Many are familiar with Health Services and Health Promotion, but fewer understand how these areas directly impact student success. This session highlights how the Student Care Network integrates clinical care, prevention, and wellness education to reduce barriers and support retention, persistence, and completion. Participants will explore examples of cross-campus collaboration and learn how faculty and staff can partner with Health Services and Health Promotion to enhance student engagement and outcomes while actively contributing to a culture of care that supports the whole student.

The Dallas College Talent Marketplace empowers employees to explore career opportunities, build skills, and support their professional growth. This interactive session introduces the platform’s purpose, benefits, and role in advancing Dallas College’s Best Place to Work strategy. Participants will learn how the Talent Marketplace supports internal mobility, highlights employee strengths, and connects individuals to personalized learning and career development opportunities. Through a live demonstration, attendees will explore how to create a strong Talent Profile, understand skill insights, and engage with opportunities aligned to their goals. By the end of the session, employees will be prepared to leverage the platform for career growth at Dallas College.

This session is designed to help attendees confidently apply practical project management skills to their everyday work. Participants will learn how to clearly define goals, organize tasks, manage timelines, and communicate effectively across teams using simple, accessible tools. By focusing on real-world academic scenarios, the session emphasizes efficiency, collaboration, and accountability—equipping attendees to streamline initiatives, reduce confusion, and successfully deliver results without formal project management training.

The future of work is evolving rapidly, and Dallas College plays a critical role in preparing students for careers that may not yet exist. In this interactive design lab, participants will explore how we can strengthen the connection between education and employment by identifying innovative ways to engage, prepare, and connect students to opportunity. Using a student-centered workforce challenge, attendees will collaborate across disciplines to generate ideas, uncover barriers, and design solutions that support student success, workforce readiness, and economic mobility. Together, we will reimagine pathways that help students successfully transition from learning to earning.

People-to-People (P2P) is Dallas College's enterprise service culture initiative designed to strengthen how we serve students, colleagues, and our community. Grounded in employee feedback, Great Place to Work findings, World Café conversations, and Dallas College values, P2P focuses on building a more connected, collaborative, and human-centered workplace through stronger communication, accountability, trust, belonging, and service excellence.

This presentation will introduce the Dallas College community to Stellic, our new degree audit and academic planning platform, and provide an overview of implementation progress to date. Participants will learn how Stellic’s Progress and Planner tools are designed to support clearer degree pathways, more informed advising conversations, and a more student-centered planning experience. The session will highlight key features, current project milestones, and the ways faculty and staff can help students use academic planning as a tool for completion, milestone checkpoints, persistence, and success.

Life comes at us in chaotic, overwhelming and unpredictable ways. Plainly put, “life is lifing” and the math isn’t always mathing. Nevertheless, exhibiting courage and determination despite life’s difficulties produces character, enabling us to achieve our goals. As educational professionals, we regularly encounter situations and circumstances demanding the best levels of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual acuity. Positive outcomes are boosted when we intentionally develop skillfulness in applying the pillars of grit coupled with principles of resilience in order to consciously cultivate a lifestyle of personal wellness and professional achievement. This workshop will provide insightful concepts with practical tips.   

This interactive professional development session equips employees with practical Emotional Intelligence (EI) strategies to enhance communication, collaboration, and workplace culture. Grounded in an adult learning framework, participants will engage in reflection, real world scenarios, and skill building activities that promote self awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and constructive responses to workplace challenges. Participants will leave with immediately applicable tools to foster psychological safety, strengthen team relationships, and contribute to an exceptional workplace culture.

This session bridges classroom instruction and institutional policy, reframing the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office (SRRO) as a collaborative partner rather than a purely punitive department. By providing faculty with actionable best practices and a transparent look at the SRRO workflow, this program fosters a relationship-oriented approach to student accountability. Ultimately, it empowers faculty to confidently navigate allegations of academic misconduct, ensuring the process remains educational, developmental, and equitable for students while upholding the integrity of the Dallas College Student Code of Conduct.

Discover how small, intentional instructional choices can create meaningful global learning experiences in any discipline. This interactive workshop introduces a practical framework for integrating global perspectives into existing courses without international travel, extensive preparation, or additional resources. Through collaborative activities and examples from multiple disciplines, participants will identify opportunities already present in their own teaching and explore simple strategies that promote global awareness, intercultural competence, and social responsibility. Faculty will leave with practical ideas they can implement immediately and a framework for designing and communicating meaningful global learning experiences.

As artificial intelligence becomes routine in education and the workplace, colleges must shift from preventing AI use to preparing students for an AI-enabled future. AI does not replace expertise; it raises the bar for it. Students cannot analyze, evaluate, or solve problems without the foundational knowledge to think with. Drawing on research in attention, motivation, learning, and expertise development, this session explores practical strategies for engaging students in meaningful cognitive work that builds knowledge and develops the higher-order thinking, judgment, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are essential as AI handles more routine tasks.

