Spokane Falls Community Colleges

Calendar

Nov-Dec: Adult Basic Ed, GED/HS; Online Drop-in every M-Th Nov 2-4: Transfer Knowledge: Choose a Major; Transfer 101; Running Start Nov 9: New Student Winter Quarter ’21 Registration Opens Nov 11: Pullman Center closed in observance of Veterans’ Day Nov 12: Community Chat (current and prospective students) Nov 16-20: Connecting Community Colleges to LSAMP at WSU Nov 28: Pullman Center closed in observance of Thanksgiving Dec 3: Community Chat (all welcome) Dec 11: Final Day of Fall Quarter ‘20 Jan 4: First Day of Winter Quarter ‘21 Jan 14: SFCC Pullman Honors Student Recognition

ABE, GED, & HS21+ Completion

Complete your high school diploma with us now! High school completion is a competencybased program for adults 18 years or older, which credits you for previous education, work experience, and a GED score. Our high school completion courses are available online, each student has an individualized plan with one-on one-support, and with our open enrollment you can start today. Call us 509.279.6458.

SFCC Faculty J. Spencer Wins Award

SFCC faculty Jenni Spencer and her dog Zoe.

Pullman faculty member Jenni Spencer received the Exceptional Faculty Award from Spokane Falls Community College. At the SFCC Convocation 20/21, we recognized her outstanding service to students and faculty for the past eleven years. Jenni teaches online and face-to-face communication courses for the Pullman and Spokane campuses, which students enjoy for the interactive design and relevance to their other studies and application to their lives. She holds a B.A. in communication from Washington State University and an M.A. in communication from the University of New Mexico. Jenni has taught communication courses for more than 20 years. We are pleased to have such an outstanding scholar and educator among the Pullman faculty. In the following Q&A, read about Jenni’s career in and passion for teaching and learning.

What do you love about teaching?

I enjoy teaching communication courses because the content is so practical and useful. Everyone can improve their communication skills. In turn, we can be more effective in our interactions with others in all areas of our lives. My students bring to class diverse communication experiences that enrich our discussions and their assignments. It keeps the teaching and learning fresh. My favorite thing is hearing from students who tried out a new communication skill or observed things in the real world that we talked about in class.

What can students look forward to in your classes?

Communication studies classes involve a lot of active learning. There are many opportunities for student-to-student, student-to-teacher, and student-to-content learning activities. Although most students don’t love public speaking, my classes provide activities to practice and improve their public speaking skills and gain confidence as a speaker. One of the best aspects of the intercultural communication course is the practice of looking at things from different perspectives and the meaningful insights that come along with that. Students in my classes really get to know their classmates, even in the online classes, and feel supported in their academic journey. I also tell lots of stories about my communication blunders to help illustrate our concepts.

What development in your field of practice and expertise excites you?

I’ve been teaching online classes for 11 years, but still feel that I have so much to learn about best practices. I enjoy creating online classes that are engaging, build a sense of community and provide equivalent learning experiences for students. It’s been very interesting to see how schools and educators have handled and adapted to online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Exciting teaching and learning ideas have emerged, while at the same time ineffective practices have been exposed. It’s a great time to be studying and working in this field. I also find that intercultural communication skills are crucial in the current climate within the U.S. and internationally. I’m constantly thinking about how I can help students better interpret the cultural conflict they see right now through a communication lens and develop the communication skills they need to effectively interact with anyone.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching?

I don’t have as much free time as I would like, but when I do, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, reading, watching movies and TV, and working on crafty projects. Once we are clear to travel again, our family hopes to reschedule our cancelled trip to New York and Boston and then plan a trip to Ireland and England.

185 Veterans Way, Pullman WA, 99164; just east of WSU’s Daggy Hall

Email pullman@sfcc.spokane.edu; Phone 509.322.2706; Web pullman.sfcc.spokane.edu