Teaching and Learning Support: Expanding the Faculty Toolbox
Central to our mission is the enhancement of teaching and learning at JSU. Our weekly Faculty Fellows Teaching and Learning Workshops, led by six Faculty Teaching Fellows, introduce practical strategies and resources that faculty can immediately apply.
This year, we are also launching small peer learning communities so faculty can connect with colleagues around shared teaching goals, experiment with new approaches, and exchange feedback in supportive settings. Together, the workshops and peer learning groups expand the range of tools available to faculty, empowering them to innovate in their classrooms and to stay at the forefront of effective and engaging teaching practices.
ng Fellows and invited experts.
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Thu, Sept 4
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11:00 a.m.
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Kickoff: Meet the Teaching & Learning Fellows
Launch the semester by exploring JSU’s new peer learning communities, led by the Teaching & Learning Fellows. Connect with colleagues who share your interests, dive into specific teaching challenges or innovations, and preview the fall workshops that will support your goals. This is your chance to find your community, exchange ideas, and spark new approaches for the year ahead.
Find your peer learning community and spark new ideas for the year ahead.
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Wed, Sept 10
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3:00 p.m.
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Open Syllabus Spaces: Student Co-Creation for Engagement
Dr. Sharon Simmons, Department of Accounting, Finance, and Entrepreneurship
Explore practical ways to invite students into the design of your course content and structure. Learn how co-creation can boost engagement and deepen learning —and join colleagues in rethinking what shared ownership of the classroom can look like.
Discover how inviting students into course design can boost engagement and enhance learning.
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Fri, Sept 19
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12:00 p.m.
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Beyond the Essay: Project-Based Multimodal Design
Dr. Brittany Myburgh, Department of Art
Move past traditional assignments and design authentic, multimodal projects that engage students in critical thinking and creative communication. Explore concrete strategies, share examples with colleagues, and leave with new ideas you can adapt for your own courses.
Move beyond essays with projects that build flexible, 21st-century skills.
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Thu, Sept 25
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10:00 a.m.
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From Product to Process and Back Again: Rethinking Writing and AI
Dr. Craig Meyer, Department of English and Modern Languages
Join colleagues in reimagining how AI tools can shape writing as both process and product. Consider new ways to guide students’ learning, explore practical classroom strategies, and reflect on how AI is reshaping what counts as good writing.
Rethink how AI tools shape writing as both a process and a product.
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Fri, Oct 3
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11:00 a.m.
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Culturally Relevant Teaching in Higher Education
Dr. La’Keshia Opara-Nadi, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Join colleagues in exploring culturally relevant approaches that affirm students’ identities and connect learning to their lived experiences. Discover strategies to strengthen engagement, deepen understanding, and create more inclusive classrooms that support success for all learners.
Affirm students’ identities and foster inclusive, engaging classrooms.
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Wed, Oct 15
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10:00 a.m.
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Building Articles from Classwork: Mentoring Graduate Students Through Co-Authorship
Dr. Anwar Ahmad, Department of Biology
Join colleagues in exploring ways to transform graduate student coursework into publishable scholarship. Learn how structured prompts and guided mentorship can support co-authorship, strengthen students’ research skills, and expand opportunities for collaborative publication.
Turn graduate coursework into publishable scholarship through guided mentorship.
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Tues, Oct 28
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11:00 a.m.
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Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for Faculty and Student Thriving
Dr. Amirah Nelson, Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Psychometric Services
Join colleagues in exploring trauma-informed strategies that connect course content to students’ lived experiences and strengths. Discover approaches that foster safety, inclusion, and resilience—and leave with practices you can adapt to support both student and faculty thriving.
Learn strategies to connect teaching to students’ lived experiences and strengths.
AI On-Ramp: Exploring New Terrain Together
The AI-On Ramp series is designed to help faculty confidently take their first steps into the rapidly changing world of generative AI. Through hands-on sessions, shared experiments, and open discussion, we will navigate this new terrain together—building knowledge, exploring teaching applications, and supporting one another as we adapt. This collaborative approach ensures that no one is left behind and that our faculty community grows stronger as we chart the future of AI in higher education.
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Thu, Sept 18
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10:00 a.m.
