Embedded Files
Department of Composition & Literary Studies
Dr. Wendy Elle: wendy.elle@austincc.edu
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Today's Election Day ☑️ 🇺🇲!!!!! If you're not sure what's on your ballot, you can visit Ballotpedia (it asks for an email, but that is optional). To find a polling station, visit your county clerk's website.
Also, as we move into November, keep in mind that many of our students are experiencing uncertainty about food, healthcare, child care, and financial aid due to the US government shutdown. Please share the update from Student Affairs (below) with students.
Wondering who to contact with a CLS question? Please use the CLS email for sub requests, staffing questions, and general departmental inquiries. ✨ cls-office@austincc.edu ✨
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Important Dates!
Important Dates!
October 20
8B-week sessions began [upload syllabi to Lighthouse and Academic Year 2025-2026 Collection Form
November 7
2025 Corequisite Summit: Start Strong with Literacy!
November 11
Veteran's Day - ACC campuses closed
November 14
CLS Curriculum Meeting [virtual; look for the Zoom link next week]
November 21
Town Hall, 9:00am - 10:30am [submit questions and concerns here]
December 5
CLS End-of-Semester Meeting, 11:00am - 12:30pm [virtual & in-person at RGC; links to come]
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CLS Announcements
CLS Announcements
CLS Quick Links
CLS Quick Links
CLS Evaluation Materials
2025-2026 Evaluation Deadlines Full Calendar
Academic Year 2025-2026 Collection Form
This form is created and maintained by the Assistant Department Chair for CLS's Evaluation Committee (Beth Frye). Use this form to submit syllabi, Faculty Reflection Forms, and self-reported mandatory training for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026.
Submit Syllabi by the second week of classes (varies by session; Sept. 5, 2025 for 16 week)
Submit Faculty Reflection Forms (Jan 30, 2026; Jun 12, 2026; Sept 4, 2026)
Submit self-reported Mandatory training (May 29, 2026)
CLS K.I.S.S Spreadsheet
CLS K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Sweetheart)
This spreadsheet allows CLS faculty to see and understand all required professional development tasks as well as several optional PD opportunities.
CLS Faculty Handbook
The Faculty Handbook can answer many questions about CLS policy, staffing, evaluation, and more! Plus, you can find instructions for badge requests and grade changes. The easiest way to navigate the CLS Faculty Handbook is the search field. Look for the magnifying glass 🔍in the upper right corner of the homepage and type your keyword (badge request or change eligibility).
Conference Travel Request Form
File this Travel Expense Request with the LAHC Dean's office to request money for upcoming conference travel and attendance.
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Welcome, Mads Fielder, CLS Admin!!
Welcome, Mads Fielder, CLS Admin!!
(From Wendy: Shhhhhhh....nobody tell the P-card peeps that we've stolen their very best---but we did it! Join me in saying hello to Mads Fielder! As of Monday, they are our new Admin III, and we are so freaking overjoyed! Mads has a stellar reputation of problem solving and helping folks--and they are ready to take on all 180+ of us. They will be working to learn the ins and outs of the department, and I ask us all to be patient as Mads gets settled. Pop over and say hello at the Coreq Summit, give a virtual wave at the Curriculum meeting, or swing by RGC for CLS end-of-semester meeting and introduce yourself! MADS IS OFFICIALLY IN THE HOUSE, YO!)
Hi y’all! I’m Mads (they/them/theirs)
I’m super excited to be working with everyone! My previous position was as the P-Card admin, so if you emailed PurchasingCard in the past year and half, that was yours truly! I am a cat-parent to two sons, Vlad & Garlic. I love fiber arts, listening to audio books, and gaming. I’ve got a Bachelors of Fine Arts but found joy in administrative work. The more people I can help, the more accomplished I feel. Don’t hesitate to reach out, but do be aware I over use ! because I want you to know I am excited to be here!!!
Gallup Strengths: LEARNER, Relator, Developer, Restorative, Strategic
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Faculty Evaluation Summaries: Be on the lookout!
Faculty Evaluation Summaries: Be on the lookout!
