November Newsletter

You accomplished things this year! A call for positive reflection & a reminder that we have a travel stipend:

I can’t believe 2024 is winding down! As we start wrapping up our classes and are preparing for Shelley Reid’s visit this week (see calendar below!), it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of reflecting ourselves, and preferably the positive kind!

If you’re like me, and always feeling a bit behind and over wrought, it can help to think back on what you DID do this semester. There are so many things I want to keep working on, teaching-wise, but I am also proud of the assignments and lesson plans I’ve tweaked this year, the books I’ve read, and other professional development opportunities I’ve engaged in.

For example, this summer I finally took advantage of the adjunct faculty travel fund and attended a conference all the way away in Cedar City. 200 whole miles away! I am so adventurous! But honestly, I had blast. I wrote and presented a paper, got some great research and publication feedback, and received some wonderful teaching ideas during the pedagogy panels. Yes, I’m still working on actually integrating the tools and ideas from the conference, but I’m proud of myself for going and am more primed for attending conferences in the future.

So give yourself some credit where credit’s due before jumping into the holiday season and new year with more to-dos. You’ve accomplished things!

If you’re interested in attending a conference in the future, do it! Attending conferences as an adjunct is completely optional, but we do have a travel fund to reimburse your conference expenses: $750 a year or $1500 for every other year. You can also request to attend the CCCC Conference (Conference on College Communication & Composition) even if you’re not presenting. FYI, the 2025 CCCC Conference will be held April 9-12 in Baltimore. So, if there’s a conference you’d like to attend, fill out the Travel Request Form available via the Faculty Commons page. (Don’t pay for anything until your travel is approved!)

What online tools do you use in your class?

Are you currently using any online tools (Perusall, Top Hat, BYU Flashcards, Turn It In, Proctorio, Research AIs like Perplexity, etc.) in your classes?

If so, would you be up interested in helping with a training to teach other adjuncts about your experience with said tool? Email me ([email protected]) or fill out this brief survey.

Don’t add over your cap for Winter semester!

I’ve already received a few emails from students trying to get add codes for Winter semester. As a reminder, don’t add over the caps!  The cap for WRTG 150 is 20, and the cap for all Advanced Writing courses, (311, 312, 313, 315, 316) is 25. The caps for literature courses do vary on course & classroom size, but don’t add over your assigned cap either! Waiting lists disappear after the third day of the semester for WRTG classes and on the first day of the semester for ENGL courses.

Journal Article Assignment

During our AI Book Club last month, Lisa Johnson shared this lovely assignment/checklist how to purposefully engage with a journal article in 60 minutes or less. Many of us are in thick of teaching our big research and inquiry assignments, so this might be a helpful resource. Thanks, Lisa!

Stuff for your calendar

NOVEMBER

November 7: Reflection & Learning Symposium 2024 with Dr. E Shelley Reid, an expert on reflection-infused courses. There are THREE events taking place:

• WTW in 11:00-11:50 am in 3105 JKB: Dr. Reid will discuss some of the challenges new (and experienced) teachers face. Dr. Reid’s will discuss her experiences preparing faculty to teach first-year writing. All are invited, and no RSVP is necessary. Read Dr. Reid’s article to prepare!

• Training from 2:00-3:30 pm in 250 MSRB: Dr. Reid will explore three common challenges to formally increasing time and attention for reflective writing in classrooms. Email Amy Williams if you’d like to attend.

• Workshop & Dinner from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Hinkley Center (3rd Floor): Dr. Reid will address teachers and faculty from K-12 & university settings to learn about supporting students as they move between educational settings. Please attend only if you’ve already submitted an RSVP.

November 21: Student Ratings Start! Encourage your students to complete one for your class! The more students who complete their student ratings the better picture you can get of what’s working and what’s not working in the classroom!

November 25: Withdraw Deadline. I recommend having conversations with failing or close-to-failing students before this deadline. Struggling students may not be aware of their options!

DECEMBER

December 11: Last Day of Class

December 12: Student Ratings End

December 12: English Department Christmas Lunch @ 12-1:30 pm in 4088 JFSB. Come enjoy some food & festive cheer (open house style) before finals begin!

December 30: Grades DUE by noon