Faculty Learning CIRCLE

The Project CHESS Faculty Learning Circle (FLC) is a yearlong professional development program that brings together faculty from Cal Lutheran and Moorpark College. Faculty members who join are welcomed into a collaborative community with the shared goal of making courses more culturally proficient, relevant, and responsive. Through trainings, discussions, and support, members can learn valuable skills in meeting the diverse needs of underrepresented students.

Our core mission is learning and developing Culturally Inclusive & Responsive Curricula for Learning Equity (Circle). This credo has helped guide our efforts in establishing ongoing dialogue about learning outcomes, course content, and pedagogical techniques in 100 & 200 level courses with high D, F, Withrawal or Incomplete (DFWI) rates, which have resulted in higher drop out rates for historically minoritized students. 

Our efforts have also contributed to overcoming articulation and transfer issues, which have often resulted in widespread credit loss, for community college students who transfer to 4-year institutions. Our work at the FLC continues to establish true articulation across institutions, a mark that will serve to insitutionalize Project CHESS beyond its grant expiration. 

Program Timeline

Beginning with a 3-day facilitated workshop in May, participants reconvene in January of the following year to discuss progress, share ideas, and participate in working groups. A completed course redesign is expected by the following May.

Upon completion of the program, faculty “alumni” may be nominated by their colleagues to serve as FLC Chairs. FLC Chairs lead discussion groups of faculty from complementary disciplines to facilitate incourse redesign of 100 and 200 level courses, particularly in English or Math.

 

Program Dates 2022-2023                                            

• 3-day workshop: June 1-2-3, 2022
• 1-day workshop: Jan. 4, 2023
• 3-day workshop: May 31 and June 1-2, 2023

Prospective candidates are full-time exempt status faculty teaching 100 or 200 level courses, particularly in English or Math, as well as courses that are transferable from community college to a 4-year universities. 

The application period for the 2022-2023 cohort in closed.

If interested in learning more please contact us below!

 Contact us!

Faculty Learning Circle Goals

• Increase the number of Hispanic students who succeed in introductory/gateway courses.
• Improve retention rates of Hispanic males from the first to second year.
• Increase the transfer success of Hispanic students.
• Increase the capacity to effectively serve more students.
• Strengthen articulation between Moorpark College and Cal Lutheran.

Faculty Learning Circle Outcomes

• Redesign courses to be culturally responsive to needs and learning styles of underrepresented students.
• Develop a greater understanding of the challenges and barriers underrepresented students experience at an academic institution.
• Collaborate with Moorpark College faculty on the redesign of courses to be taught at both institutions.
• Collaborate with Moorpark College faculty to align curriculum that will articulate from Moorpark College to Cal Lutheran.

If you are a Cal Lutheran faculty, please contact:
Dr. Silvia Neves, Project Director at (805) 493-3090 or by email.

If you are a Moorpark College faculty, please contact:
Dr Farisa Morales, Project Manager, by email.