Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

CLS End-of-Semester Meeting, May 3

When: Friday May 3, 10am-11:45am  (CLS Faculty Calendar)

Where: Rio Grande Campus 1103 or Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting

https://austincc.zoom.us/j/82336094930?pwd=emtvOXFYUmlXb21xZEIwT05FTFIrdz09

Meeting ID: 823 3609 4930

Passcode: 265842

What:  Agenda and Minutes Coming Via Calendar Invitation

------------------------

Congratulations Wendy and Louisa! 

On Friday April 26, two of our CLS faculty were honored by the Chancellor and the ACC Board of Trustees.  Dr. Wendy Elle received the Faculty Leader of the Year Award.  Louisa Spaventa received the Teaching Excellence Award. Thank you both for helping CLS rock, and congratulations on your well-deserved honors!

------------------------

INRW Institute: Training and Mentorship, July 8-12

As we prepare for the Fall 2024 semester and meeting the demands of increased enrollment, INRW has created a year-long program of support that begins with foundational training and continues with mentorship throughout the first two semesters of teaching INRW 0340 paired with ENGL 1301 courses.  This will include direct mentorship with current co-requisite instructors, peer class observations in the Fall, synchronous and asynchronous meetings, and self-reflection.  

Purpose:

To ensure all INRW instructors are well versed in the best practices for INRW students at ACC.  

Timeline:

Summer: Attend week-long in-person institute (7/8–7/12)

Fall: Potentially teach first INRW 0340 and ENGL 1301 paired course/ establish mentorship and focus on reflection of teaching

Spring: Continuation of mentorship and self-reflection

General Information:

• We will be holding the INRW Institute from July 8th–12th at Highland Campus.   

• Successful completion of this training will allow instructors to be eligible to teach INRW 0340 paired with ENGL 1301.  

• With developmental students being best served via face-to-face instruction, this training will be focused on instructional activities and implementation in the FTF classroom. 

• Participation will meet your peer dialogue requirement.

• Participants will be notified no later than June 1st.

Questions:

Kendall Dingee: kdudley@austincc.edu

Q&A Session: 

May 6th, 6:00-7:00 

Zoom link: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/82576561868?pwd=enVYM0JaOFkvQnlyY3hySU1XSFFOZz09

Can't make the meeting? Feel free to drop a question on our Padlet: INRW Institute Q&A Padlet

Interest Form:

To indicate interest, please take a few minutes and complete the interest form: INRW Institute Interest Form (you will need an unofficial transcript to complete this form)

------------------------

Please Promote: Student Leadership for ACCENT

ACCENT Student Media is looking for students interested in journalism to fill student leadership positions (available at the end of spring 24). 

From Nathan Spear, current Editor in Chief:

In these recent semesters, ACCENT -- which has been an active part of ACC since 1997 -- released a newsletter, several episodes of a new podcast, and made a return to printing with our recent debut of ACCENT Magazine. Now, with several of our organization's officers graduating in May, we are hoping that new student leaders will be able to carry on these projects. Speaking from experience, the position can be a great opportunity for students to experience working with a news team and as a member of the press with more access to events and interviews for stories that interest them.

Please share this opportunity with your students and have interested students complete this Google Form (the information session has passed, but students can still get involved).

------------------------

Survey about Hybrid Classes Expectations 

Have you taught a hybrid classes recently?  Are you scheduled to teach one in an upcoming semester? Well, CLS wants your input! We're thinking about making a video that explains the expectations and realities of hybrid classes for students.  Our goal is to create something that faculty could share with their students at the beginning of hybrid classes.  

Please complete this quick Google Form: Hybrid Classes Expectation Video Interest Form. It's four multiple-choice questions to gauge faculty interest in 1) having that video and 2) participating in the creation of that video.

If you have any questions, contact Anja Ketcham.

------------------------

Zoom Shakespeare! May 16 

A new initiative called Broadening the Accessibility and Reading of the Drama of Shakespeare (BARDS) is hosting its first CLS cold read of a play on Thursday, May 16 (8pm-9:30pm). Join Shakespeare nerd enthusiast Amber Luttig-Buonodono and your CLS colleagues in an unrehearsed, low-stakes, encouraging voyage into Act One of A Midsummer Night's Dream, followed by subsequent acts on Thursday evenings through June 13. All experience levels, including no prior experience, are encouraged to participate. Let's break down the gates of Early Modern theatre! 

More info HERE. 

Please RSVP via this FORM so we can send you the Zoom link! 

------------------------

Please Promote: Fall '24 Honors CLS classes

Do you have curious, highly motivated students you think would do well in an Honors CLS course? Please let them know about our available Fall '24 courses! Below are the course titles, and you can take a look at the course profile page for more in-depth descriptions. 

• English Composition II: Texas Writers (ENGL 1302, 701), Joe O’Connell

• British Literature 18th c. to the Present: Gothic Literature (ENGL 2323, 700), Hyflex, RGC, MW 10:30-11:50 am, Melissa Holton 

• American Literature Civil War to Present: Sunrise in the Americas: Contemporary Indigenous Arts & Activism  (ENGL 2328, 701), Hyflex, CYP TTh 10:30-11:50 am, Heidi Juel 

• American Literature Civil War to Present: American Apocalypse: Wrecking and Rebuilding (ENGL 2328, 700), HLC, MW 1:30-2:50 pm, Anne-Marie Thomas

We also offer Honors courses in 14 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.

------------------------

Textbook Selections for Fall 2024 (Adjuncts)

Adjuncts, once you've accepted your Fall 2024 classes in eStaffing, please use the Textbook Selection Form below. Remember we need to know if you use ZTC/OER methods as well!  The form will email you a copy of your responses. 

Here's the link to the Textbook Selection for Fall 2024 Form. 

How to use the form:

1. Type in your name.

2. List the courses/sections you're scheduled to teach (include a note about First Day Access if needed).

3. Choose texts for your scheduled courses from the dropdown options.  

   • Ignore the dropdown options for courses that you are not scheduled to teach; no response is required.  

   • If you need to review review textbook options and ISBNs, here's the CLS Textbook List.

4. Include any notes that will help us assign the correct texts.

------------------------

Support English Majors

Below find the materials put together by the Revitalizing the Major crew (explained in detail in the Tuesday, April 2 Newsday).  

The fillable form allows anyone--you, me, the student, English-major curious folk--to audit a student's transcript and help them see how close they are to becoming an English AA.  Students can take the completed audit to their advisor. (The videos explain how to access a student's transcript and fill out the form)

English Degree Audit Form

How to Access Student Transcripts - YouTube Video

The English Degree Audit Form - YouTube Video

------------------------

INRW Co-req Registration form (Summer 24)

Registration for Summer 24 started on April 1. 

Students with 0-14 credit hrs AND who require an INRW coreq can register for co-reqs on Friday April 5.

If a student contacts faculty requesting enrollment in their coreq, please provide this link: Summer 24 Coreq Registration Form

------------------------

Vertical Alignment Content Exchange, May 31

Save the date! The CLS Vertical Alignment Content Exchange will allow ACC CLS faculty and high school ELA faculty to meet, network, and share best practices.  (light refreshments: pastries, coffee and water)

When: Friday, May 31, 2024, 9am to 12pm

Where: ACC Rio Grande Campus (RGC) Room 1103 Multipurpose (atrium)

Register here: Vertical Alignment Content Exchange

Contact Beth Frye if you have any questions.