Week of Dec. 14 -18
Monday, December 14th
1-2:00PM Student Caregivers: What College’s Can Do to Support Them (register here)
For student caregivers, the pandemic has been doubly stressful. As they adapt to virtual learning, they must also balance their studies with caretaking duties. How are student caregivers coping with the increasing responsibilities and workload of caregiving for an elderly or disabled loved one in a time of pandemic and social distancing? And what impact is this having on their ability to pursue a degree? The Chronicle of Higher Education has assembled an expert panel, moderated by Ian Wilhelm, assistant managing editor, to discuss AARP’s “2020 Study of Student Caregiving.” The discussion will examine the challenges student caregivers are facing today, and suggest practical ways institutions can help determine:
- What policies colleges should consider to support student caregivers?
- How institutions can identify and work with those students?
- What guidance college administrators should provide faculty members who are teaching students with caregiving responsibilities?
Tuesday, December 15th
2-3:00PM Faculty Well-Being: Creating a Stronger Workforce (register here)
A recent Chronicle survey of more than 1,100 college faculty reveals the pandemic’s dramatic toll on job satisfaction and emotional well-being. More than two-thirds of respondents described their mental state as “very” or “extremely” stressed. As the pandemic surges, faculty are facing increased workloads and adapting to distance land hybrid learning models. How can colleges better support them in these unprecedented times?
Join The Chronicle for Higher Education for a virtual forum that delves into the results from the October survey and offers solutions for HR departments at colleges and universities around the country. Our panel of experts, moderated by Chronicle editor, Liz McMillen, will seek to answer:
- What do faculty attitudes suggest about the future of the academic workforce?
- How can provosts, deans, and department heads work with HR to support professors?
- What key policy changes and benefits could better support exhausted faculty?
Week of Dec. 7 -11
Friday, December 11th
2-3:00PM The COVID-10 Outlook: How will 2021’s new developments affect colleges’ pandemic response? (register here)
As Covid-19 surges across the nation, colleges anticipate a long and grim winter. But, with promising vaccines and treatments imminent, and new local, state, and federal policies on the horizon, what can we expect in the seasons ahead? In this virtual forum, join The Chronicle of Higher Education’s senior editor Alexander C. Kafka for a discussion with leaders in higher ed, public health, and epidemiology centered around the following concerns:
– How quickly could multi-phased vaccination efforts occur?
– How could better, cheaper, and faster Covid-19 tests affect campus reopenings in the interim?
– How could Coronavirus response fit into overall wellness strategies for students, faculty, and staff?
Week of Nov. 16-20
Monday, November 16th
2-3:00PM Faculty Wellbeing and Career Paths: What Campus Leaders Need to Know (register here)
Faculty are stressed out, overworked, and fatigued. A Chronicle survey of more than 1,000 professors and instructors nationwide found a struggling group, with 70 percent of tenured faculty saying their work-life balance has deteriorated in 2020, and 86 percent of female tenured professors saying that their workload has increased. What can college leaders do to support them? In a virtual forum hosted by Liz McMillen, executive editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, a panel of higher-ed leaders will gather to explore the challenges and opportunities of helping faculty in their jobs and lives. The session will share results from the exclusive survey and offer ideas for what faculty are looking for.
Tuesday, November 17th
2-3:00PM Preparing for Post-Pandemic Teaching and Learning (register here)
The pandemic has brought sweeping changes to the world of higher education. Faculty continue to improvise and learn on the fly, as they instruct online. Many students who finished out the spring semester remotely began the fall unprepared for the rigors of college. As professors and students confront a semester filled with challenges, what lies ahead? As part of an ongoing series examining the issues colleges will face after the pandemic, The Chronicle of Higher Education has invited a panel of experts for an in-depth discussion with Ian Wilhelm, a Chronicle assistant managing editor.
Week of Nov. 2-6
Thursday, November 5th
12-1:00PM Bringing Together the Remote University (register here)
The pandemic has forced colleges — always a sprawling enterprise — to be even more spread out. No longer limited to multiple colleges, schools, and satellite campuses, universities now exist in living rooms and makeshift offices across the globe. To examine the effects of the remote shift and learn how these vast institutions can keep their operations running smoothly, The Chronicle of Higher Education will bring together an expert panel of senior administrators in an hourlong virtual forum. What are they learning amid these unprecedented challenges? A Chronicle reporter will lead a discussion to answer some of the key questions in higher education today.
Week of Oct. 26-30
Wednesday, October 28th
2-3:00PM Campus Wellbeing Post-Pandemic (register here)
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated already-growing levels of anxiety and distress among college students. Recent surveys have shown disturbing new trends: anxiety disorders have doubled since 2008; and in a survey over the summer, 25 percent of 18- to 24 year-olds had considered suicide within the previous 30 days. As uncertainty and upheaval continue to dominate the headlines — and the lives of young people — how can colleges respond? To gain a deeper understanding of the mental-health issues today’s college students face and examine what higher-ed leaders are doing to help, The Chronicle of Higher Education will host a panel of experts for a virtual forum.
