Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

RSVP: Writing Summit, deadline November 8

Join us for the 2024 Writing Summit, which aims to rethink the role of grammar in effective student writing across the disciplines.  This year's Writing Summit will feature presenters from ESOL, Technical Writing, CLS, Adult Education and Environmental Studies covering a range of topics--AI tools, ESOL, assessment, and inclusivity.  RSVP by November 8

Participants will receive 3 hours of professional development!

2024 Writing Summit 

When: November 15th, 1pm - 4pm 

Where: Rio Grande Campus and Zoom 

Light refreshments will be served! 

And CLS Swag will be there to share!

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Congratulations Anne-Marie Thomas! 

From Gaye Lynn Scott

The Honors Program continues to thrive through interdisciplinary collaborations across ACC, offering diverse courses from 17+ disciplines and enrichment opportunities that positively impact student outcomes. To foster further growth and enhance service to our students, we are evolving the existing faculty leadership position ("Program Coordinator") into the role of Associate Dean for Honors. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Anne-Marie Thomas, our current faculty leader for Honors, will step into this new role, reporting directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs and working collaboratively with leadership for Workforce Education and Health Sciences.  Anne-Marie's dedication and vision has already made a significant impact, and she will be instrumental in further advancing the program and ensuring diverse and meaningful educational experiences for our students. This change will take effect for the Spring 2025 semester.

We would also like to acknowledge the Division of Liberal Arts: Humanities and Communications (LAHC, née Arts & Humanities) for housing and supporting the Honors Program for many years.  LAHC's commitment to the Honors Program provided an important curricular foundation for early growth and development of the program, and will continue to be an element of future successes.

A-M!!! We are so freaking proud of you!!! Love, CLS

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RSVP for Fall Commencement, deadline Nov 8

Thanks to the advocacy of the 2023/24 Adjunct Faculty Association Officers, led by then-President Amber Luttig-Buonodono, all adjuncts are now invited to fully participate in the Fall Commencement Ceremony along with our students and full-time colleagues. Check your email for a formal invitation, or respond to this RSVP LINK to request your (free) regalia and secure your seat on the floor level at graduation. The AFA looks forward to seeing you all on December 12! 

Fall Commencement is on December 12 at 4pm at the HEB Center at Cedar Park

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ADA Compliance for Blackboard Courses 

All the Chairs got a note from Dean Toño Ramirez after some faculty were flagged about ADA Compliance for our Blackboard courses. (If you got those emails, you know who you are! Thanks for y'alls collective patience, by the way!) 

Here's the highlights!

"Earlier this week we were contacted by AVCs Beth Knight and Erasmus Addae about efforts to identify and support Blackboard sections with low accessibility scores.  In the first report that was shared with us, sections/shells with scores below 16% were identified.  I gather that we should expect similar reports for low-scoring sections above that threshold shortly.

We've been asked to work with faculty teaching these sections to address the accessibility of their courses prior to the start of the spring 2025 semester."

Toño went on to say that he totally gets it--we're already adjusting to Ultra, many of us have been up to our ears in changes to our shells, and "the prospect of combing through them for revisions can seem overwhelming.  I get it, and I know you do too. " 

Toño shared some bullet points that I think are SPOT ON (TY, Toño, especially for the video demo)

• While the use of the words 'Blackboard' and 'standards' in close proximity can immediately connote the Quality Matters rubric, I invite us to bear in mind that accessibility standards are entirely independent of QM.  If the QM organization were to disintegrate overnight, we'd still be legally (and, I think it's fair to say, morally) obligated to ensure that our courses are accessible to all of our students.  Digital content that can be scanned and heard through a screen reader device (for example) isn't a 'QM thing'.  It's a matter of necessity for many of our students who wouldn't otherwise be able to read the texts that we assign.

• Accessibility requirements aren't unique to distance learning courses.  All content hosted on the Blackboard system--including content that supplements in-person sections--should be accessible to all students. 

• Neither these standards nor the student needs that they are intended to address are new. 

• I encourage all faculty to have a look at the current accessibility score for their courses.  To this end, I've created a quick demo video for the Accessibility Report feature that's built into the 'Course Tools' in all Blackboard courses.  

• In cases where extensive revisions are needed, or where faculty would simply like assistance in addressing accessibility requirements in their courses, instructional design support is readily available.  I'm also happy to field questions in cases where more specific forms of support are needed."

We are also fortunate to have Amber Clontz on it to help CLS 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.

We will save some time after the Tagging Party on December 6 to troubleshoot ADA compliance If there Is any troubleshooting that needs doing. And, since this is an accredidation, student-first kind of a thing, we are going to be accountable to ourselves at some point for getting our Accessibility Reports up to speed. So, look for that.

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CLS Portfolios, Due November 15 

CLS Portfolios for the 23-24 Academic Year are due November 15. 

If you are a P1, P2, or P3, we need those Portfolios this semester.  You can check your Portfolio status here: CLS Due List.  P1, P2, P3 = portfolio due.  A1, A2 = Annual Review (no portfolio). 

