Kendall Center NewsletterJanuary 5, 2015

J-Term Faculty Writing Retreats at GAC and ASI

The Kendall Center is hosting a Writing Retreat this J-term both at Gustavus and at ASI. The Writing Retreats will be held on Saturday, January 24 at ASI and at Gustavus (Board Room). Faculty can sign up for a full day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. devoted to writing. We’ll provide breakfast and lunch. Please visit the Kendall Center website or see attachment for dates and info. Please reserve a space with Cathy Blaukat (cblauka@gustavus.edu) for one or all of the writing retreats.

2 Day Winter Faculty Writing Retreat

The Kendall Center is sponsoring a Winter Writing Retreat for faculty on Wednesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 5 at Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center in Farmington, MN. The retreat will start at 9:30 a.m on Wednesday, February 4 and end at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 5. This is a great opportunity to focus on your writing. The retreat is open to all faculty and space is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please RSVP to Cathy Blaukat (cblaukat@gustavus.edu) by January 23.

Building an Inclusive Classroom: J-term reading group

Are you looking to make your classroom more inclusive? Would you like to gain practical strategies for teaching and assessing multilingual students? This January-term, the KCEL will sponsor a reading group (really a doing group) to work through some of these issues. While reading Fostering International Student Success in Higher Education, we will work together to enhance our classroom discussion, exam, and essay strategies. This book has excellent practical suggestions for all communities of students. If you are interested in being part of this group, please email Thia Cooper. The group is tentatively scheduled to meet Thursdays from 12:30-2pm during the four weeks of January term. However, if you cannot make that time, let Thia know. KCEL will provide each participant with the book and treats during the discussion time.

New Faculty Orientation Session
(non tenure track only)

Join us on Thursday, January 15, 2015 (non tenure-track only) for a New Faculty Orientation Session. Topic is:
Maximizing the benefit of a visiting position: A discussion of strategies for making the most of a visiting position in the furthering of one’s career. Presenters: Mary Gaebler and Matt Panciera. Free lunch at the Three Crowns Buffet, then meet in the St Peter Room, 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

Teachers Talking

Join us on Thursday, January 22, 2015 for Teachers Talking. The topic is: "Letting Go for Learning: When Student Reciprocity Fails to Deliver," presented by Kyle Momsen and Kathy Lund Dean. Reciprocity in civic engagement means offering meaningful value to our community partners as they offer learning opportunities for our students. Real ownership over project outcomes requires students to be primary agents in creating value for the community partner. What are our pedagogical opportunities that allow students to own potentially substandard performance on their deliverables when it could negatively impact relationships among Community Based Learning stakeholders? We facilitate this conversation based on our own diverse experiences of how we manage students’ ownership of their responsibilities with our community partners. Program at 11:30 am and again at 12:30 pm. Free lunch at Three Crowns buffet, then meet in the Heritage Room.

New Faculty Orientation Session
(tenure track only)

Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2015 (tenure-track only) for a New Faculty Orientation Session. Topic is: Tenure review process at Gustavus: an overview of the tenure review procedure at Gustavus. Presenter: Jon Grinnell. Free lunch at the Three Crowns Buffet, then meet in the St Peter Room, 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.

Globalization Workshop

Join your colleagues and World Savvy, an organization supporting global learning, for a one-day workshop on February 3, 9am to 3:30pm sponsored by the Kendall Center. Participants will engage in discussions and activities using a Global Competence Matrix as a framework for understanding skills, dispositions and behaviors in a global context. Participants will have multiple opportunities to both confer and develop plans with colleagues for integrating global competencies into their classes. To register, email Deb Pitton at dpitton@gustavus.edu

The Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Pie-Off.........and Beer Tasting Event!

All faculty, please plan to attend the most tasty event of the year. What to do? Please make a dessert pie or cook up a pot of your favorite chili, enough to share. No time to cook? Come anyway, there always is plenty for all.The Cook-off will be held Friday, February 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Interpretive Center. As usual, Schell's Brewery has graciously agreed to provide the beer; non-alcoholic beverages also will be available.