Teaching and Scholarship Hub News

I was recently coaching my 7-year-old’s baseball game and gave a pregame talk about focus. There’s a lot to keep in mind for the “Mighty Mussels” (a solid team name, but last year’s “Space Cowboys” wins): where to throw the ball on defense, balls and strikes at the plate, and when to run or stay put on the bases.

The game was tied 6–6 with two outs, and we were on defense. I saw my second baseman staring off at another field, hands behind his back, completely zoned out. My instinct was to yell. And okay, I did, but then I felt a little bad. Focus is hard, not just for kids. Lately, I’ve caught myself doing the same thing: sitting at my desk, staring out the window, overwhelmed by the state of the world and/or my end-of-semester to-do list. Maybe you’ve felt it too. If so, I’ll leave you with the words I yelled (LOL) at my second baseman: You got this. Wishing you a focused second-to-last week of the semester! – Andrew

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The past couple of weeks, I’ve been enjoying the annual bloom of one of my favorite trees, the Eastern Redbud. While you can see their pink flowers almost anywhere in Virginia this time of year, they thrive best as an understory tree, drawing nourishment from the slivers of light that filter through the forest canopy. As we enter into this busy season in challenging times, I hope you’re also finding some slivers of light where you can. Here in the Faculty Hub, we’ve planned a variety of end-of-semester events to help you finish the year strong and prepare for the summer months. You can take a look at the full agenda of upcoming events here. Finally, please help us recognize your hard work at UR during our Faculty Appreciation Days on April 22 and 23. I invite you to sign up on the registration page, and let us know there if you would like a boxed lunch and/or a chair massage. – Kitty Keep perusing here.

With midterms behind us and finals approaching, we find ourselves entering one of the most stressful and demanding periods of the semester, for both faculty and students. As educators, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of grading, preparing students for finals, and meeting expectations. However, as Cate Denial writes in A Pedagogy of Kindness, “The biggest obstacle to kindness in the classroom is fear – and the antidote is self-knowledge” (100). By cultivating reflection and self-knowledge – both in ourselves and in the students with whom we work – we can create a more mindful and compassionate classroom environment. While we reflect on self-awareness and kindness, we also invite you to consider some of the upcoming events and resources available through the Faculty Hub this week. – Gabriel

Keep reading here…

Spring is finally here! As the weather gets warmer, we hope you are finding time to get outside and spread your wings…even if it’s just a quick walk around the lake. And just like spring, the Faculty Hub is brimming with activity and a variety of programming this week and beyond. Find out more here.

Welcome back–we hope you all had a lovely spring break! This week, we are back in full swing in the Faculty Hub with a variety of timely events to support you in your teaching and scholarship. We are also excited to release calls for applications to two of the Faculty Hub’s signature programs: The Inclusive Pedagogy Cohort (IPC) and the Inclusive Pedagogy Partnership Program (IP3)! If you haven’t already, please consider applying to join one of these programs for AY 25-26. We hope to see you in the Faculty Hub soon! Keep reading here.

Somehow, we’re now in March, and spring break is just around the corner. This stretch of the semester can be a busy one, so we hope you’ll find moments to recharge and reconnect with what keeps you going. We’re here for you with events, resources, and conversations to support you along the way. Take a look at what’s coming up in the Faculty Hub, and enjoy the break next week—and the return of longer days! Read more here.

Last week’s whirlwind reminded me of a line from a Pearl Jam song: “No matter how cold the winter, there’s a springtime ahead.” With spring break just two weeks away, warmer days and a well-earned pause from classes are on the horizon.

One thing that has made this winter energizing is hearing about your pedagogical experiments—especially with generative AI. It’s inspiring to see so many creative approaches to teaching take shape, and I feel lucky to work alongside such incredible educators.

Read on for upcoming events, resources, and opportunities to support your work as we push through to spring. – Andrew

As we near the midpoint of the semester, now is a great time to pause for reflection and recalibration. Attend Morning Blend to brainstorm ways to gather midterm feedback from your students or consider joining colleagues in the upcoming writing challenge. Read on for full details on events happening this week. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Faculty Hub for support — we are eager to collaborate with you.

As we welcome week five of the spring semester and Valentine’s Day, the Faculty Hub is here to provide support and opportunities for growth, connection, and reflection. Whether you’re looking to enhance your teaching practices, connect with colleagues, or explore new professional development resources, we’ve got a variety of events and workshops to help you continue thriving. Please keep reading for more details, and we hope you find something that enriches your semester.

 

We have started a new puzzle in the spirit of the spring-like weather. Stop by the touchdown table when you have a minute to help get it started. Who knows? You might make a connection with a colleague that sparks a new idea. Please keep reading to give us feedback on other ways you might like to build community. (Thanks to Jen Thomas, expert puzzler and Book Arts Program Director, for loaning us this puzzle!)

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