A Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Outstanding faculty reveal teaching styles, strategies Last year, FCCJ broke with tradition and chose six professors as Outstanding Faculty of the Year, instead of naming one individual as in years past, to signify the diversity of programs offered by the College. For the second year in a row, FCCJ is honoring six educators for their contributions to students and to the College. Dr. Jeff Bertsch believes in the con— cept of “partnership in learning,” which the College emphasizes. “I’m learning with my students. I try to listen to them,” said the professor of humanities. Bertsch teaches world religions and has learned about dif- ferent religions from his own students. Five other educators were honored during the Commencement ceremony May 5 at the Civic Auditorium. Marian Tally Brown, Buster Harvey, Rudy Murray, Steve Powers and Judy Staver recently shared some of their teaching styles and strategies, along with Bertsch. “If I’m enthusiastic about the subject, my students will respon ,” said Bertsch, who has been with the College for 21 years. He believes mastery of subject matter and enthusiasm are two of the most important traits for a teacher. Dr. Marian Tally Brown, professor of fine arts and humanities, draws inspira- tion from her experience as a student. “Whatever I am is a composite of all the best teachers I ever had. I absorbed from them, from elementary to gradur ate school.” Brown has been with the College for 17 Years and teaches music appreciation and humanities courses. “I approach my students as if they were at the most outstanding school in the country, so they will be able to compete with a stu— dent coming from any of the top schools.” Buster Harvey coaches the men’s basketball team and guided his players to a number five ranking in the state this past season. “I feel like I’m in an ideal situation I’m dealing with 12 to 18 players a year. Because of these small numbers, we can really make it a fami- ly environment.” Harvey said he often ends up in the role of father, brother and friend to his players during the two years he spends with them. “Some of them need father- ly discipline, some need brotherly love, and some just need a friend to talk to. “My main goal is to prepare them with an idea they are going to con— tribute back to society and to the com— munity,” Harvey said. The former FCCJ student speaks from experience. He graduated with honors in 1976 from the College. “It’s a great honor to be recognized by your colleagues. I was also a student here, so it makes it a little bit special. I’m able to come back and contribute to the students.” Harvey has been head basketball coach for seven years and started at FCCJ 11 years ago. Rudy Murray also enjoys seeing his students turn their lives around. “Each student in the vocational/technical area is a class within himself. Their learning skills are unique,” said the professor of welding who has been with the College 15 years. “It takes a special type of patience to work with these students,” Murray said, because many of them face setbacks unknown to the more traditional students. “Many of them have turned away from the academic world to hands—on work. Sometimes this is the last stage or the last turn a student will take when he comes to the technical trades.” Because of the nature of the field, Graduates show a lot of class Even graduates need to take time out for other responsibilities. The 22nd annual Commencement ceremony at the Civic Auditorium also honored faculty and Career employees of the year (see pages and 5). many of Murray’s students face unique pressures in working on projects that affect people’s lives. As an example, the welding area prepares students to work on bridge construction, in shipyards and on missiles. “When someone makes a mistake in welding, it’s more critical, because someone’s life is at stake.” As a math professor, Steve Powers knows the importance of creating a relaxed atmosphere for his students. To alleviate some of his students’ frustra- tions and questions, such as “Why am I doing this?!’ Powers encourages them to think in terms of long—range goals. The students might not be using the math in six or eight months, but the long—range skills will stay with them, he points out. “Math teaches several skills, including self—discipline, organization, careful attention to detail, and creativi— ty, such as deriving new patterns and new approaches to existing problems,” Powers said. “We all have a desire and need to practice these skills. These are lifetime skills.” Winning the award with the five others is a thrill for Powers, but he em- See FACULTY, page National conference to focus on black student participation, success One of the first conferences of its kind will be held July 10 — 13 when FCCJ and Gulf Coast Community College (Panama City, Fla.) co—host the “Na- tional Conference on Enhancing Black Student Participation and Success in the