It’s not every day you see a classroom full of instructors doing the learning. But Chippewa Valley Technical College doesn’t leave teaching to chance.
Before each semester, faculty developers at CVTC, like Amy Vanis, prepare for and teach New Faculty Academy for 10 to 20 instructors.
“This event is offered as a way to introduce CVTC resources to our new instructors, share best practices for teaching and learning and explain expectations within the College and the Wisconsin Technical College System,” Vanis said. “We hope to provide a strong foundation for our new instructors and share the support needed for being an instructor at CVTC.”
The six-day academy focuses on building relationships, structure, engagement, assessment, professional development and application.
“New Faculty Academy is designed to offer core teaching strategies and tools that are relevant to all participants, while also creating space for experienced instructors to share their insights and refine their practice in a new teaching environment,” Vanis said.
New CVTC instructors Kateryna Bikir and Eric Willmarth are grateful to have the extra guidance as they prepare for their first semester of classes at the College.
Bikir moved to Eau Claire in 2022 after her home country of Ukraine was invaded by Russia. She was a doctor of psychology in Ukraine with her own practice, but gaining a license to practice in the United States was proving difficult.
“I love psychology. I worked in the Eau Claire school district as a teacher, then I accepted this offer because it’s my passion,” she said. “Hopefully, I will inspire my students to love it as well.”
Bikir has provided one-on-one and group counseling. She has worked with trauma and crisis throughout her career.
“When the war escalation happened, I moved to Czech Republic and there I worked with Ukrainian refugees, and I started to work more with children and adolescents,” she said.
Like Bikir and others, Willmarth worked in his profession for 24 years and taught for five years before coming to CVTC.
“It helps people with all sorts of trauma. It’s a very helpful tool. In our community, we are light on medical massage therapists, so I’m excited about the program and bringing new therapists into our community.”
As a massage therapist, Willmarth is enthusiastic about helping start the new Therapeutic Massage program at the College. He got in on the ground floor and was able to help write the curriculum.
“I’ve always thought that CVTC should have a strong medical massage program,” he said. “It helps people with all sorts of trauma. It’s a very helpful tool. In our community, we are light on medical massage therapists, so I’m excited about the program and bringing new therapists into our community.”
Vanis said she hopes new instructors will finish the academy by having learned practical strategies they can use to support their own success and that of their students.
“I also want them to gain a clear understanding of the wide range of resources available at CVTC,” she said. “The resources are designed to support both instructors and students throughout their teaching and learning journeys.”
