SE Campus appoints McCormick new instructional dean
Music man moving on up in academia
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    The new dean of instruction was named on SE Campus last week.

   Dr. Leonard McCormick, former humanities division chair, accepted the position, vacated during the summer when Dr. Tahita Fulkerson received a promotion within the district.

   McCormick was one of three candidates vying for the job.

   “I see my new position as covering three principle areas. One of those is making sure we maintain high standards for faculty, both part-time and full-time, during their hiring and evaluation.

   “Second is to make sure the curriculum we offer is of a high caliber, that it meets the standards of our accreditation agencies and serves the needs of students.

   “Third, I want to make sure all students get their concerns addressed,” he said.

   In regards to student concerns, McCormick explained the procedure he follows if a student has a complaint with a faculty member.

   McCormick noted the importance of involving instructors and division chairs first, before intervening and implementing a solution.

   “Instructors need to establish with their students that it is safe to come and talk to them. And most of them have, but the student must be made to feel comfortable,” he said.

   Listening to each side of a dispute is also important, McCormick said.

   “When a student comes to speak with me, I try to back-track through that problem and address the student’s needs with the best plan of action. I’m very willing to listen to student concerns and direct them to the best possible source for a solution. And that will not always be me,” he said.

   McCormick also noted that his first area of improvement would center on the developmental courses, which are necessary for those students who did not pass particular portions of the TASP test.

   “The entire faculty is concerned that we find the best way to get students through their developmental classes, so they can move on through to their college level courses and pass the TASP,” he said.

   The developmental math courses appear to be causing students the most difficulty, making it the biggest challenge. More students are enrolled in those courses as well, McCormick said.

   Before being a division chair, McCormick taught. He began his TCC teaching career in 1967 on the South Campus when it first opened.

   McCormick thinks one of his best accomplishments as a teacher was staying excited about teaching. Maintaining his own interest in the subjects allowed him to be more engaging as an instructor.

   Initially he taught music on South Campus before gaining enough graduate hours to teach theater. After teaching theater, he taught speech and continued to teach speech and theater intermittently. The changes in teaching allowed him to avoid burnout, which would cause him to lose interest, McCormick said.

   McCormick believes his duty to the faculty, as dean of instruction, begins with getting a thorough feel for all aspects of the campus, particularly the academic disciplines he is less familiar with.

   “I want to get to know the faculty members in the technical, math and science divisions so I can be aware of what their greatest needs are,” he said.

   SE Campus’ future dilemmas center on expansion of several facilities. By gaining a better understanding of the needs of the faculty, the dean can make wiser decisions and give better input into expansion plans, McCormick said.

   Implementing a clear agenda of faculty expectations is likely to make the transition easier and more efficient, McCormick said.

   “I work best when I know what is expected of me. I am going to create a system where deadlines are known and procedures are worked out so things work smoothly,” he said.

   The system design, which will be implemented soon, begins with listening to others, as well as ensuring the goals of Dr. Judith Carrier, SE Campus president, are being met.

   McCormick has a doctorate in higher education and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music. He was nominated twice, 1990 and 1998, for the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching before receiving it in 1999.

   Three years ago, he was chosen to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Tarrant County Theatre League.

   Most recently, he was the recipient of an outstanding achievement award for his musical direction of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting it Together at Stage West.

   McCormick’s wife Patty is an assistant professor of speech and drama on South Campus. They have two children, each with advanced degrees and currently in managerial positions in the private sector.