Community College.” The four—day con- ference will take place at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel. The goal of the conference is to highlight critical issues and give com- munity college professionals an oppor— tunity to discuss solutions that could enhance black student participation and success. The conference is open to any community college or university employee in the nation that is in— terested in the topic. “Only recently have community col- leges begun to address this issue at the national level,” according to Beverly Robinson, FCCJ admissions officer for black student recruitment and one of the organizers of the conference. According to Ebony magazine: “The decision to bypass college is a disturbing trend that has taken place in higher education during the last decade. After a dramatic increase in the ’605 and ’705, the number of black students at- tending college has declined, as young people across the country abandon a dream that has been the key to success for generations of blacks.” “The community colleges across the nation affect more black and/or minori— ty citizens than do other institutions,” Robinson said, “simply because of their locations and their opportunities — associate degree, vocational and trades programs, and lifelong learning programs. “The problem of increasing black enrollment and success in higher educa— tion is a national problem that has not been adequately addressed from the community college perspective,” said Robinson. Prominent spokespersons in the field INSIDE of black student participation and suc- cess are scheduled as conference presenters. Among those on the agenda are US. Sen. Cleo Fields (La.); State Blg Ben Ed . . . , the setting for ucation Commrssroner Betty Castor, 'd 1 ‘1 b’ and Roderick MacDavis, University of l ea 3 """ 2 Florida assistant dean of graduate studies. theraCV The $100 registration fee includes the and the majority of meals, and various recrear Legislature . . . . 3 tional activities, including a riverboat cruise along the St. Johns, and a Commencing “beach theme” cookout at the Omni. a new life 0 . . . 4 Lodging expenses are $70 per night, single or double. The registration deadline is June 9. For more information about the con— ference, call Leon Miller, Gulf Coast Community College, (904) 780-1205, ext. 226; or Beverly Robinson, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, 387—8101. , OCR Text: A Publication of Florida Community College at Jacksonville Outstanding faculty reveal teaching styles, strategies Last year, FCCJ broke with tradition and chose six professors as Outstanding Faculty of the Year, instead of naming one individual as in years past, to signify the diversity of programs offered by the College. For the second year in a row, FCCJ is honoring six educators for their contributions to students and to the College. Dr. Jeff Bertsch believes in the con— cept of “partnership in learning,” which the College emphasizes. “I’m learning with my students. I try to listen to them,” said the professor of humanities. Bertsch teaches world religions and has learned about dif- ferent religions from his own students. Five other educators were honored during the Commencement ceremony May 5 at the Civic Auditorium. Marian Tally Brown, Buster Harvey, Rudy Murray, Steve Powers and Judy Staver recently shared some of their teaching styles and strategies, along with Bertsch. “If I’m enthusiastic about the subject, my students will respon ,” said Bertsch, who has been with the College for 21 years. He believes mastery of subject matter and enthusiasm are two of the most important traits for a teacher. Dr. Marian Tally Brown, professor of fine arts and humanities, draws inspira- tion from her experience as a student. “Whatever I am is a composite of all the best teachers I ever had. I absorbed from them, from elementary to gradur ate school.” Brown has been with the College for 17 Years and teaches music appreciation and humanities courses. “I approach my students as if they were at the most outstanding school in the country, so they will be able to compete with a stu— dent coming from any of the top schools.” Buster Harvey coaches the men’s basketball team and guided his players to a number five ranking in the state this past season. “I feel like I’m in an ideal situation I’m dealing with 12 to 18 players a year. Because of these small numbers, we can really make it a fami- ly environment.” Harvey said he often ends up in the role of father, brother and friend to his players during the two years he spends with them. “Some of them need father- ly discipline, some need brotherly love, and some just need a friend to talk to. “My main goal is to prepare them with an idea they are going to con— tribute back to society and to the com— munity,” Harvey said. The former FCCJ student speaks from experience. He graduated with honors in 1976 from the College. “It’s a great honor to be recognized by your colleagues. I