Welcome to the Community College Faculty Association Web site!
I'm assuming that you've visited this site to see just what this new organization is all about. I'm pleased that your interest and curiosity has brought you here! I hope that what you see and read will inspire you to join CCFA and become an integral part of its future and the future of faculty leaders across the country.
Like many visiting this site, I have spent years serving my institution, Amarillo College, on the Faculty Senate and on various committees across campus such as Academic Affairs, Professional Development, Faculty Development, Salary, and Wellness.
I have always enjoyed representing my colleagues on those committees. But, at times, I haven't felt adequately prepared to speak for them or to relay important policy information to them. During those times, I've wanted to be able to pick up the phone and call some kind of clearinghouse for information on community college issues. I don't need someone to tell me how or what to think. Like you, I can make responsible decisions on issues. However, I simply haven't had the breadth of knowledge necessary to feel comfortable with the decisions I've had to make.
For example, when my administration wanted feedback from the faculty senate on dual credit programs with high schools, I needed to know how other schools across the country, not just in Texas, had handled such arrangements. I needed to know which schools had unsuccessful programs and why. I needed to know which schools had exemplary dual credit programs with high standards; I needed to know how they had accomplished such a thing.
But, there was no phone number for me to call. And, the more I dealt with issues, the more I felt the need for some kind of information source. Finally, since no such source existed, I decided to establish it myself. So, with the help of a small grant from Amarillo College, I did.
Since I first announced the creation of CCFA in the fall of 1998, the response to this project has been startlingly positive! I have received calls of support from across the country. Almost two hundred schools responded to my mail out survey--not a bad response since all of the letters were addressed simply to "Faculty Association President." Statewide faculty organizations have come aboard this project, offering support and ideas. Clearly, the time has come for an idea like CCFA to be born and live a long, healthy life.
I hope you will continue to visit this web site to acquire issues information, to respond to the Backtalk portion of the page, and, ultimately, to join. My dreams are for CCFA to have a large, national membership, a newsletter, and a yearly conference, in addition to this site. And, I invite, nay I encourage you to write to me at testewar@actx.edu . You may also call me at (806) 371-5181.
I want to hear from you; I want to answer your questions; I want to provide you with the information you need to make decisions and serve your colleagues. I look forward to getting to know you!
Terry Stewart
Director, CCFA
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