Our CLS Faculty Evaluation Committee and Department Chair, Dr. Wendy Elle, have been working their way through faculty evaluations. Individual faculty will receive an email notification when it's time to review and sign their Evaluation Summaries.
When your evaluation summary is ready to review, you will receive an email from Faculty Evaluation Summary directing you to sign into the My ACC app and find the link for Faculty Development and Evaluation. After you review, be sure to follow the directions to sign and submit. If you want to have a conference with Wendy Elle to discuss your evaluation, you can make that request, and she will reach out to you with a few dates to confer via Zoom. Some of you have already received and signed your evaluations; thank you for your prompt attention!
All faculty should receive their Evaluation Summary by November 7, and they need to be signed and returned by November 21. Please be on the lookout for the email!
And a note from Wendy here: Beth Frye and Anja Ketcham and the whole Fac Eval Committee have been working so hard on getting these out. I cannot tell you how much smoother and more efficient the process has been because of them. Please send virtual huzzah's to our fearless Fac Eval Committee!!
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Tell Your Truth! Faculty Surveys
Tell Your Truth! Faculty Surveys
Your truth deserves a place in the ongoing conversations about change at ACC. Share your experiences in these two surveys. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE--OMG--PLEASE FILL THIS OUT. It matters. It really matters. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. --Wendy
ToC design team for Belonging in the Classroom needs all faculty to complete this anonymous survey, sharing your input about accountability, support, and belonging at ACC. Please take the 10-15 minutes to complete the survey by November 7.
The Faculty Center for Learning Innovation developed the Faculty Support and Professional Development Survey to learn more from you about the support services that you use and how we can strengthen those supports. This survey is open through November 21. For questions about this survey, please email fcli@austincc.edu
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Call for Agenda Items: November 14 CLS Curriculum Meeting
Call for Agenda Items: November 14 CLS Curriculum Meeting
The annual Fall Curriculum Meeting will be held via Zoom on Friday, November 14, 2025, 11:00am-12:30pm. Please send agenda items related to Curriculum to Susan Meigs (smeigs@austincc.edu) by Wednesday, November 12.
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Please Promote: Summer '26 Study Abroad in England
Please Promote: Summer '26 Study Abroad in England
British Literature I & II, Study Abroad, England, Summer 2026
Walk the London city streets where Charles Dickens’ set Oliver Twist, witness a Shakespearean drama from the eyes of a 17th-century commoner at the reconstructed Globe Theatre, hike the wild moors outside Haworth where Charlotte and Emily Brontë played as young girls, stroll through Lexington Gardens where JM Barrie first entertained the family of young boys who inspired his Peter Pan, and even visit Canterbury Cathedral, the destination of Chaucer’s famous storytelling pilgrims! I’m excited to offer this up-close-and-personal experience of the cultural/historical context for so many powerful and influential staples of British literature.
After laying the groundwork during in-person classes here in Austin, we will spend the second half of the 5-week summer session in London and several surrounding cities, touring cathedrals, museums, stately homes, and libraries, watching live performances, and visiting historically significant sites. During these two plus weeks in England, we will see literature in a new light through a deepened understanding of the life and times of great authors, including their original audiences, purposes, and cultural, religious, and political influences. Moreover, we will explore how these authors influenced and engaged with each other across centuries and how their lasting legacies continue to shape our stories and media today. Combining the theoretical and the practical, we will finish the course with collaborative on-the-ground projects that draw from our reading, research, and travel experiences, taking personal inspiration from literature, architecture, fashion, landscape, and more.
-Ryan Lopez, CLS, ryan.lopez@austincc.edu
If you're interested, see details in this brochure and on the Study Abroad Programs webpage. Accepting applications now!
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INRW Co-Req Registration (Spring 26)
INRW Co-Req Registration (Spring 26)
Registration started last week, and INRW has rolled out a new holistic advising, registration form. If you have students asking about registration in your ENGL-1301 co-reqs or INRW sections, please share this form: Spring 26 Coreq Registration w/ Holistic Advising.
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Reminder: Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures
Reminder: Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures
As we move through the second half of the semester, please remember that CLS faculty should not withdraw students for academic integrity concerns (including the use of generative AI). The policy in your syllabi as well as the process you follow needs to align with the ACC Academic Integrity Guidelines and Procedures, which you can also view in this flowchart.
