Thursday, May 19 - Friday, May 20, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings, MI
Do you plan to work on a course or assignment this summer? In this iteration of the Teaching Life Retreat, we will focus on a course design, redesign or refresh project of your choosing. Lodging in single rooms and four shared meals at a lovely retreat and nature center. For details. . .

Tuesday, May 3, 12 - 2pm, 3068 JHZ
Discussion Facilitators: Aaron Haight, Dean of Students Office, Mary O’Kelly, University Libraries, Christine Rener, Pew FTLC
Come learn about preventative strategies that can reduce incidents of academic integrity violations. 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. For details…

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 7 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.


Wednesday, June 22 - Friday, June 24, 2016
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 Inclusive Excellence Teaching Institute which begins with a 3 day intensive workshop June 22-24, 2016. For details and to register . . .

June 6 - 10, 9am - 4pm, 4002 SCB
This 5 day workshop is for faculty who are preparing for pre-tenure and tenure reviews, or for promotion. Working closely with faculty mentors, participants will compose their Integrative/Reflective Statement and prepare other supporting materials for the portfolio in accordance with their college and unit personnel policies. Please register in Sprout.

Monday, May 2, 1 - 3pm, 3062 JHZ 
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. For details and to register. . .

Looking to catch up on some reading this summer? Looking for fresh ideas and new perspectives? Join us for weekly discussions of recent articles and reports of interest. The May schedule is as follows. June and July offerings will be posted under Upcoming Events on our website. Please register in Sprout.

All sessions will be held in 3068 Zumberge Hall from 12 to 1 pm. Bring your lunch. We will provide tea and cookies.

Tuesday, May 10: Faculty Leadership for Integrative Liberal Learning, AAC&U 2015. This report details principles and practices as we "prepare students for applying their learning to complex challenges in life, career, and citizenship."

Tuesday, May 17: Essential Global Learning: A Compilation of Seminal AAC&U Articles About Global Learning, AAC&U, 2016. This report includes a robust set of case studies and lessons learned from faculty across the country.

Wednesday, May 25: Everyone Starts with an A: Applying Behavioural Insight to Narrow the Socioeconomic Attainment Gap in Education, RSA Action and Research Centre, 2014. A UK report that actually does not advocate grade inflation, but instead details evidence-based ways to improve student learning through attention to mindsets, cognitive biases, and environmental factors.

Wednesday, June 1: Teach Better, Save Time, and Have More Fun: A Guide to Teaching and Mentoring in Science, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, 2014. While written for early career faculty, this book is a helpful go-to reminder of effective pedagogical practices. Conversational in tone and with great, specific examples, I suggest keeping this book handy for a regular refresh.

The 22nd Annual Fall Conference on Teaching and Learning will be held on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at the Eberhard Conference Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. The conference theme will be Engaging Difference. Guiding questions that we will address together include: What does it mean to be an inclusive campus? What is an inclusive academic culture? What does it look like to engage difference? In and out of the classroom? With students, staff, each other, and members of the community? How exactly do we engage and where/when can we practice? This conference will be a departure from the previous conferences in that this theme and our work extends beyond the classroom. The conference is being planned in collaboration with members of the University Academic Senate and the Division of Inclusion and Equity. More details and a complete schedule will follow later this summer. If you have any questions or ideas to share, do not hesitate to contact Christine Rener.