FCTL Events Calendar

Upcoming Events

AI Discussion Group—Faculty Talk about Teaching With (or Without) AI

Please join us for this informal discussion group focused on teaching with (or without) AI.

We’ll begin by reading Talking about Generative AI: A Guide for Educators (Dobrin), a brief, free resource for college faculty. We’ll then move on to share experiences with AI and rationales and strategies for incorporating (or not incorporating) this tool into our teaching. Facilitated by Michael Michaud (Professor of English and Chair of the Writing Board).

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, March 21 and Friday, April 11
• Each session: 12–1 pm
• offered via Zoom

Designing for All: Implementing Universal Design for Learning to Enhance Accessibility and Inclusion in Your Classroom

Join your colleagues to explore Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an educational framework designed to make learning accessible and effective for every student. UDL emphasizes that by offering flexibility in how content is presented, how students showcase their learning, and how they engage with the material, the diverse needs of all learners can be met.

Facilitated by Paul LaCava (Professor, Special Education and FCTL Faculty Fellow), Molly McKeon (Director and ADA/504 Coordinator, Center for Disability Access), and Amy Grattan (Executive Director, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities)

Date, Time, Location

• Thursday, April 3, 12:30–2 pm
• Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Adams Library 406

Teaching Writing with AI: Strategies for Responsible and Effective Integration

The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning and the campus Writing Board welcome Dr. Sid Dobrin (University of Florida) to Rhode Island College! This hands-on workshop explores integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into writing classrooms and curricula, focusing on responsible deployment for effective writing instruction. Participants will examine GenAI's benefits and challenges for writing pedagogy, assessment, and student learning, addressing ethical considerations like responsible use and academic integrity.  The workshop offers practical exploration for classroom deployment in writing contexts, discussing effective strategies, infrastructure, faculty development, and student support. Participants will gain familiarity with prompt writing, text generation, and image generation for writing assignments, leaving with concrete integration strategies. Designed for writing instructors, but open to faculty from any discipline, attendees should bring a laptop or tablet for Co-Pilot access. The session focuses on developing best practices for using AI and GenAI in writing classrooms, examining its use to support writing development, promote critical thinking about writing, and encourage creativity, while addressing challenges and ethical concerns. The workshop will focus on integrating GenAI into writing assignments responsibly, starting with “Why integrate AI into my writing assignments?” and discussing how these technologies can enhance the teaching and learning of writing.

Email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link. Seating is limited, so please RSVP only if you can fully commit to attending on April 9.

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, April 9, 9–11:30 am
• Faculty Center Dining Room Main (Donovan Dining Center)

Beyond Bans and Detection: Rethinking Academic Integrity in the GenAI Era

The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning is pleased to welcome Dr. Sid Dobrin (University of Florida) to Rhode Island College!  All members of the campus community are invited to attend Dr. Dobrin's keynote presentation.

The rise of Generative AI (GenAI) has sparked ethical concerns among educators, often focusing on student cheating. This talk argues that banning GenAI and relying on detection software is a reactionary approach, overlooking a crucial question: Does our traditional definition of academic integrity still hold in the GenAI era? While some fear a plagiarism surge, research suggests cheating rates remain stable, driven by familiar pressures, not AI. However, a growing distrust in student work reveals a tension between traditional learning notions and the GenAI landscape. Traditionally, education emphasized individual effort in knowledge accumulation. GenAI challenges this print-era model by offering new ways to access and process information. In writing, GenAI's ability to create drafts doesn't render composition obsolete; it shifts emphasis to critical analysis, revision, and "prompt engineering." Core competencies like critical thinking and ethical reasoning remain crucial. This talk explores how GenAI can enhance learning, suggesting using AI-generated drafts for analysis or teaching data literacy through evaluating AI outputs, rather than outright bans.

Secure your spot: email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link.

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, April 9, 12–1 pm
• Fogarty Life Science Building, Room 050 (auditorium)

Bridging Perspectives: Case Studies and Panel Insights on Disability Access and Inclusion

Bring your toughest cases and unresolved questions to this session and work together with colleagues to explore potential solutions. A panel of students and faculty will share their experiences with disability access and inclusion, offering insights on how to navigate challenging situations.

