Past Faculty Forum Events and Recordings
Previous Faculty Forum resources and recordings.
| Date | Title and Description |
|---|---|
| Recorded on May 21, 2026 |
Title: Free Expression and Academic Freedom in the Classroom and Beyond Presenter:Michelle Deutchman The PDC thanks Academic Senate's Professional Ethics & Responsibilities Committee for organizing this workshop with Michelle. Michelle is the inaugural executive director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement (Center) Description: The facilitated workshop will focus on the difference between free expression and academic freedom — reviewing the underlying principles of both. It will then use case studies as a vehicle for discussing the thorny issues that can arise when faculty members engage in speech that might be upsetting to some members of the community. Participants will need to consider legal rights and communal norms. View Faculty Forum: Free Expression and Academic Freedom in the Classroom and Beyond |
| Recorded on May 12, 2026 |
Title: ASCCC visit debrief: Participatory Governance Presenter: Dr. Vicenta Arrizon Description: On April 28th, Santa Monica College hosted its first Academic Senate for California
Community Colleges (ASCCC) site visit in over a decade. We were joined by Austin Webster,
former ASCCC Interim Executive Director, and Erik Reese, ASCCC Treasurer, for a series
of high-level discussions with the Senate Executive Committee and a full Senate meeting
appearance.
This workshop serves as a debrief on that visit. They shared key insights provided
by the ASCCC representatives and discuss actionable strategies to strengthen participatory
governance at SMC. Most importantly, they explored the Senate’s vital role in navigating
our current budget crisis and how faculty leadership can effectively advocate for
the institution’s future.
View Faculty Forum: ASCCC visit debrief: Participatory Governance |
| Recorded on November 3, 2025 |
Title: OER/ZTC: Burden-Free Access to Instructional Materials. Presenters:
M. Roxana Cruz, Reference & Instruction Librarian Description:
A new regulation has been added to Title 5 requiring that all faculty provide access
to required course materials on the first day of class. By January 2026, all California
Community Colleges must update their policies to reflect this mandate.
View this workshop to explore practical strategies for meeting this requirement, removing
financial barriers, and increasing student success. You’ll walk away with actionable
steps to ensure your course is compliant—and your students are set up to thrive from
day one.
|
| Recorded on October 6, 2025 |
Title: Level Up Your Canvas Shell: A Faculty Panel Shares Secrets to an Engaging Canvas Learning Experience. Presenters:
Ciarán Brewster (Earth Science), Sarah Leinen (English) and Wenise Wong (Physical Science) Description:
A panel discussion where faculty with excellent examples of Canvas shells sharee highlights
of those Canvas shells with an emphasis on course design and pedagogy.
|
| Recorded on September 8, 2025 |
Title: Academic Senate Town Hall & You Presenters: Senate President, Dr. Vicenta Arrizon
Description: Curious about the Academic Senate? Listen to a Faculty Senate Town Hall where we’ll
talk about what the Senate does, how you can get involved, and why it matters for
faculty and students. They also opened the floor to participants to share the issues
and ideas they would like the Senate to explore this year.
|
| Date | title and description |
|---|---|
|
May 21, 2025 Not recorded. |
Title: Ready versus Reacting to Targeted Harassment: The Importance of Individual and Department Level Safety & Support Plans Presenter: Nina M. Flores, PhD, Associate Professor in the Equity, Education & Social Justice MA Program at CSULB, Affiliate Researcher,UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, Sexual Wellness Education & Enlightenment Certification,Institute for Sexuality Education & Enlightenment (ISEE) Description: Faculty and staff face an ongoing threat of harassment by the public for their teaching, research, or personal identities. Targeted harassment is when groups or individuals engage in aggressive organized or viral campaigns meant to silence and censor faculty or staff. During these periods, the overwhelming number of emails, messages, social media comments, phone calls, doxxing (the wide release of personal information such as home address, children’s names, etc.), and even threats of rape and death contribute to silencing, self-censorship, and a lack of safety — all of which prohibit faculty from fully engaging in academia, the profession, and with the public. Although we can’t prevent targeted harassment, we can be better prepared for if it occurs. Workshop outcomes: During this interactive workshop, Dr. Flores will offer a brief overview about the issue of targeted harassment. Then participants will begin developing individual level safety and support plans. They will discuss the importance of having these plans drafted and ready before targeted harassment happens. (opens in new window) This event was not recorded.
