Latest Issue of CELT Notes
December 3, 2025

Preparing for the end of the semester

Note from Assistant Director, Christy Vrtis

Happy Wednesday!

I hope everyone was able to slow down a bit over the long weekend and spend some time doing something that refreshed your spirit. A lot of folks have important things to share this week, so I hope you are able to find moments of joy this week as we barrel towards finals.

Warmly,
Christy
1:1 Consultations | vrtich01@luther.edu | Valders 240 | 563-387-1587 | Mobile: 804-201-1688

Note from Director of Advising, Heather Cote

The end of the semester is coming, the academic calendar tells us so. The ebb and flow of students’ needs are tied closely to the semester calendar. Based on years of experience in higher education and your observations in the classroom you can likely make some predictions about how students might be feeling at any given point in the term. With Christmas at Luther week in full force followed by the final weeks of class and exams shortly thereafter, it can feel like a runaway snowball picking up speed. This has often been a time of high stress for students on campus as they juggle responsibilities inside and outside the classroom. In Academic Advising Today’s quarterly publication, Sarah Forbes summarized some of the challenges faculty advisors face and how key dates in the academic calendar may provide opportune times for advisor action, either proactively or reactively in support of their students. 

Her article shared these takeaways for consideration:

1. Advisors need structured knowledge about students’ needs and resources to support them.
2. The academic calendar can be an effective tool in anticipating students’ challenges.
3. Students face predictable challenges at points in the semester tied to the academic calendar.
4. Structured guidance to advisors sharing challenges and resources can help advisors to act proactively and reactively.
5. Timelines can help advisors to connect students to ‘just-in-time’ resources.

This fall pilot first-year advisors have been implementing a communication plan which mirrors the practices shared in the article. Students have received both proactive and reactive communications in anticipation of both timeline events as well as considerations for student development and issues stemming from the first year transition to college.

In the weeks leading up to final exams, we support our students by encouraging self-care, providing wellness resources, sharing study and test taking strategies, offering reminders for tutoring and writing center support, and reconnecting students to their goals. Here’s a template email you may want to send your students offering support. 

In this demanding time of year, words of encouragement and support can help students feel grounded and confident as they head into the final stretch. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

J-term Courses

If you have students seeking a J-term course, there are still several seats in ENG 223 – Professional and Technical Writing, and MGT 240 – Principles of Management. MGT 240 is considered an introductory course and open to first year students.

Note from Instructional Designer, Erin Zidlicky

Gradebook Tip: Use Natural Weighting for Clearer, More Accurate Grades

As you prepare your end-of-semester grading, a quick reminder: Moodle’s “Natural” weighting is the recommended setting for all gradebooks.

Gradebook weighting can feel confusing, but using Natural helps avoid the most common issues. Natural weighting:

• Combines the best of both “Simple” and “Weighted” methods
• Automatically calculates grades based on points earned vs. points possible
• Works especially well when your gradebook is set up before activities are due
• Makes it easy to adjust item weights at any time by simply changing point values
• Ensures weights always total 100% automatically—no manual balancing required
• Provides a more transparent, predictable grading experience for both instructors and students

The older “Simple” method was Moodle’s previous default but is now used far less frequently. Natural weighting is more robust, more flexible, and aligns better with most course structures.

If you’d like help reviewing your gradebook settings or need instructions on how to ensure your gradebook is set to “Natural”, reach out to Erin Zidlicky—she’s happy to take a look. A quick check-in ahead of finals can save you time and stress later!

Note from Director of Community Based Learning, Britt Rhodes

This fall, SEED Coalition hosted two virtual sessions on food insecurity.  A small group gathered on campus for  Food Studies in Higher Education and a second group gathered with partners at the Decorah Community Food Pantry for Collaborations and Partnerships in Food-Based Community Engagement.  If you weren’t able to participate, here are the recordings:

  Food Studies in Higher Education  

  Collaborations and Partnerships in Food-Based Community Engagement

The webinars are based on the book, Gleanings from the Field: Food Security, Resilience, and Experiential Learning that is FREE as an OER.  If you don’t use Kindle, you can also read it as a google book. Inside you will find case studies and institutional examples from schools in Iowa and Minnesota that might align with your area of teaching. Feel free to email me anytime if you would like to brainstorm ideas for upcoming courses!  Britt Rhodes rhodbr01@luther.edu

CELT Fall 2025 Programming

December CELT Workshops

Register for upcoming workshops here. *Note: Please register for workshops at least 48 hours before the workshop, so that facilitators know who will be in attendance. Workshops with fewer than 2 registered participants may be cancelled. 

Strengths-Based Advising Workshop, facilitated by Heather Cote

Tuesday, Dec. 9 (CELT Conference Room): 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Discover how to help students thrive by focusing on what they do best. This interactive workshop will show you how to apply a strengths-based approach to advising, with strategies for identifying and developing students’ natural talents, linking those strengths to academic and career goals, and fostering greater confidence. You’ll leave with practical tools to support students in achieving their goals and realizing their potential.

Upgrade Your Syllabus Design, facilitated by Erin Zidlicky and Christy Vrtis

Wednesday, Dec. 10 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Do you have a syllabus for J-term or Spring Semester in desperate need of an overhaul? Join Erin and Christy for an interactive workshop where you will learn some tips and tools for making your syllabi more inclusive, accessible, and engaging for your students. Participants will work on one of their syllabi during the workshop, so please bring laptops and ideas!

Register for upcoming workshops here.

Kindness Pedagogy & Compassionate Course Policies, facilitated by Christy Vrtis

Wednesday, Dec. 17 (CELT Conference Room, Valders 242): 1:30-2:30 p.m.

This workshop is guided by the principles of respect, kindness and care for our students and ourselves and is based on research and writing by Catherine J. Denial, including A Pedagogy of Kindness. Participants will: explore ways to show kindness to ourselves; learn strategies to develop kindness-based practices in the classroom; practice threading kindness throughout the syllabus by writing or revising compassionate course policies that help students find success in our courses. 

Upcoming Grading Parties!

Drop-in as you can. No registration needed. All are welcome!

Tuesday, Dec. 16 (CELT Office, Valders 240): 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18 Light lunch and Grading Party (CELT Office, Valders 240 and Valders 242): 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 19 (CELT Office, Valders 240): 12:00-4:00 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 22 (CELT Office, Vladers 240): 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Informal CELT Programming

Mindful Monday

Join Christy in the CELT office, Valders 240, from 12:15-12:45 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8 for a 15 min meditation session. This week, we will again engage with Thich Nhat Hanh’s 4 Pebbles meditation, using pebbles collected from Star Lake in northern Minnesota. All are welcome.

Wellness Wednesday

Meet up with Christy in the CELT Office, Valders 240, at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for a 20-30 minute walk around campus. All are welcome.

Friday Flow

Friday Flow is an opportunity to gather in the CELT Office and write. What you write is up to you, and the possibilities are boundless. Think of Friday Flow as your accountability partner or the friend that says “hey, you CAN take 30 minutes to reflect on the week – or write a poem – or outline your journal article – or work on your novel!” There will be snacks and drinks and, at points throughout the semester, time to share your work.

Friday, Dec. 5, (Drop-in anytime, 1-4 p.m.; CELT Office, Valders 240)