Faculty Academy will take this place year from August 19th through August 28th. In addition to orientation sessions for new faculty members, there will be a variety of training opportunities, roundtable discussions, and poster sessions on topics ranging from technology tools to student life issues. Most sessions are open to all interested faculty and staff members. Soon we will add more detailed descriptions of each of these sessions; for now here is an overview of the schedule, subject to change:
All sessions will take place in Elrod Commons 345, unless otherwise noted. To sign up for any of these sessions, please fill out our Online Registration Form.
Tuesday, August 19th
12 - 4pm Mandatory Orientation for new faculty members (includes lunch)
New Faculty Orientation I (Mandatory for all new, full-time undergraduate faculty). Introduction to the University. Leaders: June Aprille, Provost: Hank Dobin, Dean of the College, Scott Dittman / Barbara Rowe, University Registrar / Associate Registrar; Elizabeth Knapp, Associate Dean of the College
4:30 - 6pm Cocktail Reception for new faculty, Alumni House (invitation only)
Wednesday, August 20th
10:30am - 1pm W&L 101: Intro to Life at Washington and Lee (includes lunch)
General information about W&L and its culture, especially about the things that seem unique to this educational environment. Some of these elements might include the Honor System, the Greek system, and the academic calendar. Leaders: Tim Diette, Economics; Steven Kalista, Physics and Engineering; Suzanne Keen, English
1 - 2pm Library Orientation, Dessert reception
An overview of the services and collections of Leyburn Library and the Telford Science Library and a chance to meet the librarians. Yummy desserts, too.
Thursday, August 21st
10:30am - 12pm Introduction to Sakai course management system
In the coming year we will begin a transition from Blackboard to Sakai for our course management platform. Sakai is an Open Source solution that offers everything we have grown to depend upon in Blackboard, plus much more, including blogs, wikis, and collaboration tools. Leader: John Blackburn, Acting Director of Academic Technology
12 - 1:30 Students' Lives Beyond the Classroom: Understanding the Partnership Between Academic and Student Affairs
Representatives from each of the Student Affairs departments will provide an overview of the major issues each department handles as well as advise faculty on how to make the most efficient referrals for assistance with outside-of-class issues that a faculty may note within the classroom. Lunch provided.
Friday, August 22nd
9 - 10am Classroom Performance "clickers"
All faculty and staff members are welcome to attend this introductory session on Classroom Performances Systems (CPS), often called "clickers" because they look like TV remote controls. These devices can be used to receive immediate student feedback, administer tests and quizzes, as well as to take polls and surveys. Leader: Marty Abrahamson, eInstruction Learning Systems and John Blackburn, ITS
12 - 2pm Short Presentations and Poster Sessions
Lunch will be held in 345, with short presentations on various campus resources and programs, followed by an informal poster session in the Living Room.
Monday, August 25th
1:30 - 3pm WebAdvisor Advising Tools, Leyburn 301
An overview of WebAdvisor for advisers including "How to read the Degree Audit," new advisee AP, IB and W&L placement test scores online, along with advisee transcripts, "what-if?" degree audits, how to search for open class sections, a quick review of online grading (if requested) and more! This is essential information for new advisers but also helpful for returning faculty. Leader: Barbara Rowe, Associate University Registrar Location: Leyburn 301
Tuesday, August 26th
10am - 12pm Classroom Strategies
A discussion with faculty about tips for writing syllabi (office hours, honor system, etc.,) getting started with students, setting the tone, promoting classroom discussions, assignments, and on course evaluations and assessment.
Leaders: Bill Hamilton, Bilogy; Linda Hooks, Economics; Kary Smout, English; and Julie Woodzika, Psychology
12 - 1:30pm QEP luncheon W&L's Quality Enhancement Plan, "The New Spring Term Courses: What Are We Really Talking About"
This luncheon round-table will feature presentations by several faculty who have developed new course proposals for the 4-week spring term that will begin in 2010. We will hear about several terrific courses, including detailed syllabi, course plans and goals, and student learning objectives. In addition, we will discuss the new opportunities and challenges offered by the Academic Life Proposal and specifically the new spring term, as well as the ways in which this fits into the ongoing QEP for W&L's assessment process.
