May 2007 Articles
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Particle Accelerator Day by Richard Jarman
Traditions of Asia and the West by Eva Maria Räpple
The Fire Science Program: Preparing to Be Prepared by Tom Tipton
Committee Spotlight: Senate Welfare Committee by Chikako D. Kumamoto
Who's Got Your Back? An Insider's View of Welfare by Tom Tipton
What Have We Been Doing All Year? by Staff
Particle Accelerator Day by Richard Jarman
I would venture a modest wager that you were unaware that April 21st was Particle
Accelerator Day in Illinois. I too was blissfully ignorant of this fact as I prepared
to take my Honors chemistry class on its customary annual visit of the Advanced Photon
Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory until I received a phone call from their
media center. Apparently Governor Rod Blagojevich, patron saint of open road tolling, had
extended his interests in fast moving objects to embrace subatomic particles and had
issued a proclamation to draw attention to the wealth of particle accelerators in Illinois.
Within a few miles of the college lie Fermi Lab and the APS, two of the world's most sophisticated research devices that both rely upon tiny particles being torqued up to unimaginable speeds. While Fermi is the prime terrain of particle physicists, the APS is home to anyone wanting to use X-rays to learn about the properties of matter: drug developers in particular, nanotechnologists, materials scientists, as well as geologists.
I am able to take advantage of my status as a registered user to give students a glimpse into what might lie in store for them in a career in science. It gets their attention when they are told that the effective temperature of the needle thin beam of Xrays emanating from its giant ring is higher than the surface of the sun.
On the occasion of our visit, we were greeted by the research team at the University of Chicago, one of about twenty groups in residence, and given a detailed tour of the different research activities. In one experiment, a tiny diamond anvil is used to recreate the conditions at the center of the earth so that the properties of the core of the planet can be probed. We were welcomed also by the Director of the APS, who tore himself away from a meeting with the President of the American Chemical Society (no less), who took time for the obligatory photo op.
Everyone seemed to have fun and may have learned a thing or two. It's wonderful to be able to lean on the proximity of these resources to enlarge the daily work done in the classroom.
Traditions of Asia and the West by Eva Maria Räpple
The National Endowment of the Humanities awarded $30,000 to College of DuPage in support of a faculty development program called Philosophical Ideas and Artistic Pursuits in the Traditions of Asia and the West. This year-long workshop series will target fourteen COD Humanities and Fine Arts faculty members who will study with distinguished scholars in the fields of philosophy, Asian studies, and fine arts. The project will promote knowledge about global cultures through comparative analyses of Asian and Western traditions, concepts and beliefs. Participants will be exposed to lectures which will set the stage for extensive conversations with a group of distinguished scholars in the fields of philosophy and Asian studies.
This collaborative workshop series will provide a fertile environment where full- and part-time members of the academic community will be able to work together. As part of this collegial exchange, each participant will prepare a selection from a philosophical text discussed in one of the workshops and write an introduction for this particular passage. The edited excerpts of philosophical sources will result in a published anthology of comparative texts, providing a core resource for teaching the intellectual content in the classroom. Keith Krasemann and I have just conducted the first two days at DePaul University and the Art Institute in Chicago, with lectures by distinguished invited scholars.
The Fire Science Program: Preparing to Be Prepared by Tom Tipton
Walk down the hallways of M Building on any given weekday, and you will see groups of
EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) students working calmly but efficiently over patients.
Stretchers roll through a maze of students inserting IVs, pumping sphygmomanometers, and
applying splints. No, M Building faculty are not prone to more accidents than their colleagues,
they are just lucky enough to share their building with the Fire Science program.
Many faculty may be unaware of the size of this program: over 600 students and 100 part-time faculty members. Its courses lead to state certification in Fire Officer 1 and 2, Firefighter 2 and 3, EMT, Paramedic, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Fire Investigation.
