Upcoming Events & Recent Announcements for Faculty
Faculty Opportunities & Information About Upcoming Events
Below you will find some of the information about opportunities shared in weekly emails from the Dean of Faculty. See Faculty Resources for additional resources to support your teaching, scholarship, professional and personal development, including faculty handbooks.
- Grant Writing Support – Preeti Chauhan, Distinguished Faculty Fellow for Research at OAR, will conduct weekly office hours this semester. The hours will vary and can be in-person or virtual to accommodate faculty schedules more flexibly. Please use this link to sign up two or three weeks in advance. If the available times are not convenient, please feel free to email her at pchauhan@jjay.cuny.edu to arrange an alternative meeting. Preeti is ready and available to provide guidance on grant writing opportunities, share information about OAR resources, and assist with the review/editing of grants.
- Faculty/Staff Student Engagement Program supports faculty efforts to interact with students outside of the classroom (e.g., lunch with a group of students; a catered event for students, perhaps with an outside speaker). The Program is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis for the remainder of the 2024-2025 academic year. Please submit your request by the listed deadline date for your expected scheduled event (see website). Applications will receive a notification within 3-5 business days after submission. Please note that as we have seen an increase in applications, we have prioritized a selection process that honors new applicants. Apply now at www.jjay.cuny.edu/fsse. If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please email fse@jjay.cuny.edu.
- Call for Proposals! The Faculty Opportunity Fund (FOF) supports full-time faculty members' professional development
- Refer to the application form for information on award eligibility, the application process and criteria, and funding categories.
- The FOF selection committee plans to evaluate applications 4-6 times per year, as needed: Feb 1, April 1, June 1, Sept 1, Nov 1.
Date | Event | Details | Location |
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Weds, Sept 4 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought: Economics | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Fri, Sept 6 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Successful Teaching @ JJ | 1st Friday | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Sept 27 @ 9am-2pm | Distinguished Teaching Prize Colloquium | Hosted by Dr. Gina Rae Foster & the TLC | TLC - 335 HH |
Mon, Oct 7 @ 1:30-2:50pm | 1st Monday: Caring vs Caretaking Workshop | Gina Rae Foster | TLC - 335 HH |
Weds, Oct 9 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought: Climate & Environmental Justice Faculty | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Fri, Oct 25 @ 1:30-3:30pm | Immigration Town Hall | TLC - 335 HH | |
Tues, Oct 29 @ 1:40-2:50pm | Workshop: Tenure & Promotion to Associate Professor | Kyeanna Bailey, Angela Crossman | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Nov 1 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Staying in the Lines: Policies & Faculty Responsibilities | Kinya Chandler, Gabriela Leal | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Nov 15 @ 10am-3pm | Writing Boot Camp | Work on your own writing and lunch chat with colleagues | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Nov 22 @ 10am-12pm | TLC: DTP Colloquium | Hosted by Dr. Gina Rae Foster & the TLC | Zoom |
Mon, Nov 25 @ 1:40-2:55pm | Workshop: Promotion to Full Professor | Kyeanna Bailey, Angela Crossman | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Dec 6 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Enacting our 7 Principles in the Classroom | Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Mangai Natarajan | TLC - 335 HH |
Tues, Dec 10 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought: Modern Languages & Literatures | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Mon, Feb 3 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Fri, Feb 7 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Resources for Scholarship & Creative Activity | OAR, library | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Feb 21 @ 1:30-3pm | Lecturer Workshop - CCE: What is it and How Do I Get it? | Angela Crossman, Kyeanna Bailey | TLC - 335 HH |
Mon, Mar 3 @ 1:40-2:50pm | Tentative Workshop: Faculty Leaves | FS/HR | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, Mar 7 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Faculty Panel: Wisdom & Reflections from New-ish Faculty Colleagues | More seasoned colleagues share their experiences and lessons learned | TLC - 335 HH |
Thurs, Mar 13 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought: Anthropology | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Tues, Apr 1 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought: Library | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Fri, Apr 4 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: Thinking About Service Strategically: Karen Kaplowitz, Angela Crossman | Angela Crossman | TLC - 335 HH |
Fri, May 2 @ 1:30-3pm | 1st Friday: TBD | TLC - 335 HH | |
Fri, May 9 @ 1:30-3pm | Workshop: Form C and the Personnel Process: Kyeanna Bailey, Angela Crossman | Kyeanna Bailey, Angela Crossman | TLC - 335 HH |
Mon, May 12 @ 1:30-2:45pm | Food for Thought | Lunch and learn with colleagues | Faculty/Staff Dining Room |
Weekly Faculty Updates
November 13, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLC Making Office Hours Intentional and Impactful. We know that office hours provide students an opportunity for meaningful, individual interactions with a faculty member. But office hours only help if students come. Some faculty members require that students visit office hours at least once. Tips for faculty about how to get students to attend abound, including that it can help to explain what “office hours” are to demystify them (and make them less scary). Some choose to rename them as “student hours,” “visiting hours,” or “student drop-in hours,” for example, to communicate their audience and purpose. There are also guides for students to office hours (also here). One of the most entertaining is this satirical video from Arizona State University on battling FMOOWMP with FOH (faculty office hours) – it’s worth sharing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQq1-_ujXrM. When students do come to office hours…
See the Faculty Handbook for more information on the “nuts and bolts” of faculty office hours. For additional resources to support your teaching, contact Teaching & Learning Center Director Gina Rae Foster at gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu. Upcoming deadlines:
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3. Upcoming Faculty Speakers/Discussions/Workshops
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4. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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5. Research Support/Opportunities
