The first day of Central Lakes College vacation between semesters was not a vacation day at all for CLC instructors. They participated in a workshop for members of the Central Lakes Consortia. Dan Smith, a specialist in career and technical programs and assessment with the Minnesota Department of Education, was one of the first speakers of the Dec. 20 Duty Day on the Brainerd campus. He provided an overview of technical skill attainment and programs of study for about 60 CLC technical education faculty and 20 high school teachers and administrators. Ginny Karbowski, JoAnn Simser, and Yvonne Shafer from the Office of the Chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, along with Sue Boehland and Mike Delaney, were other scheduled presenters. Topics included the discipline meeting process, technical skill attainment and the Higher Learning Commission, and the Perkins grant – high school liaisons. For liberal arts and sciences faculty the day included assessment review and planning with Larry Kellerman, a faculty meeting with Dean Kelly McCalla, and breakout sessions on writing course outlines, D2L, and departmental websites. The spring semester starts Jan. 5 for faculty as two more duty days are scheduled by administration and one is designated as self-assigned before classes resume Jan. 10, 2011.