Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

CLS End-of-Semester Meeting, Recording and Slides

It was great to see so many of you (in-person and on Zoom) for our End-of-Semester meeting.  Below you can find the recording, slides, and minutes from the meeting.  

Recording: https://austincc.zoom.us/rec/share/bJr3TBSxgbS2yXmpZr_fJLyyVbQlg5zxUiq-dQT7TqIh9-46VPUo-_-n5EfAAEM.f0F8V8zIDbCLxRin 

• Passcode: 27=%3LzF 

Slides: CLS End-of-Semester Slides

Minutes: CLS End-of-Semester Minutes

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Collect and Tag ENGL 1301 Research Papers, deadline Dec 15

The Assessment Committee needs you to collect ENGL 1301 Research Papers on Blackboard and then tag them for review before December 15. (And, y'all, this is all about ACCREDITATION and SHARED GOVERNANCE. It's what we're famous for!) The more samples we have, the more data we have to share in the next assessment report.

To help you with this process, we have several resources. Attached to this email, you will find three PDF Guides:

1.    Adding an Assignment to Blackboard

2.    Tagging Student Work  (which explains which three tags you need to put on each assignment)

3.    Walking Students Through Submission

In addition, here is a short video talking folks through the process of creating an assignment and tagging it. 

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Mentoring: As Rewarding as Teaching, but without the Grading

We know your time is valuable, and mentoring doesn’t have to be time-consuming. We’re making mentoring easier than ever with prefab QM shells and Blackboard support from Instructional Designers, plus a new welcome packet that includes essential resources for new hires. What’s more, mentoring is Peer Dialogue. So, you’re not only helping a colleague succeed but also checking off a key requirement of Faculty Evaluation. And as a thank you, mentors receive a stipend for their service. Share what you’re great at! Sign up today.

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Mandatory Training Update

Between now and FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025, all CLS faculty will need complete ALL (4) of the updated trainings AND record the completion dates on the ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25 COLLECTION FORM:

• Accommodating People with Disabilities (ADA) 

• Preventing Harassment & Discrimination: Non-Supervisors Clery Act and Title IX

• Active Shooter 

• FY25 Cybersecurity

(this is an abbreviated version of the original update.  For the full update, see the November 12 Newsletter)

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Call for Contributors: CLS Curriculum Conference--CCCs! Spring 2025

Austin Community College's CCCs (CLS Curriculum Conference) will take place on Friday, March 7, 2025, from 12:00-4:00 PM at the Highland Campus (HLC) in Austin, Texas.

This is a call for contributors who are interested in sharing their knowledge in a presentation or panel format. We are soliciting contributions in one of two ways:

1) Presenters: We are currently soliciting presenters (individually or to join a panel) on one of the six topics listed on the Call for Contributors. 

2) Topic Proposals: The conference has space for three additional topics, and we will select from among the Topic Proposals submitted. Topics may be combined to create a cohesive panel.

*Note: Sessions will run 50 minutes, so providing a sense of the length of your presentation will help. We will group presentations and/or topic proposals as necessary to fill the time slot. 

Complete the Call Here: CCCs! Spring 2025 Call for Contributors

Call for Contributors will close on Friday, December 13, 2024.

Registration for attending the conference will open at the beginning of the Spring 2025 semester.

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Please Promote: Spring Honors Courses!

Do you have curious, highly motivated students you think would do well in an Honors CLS course? Please let them know about our available Spring '25 courses! Four of our courses are full, but two still have openings:

• English Composition II: Queer Writings: Stories by and about LGBTQIA+ People (ENGL 1302-702; LAG and Service-learning designations), RGC, Louisa Spaventa 

• English Composition II: Magical Realism (ENGL 1302-701; LAG), Hyflex/CYP, Heidi Juel

We also offer Honors courses in 16 other disciplines. If you have potential Honors students this semester who might be intimidated by the prospect of taking Honors courses, please give them a little nudge in our direction and encourage them to fill out an application. Alternatively, consider sharing our TLED-produced student impact video with your classes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPMmfxvpOoA.   

Please contact athomas2@austincc.edu with questions.

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Please Promote: Research Symposium and Curiositas

From Chris Berni,

Hello CLS folk! LAG and Curiositas are sponsoring a Student Research Symposium again next spring as a platform for students from diverse disciplines to present their research projects, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. Please be on the lookout for excellent student work, and encourage your students to submit their projects by February 28, 2025. (Note that the deadline for Curiositas is Jan. 14, 2025). Here are the links:  

Student Research Symposium, Curiositas, Liberal Arts Gateway

Student Research Symposium

Friday, April 18th

Highland Campus (specific location TBD)

Poster Presentations: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Essay Presentations: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm 

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CLS Creative Writing Group, Dec 13

From Rob Crowl

Only one more chance to join us for some creative writing this year on December 13th from 12pm to 1:30pm on Zoom. This month, we'll be focusing on voice, and we'll try out various literary techniques that will help us craft various tones, perspectives, and styles. I hope to see you all there!

Cheers! 

Zoom Info:

CLS - Creative Writing Group

Time: Dec 13, 2024, 12:00 PM - 1:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/86146111976?pwd=X54HJ2jqfAYdm8V0DDkeBZ5uwaxIaX.1

Meeting ID: 861 4611 1976

Passcode: 814653

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Spring 2025 Book Club

From Chris Gardner

What, you thought the fact that we haven't had winter yet means it's too soon to think about our Spring Book Club? 

O silly Reader. When will you learn? 