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✨AFA Fall General Membership Meeting on November 7✨
✨AFA Fall General Membership Meeting on November 7✨
Join Adjunct Faculty Association leadership on Friday, November 7 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for a welcoming evening with guest speakers Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart and AFA Liaison Mike Midgley, introduction of Campus Representatives and Officers, and camaraderie as we learn about what is next for the college and our adjunct community. You can read our agenda HERE.
💫Please RSVP using this Google Form link.💫
A celebratory in-person watch party will be held at Highland Campus (bldg 1000, room 2202) for this inclusive virtual event. You can sign up for professional development via this Workday link.
Questions about guest speakers or virtual attendance should be directed to AFA President-Elect Amber Luttig-Buonodono at aluttigb@austincc.edu, and questions about the in-person watch party at Highland Campus should be sent to AFA President Michelle Iskra at miskra@austincc.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Call For Presenters: CLS Curriculum Conference
Call For Presenters: CLS Curriculum Conference
Austin Community College's CCCs (CLS Curriculum Conference) will take place on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 12:00-4:00 PM at the Highland Campus (HLC) in Austin, Texas.
The CCC is creeping closer by the day (March 6th!), and we're still calling for presenters and panelists who are doing innovative and meaningful work with students. Even though we have several planned topics (trauma informed pedagogy, multicultural curriculum, service learning, applying college values, reducing reliance on AI, and teaching students how to do research), we welcome unlisted topics that showcase your unique pedagogy, strengths, or investigations. So please, consider sharing your aura with us by presenting independently or with co-presenters!
Complete this Proposal Form if you feel inclined to share your brilliance with the department. All the cool kids are doing it. December 12, 2025 is the deadline for proposals.
Questions? Contact Rob Crowl, assistant chair of Professional Development, Research, and Service.
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Contribute: CLS Profile
Contribute: CLS Profile
For the last two years, the CLS Profile has been a great success; check out volume 2 here. In preparation for an even more amazing volume 3, we've opened the Faculty Contribution (2026) form.
Unlike voting, you can actually submit to this form early and often. Add some love notes now, come back in a month with pictures, and submit again after winter break when you've caught up on some leisure reading!
Here's what we're looking for:
📸Pics of you, your colleagues, your students! (Don't forget to get the photo consent form signed!)
💜Love Notes (end-of-semester "thank yous" from students, snippets from evaluations that stick with you)
📖Recommended reads (articles and books)
🙋🏽Successful classroom strategies and engaging texts
📑Course or assignment re-designs
✍️Professional publications, presentations, or achievements
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Call for Proposals: CCTE/TCEA 2026 in Waco, TX, Deadline Nov 16
Call for Proposals: CCTE/TCEA 2026 in Waco, TX, Deadline Nov 16
CCTE/TCEA 2026 Conference
Where: McLennan Community College in Waco, TX
When: Feb. 27-28, 2026
What: Conference details here, and Call for Proposals here.
The Conference of College Teachers of English (CCTE) welcomes scholarly papers, creative writing, and panels in all areas of literature and language, including linguistics and language studies, as well as the teaching of these areas. Also welcome are papers and panel proposals in teaching writing, ESL, developmental writing, and the virtual classroom. If you have questions about the CCTE CFP, please feel free to reach out to Prof. Jessica Hobbs or Prof. Christopher Rose.
The theme for the 2026 Texas College English Association (TCEA) meeting is “What Is Texas Culture?” We invite responses from scholars in literature, film, rhetoric, writing studies, and related fields, as well as creative writers. Is Texas culture rooted in the myth of the West, or does the South shape it more? How does its linguistic diversity influence identity? Do Texans argue or persuade in distinctive ways? Did writers like Katherine Anne Porter, J. Frank Dobie, Larry McMurtry, J. California Cooper, and Américo Paredes reflect Texas culture accurately, or through a distorted lens? And is teaching in Texas colleges different from teaching elsewhere? If you have questions about the TCEA CFP, please email Dr. Charles Etheridge
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Please Promote: Humanities Research Symposium for Students
Please Promote: Humanities Research Symposium for Students
Encourage your students to apply for the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium.
