August

Strategies & Tools for New Full-Time Faculty (NF)
Strategies and Tools is designed for new faculty at URI who seek to implement teaching practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusive learning environments. This program will explore methods for aligning assignments with course learning outcomes and strategies to help students develop the skills necessary for academic success. The program also provides an introduction to key university offices and personnel who offer support for teaching excellence and professional growth at URI. We know that orienting to teaching at a new institution is more than a 3-day process. This program is therefore the first step and a required component for completion of URI’s year-long New Faculty Teaching Pathway. Additional details, including learning outcomes and schedule can be found here: Strategies & Tools 2025

Dates: August 12 – August 14
Time: 9:00am – 12:30pm Daily 
Location: Zoom & Brightspace
Registration & More information
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Strategies & Tools for New Part-Time Faculty (PTF)
Calling all new part-time faculty! Is this your first, second, or third semester teaching at URI? Strategies & Tools is specifically designed for you and will help prepare you for a successful semester. You will learn more about the URI community and resources and establish or further develop your teaching practice.

–Offered asynchronously through Brightspace Monday, August 25 – Friday, September 5, 2024
–An OPTIONAL 1-hour, synchronous session will be held based on participants’ schedules, during which participants can connect with other PT faculty, ask questions, and discuss teaching-related content.

Dates: August 25 – September 5
Time: Asynchronous, with synchronous options TBD
Location: Brightspace
Registration & More information

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Part-Time Faculty Course Prep/Teaching Consultations (PTF)
Need to ask a quick teaching-related question? Maybe brainstorm an idea while prepping your course(s)? Visit a virtual consultation session just for PT Faculty!

Appointments Available from August 25 – September 5
Time: Varies
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

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Strategies for a Great First Day of Class (ALL)
At this session we will discuss strategies for having a great first day of class. This session is for those who teach classes of all sizes. If you are looking for ideas on something to do besides going over the syllabus, this session is for you.

Dates: August 25 & August 26
Time: 8/25 from 10:00am – 11:00am; 8/26 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

September

ATL Walk & Talk (ALL)
Looking for a way to connect with colleagues? Need a break from the stresses of faculty life? Come walk with us! This opportunity gives instructors an informal way to engage with peers, take a leisurely stroll/roll around campus, and discuss teaching and learning topics that are top of mind. Bring a colleague or join on your own!

Sign up here to let us know your interest and needs, and to receive email updates during the semester. Or, just drop by the Flagpole on the Quad any Wednesday at 10am to enjoy a conversation and stroll/roll!

Walk & Talks will begin on Sept. 10 with the last walk on Dec. 17, No Walk & Talk on Nov. 26.

Dates: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Location: Meet at the flagpole the Quad 
Express Interest & More Information

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SoTL Reading Club, Session#1: SoTL in Health Sciences (ALL)
Keeping up with the latest research in teaching and learning doesn’t have to be onerous! Join this monthly meeting to explore some of the newest scholarship in SoTL and connect with your colleagues as you consider possible applications to your own teaching context.

Session Dates & Topics:

• September 12 – SoTL in Health Sciences
• October 10 – SoTL in Fine Arts
• December 5 – SoTL in Professional Studies

Date: September 12th
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Zoom

Registration & More Information

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Well-being/Vitality Workshop #1 Setting Boundaries by Defining your Scope of Practice (ALL)
Feeling overwhelmed? Looking for clarity, connection and revitalization? Instructors face many challenges that can lead to burnout or decreased well-being. And academia can perpetuate inequities across roles and labor. This workshop series is designed to invite reflection on these inequities and empower faculty with the knowledge to prevent (or manage) burnout and decreased well-being, while uplifting the importance of rest and clarity of roles. Join colleagues for thoughtful discussion and we’ll provide coffee, tea, and light snacks. You can attend individual sessions or all three, as your schedule allows.

Workshop #1 Description:

Want to clarify your work boundaries? Learning about and defining your scope of practice as an educator may help. A scope of practice focuses on (re)defining your role qualifications and responsibilities. Join us for this in-person workshop to explore your scope of practice, so you can be better positioned to support students while preserving your own well-being.