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6. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team) TODAY: DOES LMS How to Webinar: Brightspace Open Q & A, Weds, Nov 13, 2pm – 3pm. Meeting ID: 851 8280 3529; Passcode: 300745. Questions to LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Winter/Spring 2025 courses are now live in Brightspace. DOES LMS Support is merging cross-listed courses (they will appear under the prefix that is first alphabetically). To request other course merges (e.g., multiple sections of the same course), please use this form: https://forms.office.com/r/S7ExSEGTg2. If you are missing a course, check CUNYfirst to verify the course was assigned to you. If not, your department must contact the Registrar. DOES LMS Support added a link to the NavBar of JJ Brightspace courses to enable easy access to the Demo Student tool. For more info: Creating a Demo Student in Brightspace. Note: The Brightspace Attendance tool will be removed from BrS on December 28, 2024. Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist. More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY BrS trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form: REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
November 6, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
To submit a book order or indicate “no adoptions required/course does not use books”, log in to the bookstore at: JohnJayBooks.com with your CUNYfirst log in credentials. Click the faculty link to submit your course material ISBNs. |
2. Title IX Syllabus Statement Following up on last Monday’s workshop on faculty mandated reporting, as per CUNY’s new Policy on Sex-Based Misconduct, Jessica Greenfield and Gabriela Leal shared the sample syllabus language below, as requested. Feel free to reach out to either with questions. Title IX Syllabus Statement John Jay College is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. If you have experienced any form of sex-based misconduct, including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, and sexual or gender-based harassment, know that help and support are available. At John Jay, faculty are mandatory reporters and must report all information they receive regarding Sex-Based Misconduct to the College’s Title IX Coordinator. This is to ensure that all students who have experienced sex-based misconduct receive support, resources, and information about their rights. If you wish to speak to a confidential employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, you can contact the Title IX Advocate, Jessica Greenfield (jgreenfield@jjay.cuny.edu), or visit the Counseling Services Center in Room L.68 NB. For more information about reporting options and resources at John Jay and in the community, please contact Title IX Coordinator, Gabriela Leal (gleal@jjay.cuny.edu), or visit https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/compliance-diversity/non-discrimination-equal-opportunity/title-ix-sex-based-misconduct. |
3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLC On this post-election morning, as we consider the results in the midst of teaching our students, this TLC resources page may be helpful for some classes, Election Resources for Teaching, Talking, and Taking Action: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/election-resources-for-teaching-talking-and-taking-action/. Note also President Mason’s community forum on Nov 14 that will preview campus-wide work on engaging in productive dialogue on challenging topics (see 4.c.2 below). Reminder – we are hosting a Post-Election Teach-in, Thurs, Nov 12, 1:40-2:55pm, 9.64NB or Zoom: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcuirrT4rH9ZFlu_0FCHNFDzibYeCkC5l. If you would like additional resources to support your teaching, please contact Teaching & Learning Center Director Gina Rae Foster at gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu. |
4. Upcoming Faculty Speakers
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5. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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6. Research Support/Opportunities
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7. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team) Winter/Spring 2025 courses will be created in the Brightspace LMS starting today, Weds, Nov 6. If you are missing a course when logging into Brightspace, please log into CUNYfirst and verify that the course has been assigned to you. If it has not, your department must contact the Registrar to have the official course record updated. Enrollment updates are processed from CUNYfirst into Brightspace multiple times a day. Also today, Weds, Nov 6, DOES LMS Support will add a link to the NavBar of all John Jay Brightspace courses (including both existing and new courses) to enable easy access to the new Demo Student tool. The Demo Student tool will allow instructors to interact with the course as a student, including viewing, submitting, and grading course assessments such as Assignments, Quizzes, and Discussions. Please note: If you have edited your Brightspace course NavBar, you will need to manually add the Demo Student tool to your course - please reach out to DOES LMS Support for assistance. For more information on the Demo Student tool, visit Creating a Demo Student in Brightspace. Note: The Brightspace Attendance tool will be removed from Brightspace on December 28, 2024 in compliance with CUNY’s status as a non-attendance taking institution. The tool may be used until that date, but it is recommended that faculty do not use it when developing Winter/Spring 2025 Brightspace courses as it will be removed before those courses occur. Please join us for our next DOES LMS How to Webinar a week from today (link to come): Brightspace Open Q & A, Weds, Nov 13, 2pm – 3pm. Faculty can submit questions in advance to LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist. More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY BrS trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
8. Faculty Volunteers Needed - Focus Groups on Academic Engagement The Office of Student Academic Engagement and Retention is seeking 20 faculty volunteers to participate in focus groups aimed at enhancing our approach to creating an integrative, cohesive, and equitable academic structure. Focus group sessions will be one hour, scheduled during community hour this month. Your insights will play a crucial role in refining our strategies and ensuring a more inclusive educational environment. If interested, please email Nathaniel Galen (ngalen@jjay.cuny.edu) ASAP. |
October 30, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
To submit a book order or indicate “no adoptions required/course does not use books”, log in to the bookstore at: JohnJayBooks.com with your CUNYfirst log in credentials. Click the faculty link to submit your course material ISBNs. |
