2023-2024 Calendar of Events

We are continuing to schedule Faculty Development events for the 2023-2024 academic year. Please bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates. Events and details listed are subject to change.

Course Planning Workshop
Various dates/times, Jordan Hall 183
For anyone interested in getting to work on course development for the fall semester, Shelly Furuness will be offering a completely optional, pre-orientation workshop aimed at helping faculty think about and develop their course syllabi and calendars. The format of the workshop will include 1-hour of interactive, guided instruction on curriculum mapping and results-driven instructional planning with Butler syllabus templates. The second hour will be used for individual planning time and 1-on-1 support.
To best accommodate summer schedules, the same workshop will be offered at four different dates and times:

• Tuesday, August 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, August 3, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Monday, August 7, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 9, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

RSVP to sfurunes@butler.edu with the date of the workshop you would like to attend and any questions you may like assistance with during the workshop.

Incorporating the Calm App into Your Syllabus (webinar)
Wednesday, August 2, 2:00-2:30 p.m.
Learn different ways to incorporate Calm into your syllabus! During this Calm App Webinar, the Calm team will show you how to get the most out of your Calm experience, the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. You will learn about the benefits of Calm, participate in a guided tour of the app, and find quick recommendations on how to incorporate Calm into your syllabus. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu to receive Zoom login details.

“Fostering an Anti-Racist and Inclusive Classroom”
Pedagogy workshop presented by Felicia Williams, Education
Wednesday, September 6, 3:45-4:30 p.m., via Zoom
In this  virtual session you will learn of action steps you can take to incorporate anti-racist and inclusive pedagogies into your courses. These relatively easy changes have been curated to empower not overwhelm. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu to receive Zoom login details.

“AI in the Classroom”
Virtual panel discussion led by Kristen Palmer (Academic Partnerships), Ankur Gupta (Computer Science), and Carol Reeves (English)
Tuesday, September 12, 2:30-3:30 p.m., via Zoom
Have questions about AI in your classroom? Wondering how your colleagues are approaching its use? Please join us for a panel discussion to learn about how our teachers are incorporating AI in the classroom and gain tips that may be effective for you.  RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu to receive Zoom login details.

“Memoir: Translating the Unfamiliar”
Brown Bag Series presentation by Ania Spyra, English
12:30-1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 14, AU326
In writing memoirs, we often come across layered events which only make sense in their contexts. In this presentation, based on editorial experiences with Professor Spyra’s “Shock Therapy” memoir essay published in Guernica, she will take the audience through a series of dynamic writing exercises. Attendees will be invited to notice how our very personal stories arise at complex geopolitical moments, often unfamiliar to listeners or readers, and learn how to convey that complexity without losing the tempo of our narrative to lengthy explanation.

Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to attend. No RSVP required.

“The Neurodivergent Student: understanding, supporting, and accommodating neurodivergence in the classroom and beyond”
Faculty and staff lunch and learn presented by Madison Morrett, Counseling and Consultation Services
Wednesday, September 20, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Ford Salon Robertson Hall
Participants will increase their understanding of the neurodiversity movement, gain awareness of the strengths and needs of neurodivergent students, and learn ways to support and accommodate neurodivergent students in and out of the classroom. There will be opportunities for questions, reflection, and discussion.

Lunch will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

“Beyond Dr. Google: Online Health Information Resources”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Brittany Heer, Butler Libraries
12:30-1:30 p.m., Thursday, September 28, AU111
The last time you had a cough, ache, or mystery ailment, did you turn to Google and read the first results to self-diagnose? Don’t worry, you’re in good company! But as we know, the internet is full of dubious information, so it’s especially important to know where to search for reliable health information resources before spiraling into misinformation. Join us in this Faculty Food for Thought session led by Brittany Heer, Health Sciences Librarian, as we explore freely accessible, high quality health information resources on the internet beyond a simple Google search, including Medlineplus, the NIH, drug information resources, and more!

Lunch vouchers to The Market Place will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

“Incorporating Sustainability Framework into your Course, Regardless of Discipline”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Julia Angstmann, Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES)
12:00-1:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, AU326
This session will review sustainability mindset principles in solving wicked problems and discuss how using the Burns model for transformation can help (re)design sustainability courses based on ecological principles. We will explore the interconnectedness between three systems: economics, society and the environment and use this lens to explicitly discuss the connectivity between these three systems. The Burns Model – designing sustainability courses based on ecological principles – will be discussed in depth including content, perspectives, process, context and ecological design. Attendees will be able to apply these principles with a four-step process of observation, visioning, planning and development.

