration as both majors offer "Must have" courses at the same time during a day -- making it hard for students to schedule. These are often bumps that can be smoothed but are among the considerations when looking into that strategy.
Anyway, we got to the easy answers in the serendipitous meeting in the middle of downtown and I think that gave her a sense that when she NEEDS the more complex guidance she could find it at Coker. That was an assurance that Coach had already made and getting it reinforced seemed good for the prospect.
A real interesting part of the Coker College learning community is being able to have these important serendipitous conversations, sometimes right in the middle of downtown Hartsville.
Exciting to meet new colleagues
And, it is especially exciting to meet new Coker College colleagues when one of them happens to be a former student. Walking into the Student Affairs building on Monday two people were coming down the stairs. "Speaking of the devil" one of them says as I light up with a greeting of my own. Lindsay Crighton, a former Coker student and communication major, was in the building -- her first day on the job as a new grant writer for Coker College. With Lindsay was Katherine (Katie) Dewey, a new athletic fund raiser with Coker. Katie is coming to Coker from Indiana and Lindsay is coming back to Coker from Virginia Tech, where she recently received her Masters in communication. Lindsay was my advisee while she was at Coker and it is really exciting to watch a former student as she embarks on her new career.
These two new colleagues are among a lot of new faces that will be part of the Coker College community as we officially begin the new semester this month. Their enthusiasm and excitement at coming to work in our Development Office portends great things for the ambitious growth plans of the college.
These two new colleagues are among a lot of new faces that will be part of the Coker College community as we officially begin the new semester this month. Their enthusiasm and excitement at coming to work in our Development Office portends great things for the ambitious growth plans of the college.
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