Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Hopefully you stayed warm during our ❄️wintery weekend❄️ and experienced some wonder looking at or playing in the accumulation of icy pellets.  

If you are currently teaching CLS sections, you have some important deadlines coming up.  Your syllabi for 8A and 16 week sessions need to be 1) posted to Lighthouse and 2) submitted to the Academic Year 2025-2026 Collection Form.  You also need to certify your attendance (today 1/27 for 8A and next week 2/4 for 16 week).  More information about all of those tasks below.  Please make sure that you get them done!

Reminder: While Wendy is out of office, Department Chair duties will be covered by Theo Yurevitch, Sarah Stayton, and Chris Gardner.  Wendy will be back to Department Chairing on February 16.  

• Theo will be helping with student schedule changes, student reinstatements, student retroactive withdrawals, and faculty absences.  

• Sarah will be handling student complaints and coordinating with INRW. 

• Chris will be holding down the newsletter and answering general student questions about the CLS Department. 

• Grade Changes will be processed when Wendy is back on February 16.  

When in doubt, send your question or concern to CLS-office@austincc.edu and Mads will get it to the person who can help you! And as always, you can contact CLS Office for sub requests, staffing questions, and general departmental inquiries. ✨ cls-office@austincc.edu ✨

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Important Dates! 

Link to CLS Faculty Calendar (Zoom links available for virtual events)

January 30 

Submit Syllabi to Lighthouse AND Collection Form 

Submit Faculty Reflection Form for F25 classes to the Collection Form

February 1 

Deadline for Amending your Eligibility (Adjunct Faculty)

February 2 

14-week semester begins [upload syllabi to Collection Form and Lighthouse]

February 6

ISDE Day! (HLC 2404 & 2405), 10:30am-2:30pm

March 6 

CCCs (HLC and virtual), 12pm-4pm

March 16 - March 22 

Spring Break, ACC Closed 

April 25 

Undergraduate Research Symposium, 11am-2pm

March 27 

CLS meets with Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart and VC Gaye Lynn Scott (virtual), 9am-10am

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CLS Announcements 

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; Jan 30, 2026 for 16 week)

Submit Faculty Reflection Forms (Jan 30, 2026; Jun 12, 2026; Sept 4, 2026)

Submit self-reported Mandatory training (Due Feb 28)

Supplemental Materials for the CLS Annual Evaluation

Use this form to submit your Supplemental Materials for Annual Faculty Evaluation.  Need to know what to submit?  First, find your cycle year on the CLS Due List.  Then, use the What do I submit? chart. Submit AY26 Supplemental Materials by May 29, 2026. 

Faculty Responsibilities for Annual Evaluation

The above video explains the ACC and CLS Faculty Evaluation Process in a Q&A format.  You can also find the transcript and resources here. 

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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🌟Semester Start Letter🌟

Wendy sent the S26 Semester Start Letter on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 8am.  You can find it in your email or here as a PDF.  It has all the dates for short sessions too!

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Attendance Certification

Please pay attention to the Attendance Certification deadlines.  You will receive an email reminding you that it is time to certify attendance for each section you teach. All instructions you need will be in the email.  A few basics and resources: 

• Certify Attendance through the MyACC Faculty app.  

• Make sure you understand what counts as "attendance" (a student does not need to be present in a face-to-face class in order to meet the requirements for attendance.  See question 3 on the Attendance Certification Q & A.)

• Remember: if you do not certify a student's attendance, they will be dropped from the course and it may affect their financial aid.  

Upcoming Dates: 

• 8A week sessions: Certify Attendance by January 27 (that's today!)

• 16 week sessions: Certify Attendance by February 4 

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Register Now: 2026 CLS Curriculum Conference (CCC)

PDRS would like to invite you to this year’s CCC which will feature renowned author, National Book Critics’ Circle Award finalist, Guggenheim fellow, and University of Texas professor, Deb Olin Unferth, who will be leading a hands-on session that features a wide set of strategies for fostering engagement and getting students writing. If that’s not enough, the conference will offer 12 diverse and innovative sessions from CLS faculty/staff and our central Texas College partners, which attendants can preview here. There is literally something for everyone, and this unique collection of presenters will likely never be replicated.

If that’s not tempting enough, there will also be free refreshments provided by our textbook partners, Cengage and Macmillan, who will have their resources available during the conference. To sweeten the deal, CCC 2026 swag will be available to attendants thanks to the Composition and Literary Studies department!

Please, register here for this FREE conference or use the QR code below. 

Attention CCC Presenters & Panelists!

We’re still missing quite a few of our presenters’ blurbs/bios, so please, take a couple minutes and complete this form for us!

If you’re interested in volunteering to help the PDRS committee pull off such an epic event (i.e. room monitor, help with set-up/tear-down, etc.), email Rob Crowl. 

