Brotman Awards

Brotman Award for Instructional Excellence

Brotman Award for Diversity

Emile during a standing ovation from the audience.

When UW President McCormick announced the IC as one of the Brotman Award recipients, the staff and students of the IC began to 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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