was also a student here, so it makes it a little bit special. I’m able to come back and contribute to the students.” Harvey has been head basketball coach for seven years and started at FCCJ 11 years ago. Rudy Murray also enjoys seeing his students turn their lives around. “Each student in the vocational/technical area is a class within himself. Their learning skills are unique,” said the professor of welding who has been with the College 15 years. “It takes a special type of patience to work with these students,” Murray said, because many of them face setbacks unknown to the more traditional students. “Many of them have turned away from the academic world to hands—on work. Sometimes this is the last stage or the last turn a student will take when he comes to the technical trades.” Because of the nature of the field, Graduates show a lot of class Even graduates need to take time out for other responsibilities. The 22nd annual Commencement ceremony at the Civic Auditorium also honored faculty and Career employees of the year (see pages and 5). many of Murray’s students face unique pressures in working on projects that affect people’s lives. As an example, the welding area prepares students to work on bridge construction, in shipyards and on missiles. “When someone makes a mistake in welding, it’s more critical, because someone’s life is at stake.” As a math professor, Steve Powers knows the importance of creating a relaxed atmosphere for his students. To alleviate some of his students’ frustra- tions and questions, such as “Why am I doing this?!’ Powers encourages them to think in terms of long—range goals. The students might not be using the math in six or eight months, but the long—range skills will stay with them, he points out. “Math teaches several skills, including self—discipline, organization, careful attention to detail, and creativi— ty, such as deriving new patterns and new approaches to existing problems,” Powers said. “We all have a desire and need to practice these skills. These are lifetime skills.” Winning the award with the five others is a thrill for Powers, but he em- See FACULTY, page National conference to focus on black student participation, success One of the first conferences of its kind will be held July 10 — 13 when FCCJ and Gulf Coast Community College (Panama City, Fla.) co—host the “Na- tional Conference on Enhancing Black Student Participation and Success in the Community College.” The four—day con- ference will take place at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel. The goal of the conference is to highlight critical issues and give com- munity college professionals an oppor— tunity to discuss solutions that could enhance black student participation and success. The conference is open to any community college or university employee in the nation that is in— terested in the topic. “Only recently have community col- leges begun to address this issue at the national level,” according to Beverly Robinson, FCCJ admissions officer for black student recruitment and one of the organizers of the conference. According to Ebony magazine: “The decision to bypass college is a disturbing trend that has taken place in higher education during the last decade. After a dramatic increase in the ’605 and ’705, the number of black students at- tending college has declined, as young people across the country abandon a dream that has been the key to success for generations of blacks.” “The community colleges across the nation affect more black and/or minori— ty citizens than do other institutions,” Robinson said, “simply because of their locations and their opportunities — associate degree, vocational and trades programs, and lifelong learning programs. “The problem of increasing black enrollment and success in higher educa— tion is a national problem that has not been adequately addressed from the community college perspective,” said Robinson. Prominent spokespersons in the field INSIDE of black student participation and suc- cess are scheduled as conference presenters. Among those on the agenda are US. Sen. Cleo Fields (La.); State Blg Ben Ed . . . , the setting for ucation Commrssroner Betty Castor, 'd 1 ‘1 b’ and Roderick MacDavis, University of l ea 3 """ 2 Florida assistant dean of graduate studies. theraCV The $100 registration fee includes the and the majority of meals, and various recrear Legislature . . . . 3 tional activities, including a riverboat cruise along the St. Johns, and a Commencing “beach theme” cookout at the Omni. a new life 0 . . . 4 Lodging expenses are $70 per night, single or double. The registration deadline is June 9. For more information about the con— ference, call Leon Miller, Gulf Coast Community College, (904) 780-1205, ext. 226; or Beverly Robinson, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, 387—8101. , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter Resorted,1989,May/June 1989,May/June 1989 1, May/June 1989 1