Week of Oct. 19-23
Thursday, October 22nd
4-5:00PM How the COVID-19 Pandemic Made Me a Better Research Mentor (register here)
In this Furman/Wofford co-sponsored event, learn about new Undergraduate Research Mentoring strategies faculty adopted during last summer’s pivot to virtual projects – and hear why they’ll retain them even after we return to in-person mentoring. Furman faculty featured in this event include:
- Sarah Archino, Art History
- Pamela Hanson, Biology
- Casey Hawthorne, Mathematics
- Jeanine Stratton, Business and Accounting Department
Week of Oct. 5-9
Monday, October 5th
2-3:00PM Supporting Faculty & Staff Mental Health (register here)
Covid-19 and social unrest have placed a strain on the mental well-being of people everywhere. While there has been considerable concern for students, college leaders are also focusing on the well-being of faculty and staff on their campuses. How can college leaders support them and provide access to the tools and resources necessary for them to care for their own mental health? Join The Chronicle of Higher Education for a virtual forum that examines the policies and plans that college leaders and senior administrators can put in place to ease the mental strain of this unprecedented semester.
Thursday, October 8th
3:30-5:00PM The New Shape of Work (register here)
Week of Sept. 21-25
Monday, September 21st
2-3:00PM The Human Element in Online Learning (register here)
When colleges made the abrupt shift to online learning last spring, the loss of personal connection struck both students and teachers alike. How can colleges continuing in the virtual space this fall create a more intimate and engaging experience? That’s one of the pressing questions our panel of teaching and online-learning experts will address in this virtual forum. Join The Chronicle of Higher Education to examine how colleges can make the online experience more human, help students form bonds with one another, and better translate faculty-student interaction to the computer screen.
Tuesday, September 22nd
2-3:00PM What Students Wish Their Professors Knew (register here)
The Covid-19 crisis has given new significance to the dynamics of the online classroom. As the fall semester begins in full virtual or hybrid mode, what lessons from last spring are colleges and professors applying, and how are they incorporating students’ feedback to best support their learning? Faculty development was a big focus over the summer. Now, what insights from students themselves can make for a better fall semester? What approaches do they appreciate and respond to, and what moves can be counterproductive? This virtual forum facilitated by the Chronicle of Higher Education will continue the conversation on innovation in the online classroom today.
Week of Sept. 14-18
Wednesday, September 16th
3-4:00PM 3 Tips to Own the Classroom with Zoom (register here)
“How do I get my students on camera and participating?” You’re invited to a special session for teachers that goes beyond Zoom tech features to advanced tips on making the virtual classroom interactive. Learn concrete tips to bring your virtual presenting skills to even more ninja levels that connect you with your students! Join Own The Room, Inc. founder Bill Hoogterp, his team of world class communications coaches and a panel of peer educators for this live, interactive training session.
Week of Sept. 7-11
Wednesday, September 9th
2-3:00PM Structuring a Course so that All Students Participate (register here)
Provided by the Chronicle of Higher Education
When colleges abruptly closed this spring, everyone learned just how hard it is to replicate the engagement of in-classroom education online. With virtual education continuing this fall, the higher ed community is asking: how can faculty structure classes to encourage everyone to participate and collaborate? The Chronicle is gathering a panel of experts in higher ed to shed light on this essential issue. Hosted by Beth McMurtrie, the discussion will examine ways to prevent students from feeling disengaged and excluded during this unprecedented semester.
Week of August 31-Sept. 4
Thursday, September 3rd
4-5:00PM FurmanFlex and Online Learning Virtual Watercooler Conversation (meeting room here)
Meeting ID: 912 5595 6796
Passcode: 547341
One tap mobile: 646-558-8656, 125-595-6796 US (New York)
Join the FDC and your colleagues for informal conversation around the (virtual) water cooler about your experiences facilitating learning through online and FurmanFlex instruction. This is an opportunity to share both rewarding and challenging teaching situations we’ve faced in our new modes of instruction, ask questions, brainstorm solutions, and provide moral support for each other.
Week of August 24-28
Monday, August 24th
4-5:00PM China Political Climate and Teaching Chinese Students in 2020 (meeting room here)
Dr. Kate Kaup
The Chinese government passed a National Security Law for Hong Kong on June 30th that has ramifications for our Chinese students and faculty teaching these students. Specifically, Article 38 of the Law claims the right to prosecute anyone, anywhere, for alleged “crimes against the state” [both Hong Kong and the Central government] regardless of the offender’s citizenship or where the actions took place, and Article 29 which discusses “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements,” a charge that can be, and in other contexts has, been used widely and is designed to discourage international interactions and sow fear, uncertainty, and self-censorship. This new law and the continued strained US-China relations more generally has created a precarious situation, making it vital that all instructors and academic support personnel working with Chinese students this term have some understanding of the current political climate in China to better understand the risks and pressures Chinese students are currently facing. This Zoom session will better prepare and equip everyone to help and support our Chinese students. This blog provides further context and may be helpful pre-reading.
