More than 50 area higher education leaders converged on Cleveland University-Kansas City (CU-KC) March 1 for the Kansas City Professional Development Council’s (KCPDC) 2014 Enhancing Teaching & Learning (ETL) Conference. CU-KC, one of the KCPDC’s 10 member institutions, served as host for representatives from Baker University, Colorado Technical University-Kansas City, DeVry University, Johnson County Community College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas State University-Olathe, Metropolitan Community College, Park University and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The ETL conference provided an opportunity for educators from member institutions to share their successes in the classroom. The day’s agenda included a variety of concurrent, 50-minute creative sessions designed to appeal to a broad audience. Topics included “Engaging Students,” “Technology in the Classroom,” “Assessment of Teaching & Learning,” and “Professional Development Resources for Faculty.” CU-KC’s own Dr. Brittany Gorres-Martens lead one of the morning breakout sessions. The keynote address was titled “Create a Hunger for Learning: Make the Odds Ever in Your Favor!” and was presented by Meg McGranaghan, associate vice president of academics at Butler Community College, and Linda Wapelhorst, director of online learning at Butler Community College.
Dale Marrant, CU-KC vice president of human resources and organizational development and KCPDC board co-chair, said he is proud of the partnership CU-KC has with the KCPDC. He said it aligns with the university’s mission of education and service.
“Cleveland University-Kansas City was proud to host this year’s Enhancing Teaching & Learning Conference sponsored by the Kansas City Professional Development Council,” Marrant said. “Our relationship with the KCPDC and our participation in the ETL conference are well aligned with our mission to provide strong student-centered academic and professional education and affords our faculty and staff the opportunity to collaborate with area educators and professionals in an effort to share and adopt creative and innovative learning and professional practices.”
Through the ETL and other conferences, the KCPDC is committed to providing professional development opportunities for the faculty and staff of its member institutions. It accomplishes this by supporting a comprehensive and systematic approach to faculty/staff development.
Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, CU-KC president, said developing a strong faculty plays a critical role in achieving the university’s educational mission and vision.
“This year’s Enhancing Teaching & Learning Conference provided KC’s higher-education community with new and timely information on academic assessment, technology in the classroom and novel ways to improve student learning,” Cleveland said. “It was an honor for Cleveland to be the site of this year’s conference and to work alongside the other KCPDC member institutions.”
Visit kcpdc.org for more information on the KCPDC and its conferences.