Facilitated by Paul LaCava (Professor, Special Education and FCTL Faculty Fellow), Molly McKeon (Director and ADA/504 Coordinator, Center for Disability Access), and Amy Grattan (Executive Director, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities)

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, April 25, 9:30–11 am
• Horace Mann Hall, Room 102

Past Events

Unlocking Access: Faculty Guide to Navigating Student Disability Support at Rhode Island College

Connect with key campus partners, including the Director of the Center for Disability Access, the Director of the Sherlock Center on Disabilities, and the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning Fellow for Accessibility & Inclusion, and Professors of Special Education as they guide you through the essentials of disability support at Rhode Island College. Enhance your understanding of disability compliance, discover valuable resources, and build your confidence in partnering with students to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment.

Facilitated by Paul LaCava (Professor, Special Education and FCTL Faculty Fellow), Molly McKeon (Director and ADA/504 Coordinator, Center for Disability Access), Amy Grattan (Executive Director, Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities), and Marie Lynch (Professor, Special Education).

Date, Time, Location

• Tuesday, March 4, 12:30–2 pm
• Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Adams Library 406

AI, Society, and Industry: Shaping the Future Together

The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning invites you to discover how AI is transforming our world and what it means for your role in this dynamic landscape.

Rhode Island College is pleased to welcome members of Babson College's interdisciplinary AI Lab, The Generator, to campus for a lecture entitled AI, Society, and Industry: Shaping the Future Together. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend this learning opportunity!

This session explores AI's impact on society and industry, with a special focus on higher education. The presenters will highlight key AI concepts and examine the implications of the AI era for educators, students, workers, and citizens.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and engage in thought-provoking discussions about the future of AI! Email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, February 28, 12–1 pm
• Gaige Hall 100 (auditorium)
• Speakers: Members of Babson College's interdisciplinary AI Lab, The Generator, including Erik Noyes (Business and Entrepreneurship), Kristi Girdharry (Writing and Rhetoric and Writing Center), and Beth Wynstra (Performing Arts)
• Interactive Q&A: Engage with experts and peers

Harnessing AI for Effective and Ethical Teaching

Rhode Island College is pleased to welcome members of Babson College's interdisciplinary AI Lab, The Generator, to campus on Friday, February 28, 2025 for Harnessing AI for Effective and Ethical Teaching. Join us for an engaging, hands-on, and interactive workshop designed for college faculty eager to explore the transformative potential of AI in teaching. This session is presented by the campus Writing Board and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Discover innovative AI tools, learn best practices for integrating AI into your syllabus, and tackle the challenges of academic integrity head-on. Whether you're curious about AI, concerned about its implications, or determined to prevent cheating, this workshop offers valuable insights and hands-on activities to enhance your teaching strategies.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and empower your students with ethical AI use! 

Seating is limited, so please RSVP only if you can fully commit to attending on February 28. Registration is required for this event. Email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, February 28, 9–11:30 am
• Gaige Hall 200
• Speakers: Members of Babson College's interdisciplinary AI Lab, The Generator, including Erik Noyes (Business and Entrepreneurship), Kristi Girdharry (Writing and Rhetoric and Writing Center), and Beth Wynstra (Performing Arts)
• Interactive Q&A: Engage with experts and peers

Faculty Listening Sessions with the CDA

The Center for Disability Access (CDA) and the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) invite faculty for coffee/tea with CDA Director Molly McKeon to share experiences and perspectives on the implementation of student accommodations at RIC. Insights shared will support the CDA in identifying areas for process improvements and creating supportive professional development opportunities for faculty. The sessions will cap at 10 participants per day and registration is required. Email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link.

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, February 19, 10–11:15 am, repeated Thursday, February 20, 10–11:15 am
• Center for Disability Access, Gaige 320

Adapting Assignments for Generative AI Integration

Generative AI is now part of learning, there is no running from it.  This professional development session will focus on adapting one course assignment to support student learning and reaching course objectives.  Participants will practice adapting an assignment to utilize the best of generative AI while teaching our students (and ourselves) how to use tools to increase learning. Facilitated by Julie Horwitz (Professor, FSEHD).

Date, Time, Location

• Monday, February 17, 1–2 pm, repeated Friday 21, 9–10 am
• Craig-Lee Hall, Room 109

Generative AI Classroom Policy and Practices

Join us as Julie Horwitz (Professor, FSEHD) shares concrete ideas for course policy and generative AI in the classroom. This session provides a brief overview of generative AI and the classroom, a potential resource will be shared, and there will be time to discuss practices with colleagues for immediate classroom use.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, February 7, 9–10 am, repeated Monday, February 10, 1–2 pm
• Craig-Lee Hall, Room 109

Open Textbook Workshop

In this workshop, you will learn what open textbooks are and how they can help alleviate the burden of textbook costs for students, while providing faculty with content that can be highly customized for your courses. Open textbooks are full, real textbooks, used by many faculty across the country, and licensed to be freely used, edited, and distributed.

