As we near the end of the semester and exam season, take a moment and breathe. Our breathing is controlled by our thoughts. Learning a few mindfulness techniques can help stabilize one's thoughts, which in turn will relieve stress and lower the heart rate. The benefits are endless. For students, this can help with exam stress, and for faculty and staff, these practices will help cope with life events.

Individuals can take a small amount of time for themselves and simply breathe in... slowly... gently... deeply... and breathe out. Learn how to be more mindful: http://www.gvsu.edu/healthwellness/mindfulness

Faculty Conference Travel Grant application period opens April 15, 8am (for July-Sept travel). Visit the Pew FTLC website for more information and to apply. Please keep in mind that our funds are limited!

Monday, May 2, 1 - 3pm, 3062 JHZ
Facilitator: Kathryn Stieler, Pew FTLC Faculty Fellow
This workshop is designed to support affiliate faculty who are preparing for a review and/or promotion to senior affiliate status. Participants will compose their Integrative/Reflective Statement on Teaching and prepare supporting materials for the portfolio in accordance with their college and unit personnel policies. The workshop will include time for self and group reflection as well as peer feedback. Please register in Sprout.

Monday, May 2, 1 - 3pm, 3068 JHZ
Sgt. William O'Donnell, Sgt. Nate Dornbos, GVSU Police Department

The first half of this seminar covers the University's seven step emergency card. This prepares you to respond from an "all hazards" perspective to fires, medical situations, and chemical spills. The second half of the presentation provides an awareness level response to active shooter incidents. Please register in Sprout.

Tuesday, May 3, 12 - 2pm, 3068 JHZ
Discussion Facilitators:
Aaron Haight, Dean of Students Office
Mary O’Kelly, University Libraries
Christine Rener, Pew FTLC

Concerned about academic integrity? Come learn about preventative strategies that can reduce incidents of academic integrity violations. We will share concrete approaches to designing assignments, projects, research activities, and exams that maintain the focus on student learning. You will have the chance to discuss with other faculty, as well as to hear about what we are learning from our newly implemented academic integrity violation tracking system. A soup and salad bar lunch will be served. Please register in Sprout.

Thursday May 19 - Friday May 20
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings, MI

Do you plan to work on a course or assignment this summer? Do you have a few ideas - large or small - that would benefit from sustained focus and feedback? In this iteration of the Teaching Life Retreat, we will focus on a course design, redesign or refresh project of your choosing. You will have the opportunity to interact informally with a small group of colleagues from a range of disciplines. Peer feedback and individual consultations with Pew FTLC staff included. Ample time for solitary work is built into the schedule, as well. Participants will be provided with the text, Building a Pathway for Student Learning: A How-to Guide to Course Design, lodging in single rooms and four shared meals at a lovely retreat and nature center. The retreat is limited to 15 participants, with preference given to first-time attendees. We will gather at noon on Thursday, May 19 and conclude by 3pm on Friday, May 20. We ask that those who register stay for the entire retreat. For more details, visit our website. To apply, please send an email to Christine Rener (renerc@gvsu.edu), briefly describing the course project you have in mind.

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR
Wednesday, June 22 - Friday, June 24, 3068 JHZ

Inclusive excellence refers to the use of pedagogical strategies that address the needs of students with a variety of backgrounds, learning interests, and abilities. These strategies contribute to an overall inclusive learning environment, in which students feel equally valued. In order to provide faculty with an opportunity to learn more about inclusive excellence in teaching and learning, the Pew FTLC is partnering with the Office of Inclusion and Equity to offer the Inclusive Excellence Teaching Institute. For more information and to apply visit the Pew FTLC website.

October 20 - 22, Traverse City, MI

The call for proposals for this popular conference is open through May 26th and registration is already open. Plenary speakers: Milt Cox, Miami University; Billie Franchini, University at Albany - SUNY; Mathew Ouellett, Wayne State University; and Todd Zakrajsek, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. We are offering a limited number of Sponsored Teaching and Learning Event Grants to support conference attendance (for first-time conference attendees only; award amount, $550.) For more information, http://www.lillyconferences-mi.com/. Visit the Pew FTLC website for more information and to apply.

As we end this semester, the University is excited to administer a new and updated course and instructor feedback system called LIFT, or Laker Impressions of Faculty Teaching. The new format will provide student reflections on the course as well as their impressions on faculty teaching.  Please encourage your students to participate in the LIFT process and stress the importance of potential improvements or changes that faculty glean with their shared constructive criticism and suggestions based on the overall semester. I hope each of you look forward to these as much as I do each semester. I encourage you to read them and take action in your planning for next semester as one more opportunity to hear the feedback you may have known and also that which you didn’t.

Jennifer K. Lattin
Pew FTLC Part-time Liaison
Sr. Part-time Faculty, College of Community & Public Service
lattinje@gvsu.edu