Fall Development Day 2026

• Selection of Fresh Baked Muffins, Gourmet Pastries, Fresh Fruit, Farm Fresh Scrambled Eggs, Iowa Pork Sausage and Crisp Hash Browns
• Assorted Juices, Premium Regular & Decaf Coffee

• New York Style Deli
  • Honey Glazed Ham, Smoked Turkey, Deli Roast Beef, Cheddar, Swiss & Colby Jack Cheese, Assortment of Fresh Breads, Chips & Dip, Pasta Salad, Yellow Mustard, Mayonnaise & Garlic Aioli, Crisp Lettuce, Ripened Tomatoes & Sliced Onion
  • Iced Tea, Premium Regular & Decaf Coffee, Water, Assorted Soda

Teaching & Learning Innovation

Presenter: Dr. Daniel Newton, University of Iowa
Location: URB Community Room

Drawing from his recent experience as both student and instructor, Dr. Daniel Newton shares evidence-based practices for innovative, hands-on learning. Explore strategies instructors can use to encourage creativity, curiosity, and active participation in the classroom. 

Read "Failing Spectacularly," a feature on Dr. Newton's innovative teaching approach.

Learn more about Dr. Daniel Newton.

The Power of Technology (Element 451)

Presenters: Griffin Wagner, Tishly Herrington, Heather Evans, Teri Carton 
Location: URB 114/115

Discover how EICC is using its new student CRM, Element 451, to support enrollment and retention. Learn how technology, AI, and staff expertise are working together to transform the student experience. 

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Presenter: Tori Andrews
Location: URB 116/117

Explore Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidence-based, trauma-informed psychotherapy for addressing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and other concerns. Learn how ART works, the research supporting it, and its potential applications within higher education mental health services. 

Microsoft Teams Essentials: Work Smarter Together

Presenter: Brandon Lange
Location: URB 227

Build practical skills for collaborating through Microsoft Teams at EICC. Learn to find and organize teams and channels, communicate through chats and calls, schedule meetings, use @mentions effectively, and manage notifications without unnecessary distractions. 

EICC Foundations: What We Do (Besides asking for money!)

Presenters: Kendra Schaapveld and Foundation Directors 
Location: URB 324

Discover how EICC’s four foundations support more than fundraising. Foundation directors will discuss their roles in advancing student success, scholarships, campus life, facilities, employee support, and special projects across our college communities. 

The SCC Lecture Series

Presenters: Stephanie Newell, Amy Foley, Katie Kelley, Lesa Hadley, Tracy Hmielowski 
Location: URB 325

Discover the academic, creative, and passion projects that come to life through the SCC Lecture Series. Hear from organizers and previous presenters, then workshop your own presentation ideas or explore opportunities to bring similar programming to another campus. 

Heart Fasting: A Mindfulness Practice for Lightening Life’s Burdens

Presenters: Gretchen Freed, Alyse Schmidt, and Missy Diaz
Location: URB 326

Explore “heart fasting,” a mindfulness practice centered on releasing habits such as comparison, regret, and the need for control. Learn practical techniques for recognizing these patterns and cultivating greater awareness, clarity, presence, and emotional lightness. 

Suit Up with Eddy: Mascot 101

Presenters: Nathan Klaus and Johnna Kerres
Location: URB 327

Learn the essentials of wearing and caring for EICC’s new Eddy the Otter mascot suits. This hands-on workshop covers proper use, safety and comfort, suit maintenance, and best practices for creating positive, engaging interactions with students, families, children, and community members. Perfect for faculty and staff interested in volunteering as Eddy! 

A Departmental PD Romp in Denver

Presenters: Gina Bielski, Ryan Cockerill, Brooke Oehme, Andrea Williams 
Location: URB 328

Learn how communication faculty used professional development funding to attend the National Communication Association conference together. Presenters will share lessons from the experience, pedagogical tips they brought home, and how they are applying new ideas in their classrooms. 

Stop the Bleed

Presenter: Jim Hawkes
Location: URB 329

Learn to recognize and respond to life-threatening bleeding before emergency responders arrive. This hands-on training covers direct pressure, wound packing, and proper tourniquet use, giving participants practical skills and confidence to take potentially lifesaving action. 

Engagement, Recognition & Motivation

Presenter: Dr. Daniel Newton, University of Iowa
Location: URB Community Room

Explore evidence-based strategies for increasing engagement, satisfaction, and performance at work. Learn to recognize stress, regulate emotions, and develop meaningful workplace relationships while addressing everyday factors that can strengthen or diminish employee engagement. 

Learn more about Dr. Daniel Newton.

Citizen Response to Active Shooter Event (CRASE) - Part 1

Presenter: Jim Hawkes
Location: URB 114/115

Learn practical strategies for responding during an active threat. Designed for non-law-enforcement personnel, CRASE covers situational awareness, warning signs, decision-making under stress, Avoid, Deny, Defend principles, and what to expect when law enforcement arrives. Note: this session is part one of a two-part series. 

Unlocking Opportunity: Workforce Pell in Action

Presenters: Ashlee Spannagel and Karri Frank
Location: URB 116/117

Explore how expanded Workforce Pell funding can increase access to short-term training for high-demand careers. Learn how EICC plans to implement the program while helping students overcome financial barriers, earn industry credentials, and pursue stackable educational pathways. 