Following the workshop, you will write a brief review of an open textbook from the Open Textbook Library, to be published on the Open Textbook Library.

Space is limited! Registration is required. Email FCTL at fctl@ric.edu for the RSVP link.

Faculty who attend the workshop and complete the review are eligible for a one-time $200 stipend.

Facilitated by Dragan Gill (Associate Professor, Adams Library and Co-Chair, Rhode Island Open Textbook Initiative Steering Committee) 

Date, Time, Location

• Tuesday, February 4, 2–4 pm
• Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Adams Library 406

Introducing Eli Review—An Online Tool that Will Help Your Students Write Better

Do your students write papers that seem as though they haven’t been proofread or vetted before submission? Do they sometimes misunderstand your assignments and confuse your assignment guidelines?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, join us for a brief introduction to Eli Review, the online peer review tool that will help your students write better papers that fulfill your assignments.

After this initial introduction, those who wish to learn more will meet to experiment with and share experiences with Eli Review 2-3 more times during the term.  Facilitated by Michael Michaud (Professor of English and Chair of the Writing Board).

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, January 31, 12–1 pm
• offered via Zoom

Optimize Your Syllabus

As you prepare for the semester, consider adjustments in your syllabi to support student success. Several topics will be covered to create a more inclusive syllabus that promotes greater equity and motivation for students. The focus is on strategies that can be more easily implemented before the semester starts. 

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, January 3, 10:30 am-12 pm, repeated Monday, January 6, 9-10:30 am and Tuesday, January 14, 1-2:30 pm
• offered via Zoom

Resilient Course Policies

Course policies establish an instructor’s expectations for students; however, at times, they may conflict with students’ needs for flexibility. This session explores ways to build flexibility into your course that support emergent student needs while still allowing the course schedule to proceed as planned. 

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, January 3, 9-10 am, repeated Thursday, January 9, 9-10 am
• offered via Zoom

TILT Assignments for Greater Student Success

“TILT” is an evidence-based technique for making assignment expectations more understandable and transparent for students to help them produce better work. Faculty can TILT any assignments in any discipline, whether it involves writing, presentations, solving problems, science labs, group work, reflections, and more. (Session held in Zoom.)

• Thursday, January 2, 9-10 am, repeated Thursday, January 9, 1-2 pm and Monday, January 13, 9-10 am
• offered via Zoom

Past Events

Lunch 'n Learn: A Proactive Approach to AI (Part 2)

Two years since ChatGPT’s launch, what does a proactive approach to GenAI in the college classroom look like? Join us as we continue to explore ways GenAI is enhancing faculty efforts, improving teaching, and supporting students in overcoming challenges. This session will focus more on preparation of class materials, including those available in Blackbaord Ultra. Attendance at the prior workshop is not required to participate in this session. All are welcome to join us for Part 2! Facilitated by Mike Michaud (English/Writing Board) and Tim Henry (School of Business).

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, December 6, 9–10 am
• offered via Zoom

Lunch 'n Learn: Writing Scenarios as Writing Pedagogy

Many college faculty find it challenging to create innovative writing assignments that give students ownership and choice while demonstrating their understanding of key concepts. Join us for a discussion on using writing scenarios as a pedagogical tool. Faculty will share how constructing scenarios (e.g., “Imagine you are a management consultant trying to reach a new audience…”) can help students showcase their learning effectively. Facilitated by Mike Michaud (English/Writing Board) and Jiyun Wu (School of Business).

Date, Time, Location

• Tuesday, November 12, 2–3 pm
• offered via Zoom

Lunch 'n Learn: A Proactive Approach to GenAI

Two years since ChatGPT’s launch, what does a proactive approach to GenAI in the college classroom look like? Discover how GenAI is enhancing faculty efforts, improving teaching, and supporting students in overcoming challenges. Facilitated by Mike Michaud (English/Writing Board)  and Tim Henry (School of Business).

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, November 8, 12–1 pm
• offered via Zoom

American Democracy Project

The American Democracy Project (ADP) will host a number of events this year. These sessions are designed to help students “understand and reflect on the essence of meaningful participation in the democratic process.” Watch the ADP webpage for updates on workshops, campus talks, training materials, and a number of other timely resources.

