Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2008)
The 4 Feature Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 Clackamas Pr Ideas go through ringer to become classe Kyle Steele Feature Editor Each term the course catalog hosts a wide selection of new and different classes, but how do these courses develop and become avail able at Clackamas? While the initial stages of cre ating a class may vary, all ideas have to go through the same basic trials before they can be funded. Committees, deans and the state all have a hand in the creation of every course and what each of them means for students who will be transferring to a four-year university. The idea . “In my department, offering a new class is a largely collaborative process between an instructor and the department chair,” said English Instructor Trevor Dodge. Dodge has created a number of English classes, including Games and Literature and Introduction to Literary Theory, which are new to the college this term. Concepts for classes are gener ated by more than just instructors and department chairs; businesses, professions and even students can be part of this step. “A new class may come from an instructor’s passion for a par ticular subject, or from a need we see students or the community have, or an area of interest that is new,” said English Department Chair Trista Cornelius. Writing up an outline Once the subject of a new course has been established, the next step is for instructors to write up a course outline. “This form helps faculty make learning outcomes, grading criteria and course content concrete and con sistent,” Cornelius said. Included in the outline are student learning outcomes, which describe what the course will teach students during the length of the term and why the class, is wanted or neces sary. After the first draft is fin ished, it is then given to the department, department chair and the dean, who finalize details and needs that they feel the class should meet. All the way to state When the final touches have been made to the course out line, it is time to fill out a New Course Form. Questions on the form regard how the class will meet degree requirements, the goals of the class and the number of credits. “Coming up with ideas for new courses may be dif ferent for each department, but the process to the state for having them approved is the same,” Curriculum Office Administrative Assistant Lynda Graf said. The state reviews the informa tion and weighs it against similar courses offered by other commu nity colleges and four-year univer sities. Once it has been reviewed by the state and has passed all testing, it can be entered into the course catalog for the next year. Illustration by Kyle Steele Clackamas Print Other considerations While many courses are regis tered with their own course number provided by the state, some experi mental courses initially receive a 199 or 299 number from the college. “We can run a class under those numbers twice, and then we need to get an official state number,” Cornelius said. “The only catch is that th< and 299 transfer a fives on English would n fill ‘Ait Letters’i ments f AAOT/ for exam The i for ( ing clas relafivelj same ft departing student j always« in this pr ' “ M courses been i due to < demand,” Graf said. Some instructors and dep chairs seek input, in order tc mine what the student body u needs, so that their departme better serve the school. Cornelius said,“I go to tin ers routinely and ask what heard students needing [or] i in terms of classes, times, day Judy Clark: the voice of Clackam Kyle Steele Feature Editor Operator Judy Clark answers the phone from her desk in the Community Center on the Oregon City campus. A desk near the south' entrance of the Community Center could be considered the nerve center of the entire cam pus. Running that area is Judy Clark. Clark works as the switch board operator, a job that requires answering questions and connecting callers to their instructors or department extensions. The position usu ally makes her the first person a caller will actually talk to over the phone, and has made her the official voice of the college. “I enjoy helping and direct ing people,” she said. In addition to her duties as the switchboard operator, Clark does reception work, as well as helps students and staff with their questions in person at her desk. “There is a satisfaction in knowing you can help people and that they appreciated the information we give them,” she said. A 20-year employ; Clackamas, Clark still people walking by with a or a quick hello in be calls, and keeps up a b and friendly attitude. “Clackamas becomes family to both staff am dents,” she said, “and on is to help everyone as mi possible so they can have cessful college experienc Outside of her job wi college, Clark enjoys spe time with her real family, cially her grandchildren, ages range from three to Spring classes are fast approaching. You’re halfway there. Keep a bright future in your sights by enrolling for the spring semester at the Linfield College Adult Degree Program and finish yout bachelor’s degree on your schedule and within your budget. 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