AI in the Classroom: Creating Interactive Study Tools for Students

Presenter: Raine Morford
Location: URB 228

Learn how AI can help faculty create interactive study resources such as flashcards, quizzes, simulations, and guided practice. Explore approachable AI tools, effective prompting, and ways to build and publish web-based learning activities through GitHub. 

The Human Advantage: Leading with People Skills

Presenter: Shannon Cebuhar
Location: URB 330

Explore how empathy, active listening, clear communication, and trust-building strengthen effective leadership. Learn practical strategies for applying these people skills during everyday conversations, feedback, conflict, and change to build stronger teams and workplace relationships. 

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: From Message to Meaning

Presenter: Brenda Meeker
Location: URB 328

Strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and intentionally by considering language, tone, context, and verbal and nonverbal cues. This interactive session offers strategies for adapting messages to your audience while building greater understanding, trust, and stronger relationships. 

Flip the Switch: Understanding Basic Electrical Repairs

Presenter: Clayton Spinler
Location: URB 327

Get hands-on experience with basic electrical repairs using mock electrical boxes and no live wiring. Learn how switches and outlets work, explore common wiring concepts and mistakes, and understand when a project is DIY-friendly, or requires an electrician. 

The New EICC Honors Program: More Accessible, More Impactful

Presenter: Brian Hilton
Location: URB 326

Explore EICC’s redesigned Honors Program launching Fall 2026. Learn how the district-wide model removes traditional GPA and test-score barriers, emphasizes five learning outcomes, introduces new and revised courses, and supports student growth, retention, and completion. 

Writing to Learn: Learning to Write

Presenter: Lesa Hadley
Location: URB 325

Learn how to incorporate writing into your courses without creating an overwhelming grading workload. Explore strategies for designing effective assignments, scaffolding students toward final essays, assessing critical thinking, and evaluating student work more efficiently. 

Measuring Impact: The Evolution of Assessment in Academic Advising

Presenters: Daniel Dankert and Teri Carton
Location: URB 324

Explore how assessment is used in academic advising to measure student learning and demonstrate advisors’ impact. Presenters will review how EICC’s advising assessment plan has evolved and discuss opportunities for its continued development. 

Engagement, Recognition & Motivation

Presenter: Dr. Daniel Newton, University of Iowa
Location: URB Community Room

Explore evidence-based strategies for increasing engagement, satisfaction, and performance at work. Learn to recognize stress, regulate emotions, and develop meaningful workplace relationships while addressing everyday factors that can strengthen or diminish employee engagement. 

Learn more about Dr. Daniel Newton.

Citizen Response to Active Shooter Event (CRASE) - Part 2

Presenter: Jim Hawkes
Location: URB 114/115

Continued from session one, explore practical strategies for responding during an active threat. CRASE covers situational awareness, warning signs, decision-making under stress, Avoid, Deny, Defend principles, and appropriate responses when law enforcement arrives. 

Courageous Conversations

Presenter: Brooke Sweeney-Adrian
Location: URB 116/117

Explore the challenges of accountability and difficult conversations in higher education. Designed for supervisors, this interactive session uses real-world examples and practical frameworks to promote transparency, empathy, constructive dialogue, trust, and a stronger institutional culture. 

Community Building on Canvas

Presenter: Brooke Oehme
Location: URB 228

Tired of discussion boards? Me too! Move beyond traditional discussion boards and discover new ways to build community through Canvas. Explore tools and strategies that help students collaborate, reflect, and engage more meaningfully in both online and in-person courses. 

Three Years of Gaming Con

Presenters: Mat Endress and Dan Dankert
Location: URB 324

Look back at three years of Gaming Con, including the event’s history, successes, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement. Presenters will also share ways EICC employees can get involved and help shape year four. 

EICC’s Enrollment Future: Demographics, College Going Trends, and Strategic Opportunities

Presenters: Nancy Dugan and Tishly Herrington
Location: URB 325

Explore the demographic, economic, and college-going trends shaping EICC’s enrollment future. Learn how declining high school populations and changing student choices may affect EICC, then consider practical opportunities to strengthen recruitment and community partnerships. 

Which 3D Printer is Right for You?

Presenter: Mark Fortenbacher
Location: URB 326

Get a beginner-friendly introduction to 3D printing and the differences among home, entry-level, and professional systems. Learn what different printers can do, which features matter, and how to choose an option that fits your needs. 

"Turing Test" the Teacher: Am I an AI Teacher?

Presenter: Ashley Carlin
Location: URB 327

Explore what meaningful instructor presence looks like in an online course. Review expectations for regular and substantive interaction and discover practical ways to engage students through discussions, individualized Canvas feedback, office hours, email, and gradebook messaging. 

Hands Only CPR

Presenters: Triston Dalaska and Alicia Schroeder
Location: URB 328

Learn the two basic steps of hands-only CPR for a teen or adult experiencing cardiac arrest: call 911 and provide hard, fast chest compressions. This simple technique requires no mouth-to-mouth breathing and can significantly increase survival. 

The People Side of Change

Presenter: Paulette Milewski
Location: URB 329

Explore the human side of organizational change through William Bridges’ work on transition. Learn why change can trigger exhaustion, frustration, or resistance. Gain practical tools for navigating change yourself, supporting others, or leading people through it. 

Getting the Brand Back Together

Presenter: Nathan Klaus and Johnna Kerres
Location: URB 330

Get to know the EICC brand and how to use it consistently. We’ll cover logo guidelines, colors, imagery, accessibility, common branding pitfalls and how Eddy fits within the larger EICC identity.