The Hocking College English Department sponsored the second annual College Readiness Forum at The Inn at Hocking College on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, inviting local high school English teachers to meet with college English faculty for discussions on college readiness with a special focus on developing critical thinking skills.
 
More than 50 participants, representing 16 regional high schools and colleges, came together to find solutions for incoming college students while enjoying a delicious buffet style lunch prepared by Hocking College Culinary Arts students. The program opened opportunities to explore current research, hear about college readiness efforts in various districts and participate in multiple small group sessions for teachers to share best practices for developing critical thinking in their English classrooms.

Presenters included Awni Mikhail, Hocking College English faculty; Tami Hartman, English teacher from Fairfield Career Center; Robert Dodd, Principal of New Lexington High School; David Hanning, Principal of Athens High School; Joe Wakeman, Associate Provost of Hocking College; and, Ruth Silon, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Community College Student Success Center. The event concluded with special keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Rice, Associate Professor of English at Ohio University.

The event was organized under the direction of Hocking College Arts, Business and Information Technology Dean Jeff Daubenmire and English faculty member Sue Fletcher. It was also made possible through a mini-grant provided by the Ohio Association of Community College Student Success Center (OACC) and Perkins Grant, in addition to the support from the Ohio University Appalachian Writing Project.