Helping Students Improve Their Study Skills

Join Cognitive Psychologist and learning expert Megan Sumeracki (Psychology) to discuss the pitfalls students experience when studying, and the ways we can support them to make more effective and efficient study choices. In particular, the workshop will focus on evidence-based study strategies that are easily applicable with a wide variety of course content and in many different learning situations. This session is similar to the one presented during Community Development Day, but with more time, we can dig deeper into topics of interest to participants and engage in more collaborative discussion.

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, October 9, 12:15–1:45 pm
• Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Adams Library 406

Open Books, Open Minds Teaching Roundtable

Join us for a roundtable about teaching this year’s Open Books – Open Minds book, Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars.  We will have informal presentations and discussion of strategies and approaches to use in the classroom, with perspectives from different disciplines.  Facilitated by Anita Duneer (English), Bill Wilson and Casey Seymour Kim (Music, Theatre and Dance), and Elijah Edelman (Anthropology). Bring your lunch! 

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, September 18, 12:30–2 pm
• Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Adams Library 406

Past Events

FCTL Faculty Development for Online and Hybrid Teaching

The new Policies for Online and Hybrid Teaching and Learning state that all faculty (full time and adjunct) are required to have completed training in online and/or hybrid teaching pedagogies, as relevant to the modalities they are using. This requirement is to be completed prior to being scheduled to teach in either of those modalities beginning with the Fall 2025 semester, which gives faculty the upcoming year to demonstrate that they have completed the required training. (Note, this is in addition to the training for Blackboard Ultra, which is being conducted this summer.)

Faculty who are teaching fully in-person do not need to complete these trainings (but do need to complete the Blackboard Ultra training). Otherwise, faculty must complete each workshop for the modalities that they are teaching.

The training will be offered in two ways, and you can choose which best suits your needs:

• As a fully asynchronous workshop that will be delivered in the new Blackboard (available in June). Faculty should register for workshop access now and the FCTL will send word directly when the course opens. 
• As a hybrid workshop for those who prefer a more hands-on approach with a cohort of other faculty. This hybrid format will include: The first two days conducted in-person, work conducted asynchronously that you will have several days to review, and the final day conducted synchronously in Zoom. The first three sessions of each are listed below, with additional sessions offered over the upcoming year.

Hands-on Sections for Asynchronous Online Teaching Workshop

Hands-on Sections for Hybrid Teaching Workshop

Please email fctl@ric.edu for the registration link.

RITL Workshop: Reparative Humanism in Higher Education: Examining & Recasting Agreements that Govern Teaching and Learning

The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning is pleased to partner with the Rhode Island Teaching & Learning (RITL) network to offer a unique opportunity for faculty from across the different Rhode Island Higher Education Institutions to meet and learn about a common topic that impacts institutions across the State.

This workshop will:

• delve into the intricate relationship between trauma, burnout, healing, and our collective human experience, with a special emphasis on the wellbeing of faculty within the academic sphere
• explore how trauma can impact our connection to our intrinsic humanity and discuss the critical pathways to healing that are necessary to reclaim our complete sense of self and community wholeness
• discuss the concept of reparative humanism, a philosophical approach dedicated to mending the human condition through the adoption of humanistic principles

These principles advocate for recognizing the “whole” person and emphasize personal autonomy, self-determination, interconnectedness, social responsibility, and the innate worth and dignity of every individual. Our conversation will expand this concept to highlight the imperative of supporting faculty well-being in higher education, asserting that the well-being of the entire academic community, including faculty, is essential for achieving a truly inclusive and nurturing educational environment.

Each institution is limited to a certain number of participants. Contact fctl@ric.edu for application information; applications close Wednesday, May 1.

Date, Time, Location

• Monday, May 20 from 10 am–2:30 pm
• Bryant College (details forthcoming)
• Facilitated by Dr. Mays Imad, Associate Professor of Physiology and Equity Pedagogy at Connecticut College

Difficult Conversations Workshop

The American Democracy Project (ADP), the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), and the Office of the President are sponsoring a second Difficult Conversations Workshop. The two-day workshop will be held May 15–16, (two full days, breakfast and lunch will be served each day). Additionally, we are planning follow-up opportunities for those who participated in the first cohort of the workshop last year, and we'll be in touch soon about those!

This year, we are expanding the cohort to include faculty, staff, and students from all five schools. Also, we have broadened the scope to allow participants to choose from two tracks: A classroom-focused, and a campus community/event focused. 

