Academic Affairs

Conversations on Teaching Writing #2
2025-10-27 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Timken Library Classroom 118, 1 E University Street, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Defining the Value of an Academic Writing Practice: With and Against LLMs
Open to all, particularly faculty teaching FYS and W-courses this semester.
Please complete the following form if you are interested in attending any of the events in this series and would like to receive related communications: Conversation on Teaching Writing Interest Form

Teaching Beyond the Classroom - Professional Development Lunch
2025-10-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Work-based learning engages students in authentic activities with application beyond the classroom, allowing them to reflect and synthesize real-world experiences with their academic knowledge. This discussion offers a chance to share ways you’ve incorporated work-based learning into your teaching, discuss obstacles you’ve encountered, and learn strategies for overcoming challenges. A representative from Riipen (our partner in our CIC work-based learning project), will be there to engage in the conversation. Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

AI Ready Recap/Debrief (& Lunch)
2025-10-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Lowry 202, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Whether you were able to attend the October Thursday Zoom sessions, watch the recordings, or not, we invite you to come together for lunch and debrief on the CIC AI Ready sessions on AI Pedagogy and AI in the Curriculum.
11:45-noon Lunch tickets provided
Noon-1PM recap and conversation
We can carry our lunch (on plates and with glasses) to Lowry 202.

Faculty Research Gathering - “What is data reproducibility and how can it be infused across the curriculum?”
2025-11-07 16:15 - 18:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us in Kauke 305 to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about Anne Nurse’s research! Open to all Faculty & Staff

Conversations on Teaching Writing #3
2025-11-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Timken Library Classroom 118, 1 E University Street, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Teaching Reflective Writing with an Eye toward Assessment OR Ideas vs Errors: Global Issues when Commenting on Student Essays
Open to all, particularly faculty teaching FYS and W-courses this semester.
Please complete the following form if you are interested in attending any of the events in this series and would like to receive related communications: Conversation on Teaching Writing Interest Form

Global Initiatives and Supporting our Students In/Out Bound - Professional Development Lunch
2025-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Come meet the directors of the Global Engagement and International Student Service Offices and learn more about their work. In addition, they will provide tips to help support international students at Wooster and our students who are incorporating off-campus study experiences into their college experience.
Charlie Polinko, Director of Global Engagement Office
Melissa Hartmann, Asst. Director of International Student Services
Scott Parillo, Director of Internation Student Services
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Conversations on Teaching Writing #4
2025-11-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Timken Library Classroom 118, 1 E University Street, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Literacy Practices in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences: Values around Teaching Writing in the Age of AI
Open to all, particularly faculty teaching FYS and W-courses this semester.
Please complete the following form if you are interested in attending any of the events in this series and would like to receive related communications: Conversation on Teaching Writing Interest Form

"Steal My Idea" - Professional Development Lunch
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Facilitated by Educational Technology
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re celebrating the power of generosity in education. Each faculty/staff presenter will have 5 minutes to share a classroom tip, tech tool, or pedagogical gem that others can “steal” and make their own. When the buzzer sounds, it’s on to the next! Fill out the Sharing is Caring form if you have an idea to share!
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Synthetic Poetics: The Art & Science of Creative Exchange
2025-12-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us in Kauke 305 to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about Daren Kendall’s research! He is joined by collaborator Joanna Rokicka, PhD; Associate Professor of Polymer Science, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
Open to all Faculty & Staff

Root to Rise: Growing an Artistic Practice from the Ground Up - Faculty Research Gathering
2025-12-05 16:15 - 18:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us in Kauke 305 to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about Emily Baird’s research! Open to all Faculty & Staff

Pre-Semester Workshop & Lunch
2026-01-12 10:00 - 13:00 | Kittredge Dining Hall, 535 E. Wayne Ave., Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
The workshop builds upon our updated Criteria of Evaluation and the importance to engage in professional development to support our capacity for mentoring and advising. It is led by faculty and staff leadership in APEX. We look forward to lively conversations across faculty from all disciplines! Below is a short description:
Guiding Students’ Journeys: Effective Advising Practices
This workshop will help faculty develop a structured approach to academic advising by focusing on planning, organizing, and integrating developmental academic advising into their semester workflow. Participants will share their best advising practices. Additionally, we will explore practical ways academic departments can actively nurture strong advising skills among their faculty through structured support, shared resources, and collaborative mentoring.
To allow an accurate count for catering and arrange groups for the workshop, please RSVP (yes or no) by January 5.

Using AI in the Classroom - Professional Development Lunch
2026-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us to learn about our semester-long Professional Learning Community on using AI in the classroom. We’ll introduce the program structure, share options for activities—including choosing an assignment or project to revise with AI—and highlight how this experience can help you craft an AI course policy. Hear faculty testimonials about integrating AI into their teaching and what they learned along the way. Whether you’re brand new to AI or already experimenting, join us! Facilitated by Educational Technology.

Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Curricular Initiatives for Discernment & Direction - Professional Development Lunch
2026-01-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Today’s PDL explores innovative ways to help students navigate the critical transition between FYS and major declaration. Learn about campus initiatives shaping curricular frameworks for student discernment and exploration. The Wooster Arts & Humanities Initiative (WAHI) will share their work on reimagining student engagement with the humanities through experiential and research-based coursework early in their academic journey. We also highlight the Religious Studies Connections course as a successful model for this work.
Jeremy Rapport, Professor of Religious Studies
Mark Graham, Associate Dean for Academic Advising & Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Closing the Loop on W: Helping Students Evaluate Writing - Professional Development Lunch
2026-02-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us to discuss ways we can close the loop on the findings from the W assessment. We will collaborate on practical strategies to strengthen our students’ ability to evaluate written work and improve their own writing.
Missy Schen, Director of Educational Assessment
Alicia Brazeau, Writing Center Director
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Investigating Galaxy Evolution at Cosmic Noon with the James Webb Space Telescope - Faculty Research Gathering
2026-02-06 16:15 - 18:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us in Kauke 305 to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about Laura DeGroot’s research! Open to all Faculty & Staff

Curricular Connections Discussion
2026-02-09 16:15 - 18:00 | Longbrake Commons, 1140 Beall Ave, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Members of the Educational Policy Committee will host an open meeting and discussion supporting curricular connections, on Monday, February 9 at 4:15 pm in Longbrake Commons. Faculty can discuss ideas and bring questions related to the call for proposals for co-taught courses to advance the curricular connections initiatives coming out of the academic structure review report and recommendations. We hope you can join us to discuss how faculty may bring together their expertise to support the curriculum and advance our academic offerings.

Student Partnerships in Research - Professional Development Lunch
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us for a dynamic conversation on building meaningful student-faculty research collaborations. This PDL will highlight strategies for integrating students into your research and showcase inspiring interdisciplinary projects happening across campus. Come learn about innovative approaches and share ideas for strengthening these partnerships to advance faculty and student research goals.
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

FYS to IS - Professional Development Lunch
2026-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Urban Soil Ecologies: Immigrant Farming Practices and Insect-Waste Innovations in Post-Industrial Landscapes - Faculty Research Gathering
2026-03-06 16:15 - 18:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us in Kauke 305 to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about Carlo Moreno’s research! Open to all Faculty & Staff

Curricular Initiatives: New Programs and Curricular Connections - Professional Development Lunch
2026-03-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Over the past year, we have launched two minors – Climate Studies (CLIM) and Humanities, Arts, and Creative Computing (HACC). Alongside these additions, we are working to strengthen faculty collaboration across the curriculum to better support programmatic needs. Join us for a conversation about these initiatives, explore ways to get involved, and learn how your expertise can help shape and enhance our academic program.
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

How to Start a Pathway - Professional Development Lunch
2026-04-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Pathways, Wooster’s career exploration certificate program, is ever evolving, expanding to meet the career interests of our students and expertise of our faculty and staff. In fact, you may have ideas even now about ways your classes or departments could be part of students’ career development. Join us to learn about the process of starting a new Pathway. There’ll be time to brainstorm ideas for new Pathways, as well as general Q&A related to advising Pathways students and being part of a Pathway faculty/staff team.
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Faculty Research Gathering - Daren Kendall
2026-04-03 16:15 - 18:00 | Kauke Tower, 400 E University St, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Synthetic Poetics: The Art & Science of Creative Exchange
Daren Kendall, Art & Art History
Joanna Rokicka, Associate Professor of Polymer Science, Western Pomeranian University of Technology
Join us to enjoy appetizers and drinks with other faculty and learn about a colleague’s research!

Athletics Collaboration - Professional Development Lunch
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
A committee of faculty and athletic administrators developed several ideas and guiding questions that NCAC institutions can use to foster conversations between coaches and faculty. With the leadership of our Faculty Athletic Representatives, Professor Drew Pasteur and Professor Michelle Johnson, and Professor Sarah Sobeck, Dean for Faculty Development, we will discuss how we collectively support student success at Wooster.
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Steal My Mentoring Idea - Professional Development Lunch
2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Leaders and participants from the Inclusive Research Mentoring Professional Learning Community will offer strategies and suggestions for helping make their mentoring relationships more inclusive (and more effective). Bring your own ideas for mentoring practices to share with the group as well!
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!

Updates from AI Taskforce and Professional Learning Community - Professional Development Lunch
2026-04-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States

Culnan Award Celebration
2026-04-27 16:15 - 18:00 | Kittredge Dining Hall, 535 E. Wayne Ave., Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Through the generosity of Mary J. Culnan (’66) this year we launch the Culnan Awards to honor Wooster’s faculty. These awards recognize faculty for their excellence and creativity, especially as it relates to experiential learning, mentorship, and teaching. We will be formally presenting the awards at the reception, and the program will include highlights across all the nominees and celebrate the outstanding work of the full faculty. Join us for appetizers, drinks, and celebration! RSVP suggested but not required

School's (almost) out for Summer - Professional Development Lunch
2026-04-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Tartan Room, Lowry Center, 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, 44691, United States
Join us for the final PDL of the academic year, where we’ll focus on setting personal and professional goals for the summer. Come share your tips for making the most of the coming months, as well as suggestions for fun regional activities for those looking to explore.
Lunch tickets are available at 11:45am and the program begins at 12pm. Open to all faculty & staff!