|
| Recorded on April 8, 2025 |
Title: Advancing Equity in STEM: Insights from Santa Monica College’s NSF Grant Faculty Professional Development Initiative. Description: Santa Monica College is leading the way in promoting equity in STEM education through its NSF Award #1928737, titled "Fostering an Equity-Minded Student Success Culture in STEM Through Faculty Development." This session provided an overview of the grant, outlining its objectives and key outcomes related to faculty professional development and institutional transformation. Presenters shared insights on the strategies used to support faculty in addressing equity gaps for Black and Latinx students in STEM, highlighting both successes and challenges encountered. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how faculty-focused professional development can facilitate equity-centered change. CSCC Impact Tool discussed in workshop Fostering an equity minded student success culture slide deck
|
| Recorded on November 21, 2024 |
Title: Understanding Administrative Regulations and their impact in the Classroom Presenters: Beatriz Magallon, chair of the Academic Senate Student Affairs Committee and Vicenta Arrizon, EdD from the Counseling Department Description: This workshop covers how Administrative Regulations (AR's) impact your work in the classroom! This workshop addresses a wide range of AR's including grade notations, accommodations, and student disciplinary matters. There was also be discussion of policies and procedures regarding enrollment, financial aid, student petitions, and any other related faculty matters. Enhance your skills and knowledge regarding these matters to better support students.
|
| Recorded on October 30, 2024 |
Title: The Equity-Minded Syllabus Presenters: Kat Trần Olvey, Briana Brickley and Steph Anderson from the Academic Senate Equity and Diversity Committee. Description: In this workshop, they explored how to transform your syllabus into a tool that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They reviewed DEI fundamentals and the importance of equity-minded approaches, while offering practical strategies for making your syllabus more inclusive. Through hands-on activities, discussions, and a panel Q&A, participants gain a deeper understanding of how your syllabus can support student success. Rather than slides, the presenters used this website during their presentation. This website has all of the syllabus links included so that you can participate in the activities discussed in the workshop. Use the menu on the left-side of the website to follow along with their presentation. View The Equity-Minded Syllabus workshop(opens in new window) Note: The recording missed the first few minutes of the workshop where the group norms were established. The recording starts during the definition of terms. You can find the Group Norms and full information on DEI Fundamentals and Terms in the links on the left-side panel of the website linked above. The recording was paused during the breakout room syllabus discussion. |
| Recorded on September 19, 2024 |
Title: Academic Senate & You Presenters: Senate President Jamar London & Dr. Vicenta Arrizon, Academic Senate President-Elect Description: Watch this session to learn about the Academic Senate, its role and functions, what it can do for you and your professional development. Get involved! This event was recorded. |
| date | title and description |
|---|---|
| Recorded on April 26, 2024 |
Faculty's Role in Student Success Speakers: Vicenta Arrizon, EdD from the Counseling Department Come engage in an insightful discussion on faculty’s role in student success. Learn action steps you can take to increase students' sense of belonging and retention in your classes. Familiarize yourself with the wealth of student support resources and programs offered at SMC. This session will be a conversation and dialogue where faculty can gather to share experiences and learn from each other. This event was recorded. View Faculty’s Role in Student Success Presentation Zoom(opens in new window) Slide deck from Faculty's role in student success presentation |
| Recorded on December 1, 2023 |
Course Design for Inclusive Engagement Speakers: Lea Hald & Jessica Krug Please join the faculty EpiCenter leads in this interactive workshop on how you can design your course for greater engagement. Join Faculty’s Role in Student Success Presentation(opens in new window) |
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November 3, 2023 Not recorded. |
DE Committee Presents: Online Community Exchange: AI in your Syllabus Speakers: DE Committee This is the first in a series of Online Community Exchanges (faculty conversations) regarding teaching and learning in the online environments. AI in your Syllabus will be a conversation and share out about what we include or would like to include (or not) on our syllabi about Generative AI, and ideas about how to include it generally or with an eye toward specific assignments like discussions. Generative AI Syllabus Statement Considerations Sample Guideline(opens in new window) This session was not recorded intentionally, but future conversations on this topic will be held. |
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October 6, 2023 Not recorded. |
How can science fiction be a tool for shaping a more just world? Speaker: Shannon Herbert, Chair of the Decolonizing the Academy Committee Please join the Decolonizing the Academy Committee for the first Community Read of Walidah Imarisha and adrienne maree brown’s Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements The book is available for purchase in the SMC Book Store. It can also be accessed for free(opens in new window) thanks through our wonderful co-sponsors at the SMC Library. We will be discussing the “Foreword” by Sheree Renee Thomas and the “Introduction” by Walidah Imarisha If you can’t make this discussion, don’t worry. There will be other opportunities to discuss these passages! |
| Recorded on September 1, 2023 |
