Latest Issue of CELT Notes
November 20, 2024

Note from the Director of Advising

Happy “first snow” Wednesday!

Last week I was at the 49th Annual Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD) Conference in Chicago. It was a magical and overwhelming conference to attend for the first time. There were well over 1,000 higher ed faculty and educational developers attending in person and everyone wanted to talk. A lot. The theme was “Relationships at the Core of Educational Development,” so I guess I should have been more prepared for the amount of talking. But, I wasn’t.

I also wasn’t prepared for the number of times I sat down at a table in a workshop or keynote address and people would read my name tag and say “Oh! You’re from Luther College! Do you know so and so?” or “My husband and his parents and all of their family members are Luther grads!” or, “My child is looking at attending Luther – can I get some insights?” These conversations were a wonderful reminder that this place where we work and live does not, contrary to popular belief, exist in a bubble.

It was also inspiring and exhilarating to be surrounded by so many like-minded people dedicated to student success through the support of faculty and staff by way of educational development, research, and wellness programming.

As an extroverted introvert (who, if I’m honest, talks a fair amount myself) all the talking was exhausting and I needed a lot of “quiet time” to recover at the end of each day.

This quiet time gave way, as it often does, to idea generation. It allowed me the space to reflect on what I’d learned and to imagine the possibilities of what we can do here at Luther, together, to develop our capacities for excellence in teaching and learning.

Get ready, folks. I came back energized and with my little turquoise Moleskine notebook teeming with ideas. I am so excited to begin sharing them with you all – once I have fully recovered from all the talking 🙂.

I’d also love to hear from you (see my call for programming ideas below): How can CELT support your teaching, research, or wellness in the spring? Send me an email or stop by the CELT office and let’s work together to build out impactful programming for all.

Warmly,

Christy

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

CELT Fall Programming

CELT Weekly Drop-in Office Hours (Valders 240)
Erin Zidlicky, Instructional Technologist

If you need assistance with managing your grade book, navigating KATIE, or exploring what technology would work best in your class, feel free to stop by during our come-and-go support sessions. We’re in the CELT Office this week on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 18 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Whether you have a quick question or need more in-depth guidance, we’re available to ensure you’re prepared for midterm grading and to help you find the right tech solutions for your classroom. Don’t hesitate to drop in!

Christy Vrtis, Assistant Director CELT

CELT drop-in office hours:
Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tuesday: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

1:1 Consultations available this week
Monday: 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Upcoming CELT Workshops and KATIE Grading Parties:

Please sign up for fall workshops and programming here.

Inclusive Excellence

Workshop #3: Teaching Neurodiverse Students, NEW DATE: Thursday, Dec.5, 9:45 – 10:45 AM.
Our last workshop for fall semester 2024 will be led by Faculty Learning Community facilitator, Dr. Anita Carrasco. In this workshop, Dr. Carrasco will discuss topics related to Teaching Neurodiverse Students identified during their FLC work this fall.

End of Semester KATIE Sessions

Come to one or all of the KATE Grading parties during finals week and enjoy good company, timely help, drinks, and snacks while you grade!
Monday, Dec. 16 : KATIE Grading Pre-Party, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240
Thursday, Dec. 19: KATIE Grading Party, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240
Friday, Dec. 20: KATIE Grading After Party, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240

CELT J-term and Spring Programming–coming soon!

Do you have a pressing pedagogical question you’d like us to address in a workshop this Winter/Spring? Would you like to lead a workshop around a particular teaching topic you love? Is there a teaching-related or topical book you’d love to read and discuss in community this spring?

We are completing our J-term and Spring programming soon, so please let us know what you want! We are still taking ideas/needs for workshops and book groups to complete our spring calendar. (Insider info: Teaching with AI and Inclusive Pedagogy workshops will be offered again in the spring – schedule TBD )

Contact Christy with your requests and ideas!

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

From the Director of Community Based Learning

Note from Britt Rhodes:

As part of our Community Based Learning initiatives, Luther College is a member of the Seed Coalition. Faculty interested in teaching community-engaged courses or who are planning a Paideia 450 in Fall 2025 or beyond  are encouraged to participate in the winter (January) or spring (May) cohort of the Engaged Faculty Institute.  Registration information now open!  Contact Britt Rhodes rhodbr01@luther.edu with any questions.

Library Communications

From Preus Library Director, Kay Bronshteyn:
Preus Library has signed a “transformative agreement” with Cambridge University Press!

In January,  all journal titles from Cambridge University Press will be available with subscriber level access, which significantly increases access to full-text journals. This includes titles in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Technology, and Medicine.

Additionally, Luther College faculty should be able to publish in their extensive collection of Open Access journals with a waiver of article processing charges.

A few options to learn more about how to publish in Cambridge OA journals:

• Review a brief slide show.
• Register for an online workshop, Publishing Open Access for Authors, at Noon on Wed. Dec. 4, 2024.
• Select from brief video resources at Cambridge University Press on the benefits of publishing Open Access.
• Send your questions to Preus Library’s  Ask a Librarian.

Informal Programming

Mindful Mondays

Monday, Nov. 25, 12:30 – 12:50 p.m., CELT Office, Valders 240

On Monday, we will meet in the CELT Office and then take a gentle 20 minute stroll together around campus during what looks to be the warmest part of the day. Join as you are able!

If you don’t feel like walking, come to the CELT Office anyway, make some tea or coffee, sit on one of the couches, and enjoy some quiet time away from your desk to give yourself a rest.