Wednesday, August 26th
2-3:00PM Creating Effective, Equitable Assessments for Online Courses (register here)
Provided by the Chronicle of Higher Education
Online education poses unique challenges for assessment. Traditional methods, like testing, are not always reliable, while differing access to technology at home raises concerns about equity.How can professors ensure that their students are not only learning effectively at home, but that their coursework is fair for all students? To find out, The Chronicle has gathered a panel of experts for a discussion with teaching and learning reporter, Beckie Supiano, that will explore:
- What challenges are posed by traditional assessment techniques?
- How feasible are the proposed alternatives like project-based learning and open-book exams?
- What issues do proctoring services raise, both ethically and legally?
Panelists include:
- Beckie Supiano, Senior Writer, The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Joe Bandy, Assistant Director, Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University
- Valentina Iturbe-LaGrave, Director of Inclusive Teaching Practices, University of Denver
- Natasha A. Jankowski, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Executive Director, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment
Week of August 17-21
Thursday, August 20th
5-6:00PM First Year @ Furman Informal Gathering (meeting room here)
Following the first faculty meeting of the semester, First Year @ Furman colleagues are invited to join Faculty Chair Christopher Hutton for an informal conversation about highlights from the meeting, questions about our governance process, and discuss any significant issues discussed at the meeting.
Week of August 10-14
Wednesday, August 12th
9-10:00AM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Health Sciences Department
10-10:45AM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Politics and International Affairs
1-1:45PM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Modern Languages and Literatures Department
To ensure that you are comfortable using new remote-ready instructional classroom technology for a variety of common teaching scenarios (e.g. mini-lecture, small group work, virtual collaboration) please join FDC and ITS colleagues for this informal demonstration with department colleagues. Join in-person or online to experience this new environment from the student perspective. Please contact your department chair or the FDC (fdc@furman.edu) for more information.
Friday, August 14th
9-9:45AM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Theater Arts Department
9:45-10:30AM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Earth, Environmental, & Sustainability Sciences Department
10:30-11:15AM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Computer Sciences Department
To ensure that you are comfortable using new remote-ready instructional classroom technology for a variety of common teaching scenarios (e.g. mini-lecture, small group work, virtual collaboration) please join FDC and ITS colleagues for this informal demonstration with department colleagues. Join in-person or online to experience this new environment from the student perspective. Please contact your department chair or the FDC (fdc@furman.edu) for more information.
Week of August 3-7
All Week
Remote Ready Instructional Technology Demonstrations
Most University classroom teaching stations have been upgraded to include remote teaching technologies. Learning Technology Services will be hosting in-person and remote demonstrations through August 6. Faculty interested in a demonstration of the new features are invited to sign up for a session.
Monday, August 3rd
10AM-12PM Design with Flex in Mind Reflection Session – Option 2
If you are participating in our self-guided planning process for FurmanFlex course design we invite you to join us here to reflect on the tasks you completed in the process and brainstorm ideas with course colleagues. This is the second of four identical sessions. Participants only need to select one.
Wednesday, August 5th
10AM-12PM Design with Flex in Mind Reflection Session – Option 3
If you are participating in our self-guided planning process for FurmanFlex course design we invite you to join us here to reflect on the tasks you completed in the process and brainstorm ideas with course colleagues. This is the third of four identical sessions. Participants only need to select one.
Wednesday, August 5th
3-3:45PM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Economics Department
To ensure that you are comfortable using new remote-ready instructional classroom technology for a variety of common teaching scenarios (e.g. mini-lecture, small group work, virtual collaboration) please join FDC and ITS colleagues for this informal demonstration with department colleagues. Join in-person or online to experience this new environment from the student perspective. Please contact your department chair or the FDC (fdc@furman.edu) for more information.
Thursday, August 6th
2-4PM Design with Flex in Mind Reflection Session – Option 4
If you are participating in our self-guided planning process for FurmanFlex course design we invite you to join us here to reflect on the tasks you completed in the process and brainstorm ideas with course colleagues. This is the fourth of four identical sessions. Participants only need to select one.
Friday, August 7th
2-2:45PM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Computer Science Department
3-3:45PM FurmanFlex Teaching Demonstration – Modern Languages and Literatures Department
To ensure that you are comfortable using new remote-ready instructional classroom technology for a variety of common teaching scenarios (e.g. mini-lecture, small group work, virtual collaboration) please join FDC and ITS colleagues for this informal demonstration with department colleagues. Join in-person or online to experience this new environment from the student perspective. Please contact your department chair or the FDC (fdc@furman.edu) for more information.