2. Important Reminder for Students: Nov 6 Course Withdrawal Deadline Please share this important change with your students – in class and/or in Brightspace. The CUNY Office of Academic Affairs revised the course withdrawal policy as of this semester. The deadline to withdraw from courses with a grade of “W” is Weds, November 6. (It is NOT the last day of classes.) This is the deadline for a student’s official withdrawal. This contrasts with WU (unofficial withdrawal), making it very important that students are aware of the need to officially withdraw by the Nov 6 deadline. Withdrew Unofficially: A grade of WU is to be assigned to students who participated in an academic activity related to the class at least once, stopped participating, did not drop the class or receive approval for an incomplete, did not otherwise officially withdraw from the course, and did not complete enough work for the instructor to be able to calculate an earned grade using the criteria delineated in the course syllabus. A ‘F’ grade should never be given in place of a ‘WU’ grade. |
3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLC As instructors, we are MANDATED REPORTERS for certain student disclosures. We know that many of you were unable to attend Monday’s workshop on CUNY’s new Policy on Sex-Based Misconduct which now includes all faculty as mandated reporters. It was delivered by Jessica Greenfield, Women’s Center Counselor and Confidential Title IX Advocate, and Gabriela Leal, Director of Compliance and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator. Here are some key takeaways from the session:
If you would like additional resources to support your teaching, please contact Teaching & Learning Center Director Gina Rae Foster at gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu. |
4. Upcoming Faculty Workshops/Speakers
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5. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
If you are interested in presenting, please submit your conference session proposal by Friday, November 15. Refer to the Call for Proposals for additional information. (Note: to complete the proposal form, you will need to log in with your Office365 username (i.e., Jane.Doe20@login.cuny.edu), and CUNYfirst password. More information on conference goals, session formats and session selection criteria is on the conference website and in the FAQ. Acceptances will be announced by the week of February 3, 2025. Email CUNYTLConference@cuny.edu with questions or concerns. |
6. CUNY Academic Works Information Session Authors: Learn Ways to Increase your Readership! Attend a CUNY Academic Works session with the John Jay College Library. Learn about our institutional repository, CUNY Academic Works (CAW), and how you can make your publications available to more readers by uploading them to CAW. Upcoming Workshops:
Please contact Karen Okamoto (kokamoto@jjay.cuny.edu) if you have any questions. |
7. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team) Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
October 23, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLC We have reached the half-way point of the semester, an opportune time to benefit from feedback on our teaching through peer observations and student reflections. This term’s peer observations of teaching are happening now (to be completed by Nov 6). Peer observations allow us to experience each other’s classes and learn from the different perspectives colleagues offer on what they see. One of the best parts of these observations can be the Post Observation of Teaching conference – an opportunity to have a meaningful conversation about teaching, with a focus on sharing constructive suggestions and ideas. Parallel to engaging in peer observations, we can encourage students to reflect on their learning and provide teaching feedback as well. Students might be feeling performance pressure now, and this may be alleviated through reviewing their growth and challenges in your course. Conversation, camaraderie and opportunities to engage with each other might help them to build a stronger academic support community. This article on Recovering Student Engagement at Mid-course Timemay provide inspiration. As a reminder – we have academic, health, wellness and other resources (e.g., emergency financial support) available, and these are referrals that make sense throughout the term. When we see (and hear) students in need, we can offer connections that may help. If you would like additional resources to support your teaching, please contact Teaching & Learning Center Director Gina Rae Foster at gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu. |
3. Upcoming Speakers/Workshops
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4. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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5. CUNY Professional Development Conference From the University Human Resources (UHR) Professional Development & Learning Office: registration is now open for the annual Professional Development Conference, Nov 6th & 7th! This year’s theme is "The Change Ahead: Dare to Imagine and Innovate." Conference sessions aligned to the following tracks: This virtual conference is open to all CUNY employees. Register as soon as possible as space may be limited. For session details, see the Professional Development Conference Agenda. If you are unable to participate in the conference, or are interested in additional professional development options, please review the Fall 2024 PD Opportunities Catalog for offerings. |
6. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team) Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist TODAY! Tracking Class Progress in Brightspace, Weds, Oct 23, 2pm – 3pm. Meeting ID: 881 0461 0891; Passcode: 719205. More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
7. Support for Students in Financial Distress The College is building a strategic approach to integrate the Emergency Funding Program into our broader student support services. To that end, we established a referral system to help identify students in crisis and direct them toward the Program. If you encounter students under financial strain, the goal is to ensure they are connected with emergency funding when appropriate. Please find attached a guide to recognizing and supporting students in financial crisis and an emergency funding referral form. |
8. Faculty Volunteers Needed for Focus Groups on Academic Engagement The Office of Student Academic Engagement and Retention is seeking 20 faculty volunteers to participate in focus groups aimed at enhancing our approach to creating an integrative, cohesive, and equitable academic structure. Each focus group session will be one hour and scheduled during community hour. Your insights will play a crucial role in refining our strategies and ensuring a more inclusive educational environment. If interested, please contact Nathaniel Galen at ngalen@jjay.cuny.edu. Thank you for your time and participation in this important initiative! |
October 16, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLC It’s time again to submit information about book/materials adoptions for Spring 2025. Deadline is November 30. Even if no books/materials need to be purchased, submission of the information is REQUIRED to comply with federal law. This provides time for students to acquire accessible (and perhaps more cost-effective) versions of course materials in advance. How do you make your submissions?
