Student Success Seminar 2000 Santa Barbara City College April 26, 2000 I earnestly recommend the Student Success Seminar program to all faculty members, but especially to new faculty at SBCC no matter how much prior teaching experience they may have. These are my reasons. Community: This seminar is a relaxed setting wherein you can get to know your colleagues pedagogy as you examine your own. Since self-examination that welcomes thoughtful analysis by peers is a never-ending process, this seminar is highly productive to building a community of teaching scholars. The newly forged bonds with my colleagues in this seminar are priceless gifts to me at its’ close. Goals: This seminar places a mirror in front of you as a professor. It permits taking a close look at warts, wrinkles and blemishes that have built up naturally over the years of tedium and routine. It allows a re-examination of the most fundamental questions, ‘Why do I teach?’ and ‘What does student success entail?’ Renewal: This seminar is to teaching what a spiritual retreat is to soul-searching. It is rejuvenates and renews our good intentions, lofty goals and successful disciplines I am of the view that no greater honor is bestowed on any citizen of a free society than that of ‘teacher’. This seminar hones successful teaching and learning motivation skills. It rekindles the requisite self-discipline skills so necessary for academic achievement. I highly recommend that faculty members unable to take the seminar would profit greatly by inviting a faculty member who has completed it to visit their classroom as an observer and then review and share their seminar growth experiences in a friendly, collegial spirit. Thank all of your for what you have given and a most special thanks to Professors Barbara Lindeman, Jerry Pike and Gerry Lewin for giving direction and focus to our efforts. Mark McIntire Philosophy Department, SBCC