Darryl Haefner, coordinator of the program and a full-time faculty member since 2001, is also the only full-timer in it. Darryl has overseen the expansion of Fire Science. When he started, the program offered six classes; it now offers about fifty, including eight courses online. He also oversees the traditional classes offered in a range of locations. For example, this term the program offered a class in Arson/Fire Investigator at the Glen Ellyn Fire Department, while a class in Hazardous Materials was taught at the Argonne Fire Department. Fire officer classes and a weekend program are run out of the Westmont Center. Such classes draw students not only from DuPage County, but from all the collar counties and the city of Chicago.
Darryl feels that the Fire Science program promotes the reputation of the college. He's encountered numerous individuals who tell him that the program is not only one of the best in the state, but in the nation.
Thousands of students have gone have gone through the program, which graduates 500-600 EMTs and 200 paramedics a year. Many of these graduates find their way into one of the 34 fire departments within our district. In fact, one of Darryl's greatest sources of pride is "seeing students become officers or fire chiefs."
Darryl obviously loves his job, especially "meeting and greeting people, and helping people get their degrees or certificates." He can often be seen in his office chatting with students or instructors amid his display of badges from all the fire departments that have employed the program's graduates, and behind a display case of helmets, boots, hoses, and other pieces of fire science history. "It's fun to come to work," says Darryl with a smile so big that you have to believe him.
Committee Spotlight: Senate Welfare Committee by Chikako D. Kumamoto
According to the Random House Dictionary, "welfare" means "the state or condition with regard to good fortune, health, happiness, prosperity." It is intimately interwoven with our consciousness of well-being. Though such a definition sounds so commonplace to many Faculty Advocate readers, it is nonetheless vital to keep the essence of the term firmly in mind whenever we think about our Welfare Committee. Indeed, as its name symbolizes, this committee is one of the most dedicated and tireless, though perhaps not often enough praised, faculty groups on campus: they are working on behalf of the entire faculty's welfare. Currently, the committee members are entrusted with the challenging task of contract negotiations. What follows, then, is an offering of gratitude and appreciation, as well as an outline of the committee's fundamental workings.
To write this piece, I went to Nancy Conradt, a long-standing member of the committee. I also gleaned information from the "Committee Policies and Procedures" of the Faculty Association. Any errors found herein are entirely mine, not Nancy's.
What is the definition and purpose of the Committee?
The Welfare Committee is a subcommittee of the Faculty Senate. It monitors "College compliance with the Contractual Agreement" or individual concerns about other faculty welfare issues.
How is the membership decided?
First, the Committee on Committees seeks volunteers from tenured full-share members, usually in the form of calls for volunteers from V.P. of the Faculty Association. A member will be selected by the collaborative process between the Committee on Committees and the Welfare Committee. This process is unique to this committee. The final selection is made on the basis of skill sets and experiences at the college and elsewhere, representing all divisions and areas of faculty.
What are the terms of the service?
The Committee regularly rotates its membership. "During even numbered years, three Welfare members will rotate off the committee, and during odd numbered years, two Welfare members will rotate off. No members of Welfare will rotate off during Negotiations." Welfare Committee members serve "for the length of the Contractual Agreement except in the case of resignations and the special case of Welfare Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair is strongly encouraged to remain on the Committee for at least a year during the tenure of the next chair, or for the length of the next contractual agreement. The Vice Chair of Welfare becomes the Chair for the next contractual period. All other members complete their terms at the end of the contract. Former members may elect to reapply for another term on the Welfare Committee." New Welfare Committees are selected by a collaborative process between the Welfare Chair, the Committee on Committees, and the Faculty Senate. The new Committee is comprised of new members and some members of the previous Committee well skilled in the new Contractual Agreement. The Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate, who is also a member, will not be limited by the length of the contract. The President of the Faculty Senate has the Committee's standing invitation to attend meetings.
How does the Committee monitor and address issues brought to it?
It examines the issues, decides where the complaints come from, and strategizes solutions to the issues.
Who brings issues to the Committee?
Any of the following: Faculty Association President and Vice President, Faculty Senate, individual faculty members, and College administration.
How often does the Committee meet?