Symposium Details
When: March 19-21, 2026
Where: Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus in Baltimore, Maryland
What: The Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, inaugurated in 2020, is an annual symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins University to provide a national platform for undergraduates in the humanities to share their work.
Apply by December 1
Students need to submit an abstract detailing their presentation. Conference presentations will be a maximum of ten minutes long and will consist of presenting a slide deck. Posters are not accepted. For guidance on crafting an abstract or to submit to the portal, visit the Symposium Apply page.
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Please Promote: Writing Tutor
Please Promote: Writing Tutor
Becky Villarreal, ACC English instructor and LELA tutor, assists students with papers asynchronously via email. First, they need to click here to fill out the intake form and then email her at bvillarr@austincc.edu (with their papers in a DOC file as well as their instructor's directions). Email Becky if you have questions or check out her tutoring website for resources and more info. Please feel free to announce this option to students in your CLS courses. Thanks!
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Please Promote: Update on Food/Health Resources
Please Promote: Update on Food/Health Resources
ACC Student Affairs & Basic Needs Team sent the following update concerning the effect of the US government shutdown on food and health resources.
We know this uncertainty can feel stressful for you and our students. ACC is here to help. Our goal is to make sure both our students and employees have access to the care and resources they need to stay focused on their goals.
Here’s what we know right now:
Financial Aid: Federal student aid disbursements are still being processed.
Food and Essential Resources
SNAP: November benefits may be delayed if the shutdown continues. You can keep using your current EBT balances. Click here for more information.
WIC: Emergency funds are keeping WIC programs operating through October, but benefits may end starting November 1 without new funding. Click here for more information.
Child Care: Federal funding for Head Start programs may pause beginning November 1. Child care support funded through Workforce Solutions should continue at least through November. Check with your child care provider to learn about any direct impacts you can expect.
Healthcare: Those who rely on Medicaid/Medicare can expect to continue receiving these services. Click here for more information.
We know this information may feel overwhelming—especially for those who balance school, work, and care responsibilities. If you know a student negatively impacted by these changes, encourage them to visit the ACC C.A.R.E. Network. Our teams can help connect them with services and programs. If you or a colleague needs support, check ACC’s Benefits & Wellness programs.
We encourage you to share this message with your campus networks to help ensure we all have accurate information. We will continue to monitor federal and state updates and will share information as we learn more.
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Please Promote: Shakespeare Mashup!
Please Promote: Shakespeare Mashup!
Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project is excited to announce Caesar + Antony + Cleopatra: an original mashup of Julius Caesar and Antony & Cleopatra, with both stories overlapping in timelines to create an entirely new adaptation by WSSP Artistic Director Stephanie Crugnola.
Pulled between his love for Cleopatra and the freedom he feels in Egypt versus his love for Julius Caesar and the duty he has to Rome, Marc Antony struggles to maintain balance and control over his life and choices. While conspirators threaten the stability of Rome, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus try to pull Antony back to his senses and their Triumvirate. Stretched too far, can Antony confront his feelings and his fears before the world crumbles?
All info and tickets available at: walkingshadowshakespeare.com
Performance Details at-a-glance
Dates: November 14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30pm, Nov 16 at 2pm
Venue: Dadalab, 2008 Alexander Ave, Austin TX 78722
Tickets: $10 Admission. <https://tickets.atxtheatre.org/events/caesar-antony-cleopatra>
Accessibility: We’ll be offering ASL interpretation on 11/21, Live English Captioning on 11/16, and summary materials in English and Spanish
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Trouble with Blackboard Ultra? You're not alone!
Trouble with Blackboard Ultra? You're not alone!
If you have questions about BB Ultra or need assistance, here are a few resources:
If you have questions about BB Ultra or need assistance, here are a few resources:
After hours call-in support via Anthology (Spring break 2025 through December 2025)
866-992-5190
In-house support
email blackboardultra@austincc.edu to request help
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Accessibility in Blackboard Courses
Accessibility in Blackboard Courses
It's the season for BB Accessibility reviews and reports! If you receive an email about the accessibility of your course, please respond and take the actions recommended in the email.