Lunch vouchers to The Market Place will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

Ankur’s AI Info Series – all faculty and staff are invited
“What the is AI Anyway? A No-Math Snapshot from a Computer Scientist”
Presented by Ankur Gupta, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Tuesday, October 3, 2:15-3:15, Atherton 326 OR Wednesday, October 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Atherton 326
In this conversational session, we will do a shallow dive from a computer scientist’s perspective on what AI really is – what it’s made of, what it can really do, and should we fear our new AI overlords? (Spoilers: Inorganic material and lots of math, only what we tell it to, and definitely not.) This blurb was brought to you by a real human, not ChatGPT.
All faculty and staff are invited. To best accommodate schedules the same session will be offered twice. Space is limited. RSVP required to rdegrazi@butler.edu to reserve your space:
Tuesday, October 3, 2:15-3:15, Atherton 326 (snacks provided)
OR Wednesday, October 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m., Atherton 326 (longer session to allow for lunch – vouchers to The Market Place provided).

“Uses and Pitfalls of AI for College Writing: Policy, Assignment Design, and Pedagogical Innovation” 
Webinar hosted by Anna Mills
Tuesday, November 7, 12:30-2:00 p.m.
RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu to receive Zoom login details
Given current capacities, weaknesses, and ethical considerations of AI text generators like ChatGPT, how should educators who value writing respond? How can we design policy and writing assignments to minimize any AI interference with learning? How can we use AI creatively to further our learning goals as we teach this new aspect of digital literacy? In this introductory workshop led by Anna Mills, we will explore possible first steps and try some live experiments.

Anna Mills teaches writing at Cañada College and College of Marin and previously taught at City College of San Francisco for 17 years. Her collection “AI Text Generators and Teaching Writing: Starting Points for Inquiry” is featured in the Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse and includes a curated collection of articles on AI in higher education, sample AI essays, sample policies, and course materials. As a consultant for OpenAI, she tested GPT-4 before its release.  She has also written an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College, which has been used at over 45 colleges. Anna’s writing on AI has appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed. (For more information, please see her CV.)

“Being Transparent in the Classroom: How Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TiLT) Can Reduce Stress for You and Your Students”
Pedagogy workshop presented by Becky Marsh (JCA), Lav McKittrick-Sweitzer (LAS), Brian Weidner (JCA), and Felicia Williams (COE)
3:45-4:30 p.m., Thursday, November 9, Levinson Family Hall 127
Join us for a presentation led by Becky Marsh (JCA), Lav McKittrick-Sweitzer (LAS), Brian Weidner (JCA), and Felicia Williams (COE) as they share how transparency has transformed their classrooms. You will hear personal anecdotes, see examples of how  UDL and TILT are implemented, and most importantly, walk away with tangible teaching strategies that can enhance the learning experience for you and for your students. 

All faculty and staff are invited! Refreshments will be provided. So that we can best be prepared please RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu.

“John the Baptist: The Most Important Figure in the History of Religion?”
Brown Bag Series presentation by James McGrath, Philosophy and Religion
12:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 14, AU326
James McGrath spent last year researching John the Baptist, with travels that took him to Israel, Samaria, Oxford, and elsewhere. At this Brown Bag presentation, Professor McGrath will share photos from his travels and highlights from his research into a figure who has been overshadowed by the people and traditions that he influenced. All are invited to this session to learn about the person whom Jesus of Nazareth characterized as the greatest human being to ever live, the Gnostic religion that still holds John in high esteem, and how the wider ripples of John’s impact have influenced more moments in the history of religion than you probably realize.

Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to attend. No RSVP required.

Office Hours: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and/or Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) 
Tuesday, November 14, from 1:30-2:45 in Dugan Hall 217
Felicia Williams, faculty associate for pedagogy, will hold office hours on Tuesday, November 14, from 1:30-2:45 in Dugan Hall 217, for anyone who has questions or wants assistance incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and/or Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) in their classroom.

No registration necessary! All faculty are welcome to stop by for UDL and TILT advice, or to talk through ideas or questions.