The committee meets twice a month during the academic year, usually alternating weeks with the Faculty Senate meetings. During each summer, it meets at least two times. Each meeting is confidential and visitors are allowed by invitation only. Issues are resolved by consensus.
Who are the current Committee members?
You can view the current Committee members on the Welfare page.
Who's Got Your Back? An Insider's View of Welfare by Tom Tipton
Judging just by the number of person-hours, the Welfare Committee may be one of the hardest
working committees on campus. The ten-member committee meets for at least
2.5 hours a week, not to mention outside meetings with administrators and faculty. And yet
many faculty don't know what the committee does while putting in all those hours. Marty Attiyeh,
Acting Chair of Grievance "Unions are increasingly misunderstood, as there are fewer and fewer
members nationwide," says Marty Attiyeh, acting chair of the Grievance sub-committee of Welfare,
"and the role of professional associations such as CODFA can be even more mysterious." And, as
is often the case, that which is not understood is subject to stereotypes: in this case a smoky
back room filled with an old boys' club.
But at least one aspect of the union stereotype doesn't hold true for our Welfare Committee: it is definitely not an old boys' club. Carolyn Dockus is the chief negotiator, Brenda Alberico is acting chair of Welfare, and Marty Attiyeh is acting chair of Grievance. (Under our newly amended Bylaws, during negotiations, the leadership of the committee shifts to allow chairs of subcommittees to focus on negotiations.) Nancy Conradt, a past president of the Association, provides additional leadership and negotiating experience. Nancy Stanko, as Vice President of the Association, serves as an ex-officio member of the committee, faithfully attending almost every meeting on top of her already hectic schedule. Michelle Couturier, our IEA UniServ Director, or staff contact, is also a regular visitor to Welfare meetings.
Of course, the "old boys" of the committee bring some key skills to the committee too. John Kovach is a CPA. Terry Jackson brings expertise in small group dynamics and conflict resolution. Mike Drafke's knowledge of business management and business law is always useful. Tom Tallman's abilities to conduct, compose, and harmonize are not only musical abilities. Lew Jones helps the committee keep the big picture of economics in mind, and I bring insight as to how the committee's work connects to Senate and the IEA.
But what motivates the members of this committee to put in the time and effort on this intensive committee, whose oft-misunderstood charge is to monitor the college's compliance with the contract? Despite the rare accusations of selfinterest, most of the members acknowledge that they simply want to serve their colleagues in a meaningful way. And it is not a thankless job; working on the committee has been one of the most fulfilling and collegial experiences I've had at the college. John Kovach echoes this: "While working on Welfare and Negotiations requires a significant amount of time and effort, I have really enjoyed working with the members of our team . . . I will always cherish my time on Welfare and the friendships I have made over the years."
Yet one of the biggest challenges of serving on this committee might surprise some faculty: communications with our colleagues. "Many times there are things that we would like to share with everyone, but can't in order to preserve the privacy of individuals involved in grievances, or to keep our strategies in negotiations under wraps," says Carolyn Dockus. This may be one of the reasons that the committee is sometimes criticized for being "secretive." Yet few other committees in the Association are held to the same standard of communication. Few ever ask, "When will the Social Committee, or Instruction Committee update us?" Few ever ask to see the work in progress of the Communications Committee or even Senate. "We discuss and worry about the correct things to communicate a lot. We are doing our best as a committee to keep our colleagues informed while not saying anything that harms an individual or undercuts our collective best interests," explains Dockus.
Committee meetings, usually held in the Business Simulation room around a large conference table, can be quite raucous. "When you spend as much time as we do together, you get to know each other very well . . ." says John Kovach, known by the committee as having a dry sense of humor. Mike Drafke sense of humor, on the other hand, is more much ironic. The rest of the team often teases Terry Jackson for his ability to forcefully disagree in a very polite manner, with a smile on his face. Tom Tallman will often turn a phrase that is absolutely musical and hysterical, while Lew Jones can wade through numbers and dollars in such a way that turns them into elaborate mathematical punch lines. Nancy Conradt and Marty Attiyeh will chat about the books they've been reading before the meetings begin. Brenda Alberico can cite chapter and verse of the Association Bylaws, and Carolyn Dockus marvels the committee with her astounding recall of details of the previous negotiations, and other Welfare issues, supplemented by her copious notes. Thus, while the content of the meetings can be quite heavy, they are not all gloom and doom. The committee members' personalities, skills, and senses of humor lighten the load.
