Where did November go?

a view across the frozen river at the wintry skyline of Detroit

What happened? Didn't we just send November's newsletter? With all that's already going on in December, we'll keep this light; keep reading for some upcoming deadlines and reminders, and remember, classes end on December 11, and the university will be closed from Monday, Dec. 25-29, and Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. We'll see you all in January!

Upcoming deadlines

Board of Governors Faculty Recognition Award Deadline: Dec. 1 ⬅️ TODAY!
Career Development Chair Deadline: Dec. 1 ⬅️ TODAY!
Community Engagement Award Deadline: Dec. 1 ⬅️ TODAY!
Murray E. Jackson University Creative Scholar in the Arts award Deadline: Dec. 15
Distinguished Faculty Fellowships Deadline: Jan. 5, 2024
President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Deadline: Jan. 5, 2024

Coming up this month from the OTL

Could you use a refresher? Do you have an idea for an instructional technique that you had to put on the back burner this semester? The Office for Teaching & Learning (OTL) has curated Canvas webinars for any experience level in the coming weeks.

Canvas Basics: Intro to Canvas | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 (virtual via Zoom) | For those with little to no experience using Canvas, WSU’s learning management system, a review of the basics of navigating Canvas, setting up your profile, customizing notifications for your courses, sending announcements, and some of the basic settings and features.

Canvas Intermediate: Grading in Canvas | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 (virtual on Zoom) | This session reviews grading in Canvas, how to manage Gradebook notifications for students, and the SpeedGrader tool in Canvas, including how to enter grades and feedback.

Canvas Basics: Creating and Organizing Content | 10 - 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 (virtual on Zoom) AND 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 (virtual on Zoom) | This session is designed for instructors who have attended the Canvas Basics session and are ready for the next step and those who are somewhat familiar with Canvas and looking for a refresher on creating and organizing content. There will be a demonstration of the strategic use of modules, pages, and assignments to communicate information.

Coming up next month

ALA Open house information sessions

a red origami bird stands out from a crowd of white paper airplanes

Applications to next year's Academic Leadership Academy (ALA) cohort are open through Apr. 19, 2024. The ALA was created to offer leadership training to faculty and academic staff who often do not have the opportunity to engage in leadership development and mentoring before taking on formal or informal leadership roles.

By participating in the one-year program, participants, known as ALA Fellows, build on their emerging leadership skills by applying what they learn to their current roles or a leadership project. In prior years, the program was only open to AAUP-represented faculty and academic staff, but starting this year, any represented WSU faculty and staff can apply.

If you'd like to learn more, informal virtual Q&A sessions with the ALA Steering Committee and ALA alumni are scheduled for the following dates/times (click on the date to download an .ics file, and double-click the downloaded file to add it to your calendar):

These sessions are informal; you needn't feel pressured to stick around once your questions are answered. Contact your Faculty Development Program Coordinator, Joanna Poe, if you have any questions beforehand.

Take a break with The SKY Happiness Retreat

Thanks to a CLAS Social Justice Grant, the Online SKY Happiness Retreat, which offers training in evidence-based breathwork and meditation practice to WSU staff/faculty and graduate students, is free to participants. The retreat also features social connection, self-development, and stress-management skills, bringing calm, clarity, and happiness.

Schedule: Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 20-22, 3-6 pm (on all three days). Organizers ask that you ensure you can attend all three sessions before filling out the application.

Apply for The SKY Happiness Retreat

Bystander Leadership Workshop postponed

Due to some availability concerns, the WSU GEARS Bystander Leadership Workshop, initially scheduled for December 15, has been postponed for now; please stay tuned for updates.

Coming up at the NCFDD

Supporting Academic Parents: Recommended Policies and Practices | 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12

This webinar takes a two-pronged approach to assist both (1) individual faculty members who are parents and (2) academic institutions in better supporting academic parents. This webinar will also provide evidence-based recommendations to help individual parents successfully navigate their academic careers and the tenure process while presenting information that institutions and administrators can utilize to catalyze broader institutional change.

Core Curriculum Webinar: Every Semester Needs a Plan | 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2024
Join the NCFDD for this helpful planning webinar at the beginning of next semester so that you can take time out of your schedule to identify your personal and professional goals, create a strategic plan to accomplish them, and identify the types of community, support, and accountability you need to make this your most productive and balanced semester ever!