English track

Applicant Title / Título: Instructional Support Specialist
Institution or System / Institución o Sistema: Hill College
Preferred edition / Edición de preferencia: February 25 to 28, 2025 / 25 al 28 de febrero de 2025
Have taught an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha enseñado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?: No
Have taken an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha tomado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?: No
Have you been in charge of an instructional technology initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de tecnología instruccional?: No
Have you been in charge of a distance education initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de educación a distancia?: No
Years of experience in Higher Education / Años de experiencia en educación superior: 0-5 years
Gender / Género: Female
Age Range / Edad: 41 to 50
Are you Hispanic / ¿Es usted hispano?: No
Race Category / Raza: White
PART II: Education / Educación:
Highest Earned Degree / Grado más alto de educación obtenido: Masters
College/University / Colegio/Universidad: Texas Woman’s Univeristy
Field/Major / Campo de estudio/Especialidad: Library Science
Other Degrees Earned / Otros grados obtenidos: Bachelor of Fine Arts
PART III: Experience / Experiencia:
Present Responsibilities / Resumen de responsabilidades:

Although I’m not in charge of a distance education initiative or an online learning initiative, my role as an Instructional Support Specialist is to assist faculty and students within our new LMS, Simple Syllabus, and Quality Matters.

Academic and Professional Distinctions and Honors / Reconocimientos y premios académicos y profesionales:

I am a member of Beta Phi Mu
I am a member of Texas Library Association
I transferred from being a Library Specialist at Hill College to becoming an Instructional Support Specialist.

Civil and Community Activities / Actividades civiles y comunitarias:

I volunteered with UIL, performing arts, and art contests from 2002 to 2019.
I have published 2 educational books: Great Expectations Readers’ Theater Scripts Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

Professional Goals / Metas profesionales:

I hope to assist in creating a Maker’s Space at the Burleson Location of Hill College. Within 10 years, I hope to become a Learning Designer Assistant or a second Learning Designer. I plan to join Texas Digital Learning Association, attend their annual conference, and by 2027 submit a proposal to teach a session on using artificial intelligence in the classroom at the annual conference. I hope my success framework, which is the project I’ve submitted, will help double our online enrollment from 1,850 students to 3,700 by 2030.

Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA / Explique lo que espera adquirir al participar en la H-LTLA:

I specifically hope to learn how to blend accessibility and universal design into instructional design for the best online learning environment possible for Hill College students.

PART IV: Professional References / Referencias profesionales:
Professional Reference #1 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #1:

Eve Bowen
Librarian
Hill College, Auvenshine Library
254.659.7831
ebowen@hillcollege.edu

Professional Reference #2 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #2:

Adrian Riojas
Dean of Students
Hill College
817.915.3336
ariojas@hillcollege.edu

Professional Reference #3 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #3:

Dr. Rachelle Barron
Director of Testing
Hill College
817.760.5814
rbarron@hillcollege.edu

Upload a letter from a president, chancellor, or administrator / Carta de recomendación:
See the recommendation letter
PART V: Initiative and Mentor / Iniciativa y mentor:
A letter describing a project that you will consider implementing at your campus or organization with the name of the Mentor of your preference. Your Mentor can be different from your references and should be a staff with experience in the area selected. / Una carta que describa un proyecto que considerará implementar en su campus u organización con el nombre del mentor de su preferencia:
See the Initiative letter
PART VI: Statement of Purpose / Declaración de Intención:
1. From your perspective, what are the top three issues facing higher education today? Why? (no more than 300 words) / Desde su perspectiva, ¿cuáles son los tres principales problemas que enfrenta la educación superior hoy día? ¿Por qué?:

1. The economy is keeping students from enrolling in school. Instead, many high school graduates are having to find full-time employment.

2. The length of time it takes for students to graduate is preventing students from even starting. If an LVN nurse wants to become an LPN, it’s overwhelming to take pre-requisite courses, plus an additional two years of classes (if they aren’t already working full-time).

3. Student distraction and limited attention spans have negative impacts on student learning. This is one reason Hill College is focused on instructional design in online courses, focused on accessibility and using the principles of universal design for driving internal student motivation.

2. What are your own institution’s priorities and challenges with regard to leveraging instructional technology and distance education for the benefit of the entire organization? (no more than 300 words) / ¿Cuáles son las prioridades y los retos de su institución con respecto al aprovechamiento de la tecnología educativa y la educación a distancia en beneficio de toda la organización?:

Hill College biggest challenge is student degree or certification completion. Our priority is student success – we are here to provide excellence in teaching, learning, and innovation that improves lives and drives economic sustainability. Our second area of focus is on enrollment and programmatic growth. Through the faculty and staff initiative of providing a culture of care, we hope that every interaction with a student sets them up for success. As of fall 2024, our Education Technology Services deployed a new LMS to Brightspace. As part of implementing the new LMS, we also adopted the Quality Matters program for elevating the student virtual learning experience. Our short-term goal is to begin a schedule for reviewing all courses using the QM Higher Education Rubric and our long-term goal is to have QM certified programs, such as those in our STEM and Health & Public Service pathways.