If this were a Sunday-go-to-meeting committee, the good book would be the contract. Sections and sub-sections are bounced off each other in an elaborate contractual exegesis; for even the smallest issue, the committee members test an incredible array of contractual interpretations or strategies in a lively debate. We blend the rigors of the scientific method, the thoroughness of research, the creativity of art, and the malleability of language to explore every possible benefit and protection provided to our colleagues by the contract. Heartfelt conviction and a strong drive toward justice bubble over at times, but are always tempered by the committee members' awareness that their decisions can deeply affect individuals and our whole collective.
And there is a time when the debate ends, consensus is reached, and the decision of the committee is supported by its members, who grab another cookie or bag of chips, and move on to the next agenda item of the weekly marathon meeting.
What Have We Been Doing All Year? by Staff
Communications Committee Chair John Staeck asked faculty to send us notice of their publications, presentations, performances, etc., so we could publicize our accomplishments. Here are selections from the responses we received:
Deborah Adelman
Published short story, "Don't Be Sad in Paradise" in Other Voices issue #46, Spring
2007. Co-authored with Shamili Sandiford, "Reflections from the Garden: Developing a Critical
Literacy of Food Practices Through Interdisciplinary Studies and Service Learning" in
Radical Teacher special issue #78, 2007 on environmental education.
Linda Caputi
Caputi, L. (2007, in press). Evidence-based nursing practice for new graduates. Advance for
Nurses Serving New Nurse Graduates.
Caputi, L. (2006) Grading papers: Please or pain. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 1(2).
Caputi, L. (2006). Male Reproductive Disorders, In D. Ignatavicius & L. Workman, Medical-surgical
nursing: Critical thinking for collaborative care. St. Louis: Elsevier.
Kris Kowal
This summer I will be attending an education conference at Chinese Culture University, in Taipei,
as an invited speaker. My topic is the enduring legacy of Paulo Freire and its unique relevance
to two contemporary questions - the Taiwan-China relations and the "War on Terror" - for college and
university teachers in the US and Taiwan.
Keith Krasemann
Ethics: Theory and Practice, Prentice-Hall. The Role of Time Consciousness in Lifelong
Learning: A Theoretical Framework for Adult Education, Mellen Press. "Asian Studies and
Interpretation: Hermeneutics as a Way for Bridging Cultural Gaps in a Post Cold War World,"
East West Connections.
Tom Montgomery-Fate
Forthcoming publications: Fall, 2007: "In Plain Sight." Fourth Genre: Creative Nonfiction,
Michigan State University Press. July, 2007: "The Elusive Amish." The Boston Globe
(feature review of Plain Secrets, by Joe Mackall, Beacon Press). August, 2007: "Dancing
Geckos." Across Cultures: A Reader for Writers 7th Ed. Gillespie and Singleton,
editors. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007.
Susan Shih
I presented at the 2-Year Chemistry College Consortium meeting on CASPiE at Community Colleges.
CASPiE is an NSF grant project for which I am a Co-PI. It involves 1st & 2nd year students
carrying out undergraduate research as a scheduled component of the science majors chemistry
courses. I also had 3 presentations at the American Chemical Society national meeting. One of
these was also on CASPiE at COD. A second was on strategies for carrying out undergraduate
research at community colleges. The third was the history of COD at 40 years with a focus on the
development of the chemistry program.
Charles Vanderwarf
I had the opportunity to speak a few weeks ago at a Respiratory Care Conference held at the
Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI, about advances in aerosol therapy, modes
of ventilation, and heliox therapy.
