Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

CLS Quick Links

Collection Forms for Evaluation Materials

Academic Year 2024-25 Collection

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 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025. 

Submit Syllabi by the second week of classes (varies by session)

Submit Faculty Reflection Forms (Jan 31, Jun 13)

Submit self-reported Mandatory training (May 30)

SUBMIT HERE Supplemental Evaluation Materials due May 30, 2025

This form is created and maintained by the Assistant Department Chair for CLS's Evaluation Committee (Beth Brye).  Use this form to submit Supplemental Evaluation Materials from the 2024-2025 year. (Assessments and Assignments, Peer Dialogue, Values Framework, and Purposeful Change documents)

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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Textbook Selection for Fall 2025

Important: If you opt for ZTC/OER, we still need you to complete the Textbook Selection process outlined below so that we can tag and label your class on the Online Schedule. And make sure you tell us if you want First Day Access!

Full-time faculty should have entered their textbooks or ZTC/OER selections on Campus Batch Files or DC Hunger Games spreadsheet.  

Adjunct Faculty will use the Google Forms.  Once you've accepted your fall assignments in eStaffing or confirmed with INRW, Ascender, etc., please use the drop-down options in the Google Form to choose the textbook or ZTC/OER. You only need to select texts for courses that you are scheduled to teach; ignore the other courses.  

ENGL Textbook Selection (Fall 2025)

INRW Textbook Selections (Fall 2025)

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The New Faculty Evaluation Process

The faculty evaluation process has changed for the entire college, and the CLS Faculty Evaluation Committee has been working hard to make sure that CLS is prepared.  The video Annual Evaluation Materials for the Faculty Evaluation Cycle offers an overview of the new college-wide evaluation process and how to use this document New Faculty Evaluation: Submission by Year.  

In this video, Beth Frye walks you through the Faculty Evaluation Cycle, which spans three years, and highlights the specific materials required for both adjunct and full-time faculty. She emphasizes the importance of the peer dialogue and values framework for full-time faculty and encourages you to review the Faculty Evaluation Manual for detailed guidance. Additionally, she discusses the purposeful change document for year two and the requirements for submitting assignments and assessments in year three. Please make sure to familiarize yourself with these materials and prepare for your evaluations accordingly. 

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Syllabus Review Workshop, Slides and Recording

Wondering what evaluators are looking for when they evaluate your syllabi?  Want to make sure your syllabi emphasize criteria from the new ACC evaluation process?  On Friday April 4, Lisa Holton and Anne-Marie Schlender offered a Syllabus Review Workshop, detailing the evaluation criteria from the new ACC evaluation Process.  Below you can find the slides and recording for review.  

Slides: Sylabus Workshop Slides

Recording: https://austincc.zoom.us/rec/share/4_EfrYTH3MnRuyClFs6eAsurA5IxfSJiUWeMLoXQCd_L2MeQTjq8jaPO7GTUvpY2.u5ojtJlxq-9Rj_Pd

Passcode: kBn=4B*4 

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Let's Talk about the FACULTY REFLECTION FORMS!, April 18 at 1:15pm

Looking ahead to the new ACC Faculty Evaluation Process (which begins with the materials we have/are submitting this academic year, 2024-25), all faculty will want to complete their FACULTY REFLECTION FORMS with intention.  

In this brown bag workshop, Beth will walk participants through the components of the FACULTY REFLECTION FORM and emphasize the importance of filling out the form with details and examples and the role the FACULTY REFLECTION FORM plays in the new ACC Faculty Evaluation process.  Please send questions ahead of the workshop (so Beth can answer those specifically), and plan to join her in person or virtually on April 18th.  Note:  This session will be recorded.  

See you there!

When:  Friday April 18, 1:15pm-2:15pm

Where: In person in HLC 2208 or Zoom:  https://austincc.zoom.us/j/82775477999?pwd=bOmTdCpDzxmh5ZMLmLweNt47hn7cH2.1

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CLS Faculty Well-Being Survey, Please complete!