3. If have the influence to instill change at your Institution, was one thing you could change, what would that be; and what is the unique aspect of your institution you would like to keep? (no more than 300 words) / Si pudiera influir para lograr algún cambio en su institución, ¿cuál sería? y ¿cuál es el aspecto único de su institución que le gustaría mantener?

The biggest influence I would like to make would be to incorporate the skill of active listening campus wide. Sometimes, a student might say they have to drop their classes. But what active listening can uncover is that a student’s car broke down, they were sick and lost 2 shifts at work, and instead of having extra money this week, they have to use their money to repair their car instead of make a tuition payment.

What makes Hill College extraordinary is the expertise and the skills of our knowledgeable instructors and staff. The unique aspect I want to maintain is our strong sense of teamwork. I know I can count on members of my team as well as many colleagues outside of my own division, for any assistance, clarification or even advice.

Evaluation

Please provide your input for the following candidate application, using a scale from 1 to 3 (based on the rubric and metrics provided for each area):

Applicant name (for your reference): *

Title (for your reference): *

Track of interest (for your reference): *

Part I. Personal Information and Demographic Data

Part I. Personal Information and Demographic Data: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Have not taught or taken an online course, or have not been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have less than 5 years of experience in Higher Ed.); 2- (Good: Have taught or taken at least two online courses, or have been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have between 6 and 10 years of experience in Higher Ed.); 3- (Excellent: Have taught or taken two or more online courses, have been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have between 11 and 20 or more years of experience in Higher Ed.) *

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Part II. Education

Part II. Education: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1- (Poor: Bachelor’s degree or less than a bachelor’s degree in any academic Field); 2- (Good: Bachelor’s degree in Education with a major related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., or a master’s degree in Education); 3- (Excellent: Master or courses towards a doctor degree, or a doctor’s degrees in Education related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed.) *

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Part III. Experience:

Present Responsibilities, distinctions, and activities: 1- (Poor: Not present responsibilities related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., and doesn't have distinctions or activities related to the fields); 2- (Good: Present responsibilities related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., and mentioned distinctions or activities related to the fields); 3- (Excellent: Present responsibilities related to management or supervision of Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. initiatives, and mentioned the distinctions or activities related to the fields). *

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Professional Goals: Professional Goals: 1 – (Poor: Goals described are not related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives); 2 – (Good: Goals described are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives); 3 – (Excellent: Goals described are innovative and related to the management or supervision of Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives). *

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Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA: Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA: 1 – (Poor: Candidate’s expectations are not aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies); 2 – (Good: Candidate’s expectations are in some way aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies); 3 – (Excellent: Candidate’s expectations are significantly aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies) *

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Part IV. Professional References

Part IV. Professional References: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Provided are one or two references and are not related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Faculty or Administrators, and the nomination letter is pending); 2 – (Good: Provided two references and are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Faculty or Administrators, and included the nomination letter or provided the evidence that is in process); 3 – (Excellent: Provided more than two references and are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Administrators, and included the nomination letter) *

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Part V. Initiative and Mentor

Part V. Initiative and Mentor: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The candidate’s initiative is unclear or not aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor does not seem to have experience in the proposed initiative area.); 2 – (Good: The candidate’s initiative is clear and somehow aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor seems to have some experience in the proposed initiative area.); 3 – (Excellent: The candidate’s initiative is clear and very aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor seems to have a lot of experience in the proposed initiative area) *

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Part VI. Statement of Purpose:

1. From your perspective, what are the top three issues facing higher education today? Why? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The issues and explanations are not clear or pertinent to the education reality today); 2 – (Good: The issues and explanations are somehow clear or pertinent to the education reality today); 3 – (Excellent: The issues and explanations are very clear and pertinent to the education reality today) *

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2. What are your own institution’s priorities and challenges with regard to leveraging instructional technology and distance education for the benefit of the entire organization? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The priorities and challenges described are not directly related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education); 2 – (Good: The priorities and challenges described are somehow related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education); 3 – (Excellent: The priorities and challenges described are directly related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education.) *

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3. If have the influence to instill change at your Institution, was one thing you could change, what would that be; and what is the unique aspect of your institution you would like to keep? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Only mention one aspect, and is not directly related to a thing that he/she could change or keep at his/her Institution); 2 – (Good: Mention one or two aspects, and are somehow related to a thing that he/she could change or keep at his/her Institution); 3 – (Excellent: Mention both aspects and are related to a thing that he/she could change and keep at his/her Institution.) *

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Name of the Evaluation Board Member *

Evaluation Board Member Comments about the Applicant: Please write your recommendations or additional feedback

Please select the best category that applies to this candidate based on the following criteria

Please select the best category that applies to this candidate based on the following criteria: 1-Beginner: Obtained mostly 1 point in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3); 2- Intermediate: Obtained mostly 2 points in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3); 3- Advanced: Obtained mostly 3 points in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3) *

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