Dear Colleagues,
The second half of the fall semester is here, and I want to thank you all for your continued dedication and support to our students. This academic year has been full of excitement, hard work, and progress. Your impact on our students is infinite, and your commitment has a direct impact on retention and student success.
However, as expanded upon below, there is work to do related to student feedback, specifically, reporting midterm grades. As I talk with students each week, I continually hear from them about how you—our faculty—are making a difference in their lives and how important you have been to them and their experience. It is imperative that we strive to exceed our students’ expectations, and providing feedback to students as related to their progress in your course is necessary. You continue to make a difference, and I am thankful for you.
Midterm Grading
Midterm grading for the fall semester closed last week with 89.7% of required classes reported midterm grades. This does not meet our expectations or the needs of our students. While over 30,000 grades were submitted, over 600 fewer students received their grades and feedback. Students have repeatedly expressed their need for this information and expect it.
On a more positive note, I would like to congratulate the College of Health, Education, and Human Services, which had a 97.48% submission rate, and the Boonshoft School of Medicine, which submitted 100% of its required grades.
Again, issuing midterm grades is a high-impact practice for student success and is a requirement for all undergraduate courses. We look forward to improving this process as we strive for 100% compliance.
Open Enrollment
The 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment period is November 1 through November 14. Benefits Open Enrollment is a once-a-year opportunity for benefit-eligible employees to reflect on their current benefit elections and make necessary changes for the upcoming year. All benefit-eligible employees are required to take action to waive, terminate, continue, or enroll in coverage for 2025. Elections made during open enrollment take effect on January 1, 2025. For more details, including informational session dates and times, visit the open enrollment webpage.
Events
- To combat prescription drug misuse, the Department of Public Safety and Counseling and Wellness Services have partnered with the Fairborn Police Department to host the first Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. You can dispose of your unused or unwanted medications on Friday, October 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Millett Hall Atrium. The event is free to all Wright State employees and students.
The event provides a safe, convenient, anonymous, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. The collected medications will be safely destroyed to prevent them from being misused or contaminating the environment.
- A Symposium on AI, Machine Learning, and HR designed for practitioners eager to explore the transformative potential of technology in the workforce will take place on Tuesday, October 29. This event brings together researchers, innovators, and local industry leaders who focus on AI adoption strategy for organizations to delve into the latest advancements and practical applications of AI and machine learning in human resources and organizations. Gain practical knowledge from real-world examples, a thought-provoking academic panel discussion, and a keynote address by a leading academic in the field. Register for the symposium.
- The College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies will host a graduate programs open house on Thursday, November 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Student Union. Many of you will be at the event recruiting new students. Thank you! If you are not volunteering, please stop by and meet some prospective students.
Mental Health First Aid Training – Requirement Reminder
Full-time employees are required to participate in mental health first aid training. This important training will equip you with skills to support others facing mental health or substance use challenges. The course is designed to teach you how to assist others in need.
Virtual and in-person sessions are offered over a variety of dates and times. Classes are facilitated by Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services or Wright State University trainers and run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., including breaks and a lunch break. Upon completion, your training is valid for three years.
If you have any questions, contact mhfa@wright.edu. Thank you for your commitment to fostering a supportive environment at Wright State! We look forward to seeing you in training.
Faculty Resources and Workshops
- The next Campus AI Brown Bag Series: Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity at Wright State University will take place on Tuesday, October 29, at 2:15 p.m., in 058 Rike Hall.
This second in a series of brown bags addresses AI tools available to our students, reviews the academic integrity process, and suggests how to detect and deter AI-related academic integrity violations. Chris Hogan, director of community standards and student conduct, will present. We hope to see you then!
- The Center for Faculty Excellence will offer a Course Design Institute (CDI) to assist with designing or redesigning courses. The CDI wants all students to be successful, and we believe that given the right course experience, all students are capable of learning difficult things and being successful in their courses.
The CDI will assist in reviewing and creating student-centered outcomes and objectives, planning for effective activities and assessments, and creating lessons that will set students up for success. The institute will be a mix of short videos, in-person discussion, and time to create your own course—with feedback.
The CDI includes five in-person meetings starting on Friday, October 25 (total meeting time is 15 hours).
Register online.
- 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 to Supercharge Your Slide Deck” are available through October 27. To access the presentation, use “supercharge702” as the password.
- Closing the Loop on Course Assessment: At the beginning of the term, assessment plans were created for each course. Now that the term is wrapping up, it is time to collect, report, and analyze the data. This workshop will walk through these processes to close the loop on course assessment for the term. Participants will learn how to report and/or collect data in the Planning and Self-Study system, receive tips on analyzing assessment results, and identify data-informed opportunities to improve student success.
Tuesday, November 26, 2:30-3:25 p.m., in-person
Friday, December 6, 11:15 a.m.-12:10 p.m., virtual (Webex link will be sent upon registration)
Thursday, December 12, 12:30-1:25 p.m., in-person
Register
Research and Sponsored Programs Training Opportunities
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is offering Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training on:
Fall semester: October 23 and 30 at 1:00 p.m. in 158 University Hall
Spring semester: January 31, February 7, 14, and 21, time and location TBD
Faculty, staff, students, and external collaborators whose research is supported by NSF or NIH must periodically participate in the RCR forums and program. This includes anyone who can influence the results and validity of your research. The RCR program requires participation in four forum sessions at four-year intervals.
Although only required for NSF- or NIH-funded research, anyone is welcome to attend. Learn more.
When a Student Needs Support
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 hope you all have a wonderful week! You are appreciated!
Amy Thompson, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