That said, our library offers a wealth of resources for faculty and students. You can look here (https://www.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/content/getting-textbooks-0) to see if the library has a copy of your textbook available or learn how to put materials on reserve (guide for making PDFs accessible: https://guides.cuny.edu/accessibility/pdf). There is a robust video collection, and guides for faculty on an array of topics such as zero-cost textbook alternatives, open access publishing, and research data management. (See John Jay’s Oct 17 OER training.) If you would like additional resources to support your teaching, please contact Teaching & Learning Center Director Gina Rae Foster at gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu. |
3. Upcoming Events/Speakers
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4. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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5. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team) Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist TODAY! DOES LMS How to Webinar: Brightspace Discussions and Groups, Weds, Oct 16, 2pm – 3pm. Meeting ID: 856 5971 9168; Passcode: 253902. Link: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/j/85659719168?pwd=GHkX8Xa9MbcgF4ho8RkhMDP4MnZ38H.1 More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
6. Supports for Research
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October 2, 2024
1. Important Dates/Info
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCThe student evaluation period is approaching. Aiming to increase your student evaluation responses? First, be sure to inform students about the dates of the evaluation period, especially if you narrow the date window. Note that your class will ONLY be visible to students during the available dates. |
3. Upcoming Events/Speakers
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4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist TODAY! DOES LMS How to Webinar: Brightspace Grading, Weds, October 2, 2pm – 3pm More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
5. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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6. To Share with Students
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7. BIT or the Counseling Center?Sometimes we are not certain how to direct a student who we know is struggling. Guidance from the Counseling Center and Student Affairs: Report emergency or extreme situations immediately to the Department of Public Safety at 212.237.8888 and/or 911 (as appropriate) if an individual displays an imminent threat to self or others, serious disruptive or threatening behavior, damages property, or breaks the law. If a student is experiencing behavioral problems or shows signs that they may be a danger to themselves or others, contact the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT; bit@jjay.cuny.edu). For example: elevated and severe behavioral concerns such as suicidal thoughts or impulses, violent and aggressive impulses, depression, disruptive behavior, emotional/behavioral dysregulation, or clear indication of physical and sexual abuse. If you feel that a student is experiencing a solely mental health issue, without accompanying behavioral problems or signs that the student may be a danger to themselves or others, please contact the Counseling Center. For example: mild to moderate mental and behavioral health concerns (e.g., signs of emotional difficulty, situational stressors, and changes in usual behavior). You may contact Center supervisors Dr. Gerard Bryant (gwbryant@jjay.cuny.edu) and Dr. Cory Head (chead@jjay.cuny.edu). This is especially important if the student has disclosed to you that they are having mental health issues. Counseling Services are available for students in the Wellness Center (L.68NB). Services are free and confidential. Note: messages sent to BIT cannot guarantee the same type of confidentiality as the Counseling Center. If privacy is a concern, the safest and easiest way to guard a student’s privacy regarding their mental health is to contact our Counseling Center. Students can email chead@jjay.cuny.edu or walk-in to make an appointment during the hours of 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Counseling staff are diverse in ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, age, and gender. They also have Spanish-speaking staff. Email chead@jjay.cuny.edu or call 212-887-6239 for more information. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Gerard Bryant (gwbryant@jjay.cuny.edu) or the Dean of Students office (deanofstudents@jjay.cuny.edu). |
Weds, September 4, 2024
1. Important Dates
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2. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsThis means YOU! ACT NOW! Even if no books or purchases are required – ALL FACULTY must provide course material information to the bookstore for all courses – even independent studies/research courses. There are 185! missing sections.
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3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCSet the stage. Each new semester brings new vitality and a fresh start. It gives us an opportunity to build a new community with and among our students. If you are interested, see here for suggestions on building community in the classroom from the start to the end of the semester (https://www.facultyfocus.com/author/ff-teresathompson/) by Teresa Thompson. (Angela can email it to you upon request.) Some suggestions – that could also help address student loneliness – are to have students find partners and ask each other a scripted set of questions. Perhaps have fun with group trivia about your syllabus. And start out on the right foot generating a set of class guidelines and values for class interactions. Help students fully engage. Ideas for helping students understand present is not the same as engaged: speak to the value of attendance and engagement from the start; include things like putting phones away in the class guidelines; visibly take attendance; make class interactive (cold call on students); give participation or engagement credit (e.g., participation can include how a student listens and contributes in small group activities); and remind online students to close other tabs and otherwise remove distractions. Planning ahead. With the stage set, guidelines in place, and students engaged – the TLC has created and curated an array of resources to support your teaching through the upcoming election season: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2024-election-teaching-resources/ Contact Gina Rae Foster (gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu), TLC Director, with questions and ideas. For teaching resources, email TLC@jjay.cuny.edu. Additional opportunities from the CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (e.g., series on Generative AI starting 9/27). |
4. Faculty Community
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5. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)DOES LMS readiness Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist
More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORMPDF. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
6. Important Policy Updates: In case you missed themThis summer, CUNY published several new policies for you to be aware of.
