Dear Colleagues,
As we are in the second half of the spring semester, many events and opportunities for engagement are available to you. The Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign kicked off this week and the goal for the campaign is participation at any level. Also beginning this week are listening sessions for the developing Strategic Plan. This is a busy time at Wright State University, and I look forward to seeing you at the many planned events and celebrations.
Strategic Plan Listening Sessions
In early February, the University began its strategic planning process. Approximately 70 participants, organized into working groups, have been dedicated to developing a plan focused on five key objectives.
As part of this effort, the groups will host listening sessions to share their progress and gather feedback from the university community. These sessions will be held virtually via Webex, and we encourage all to attend, schedule permitting. For those unable to participate in real-time, recordings and feedback surveys will be available on the Strategic Plan website. The full schedule of listening sessions is below.
Thank you for your continued engagement with this important process. We value your input and look forward to your participation.
Friday, March 21, listening session schedule and meeting links:
9:00 a.m. – Objective 3: Forging and Sustaining Strong Collaborative Relationships
11:00 a.m. – Objective 5: Resource Management and Sustainable Operating Budget
1:00 p.m. – Objective 1: Enhancing Wright State University's role as an economic driver for the region
Friday, March 28, listening session schedule and meeting links:
9:00 a.m. – Objective 4: Advancing Knowledge through Research, Entrepreneurship and Creative Endeavors
11:00 a.m. – Objective 2: Deliver Student Success through Transformative Educational Experiences
Spring Commencement
Lake Campus Ceremony: Thursday, May 1, 5:30 p.m.
Graduate Ceremony: Friday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m.
Boonshoft School of Medicine Ceremony: Saturday, May 3, 4:30 p.m.
Commencement is an event that marks a significant moment in the lives of our students and their families. The granting of a degree and the admission to the “rights and privileges” associated with a given degree are extraordinarily important events for those receiving degrees.
The presence of faculty is especially important for the graduates and their families. All faculty should prioritize their attendance and bargaining unit faculty are reminded of their responsibility under Article 7.15.
Registration is required and is open now through April 15.
- Dayton Campus Graduate and Undergraduate Ceremony: complete the registration form
- Lake Campus Ceremony: register using the link that was provided in an email from Associate Dean Mark Cubberley on March 18
- Boonshoft School of Medicine Ceremony: register using the link that was provided in the email from Theresa Corey on February 24
Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign
Our commitment to student success in all aspects is our top priority. Alongside ongoing initiatives in and out of the classroom, another opportunity presents itself. The annual Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign began on Monday and runs through Friday, April 25.
The goal of this campaign is participation—your involvement with a minimum donation of $5 will make this successful. Last year faculty and staff participation was 52%. Our goal this year is to be above 50% again, and I know we can achieve it.
To learn more about the 2025 Campus Scholarship and Innovation Campaign or to make a gift online, visit wright.edu/csic.
OhioLINK Open Educational Resource Course Redesign Mini-Grants
OhioLINK Affordable Learning has dedicated funding to help faculty learn more about using openly licensed or other affordable course content for their high-enrollment courses. With this funding, OhioLINK Affordable Learning is continuing to offer Open Educational Resource (OER) Course Redesign Mini-Grants.
All full-time or part-time faculty from OhioLINK member institutions interested in learning more about teaching with OER are eligible to apply. Up to 30 applications will be selected and will receive a $650 stipend for participating once all the requirements have been met.
Important dates and additional information.
Events
- The College of Liberal Arts is excited to host the 26th annual ArtsGala on Saturday, April 5, in the Creative Arts Center.
ArtsGala is known as one of the premier arts events in Dayton. Each year, guests are treated to a wealth of top-notch performances and exhibitions by Wright State’s talented students in art, music, theatre, dance, and motion pictures. In 2025, ArtsGala returns with a jade butterfly theme representing transformation and will continue to fund the dreams of students in the fine and performing arts as they work diligently to pursue careers as performers, movie directors, musicians, and artists.
Wright State faculty and staff are invited to use promo code WSU2025 to receive a discounted patron ticket price of $175 (a savings of $125!). The faculty/staff discount is limited to Wright State faculty and staff members and immediate family members (spouses/children).
Visit wright.edu/artsgala to learn more and purchase your tickets today! As always, the event is black tie optional.
- The University Libraries and the Friends of the Libraries invite you to join us at the annual Friends of the Libraries Luncheon on Wednesday, April 16, at 11:00 a.m. in the Wright State Nutter Center Berry Room. Our featured speaker is Erica Blaire Roby, Wright State alumna, attorney, and award-winning BBQ pitmaster. A hot buffet, salad, and dessert will be served.
Registration is required and must be completed by April 9. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Libraries. If you need accommodations for this event, please call 937-775-2380 five business days in advance.
Faculty Resources and Workshops
- 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 AI Feedback Tools and Blended Grading Develop Growth-Minded Students?” are available through March 23. To access the presentation, use “feedback078” as the password.
- Wright State Online, in association with the Center for Faculty Excellence, will host workshops focusing on ADA compliance:
March 21 from 1:15-2:10 p.m. and March 25 from 2:00-2:55 p.m.: Introduction to Academic Program Review
March 24 from 2:30-3:25 p.m.: Writing Outcomes and Objectives
March 28 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.: Graphic Design: Best Practices
April 11 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.: Pilot/LMS: Best Practices for Instructional Design and Course Organization
April 18 from 1:15-2:10 p.m. and April 22 from 2:00-2:55 p.m.: Entering Course Assessment Results
Register for a workshop.
- The Center for Faculty Excellence will continue the Quality Matters (QM) Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR) (7th Edition) Workshop on Friday, March 21, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Participants will learn about drafting helpful recommendations as you apply the rubric to an actual course. The effective instructional design principles included in the workshop apply to all learning environments (face-to-face, online, and blended learning). This workshop is helpful for designing and developing courses and for those considering the adoption of a quality assurance process for online and hybrid learning.
The APPQMR Workshop is an eight-hour, one-day online session. Registered participants will receive information about the session—including the Webex link—the week of the class.
Register for the workshop.
Research and Sponsored Programs
As part of our membership with Hanover Research, whose services include proposal review and revision, Research and Sponsored Programs is excited to announce that Hanover Research’s 2025 webinars are available to faculty and staff. Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Keys to a Competitive NSF CAREER Proposal
- Artificial Intelligence Policies Among Federal Grantmakers
- Facilitating Stakeholder Engagement in Grant Development
- Deciphering Feedback from Grant Reviewers
- Developing Competitive NSF Proposals
View the complete list of upcoming presentations and past recordings.
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
