In the past, Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) embraced a college theme as a unifying idea across campus to foster deeper learning, collaboration, and community engagement. The initiative helped create a shared academic and cultural experience that connected students, faculty, and staff across disciplines. Now, after a pause, SFCC is excited to reintroduce the college theme beginning in Fall 2025.
The college theme for the 2025–2026 academic year is:
Community: How Do We Define It?
This theme invites us to explore the meaning of community from multiple perspectives—personal, social, academic, cultural, and global. Through this unifying lens, SFCC hopes to:
- Encourage interdisciplinary connections between courses and programs
- Foster deeper dialogue and engagement among students, faculty, and staff
- Strengthen a campus culture rooted in inclusion, shared values, and collective growth
- Empower students to be thoughtful, active participants in their communities—on and off campus
In the Curriculum
Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the theme into their courses in ways that are natural and relevant to their subject matter. Here are some possible examples:
- Humanities: In a literature or philosophy course, students might explore one of the themed books that examine community, belonging, and identity.
- Social Sciences: Sociology or political science classes could analyze the structures, challenges, and evolution of communities—from local neighborhoods to global networks.
- Natural Sciences: Biology or environmental science courses could explore ecosystems as models of interdependent communities, or study how human communities impact environmental systems.
- Mathematics: Statistics students could analyze data on community demographics, or access to resources.
- Arts: In visual arts or performing arts, students might create work reflecting personal or cultural definitions of community.
- Computer Science/IT: Projects could focus on designing inclusive online platforms or exploring how digital communities are formed and maintained.
For Staff and Campus Employees
The college theme offers opportunities for non-instructional staff to engage meaningfully as well:
- Advising & Counseling: Discuss how students can find or build supportive communities in college.
- Library: Create displays tied to the theme.
- Facilities & Operations: Consider how physical spaces support inclusive, welcoming communities.
- Professional Development: Lead workshops or retreats on fostering community in the workplace..
Student Clubs & Campus Life
Students can bring the theme to life through clubs and events that reflect diverse interpretations of “community”:
- Host community service days or partner with local organizations
- Organize panel discussions or open mics on identity and belonging.
- Launch photo exhibits or storytelling projects featuring student perspectives on community
- Plan inter-club events that encourage collaboration across interest groups.