Introducing our new Provost and V.P. for Lifelong Learning — Dr. Sylvia Spears! | |
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Greetings CU Faculty,
I am reaching out to introduce myself. As you may already be aware, I will be transitioning into the role of Provost and Vice President for Lifelong Learning as Adam Bush steps into his role as CU’s incoming President this summer. I am honored to have an opportunity to continue the work Adam has spearheaded over the years and look forward to partnering with him as CU’s new president. May the Force be with you in your new role, Adam.
I am especially looking forward to working collaboratively with CU’s talented and dedicated faculty. The work each of you do in creating vibrant, supportive, and rigorous learning experiences for CU students is at the heart of the College’s work. My hope is both to support and challenge us as a learning community to be our best selves and to do our best work in recognition of the trust that has been extended to us by CU’s incredible student body.
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As some of you may already know, I joined the CU community almost two years ago as Vice President for Administration & Innovation, after more than 25 years in higher education where I worked to create educational change. Prior to CU, I served in a variety of leadership roles at public, private, and Ivy league colleges and universities. I have also taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, and continue to serve as dissertation advisor to students in a doctoral program in educational leadership. Over my many years in education, I have developed an educational philosophy that is informed by the following commitments:
- To center individuals and communities who are pushed to the margins;
- To recognize the deep knowledge, skills, and resilience of individuals and communities on the margins;
- To advocate for the self-determinization of individuals and communities;
- To decentralize and democratize the construction and ownership of knowledge;
- To do my own work to become free from internalized oppression as part of the process of dismantling societal systems of oppression;
- To take bold and innovative action that creates material change for individuals and communities, while working toward the greater goal of educational and societal transformation.
These values call me every day to move with clarity, purpose, and a sense of urgency as I work to create meaningful and supportive educational environments in which teaching and learning can thrive. I am so honored to be doing this work in community with each of you an d look forward to connecting with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
Sylvia C. Spears, Ph.D.
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Massive thanks to all of you who have guided students, assessed work, provided feedback, and hung in there with us through our record-breaking semester!!!
Thanks to MANY MANY folx we have had almost 700 Big10 submissions.
2023 Workshop Wednesday Summer Series
Lizz Colón, Director of Learning In Public
Wednesday 5:30 P.M. - 7 P.M. EST
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8515619450
Meeting ID: 851 561 9450
Passcode: 6800569
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- May 24, 2023
- Family Caregiving
- Accountability/ Advocacy Big 10’s
- May 31, 2023
- Civic Engagement
- Collaboration Big 10
- Jun 7, 2023
- Entrepreneurial Endeavors
- Critical Thinking Big 10
- Jun 14, 2023
- Creative Expression
- Creativity Big 10
- Jun 21, 2023
- Leadership
- Communication Big 10
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- Jun 28, 2023
- TA/ BA work Experience
- Problem Solving Big 10
- Jul 5, 2023
- Work Experience
- Reflection Big 10
- Jul 12, 2023
- Immigration Journey
- Intercultural Engagement Big 10
- Jul 19, 2023
- Q & A help for LIP/ Big 10s
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Interested in learning more about liberatory, authentic assessment strategies? We are looking for more assessment specialists for Fall 2023. Reach out to Lizz for more information. | |
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A few things for the end of the semester!
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Complete this survey about your experience with Moodle.
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Got students that did amazing things this semester; of course you do–give them a Big 10 Shoutout!
- Remind your students to complete their student evaluations so you can get feedback about the semester.
Summer Session faculty
Just a reminder of the upcoming (or recent) due dates!
Syllabi are due: Please submit to Lance Eaton & Karen Casper as soon as possible if yo haven’t yet. Please remember:
- Syllabi should be Google Docs.
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Syllabi must use this syllabus template
5/8/23: Syllabus, assignment guidelines and Weeks 1-3 ready in Moodle
5/15/23: Moodle courses open; Announcement sent to students
5/22/23: First Day of Class
- Lance
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Dear Lab Faculty,
Thank you all for amazing senior speeches! They were truly a joy to watch. Please make sure that you send the recordings of your speeches to communications@collegeunbound.edu. And the joy keeps coming as we have exhibitions this week!
Please put your exhibition links (or check if yours is correct) and sign up if you are going to visit other cohorts please!
Exhibitions - THIS WEEK!/ Week 16
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Happening during class time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays in the same format as your regular lab
- Online labs will meet online
- In person labs will present in person WITH a link for virtual guests
- CU staff will be attending as many exhibitions as possible!
