Participants in the program find value in the time they spend preparing
to be instructors in their subject area. Here's what some of them say
From a graduate student in Theatre, Film and Dance
I am an MFA student in the department of Theatre, Film and Dance and a member of the College Faulty Preparation Program. This program has been great for me in attempting to become a college faculty member. The three courses, while very different, all go very well together to give you a wide view of everything a faculty member may experience. Being a TA and having my own class were the best experiences because I was able to get in front of a class, every day, and work. The experience I gained in all aspects of this program has given me the confidence to look forward to a career as a college professor. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at joseph@donovan.net
Joseph P. Donovan
Theater, Film, and Dance
From a Humanities instructor at College of the Redwoods
The CFP Program has been instrumental in helping me to prepare both
academically and personally for a career in teaching. The courses offered
through the CFPP address the most critical issues in college level
instruction, while providing a practical framework for exploring
and responding to those issues. What the CFPP does most effectively is
provide for participation in the daily workings of teaching through the
actual application of skills. My involvement in the internship at College
of the Redwoods, has significantly boosted my confidence and my ability in
teaching. The opportunity to observe and interact with working teachers
helped me hone my teaching skills and to apply those skills in a
Real world environment.
Kevin Nelson
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Dept.
College of the Redwoods
From a Humanities instructor at College of the Redwoods
In the fall of 2000, I enrolled in the Future Faculty Program at HSU.
After teaching overseas for three years, I thought that this program would help my transition from working overseas to working in the States. I soon realized that not only was the program going to be helpful with my transition, the facilitators of the program would add a great deal to my ideas regarding pedagogy, specifically at the community college level. By enrolling in the program, I was not only given a mentor at College of the Redwoods, I was allowed to observe and occasionally teach her class. Professor Ellis at CR gave me invaluable advice and the kind of real-life classroom experience I was lacking. In addition to the wonderful support at College of the Redwoods, Judith Little of the sociology department, Eric Rofes from the education department, and visiting professor Mark Winter all took it upon themselves to give the students the most up-to-date information regarding higher education. From creating a syllabus to constructing a webpage, each class was specifically designed to prepare students to teach. After finishing the program, I felt more competent as a teacher and more certain as to what to expect in the classroom. This program is the perfect complement to any graduate program.
Michelle Van Aalst, Adjunct Faculty
Department of Humanities
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, CA
From a Mathematics instructor now at CR
I participated in the College Faculty Preparation Certificate Program during the 2001-2002 school year. I entered with two years of experience at Humboldt State University as a graduate teaching assistant. The CFP program provided me with the opportunity to teach at another institution and an introduction to the faculty and staff of College of the Redwoods. My mentor, Sandra Vrem, gave me the opportunity to work with students in a tutoring capacity and in a team teaching environment. This also allowed me to observe a master teacher at work. I am also indebted to Michele Olsen, who provided me with small groups of her Algebra students for a series of short presentations. The courses with Dr. Judith Little, Dr. Mark Winter, and Dr. Eric Rofes constantly challenged me to improve as a teacher. They also informed me of the other obligations of teaching that lay outside the classroom.
How successful was this program? Last Summer I was offered a position as part-time associate faculty in the Mathematics Department at College of the Redwoods. I am pleased to say I continue to teach there and as a graduate assistant at HSU while I complete my thesis.
Joseph L. Bruce, Adjunct Faculty
Department of Mathematics
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, CA
From a Sociology graduate student, now instructing at CR
If I had not participated in CFPP, preparation for a temporary part-time teaching position with CR would have been impossible and acceptance of this position one week before the semester began would have been out of the question. Yet, having recently finished the CFPP certificate, I was able to meet with CR faculty the morning after the offer was made with porfolio in hand. I was hired within days and began teaching the next week. My confidence level and abilities as a sociology instructor were cultivated in the CFPP, enabling me to enter the classroom and the profession of community college instruction at a moment's notice. I recommend CFPP to anyone who envisions themselves teaching a college class after the completion of a graduate degree; whether it is a sought position or one that falls into your lap, you will be prepared to tackle the challenges and recognize the rewards of teaching in higher education.
Bethaney Weber
The CFPP can help you achieve your professional goals!
I came to Humboldt knowing exactly what I wanted to do and where
I wanted to go as a teacher. I chose to pursue graduate school in the hopes
that it would show me the path to achieve these goals. My graduate program
at HSU, although giving me experience within my specific field,
unfortunately did little to prepare me for the next step of teaching at the
college level. I had previously acquired some teaching experience at the K-12
levels, but did not know how I could transition those experiences into a
teaching career. This College-Faculty-Prep-Program not only offered me the
classes I needed to evolve as a teacher, it also provided me the guidance
and support needed to transition out of school and into the working world.
I can honestly say that the CFPP classes were the most
thought provoking and challenging classes I took at HSU; the bond shared
with my professors and mentors in that program were invaluable to my future.