Track A: Dialogic Classroom Workshop (2 days)

This training is designed for faculty and staff who teach in a classroom context. The workshop supports instructors in creating a more open, connected, conversational culture within the classroom. Evidence shows that the dialogic classroom supports: students’ connection to course content, readings, and lectures; a greater willingness to speak and engage new ideas; a willingness to ask genuinely curious questions of others; a greater sense of belonging in class and on campus. The workshop will address the following learning objectives:

• learn how to establish the conditions for the dialogic classroom through the use of agreements, preparation, design, and the use of space - both virtually and in-person
• build connections and trust between students to support difficult classroom conversations
• structure difficult dialogues in the classroom and design dialogue questions to invite narrative, value-based discussion, and complexity.
• use dialogue as a pedagogical tool for reflection, connection to the topic, and the development of conviction and intellectual humility
• use curricular activities as a pathway to more engagement and dialogue throughout campus and local community

Track B: Facilitator Training for Staff, Faculty, and Students (2 days)

This training is designed for anyone who is interested in designing and facilitating dialogues on campus, outside of the classroom. This workshop will support facilitators as they lead campus dialogues in response to campus, local, or world events, and conversations that are integrated into on-campus programming, such as film screenings, guest speakers, and theatre/arts productions. This workshop will address the following learning objectives:

• gain a basic understanding of what makes dialogue across deep differences difficult as well as skills to support more constructive conversations across differences
• learn a basic framework for designing conversations that include many voices, cultures, and perspectives
• build competence and confidence to begin a dialogue, facilitate, and intervene in groups to support authentic and respectful communication or mutual understanding
• build skills to design dialogue questions that foster connection to each other, to a common stimulus (art, film, theatre, lecture series, etc.), and in response to a difficult topic or current event

Contact fctl@ric.edu for application information.

Past Events

Lunch 'n Learn: How Do I WID When There Are So Many Bodies in the Room?

In this presentation, Dr. Mary Baker (Anthropology) and Dr. Mike Michaud (English, Writing Board) will team up to discuss the challenges of adapting WID curricula when there are 25+ students in the room. In particular, they’ll focus on how to use writing as a tool to teach course content and assess student learning without creating additional workload for the instructor. 

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, March 7, 12:30–1:30 pm
• offered via Zoom

Lunch 'n Learn: Did AI Write That?

Join Dr. Mike Michaud (English, Writing Board) in this discussion session. We’ll share experiences with and strategies for managing AI in college writing assignments. Faculty who teach WID classes are especially encouraged to attend, but the event is open to all RIC faculty who assign, teach, and grade writing.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, February 23, 12:30–1:30 pm
• offered via Zoom

Lunch 'n Learn: Behind the AI Curtain: Friend or Foe?

Learn the shocking truth with RIC’s own AI expert, Dr. Timothy Henry (CSIS, Cybersecurity Institute). Get a behind-the-scenes look at how AI works. Brainstorm with him and other faculty on ways to use it in classes.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, February 16, 12:30–1:30 pm
• offered via Zoom

Understanding Diverse Learners Video Club

It’s like a book club, but with videos! You’ll have a week to watch a set of videos. This set focuses on: (a) Reaching neurodiverse students, (b) Creating a sense of belonging for BiPOC students, (c) Strategies to create an inclusive environment for gender variant students, and (d) Designing courses to enhance student veteran success. Each video runs approx. 20-50 minutes (total time is just shy of 3 hours). At the end of the week, we will hold a group meeting to discuss the videos and help brainstorm specific ways to implement the strategies in your courses. This will be offered three times during the semester to help accommodate different scheduling needs (you only participate in one of the weeks). Each group can decide whether they want the meeting day to be virtual or in-person. The available weeks are:

• Week 1: Watch videos between February 2–9. Meeting date is Friday, February 9 from 12–1 pm.
• Week 2: Watch videos between February 21–28. Meeting date is Wednesday, February 28 from 12:30–1:30 pm.
• Week 3: Watch videos between March 18–25. Meeting date is Monday, March 25 from 12:30–1:30 pm.

Choose Your Own AI Adventure

This event is a special opportunity for faculty from CCRI, RIC, and URI to meet in virtual space and explore the uses of AI in the classroom. Participants will be able to choose from among various workshops geared toward using AI to support their teaching and their students’ learning. Examples of workshops offered include: Developing a course (writing a syllabus, developing assignments, etc.); Preparing lessons (creating PowerPoints, interactive learning); Supporting student success (teach students how to use AI in their studying); Maintaining Academic Integrity, etc. Save the date -- additional details are coming soon

Date, Time, Location

• Thursday, January 11 from 10 am–12 pm
• offered via Zoom

Design Your Syllabi to Motivate and Engage Students

As you prepare for the semester, consider adjustments in your syllabi to support student success. Several topics will be covered to create a more inclusive syllabus that promotes greater equity and motivation for students. The focus is on strategies that can be more easily implemented before the semester starts. You are encouraged to bring along any syllabus to revise during the session.

