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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Last Call🍷: CLS Profile 2024-2025--Faculty Contributions

Okay, last call for real this time...CLS we need your faculty contributions! Last year's CLS Profile was a huge success; check it out here.  And we need your contributions to make the new one amazing. 

The CLS Profile (2024-25) form has a ton of ways that you can contribute.  And to be clear, you only need to fill out the field or fields that are relevant to you! That's a 2-minute investment!

• Did a student write you a beautiful thank you note in F24 or S25?  That's a love note you can share!

• Did you present at a conference or publish something last year?  Share it with us! 

• Did you have amazing success with a new assignment or text?  We want to hear about it!

• Did you take a great photo during class or with colleagues at a conference?  Send it our way! (But get permissions signed if students are involved)

• Did you read a text that rocked your world this year?  We want to read it, too, so share!

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Exploring AI & Writing: Our Grant Showcase, June 13

Join colleagues from nine departments as we share insights from our year-long innovation grant projects on AI and writing, and lead an open conversation about how AI is reshaping writing—as a practice, a subject, and a form of assessment.

Exploring AI & Writing: Our Grant Showcase

June 13, 2025

1:30-3:30 pm

https://austincc.zoom.us/j/86883084313?pwd=KyR6USqn82HLlzo0FySzEvriXvmsHn.1&jst=3

Register by June 11 to be eligible for book giveaways (no registration is required to attend): https://forms.gle/4XNUDadpWZ26wmMA8

Questions? Contact Susan Meigs.

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New Administrative Rule: Instructional Use Standards for Blackboard Ultra

Effective May 19, 2025, all ACC instructors are required to meet the Learning Management System (LMS) Minimum Instructional Use Standards, which are copied below. Thank you to LMC, President of the Adjunct Faculty Association for sending out a timely reminder.  

As a point of reference, ACC's "approved Learning Management System" is currently Blackboard Ultra.  

From AR 5.0401.04:

Administrative Rule

The procedures included in this rule must be applied to all course sections offered by ACC. While these procedures provide a minimum standard for every course at ACC, courses taught online or within specific departments may be subject to additional requirements to meet minimum standards.

1. The instructional faculty of the College will include a Welcome Announcement in the college’s approved Learning Management System (LMS), providing students with introductory course information no later than the first day of the teaching session.

2. The instructional faculty of the College will include a ‘Start Here’ or similarly titled learning module in the college’s approved Learning Management System (LMS), including, at a minimum, the syllabus and information on tracking course performance and expected instructor communication.

3. In courses where students are assigned grades, the instructional faculty of the College will share course performance measures electronically with students in a FERPA-compliant manner per the guidelines and procedures. 

You can find more information in the Guidelines and Procedures for LMS Minimum Instructional Use Standards. 

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News from INRW 

Fall Co-req Registration

Fall 25 Coreq Registration begins Friday, May 16, 2025. If students reach out to you to enroll in your coreq courses, please send them to the INRW website to register. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis as long as there are no holds on the account preventing us from enrolling them. If you have questions, please reach out to Linda San Agustin or Ursula Parker. 

INRW Professional Development

If you are interested in INRW Professional Development, kindly and quickly complete this super-brief survey so we can get the party started: https://forms.gle/WWDhRD6bgWHndfve9

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Call for Co-req Partners, ENGL 1301 for Spring 2026

Hey there ENGL 1301 instructors! We're looking for those adjunct and full-timers who are interested in becoming the ENGL 1301 partner in a yet-to-be-created coreq with INRW. As a refresher, our co-reqs pair an ENGL 1301 course with an INRW course; about 16 students from the ENGL 1301 course are enrolled in an INRW that usually meets directly before or after the ENGL 1301.  Co-req faculty partners generally share syllabi and communicate throughout the semester.  

If you are already a co-req-er, thank you! This call is for new folks. Please Google Chat Ursula Parker or email Wendy Elle if you are interested. These classes likely would not start until Spring 2026.

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Summer Book Club!  📖

Y'all, it's Novel Reading Season at last! We did it. We really did it.  

In the summer we read a novel, because frankly, who's gonna stop us? 

As usual, we will gather at Easy Tiger by the Highland Campus to discuss at a date to be determined. 

You are encouraged to sign up for our non-binding interest list to keep receiving emails or propose a text if/when you feel the urge. 

Two 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!

Further details and Book Club historical notes here

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Job Opportunity: OnRamps with UT, Apply by July 1

Check out position details or apply: OnRamps Rhetoric Position

Email jaime.babcock@austin.utexas.edu for more information about the position. 

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Please Promote: Volunteer with Harry Ransom Center, Apply by June 20

The Harry Ransom Center is seeking volunteers to engage the public with an internationally renowned humanities archive, museum, and research library.  Student, staff, and community members are encouraged to apply.  Check out volunteer opportunities or apply at https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/volunteer/.  

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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