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7. NCFDD MembershipJohn Jay has an institutional membership to NCFDD – so all faculty – part-time, full-time, and doctoral students – have access to a free individual account. See upcoming events herePDF?UTM_CAMPAIGN=NEWSLETTER&UTM_MEDIUM=EMAIL&_HSENC=P2ANQTZ-_METYT8QCVT1KUQBXJ1_N2M8YKQKOQQP7Q-PMZHQJERV7ONMVDCUZOJPGR1TQOBMO9SM6OI6QFTZOEU0SAE_N7FIAROG&_HSMI=322895970&UTM_CONTENT=322895970&UTM_SOURCE=HS_EMAIL. As an Institutional Member, we have access to the following resources at no cost to you:
To claim your free NCFDD account: (a) Go to https://www.ncfdd.org/join; (b) choose John Jay College from the drop-down menu; (c) select “Activate my Membership”; (d) complete registration with your jjay email address; (e) confirm in jjay email by clicking “Activate Account”. |
Weds, September 11, 2024
1. Important Dates
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCTools for student timely success. Last week perhaps you generated class guidelines and values for class interactions. But what about outside class? Research and our own experiences tell us that students succeed better when they manage their time effectively. The beginning of the term is a great time to encourage our students to create time management plans and match those to their course syllabi. Do they know how? How faculty can help:
Planning ahead. Reminder as we move toward election day: the TLC has created and curated resources to support your teaching through the election season. See: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2024-election-teaching-resources/ |
3. Faculty Community
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4. JJ Faculty Authors
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5. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)DOES LMS readiness Quick Start checklist for Brightspace: https://bit.ly/DOES_BrS_QuickStart_Checklist DOES LMS How to Webinars and Drop-In Lab: Brightspace Open Q & A, TODAY, Wednesday, September 11, 2pm – 3 pm, Zoom. Meeting ID: 857 1614 1667; Passcode: 552331 Brightspace Drop-In Lab, Mondays in September, 1:40 – 2:55pm, in L2.72.05 NB. More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORMPDF. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
6. CUNY Faculty Resource SurveyResource survey: From Chief Librarian Ellen Sexton – Evan Silberman (Interim Chief Academic Technology Officer at CUNY Central) shared this survey to assess the need for video hosting. They are collecting information about how video/multimedia is used by faculty, students and staff to better assess the need for a CUNY-wide video hosting system. We currently have limited ability to host and stream large media files and rely on commercial platforms with limited content choices and high annual payments (such as Kanopy). Please consider filling it out, if relevant to you: https://forms.office.com/r/QRz6DQNc46 |
7. CUNY 2024-2025 Disability and Accessibility Training InitiativesCUNY is offering disability and accessibility training initiatives for faculty for the 2024-2025 academic year. For any questions, reach out to Jessica.Murray@cuny.edu. Deadline: Friday, September 13. Notification Date: Mon, Sept 23 Learn more and apply to be a UDL Collaborative Facilitator. |
Weds, September 18, 2024
1. Important Dates
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCTools for student engagement. Last week, perhaps you shared resources with students about time management. But students only get shared resources if they are engaged with their classes. Knowing that teaching extends beyond the classroom, here are a few suggestions for ways to support and spark student engagement:
Planning ahead. Reminder as we move toward election day: the TLC has created and curated resources to support your teaching through the election season. See: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2024-election-teaching-resources/ Contact Gina Rae Foster, TLC Director, with questions/ideas (gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu). For teaching resources, email TLC@jjay.cuny.edu. |
3. Faculty Events & Opportunities
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4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)Brightspace Drop-In Lab, Mondays in September, 1:40 – 2:55pm, in L2.72.05 NB. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu |
5. Faculty Fellowship Publication Program 2024-25: Call for ApplicationsCall for Applications! Applications are invitedPDF for CUNY's Faculty Fellowship Publication Program for 2024-25 for untenured assistant or associate professors or tenured assistant professors (see flierPDF). Deadline: Fri, October 25, 2024 |
6. Faculty Virtual Workshops on Scholarly PublishingThe Graduate Center’s Mina Rees Library invites you to three online workshops about scholarly publishing and research evaluation. All CUNY community members are welcome. The workshops are especially well suited to faculty, graduate students, administrators, and others engaged in the discovery, production, or evaluation of research publications. Each workshop stands on its own — there is no need to attend one in order to attend another. If there’s a workshop that interests you that you can’t make, register anyway. The presentations will be recorded and shared with all registrants. - “Predatory” Journals: How to Avoid the Shams and Scams, Friday, October 4 at 11am-noon (Zoom), Link to detailed description and registration - “Predatory” Journals: How to Avoid the Shams and Scams, Tuesday, October 8 at 2-3pm (Zoom), Detailed description and registration link (repeat of workshop above) - Open Access Explained: Best Practices for Finding Others’ Research and Publicly Sharing Yours, Friday, October 18 at 11am-noon (Zoom), Link to detailed description and registration - Impact Factor and Other Research Metrics: What They Mean and What They Don’t, Friday, November 1 at 11am-noon (Zoom), Link to detailed description and registration Workshops by Jill Cirasella, Associate Professor, Scholarly Communication Librarian and University Liaison, Mina Rees Library, CUNY Graduate Center, jcirasella@gc.cuny.edu |
Weds, September 25, 2024
1. Important Dates