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CLS Bylaws, Review and Comment by Feb. 27!

In an attempt to make the policies and procedures of the CLS Department transparent and protect CLS faculty, the CLS Bylaws Committee worked throughout fall 25 to compile the CLS Bylaws Draft.  The Bylaws committee welcomes your feedback and questions; please submit comments to the CLS Bylaw Review and Comment Google Form by Friday, February 27.  

Timeline for CLS Bylaws Review and Department Vote

February 27 - Deadline for all CLS faculty to submit comments.  ALL = full-time, adjunct, voting, or non-voting.  Get in there and tell us what you think!

March TBD - CLS Virtual Town Hall.  The Bylaws committee will address comments from the review and take questions.  

April - CLS Bylaws committee will implement changes based on comments from the Google Form and the CLS Town Hall. 

May 8 - CLS Department votes on the Bylaws!  

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Here to Help: Your CLS Librarian Update

Please check out the following library resources available to support your courses this semester:

• Information Literacy Instruction: Tailored sessions on research and source evaluation led by ACC librarians. Instruction Request Form

• OER Support/Consultation: Assistance in finding open-access texts to replace costly textbooks!

• MLA 9th Ed: Request print copies of the style handout for your students (allow 1-2 weeks for delivery). Handout Request Form

• Book & eBook Requests: Send in your book/eBook purchase suggestions my way! 

Visit the CLS Library Guide for 24/7 access to literary criticism databases (JSTOR), eBooks, and librarian chat.

Questions? Contact Maria Ruelas (maria.ruelas@austincc.edu) at Northridge or visit library.austincc.edu.

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LAST CALL: Summer Study Abroad, Deadline Feb 5

Know a student who wants to study abroad?  Please encourage your past and current students to learn about the Summer 2026: British Literature I and British Literature II Study Abroad opportunity.  

Currently there are 8 students enrolled, and the program needs 10 to move forward.  If you or potential students have questions, contact Ryan Lopez.  If students are ready to apply, please share https://students.austincc.edu/study-abroad/study-abroad-program/ so they can make an appointment today.  

Side note: for faculty who are looking to get more involved, you can check out this Study Abroad info document that Ryan created. ------------------------

Please Promote: Essay Basics, Writing Workshop, RVS 

Spread the word: Riverside Learning Lab is hosting their first of four Writing Workshop.  First up, Essay Basics on Thursday, February 5th from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in RVS 9103.  All students, whether they attend classes at RVS or not, are welcome!

If you or students have questions (or suggestions for future workshops), contact matthew.smith@austincc.edu. 

Plan ahead! 

• All About MLA: Thursday, March 5th, 3:00pm-4:00pm, RVS 9103

• Elements of Fiction: Tuesday, April 7th, 3:00pm-4:00pm, RVS 9103

• Integrating Sources: Tuesday, May 5th, 3:00pm-4:00pm, RVS 9103

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LAST CALL: Update Your Teaching Eligibility (Adjunct Faculty)

Interested in expanding the courses you’re eligible to teach? Adjunct faculty are invited to submit a request to amend their teaching eligibility by completing the Amend Your Eligibility Google Form by February 1. Please be prepared to upload your transcripts in the final section of the form. ------------------------

Blackboard Accessibility Resources and Sessions

ACC's Office of Distance Education (DE) is working hard to make sure faculty have the tools and know-how to make all BB courses accessible by April 24, 2026. 

Resources for working on BB Accessibility

• Instructional design support offers DE Accessibility Training

• DE's Accessibility Resource page

• TLED's Accessibility information page. 

• Materials from Trent Griggs' ADA Blackboard Compliance Training at the 2025 CCCs:

Accessibility Quick Guide

Blackboard Accessibility Orientation

Common Errors

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations

How to use Blackboard Ally

Drop-in: Accessibility Sessions in February

February 9 | 1 p.m.-4 p.m. CST

• Highland Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (HLC)

• Riverside Campus (Learning Lab) or Join online (RVS)

February 16 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CST

• Eastview Campus (Learning Lab) or Join online (EVC)

• Round Rock Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (RRC)

• South Austin Campus (Learning Lab) or Join online (SAC)

February 17 | 1 p.m.-4 p.m. CST

• Cypress Creek Campus (Learning Lab) or Join online (CYP)

• Highland Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (HLC)

• Northridge Campus (Learning Lab) or Join online (NRG)

February 24 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CST

• Rio Grande Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (RGC)

• Round Rock Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (RRC)

• San Gabriel Campus (ACCelerator) or Join online (SGC)

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College Reading and Learning Association Annual Conference, Oct 2026

Please consider submitting a proposal for this year’s College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) annual conference. CRLA is a great place to share and learn best practices in co-requisite design, reading strategies, and composition with an emphasis on finding new ways to support students. This year's theme is Resilience in Motion: Learning, Leading, and Thriving in Support of Student Success, inviting you to reflect on the power of advocacy to support our students. CRLA accepts a wide range of sessions including research, wise practices, and advocacy ideas. If you have any questions about the conference, reach out to Amarilis Castillo (amarilis.castillo@austincc.edu) and Beth Frye (efrye@austincc.edu).