Leaders: June Aprille, Provost and Marc Conner, English
1:30 - 3pm WebAdvisor Advising Tools, Leyburn 301
An overview of WebAdvisor for advisers including "How to read the Degree Audit," new advisee AP, IB and W&L placement test scores online, along with advisee transcripts, "what-if?" degree audits, how to search for open class sections, a quick review of online grading (if requested) and more! This is essential information for new advisers but also helpful for returning faculty. Leader: Barbara Rowe, Associate University Registrar
Wednesday, August 27th
8am - 9:30 Career Services Open House/Breakfast
Faculty are invited to start the day with a delightful breakfast catered by Career Services. Drop in any time between 8-9:30 to meet our staff and each other over coffee and munchies. Faculty who have joined W&L in the last few years are especially encouraged to come and see what Career Services is all about. Leader: Beverly Lorig, Director, Career Services Location: Career Services, third floor of Elrod Commons (above the bookstore)
9:30am - 12pm Mandatory Orientation Session II for new faculty
Mandatory for all new, full-time undergraduate faculty. University Policies, the Executive Committee and Honor System, and Web Services. Welcome by President Ruscio. Leaders: Leanne Shank, University Counsel, Barbara Rowe, Associate Registrar, and EC president Richard Cleary.
12 - 2pm Information Technology Services: What's New
There are numerous important changes taking place this year in W&L's computing and network environments: * Outlook and Sharepoint for communication and collaboration * Student e-mail * Storage * Computer replacement * Network updates * Library and ITS collaborate on client service * Course management system * Specialized database support * Content management system for University Web sites. Rick Peterson, Chief Technology Officer, and other ITS staff will help sort it all out.
2 - 3 WebReg Refresher, Elrod Commons 345 (note change of location from previous announcement)
WebRegistration Refresher Though most helpful for faculty who are advising new freshmen, transfers and visiting students, this session also is a useful time to talk about the resources available for advising and the mechanics of our WebRegistration system, as well as for sharing strategies for advising students in front of the computer. Each session of one hour will review the processes and strategies in the week before Freshman Check-in. Leader: Scott Dittman, University Registrar
3 - 4pm Amazon Kindle: a Revolution in Reading?
The Amazon Kindle, a wireless reading device that is lighter and thinner than a paperback but can hold hundreds of books, newspapers, magazines, blogs and other types of content, has been hailed by some as a breakthrough in reading technology. The device uses cell phone technology to connect to the Internet, and can download entire books in a few minutes. Steve Desjardins of Chemistry and Jeff Overholtzer of Information Technology Services will demonstrate the device and share their observations based on several months of using the Kindle to view and annotate fiction, textbooks and other downloaded content. Leaders: Jeff Overholtzer, ITS; Steve Desjardins, Chemistry
Thursday, August 28th
10 - 11am WebReg Refresher, Elrod Commons 345 (note change of location from previous announcement)
WebRegistration Refresher Though most helpful for faculty who are advising new freshmen, transfers and visiting students, this session also is a useful time to talk about the resources available for advising and the mechanics of our WebRegistration system, as well as for sharing strategies for advising students in front of the computer. Each session of one hour will review the processes and strategies in the week before Freshman Check-in. Leader: Scott Dittman, University Registrar
10 - 11:30 am Colleague Training for Administrative Assistants, Leyburn 301 Datatel Colleague
Academic administrative assistants will be trained on the Datatel Colleague database so that they are able to print class rosters, view student schedules, and obtain information off of the database. In the training, pre-registered participants will obtain security access to the Colleague database, be trained on Privacy of Student Educational Records laws, learn how to login and navigate in the software, and how to view student information (major, adviser, term info, schedules and schedule printing, grade and gpa info) and faculty information (roster and class roster printing). This can be a refresher session if administrative assistants wish to be re-trained. Leader: Barbara Rowe, Associate University Registrar
11am - 12pm GIS and Data Support in the Library
This session will familiarize faculty with the data and GIS support services available at Leyburn Library. Carol Hansen Karsch, Data & Statistical Support Specialist, will showcase examples of projects she has completed and consulted on with faculty and students, using software such as: Excel, Stata and SPSS. She will also give a presentation on how, by taking advantage of just a few of the tools in ArcGIS, this powerful piece of software can be used to uncover relationships among spatially oriented data and promote critical thinking skills. Finally, she will have information on equipment and other technical support available in the library that enable students to convert their findings into compelling posters for presentation. Leader: Carol Hansen Karsch
12 - 1:30pm Syllabus Swap lunch
Bring a syllabus you are working on for an upcoming term and swap with a colleague or 2 over a yummy lunch. This session is intended for new and veteran faculty to learn tips from each other in developing an effective course strategy, setting learning outcomes, providing the right amount of information, etc. We hope this will be informative for all.
1:30 - 3pm Students in Distress Students in Distress
Knowing available resources on campus is important but do you know warning signs to spot students who might be in trouble? Some signs are obvious, some are more subtle and sometimes you might convince yourself "it's nothing" when, really, there are some major issues that are only surfacing in the classroom because the student is otherwise locked away in his or her room. Join Dean of Student Affairs Dawn Watkins and others for an in-depth discussion about the role of faculty in identifying students who are at risk and in distress.
3 - 4:30pm Ice Cream Social, Elrod Commons Porch, Living Room.
All members of the W&L community, as well as their spouses, significant others, and kids are encouraged to attend.