Dates: Sept. 15 and Sept. 16
Time: Sept. 15th from 3:00pm – 4:15pm & Sept. 16th from 9:30am – 10:45am
Location: In-Person, TBD
Registration & More Information

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Graduate Student Learning Community Session #1 (GTA)
Are you a Grad student teaching assistant who is looking to deepen your inclusive and effective teaching practice in a community of motivated graduate student instructors? This fall, we will be forming a learning community for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at URI. We have four scheduled meetings (on campus, in person) for GTAs to come together and explore their teaching practice. Our community is limited to 15 participants, to facilitate thoughtful conversation and relationship building. For each meeting, there will be about an hour of work to do after each session to practice implementing what we discussed.

Session Dates: Sept. 15, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 8

Date: September 15th
Time: Noon
Location: In-Person, Location TBD
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Part-time Faculty Community of Practice Session #1 (PTF)
Designed for all Part-time Faculty teaching at URI, this four-session Community of Practice will help faculty develop relationships with colleagues, explore teaching successes and challenges, and further establish their teaching practice. Repeat participants are welcome!

Session Dates/Topics:

• Session #1, Tues, Sept. 16 – Program welcome, community-building, and a general teaching-related Q&A (during each session).
• Session #2, Tues, Oct. 21 – Mid-semester challenges and recognizing early successes
• Session #3, Tues., Nov. 18 – Reflective teaching practice and gearing up for end-of-term.
• Session #4, Tues., Dec. 16 – Celebrate successes and strategize ongoing reflective teaching practice.

Date: September 16th
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information
___________________________________________________________________________________

Strategies & Tools for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)
Are you ready to elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom? Join us for a series of dynamic workshops crafted to empower your teaching journey. Attend at least 3 out of the 4 workshops and earn an esteemed certificate/badge recognizing your commitment to professional development.

Session 1: Sept. 17th, Connecting with Students and Establishing Belonging

Additional Sessions: Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 26, & Dec. 10

Date: September 17th
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Tyler Hall, 225 or Virtually
Registration & More Information

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AI at URI (ALL)
Learn the tools available at URI. Learn what they do. Learn how to access them.

Date: September 18th
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

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Fall Writing Retreats (ALL)
Writing Across URI (now housed in ATL) invites all writers to join our Fall Writing Retreats. Keep the momentum going on your academic article, grant proposal, or creative project! There’s no formal program: just bring your laptop and other materials, plus your own lunch/snacks. We will provide coffee and tea! The retreats will be on Friday, September 19 and Friday, October 17 from 9 AM – 3 PM. Come to one or both and join for an hour or stay all day!

The retreats will be held in the Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute overlooking Narragansett Bay (for directions and a map to the Bay Campus). The Coastal Institute is Building #6 on the map (you can park in the lot shaded in blue directly in front of the building).

All are welcome! You will simply be asked, in confidence, to check in with a brief statement of your writing goal and to check out with a brief statement of what you accomplished. Check out this webpage for more information about Writing Across URI.

Session Dates: September 19 & October 17

Date: September 19th
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: In-Person, Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute (Bay Campus)
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Book Club – The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (ALL)
Academic life can be frenetic and sometimes overwhelming. Could slowing down help us connect with our professional purpose? Join us for a 4-session book discussion on The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (Berg & Seeber, 2016). This short book explores how embracing principles of the “slow” movement can create a more reflective, balanced, and meaningful academic environment. The authors also present ways of alleviating stress while improving teaching, research, and collegiality. Connect with fellow instructors and share ideas for slowing down in a fast-paced academic world.

Session Dates: Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, & Nov. 4

Date: September 23rd
Time: 12:30-1:45pm
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall, 225
Registration & More Information

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Mid-semester Gathering Feedback for Mid-Course Corrections (ALL)
Don’t wait for IDEA feedback to get a pulse on your students’ experiences and learning! This session will cover approaches to gathering mid-semester feedback, a valuable intervention tool for clarifying your teaching goals and re-aligning with students.

Dates: September 25th & September 26th
Time: 9/25 from 9:30am – 10:30am; 9/26 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

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Active Learning Strategies that Support Inclusivity (ALL)
What exactly is “active learning”? How can you leverage these strategies to create a more engaging and inclusive classroom experience? Come find out! In this workshop, we’ll explore the active learning continuum and discuss strategies to promote student participation while fostering a sense of belonging.

