Happy Community College Month!

April is National Community College Month!

National Community College Month is a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of community and technical colleges in providing accessible, high-quality education. At NISOD, we are dedicated to celebrating and supporting the faculty, staff, and administrators who make these institutions thrive. Through our professional development programs, awards, and resources, we empower educators to continue transforming students’ lives. This month, we reaffirm our commitment to those who make community colleges a place of opportunity, innovation, and success.

INNOVATION ABSTRACTS

In the latest Innovation Abstracts, "Interactive Learning for Inclusive Education: Unveiling The Transformative Power of a Taboo-Inspired Activity," Ashley Burkart, Residential Faculty, Estrella Mountain Community College, presents an interactive, game-based activity modeled after Taboo, designed to promote inclusivity in education.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

NISOD 2025 Conference, May 24-27. Note: Early Bird Registration Ends April 11.

Learn More

Lodging Info

Silke Morin

Associate Professor, Biology, and Assistant Department Chair for Student Relations, Austin Community College

Pre-Conference Seminar:

Step Together: Inspire, Empower, and Lead Together

Since the pandemic, students’ stress levels have risen dramatically. Given that chronic stress can negatively affect students’ ability to learn and be successful in the classroom, it benefits faculty to learn how to recognize student stress and respond by teaching with compassion. In this interactive workshop, participants learn evidence-based strategies from the fields of educational psychology and neuroscience that provide practical tools for communication, rapport building, social interactions, self-regulation, and academic support.

View all the pre-conference seminars and register HERE.

NEW EXCURSION! Austin Duck Adventures on May 24 and May 26

The original Austin tour, Austin Duck Adventures offers an amphibious tour that includes tours of downtown Austin and beautiful Lake Austin in UNSINKABLE, US coast guard inspected, Hydra Terra vehicles. Austin Duck Adventures is Austin’s best tour with 75 minutes of sightseeing that includes Historic Sixth Street, the State Capitol Building, the Governor’s Mansion, and Lake Austin. Cost is $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased when registering for the conference or HERE.

RETURNING POPULAR EXCURSION! San Antonio Riverwalk on May 26

This self-guided excursion provides transportation to the San Antonio River Walk, which is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River. One story beneath and approximately five miles along the streets of downtown San Antonio, it is lined by numerous bars, shops, and restaurants. The Riverwalk is an important part of the city’s urban fabric and a tourist attraction in its own right. Buses will begin loading at 4:15 p.m. for 4:30 departure and will leave San Antonio at 9:30 p.m. and make a 30-minute stop at the Buc-ees in New Braunfels. Cost is $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased when registering for the conference or HERE.

With a diverse selection of sessions available, and two exciting keynote speakers, this is a conference you do not want to miss! Register today to secure your spot.

WEBINARS

SUPPORTING Minds, SUPPORTING Learners: Addressing Student Mental Health to Advance Academic Success

Thursday, April 24, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central | Sign Up

Facilitator: Marisol Garza, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Texas at Austin

Executive Dysfunction in Higher Education: How to Help Neurospicy Students in College

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central | Sign Up

Facilitator: Cassandra Estey, Quinsigamond Community College

Note: NISOD webinars are free and only available to NISOD members.

Upcoming Webinars

Past Webinars (On-Demand)

Call for Webinar Proposals!

If you have attended a NISOD webinar and want to explore presenting your own innovative practice or cutting-edge research, take the next step and submit a proposal by the May 2 deadline.

NISOD webinars provide resources, ideas, and solutions that drive excellence in teaching, thanks to a large network of dedicated educators. Selection criteria and more details are available here.

IN THE HEADLINES

New Report Outlines Three Essential Strategies to Improve Success of Community College Students Aiming to Earn a Bachelor's Degree

A new report provides specific recommendations to improve the nation's failing transfer system, citing examples of success from across the country.

Do-It-Yourself Mental Health Efforts by Community College Students

Students are getting support to generate new ideas for campus support systems - and to turn the ideas into reality

To view past issues of NISODirect, click here.

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