Date, Time, Location

• Tuesday, January 9 from 9–10:30 am on Zoom, and repeated on
• Tuesday, January 9 from 1:30–3 pm on Zoom

TILT Assignments for Greater Student Success

“TILT” is an evidence-based technique for making assignment expectations more understandable and transparent to students, which helps them produce better work as a result. Faculty can TILT any assignments in any discipline, whether it involves writing, presentations, solving problems, science labs, group work, reflections, and more.

Date, Time, Location

• Monday, January 8 from 10:30–11:30 am
• offered via Zoom

Course Policies: Flexibility with Accountability

Course policies establish an instructor’s expectations for students; however, at times, they may conflict with students’ needs for flexibility. This session explores ways to build flexibility into your course that support emergent student needs while still allowing the course schedule to proceed as planned.

Date, Time, Location

• Monday, January 8 from 9–10 am
• offered via Zoom

Engaging Students in Asynchronous Courses

This session highlights three key areas to consider when planning asynchronous courses to enhance student engagement: Engaging students with content, Engaging students with other students, and engaging students with the instructor. It does not address the use of Blackboard, but examines best practices and provides tips that you can implement before the semester starts.

Date, Time, Location

• Thursday, January 4 from 9–11 am
• offered via Zoom

Mini Course Design Institute: Foundations of Inclusive Course Design

Join the FCTL for our new Mini Course Design Institute on the Foundations of Inclusive Course Design. It will cover several basic areas that will help you either revise an existing course or create a new course based on best practices in inclusive teaching and learning. Among the topics covered are: introduction to inclusive course design, a robust learning objective framework for more significant and enduring student learning, learning assessments, inclusive course policies, and syllabus design. The information is relevant for any course modality (in-person, asynchronous, hybrid), and faculty who complete all sessions in the institute will receive an FCTL certificate on Foundations of Inclusive Course Design.

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, January 3 from 9 am–4 pm
• in person and on campus for this session

Please Note: Seating is limited for the in-person January session. The Institute will be offered multiple times throughout the year and additional modalities will be available.

Past Events

Workshop: Prepare for January’s Early Spring Session

Are you teaching during the Early Spring session? Learn how to adapt a 15-week course to a 3-week session in January. 

Date, Time, Location

• Monday, December 18 from 11:30 am–12:30 pm
• offered via Zoom
• will be repeated in later Spring for Summer session courses

Advising Workshop: Hope for Students’ Futures

The arrival of the Hope Scholarship brings tremendous opportunity for our students. However, students need guidance on maintaining eligibility, which further elevates the importance of advising. In this workshop, we’ll cover advising practices that are crucial to helping students navigate the eligibility requirements of the Hope Scholarship. Fortunately, the advice we give for the Hope Scholarship coincides with best practices in academic advising, so all faculty advisors are encouraged to attend. This workshop is facilitated by: Mark Medwid (Director of Faculty Advising), Chris Da Costa (Director, Office of Academic Advising), Lindsay Petrarca (Asst. Director, Office of Academic Advising).

Date, Time, Location

• Wednesday, October 25 from 12:30–2 pm
• hybrid: in person or virtual

Conference: New England Faculty Development Consortium (NEFDC)

The FCTL will sponsor a team of 4–6 RIC full-time faculty to attend the NEFDC conference in October. The theme of the conference is Breaking Convention in Teaching and Learning: "Teaching and learning everywhere is experiencing dramatic disruption, forcing educators to rethink what it means to prepare students for an uncertain future. While some disruptions certainly present opportunities for justice, change also introduces new challenges. How do we intentionally disrupt taken-for-granted conventions of higher learning rather than feeling as though the disruptions are happening to us? What practices have we put into place that work in disrupting conventions?"

We are recruiting a team of RIC faculty interested in attending the conference, incorporating the information into their classes, and sharing the information with other RIC faculty at a future FCTL event (e.g., panel discussion, teaching showcase, or other similar event). Full-time faculty must attend the event in-person, briefly meet with the RIC team before and after the event, and share what you’ve learned in an FCTL teaching roundtable, teaching showcase, or similar event.

Date, Time, Location

• Friday, October 20 from 8:30 am–4 pm
• College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)