Salt Lake
Community College received $189,000 from the National Endowment of the
Humanities (NEH) to host a Summer Institute in 2018 for College and University
Faculty. The four-week Institute will explore
how transformations in the book can change interactions between bodies of
knowledge and individual human bodies, providing hands-on instruction for participants with digital and print
text production in SLCC’s Publication Center.
“This grant is
significant because it is only the second award SLCC has ever received from
NEH, and not many community colleges receive these awards,” said Nicole Omer,
director of SLCC’s Office of Sponsored Projects.
Approximately 25
participants will hear from renowned scholars from across the country, led by
SLCC project leaders Melissa Helquist, Lisa Bickmore and Charlotte Howe. Participants will explore book
history and explore new modes of publication, including techniques to more
effectively address the needs of people with disabilities. The Institute will
provide undergraduate Humanities faculty methods for incorporating book making
and publishing into their curriculum. Part
of the selection criteria for which faculty members from around the country
will be evaluated in order to participate will be how well they can expect to
it integrate what they learn into their teaching.
“While the grant includes
universities, it will also provide enhanced development opportunities for
community college faculty nationally and improve SLCC’s national visibility,
“said Melissa Helquist, associate professor and director of the SLCC Community
Writing Center. “The impact to students, albeit indirect, will be powerful.”
This award
supports SLCC’s efforts to be more inclusive toward and improve access to
higher education for underrepresented populations. It also supports SLCC’s mission to create
educational pathways leading to meaningful employment. Participants will learn how to engage
students using the Publication Center’s high-impact practices, which include hands-on
opportunities for learning and development of workplace skills.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations
expressed in this release, do not necessarily represent those of the National
Endowment for the Humanities.