March 18

A memo was sent on March 12, 2024, with updates regarding the Graduate Assistant Support Plan (GASP) and Master’s TA Resident Tuition (MTART) as well as an invitation to upcoming virtual meetings to learn more.

The deadline to nominate is March 29, and we still need nominations for several positions:

• President-Elect
• Chair, Competitive Grants Committee
• Chair, Faculty Academic Policy and Standards Committee
• Chair, Faculty Welfare Committee
• Chair, Nominations, Honors, and Awards Committee
• Grievance Committee Member
• Hearing Committee Member

To nominate yourself or others for these positions or another listed position in the Call for Nominations, please email facultygovernance@charlotte.edu. Thank you for considering faculty service.

All faculty were recently sent an invitation to participate in the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey. This survey is important in helping us understand the experiences of Charlotte faculty and helps to inform policies and practices. If you haven’t already completed the survey, please take the time to do so. For questions, contact Yvette Huet, Director, ADVANCE Faculty Affairs and Diversity Office.

Join Faculty and Staff at urbanCORE Open Door

Drop by Sycamore Hall to connect with others about community engagement and tap into urbanCORE resources to support your research. We’ll provide the beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres! Contact Holly Middleton for more information. View flyer.

• Tuesday, March 19, 4:00 – 6:00 PM, Sycamore Hall

Half-Day Writing Retreat for Community-engaged Faculty

We welcome participants who want to make progress on a writing project of any kind–teaching, research, service, or personal. Emphasis will be on writing in community with others, trying out new strategies, and setting small achievable goals. Coffee and pastries start at 8:30. Contact Holly Middleton at holly.middleton@charlotte.edu for more information.
Friday, April 5, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Sycamore 306 (Register)

Decisive, action-oriented professionals throughout Charlotte will appreciate the philosophical tradition of pragmatism, which says that concepts and theories should be valued in terms of the concrete results they produce. Instead of ruminating, the pragmatist puts ideas into action, often with impressive results, as evidenced by names you probably recognize: W. E. B. Du Bois, a trailblazing Black public intellectual, helped found the NAACP in 1910; John Dewey, best known for his work on children’s education, was on the cover of Time magazine in 1928; Jane Addams, a relentless advocate of social and labor reform, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, grappled with questions raised by developments in biology in the half-century following Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. From 1860 to 1910, John Dewey and other philosophers now associated with an approach called ‘American pragmatism’ actively participated in a series of debates in biology, arguing over everything from the instincts of honeybees to the inheritance of acquired characteristics. More Information.

• Tuesday, March 26; 7:00 PM, with reception at 6:00 PM, Dubois Center at Center City (Register)

Nexus: Networking Across Disciplines fosters the emergence of interdisciplinary research teams by providing faculty with structured opportunities to learn about one another’s research and brainstorm areas of mutual interest. Through a series of summer workshops, Nexus supports the initial stages of project development as faculty formulate shared research questions, consider analytical strategies, and identify potential funding sources.Nexus 2024 targets faculty in two research areas of focus and distinction: 1) Artificial Intelligence (including uses and social impact); and 2) Online Misinformation and Deception. Workshops will be held on May 21-22 and August 14, with working groups expected to brainstorm ideas over the summer. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8 (information and application). Each faculty member in Nexus will receive a $1,000 stipend for participating fully in the workshops. Nexus 2024 is organized by the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences and the Division of Research with support from the Cato College of Education, the College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Computing and Informatics. Questions can be directed to CHESS Interim Associate Dean Beth Whitaker.

The Charlotte Core is recruiting Faculty Reviewers to participate in rating student work aligned with the new general education competencies. This work will occur on May 22 & 23 for the Critical Thinking Competency and May 29 & 30 for the Communications Competency. Faculty will be paid a stipend of $500 for their work over the two days (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). If you would like to be considered to participate in either of these processes, please complete the General Education Faculty Reviewer Application.

Media Literacy Matters Conference

Join the Critical Media Literacy Collaborative, Niner Times, and Atkins Library for “Media Literacy Matters: Current Landscape, Student Actions, and Future Directions.” This half-day conference will bring faculty, students, and researchers across campus together to discuss issues related to media literacy. More information and registration.

• Thursday, March 21, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Halton Reading Room, Atkins Library 

UNC Charlotte Race and Social Equity Academy (RASE) Spring Forum

The RASE Academy Spring Forum ‘s topic is Advancing Inclusive Policy and Advocacy Practices for Racialized LGBTQ+ Populations Across the Lifespan. It is hosted in collaboration with the School of Social Work Practicum Education Office, J. Murrey Atkins Library, Gerontology Program, and BSW Club. The forum will feature moderator Tommy Allgood and panelists Rev. Melissa McQueen-Simmons, Dr. Javier García León, and Rev. Debra Hopkins. The panelists will share best practices for inclusion and advocacy from an intersectional lens. This event will be hybrid and will be available for live viewing on Zoom or in person at the Atkins Library in the Halton Room. The event is free, and we are offering 1.5 contact hours. More information.

