Weekly Newsletter: Tuesday Is News Day

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

HOLY GUACAMOLE! We are BACK--and there are a ton of opportunities for us to meet up and speak up: the 3/25 evening Bylaws Town Hall; the 3/27 morning meeting with Lowery-Hart and Scott, and the 4/1 evening Bylaws Town Hall, Special Staffing and Scheduling Edition! See the CLS Faculty Calendar for Zoom links!

Please make plans to attend these meetings. Your voice and your presence matter.

Quick and important note about email etiquette: please only respond to Sub Request emails if you are communicating about the sub assignments listed in the email thread. From Mads' perspective, those sub request threads are already pretty wild, and it gets messy when people send off-topic replies.  If you need a sub for your own class, have a question about a different sub assignment, or have a general inquiry about CLS, please compose a fresh email to CLS-office@austincc.edu.  Thanks! _____________

Important Dates! 

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

March 25

CLS Bylaws Town Hall Meeting (virtual), 6:30pm-7:30pm

March 27 

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

April 1

CLS Bylaws Town Hall Meeting (virtual), 6:30pm-7:30pm

April 25 

Undergraduate Research Symposium, 11am-2pm

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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. 

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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New CLS Websites Galore! 

In accordance the new laws about ADA Compliance, which came at us like fireworks, we had an emergency need to update our CLS websites.  Like, all of them. Like, yesterday. CLS Web Specialist, Chris Stayton, has done a tremendous job transferring content and building a site that meets the new requirements on a short timetable.  That he got us live and running AND compliant using duct tape and shoe strings is remarkable. We are ever in your debt!

Of course, give a department some web materials, and they will make some changes. So, the sites will continue to evolve and change with updates and so forth. They are, however, here and usable for you. Take a look!!

Composition and Literary Studies 

INRW

CLS Faculty Resources

CLS Faculty Handbook

Chris Stayton has also created A feedback page for anonymous feedback about the site.  He's added two new Help->Web articles directing people to the FAQ and the feedback pages.

We will post more shortcuts as the website gets updated. Thanks for your patience and SUPER GRATEFUL THAT CHRIS STAYTON SAVED OUR SITES! (Mads, Can we get THAT on a sticker?)

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CLS Bylaws Town Hall X 2

Bylaws Town Hall 1

When: March 25, 6:30pm - 7:30pm 

Zoom link: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/81890150568?pwd=DbAMcEvLrmoaxbUuaWLYOYs909imFx.1&jst=2

Agenda:  We will discuss suggested changes and open the floor for discussion on all thing Bylaws--except for Staffing and Scheduling!

Bylaws Town Hall 2 (Staffing Discussion)

When: April 1, 6:30pm - 7:30pm 

Zoom link: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/84170388156?pwd=hJj9gfKYUuQ9ABqikrHZMilZMZTloZ.1&jst=2 

Agenda:  Despite the date, this discussion is no joking matter! It's a full hour to talk about Scheduling and Staffing. Wendy will give the most concise explanation possible of how we staff FT positions. Just a quick reminder about Adjunct Staffing Explanation and Adjunct Pathways to Teaching Traditional Sections.

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CLS Meets with Russell and Gaye Lynn 

When: March 27, 9am - 10am 

Zoom Link: https://austincc.zoom.us/j/89335806383?pwd=izqOn5SsbTba5ZbOYE7LNGwubvO4qp.1

Meeting ID: 893 3580 6383

Passcode: 480978 

Agenda: Open Agenda for a Q&A with Faculty. Russell and Gaye Lynn are open to any topic, and they are our welcome visiting guests.  

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Save the Date: ACC screening of Henry David Thoreau, April 9

The Thoreau Society is hosting a screening of excerpts from the PBS documentary Henry David Thoreau on Thursday, April 9th at the Highland campus.  Mark your calendars now and look for more event details coming soon!

