Kendall Center NewsletterOctober 1, 2019

Faculty Writing Retreats at Gustavus and ASI 

The Kendall Center is hosting monthly Writing Retreats at Gustavus and at American Swedish Institute (ASI). October Writing Retreats will be held on Saturday, October 5 at ASI and at Gustavus (Konferensrum) on Sunday, October 6. Faculty can sign up for a full day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. devoted to writing. We’ll provide lunch and snacks. Please visit the Kendall Center website for upcoming dates and info. Email Cathy Blaukat (cblauka@gustavus.edu) to reserve your spot for one or all of the writing retreats.

New Faculty Orientation Session (non tenure track only) 

Join us on Thursday, October 3 for a New Faculty Orientation Session (non tenure-track only). Topic: Making the Most of Term Appointments. Workshop CV and Interviews: you just started, but may be in the process of applying for a tenure track job. How do you position yourself as a top candidate? Bring an example of your CV and we will workshop it. What do (Gustavus) Departments look for when hiring? How do you prepare and deliver for an interview? Free lunch at the Three Crowns Buffet, then meet in the St Peter Room, 12:30 to 1:20 p.m

Teachers Talking 10/16

Please join us on Wednesday, October 16 for Teachers Talking. Topic: Understanding the College's Religion Requirement. What is the college's graduation requirement in Biblical and Theological Studies? What are the different ways in which it is taught at Gustavus? What might future versions of these courses look like in the Challenge Curriculum? Join faculty who have taught this course for a time of sharing questions, stories, ideas. Program is at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Free lunch at Three Crowns buffet, then meet in the Heritage Room.

New Faculty Orientation Session 10/17

Join us on Thursday, October 17 for a New Faculty Orientation Session. Topic: Course Evaluations. A discussion of effective methods for evaluating your courses and getting information that can be used to improve teaching and learning. We focus on end of the semester summative as well as mid-semester formative evaluations. Meet in the Kendall Center Conference Room, Anderson Hall 303 at 12:30 to 1:20 p.m, free lunch included.

Faculty Shop Talk 

Jeff La Frenierre (Assistant Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies) will present at Faculty Shop Talk on Friday, October 18. His talk ""Taking the Temperature of Tropical Glaciers: A Report from Recent Fieldwork in Ecuador"" will be presented at 4:30 p.m. in the Interpretive Center. Feel free to arrive any time after 4:15 p.m. The abstract for this and future talks may be viewed here.

Teachers Talking 10/23

Please join us on Wednesday, October 23 for Teachers Talking. Topic: Crash Course in Backwards Design. Unsure where to start thinking about designing a new course or revising an old one? Trying to figure out how to incorporate multiple student learning outcomes into a course? Overwhelmed by all the content you need to cover? This crash course will introduce you to backward design, a process that will help you align your course goals, assignments, and activities. Come for lunch, good conversation, and some helpful worksheets. Program is at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Free lunch at Three Crowns buffet, then meet in the Heritage Room.

New Faculty Orientation Session 10/31

Join us on Thursday, October 31 for a New Faculty Orientation Session. Topic: Evaluations by Colleagues. In collaboration with the Provost’s Office, a discussion about the procedure and potential approaches associated with evaluations. What might you share with your evaluator prior to the class period, how to inform your class, the criteria and areas that Chairs are asked to evaluate, post-evaluation feedback. Free lunch at the Three Crowns Buffet, then meet in the St Peter Room, 12:30 to 1:20 p.m

Write-On-Site at the Kendall Center 

The Kendall Center will be holding Write-on-Site for faculty in our conference room, Anderson Hall Room 303, on Wednesdays 9am-12pm throughout the fall semester. Write-On-Site cultivates a community of scholars who work on their individual writing projects. Bring whatever you need for your writing. Show up, check-in about what you are working on for the session, and get to writing. We work in 25 minute increments with 5 minute breaks, but you can work at your own pace and come and go as your schedule permits. Faculty from all disciplines are welcome. No need to sign up, just show up ready to write.

From the Faculty Associate for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Indigenous Voices

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 14), here are several resources of indigenous voices on the topics of race, decolonization, colonization, and climate change in North America. 

· Indigenous Communities are on the Front Lines of Climate Change
· The “Indian Problem” by the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian
·  A conversation with Native Americans on Race
. “Decolonization is for Everyone” TEDxSFU Nikki Sanchez
· Dr. Kyle Whyte’s resources about climate change and social justice

These can be shared with your students and inform the way you frame topics in healthcare, US policy, geography, history, economics, religion, literature,… basically, just about anything.

Advisor Development Workshops

The Kendall Center is partnering with the Academic Support Center and the Office of the Provost to host advisor development workshops this month. Each workshop is limited to the first 10 faculty to register. The first workshop, Faculty Roles in Academic Advising, will be offered twice: Wednesday, October 2 and Thursday, October 3 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (choose one). Register for the workshop here. The second workshop, Advising and Supporting Sophomores, will also be offered twice: Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (choose one). Register for the workshop here. 

Faculty Achievements Publication 

To promote and celebrate the professional scholarly, research, and creative accomplishments of the faculty, The John S. Kendall Center for Engaged Learning is publishing the 7th issue of Faculty Achievements. This edition will collect and celebrate the scholarship, research, and creative work presented, published, or awarded to faculty from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2019. To submit click here. To review any submissions that you’ve already made, go to http://www.gac.edu/rsc_query to receive a faculty achievement report. 

Innovative Teaching Award 

The John S. Kendall Center for Engaged Learning and the Provost’s Office would like to recognize faculty who are engaged in innovative teaching (e.g., new uses of instructional technology, new ways to engage students in the learning process, new approaches to student collaboration, or new methods for improving student learning outcomes) and to encourage the dissemination of effective practices by sharing promising innovations with faculty more broadly. Therefore, we offer 2 Innovative Teaching Awards -- one that recognizes innovations at the Course or Currcular level ($1000 prize) and a second that recognizes innovative Assignments ($500 prize). Nominations must be received by 5 pm on Friday, November 8. Please visit the Kendall Center website for more information.

Calendars!!

If you didnt' receive a 2019-2020 Kendall Center calendar or would like another one,
please send an email request to Cathy Blaukat and one will be placed in campus mail for you!

Kendall Center Writing Space

The Kendall Center Conference Room (Anderson 303) is available for faculty writing. The space is quiet, stocked with tea and coffee, and can be accessed with your faculty ID. A few Kendall Center research and teaching groups are meeting there, so check the calendar before coming over (https://gustavus.edu/kendallcenter/roomschedule.php) or email Cathy Blaukat to reserve a specific date/time.