Brotman Awards
Brotman
Award for Instructional Excellence
Brotman
Award for Diversity
On
June 7, 2001, the IC was awarded both of the Brotman Awards
which were presented at the annual University Recognition
Ceremony. The IC is the first program to receive two Brotman
Awards in the same year. When
UW President McCormick announced the IC as one of the Brotman
Award recipients, the staff and students of the IC began
the clap and cheer wildly. This photo of IC director, Emile
Pitre, was taken during the applause. |
Comments Delivered
at the University Recognition Ceremony
First
of all I wish to congratulate the Interdisciplinary Writing Program
on winning this award also. I have long held in high regard those
who possess both the talent and ability to teach writing effectively,
but to do so across disciplines is even more impressive. My esteem
for writers goes as far back as high school where my all-time favorite
teacher taught English and Literature.
You
will probably not be surprised when you learn that our Writing
Center Coordinator, Nicky Stein, played a key role in the preparation
of supporting documentation which was submitted to the selection
committee. I believe that I speak for the entire instructional
staff when I say that we are honored that the teaching academy
gave the Instructional Center the opportunity to participate in
this process.
The
Instructional Center reflects the mission of the Office of Minority
Affairs. Under its auspices, our central focus is increasing the
graduation and retention rates of EOP (Educational Opportunity
Program) students by challenging and encouraging them to develop
their academic skills. Through a goal-oriented approach, we encourage
all IC students to work toward maximizing their academic potential
in order to improve their chances of gaining admission to graduate
and professional schools.
We
have achieved a measure of success as a result of the efforts of
our instructional staff, a group of dedicated, credentialed, and
motivated teachers who encourage high academic performance and
strong persistence toward graduation. A high caliber tutoring corps,
whose members also serve as models of success, further augments
these efforts.
While
we are extremely pleased and honored to have been recognized, we
are also well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. It is my
hope that receiving this recognition will serve as a catalyst that
inspires our unit to accelerate the development of innovative strategies
which when implemented will further the achievement level of students
in "gateway"
courses where they have traditionally underperformed relative to
the class average. And courses that are critical for acceptance into
majors where EOP students have been historically underrepresented.
In
closing, we would like to thank those faculty, staff, students
and former tutors who wrote letters of nomination and letters to
support the Instructional Center's nomination for this distinguished
award.
I
am personally indebted to Andy Montana, a retired chemistry professor
from Cal State-Fullerton who for two years volunteered at the IC's
Chemistry Study Center. Also Drs. Millie Russell and Roger Grant
for believing that the IC was a viable candidate for the Diversity
Award. And finally, on behalf of the entire staff at the Office
of Minority Affairs Instructional Center, we thank the selection
committee and Regent Jeff and Ms. Susan Brotman for making this
award possible. Today was a good day! Thank you very much.
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