Portfolio materials should be uploaded here:   CLS PORTFOLIO COLLECTION FORM (FALL 2024)

We apologize again for the earlier miscommunications about the Portfolio due dates. 

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Midterm Reminders for 8A and 8B Classes

For those of you ending your 8A sessions, be sure to get 1301 assignments tagged for our Assessment Team.  And if you are prepping for an 8B session, don't forget to submit syllabi to the AY 24-25 Collection Form and complete Lighthouse.  

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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).   

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Collect and Tag ENGL 1301 Research Papers

The Assessment Committee needs you to collect ENGL 1301 Research Papers on Blackboard and then tag them for review before December 15.  You can find step-by-step instructions on tagging your ENGL 1301 Research Papers in any archived Tuesday Newsday from October 1 through October 22, 2024.  (And, y'all, this is all about ACCREDIDATION and SHARED GOVERNANCE. It's what we're famous for!)

Or you can join the CLS Assignment Tagging Party! 

New this year: We’ll be tagging our FALL 2024 ENGL 1301 Research Papers together during our final department meeting of the semester on Dec. 6. We'll bring the coffee and snacks.  You bring your laptop if you attend in-person or you can follow along on the Zoom, and we’ll walk you through the steps of tagging ENGL 1301 research papers on Blackboard. The more samples we have, the more data we have to share in the next assessment report. Bonus: You’ll leave that meeting on Dec. 6 knowing you have your tagging done well ahead of the December 15 deadline!

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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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Please Promote: Stephanie Land Reading and Q&A, Nov 7 

Stephanie Land, author of Maid and Class, will be reading from her work and answering questions. This is kind of a once-In-a-lifetime chance for students to get to meet and interact with a well-known author. The flyer for students will be coming from our BFFs in Creative Writing. We know it's midday...but if you can get some of your students there (Extra Credit, maybe?), I will be present with CLS English Majors stickers and swag to share. This is really cool--and we are lucky to have the option for our students!

Encourage your students to attend!

Please make a plan to attend a reading and Q&A from best-selling author of Maid and Class, Stephanie Land! Flyer to come! And  we'd love to see you:

Thursday, November 7th, 2:30p-4:30p

HLC, Building 2000, Room 2.1550

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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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Please Promote: Alejandra Campoverdi Fireside Chat, Nov 15

ACC students have a chance to engage with Alejandra Campoverdi, best-selling author of First-Gen: A Memoir, women's advocate, and former White House aide to President Obama. Event hosts will have 100 copies of First-Gen: A Memoir, available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Find more details Meet the Author: Alejandra Campoverdi

When: November 15, 11:30am-1:30pm 

Where: HLC, Building 2000, Presentation Hall

RSVP for Book Signing and Q&A with Alejandra Campoverdi

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Please Promote: RRC Writing Workshops, Nov 19 and 20

The RRC Learning Lab and Library have teamed up to host writing workshops that focus on research writing and information literacy.  All ACC students are welcome to drop by to talk with Learning Lab tutors and librarians about research, databases, integration, citation and more.  

When: November 19 and November 20 from 11am-2pm 

Where: RRC Library; Building 1000, 3rd floor 

Check out their flyer and share with students: RRC Research Paper Giving You Trouble?

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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 6, 2024.

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

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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: Literary Events at San Gabriel Campus

The Student Life Department and Library at San Gabriel Campus have teamed up for National Book Month.  Every Tuesday in October, they're hosting Coffee & Lit in the Student Life Lounge from 9am-11am.  Students can stop by to enjoy coffee and a collection of books from the library.  Check out the details at Coffee & Lit. 

Also, throughout the Fall semester San Gabriel is celebrating The Wonder of Literature with monthly meetups that spotlight different literary genres.  Meetups are from 12pm-3pm in the San Gabriel Atrium.  October 24 is all about Gothic Literature.  November 12 will cover Mystery, True Crime, and Thrillers.  December 5 will explore Science Fiction.  There will be discussions, snacks, and a mobile library.  

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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): 11/4 (MLA Part II); 11/18 (Scholarship Essays); 11/25 (Literary Analysis and Poetry); 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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Apply: CLS Web Specialist

CLS is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Web Specialist & Technology Liaison.  You can check out the position responsibilities and qualifications here: https://austincc.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Rio-Grande-Campus/Specialist--Web-ll_R-6741 

Application closes November 6, 2024 (at 12:00 AM)

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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 📚🪱💻

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English Major Degree Audits

If you'd like to help our majors graduate on time, please volunteer to run a degree audit on one or two students who are near completion. It takes about 10 minutes. 

Email Theo Yurevitch to get the student names; he will get you onto the spreadsheet you need to be on and will assign you a student or two.

Basically, you get a student's ID, look up their transcripts, fill out the English AA audit form, and email the student, their advisor, and Wendy Elle or Theo Yurevitch the completed form. We have a template for the email to the student/advisor. So, the lion's share of the work is you + the audit form. Then copy, paste, attach, and send!

English Degree Audit Process

English Degree Audit Form

How to Access Student Transcripts - YouTube Video

The English Degree Audit Form - YouTube Video