“Butler Belonging: Operationalizing Butler’s Founding Mission for All Learners”
Presenter: Dr. Terrell Strayhorn
Thursday, January 25, Reilly Room, Atherton Union
Dr. Strayhorn, one of the most prolific and influential scholars in the fields of education, psychology, and the academic study of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), will lead participants through sessions designed to:

• Confront an institutional history in which Butler may have failed to live its founding mission consistently across all communities of learners.
• Contemplate existing institutional policies, practices, and structures contributing to belonging and student success.
• Cultivate tools to reduce inequity and foster a sense of belonging for all learners inside and outside the classroom.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO RSVP for sessions you would like to attend (In-person attendance is strongly encouraged):

• 9:00 – 10:00 AM, Reilly Room: Part one of a two-part conversation with Dr. Strayhorn focused on leveraging the power of belonging to promote student success.
• 10:00 – 11:00 AM, Reilly Room: Part two of a two-part conversation with Dr. Strayhorn focused on fostering belonging at Butler University.
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Reilly Room: A faculty-focused session in which Dr. Strayhorn discusses promoting belonging in the Butler classroom.

“It’s not just that students can be expected to “find” a sense of belonging on their own, like searching for prizes in a mazed hunt. Campus leaders, educators, faculty, and student affairs professionals must also take deliberate, equity-minded actions to root out, replace, and revise existing practices, policies, and processes that act as barriers to students’ sense of belonging,” Dr. Terrell Strayhorn.

“How AI is Changing the Landscape of  Work”
Workshop opportunity for faculty and staff presented by Dennis Trinkle, TechPoint
2:00-3:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 30, Jordan Hall 141
We know that AI is changing much about the world we live in—from healthcare to the classroom to jobs. In this interactive workshop, Dennis Trinkle, Senior Vice President of Talent, Strategy, and Partnerships at TechPoint, will guide attendees through the changing landscape of work, industries that might be vulnerable to the technology, and how we all can help equip our students to succeed in an AI driven world. Space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

“Supporting Students’ In-Class Public Speaking”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Carly Middleton, College of Communication
12:00-1:00 p.m.,  Wednesday, February 7, AU326
Whether it’s through in-class discussions, activities, or presentations, public speaking is infused into our pedagogy across campus. As we teach students the content they need to deliver, how can we also equip them to be engaging, confident public speakers? CCOM public speaking instructor Carly Middleton will provide you with support strategies and activities designed to help students navigate public speaking anxiety, engage in critical thinking, and captivate their audience.

Lunch vouchers to The Market Place will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

“The Quran: How Muslims Understand God, Revelation, and Faith”
Lunch and learn opportunity for faculty and staff presented by Anisse Adni, CFV Muslim Life Advisor
12:00-1:15 p.m., Tuesday, February 13, AU326
What is the Quran? What are the primary concerns of the Quran? How do Muslims engage with the Quran? How similar is the Quran to other Abrahamic scriptures like the Torah and the Gospels? With Ramadan just around the corner, all staff and faculty are invited to a lunch and learn session with the CFV’s Muslim Life Advisor, Imam Anisse Adni, as he answers critical questions on the Quran as Scripture and its role in the lives of Muslims.
Vouchers to The Market Place provided. Space is limited. RSVP to  facultydevelopment@butler.edu required.

“Our genes and our students”
Brown Bag Series presentation by Alex Erkine, Pharmaceutical Sciences
12:00-1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 21, AU326

Our genes determine who we are, why and how we are different from each other, and from other apes. Despite all advances of molecular biology and medicine we understand little about how genes are turned on and off, and dimmed up and down. During this session Dr. Erkine will explain that unlike usual proteins, the key parts of gene activators are intrinsically disordered and interact with a multitude of uncertain targets while precisely activating our genes when needed. How this happens though is still a mystery. Our Butler students are able to solve this scientific problem using high throughput experiments performed using breakthrough synthetic biology technology and analyzing outcomes of tens of thousands – sometimes millions – of individual targeted mutations using bioinformatics and AI. During this presentation guests will participate in designing a set of gene activator sequences, and see that science is never about dogmas, and that even biology and biochemistry can be shaken to the foundation.
Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to attend. No RSVP required.