I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is contemplating a career
in higher education. Please feel free to contact me at vwblake@yahoo.com,
if you have any questions.
Blake Williams
From a graduate student in Theatre, Film and Dance
I am an MFA student in the department of Theatre, Film and Dance and a member of the College Faulty Preparation Program. This program has been great for me in attempting to become a college faculty member. The three courses, while very different, all go very well together to give you a wide view of everything a faculty member may experience. Being a TA and having my own class were the best experiences because I was able to get in front of a class, every day, and work. The experience I gained in all aspects of this program has given me the confidence to look forward to a career as a college professor. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at joseph@donovan.netJoseph P. Donovan
Theater, Film, and Dance
From a Humanities instructor at College of the Redwoods
The CFP Program has been instrumental in helping me to prepare both academically and personally for a career in teaching. The courses offered through the CFPP address the most critical issues in college level instruction, while providing a practical framework for exploring and responding to those issues. What the CFPP does most effectively is provide for participation in the daily workings of teaching through the actual application of skills. My involvement in the internship at College of the Redwoods, has significantly boosted my confidence and my ability in teaching. The opportunity to observe and interact with working teachers helped me hone my teaching skills and to apply those skills in a Real world environment.Kevin Nelson
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Dept.
College of the Redwoods
From a Humanities instructor at College of the Redwoods
In the fall of 2000, I enrolled in the Future Faculty Program at HSU. After teaching overseas for three years, I thought that this program would help my transition from working overseas to working in the States. I soon realized that not only was the program going to be helpful with my transition, the facilitators of the program would add a great deal to my ideas regarding pedagogy, specifically at the community college level. By enrolling in the program, I was not only given a mentor at College of the Redwoods, I was allowed to observe and occasionally teach her class. Professor Ellis at CR gave me invaluable advice and the kind of real-life classroom experience I was lacking. In addition to the wonderful support at College of the Redwoods, Judith Little of the sociology department, Eric Rofes from the education department, and visiting professor Mark Winter all took it upon themselves to give the students the most up-to-date information regarding higher education. From creating a syllabus to constructing a webpage, each class was specifically designed to prepare students to teach. After finishing the program, I felt more competent as a teacher and more certain as to what to expect in the classroom. This program is the perfect complement to any graduate program. Michelle Van Aalst, Adjunct FacultyDepartment of Humanities
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, CA
From a Mathematics instructor now at CR
I participated in the College Faculty Preparation Certificate Program during the 2001-2002 school year. I entered with two years of experience at Humboldt State University as a graduate teaching assistant. The CFP program provided me with the opportunity to teach at another institution and an introduction to the faculty and staff of College of the Redwoods. My mentor, Sandra Vrem, gave me the opportunity to work with students in a tutoring capacity and in a team teaching environment. This also allowed me to observe a master teacher at work. I am also indebted to Michele Olsen, who provided me with small groups of her Algebra students for a series of short presentations. The courses with Dr. Judith Little, Dr. Mark Winter, and Dr. Eric Rofes constantly challenged me to improve as a teacher. They also informed me of the other obligations of teaching that lay outside the classroom. How successful was this program? Last Summer I was offered a position as part-time associate faculty in the Mathematics Department at College of the Redwoods. I am pleased to say I continue to teach there and as a graduate assistant at HSU while I complete my thesis.Joseph L. Bruce, Adjunct Faculty
Department of Mathematics
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, CA
From a Sociology graduate student, now instructing at CR
If I had not participated in CFPP, preparation for a temporary part-time teaching position with CR would have been impossible and acceptance of this position one week before the semester began would have been out of the question. Yet, having recently finished the CFPP certificate, I was able to meet with CR faculty the morning after the offer was made with porfolio in hand. I was hired within days and began teaching the next week. My confidence level and abilities as a sociology instructor were cultivated in the CFPP, enabling me to enter the classroom and the profession of community college instruction at a moment's notice. I recommend CFPP to anyone who envisions themselves teaching a college class after the completion of a graduate degree; whether it is a sought position or one that falls into your lap, you will be prepared to tackle the challenges and recognize the rewards of teaching in higher education.Bethaney Weber
The CFPP can help you achieve your professional goals!
I came to Humboldt knowing exactly what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go as a teacher. I chose to pursue graduate school in the hopes that it would show me the path to achieve these goals. My graduate program at HSU, although giving me experience within my specific field, unfortunately did little to prepare me for the next step of teaching at the college level. I had previously acquired some teaching experience at the K-12 levels, but did not know how I could transition those experiences into a teaching career. This College-Faculty-Prep-Program not only offered me the classes I needed to evolve as a teacher, it also provided me the guidance and support needed to transition out of school and into the working world. I can honestly say that the CFPP classes were the most thought provoking and challenging classes I took at HSU; the bond shared with my professors and mentors in that program were invaluable to my future. I strongly recommend this program to anyone who is contemplating a career in higher education. Please feel free to contact me at vwblake@yahoo.com, if you have any questions.Blake Williams