As part of our department’s ongoing efforts to support faculty well-being, the CLS Professional Development, Research, and Service Committee is conducting the CLS Faculty Well-Being Survey to better understand how workload, institutional support, and overall work-life balance impact your mental health. Your responses will help us identify key areas for improvement and advocate for meaningful changes.

This survey is anonymous, and your honest feedback is greatly appreciated. Most questions are multiple-choice, with optional space to expand on your experiences. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

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Dual Credit Faculty Evaluation Info Session

Kari Conness and Chris Gardner—both members of the Faculty Evaluation Committee—will detail the changes to our faculty evaluation process and be available for your questions. The session will be recorded. Details about this year's process can be found above (see item The New Faculty Evaluation Process). Grab a beverage in an opaque cup and join us! Hope to see you there!

When: Tuesday April 22, 6:30-7:30 

Where: Zoom  https://austincc.zoom.us/j/89513061602?pwd=X7M5GuaPfpgvYjFb33xl7XK4kAGLe4.1 

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Introducing: Incorporating Civic Engagement

Hi! I am PSYCHED to bring you more than a peek, a real-live look, at our new Incorporating Civic Engagement Pilot! What Is It? It Is a carefully curated Blackboard Upload with artifacts for you and your students to use. 

Please take a look at my Introductory video and Dean Toño Ramirez's explanation of how to use the American Association of Colleges & Universities  (AAC&U) VALUE rubrics to assesss Civics Education and how to use the Blackboard-Integrated AAC&U's VALUE Rubric for Civic Engagement into your assignments. 

Artifact categories include: Civil Rights; Climate and Environment; Corporate and Government Contracts; Education; Policy; Food; Gun Rights; Human Health; Immigration; LGBTQIA+; Libraries and Freedom of Speech; Media and Technology; Refugees and War; Reproductive and Human Rights; andVoter Rights

Mission Statement and Purpose

To provide all ACC students with access to artifacts relevant to our civic education–including media, video clips,  images, forms, official documents, statements, etc. Students and faculty can critically reflect on these artifacts in their assignments, formal and informal group and class discussions, workshops, simulations, or other academic pursuits.

Use, review, discussion, and classwork engaging with these artifacts closely align with two of our General Education Competencies:

• Personal Responsibility: Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions, and consequences.

• Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness): Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Right now, we have a Blackboard Demo Shell but it is nearly complete (we are cleaning up the MLA citations!)--If you'd like access as soon as it is available (in the next week or two) or for your classes for summer , please email wendy.elle@austincc.edu, and we can get you started. And if you want to talk more about this amazing resource, let me know! 

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Please Promote and Participate: CCSSE and CCFSSE surveys

On April 2, Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart sent information about CCSSE and CCFSSE surveys that will be sent to ACC faculty and students in the next few weeks.  Read the full memo here. 

From the email: 

ACC will use the aggregated CCSSE, DESSE, and CCFSSE results to facilitate discussions about student and faculty perceptions of student engagement. The ability to compare faculty expectations and perceptions of student engagement with student responses will help us identify strengths and recognize challenges for further consideration. Your participation is especially important this year as the results will inform the work of the Theory of Change design teams.

Administration Details are as follows: 

• Faculty Survey - CCCSE will send faculty an email with a link to the online CCFSSE survey during the second week in April, and faculty will have until May 7 to complete the survey online.

• Student Surveys – OIRA will send emails to select students with a link to the student surveys online during the week of April 7th. The CCSSE (credit students, not dual credit) will be open from April 7 through May 7, and the  DESSE (dual credit students) will be open from April 7 through May 16th. If you are teaching classes this semester, please remind your students that this survey is being administered and encourage them to complete either survey if they receive an invitation.

To learn more about CCSSE, DESSE, or the CCFSSE, visit www.ccsse.org. If you have any questions about the CCSSE, DESSE, and CCFSSE administration this spring, please contact Dr. Richard Griffiths at rgriffit@austincc.edu.

