Sep. 23 is Convocation Day!

Cincinnati State’s annual Employee Convocation takes place today, Friday, September 23, starting with lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

• Classes end at noon and College offices will be closed starting at noon so all employees can participate in Convocation activities.

• The Overlook Cafe is closed on Sep. 23. Bakery Hill is open until 11:30 a.m.
• Some Convocation breakout sessions will be recorded and made available for later viewing. See notes below with each breakout session description.
• All Convocation attendees will receive a new Cincinnati State t-shirt!

The schedule for the day is:

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch – ATLC First Floor – Enjoy lunch choices from local favorites Montgomery Inn, LaRosa’s, and Skyline, as well as Coca Cola beverages during breaks. Thank you to these organizations for supporting our event!

12:45 – 1 p.m. – Welcome from President Monica Posey – ATLC First Floor

1:15 – 2:15 p.m. – Breakout Session 1

• Update on IT Modernization – ATLC 330 – Frankie Baker, Chief Information Officer – Learn more about the Cincinnati State IT Modernization Project and get a preview of the new Student Planning tool that will include “degree mapping” for students and will replace the current MyServices registration process. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• Take a Walk to Relieve Stress – Meet at Main Building Flagpole – Mark Deacon, Program Chair, Landscape Horticulture – Join a walk on campus (off pavement) to reduce stress and improve mental and physical health, while looking at some really cool trees, and learning about their part in our environment. Please wear tennis shoes or sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather.
• Safe Zone Training – ATLC 321 – Dr. Ronnie Gladden, Professor, English, & Advisor, In the Zone Club – Gain knowledge and learn about resources to address LGBTQ+ topics of concern, including understanding essential terminology and why pronoun usage matters. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• How on Earth Can I Get Along With…? – ATLC 313 – Judy Marshall, Professor, Business Management, & Donna Von Deylen, Instructor, Accounting – Learn how to adapt your style to get things done, by examining your own way of thinking and considering how you can adjust to better connect and communicate with others–with minimal anguish.
• Reevaluating the Support We Provide for Students of Color – ATLC 323 – Dr. Alexandra Smith, Director of Programming & Learning, PX Project, Inc. – Research has shown that Black and Brown students need additional, catered support to succeed in the classroom and around campus. Using themes from a research study, participants will be challenged to think outside of the box and address problems that many times go unheard. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• Course Alignment to Improve Course Quality – ATLC 324 – Dr. Stephanie Stafford, Assistant Dean of Online Learning – Join “hands-on” learning about how thoughtful planning for course materials, assessments, and activities that support the course learning objectives can help engage learners and improve student success. To get more out of this session, bring the Course Learning Outcomes and Module Learning Outcomes for a specific course. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• Tips for Communicating with English-Learning and Immigrant Students – ATLC 328 – Daniel Zimmer, Department Chair, Language Learning – Gain useful perspectives and skills to improve your communication with English Language Learners (ELLs) and immigrant students at Cincinnati State. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Breakout Session 2

• Active Shooter Preparedness Planning – ATLC Auditorium – James Clements, Campus Police – Learn basic information and skills needed to prepare for and respond appropriately to incidents involving violence. 
• Increasing Inclusion and Belonging for GenZ Students – ATLC 321 – Angelica Kennedy, Executive Assistant, President’s Office – Learn about recent research on the importance of feelings of belonging and inclusion—encompassing age, gender, and race—for diverse and complex “Gen Z” (under age 25) students, and discuss classroom strategies that can help increase a sense of belonging and inclusion for these students. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• Say What? – ATLC 323 – Rico Rice, President, Rice Education Consulting – As professionals, educators, and citizens we are often aware of the BIG things not to say! But small things we say (microaggressions) can have a big impact. This session will discuss the small actions and words that can have a big impact on students and colleagues. (This session will be recorded for later viewing)
• Library Resources for Affordability and DEI(A) – Library (Main Building) – Crissy Ross, Director, Cincinnati State Library – Join a discussion about how open education and Cincinnati State Library resources support affordability and student success in higher education through use of diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible (DEIA) resources in your classroom.
• Suicide Prevention using QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) – ATLC 324 – Eric Smith, Triage Coordinator, Counseling Services – Learn how to respond in an encounter with someone who may appear to be thinking or intending to die by suicide, including approaching the person sensitively but directly, asking appropriate questions, persuading the person there is hope and help available, and referring the person to appropriate resources.
• Maintaining Academic Integrity in Online Courses – This session is cancelled

3:45 – 4 p.m. – Presentation of the Cincinnati State 50^th Anniversary Quilt – ATLC Auditorium – The anniversary quilt that was assembled with contributions from the College community will be presented to Dr. Posey by the quilting project leaders (and retired faculty members) Debbie Bogenschutz, Diane Stump, and Joyce Rimlimger.

4 – ?? p.m. – Happy Hour – ATLC Second Floor near Bakery Hill – Take time to enjoy conversation with your Cincinnati State colleagues, while sipping a beverage of your choice