Check out the Accessibility Newsletter for a complete list of available trainings. And take the Perception Survey to help DE understand the barriers to fixing BB Accessibility.
If you need help fixing the accessibility of your Blackboard courses, check out the resources below!
Instructional design support offers DE Accessibility Training.
TLED has great resources on its Accessibility information page.
Materials from Trent Griggs' ADA Blackboard Compliance Training at the 2025 CCCs:
Distance and Alternative Learning Website
Blackboard Accessibility Orientation
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations
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College Announcements
College Announcements
Mojo Tickets Out, Team Dynamix In
Mojo Tickets Out, Team Dynamix In
On October 29, ACC sunset the Mojo Helpdesk Ticketing system. Moving forward, faculty and staff should use the Team Dynamix portal to report broken tools or get support.
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Apply: Faculty Advisors to Support Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)
Apply: Faculty Advisors to Support Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)
ACC is seeking faculty members to serve as joint, collaborative advisors for Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) - Austin Community College’s internationally recognized honor society - beginning in Spring 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for faculty who are eager to engage deeply with students, contribute meaningfully to the college community, and enact their faculty service role through sustained, high-impact involvement. A stipend will be provided each semester to each faculty member who serves as a PTK advisor.
If you're interested, you can find more details in the October 31 email from VC Gaye Lynn Scott [VCI Office: Call for Faculty Advisors to Support Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)].
To express interest, please submit this form (including a letter of interest) by Friday, November 14.
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Admissions and Enrollment Instructional Support Site
Admissions and Enrollment Instructional Support Site
Admissions and Enrollment designed an internal Google site to support ACC faculty. It has all the information that instructors need about attendance certification, grade submission, withdrawal, reinstating students, etc. The information is streamlined and very easy to navigate. Check it out: Admissions and Enrollment Instructional Support Site and bookmark it in your browser for future use.
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Register: Distance Education Symposium, Nov 6 & 7
Register: Distance Education Symposium, Nov 6 & 7
Designing for Everyone: Course Access and Student Success
Distance Education Symposium 2025
In celebration of National Distance Learning Week, Austin Community College’s Office of Distance & Alternative Education invites you to our annual Virtual Distance Education Symposium. This two-day event brings together educators, instructional designers, and leaders from across the nation to share innovative practices that advance accessibility, equity, and student success in online learning.
Dates: Thursday, November 6 & Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. CST
Format: Online via Zoom
Register: Distance Education Symposium Registration
Visit the DE Symposium Website for full event details and session topics.
Professional Development: 1 hour for each session attended.
Questions? Contact us at dlstaff@austincc.edu.
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Creative Writing Events Calendar
Creative Writing Events Calendar
View the full F25 Creative Writing Events Calendar!
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Please Promote: SNAP Application Pop-Up
Please Promote: SNAP Application Pop-Up
Please let your students know about SNAP information Pop-Up events at RRC and HLC. These events assist students with the SNAP application.
HLC, Friday Nov. 7, 9am - 1pm
HLC Building 2000, Rm 2221
RSVP: https://bit.ly/HLC-SNAPPOPUP
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Resources: Student Support for Basic Needs and Behavioral Intervention
Resources: Student Support for Basic Needs and Behavioral Intervention
From Dr. Amber Sarker, co-chair of the Basic Needs Design Team
Check out this short video: Basic Needs Faculty Update where faculty can see how to access the alerts, as well as learn about other services on campus. Additionally, here is a Google Doc with one-pagers on services and a Google Doc with sample syllabus, email, and Blackboard wording.
And, here's a bit more Information:
ACC now has a Basic Needs System Referral that is designed to connect students with support services that address barriers to their overall well-being and success. This includes access to resources related to food, housing, transportation, childcare, mental health, financial assistance, disability services, and more. The BNS form is routed to the BNS manager, and faculty can add a short 50-character description of their concern.
The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT formally CARES) is actively receiving concerning behavior referrals as well. If the concern is not related to the areas covered by the Basic Needs System or has a mix of both areas, the faculty may submit a BIT referral, found on the report an incident website and the BIT website.
CLS Resources
ACC Resources
ACC Resources
TLED Tech Support for Google Sites
Submit a Mojo Ticket to request support:
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