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 Frye).  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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Grade Change Delay

Grade Changes submitted between 7/22/25 and 8/4/25 will be approved and completed by 8/6/25. Please let your students know that there will be a slight delay.

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Check Your Fall Sections 

Now is a great time to review your Fall sections--check the time, modality, enrollment, course load, course notes, etc. Make sure your textbooks are the ones you want and your Blackboard shells are either In development or on your to-do list.

If you see anything amiss with your Fall sections, email Sue Bloodsworth and Anja Ketcham

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Ultra Fest 2.0, Aug 18 - Aug 22, 10am-12pm

From VC Gaye Lynn Scott

To help you prepare for the transition to Ultra and/or continue to explore its powerful capabilities, we invite you to attend Ultra Fest 2.0 - a weeklong event offering real-time, hands-on support at campus locations across the district for the week of August 18–22 from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM each day.  Below is a list of campuses where you can stop in for a little help or a lot, as you need.

• San Gabriel on 8/18

• Hays on 8/19

• Riverside on 8/20

• Northridge on 8/21

• Highland on 8/22

Whether you are new to Ultra or looking to unlock more advanced features, Ultra Fest offers flexible drop-in support, expert guidance, and peer learning opportunities to strengthen your course design and delivery.  You'll be hearing more about Ultra Fest 2.0, including the room number at each campus.

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Bats to Cats Faculty Orientation, Aug 19, 10:30am - 2:30pm

From Dr. Grant Potts, Interim Dean of Curriculum Management

Our goal is to help faculty learn more about the Bats to Cats program. We are anticipating providing a webcast option for the morning session, but faculty will need to attend in person to participate in the afternoon session. Please direct any questions you have to Grant Potts (gpotts@austincc.edu) and RSVP here.

Where: RGC 3340 

When: Tuesday, August 19

• • 10:30 - Noon: Understanding Bats to Cats and the Student Journey (Information Session)

  • Noon - 1: Lunch (Provided by the Offices of Curriculum Management and Articulation and University Programs)

  • 1:00 - 2:30: Building Connections Beyond the Transfer Pathway Map (Workshop)

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New Syllabus Requirement for AI Policy, Effective Fall 2025

From VC Gaye Lynn Scott:

On June 20, 2025, the Collegewide AI Strategic Planning Committee asked the Curriculum and Programs Committee to implement a modification to the master syllabus requirements, which was unanimously approved. As a result, beginning in Fall 2025, all faculty will be required to provide their students with an AI policy in their syllabi for their courses that includes: 

• Introduction – Introduce your policy on GAI (generative artificial intelligence) use in the course

• Rationale – State why GAI is prohibited/permitted/required to be used in the course

• Definition of GAI – Define what GAI is in the context of the course

• Resources – In courses that permit or require GAI, provide resources that guide students on how to properly use GAI in the course

• Assessment – In courses that permit or require GAI, clarify if and how its use will be assessed in the completion of activities

• Penalties – Clearly state the consequences of violating the GAI policy

• Exceptions – Explain any conditions under which there may be an exception to the GAI policy in the course

• Usage Permissions –

  • Prohibited – Clearly state what GAI activities are not allowed

  • Permitted – Clearly state what GAI activities are allowed

  • Required – Clearly state what GAI activities are required

Our CLS Curriculum Committee will revise the CLS Department Syllabus before the Fall 2025 semester to ensure that these requirements are met.  We'll have those changes ready for the Semester Start meeting (August 20).  In the meantime, if you are working on your Fall 2025 syllabi, leave room for the changes. 

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Repeal of the Texas Dream Act, ACC Response, and Hotline for Students

Repeal of the Texas Dream Act

In early June, in response to a lawsuit filed by the US DOJ, Texas repealed the Texas Dream Act, which allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at Texas public universities.  You can read more about that decision here. 

ACC Response

On June 21, the ACC Board of Trustees voted to join a lawsuit aiming "to gain clarity about the recent repeal." You can read more about that decision here. 

Help for Students

From the Chancellor's June 23rd email: 

If you’re with a student who has questions about possible impacts on their tuition related to this ruling, let them know the College developed a special hotline they can call. That number is 512-223-7548. They’re open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If they have questions about social services or legal support, they can call 512-223-6139. If they simply want someone to talk with during this time, remind them of our support resources and encourage them to connect with ACC’s Mental Health Counseling team. 

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Please Promote: Paid Internship with Civil Service Test Prep

From Michael Joseph, Westlake Firefighter and founder of ExamiFire test prep

The Position: We're seeking a part-time content writer to collaborate on creating multiple choice test questions for civil service exams—think SAT/ACT style questions rather than technical firefighting content. No firefighting knowledge or background is required, as we provide all reference materials and writing templates. The role involves working with our content to brainstorm topics, review feedback, and plan question batches.

What We Offer: • $30-35 per hour compensation • Flexible, low-hour commitment that easily fits around classes or other commitments • One weekly in-person meeting at a flexible location in Austin (all additional hours can be remote) • Ground-floor role in a growing startup where their work will appear on a live platform used by real learners nationwide

This opportunity would be perfect for students who enjoy writing, have strong communication skills, and want practical experience in the ed-tech industry while maintaining their academic schedule.

Interested students should reach out to examifire@gmail.com. 

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CLS Profile 2025

We've just published our second annual CLS Profile, a look-book of the past academic year. We've got print copies available as well--and will be sending those out to celebrate our year's extraordinary achievements! Peek inside and see if you can locate Brinda Roy and Amber Clontz clowning around, Chris Gardner with a feat of extraordinary balance, Theo Yurevitch's prom picture and Latasha Goodwyn's glam look from back in the day, and so much more. I am honored to get to rep such an awesome department.  Huge shout out to Chris Stayton, Luanne Preston, and Theo Yurevitch for all they did to make the magic happen!

Take a look: CLS Profile, Vol.2, 2025

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Mentoring: As Rewarding as Teaching, but without the Grading (and with Better Snacks)

Did you know only 13% of our faculty are signed up to mentor new colleagues? Are you really going to let that tiny group carry the load? We know you’ve got wisdom (and great ideas) to share, too! The best part? Mentoring has never been easier:

✅Blackboard support: done

✅A new welcome packet and orientation map with essential resources for new hires: no more scrambling to find links and documents

✅Comp I & II course shells: still available as Google Docs during migration to BB Ultra

Plus, mentoring counts as Peer Dialogue. So, you're not just helping a new colleague; you're checking off a Faculty Evaluation requirement. And yes, there’s a stipend too. So, what’s stopping you? Share what you’re great at. Sign up today!

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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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Incorporating Civic Engagement

Composition and Literary Studies is piloting a new program called Incorporating Civic Engagement (I.C.E), which offers students and faculty access to artifacts to address Personal and Social Responsibility in a myriad of ways. 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; and Voter 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.

Resources

Find out more about the program in Wendy's introduction to Incorporating Civic Engagement or Dean Toño Ramirez's video about the CLS Pilot for Incorporating Civic Engagement.

Understand the VALUE rubrics from the American Association of Colleges & Universities in Dean Toño Ramirez's video how to use the AAC&U VALUE rubrics to assess Civics Education

Learn to integrate the VALUE rubric into your BB page in this video: Blackboard-Integrated AAC&U's VALUE Rubric. 

How to get the Incorporating Civice Engagement Bb Ultra Zip File for Fall or Summer 2025

If you want to put a little I.C.E. in your courses for Fall or Summer, you can find the program here:

CLS Faculty Resources--I.C.E. Zip File

Please check out Dean Ramirez's introductory video on how to incorporate this into your course.

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Please Promote: Writing Tutor

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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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. 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