Review the Call for Proposals, due by March 16, for more details. 

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CLS Book Club : Spring 26 Meet-up

In the spring, we read short stories. Please sign up for our interest list to be added to email announcements and recommend a short story collection if you have one in mind. We look for a discrete collection of stories, not a career retrospective or collected works volume.

You can review previous Book Club choices on our google site

We'll meet at Easy Tiger at the Linc at a date to be determined to discuss, drink, and swap the best books we're willing to part with. 

And 100% yes of course you can come even if you: 

1. never signed up

2. haven't read the book

3. don't plan on reading the book

4. just want to pillage a stack of "up for grabs" books people bring for our book exchange

Two Additional Reminders: 

1. We are an open group. The invites go out to CLS, but you can always bring a +1 or forward this to interested parties. 

2. Book Club will be paired with a book swap. Bring a book or books you are willing to part with, and let's spread some stories around. 

Happy reading, readers. Hope to see you there!

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Promote Student Work!

We all know our students are doing amazing things! As you reflect on last semester and plan for spring, keep in mind ways that you can encourage students to get their work to a larger audience by submitting to Curiositas, the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium, Cacciatore, or Innovate. 

Curiositas, Deadline Jan. 30, 2026

Curiositas, ACC’s academic journal for the Liberal Arts, is looking for submissions that showcase deep inquiry and intellectual creativity.

We want to celebrate the students who go above and beyond. Published students will be honored at a special ceremony this Spring.

Browse: View our current issue to see the type of work we champion.

Submit: Encourage your top students to submit their final papers/projects at our website. 

If you have questions, email Alex Watkins. 

Undergraduate Research Symposium, Deadline to apply Mar. 23, 2026

 📣CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Apply by March 23, 2026! 

The Liberal Education Advancement and Development (LEAD) initiative is sponsoring an Undergraduate Research Symposium and we are calling it 🌸 ACC In Bloom !! 🌸

 🎓📚🔬 What: A Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Symposium that will showcase work from students and faculty across all disciplines and levels of research experience.

🗓️⏰When: Saturday April 25, 2026, 11:00am-2:00pm.

🏫Where: Highland Campus.

👉Check out the marvelous Symposium Website and flyer.

Cacciatore, deadline Feb 22, 2026 

Dual Credit students can submit to the Cacciatore Contest here. 

See Cacciatore flyer for more details. 

Innovate, deadline is Feb 22, 2026 

All currently enrolled ACC students can submit to the League of Innovations contest here. 

See the Innovate flyer for more details. 

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Call for Judges: The Vision + Voice Literary Festival

Would you like to be a judge for our ACC's Literary Contests?

• Vision + Voice (K-12 Poetry Contest)

• Cacciatore- Dual Credit-- (Poetry or Fiction up to 200 Wds)

• Innovate- (ACC Traditional Students- Poetry and Fiction)

Important Details about Judging

1. You can be a judge for more than one contests!

2. If you have been a judge before-- you can be a judge again!

3. Or maybe this is your first time-- we'd love your insight!

4. You get paid $100 for each contest

Please let Ysella Fulton Slavin-- ysella.fultonslavin@austincc.edu know if you're interested or have any questions. 

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Job Opportunity: Creative Writing Adjunct Faculty 

The Creative Writing Department is looking for new adjuncts! 

The department is in search of instructors of all genres, but, as you know, we particularly are in need of folks to teach YA/Children’s Literature and Creative Nonfiction/Memoir. If you know anyone looking to work in a growing department and looking to support that kind of growth (through not only classroom teaching, but outreach and events), please let them know about the job posting.

Apply or share: Adjunct Faculty, Creative Writing, R-8569

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Promote and Attend: Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project

Join Walking Shadow Shakespeare Project for a night of Short Plays inspired by Shakespeare and created by local Austin artists, including Amber Luttig-Buonodono (writing under a pen name). Shows run at Trinity Street Playhouse at 7:30 pm March 3-7, with a matinee at 2pm on Saturday March 7. Tickets and more details here.

We will also be hosting a special champagne closing event on Sunday March 8 at 4pm at Sekrit Theater with a talkback and party to follow. You can find tickets for that here.

Featured Plays:

I Loved You Ever, a new play by Pablo Muñoz-Evers

Macbeth, but he's just a sword

Puck, in Epilogue, a new play by Amber Elby

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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