What if finding HR support was as easy as a few clicks? Employee Center 2.0 is designed to do just that. During this session, you'll take a guided tour of the platform, learn tips and tricks for finding information quickly, discover self-service resources, and understand how the EEC team is structured to support you. From the Knowledge Base to HR Pods A–D, we'll show you how Employee Center 2.0 puts the right resources, tools, and experts within reach. Get ready to unlock a smarter, faster HR experience!

This session highlights the transformation of Dallas College’s New Student Orientation (NSO) into a student-centered, data-informed experience. Presenters will share key areas from the redesign, including alignment with the QEP, expansion of the NSO team, online orientation, and updated session content. Participants will review attendance, learning outcomes, and satisfaction data while gaining insight into quality assurance, marketing strategies, and campus collaboration. Attendees will leave understanding how NSO supports student success and how they can contribute to its continued growth and impact.

This interactive workshop guides faculty through developing AI policies for their syllabi using the AI Integration Continuum framework. The purpose is to transform institutional silence into clear, pedagogically sound AI policy language. Anticipated outcomes: (1) participants identify their course's appropriate AI integration level using a decision tree tool, (2) faculty draft specific AI policy language aligned with learning objectives, (3) participants leave with completed syllabus policy text ready for implementation, and (4) attendees understand threshold-based AI detection strategies appropriate for their chosen level. The workshop provides hands-on application, and faculty are encouraged to bring a syllabus or device to access.

This presentation explores the evolution of Texas community college baccalaureate programs, which enable authorized institutions to offer up to five degrees aligned with local workforce needs. It highlights Dallas College’s affordable bachelor’s pathways in education, nursing, technology, and management, illustrating their meaningful impact on surrounding communities. By reducing financial barriers, these programs expand access to high-quality workforce education and equip local students to address critical shortages across schools, healthcare systems, and technical industries.

This interactive session highlights the Ascender program as a high-impact strategy advancing Dallas College’s 2030 goals, with a strong focus on Student Success, Economic Mobility, and Inclusive Excellence. Participants will explore how Ascender supports students in building meaningful academic and career pathways through structured support, courses, mentorship, and cross-functional partnerships. A student panel will share lived experiences and Ascender’s impact on their academic and career trajectories. Participants will leave with actionable strategies and a clear call to engage in the Ascender Mentor Program.

Do you wonder why some teams thrive and some teams struggle? Strong teams don't happen by accident—they are built intentionally. This interactive workshop equips employees with practical strategies to build trust, create shared purpose, improve communication, foster accountability, and strengthen team engagement. Through real-world examples, engaging discussions, and hands-on exercises, participants will learn how teams develop, identify barriers to performance, and apply proven leadership practices that drive collaboration and results. You will learn practical tools and connect with colleagues as you learn how to contribute a culture where both people and results thrive.

"Studying abroad is too expensive for Dallas College students." Sound familiar? Think again. Join the Office of Global Learning for a practical session that turns assumptions into action. Today's employers consistently rank intercultural competency, adaptability, and resilience among their most sought-after soft skills. We'll explore how study abroad, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), service-learning, and international academic partnerships directly build that workforce edge, plus where to find funding. You'll leave with concrete ideas and a clear path to connecting students with these high-impact practices that prepare them for diverse careers.

Today's Dallas College students face increasing personal, financial, and emotional challenges, yet many remain hesitant to engage with institutional support. This session explores the psychology of student trust, including why students ghost appointments, stop responding, become defensive, or decline available resources. Participants will examine how trust influences student engagement, persistence, and help-seeking behaviors. Through discussion and interactive activities, employees will learn practical strategies to build meaningful connections that encourage students to accept support, remain engaged, and move toward success.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we work, learn, and grow. In this interactive session, Dallas College employees will discover practical ways to use AI to strengthen goal setting, improve feedback, and document accomplishments.  Participants will explore how AI can serve as a valuable thought partner throughout the performance management process—from creating SMART goals and tracking progress to preparing for performance conversations and identifying growth opportunities. The session will also discuss responsible AI practices that enhance productivity while maintaining authenticity, accountability, and human judgment. Participants will explore how AI can help them create smarter goals, deliver more effective feedback, and support continuous learning and development throughout the year.

This session highlights how Facilities supports Dallas College through operations, maintenance, and space management. Managing more than 5.5 million square feet across 108 buildings and handling over 60,000 work orders annually, Facilities plays a critical role in keeping campuses running smoothly. Attendees will learn how to navigate common Facilities services, including requesting space, furniture, and repairs, while gaining insight into the processes that support campus operations. From space planning and access control to event support and daily maintenance, Facilities delivers high-impact services that shape the campus experience.

This session will introduce an updated vision for the Student Outcomes Lab, showcasing how its research and data support Dallas College students from graduation to long-term success and upward mobility. We will present results from our First Destination Survey, including initial outcomes for the class of 2026, and pilot results from our Thriving Careers Survey, covering workforce graduates one to three years after completion. We’ll also discuss gathering firsthand qualitative insights from alumni and integrating their voices into recommendations that shape continuous improvement, program review, and strategic planning.