“Trust the Process? Use of Entrustment to Guide Competency Assessment”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Cody Sasek, DMS Bridge Program
2:30-3:30 p.m., Thursday, February 22 via Zoom
With the movement of many programs to competency-based education and assessment models, more must be understood about how to best assess and ensure student competence. A novel assessment strategy in health professions education has become entrustable professional activities (EPAs). The use of level of trust as a metric of performance to demonstrate attainment of competence has great applicability for programs looking to improve assessment strategies. This session explores the impact of such a model on learner motivation, with application across disciplines and workplace-based assessment activities such as internships, practicums, clinical rotations, or even laboratory coursework.

Take Aways: At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
1) Describe competency-based assessment, including assessment based on the degree of trust in a learner’s ability to demonstrate competence, and
2) Consider the application of entrustment or other novel models to programmatic assessment strategies.

RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu to receive the Zoom link for this virtual session.

“Cannabis on our Campus: A Deeper Dive”
Brown Bag Series presentation by Amy Peak, Health Sciences
12:00-1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, AU326
Societal views and federal and state laws related to cannabis are evolving, and use is increasing. Nationwide surveys from 2021 and 2022 indicate that ~ 35% of young adults aged 18 – 25 have used cannabis within the last year. Butler-specific data collected in 2023 indicates significantly higher usage rates, with almost 60% (142/240) of respondents admitting to consuming cannabis within the last year, and 73% with any prior use. 85% of respondents also self-reported anxiety or depression. Almost 1/3 of cannabis users at Butler indicted their primary reason for consumption was anxiety, depression or stress. This presentation will go into a deeper dive into users’ perceptions of cannabis on mental and behavioral health, and scientific literature focused on cannabis’ impact on mental health.

Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to attend. No RSVP required.

“Anti-Racist Pedagogy: Let’s Talk About It”
Pedagogy workshop led by Felicia Williams
12:00-1:00 p.m., Monday, March 4, AU326
Are you curious about anti-racist pedagogy? Are you nervous about trying to incorporate it in your course? Perhaps you are already utilizing some form of anti-racist pedagogy but want an opportunity to talk with others about how you can go further.

Join a faculty-led panel discussion as we work through what anti-racist pedagogy is; how it can be integrated into your curriculum; what resources are available for those wanting to do and/or learn more; and how it can benefit all students.

Vouchers to The Market Place provided. Space is limited. RSVP to  facultydevelopment@butler.edu required.

“First Year Student Perspectives of Service-learning: Cultivating Cosmopolitan Literacies”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Michelle Stigter-Hayden, Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
12:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, AU326
In service-learning research and theory, researchers stress the importance of connecting classroom learning with service, integrating reflection into the service-learning cycle, and enabling community partners to meet their own needs (Bringle & Hatcher 1995; Butin, 2005; Halsed & Schine 1994; Jacoby, 1996). Since the rise in popularity of service-learning in the early 1990’s, scholars have claimed that students who engage in service-learning courses would develop a heightened sense of responsibility and civic engagement (Butin, 2015; Eby 1998; Honnet & Poulsen 1989; Jacoby, 2015; Locklin & Posman 2016), but very little represents actual student perspectives of this pedagogy. This presentation by Michelle Stigter-Hayden will explore student perspectives of community engagement in their First Year Seminar course, specifically in relation to the development of cosmopolitan literacies.

Lunch vouchers to The Market Place will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

“How can we implement the principles of DEI in our classrooms?”
Faculty Food for Thought session presented by Sudip Das, Pharmaceutical Sciences
12:00-1:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21, AU326
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are crucial components of a healthy and productive higher education environment. Most DEI efforts in institutions of higher education are focused on increasing enrolment and graduation rates of underrepresented POC and LGBTQIA students. It can be challenging however to implement the broader aspects of DEI in the didactic classroom, especially in STEM subject areas. We need to strive to implement DEI principles towards the different learning styles of GenZ students, but how easy is it for faculty to accommodate multiple learning styles?

Lunch vouchers to The Market Place will be provided, but space is limited. RSVP to facultydevelopment@butler.edu is required.

Faculty Development events flagged with the Inclusion Advocate (IA) logo are IA designated events which may be used for IA certification. For more information on the IA program, contact Su-Mei Ooi, Director of Academic Affairs for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

If you have any questions about Faculty Development, please contact facultydevelopment@butler.edu.