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2026 CCC Recap & Recordings

From Rob Crowl, 

CCC 2026 is a wrap! I'm beyond grateful to everyone who attended this year's curriculum conference. We had a strong turnout, and we were well fed for our efforts. Thanks to the Textbook Committee for the amazing food (Cengage & Macmillan) & a Schwarzenegger-size thank you to the army of volunteers who helped me organize and pull off this life-giving event. It wasn't perfect, but nothing is. We learned a lot, got to connect with each other, and sat under some wonderful teaching. What more can you ask for? 

If you were one of the unlucky few who couldn't attend, fear not! Here's a link to this year's website, presenter materials, & conference recordings. If you did attend and took pictures at our CLS Photo-Frame, please, drop your photos here for the CLS Profile. 

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Apply for LEAD Communities of Practice and Fellowships

The application for AY 2026-27 is now live. To join a LEAD Community of Practice please complete the sign-up here: https://forms.gle/3ZHxbdUcZGW3fncD6.

Interested in implementing a High Impact Practice in your course? Complete the application for a LEAD fellowship here: https://forms.gle/qF3Nztt8S5FRhwBR8.

Questions? Email lead@austincc.edu.

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Please Promote: English Workshop III, RVS Learning Lab, Apr. 7

ENGLISH WORKSHOP III: Elements of Fiction

Location: RSVG 9103

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 3:00PM – 4:00PM

RSVP at matthew.smith@austincc.edu

Zoom Meeting ID: 253 903 2844  Pass Code: 999294

Flyer: English Workshop 3 Elements of Fiction

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Clarity on Accessibility Requirements

On February 27, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Gaye Lynn Scott, sent an email clarifying ACC's accessibility expectations and the use of the BB Ally tool. Here's an excerpt: 

This message is intended to provide clear, consistent, and college-wide clarification.

The law requires equitable and timely access to course content for students with disabilities, not perfect automated scores. Tools such as Blackboard Ally do not define legal compliance; rather, they help us identify potential barriers and support continuous improvement.

At ACC, we use a 100% Ally score as a quality benchmark, not as a legal threshold. This benchmark establishes a shared aspirational target, helps prioritize high-impact accessibility improvements, and supports designing accessibility into courses from the outset.

To provide clarity and consistency, the Office of Distance & Alternative Education under Dr. Addae has published guidance on the Distance Education website outlining known scenarios in which Ally may continue to display flags despite reasonable remediation efforts.  When remaining flags fall within these documented scenarios, and instructional impact has been reviewed, courses are considered aligned with college accessibility expectations. We will continue to update the website as we become aware of additional scenarios.

You may access this guidance here:

Blackboard Ally: Known Flag Scenarios That May Prevent a 100% Score

This guidance does not lower accessibility expectations. Rather, it clarifies how automated indicators should be interpreted within the broader context of equitable access and professional judgment.

[see Blackboard Accessibility and Resources item below for resources that will help improve the accessibility of your BB course]

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Survey: CLS Diversity, Censorship, and Academic Freedom, Deadline Mar. 31

The Professional Development and Research Committee would appreciate your taking the time to fill out the CLS Diversity, Censorship, and Academic Freedom survey by Tuesday, March 31st. 

You can find more details about the survey's purpose and method by following the link above.  If you have questions about the survey, please contact Rob Crowl at robert.crowl@austincc.edu or Dylan Walsh at dylan.walsh@austincc.edu.

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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 March

March 26, 9 a.m. –12 p.m.

• Highland Campus (ACCelerator) Zoom link Highland Campus 

• Hays Campus (Learning Lab, HYS 1205.04) Zoom link Hays Campus 

• Riverside Campus (Learning Lab, RVS 9100)  Zoom link Riverside Campus 

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Please Promote: Submissions to The Writer

From Madia Resch, Vice President of UT Austin's Texas Writing Society, 

UT Austin's Texas Writing Society is a creative writing organization focused on making writing, criticism, and publishing more accessible to college students. 

Our literary journal, The Writer, accepts every genre of writing, as well as songs, and provides detailed feedback on each piece, whether accepted into the current issue or not. The Writer's spring edition, "Blossom," is open to submissions until the end of March and we are looking for more passionate writers to submit their work. 

ACC students can find out more and submit their work at https://www.thewriteratx.com/

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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

• 🏆 Student achievements