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2. Progress Report Feedback RequestsPlease submit requested feedback. Many of you received an email from Kate Szur, Interim Assistant Dean for Student Success and Retention, yesterday (Sept 24) through Navigate360. It requests feedback on the performance of students in undergraduate classes before October 8th so that advisors can reach out to support students’ successful course completion. The goal is to connect all students that require assistance with a staff member before the add/drop deadline on November 6. Progress Reports: Fall 2024 Timeline If you have questions or need assistance, you can attend a virtual workshop (see below) or email progressreports@jjjay.cuny.edu. Filling Out Progress Reports (virtual workshops): Weds, Sept 25, Thurs, Sept 26 & Mon, Sept 30, all at 1:40-3:00pm. Click to RSVP here. Description: Understand how to fill out Progress Reports and how they benefit students. Topics: Progress Reports overview, timeline, expectations, Q&A, tech troubleshooting. |
3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCBuilding student self-help confidence and skills: How are your students responding to discussions and assignments? We are far enough into the term for most students to discover what they are doing easily and well and what they find challenging and perhaps daunting. This is a good time to remind students of the support resources included in your syllabi (we know you are making this a regular practice!) and to facilitate students in making connections between their needs and the resources that can fill those needs. For instance, frequent, low-stakes assessments allow students to see how they are doing early on, but only if they check their grades. Another strategy is to require students to meet with you once during office hours (or by appointment) to discuss grades or feedback. Assigning some or all students to visit the writing center (or appropriate center for your class), is a means to normalize this practice. Remember that all faculty can raise alerts (or share kudos) in Navigate 360 (see Progress Reports above).
Academic Resources & Services: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/academics/academic-resources-services
Planning ahead. Reminder as we move toward election day: the TLC has created and curated resources to support your teaching through the election season. See: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2024-election-teaching-resources/. |
4. Upcoming Events/Speakers
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5. Faculty Opportunities
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6. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)
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7. Upcoming Teaching/Pedagogy Workshops
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8. CUNY Teaching Academy Faculty Workshopsa. CITA Teaching Matters Special Series on Generative AI, Friday, Sept 27, 11:00am -12:00pm (virtual), Engaging with Generative AI: Which Tool Does What? Leads: John McDonough and Iain M. Coggins (Lehman College) will go back to some basics of generative AI and demonstrate several generative AI tools (free and paid versions) to compare. Participants will (re)learn what AI does, and understand functions, strengths, and weaknesses of the tools so their basic knowledge is updated. For more information, go to this flyer or reach out to Innovative.Pedagogy@cuny.edu. b. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Professional Development Sessions, Monday, Sept 30, 3pm-4pm (virtual), Introduction to Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), This session will introduce Credit for Prior Learning as a university-wide policy, a student success mechanism, and a national movement toward a more equitable, inclusive higher education landscape. Learn about the basics of CPL as an academic process, including assessment approaches and the critical role that faculty play in making CPL opportunities available to CUNY students. This session is designed as a primer for faculty who are interested in learning the basics of what CPL is at CUNY and beyond. For more information, go to this flyer or webpage, or reach out to CPL@cuny.edu. For more CITA event info, go to this list. |
AUGUST 7, 2024
1. Important DatesSummer session academic calendars are HERE.
Fall 2024 dates: All academic calendars HERE.
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2. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsPLEASE ACT NOW! By federal law, we must provide this information to inform students for all courseswhat books/materials are required – or indicate that none are required – by the time they register. There are still 564!!! sections with book/material information blank.
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3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCPreparing for Fall 2024 teaching! The TLC has lots of ways to support your preparations.
Teaching Essentials Resources: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/teaching-essentials/ |
4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)DOES Teaching with Technology Series! The Department of Online Education and Support is excited to announce their new Teaching with Technology Series, a week of sessions for instructors on using the Brightspace Learning Management System and our third party LMS integrations. Details below (see the DOES LMS website for additional resources). All Zoom sessions are open. Brightspace Bootcamp requires advance registration. NOTE: You must verify your ability to log into Zoom before the session and reach out to DOIT (x8200); not DOES!) if help is needed.
Contact. Faculty and Staff email: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students email: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
5. Faculty Handbook: Updated, onlineThe newly updated Faculty Handbook is now posted online! You can navigate to various topics from the Table of Contents HERE. The link to the table of contents is under “Faculty Handbooks and Personnel Process Resources” here: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/governance-senior-leadership/faculty-resources; and under “Faculty & Chair Resources” here https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty-staff. Guidelines for Creating your Syllabus and Syllabus Template are posted under the Teaching & Learning Center here: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/governance-senior-leadership/faculty-resources; and under “Academic Resources” here https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty-staff. |
AUGUST 14, 2024
1. Important DatesSummer session:
Fall 2024 (all academic calendars HERE):
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2. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsPLEASE ACT NOW! By federal law, we must provide this information to inform students for all courseswhat books/materials are required – or indicate that none are required – by the time they register. There are still 505!!! sections with book/material information blank.
