Brad Davis Earns Student Success Award | Technical Communication
April 2, 2019

Brad Davis Earns Student Success Award

Senior Instructional Lab Supervisor Brad Davis won the Student Success Award for his dedication to improving the Technical Communication Tech Lab and the TECM classrooms. Davis's background as a teacher and as a manager for a similar lab helps him facilitate communication between students, instructors, and student lab staff.

"I feel elated," he said about winning the award. "It was unexpected. Anytime your colleagues and other staff members do something to let you know they appreciate you is like a pat on the back."

Davis is being honored by the UNT President at the annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon where he will be presented with a $1,000 award and engraved plaque.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNT TECH COMM

Davis supervises around 15 student workers in Tech Comm Tech Lab, serving 3,500 students in TECM courses per year. He implemented a performance evaluation system for each student lab assistant. Every semester, he provides individual coaching sessions based on bimonthly reports of data on daily operations of each student worker and confidential feedback on their impact on classroom instruction. Because of Davis's individual attention, these students benefit from a supportive but professional environment in which they learn about readiness for the professional world through customer service, training, presentations, teamwork, as well as a range of software tools and tech support practices.

Lab Manager Dakota Spenrath commented, "We have ten people interacting with students and professors each day. They're the ones that will encounter problems and need solutions. Brad never shoots down our ideas. He works with us and we come to solutions together." Davis has also worked for the past four years to provide TECM students access to versatile technology, supportive lab assistants, and modern, clean classrooms.

"It's a work ethic thing. You do what you feel is necessary, and if that means going above and beyond what's expected, well, I think that defines a good staff member," said Davis.

He has added a lot of innovative technology over the last four years. For example, Slack was added to the classroom computers to help professors request help or troubleshoot technology issues. This change eliminated the secondary help station in the hallway.

The most prominent campaign that Davis has initiated involves facilitating more classroom collaboration. An example is the renovation of the classroom in Auditorium Building #308. He introduced small group tables, shared computer screens, and whiteboard surfaces. These changes have opened up the room layout and encouraged more communication within the classroom.

FUTURE INNOVATIONS FOR THE TECH LAB AND CLASSROOMS

After the positive reception of the new configuration in room 308, Davis is even more motivated. His goal is to inspire student networking and create a classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable and empowered. Renovation plans for the summer of 2019 will update the configurations and provide the Tech Lab and TECM classrooms with new flooring and fresh paint.

"Room 308 is not perfect, by any means," Davis added, "but it's been a big hit. I'm planning on taking that idea and spreading it around."

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