Academic Senate - Call to Action Speaker: Jamar London Please join Academic Senate President Jamar London for our First Friday Academic Senate - Call to Action, workshop. During our time together we will discuss the role and responsibilities of Academic Senate, highlight some of our committees, discuss some hot topics, and finally inform faculty on how to get involved. This session was recorded. View recording of First Friday Session - Academic Senate - Call to Action(opens in new window) |
| date | title and description |
|---|---|
| Recorded on June 2, 2023 |
ChatGPT Workshop Speaker: Keith Graziadei Please come join your colleagues in a discussion of all things related to ChatGPT. This session will be a conversation and dialogue where faculty can gather to share their experiences with ChatGPT. |
| Recorded on April 28, 2023 |
Join us for an interactive session with Ruben Canedo where you will get a chance to apply, actualize and take action on the ideas presented in the last workshop. The same session will presented once on Zoom in the morning and repeated again in the afternoon on Campus. The Zoom session was recorded up to the point that breakout rooms were started. Unfortunately the time after the breakout sessions was not recorded. |
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April 25, 2023 Not recorded. |
Academic Senate Town Hall Speaker: Jamar London, Academic Senate President & Elisa Meyer, English Department Chair Description: Join Academic Senate President Jamar London and Elisa Meyer, English Department Chair, for this Town-Hall to continue a conversation about concerns and praises regarding our college. Academic Senate Leadership will continue to use your feedback to engage Senior Staff and our administrative colleagues as we all work to continue make SMC premiere destination for folks pursuing career advancement and higher education. This event was not recorded. |
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April 7, 2023 Not recorded. |
Teaching the Student and Teaching the Material: Course Planning for Student Success Speakers: Dr. Lauren Ford & Katrina Pantig Naval Description: Faculty have a critical role at promoting equity in the classroom by preparing an engaging learning experience for students with different backgrounds and different levels of understanding. This requires developing foundational skills of course planning (i.e. backward design & scaffolding). In this introductory session, participants will be exposed to an approach that demonstrates how to develop an inclusive course planning process. Building on an asset-based framework, faculty will learn practices to develop students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes for academic success. This session is a repeat live Zoom version of the experience Hotep team facilitated on-ground during Professional Development Day (3/16). > Note: This event was not recorded. |
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Tuesday March 14, 2023 Not recorded.
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Academic Senate Town Hall Speaker: Jamar London, Academic Senate President & Elisa Meyer, English Department Chair Description: Join Academic Senate President Jamar London and Elisa Meyer, English Department Chair, for this Town-Hall where faculty will have the opportunity to express concerns and praises regarding our college. Academic Senate Leadership will use your feedback to engage Senior Staff and our administrative colleagues as we all work to continue make SMC premiere destination for folks pursuing career advancement and higher education. This event was not recorded. |
| Recorded on September 2, 2022 |
Academic Senate Town Hall: Revitalizing The Center Speakers: Jamar London - Academic Senate President, Dr. Erin Cue, Dr. Lea Hald and Dr. Jessica Krug Please join us at the first in a series of town hall meetings intended to engage faculty in key issues and challenges facing our college. This session will focus on discussing revisioning Professional Development at SMC and the reimagining of The Center For Teaching Excellence. View Recording of Faculty Town Hall First Friday(opens in new window) |
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Recorded on October 7, 2022 This event was for all employee groups and was repeated three times to reach the widest audience, once on Zoom and twice on campus. The recording is from the Zoom session. |
Basic Needs Continuation of Conversation with Ruben Canedo from Fall Professional Development Day(opens in new window) Title: Transforming College Student Basic Needs: Micro to Macro Level Training Speaker: Ruben Canedo Please join us to continue to the conversation with Ruben about supporting ourselves and our students, basic needs, transformative justice and practice emergent strategies centered in love and wisdom. View Recording of Ruben Canedo Workshop |
| Recorded on November 4, 2022 |
I'm a college student with a disability. Stop treating me like a child. Speakers: Eric Oifer, Nathalie Laille, Reginald Dunn (a current SMC student) and Ojen Shammasian (a former SMC and IxD graduate from SMC). In this session, we will watch the short film I'm a college student with a disability. Stop treating me like a child, then engage in a collective conversation about it and what implications it has for how we educate and support students with disabilities. "In this film by Samuel Habib, 21, and his father, Samuel seeks out guidance from America’s most rebellious disability activists. Because of his disability, 21-year-old Samuel Habib finds that people underestimate him. In this film, he seeks to chart how adults with disabilities build full lives — as a roadmap for himself and others.” View Recording of I'm a College Student with a Disability Workshop(opens in new window) |
| Recorded on December 2, 2022 |
Equitable and Effective Hiring Practices Speaker: Dr. Vicenta Arrizon While the benefits of having a diverse and equity-minded faculty are well-researched, diversifying the faculty continues to be a controversial issue within higher education and little progress has been made. Learn more about what we can each do to take action to promote equity in the faculty search process. Understand the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Multiple Methods for EEO that call for centering equity and diversity in recruitment, hiring, evaluation and the tenure review process. View the First Friday on Equitable and Effective Hiring Practices(opens in new window) |
