Academic Engagement

Given the many demands that CC asks of their faculty and students, C&I has been an island of recharging, new ideas, and possibilities.”  

—Amanda Minervini, Italian  

Academic engagement photoCreativity & Innovation collaborates with faculty to embed creativity as a lens that permeates all teaching and learning at CC. Creativity has always been integral to the college but is not named as such across disciplines. Yet creativity is precisely what our faculty models for students. In C&I, we endeavor to support faculty in recognizing and developing their own creativity practices and confidence, to draw to the surface and share the richness of what happens in CC classrooms. 

We help faculty integrate creativity-building pedagogies into their classes. Engaging students in these pedagogies allows them to develop creative confidence and apply their creative thinking and problem-solving skills in both academics and life beyond CC.

C&I’s faculty collaborations explore both the alchemy and the algebra of creativity.

Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is the alchemy of creativity -- it's a mindset, a way of approaching the world with an open and questioning mind. It is characterized by a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk-taking. Creative thinking involves cultivating the ability to bring all of who we are into any given situation: our intellects, our emotions, and our embodied selves. In the classroom, creative thinking activities within courses challenge students to develop imaginative ways of knowing, acting, and working together. 

Creative Problem-Solving

Creative Problem-Solving is the algebra of creativity. Creative problem-solving techniques provide structured ways of finding multiple creative responses to problems in various contexts. Using these techniques can help students overcome entrenched thinking patterns that may inhibit their abilities to find new, original solutions and can strengthen their abilities to identify and solve problems in unexpected ways.  
For more information, contact Kris Stanec, Director of Creativity & Innovation.
Report an issue - Last updated: 03/06/2025

We Offer

  • Creativity-related instructional design support.  
  • Assistance aligning existing courses with the Creative Process requirement guidelines. 
  • Developing repeatable creativity-related modules that support disciplinary content learning. 
  • Facilitating workshops and activities within the class. 
  • Providing resources, feedback, and support for faculty.