Dear Colleagues,
As we near the last week of spring classes, I would like to thank you for your continued support and dedication to our students. I encourage you all to not only support your students in their final weeks of the semester, but yourselves as well. The work you’ve accomplished impacts our students, and I appreciate all that you do. I look forward to finishing the semester strong.
New Student Evaluation Administration Process
Student evaluations of instruction for spring 2025 open to students on Friday, April 18, and close on Saturday, April 26. The University has updated the evaluation process to align with recent state legislation.
For all courses meeting face-to-face or synchronously online, instructors and faculty are required to provide at least 15 minutes at the beginning of one class during the week of April 21–25 for students to complete the teaching evaluation instrument.
For fully online courses, instructors/faculty should set a daily reminder for students in the LMS.
Evaluations are completed through Pilot and are anonymous. Instructors are not provided results until all grades, from all instructors, have been submitted for the semester. If a student is unable to complete the evaluation during the time allotted, their individual response remains open through April 26.
Read more about the updated evaluation process, including the newly required state content.
Participate in the Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign
With just under two weeks remaining in the Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign, we have reached 34% participation. Staff participation accounts for a 71% contribution rate, while faculty contributions make up 29% of the total. The goal of this campaign is 50% participation of faculty and staff, so make your contribution today!
The academic-related area contributions as of Monday, April 14, are:
- College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies – 100% participation
- University Libraries – 72% participation
- Lake Campus – 51% participation
- Raj Soin College of Business – 50% participation
- College of Computer Engineering and Computer Science – 47% participation
- College of Health, Education, and Human Services – 38% participation
- College of Liberal Arts – 36% participation
- College of Science and Mathematics – 15% participation
- Boonshoft School of Medicine – 13% participation
Submit Session Proposals for the Teaching for Student Success Symposium
The Teaching for Student Success Symposium will be held on Monday, August 18. The symposium is a great way to begin the semester and provides valuable information. Our keynote speaker will be Catherine Denial, Ph.D., author of A Pedagogy of Kindness.
This year’s symposium will focus on building community in the classroom. Faculty are encouraged to submit a session proposal to present at the symposium by April 25. Proposals can be from individuals or groups in the Wright State community.
The Center for Faculty Excellence encourages everyone to propose a session on any topic related to excellence in teaching and student success. However, we are especially looking for strategies and methods that have worked for you around the topics of:
- Community building in the classroom
- Effectively working with a variety of learners
- Student mental health issues
Presentations will be accepted for the following:
- Workshops (approximately 45 minutes): Interactive sessions that actively engage participants.
- Roundtables (about 20 minutes): A brief 5–10-minute presentation followed by discussion and Q&A.
Applicants will be notified by the middle of May if their proposal was accepted.
Contact Peggy Kelly, faculty fellow for pedagogy, in the Center for Faculty Excellence at peggy.kelly@wright.edu with any questions.
Faculty Resources and Workshops
- User Training for Faculty Activity Reports continues to be available through the spring semester. Submissions will be collected through information entered by faculty in Watermark’s Faculty Success software.
Register for a one-hour user training session. - The Center for Faculty Excellence is pleased to bring weekly tips to your inbox through Monday Morning Mentors. These are quick video presentations with additional materials provided. The presentation and supplemental material for “How Can I Use Surveys and Polls to Support Active Learning?” are available through April 20. To access the presentation, use “surveys575” as the password.
- The Center for Faculty Excellence offers events throughout the year to provide our teaching community with opportunities for learning and improving teaching skills, networking, sharing ideas, and viewing demonstrations of new, emerging pedagogical techniques and technologies:
April 16 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m., and April 17 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m.: Banner 9 Transition
April 18 from 1:15-2:10 p.m. and April 22 from 2:00-2:55 p.m.: Entering Course Assessment Results
April 24 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Avoiding Predatory Publishers and Harnessing the Power of OhioLINK Open Access Agreements
Register for a workshop.
When a Student Needs Support
- The Student Success Navigator showcases the wide range of resources designed to support our students. Whether students are interested in joining a student organization, looking for access to mental health services, playing a sport, or finding a job, all information is available in one central location.
- Wright.edu/help is a great resource for helping students or making referrals. This site contains contact information for emergency or essential departments that can assist your students all in one location.
I am grateful for your dedication to promoting student success. I hope you have a wonderful and productive week!
Jim Denniston, Ph.D.
Acting Provost