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Ascender Instructors Needed

The Ascender Program at ACC is seeking CLS instructors interested in teaching in-person classes at RRC or HLC this coming Fall 2025:

• RRC: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 PM - 2:50 PM

• HLC: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM

The Ascender Program is dedicated to supporting underserved students through contextualized courses, mentoring, designated advisors, and cultural and academic activities. To learn more, visit www.austincc.edu/ascender

Training Requirement:
All Ascender instructors must attend the following mandatory training sessions:

• Foundational Institute: May 19-23, 2025, in Dallas, TX

• Fall Institute: TBD (Two days at the end of October 2025)

• Spring Institute: TBD (Two days in March 2026, after Spring Break)

*All costs related to the training are covered by Ascender.

If you’re interested or have any questions, please contact Alejandra Polcik at amarti11@austincc.edu.

We look forward to having you join the Ascender family!

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Dual Credit Faculty Feedback Hours April 10 or April 23, 6pm

Join Dr. Lindsay Lawley-Rerecich, Associate Dean of Dual Credit in Liberal Arts, for open conversation about your experience teaching dual credit courses with ACC. 

There is not an agenda-driven meeting or a focus group.  Any questions, concerns, or ideas are welcome. 

When: Thursday, April 10 OR Wednesday April 23, 6-7:30pm 

Where: Zoom Link: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/82068653967?pwd=hi2aah8cbGsM0yPH7z4CptIUC0kVIe.1

Password: LADC

Flyer: Liberal Arts Dual Credit Faculty Feedback

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Student Research Symposium: Spread the Word!  April 18 (HLC)

Please plan to attend and encourage your students to attend this year’s Research Symposium, taking place on April 18, from 1:00-3:30 pm on Highland Campus at the North Entrance to the 1000 Building and in Room 2207. Snacks provided! 

The panel presentation portion will also be available via Zoom: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/85073456643?pwd=U8dROTL52U5aht4msJgtBBdbGXKaGa.1

The Poster session will be from 1:00-2:00 pm and includes topics such as performance enhancing drugs, public education, revolutionary women, video games, classis literature, and the wonders of chemistry.

The Panel Presentation will be from 2:00-3:30. Here are the planned papers:

Session 1: Our Characters Ourselves: Social Forces and Gender Identity in Cultural Archetypes

Matthew Flores, “Beyond the Box: Exploring the Complex Effects/Affects of Barbie on Society”

Jennifer St. George, “How the Patriarchy Failed Victor Frankenstein”

Respondent: Dr. Brinda Roy, Professor of Composition and Literary Studies

Session 2: Othering and Empathy: Meeting the Apocalyptic Moment

Logan Mack, “Autism and Gender”

Chris Murphy, “Empathy: The Flame of Human Connection”

Respondent: Dr. Anne-Marie Thomas, Associate Dean of Honors

Session 3: American Tapestry: Movement, Migration, and the Law

Paulina Mendoza, “Fractured Roots”

Tzur Shalit, “Criminal Justice Reform: Comparing Post-Revolutionary Movements to the Modern Movement to Abolish the Death Penalty.”

Respondent: Carrie Laughlin, Professor of Government

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CARES Informational Presentation (in-person and virtual)

Learn more about the CARES Behavioral Intervention process.  In this presentation, participants will gain an understanding of the CARES (Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation for Students) team and its role in fostering a safe and supportive college environment. We will start by exploring the primary mission and functions of CARES. The presentation will cover the CARES process from the referral to implementing appropriate support strategies. Professional development credit will be awarded. 

Here are the dates, and interested faculty can sign up HERE. 

Virtual Session Dates:

4/8/25 - 9:30-10:30 a.m.

5/6/25 - 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

In-Person Session Dates:

4/25/25 - 2:00-3:00 p.m. RRC 

4/29/25 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. RVS 

If you have questions, contact eriko.tyner@austincc.edu

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RSVP: LAHC Convocation, May 1, 5:30pm-7pm (HLC) 

All LAHC faculty are cordially invited to attend a gathering at the Highland campus on Thursday, May 1, from 5:30-7:00 pm.  The evening will feature a short program highlighting innovative faculty-driven work, food, and most importantly to simply share some time and space together.

Please RSVP in order to help us to anticipate food order needs and other logistics!