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3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCResources for Fall 2024 teaching from the TLC.
Dates: August 1-20 (posts remain on our account for easy access). Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-jay-teaching-and-learning-center-218b14274/ Teaching Essentials Resources: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/teaching-essentials/
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4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)DOES Teaching with Technology Series this week is offering sessions for instructors on using the Brightspace Learning Management System and our third party LMS integrations.
Want more? A wealth of information is available from DOES. List of workshop dates is here – including drop-in sessions in a computer lab (L2.72.05 NB) every Monday in August during community hour. Recordings are on the DOES LMS website.
CUNY has also increased their Brightspace training options. See schedule here: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/spring-2024-workshops/.
Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty and Staff email: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students email: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
5. Important Update: Withdrawal GradesI’m sending this again because it might impact how you structure assignments. The CUNY Office of Academic Affairs released their updated CUNY Uniform Grade Symbols and Guidelines document. They revised the course withdrawal policy, effective Fall 2024. The withdrawal date will change back to the pre-pandemic date. This fall, it’s Wednesday, November 6 (NOT the last day of classes).
Withdrawal (official): Effective Fall 2024, the deadline for student-initiated withdrawal will be adjusted to a deadline of completion of 60% of the course. This contrasts with WU – unofficial withdrawal. Withdrew Unofficially: A grade of WU is to be assigned to students who participated in an academic activity related to the class at least once, stopped participating, did not drop the class or receive approval for an incomplete, did not otherwise officially withdraw from the course, and did not complete enough work for the instructor to be able to calculate an earned grade using the criteria delineated in the course syllabus. A ‘F’ grade should never be given in place of a ‘WU’ grade.
Guidelines for Creating your Syllabus and Syllabus Template are posted under the Teaching & Learning Center on this page: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/governance-senior-leadership/faculty-resources. Faculty Handbook: Navigate to various topics from the Table of Contents HERE |
AUGUST 21, 2024
1. Important Information for Fall 2024
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2. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsPLEASE ACT NOW! We must inform students for all courses what books/materials are required – or indicate that none are required. There are 354!!! sections missing information.
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3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCFall 2024 is nearly upon us! Join us at Faculty Development Day, Tuesday August 27. RSVP: https://forms.gle/H7FXodT62xfkwnoE9
Resources for Fall 2024 teaching from the TLC.
Teaching Essentials Resources: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/teaching-essentials/ |
4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)Quick tips for Brightspace:
Additional info is available from DOES. See their list of workshops here – including a drop-in session, Mon, August 26, 1:40-3pm in L2.72.05 NB. Recordings on the DOES LMS website.
DOES LMS: Brightspace Discussions and Interacting with Students, Friday, August 23, 1:30pm-3pm. Link: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/j/87045433800?pwd=eyyaXL6ZoQqZxFPBGsuSMwjF2XEhto.1 Meeting ID: 870 4543 3800; Passcode: 086756 For CUNY Brightspace trainings, see: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/spring-2024-workshops/.
Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty and Staff email: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students email: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
5. Announcement: Introducing Career Learning Lab & CareerConThe Center for Career and Professional Development has a new name – Career Learning Lab: Explore, Experiment, Excel. Please use the new name when referencing our department with new and returning students. We are excited to announce a refreshed approach to our career fair this year with the introduction of CareerCon. The Career Learning Lab team invites faculty and students to join us for a dynamic, three-day conference-style event at John Jay. CareerCon offers a unique platform for students to connect with motivated public and private employers seeking early career talent.
Why Participate? CareerCon provides students with invaluable opportunities to explore career paths, network with representatives (many of whom are alumni), and access a range of employment opportunities, including internships and full-time positions. This event is an excellent chance for students to understand the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their chosen fields.
How can you engage your students? Bring your class to CareerCon, add the event to your syllabus for extra credit, and more!
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AUGUST 28, 2024
1. Important Dates for the Start of the Semester
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2. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsPLEASE ACT NOW! Even if no books or purchases are required – ALL FACULTY must provide course material information to the bookstore for all courses. There are 266! missing sections.
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3. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCMake it memorable! Your first day of class is coming and one way to help students start out on the right foot is to make it fun. Those who attended Faculty Development Day lunch yesterday – you heard that one of the issues we hope to tackle this year is loneliness. We also hope you were reminded how much play and fun helps to build community – which helps banish loneliness. Ice breakers and games can feel lame, but they also energize and engage people in ways that actually can help retention. Perhaps ask your students about their favorite games to inform the fun? If you’d like to read more, here are some links – and we hope you have fun! Unexpected Benefits of Play https://education.ucdenver.edu/about-us/newsroom/news/let-s-play-the-power-of-play-in-higher-education Thanks again! FDD yesterday as an inspiring celebration of pedagogy and community! Thank you to all who presented, attended and particularly to the Teaching and Learning Center for planning such a fantastic event. Thanks to Director Gina Rae Foster and TLC team members Jacob Moses, Florentina Lonati, Atharva Orpe, Jonathan Manik and Kharry Josiah. Please contact Gina Rae Foster, your TLC Director, with questions and ideas (gifoster@jjay.cuny.edu). For teaching resources, email TLC@jjay.cuny.edu. |
4. Faculty Community
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5. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)IMPORTANT Note about contacting students: If you are using Brightspace to send announcements and notifications, it is strongly recommended that you email your students ASAP through your class roster in CUNYFirst to confirm they are receiving your Brightspace announcements.
