Share Your Thoughts!

The VPFA, OTL, IT Campus Partnerships, and Online Program Services are seeking to understand faculty development and classroom technology needs, in addition to gathering information about ongoing COVID impacts to faculty life. Please consider responding to this survey which should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Faculty Course Alerts and Commendations

At this point of the term, you may see an uptick in students who would benefit from connecting to support and resources. This year, if a student in your course is in danger of failing the course at any point during the term, please submit an alert to connect students to resources.

Below is a reminder of the referral systems available to support students, all of which are available in the MyDU Portal, Community Resources page (you can also just type “referral” in the search bar in the portal).

Inspire Course Commendations/Alerts (undergraduate students only)

Inspire course commendations and alerts are designed for faculty to congratulate and celebrate academic performance (via commendations) and/or to report concerns that are entirely academic in nature (via alerts). Examples include:
Students who have missed multiple classes (but aren’t exhibiting other concerning behaviors)
Poor academic performance and/or missing coursework
Referrals for academic skill building (e.g., time management, learning strategies, etc.)
Note: Faculty will automatically be notified via email when an alert has been resolved; for in-progress alerts, faculty can check the status of an alert within the Inspire system.
Course alerts need only be submitted once per student for a given term. A secondary alert should only be submitted if new information or issues arise.
More information on the Inspire Alerts system is available in the step-by-step Course Alerts Quick Guide, Inspire Alerts Resources website.

SOS Referrals

SOS Referrals are designed for DU community members to report and connect students to resources for elevated personal concerns. Examples include:
Extenuating personal circumstances (e.g., loss of a family member, bereavement, personal tragedy)
Basic needs assistance (food, financial, and/or housing insecurities)
Complex issues that may require the connection of multiple offices
Medical leave of absence
Note: The SOS Referral page also includes a link to the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) Referral (behavioral concerns).

The teams behind Inspire and SOS work closely together, so please do not feel obligated to submit the same report to both systems.

Submitting these alerts and referrals has proven to be very effective in connecting students with important resources. Thank you for supporting your students in this way.

Faculty Resource Reception Next Week!

Come enjoy happy hour to celebrate the fall term as you learn about the different centers that support faculty teaching and research and that provide student academic support. Mingle with other DU faculty and staff as you learn about the latest services around campus.

Some of the centers that will be represented are:

University Libraries

Writing Center & Writing Program

The Office of Teaching and Learning

And more!

Appetizers and wine, beer, and soft drinks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

Faculty Resource Reception

Thursday, October 20, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Gregg Kvistad Special Events Room (Anderson Academic Commons 290)

The OTL is Hiring

The OTL is looking to expand our team! Please share this position with your networks.

Faculty Developer of Integrative and Experiential Learning

The Faculty Developer of Integrative and Experiential Learning will create programming as well as work individually with faculty to facilitate the integration of High Impact Practices, integrative learning, and experiential learning. The person in this position will also assist in the design and lead the execution of an educational campaign for the adoption of DU’s new ePortfolio platform.

Please contact otl@du.edu with any questions.

CCESL Communities of Practice Still Accepting Applications

Are you a community-engaged teacher who is interested in connecting and learning with colleagues who also do this work? Two Faculty Communities of Practice are being organized by the Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning (CCESL): The Activist Academic (co-sponsored by IRISE and OTL) and Creating Synergy in Community Engagement (co-sponsored by OTL). These Communities of Practice are small cohorts of cross-campus faculty who are experienced community-engaged teachers. Each community of practice focuses on a unique theme related to community engagement, and creates space to do communal reflection, collective problem-solving, and knowledge-sharing related to that topic. Each community will meet twice per quarter starting this fall. Meetings will be offered in a hybrid format, and meals or refreshments will be provided. Participants will receive a $250 stipend per quarter.

Applications are due Monday October 17. Please visit CCESL's website to learn more and apply.

Accessibility Tip - Submit Your Textbooks by October 15

Have you submitted your textbooks to the bookstore for the upcoming term? If not, please submit them to the DU Bookstore as soon as possible. Submitting your required textbook information through the DU Bookstore helps create better access for all students and will also allow the Disability Services Program (DSP) more time to process Alternate Format Text (AFT) requests. Students with the AFT accommodation are responsible for submitting their own AFT Request Form through the DSP, but they need to know the details of their required textbooks in order to submit their requests.

Upcoming Events

The Office of Teaching and Learning and the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs are hosting several events throughout this term. Join us to learn more about teaching strategies and academic technology, and visit the OTL Events Calendar to discover other upcoming events!

Transforming Teaching Evaluation at the Department Level: Celebrating Cohort 1 of DATs@DU

Friday, October 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Maglione Hall (Sie Complex, Room 5025)

Celebrating Teacher Scholars: An Evening with Provost Mary Clark & Professor of Law Roberto Corrada

Tuesday, October 18, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Faculty Lounge (Community Commons 2800)

UDL Your Course Series: Flexible Assessment

Tuesday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Online

Wednesday, October 19, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Online

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