- Please continue to use the Critical Response Process (or the modified version in guides) and make sure each student gets a chance to present.
- In lieu of a final exam, please have students reflect on their exhibition and feedback prior to the end of the semester.
- Graduating students who have already shared senior speeches do not need to do an exhibition.
As we close the semester, here are some important reminders:
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Please fill out this Reflection on Practice form ASAP
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Our last lab faculty meeting will be on Monday, May 22nd (the first day of classes for the summer semester from 6:30-8pm. There will be no lab faculty meeting this Thursday, May 4th because of everything else going on right now.
- We will provide more concrete instructions for upcoming lab faculty workshops, schedules, updated contracts and desires for the summer. While you will not teach lab in the summer, we would love if you could still stay in touch with your students, have a check in and potentially one gathering over the summer.
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PVD Graduation is on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 from 1-3pm at the Waterfire Arts Center. Please arrive by 12 noon and be ready to sit, walk and share only the words that you write for your graduating seniors in the Big 10 awards, we will have less than a minute per graduate so brevity is essential! We will have a practice session at Adam’s house a few days beforehand most likely on May 9th in the evening but it is important that we are prepared and QUICK in our words to our students as we had our times to have lengthy speeches in their individual speeches.
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The Big10 Awards (one for each graduating student in your lab) are OVERDUE!
- Complete by EOD/ 5pm TODAY, Monday, May 1st, 2023
- Thank you to Maryellen, Carlene, Ezenwayi, Aubrey, Deborah, Mike, Rahsaan, Christine, Jacqui, Ashton, and Jodie for being on top of it!
Thank you all again for all you do, this has been a fabulous semester and we are blessed to have each and every one of you on our College Unbound team as lab faculty members.
In appreciate and respect,
Sage
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What a spectacular year it has been for our program and our students! In just a couple of weeks, we will have the largest group of TA2BA graduates crossing the stage-more than doubling our total number of TA2BA grads! And while each student’s next chapter will be unique to their goals and passions, it gives me so much hope to know that these graduates will be teaching and mentoring youth across Rhode Island & Philadelphia. With all of the attacks on teachers and public schools in the media & political sphere, it is our students who give me hope for the future!
And thank you to each of you for playing a role in their development as teachers, as leaders, as change makers and as humans! It takes a village and I am so proud of our community of faculty, staff & students! May we all continue to support our students and each other in this vital work. Here’s to changing the world one teacher at a time!
P.S. Best wishes on a powerful night of Exhibitions, an intentional wrapping up of the semester, and an inspiring graduation ceremony. While summer is definitely a lighter load for lab faculty, please make sure your continuing students still feel supported and connected throughout these next few months. Reach out if you have any questions. All the best ♥️.
- Aubrey
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It’s Week 16: Exhibition Week!
- Remind students how far they have come and how much you and your cohort has accomplished, it is now time to shine and showcase all that hard work!
- Reminder to utilize the modified Liz Lerman Feedback Process for each Exhibition:
- A Semester Exhibition Guide
- B-Z Exhibition Guide
- I will be reaching out to each of you for end of semester 1:1s. Thank you all for completing your Intent to Return Forms, we are so happy to continue this journey!
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Grades and Narratives for end of semester are here!
- We are excited to see everyone at our first ever Philadelphia Graduation and End of Year Celebration!
- As a reminder, graduates and faculty are invited to the Graduation Ceremony and EVERYONE (all PA/NJ students) are invited to the End of Year Celebration:
Sunday, May 7, 2023
11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Graduation
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. End of Year Celebration
at the
Historic Strawberry Mansion
2450 Strawberry Mansion Dr
Philadelphia, PA 19132
RSVP HERE
It has been an amazing semester and each of you is APPRECIATED!
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Unbound Remix
Join our live storytelling event this Friday from 6-8 P.M. at AS220 in Providence. Can't make it in-person? Join us on Zoom.
Alumni Dinner
Please remind 2023 graduates that they are invited to the Alumni Dinner and should RSVP ASAP.
Graduation
Be sure to RSVP for this year's graduation held on Saturday, May 13 at the Waterfire Arts Center.
Sneaker Ball
Save the Date! Our inaugural College Unbound Sneaker Ball, a semi-formal dance and fundraiser at the Met High School in Providence to celebrate and support our wonderful students! Stay tuned for more.
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Sincerely,
All of Us at College Unbound, including:
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