Discover how SkillsUSA Pathful can help educators bring career exploration and workforce readiness into everyday instruction. This interactive session provides a practical overview of the SkillsUSA Pathful platform and the exclusive resources available through SkillsUSA. Participants will explore tools that connect students with career pathways, industry professionals, work-based learning opportunities, resume building, and career readiness activities. Learn simple strategies for integrating SkillsUSA Pathful into your classroom or chapter to increase student engagement, support career planning, and help learners build the skills and experiences they need for future success.

This presentation provides an overview of Dallas College Police Department safety programs, emergency procedures, and preparedness initiatives designed to help protect students, employees, and visitors. Attendees will learn about emergency notifications, active threat response, evacuation procedures, shelter-in-place protocols, severe weather safety, personal safety practices, and available campus resources. The goal is to enhance awareness, preparedness, and individual responsibility while reinforcing Dallas College's commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment. Service Beyond the Badge – Protecting Education, Empowering Community.

This session is designed to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively support students in making informed career decisions. Participants will be introduced to the Lightcast Career Assessment tool and the insights it provides, including interests, skills, potential salary, degrees needed, and career pathways. The session will also highlight key factors that influence career decision-making, such as labor market trends, educational pathways, and student goals, ensuring a consistent, informed approach to guiding students across departments.

This workshop explores collaborative exams as a high-impact, equity-centered teaching strategy that enhances student learning, reduces test anxiety, and promotes active engagement. Participants learn how collaborative testing models encourage students to explain concepts, defend reasoning, and learn from peers, leading to deeper understanding and improved knowledge retention. The workshop also highlights how collaborative exams intentionally develop Dallas College Core Curriculum Marketable Skills, including critical thinking, teamwork, communication, social responsibility, personal responsibility, and quantitative reasoning. Attendees gain practical strategies for implementing collaborative exams while helping students recognize and articulate the valuable workplace skills they develop through these assessments.

This cooperative workshop will explore a pedagogical model that treats everything we do in our classrooms as skills. Our goal is to improve the way we teach skills while reexamining our conceptions of learning. This session is aimed at faculty and designed to help them improve their classroom teaching, especially by reexamining some of the underlying assumptions we make. 

How do we move from listening to action—and ensure that data, insight, and employee voice directly shape a better workplace for all? In this interactive session, Dallas College employees and leaders will explore how our Best Place To Work framework has been intentionally designed using employee feedback and people data as its foundation, and with real-time opportunity to contribute. Through survey results, focus groups, interviews, meta-analysis, and ongoing engagement insights, we are not only identifying what matters most—we are using that data to prioritize, design, and deliver meaningful change across the college.

Join the Center for BrainHealth and Student Care Network leadership for a discussion about brain health, stress, sleep, and cognitive strategies to enhance well-being. Presenters will share information about the Dallas College-UTD partnership and takeaways based on the latest science of brain health and performance, including tactics to boost mental energy, promote calm, and spur deeper-level thinking. Set your brain up for success with tools that can be integrated into your professional and personal lives to inspire clarity, connectedness, and emotional balance.

Many students can recall information but struggle to apply it in meaningful ways. This interactive session introduces a simple, adaptable teaching strategy that helps students connect knowledge to real-world application. Through drawing, brief explanations, and before-and-after comparisons, students demonstrate understanding rather than simply recalling facts. Participants will explore student examples and complete a short hands-on activity. Attendees will leave with a practical strategy they can use in any discipline to increase engagement, deepen learning, and promote meaningful application of knowledge.

Case management, a term typically associated with the medical field, has found itself fundamental to the future of how higher education staff and faculty support students. Dallas College established its first-of-its-kind Case Management Studio in late 2023 and has now trained over 100 staff members on effective case management in higher education. This session unlocks those secrets, giving every participant a new view of the power of case management and its connection to the student experience through supportive, engaging, proactive professional development.

This interactive workshop equips Dallas College employees to become “data detectives and survey sleuths” by using survey tools and data visualizations to support decision-making. Participants learn when surveys are appropriate, how to design effective questions, and how to interpret results using the DIKW model. Through hands-on group activities, a Qualtrics demo, and real data analysis, attendees practice turning raw data into meaningful insights and actions. The session emphasizes practical strategies for identifying relevant data, creating visual reports, and making confident, evidence-based decisions in workplace scenarios.

Explore what iconic women—from modern films to history—can teach us about leadership, resilience, purpose and authenticity in the workplace. Through storytelling, discussion and reflection, you'll uncover timeless lessons from remarkable leaders and discover how their journeys can inspire your own. From Elle Woods to Queen Esther, come explore what these unforgettable women can teach us about showing up with courage, purpose and a little Main Character Energy.

This session shares the work of a cross-disciplinary faculty learning community that studied the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program's Leadership Academy curriculum. Participants examined national models of community college student success, explored post-completion outcomes and labor market alignment, and developed a practical faculty toolkit designed for course-level application. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies for building student connection, making effective referrals, and contributing to a culture of completion from within their own classrooms.