In the spring, we read a single-author short story collection. We avoid career retrospectives, so think "album" not "greatest hits." 

As usual, we will gather at Easy Tiger by the Highland Campus to discuss at a date to be determined. 

You are encouraged to sign up for our non-binding interest list to keep receiving emails or propose a text if/when you feel the urge, and you can always visit our website to see where we've already been.

Two Reminders: 

1. We are an open group. The invites go out to CLS, but you can always bring a +1 or forward this to interested parties. 

2. Book Club will be paired with a book swap. Bring a book or books you are willing to part with, and let's spread some stories around. 

Happy reading, readers. Hope to see you there!

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Please Promote: Student Creative Writing, deadline Jan 31

Encourage students to submit their work to the 2024-2025 Margaret Walker Memorial Prizes in Creative Writing! 

Contest Description

The Margaret Walker Memorial Prize in Creative Writing Contest is open to any student, graduate or undergraduate, who is presently attending a College Language Association college or university—an institution where a member of CLA is employed or is a retiree emeritus. 

Students may submit original, unpublished, creative works of drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or translations. Those who place are invited to attend the annual CLA convention and may have the opportunity to read an excerpt of their winning piece or their work in its entirety. 

Submission Form here

Questions?  Email Alana King at alanacking@gmail.com 

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Overview of NEW Faculty Evaluation Process (Spring 2025)

From Beth Frye

Dear Colleagues:

We have been receiving questions about the (New) ACC Faculty Evaluation Process.  To reduce your anxiety, I have created a short screencast video to provide an overview of the new process.  This year we are transitioning to the new evaluation calendar.  We are currently finishing up the 2023-24 evaluations (old process) and the evaluation of the materials we submit for the academic year 2024-25 will be next Fall (2025).  

Video: (NEW) ACC Faculty Evaluation Process: Overview 

In the Spring, I will be creating videos to help guide faculty through the portfolio creation process. I (Beth Frye) will be designated (P3) for 2024-25 which means I will be completing the full portfolio that is due by May 2025 inservice.  So, as I create my own portfolio, I will be sharing my approach with you.  My committee and I will also be hosting brown bag discussions on ZOOM to answer questions and give faculty an opportunity to share with one another.  

I hope this information is helpful for you, and you are off to a good start this semester.

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Update: Accessibility Reports in Blackboard Courses 

In response to the on-going conversations about the accessibility of Blackboard courses, CLS encourages all faculty to investigate their BB accessibility scores and begin the process of addressing scores below 80%. Dean Toño Ramirez made this brief, helpful video to demo Accessibility Reports.  If you need help fixing the accessibility of your Blackboard courses, you have resources!   

• Instructional design support is always available to help.   And here's TLED's Accessibility information page. 

• Within CLS, we are fortunate to have Amber Clontz helping folks get their Bb documents ADA reader friendly.  You can email her for tips or to meet on Bb related matters on those lovely Friday drop ins she's been offering.

• On December 6th, after the end-of-semester meeting and the Tagging Party, CLS will also have people to answer questions about ADA Compliance and Accessibility. 

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Updates to ACC's Grade Change Process

Faculty can now request Grade Changes and convert Incompletes using an online process through the My ACC Faculty Portal.  The Records Office has put together this detailed how-to: Grade Change Instructions for Faculty.  The online requests are sent directly to the Department Chair for review.

This new online process will entirely replace the paper Grade Change requests in Spring 2025 (both paper and online requests will be processed during the Fall 2024 semester).   

Also--It Is FREAKING AWESOME! Like, more awesome than that. Even more awesome. I swear--this Is so easy--please use the new online form. You will fee the joy. At least, I am feeling It!

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CLS Profile 2024-2025--Faculty Contributions

Please send us contributions for our next CLS Profile (2024-25).  We'd love to see a picture of you and/or your students, including selfies with students, photos with colleagues at conferences--especially CLS activities! (Don't forget to get photo permission forms from students signed.)  Aside from photos, we are looking for contributions in as many categories as apply to you; you can also nominate a colleague's reading(s) or assignment(s)!  Keep details concrete and short. The first CLS Profile was a BIG SUCCESS! And, we'd love to hear from loads and loads of our faculty for next years'! (Also, we'll ask for contributions through the first part of the Spring Term. This form will stay open--and feel free to share things as they come up)

Share your AWESOMENESS Here: Faculty Contributions for 2025 CLS Profile

Holler at Wendy Elle, Luanne Preston, or Dania Dwyer if you have questions or thoughts!

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Please Promote: Online Writing Tutor

Becky Villarreal, ACC English instructor and LELA tutor, assists students with papers via email. They can email her directly at bvillarr@austincc.edu (with their papers in a DOC file and their instructor's directions) or click here to fill out a form. Email Becky if you have questions or check out her website. She is also hosting writing workshops on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons this fall:

• Manic Monday Workshops 10 - 11 a.m. (Click here to sign in/up; Click here to join Zoom): 12/9 (Resumes) 

• Wednesday Writing Workshops 4-5 p.m. (Click here to sign in/up; Click here to join Zoom): 12/4 (Literary and Academic Competitions)

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Blackboard Q & A, Fridays 3pm-4pm 

Need help setting up your Blackboard page?  Have a quick question about a Blackboard function?

Email Amber Clontz for the Zoom invite; she's hosting regularly on Fridays 3-4pm. 

• Can’t make the day/time? Send your availability to request an alternative :) 

Brought to you by the Textbooks & Technology Committee 📚🪱💻