CELT Notes for August 5, 2026: Summer Work, Part 3: Preparing for Fall

Note from Assistant Director, Christy Vrtis

Hello, dear colleagues!

How is it already the first week of August?! I don’t know about you all, but my summer has been really busy and has gone by way too fast! Now it’s time to start switching gears and thinking more intentionally about the beginning of fall semester.

This academic year, I am going to work really hard to share brief (!) pedagogical tips, tools, and resources with you in the CELT Notes themselves, and then send you to the CELT KATIE page to dig deeper into each of the weekly topics. The goal here is to save you some time reading the Notes themselves, and make it easier for you to find the resources you want later without having to sift through years of CELT Notes!

So, today I am sharing a checklist I’ve created for the start of the new semester. The checklist contains resources and ideas to both help you get your courses ready to go before Welcome Week and connect with your students before the first day of classes. Note: The links embedded in the checklist will take you to the topic on the CELT KATIE page related to that checklist item or to a google doc resource.

Checklist for A New Semester (repeat for each course you’re teaching; begin at least 1 week before the semester begins, but ideally 1 month or more)

Syllabus

• Revisit, Revise, Redesign and/or Create Syllabus for Course
  • Update Font and Headings for ADA compliance (required by Spring 2027)
    • Sans Serif Font (Consider: Verdana, Arial, etc…)
    • Use Heading Settings (Title, Subtitle, Heading 1, Heading 2, etc…)
    • Add Table of Contents with Hyperlinks
  • Update course statements and policies. Review the Luther College Syllabus Template  or go to the Syllabus Design and Policies page of the CELT KATIE Site to make sure you have the updated and required policy statements. New this year: each syllabus must have a Generative AI Policy specific to the course. 

KATIE

Once you get your syllabi done, then I recommend moving to your KATIE sites. If you don’t have time to do anything else, please upload your course syllabus to your KATIE site and update the gradebook. For more ideas on setting up your KATIE pages, see the checklist below:

• Update KATIE page: 
  • add new/revised syllabus
  • Add graded assignments, assessments, activities, etc…to grade book
  • Record and upload Welcome Video
  • Write Introduction to the Course topic (similar to Welcome Email)
  • Add daily schedule
  • Add link to pre-course/”intake” survey
  • Add additional assignments, activities, quizzes, etc…as needed

Before the First Week of Class

The items listed below are recommended as ways to connect to your students in your courses before the first day of classes. This KATIE page contains full descriptions and suggestions for each item. 

• Write Welcome Email
  • Send through KATIE
  • Link full text doc to KATIE “Introduction to the Course” section
• Create/Revise Pre-Course Survey
  • Link to KATIE Introduction to the Course section
• Learn Student Names
• Prepare first day activities and gather materials
  • Consider checking out re-usable Name Tents from CELT (3 sets available)
• Prepare first week course sessions, including lecture notes, slides, etc…
• Add first day/first week section to KATIE and include all resources

If you have any questions about these options, or would like a second set of eyes to look over your email, video, and/or survey before you send it to your students, please feel free to reach out. 

And, as you prepare for the upcoming semester, we’d like to remind you that support is available if you’re interested in using KATIE or expanding how you use it in your courses. Erin Zidlicky keeps regular office hours throughout the summer and the academic year. You can reach her here: zidler01@luther.edu. 

In addition, our Instructional Designer – Rick Harber –  is available to partner with faculty to build or enhance KATIE course sites, whether you’re starting from scratch or adding new features. He has room in his queue to begin working on Spring 2027 or Summer 2027 courses. Support is tailored to your teaching goals and can include course organization, assignments, quizzes, the gradebook, accessibility, and other tools to support student learning. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a consultation, please contact Kate at ellika03@luther.edu and she’ll put you in touch with Rick.

I hope you enjoy your last days of summer – see you in a few weeks!

Warmly,

Christy

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

Note from Instructional Technologist, Erin Zidlicky

Do you teach multiple sections of the same course and want to streamline your content management? Erin can help by creating a KATIE “metacourse” for you! This feature combines two KATIE courses with different participant lists into a single course, allowing you to manage content in one place. Your students will only see the metacourse, simplifying their experience as well.

If you’re unsure whether a metacourse is right for you or have any questions, feel free to contact Erin at zidler01@luther.edu. If you’re ready to merge your 2026FA courses, please complete the form linked here.

Final CELT Programming for Summer 2026

This summer in CELT we will offer a mix of in-person, hybrid and asynchronous faculty development opportunities in addition to the first round of NetVUE Vocation grant programming opportunities. 

 Sign up for summer programming opportunities here. Please register 48 hours before the workshop begins. Workshops/programming with 2 or fewer registrations may be canceled.

Beyond Accommodations Workshop with Director of Accessibility Services, Dr. Ann Smith

This interactive session explores how disability impacts student success in higher education and challenges participants to shift from a compliance mindset to a proactive, inclusive mindset.  Framed by the social model of disability, the session highlights structural and attitudinal barriers students face and offers practical strategies for building accessible, student-centered learning and support environments.  Through case studies, dialogue, and reflection, attendees will deepen their understanding of identity and equity issues, not just a legal obligation.  Tuesday, August 11, 2:00-3:30 p.m.; CELT Conference Room, Valders 242 

Get Your Syllabus Done! with Christy Vrtis and Erin Zidlicky.

This workshop is designed to help you get your syllabi done in time to get them up on KATIE and share them with your classes before classes begin. The workshop will include instruction elements to include in the syllabus with ample time to work. Monday, August 24, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; CELT Conference Room, Valders 242.

Supporting First-Year Success: Advising for Transition and Development

This workshop focuses on student development and supporting first-year students as they navigate the transition to college. Participants will explore common challenges students face and learn how advisors can provide effective support during this critical period. The session will also cover what to do when concerns arise, including how to make SOS referrals and what happens after a referral is submitted. Participants will also briefly review practical advising tools and resources such as Norse Hub, meeting guides and email templates. Advisors will apply strategies through case studies. Wednesday, August 26, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 pm; CELT Conference Room, Valders 242

Additional Faculty Development Opportunities

From Preuss Library

The library now has access to a new ebook that may be of interest to faculty: 

Damico, A.M. & Yang, M.M. (Eds.). (2024).  News literacy across the undergraduate curriculum. Bloomsbury.

The ebook includes practical classroom strategies to help increase news literacy on campus by teaching students to think critically and research further.