DOES LMS How to Webinars and Bootcamps:
Brightspace Open Q & A, TODAY, Wednesday, August 28, 2pm – 3 pm, Zoom
Brightspace Open Q & A, TODAY, Wednesday, September 4, 2pm – 3 pm, Zoom
Brightspace Bootcamp – ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED - PLEASE TEST YOUR ZOOM LOGIN BEFORE THE SESSION, Friday, September 6, 10:00am – 1:00pm. Registration Link: https://jjay-cuny.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrceygrT0tGNEAYymES63p90I_XgPXMDGP
Due to Labor Day, the next Brightspace Drop-In Lab will be Monday, September 9, 1:40 – 3pm in L2.72.05 NB. Brightspace Drop-in Labs will be offered until the end of September.
More info is available from DOES. Workshop dates are here. Recordings: DOES LMS website. CUNY Brightspace trainings: https://www.cuny.edu/academics/brightspace-transition/training/. Brightspace enrollment request form (e.g., student success coach; TA; teaching observation; share materials with a peer): REVISED REQUEST FORM. Contact. Faculty: LMS.faculty@jjay.cuny.edu. Students: LMS.students@jjay.cuny.edu. |
6. Policy Update: Faculty Reporting Obligations of Sex-Based MisconductThe New Policy on Sex-Based MisconductPDF (PSBM), effective Aug. 1, has expanded reporting obligations that apply to all faculty. (John Jay Title IX website for more information.)
Any NON-CONFIDENTIAL Employee who has responsibility for teaching or advising is considered a “mandatory reporter” under the PSBM. Mandatory reporters MUST notify the Title IX Coordinator (Gabriela Leal, gleal@jjay.cuny.edu) when:
Mandatory reporters
New obligations regarding Pregnancy or related conditions: If a student discloses a pregnancy or related condition to an employee, unless the employee reasonably believes that the Title IX coordinator has already been notified, the employee must:
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7. Key Forms & Faculty Resources
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1. Summer TeachingSummer session academic calendars are HERE. All academic calendars HERE.
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2. Timely Teaching Tip from the TLCTeaching Essentials Course Prep: A mini-course for college and graduate faculty Teaching this fall? Join TLC Director Gina Rae Foster and Psychology Adjunct Instructor Florentina Lonati this August for a FREE, asynchronous, online mini-course in course preparation. From August 1-22, we will provide resources to walk with you through 9 essential steps to design and prepare your fall courses. Whether you are a seasoned instructor or first time teacher, these tips and resources will increase your confidence and reduce your stress. We’ll be posting the materials on LinkedIn and the TLC site linked below.
As the John Jay Teaching & Learning Center Director, Gina is sharing a companion blog with expanded context and tips: as a Psychology Instructor and TLC Administrative Assistant, Florentina is designing the visual tips and curating the resources. Taken together, our mini-course will help you create and refine your plans for student-centered, structured, effective teaching and learning. Each tips post will include the theme, questions, and resources in the comments. Each blog post provides a context and deeper recommendations on applications. We are confident that YOU will find it easy to combine your preferred course content with our advice.
Follow the TLC on LinkedIn at John Jay Teaching and Learning Center and Gina’s blog for this mini-course at Gina Rae Foster. Teaching Essentials Resources: https://faculty.commons.gc.cuny.edu/teaching-essentials/ |
3. Fall Book and Course Material SubmissionsDid I mention this? By federal law, we must provide this information to inform students for all courses what books/materials are required – or indicate that none are required – by the time they register. There are currently 609 sections with book/material information blank.
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4. Brightspace Updates (DOES LMS Team)We have now transitioned to Brightspace. A wealth of information is available from DOES about how to use the system, including the sessions below. Their full list of workshop dates is here – which include drop-in sessions in a computer lab (L2.72.05 NB) every Monday in August during community hour. Recordings are on the DOES LMS website. Deleted links to past trainings since not useful
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5. Important Update: LMS Use PolicyThe CUNY Office of Academic Affairs released their Policy for Use of a Learning Management System for Online Classes. Short version – CUNY policy requires that faculty teaching online classes use a Learning Management System (LMS) that is vetted (for security) and supported (for help) by the campuses. That is now Brightspace. See #4 above for information on getting training and support on Brightspace for fall. Policy 1.6: Policy for Use of a Learning Management System for Online Classes |
6. Updated: Syllabus Guidelines and TemplateWe have updated the Guidelines for Creating Your Syllabus (posted under the Teaching & Learning Center on this page: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/about/governance-senior-leadership/faculty-resources; and also under “Academic Resources” on this page https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty-staff) and added a separate Syllabus Template along with it to support more consistent formatting across syllabi. Simply download it and add your course information. |