August Programming
Description
At the end of each summer, the FDC holds programming that helps prepare us all for the upcoming semester. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus and to getting started!
In addition to these programs below, we also invite you to join us for our 2025 New Beginnings Conference. This year's theme focuses on "Radical Hope," inspired by the book of the same name by Kevin Gannon. For more information, please visit our New Beginnings webpage.
For more information on each program, please visit their webpages linked below!
The Welcoming Syllabus: A Tool to Begin Connecting With Your Students - August 5th (Recording Available)
Guided by insights from the Persisting Together Learning Community, this workshop focused on practical strategies for transforming your syllabus from a formal requirement into a genuine connection tool. We explored how to weave warmth into policy language, introduce yourself authentically, and design course information that makes students feel seen and supported from day one.
Universal Design for Learning - August 7th
Join us for this session in which we will discuss the core principles of UDL, and speak practically about how we can adopt some of those principles this upcoming semester.
Developing a Gen AI Policy for Your Classes - August 12th
Come join us at this session to hear from faculty experienced in this area about how they set their course policies concerning Generative AI. We’ll hear about how they have thought through these issues, the language they use in their syllabus, and how they explain it to their classes.
Supporting Student Mental Health and Wellbeing - August 13 Expand dropdownJoin us for this session with Oscar Alcaine, the Interim Director of CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) and Ron Flowers and Kati Lebioda (co-leaders of EMU’s Culture of Caring initiative) to learn about the best ways we can support our students, in whatever role we play on campus.
Drop-In Syllabus Feedback Sessions - August 14th & 15th Expand dropdownThis year, we are also offering drop-in sessions for syllabus feedback (no registration needed). Facilitated by Alivia Overbee and Riley Coffee, both recent EMU graduates, current master’s students and members of the Persisting Together learning community, these sessions will allow you to receive direct student feedback on your syllabus draft.