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AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session I
Your AI Toolkit-Ethics, Engagement, and Everyday Use
Join colleagues in exploring the new Canvas AI Resource Hub and Faculty Readiness Self-Assessment Tool. Preview highlights from Intel’s modules on ethics, equity, and inclusive AI, and see sample engagement paths—from adapting assignments to adding modules into your courses. Leave with a clear roadmap for integrating AI responsibly into your teaching and research.
Get oriented with JSU’s AI Resource Hub and discover pathways for ethical, practical AI use.
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Thu, Oct 9
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10:00 a.m.
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AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session II
Designing Smarter: Creative Course Strategies with AI
Dr. Brittany Myburgh, Department of Art
Join colleagues in experimenting with AI as a tool for reimagining course activities and assignments. Explore design thinking approaches, try out discussion prompts and reflection exercises from Intel modules, and consider how AI can enhance creativity and engagement in your classroom. Leave with practical strategies and adaptable models for your own courses.
Use AI to design smarter learning activities that spark creativity and engagement.
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Thu, Oct 30
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10:00 a.m.
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AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session III
AI as Your Startup Buddy: Explore, Test, & Build Solutions
Join colleagues in experimenting with AI as a creative partner for generating, testing, and refining ideas. Explore Intel module strategies for entrepreneurial thinking, see classroom use cases, and try out adaptable templates for AI-resilient assignment design. Leave with concrete tools to help students approach AI as a resource for innovation and ethical problem-solving.
Experiment with AI as a partner in building, testing, and innovating new ideas.
New Faculty Mentoring Program: Supporting Faculty Through Tenure and Beyond
Our mentoring program is a cornerstone of faculty support at JSU. We connect new tenure-track faculty with experienced mentors who provide guidance on teaching, research, and professional growth. This fall, structured mentoring sessions will bring new faculty together for shared learning and community building, while one-on-one meetings with mentors help each faculty member design a comprehensive career plan. Together, these efforts provide the support needed to navigate the tenure process with confidence and to thrive in long-term academic careers.
Career-Building Workshops
The Mentoring Program supports first- and second-year tenure-track faculty, while also welcoming all faculty interested in strengthening their career trajectory. These sessions provide guidance, tools, and a supportive community to help you succeed at JSU and beyond.
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Wed, Sept 17
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3:00 p.m.
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Creating Your Tenure Roadmap
This session helps you translate broad goals into a concrete plan for the next three to five years. You will learn how to set milestones for teaching, research, and service that align with JSU’s tenure expectations, identify resources to support your progress, and anticipate potential challenges. Participants will leave with a personalized draft roadmap and strategies for revisiting and adjusting it as their career evolves.
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Wed, Oct 15
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3:00 p.m.
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Building a Research Pipeline and Protecting Time for It
A strong research portfolio depends on managing multiple projects in different stages. In this workshop, you will learn how to move from single papers to a long-term pipeline that supports publication, funding, and impact. We will cover practical strategies for blocking time, setting writing routines, and saying “no” strategically so that your scholarship continues to grow even during busy teaching semesters.
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Wed, Nov 12
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3:00 p.m.
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Collaborative Research at JSU: Finding Partners and Projects
Collaboration often leads to higher visibility, stronger grant proposals, and more sustainable scholarship. This session introduces ways to identify collaborators across JSU, build interdisciplinary partnerships, and join or form research clusters. Faculty will hear examples of successful partnerships and leave with tools for initiating conversations that can lead to co-authorships, joint projects, and external funding.
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Wed, Dec 10
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3:00 p.m.
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Balancing Service, Teaching, and Research Without Losing Focus
Service is essential but can easily take over your calendar. This workshop explores strategies for setting boundaries, aligning service commitments with your career plan, and keeping your research and teaching on track. Participants will learn how to evaluate requests, make intentional choices, and maintain balance among the three core areas of faculty work without burning out.
Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs)
Join a supportive community to set goals, write with focus, and track progress. WAGs provide accountability and momentum for your writing. Signup required.
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Mondays
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3:00–5:00 p.m.
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Tuesdays
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7:30–9:30 a.m.
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Each session includes a brief goal-setting check-in, focused writing time, and a wrap-up to track progress.
Faculty Travel Support
Faculty travel support is now handled directly through the Title III office. For inquiries, please contact Nicole Gholar-Harris at nicole.e.gholar-harris@jsums.edu.
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Are you interested in finding a mentor? Then complete our application for the 2025-2026 New Faculty Mentoring Program.
Faculty Development for Student Success