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Call for Proposals: Corequisite Summit, deadline May 5

The CLS Department-INRW program at ACC is hosting the second Coreq Summit on Friday, November 7, 2025. We are seeking proposals from professors that teach corequisite courses at ACC for 45 minute break out sessions related to the theme “Stay Strong in Literacy.” The deadline for proposals is May 5th. Please see the link for the proposal application.

Proposal Application for 2025 Corequisite Summit

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Please Promote: Student Response to Course Evaluations 

Remember that student responses are a portion of your Annual Faculty Evaluation, and you benefit from a variety of voices in your course evaluations.  Be on the lookout for an email notifying you when your Course Evals are available to students and then promote them in your class announcements.  

Also, check out the Office for Faculty Evaluation's promotional materials: 

You can request a 10-minute student presentation through this link. Or you can share this prerecorded video with your students. 

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Response to Federal Executive Orders Concerning Immigration 

We've gathered all of the resources and policies regarding ACC's response to federal executive orders in this document: Info on Federal Executive Orders about Immigration.  Below is a condensed version of ACC's official response.  If you work in high schools, be sure to check the document for the policies at your specific high school. 

Steps from ACC Chancellor:

1. If immigration officers come into your workspace (office or classroom), stay where you are and assure them you will comply.

2. Ask them to wait where they are while you connect them with the appropriate help. 

3. Then, immediately contact the Chancellor’s office at 512-223-7598. 

4. The district will be prepared to work with immigration officers directly. 

5. Please continue your work as usual while we deploy our protocols. Our ACC Police will join the immigration officers to notify you of the appropriate next steps.

The Chancellor's email also reminded the ACC community about support available through Employee Assistance Program or the Office of the Ombudsperson. 

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Call for Industry Professionals & Past English Majors to Attend Graduation Celebration

For our annual celebration of graduating English majors, we are inviting special guests to the party to meet, mingle, and network with our departments’ soon-to-be graduates at Highland on April 30th from 2 to 4 PM!

We’re looking to invite professionals with careers that their English degrees helped prepare them for. Maybe that’s someone you know–maybe that’s you! Recent English major graduates are also more than welcome, so please feel free to reach out to your past students and see if they’d like to join our soiree. 

If you or someone you know would like to be one of the special guests at the English Major Graduation Celebration, please contact Theo Yurevitch. You can also fill out this form indicating your plans to attend April 30th’s Cookie Party/Graduation Celebration. There will be cookies and goodies for everyone who comes!

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Faculty Evaluation, Spring 2025 To-do List 

These five tasks are required components for the Faculty Evaluation process. 

• Submit your Syllabi for Spring 2025 to the Academic Year 2024-25 Collection by two weeks after the beginning of your courses.   

• Check the CLS Due List to see if you need to complete supplemental evaluation materials for Spring 25. Then SUBMIT HERE Supplemental Evaluation Materials due May 30, 2025 .  Remember those materials are now due May 30 2025.  

• Finish your ACC Mandatory Training and self-report on the Academic Year 2024-25 Collection by FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025

• Complete your Administrative Duties (Syllabi and Office hours on Lighthouse!) no later than two weeks after the beginning of your courses. 

• Submit your Faculty Reflection Form for Spring 2025 classes to the Academic Year 2024-25 Collection form BY June 13, 2025

If you have questions or want amazingly detailed guidance for each of the required tasks, check out or print Faculty Evaluation Guidelines, Spring 2025, created by Beth Frye, our (AMAZING!!!) CLS Evaluation Committee Chair.

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Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Teaching with AI Book Club 

Event dates: April 17, May 8, 2-4 PM at HLC

More details: FCLI Book Club, see Meeting Times/Days in the upper right. 

AI Meets Academia Learning Summit (Virtual) - RSVP Coming Soon

Event date: Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10

More details: coming soon from TLED

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Accessibility in Blackboard Courses

Moving forward, ACC and CLS want faculty to aim for a BB Accessibility score of 80% or higher. 

Resources for checking and fixing BB Accessibility in your courses:

Please check your BB accessibility score at the beginning of the spring 2025 semester and as you add new items to your courses throughout the semester.  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 currently offering Workshop Sessions on Enhancing Accessibility.  They have one more option: April 2 (HLC). You can learn more or register here: DE Accessibility Training.  

