The "Making Connections: It's About Learning" Academic Retreat was held in the new Student Services Building on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus of Montgomery College. Faculty, staff, and administrators used this time to share best practices inside and outside of the classroom. They also had a brainstorming session to share their thoughts about creating the optimal learning environment for our students. A multi-media display featured posters containing information on the Learning College Student Leadership Summit held on March 10, 2006, while other posters spotlighted participants in the Make It Happen! Innovation Grants (MIHIG) program. Our extraordinarily talented pool of professionals at Montgomery College had a chance to chat with colleagues from the institution and view the Learning College Display.

The retreat began with opening remarks by Dr. Brad Stewart, Dr. Mary Kay Shartle-Galotto, and Ms. Clarice Somersall. Prof. Mario Parcan served as the moderator for the first session, a showcase on learning, where the faculty shared their teaching practices, strategies, student success stories, and creative ideas. The MIHIG awardees shared their project ideas as well.

The attendees then participated in small group discussions which centered on individually and collectively developed ideas to foster a culture of learning at Montgomery College. After lunch, in a wrap-up session moderated by Dr. Sonya Chiles, each group presented its top idea. One group was picked at random and their prize was phenomenal: Each member was given the opportunity to attend an all expenses-paid learning conference in AY 07.

The groups provided all of their ideas and recommendations, and Tumpa Rahman, from the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Services, has written an article for the EVP online newsletter which captures other aspects of the highly successful retreat. Visit these pages for more on the Retreat.

All in all, it was an enlightening, exciting, and informative day for those who attended.