• Wednesday, March 27, 12:00 – 1:30 PM, Zoom and Halton Reading Room, Atkins Library

The Big Read Book Discussion

Join Atkins Library for a book discussion of “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. “Homegoing” is a powerful novel that traces the lives of two half-sisters and their descendants, spanning over 300 years and multiple generations. Set in Ghana and America, the book explores the legacy of slavery and the impact it has on the lives of the characters.In partnership with the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture. More information and registration.

• Thursday, April 25, 6:00 – 7:00 PM, Halton Reading Room, Atkins Library

Part 3: Canvas Studio Analytics: Who’s Watching?

Canvas Studio Analytics can enhance your instructional practices by utilizing the power of data to understand student engagement with video content. Learn how to track views, comments, and participation, and gain valuable insights to optimize your teaching strategies.

• Tuesday, March 26, 10:00 – 11:00 AM, (Register)

Part 2: Canvas Analytics to Improve Your Canvas Course Design

Looking to become a data-driven instructor/course designer? This interactive workshop builds on the Canvas Analytics for Early Intervention Workshop to incorporate what you learned into the design of your Canvas Course. We will use Canvas Analytics to identify course elements that need to be improved based on student data. We will also discuss how to (re)design your Canvas course to collect optimal student intervention data, and practice doing so on one of your current course designs! 

• Thursday, April 4, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, (Register)

Part 2: Student Study Skills with ChatGPT

Join this session to learn how to better support students’ study skills in the age of A.I.. We will demonstrate how to prompt A.I. tools (like ChatGPT) to develop self-study guides, practice assessments, and serve as a personal learning assistant for students. By the end of the hour, you will have an action plan for how to communicate these strategies to students in your course(s).

• Thursday, March 21, 11:00 AM – 12:00  PM, (Register)

*NEW* Learning with Generative AI: Stories from the Classroom and Clinic

Join us for an engaging workshop showcasing the innovative integration of ChatGPT and generative AI graphics and audio in education. This session offers educators a comprehensive exploration of how these cutting-edge technologies can revolutionize teaching and assessment practices to enhance student learning. 

Through live demonstrations and interactive activities, attendees will discover diverse examples of AI applications tailored for educational environments. Participants will gain invaluable insights into the potential of AI to transform educational experiences. Get ready to explore, experiment, and elevate your teaching with the latest advancements in AI technology.

• Thursday, March 21, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, (Register)

Part 3: Student Writing Skills with ChatGPT

In this session, we will to learn how to integrate AI tools effectively in writing projects. We will demonstrate how to chunk and scaffold project tasks for peer review and instructor support, as well as how to prompt A.I. tools (like ChatGPT) to enhance the writing process at each stage. By the end of the hour, you will have a planning tool and strategies for integrating AI into writing projects.

• Wednesday, April 3, 9:00 -10:00 AM, (Register)
  

Supporting Students as Difficult Events Impact our World

Difficult news is everywhere recently—climate disasters, refugee crises, political unrest, the war between Ukraine and Russia, and the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas for example.  While these events can negatively impact our students’ ability to focus on academics, they can also create opportunities to engage in meaningful and honest discussions about difficult and important topics. This workshop is designed to provide faculty with the confidence, strategies, and resources to help students process their emotions and talk about the complex nature of these events with sensitivity to the diverse perspectives of all students.

• Wednesday, March 20, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, (Register)

Enhancing Cultural Awareness

This course is facilitated by the Office of International Programs. The training will present an overview of the common definition and assessment of culture at UNC Charlotte and explore cultural dimensions based on theory and research. Participants will receive resources for sample assignments and a mapping exercise to enhance student cultural awareness. This workshop counts towards the Essentials of Teaching and Learning Certificate.

• Wednesday, April 3, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, (Register)

Part 2: Active Learning with Poll Everywhere

Looking to amplify your active learning and formative assessment using Poll Everywhere? In this workshop will provide a framework for implementing active learning strategies using Poll Everywhere. Register now to attend!

• Monday, March 25,  9:30 – 10:30 AM, (Register)

Getting Started with Active Teaching and Learning

Active learning requires students to be engaged in their learning rather than being passive listeners. To enhance learning, students must speak, write, think deeply, and collaborate with others about the content and concepts presented in class. This workshop provides an introduction to active teaching and an active learning framework that can be used to move toward active learning engagement and strategies in your classroom.

• Thursday, March 28,  2:30 – 3:30 PM, (Register)

The schedule for May 2024 commencement ceremonies has been set; all ceremonies will be held in Halton Arena.

Friday, May 10, 10:00 a.m.
Belk College of Business
College of Health and Human Services

Friday, May 10, 3:00 p.m.
College of Arts + Architecture
College of Computing and Informatics
Cato College of Education
The William States Lee College of Engineering

Saturday, May 11, 10:00 a.m.
College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences
College of Science

Saturday, May 11, 3:00 p.m.
The Graduate School (Doctoral, Master’s and Certificate Programs)