• TLED has great resources on its Accessibility information page. 

• Within CLS, we are fortunate to have Amber Clontz helping folks get their Bb documents ADA reader-friendly at her Blackboard Q & A Office Hour on Fridays--see the Information further down the newsletter for how those office hours work!

• Trent Griggs shared the following materials related to the ADA Blackboard Compliance Training during a presentation at the 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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A not-so-gentle nudge: Blackboard Ultra for Summer 25

If you are teaching summer, make a plan NOW for the Blackboard Ultra Conversion! Many of us wait until the last minute, but that is not the best option with this conversion.  There will be growing pains during the process, and ACC may not have the resources to meet all the last-minute demands for troubleshooting during the May intersession.  Your best bet is to schedule yourself for one of the many training opportunities happening now and through the end of the spring semester.  Your summer courses will be available on BB starting March 10.  

Here are ways to get prepared: 

(1) AVC Beth Knight sent an email to all faculty teaching summer courses.  It included the following training options (each session offers four PD hours):

• Using Blackboard Ultra (Face-to-Face): [Sign up here]

• Using Blackboard Ultra (Virtual): [Sign up here]

• Using Blackboard Ultra (Hyflex): [Sign up here]

(2) Following our CLS Dos de Mayo Meeting (End of Spring Semester on May 2, 2025), we are planning a Bb Ultra Workshop in person at RGC. You'll need to sign up for it--more information to come!

(3) Export your current Blackboard Courses.  You can create a Zip file for any/all available Blackboard courses.  By saving Zip files to your computer, you will have all materials if/when you need to build courses in Ultra. 

Step-by-step from Jean Lauer, Chair of the Religion, Philosophy, Humanities Dept. 

1. In your Course Management list, open dropdown under Packages and Utilities.

2. Select "Export/Archive Course."

3. Select "Export Package." (It's a little hidden, I swear it's there)

   • Review settings - part 1. I usually keep defaults under "File Attachments."

   • Review settings - part 2. I usually "Select All" under "Select Course Materials."

4. Hit "Submit."

   • Wait for an email (it's usually quick).

5. Refresh or go back to course menu and select "Export/Archive Course."

6. Download the zip file.

7. Save it!

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Blackboard Q & A, Fridays 3 PM-4 PM

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 3-4 PM. 

• 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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Call for Faculty! We Need English Ambassadors!

CLS’s footprint at ACC is big–and getting bigger–with increasingly more events where faculty can play a role and make a difference.

As an English Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to participate in and help run these events. This is a fantastic way to connect with students outside the classroom, share what you excel at, network with your colleagues, and serve our community! 

English Ambassadors will get Professional Development hours for all events they attend as well as every ounce of swag that CLS has to offer (fancy shirts, casual shirts, stickers, buttons, pens, and more). The events on the horizon for this semester are as follows:

• English Major Cookie Party - April 30th from 2 PM on at the Highland Campus

• Carnival of Letters (Vision+Voice)- May 3rd, 10:30 AM- 12:30 PM at the Highland Campus

• ACCentuated Voices: An ACC Writers Showcase: 6:30-8:30 at HLC, Date TBA

If you would like to serve as an English Ambassador at any of these events and/or participate in future events, please complete the following form.

If you have any questions, please contact Theo Yurevitch!

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Please Promote: Carnival of Letters (Vision and Voice), May 3

Join us on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM for the 11th Annual Carnival of Letters (Vision+Voice) Literary Festival at the Highland Campus! Bring the family for a fun morning celebrating community, creativity, and self-expression, starting with literary carnival games and ending with an awards ceremony honoring the winners of the K-12 Vision+Voice Poetry Competition. You can find more info about Vision+Voice at https://k12.visionandvoice.org/ 

Call for Volunteers! LAHC needs faculty and student volunteers to help set up the space, lead carnival games, and help clean up after the event. If interested in volunteering, please fill out the registration form below: Registration Form

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Please Promote: Online Writing Tutor

From Becky Villarreal

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.

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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 and photos with colleagues at conferences--especially CLS activities (Don't forget to get signed photo permission forms from students)! 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' profile! (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!