Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

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

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

LAHC Travel Expense Request 

File this Travel Expense Request with the LAHC Dean's office to request money for upcoming conference travel and attendance.  

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📣Shout Outs!📣

Congratulations Barbara Lewis on the upcoming publication of A Woman Wild! The book is out November 1st, and you can pre-order your copy through Alamo Bay Press (pam@alamobaypress.com). 

Praise for A Woman Wild: 

Barbara Williams Lewis in A Woman Wild writes life as she knows it.  Get ready for an amazing ride that gives you the straightforward scoop with a fearless honesty.  Nothing is held back, and she never turns to defensive as she spins tumultuous tales of struggles from slavery to poverty to success.  Here you can see what it was like being a Black woman in the South.  You will learn of the terror, the pain, the sweat, the pleasures, and the joys.  You will see strength, intelligence, and adaptability.  It's all here in this story of generations, a true American tale that carries up to the present.

---Chuck Taylor, Founder of Slough Press, author of Heterosexual, The One True Cat, and Saving Sebastian.

Barbara Williams Lewis gives voice to a rich rendering of her Southern roots, exploring mercilessly pieces of her ancestral history.  She crafts stories in imagined scenes that capture the heart-songs of her people.  Harsh at times, she captures generational conflicts and economic changes in the rural south.  Gritty and passionate, these are memories of strength and survival in a deeply rooted and segregated community.  The author gives the strong , wild women of her family real voices as she finds her voice in their stories and finds the reason for her own wildness.

---Dorothy Barnett, author of Road Songs.

A Woman Wild traces the author's roots back to slavery through the intimate, compelling stories of generations of fierce, resilient women.  The prose is cinematic with fresh characters who demand to be savored and remembered.  A Woman Wild is a radiant celebration of survival, defiance and freedom.

---Joe O'Connell, novelist and filmmaker, author of Evacuation Plan.

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Thank You to CLS Long-timers!!

CLS is proud to have a number of folks with more than 25 years of service to ACC. Let's call these folks what they really are: LEGENDARY and OG Professors:

Barbara Lewis (25 years)

Luanne Preston (45 years)

Diane Whitley Grote (25 years)

Sarah Wilson (30 years)

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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 ENGL1301 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

In this season of midterms, finals (for 8A), research papers, and such, we want to remind you 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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Update Spring 26 Textbooks 

If you are using a textbook, you should see it listed through the online schedule.  If you don't see it, email CLS-office@austincc.edu.  

I've updated the ZTC/OER classes on the online schedule, so you should see ZTC notes listed.  If you have any questions, email CLS-office@austincc.edu.

If you pick up a section in the future, please make sure to tell me, Anja Ketcham, your textbook selections. 

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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, introduction of Campus Representatives and Officers, and camaraderie as we learn about what is next for the college and our adjunct community. A celebratory in-person watch party will be held at Highland Campus for this inclusive virtual event. 

Please RSVP using this Google Form link. 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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Attend NISOD's Fall Virtual Conference FOR FREE!

NISOD’s Annual Fall Virtual Conference (October 22-23, 2025) brings together full- and part-time faculty members, librarians, and student support services personnel to share best and promising practices that increase student success at community and technical colleges. And you can attend for free using ACC's Institutional Registration! Learn more about the Fall Virtual Conference and Register Here. Simply log in or create your account to claim your free registration today.

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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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Job Opportunities: Full-Time Faculty, INRW and English (Dual Credit), deadline Oct 26, midnight

Check out full job descriptions and apply through the links below (Workday login required):

INRW: https://www.myworkday.com/austincc/d/inst/15$392530/9925$15011.htmld 

English (Dual Credit): https://www.myworkday.com/austincc/d/inst/15$392530/9925$14956.htmld 

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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: Student Focus Group (Paid Participation!!)

As part of the Character Education project, Ted Hadzi-Antich is looking for students to participate in a focus group.  Students who participate in a focus group will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the conversation. All focus groups will be conducted in-person at ACC Highland. We're looking for 24 students covering a wide range of gen ed experiences.  

Please share this Interest Form with students (Deadline is October 30).

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Trouble with Blackboard Ultra? You're not alone!

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

Please check your BB accessibility score at the beginning of the semester and as you add new items to your courses throughout the semester (video to demo Accessibility Reports).  

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 

Accessibility Quick Guide

Blackboard Accessibility Orientation

Common Errors

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations

How to use Blackboard Ally

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