草榴社区

VITAL Minigrant Program 2025-2026: Call for Proposals by 2/14

VITAL invites faculty to submit proposals in support of engaged, inclusive, technology-enhanced student learning. The internal grant program鈥檚 purpose is to enrich undergraduate and graduate learning and teaching at 草榴社区. The Call for Proposals聽(CFP) provides grant criteria, offers educational areas of interest, and outlines the application process in detail.

Faculty are encouraged to contact Gabriele Bauer聽with proposal ideas before submitting a full proposal. Projects that focus on the enrichment of graduate courses/programs are particularly invited.
Program details, past grant recipients, and CFP

Faculty Sponsored to Attend Conference on Teaching Excellence at Temple University, January 8-9, 2025 

VITAL is pleased to sponsor the following team of faculty colleagues to attend this regional teaching conference: Dr. Jeremy Carlo, Physics; Dr. Joseph Comber, Biology; Dr. Anna Drummey, Psychological & Brain Sciences; Dr. Cristina Percoco, Spanish; Dr. Shelly Rathee, Marketing & Business Law; Dr. Rebecca Rivard, Biology; Dr. Kabindra Shakya, Geography & the Environment. Sponsored faculty members will share a conference take-away as part of a VITAL program, College- or department meeting during spring 2025.

 to conference program
Link to past sponsored 草榴社区 faculty

Update on A.I. at 草榴社区   

A.I. Updates and Resources, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 12/19/2024
Updates on A.I. at 草榴社区, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 5/22/2024
Update on A.I. at 草榴社区, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 1/3/2024

Teaching with A.I. Selected general and 草榴社区 resources
VITALITY: Strategies to consider if you suspect A.I. misuse in your course 2/2024
                The State-of-the-Discussion on A.I. and Teaching at 草榴社区 9/2024

: Offers research-based teaching tips to boost your creativity and motivation hosted by Magna Publications. Current episode: Streamline Your Teaching and Workload with A.I.

草榴社区's Next Generation Learning Management System  

Introducing 草榴社区's next generation learning management system (LMS), D2L Brightspace, a mobile-friendly LMS that supports modern pedagogical practices and teaching innovation. Please consult this website for timelines and pertinent updates. 

The VPTL in partnership with UNIT-IT and VITAL constituted a Brightspace Faculty Early Adopter Advisory Group that built elements of one of their courses in Brightspace this summer. The eleven faculty represented all colleges and served in an advisory capacity to UNIT-IT, VITAL, and VPTL in preparation for university-wide LMS implementation, summer 2026. Dr. Maria L. Lenardon, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish, serves as VITAL Brightspace for Learning Fellow this fall. 

LMS Selection Update, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 10/2023

Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Academic Updates

Fall 2024 Academic Updates, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 8/5/2024

Book and Course Material Adoptions for Spring 2025, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 10/07/2024

Test Proctoring and Testing Accommodations

(9/5/24) to learn how to better support your students with test proctoring needs and become familiar with the 草榴社区 Test Centers. Facilitated by聽Learning Support Services (LSS) and The Office for Access & Disability Services (ADS).

All Required Course Materials: 草榴社区 Textbook Access Program聽聽

All required course materials must be entered into the Follett Discover tool in Blackboard (login, select tools in the left menu, and select Follett Discover). Students in the textbook access program receive required texts/access codes as part of a fixed fee. Do not have students purchase materials on their own if they are part of this program. Direct them to the bookstore for assistance if they have issues and make sure your materials are in the online system.

Details and FAQs for students and faculty
聽to help students make informed decisions about whether participation in the Textbook Access Program is the best choice for their circumstances.
Communication聽from Craig Wheeland, Senior Vice Provost for Academics, 2/19/24

VITALITY: VITAL Teaching Ideas with Focus on Mental Health

This two-part series highlights the importance of making mental health visible in their teaching and the steps faculty can take to make this a reality in their courses. It also offers sample dialogue that faculty might use to support students' mental well-being.

Part I: Making Mental Health Visible in Class
Part II: Talking with Students About Mental Health in Class

Access past VITALITY issues

Teaching Podcasts

: Brings candid conversations with educators who are finding new ways to engage students inside and outside the class. Each episode will give you real-life examples and practical strategies you can put into practice in your own courses. Hosted by Eric Mazur, internationally recognized educational innovator in Social Learning and Peer Instruction.

: Guests share discoveries of 鈥渄ead ideas鈥濃�攊deas that are not true but that are often widely believed and embedded in the pedagogical choices we make. Hosted by Catherine Ross, CTL, Columbia University

: Offers research-based teaching tips to boost your creativity and motivation hosted by Magna Publications. Current episode: Unlocking Teaching Excellence: Strategies for Growth

with Derek Bruff: Aimed at faculty to help them develop foundational teaching skills and explore new ideas in teaching.

: Series of discussions of innovative and effective practices in teaching and learning. Hosted by State University of New York at Oswego.

: Explores the art and science of being more effective at facilitating learning. Hosted by B. Stachowiak, Vangard University, CA.

: Features faculty and course designers using creative approaches to enhance students' learning experiences and turn engagement "ON".  Hosted by Dr. Kathryn Berkow, University of Delaware.

Student Support Services

Faculty can now find all student support services on our campus unified on one聽website聽focused on聽supporting and elevating students, and assisting them in applying their learning through聽a multitude of academic聽services to support students in their academic success, wellbeing, and post-graduate careers.聽

How to Make Your Teaching More Inclusive, Chronicle of Higher Education

Want to reach all of your students? This guide considers how faculty can provide a learning environment and engage in communication that reaches all of their students. The teaching resource introduces key principles of Inclusive Teaching, offers ways to interact inclusively with students, provides approaches to Inclusive Course Design, and suggests ways to evaluate your inclusive teaching methods. to article.

Self-Paced, Online Program: Making Your Course Accessible in LMS

As you are aware, accessibility is a critical factor in students' success. How can you check and ensure that your course materials are accessible? What do you need to consider? We invite you to take this online self-paced program, Making Your Course Accessible in LMS. Co-developed by VITAL and LSS, the program establishes the legal framework for accessibility in education, articulates why we need to address accessibility issues proactively in our courses, and demonstrates how to create ADA-compliant courses in LMS.聽Please click on 聽to聽enroll in this online program offered in Bridge.聽
Link to more details

草榴社区 Policy Library

The 草榴社区 Policy Library (VPL) assists faculty, staff and students in better understanding the many University policies and procedures. The聽University Compliance Office聽continues to feature compliance-related policies. For example, the Academic Integrity Policy sets expectations for honest academic work and provides for equitable administrative procedures to address suspected violations of 草榴社区鈥檚 Code of Academic Integrity. Access聽VPL聽through MyNova.

Innovative Teaching at 草榴社区聽

Link to Innovative Teaching site