Session Dates: September 30 & October 3

Date: September 30th
Time: 9/30 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm; 10/3 from 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

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Faculty Tools to Support Students (NF)
A conversation about URI software and tools for instructor and student success (Starfish, eCampus, Maxient).

Dates: September 22nd & September 23rd
Time: 9/22 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm; 9/23 from 9:30am – 10:30am
Location: 9/22 Zoom; 9/23 In-Person, Tyler Hall 225
Registration & More information

October

ATL Walk & Talk (ALL)
Looking for a way to connect with colleagues? Need a break from the stresses of faculty life? Come walk with us! This opportunity gives instructors an informal way to engage with peers, take a leisurely stroll/roll around campus, and discuss teaching and learning topics that are top of mind. Bring a colleague or join on your own!

Sign up here to let us know your interest and needs, and to receive email updates during the semester. Or, just drop by the Flagpole on the Quad any Wednesday at 10am to enjoy a conversation and stroll/roll!

Walk & Talks will begin on Sept. 10 with the last walk on Dec. 17, No Walk & Talk on Nov. 26.

Date: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Location: Meet at the flagpole the Quad 
Express Interest & More Information

__________________________________________________________________________________

Strategies & Tools for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)
Are you ready to elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom? Join us for a series of dynamic workshops crafted to empower your teaching journey. Attend at least 3 out of the 4 workshops and earn an esteemed certificate/badge recognizing your commitment to professional development.

• Session #2 Oct. 1: Providing Feedback on Student Work
• Session #3 Oct. 15: Supporting All Learners: Accessibility, Accommodations and Campus Resources
• Session #4 Oct. 29: Active Learning in the Classroom

Additional Sessions: Nov. 26, & Dec. 10

Dates: October 1st, October 15th & October 29th
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Tyler Hall, 225 or Virtually
Registration & More Information

_________________________________________________________________________________

Active Learning Strategies that Support Inclusivity (ALL)
What exactly is “active learning”? How can you leverage these strategies to create a more engaging and inclusive classroom experience? Come find out! In this workshop, we’ll explore the active learning continuum and discuss strategies to promote student participation while fostering a sense of belonging.

Date: October 3rd
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

_____________________________________________________________________

Graduate Student Learning Community Session #2 (GTA)
Are you a Grad student teaching assistant who is looking to deepen your inclusive and effective teaching practice in a community of motivated graduate student instructors? This fall, we will be forming a learning community for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at URI. We have four scheduled meetings (on campus, in person) for GTAs to come together and explore their teaching practice. Our community is limited to 15 participants, to facilitate thoughtful conversation and relationship building. For each meeting, there will be about an hour of work to do after each session to practice implementing what we discussed.

Additional Session Dates: Nov. 3, Dec. 8

Date: October 6th
Time: Noon
Location: In-Person, Location TBD
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Book Club – The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (ALL)
Academic life can be frenetic and sometimes overwhelming. Could slowing down help us connect with our professional purpose? Join us for a 4-session book discussion on The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (Berg & Seeber, 2016). This short book explores how embracing principles of the “slow” movement can create a more reflective, balanced, and meaningful academic environment. The authors also present ways of alleviating stress while improving teaching, research, and collegiality. Connect with fellow instructors and share ideas for slowing down in a fast-paced academic world.

Additional Session Dates: Nov. 4

Dates: October 7th & October 21st
Time: 12:30-1:45pm
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall, 225
Registration & More Information

________________________________________________________________________________

SoTL Reading Club, Session #2: SoTL in Fine Arts (ALL)
Keeping up with the latest research in teaching and learning doesn’t have to be onerous! Join this monthly meeting to explore some of the newest scholarship in SoTL and connect with your colleagues as you consider possible applications to your own teaching context.

Session Dates & Topics:

• October 10 – SoTL in Fine Arts
• December 5 – SoTL in Professional Studies

Date: October 10th
Time: 10:00am – 11:00pm
Location: Zoom

Registration & More Information

___________________________________________________________________________________________

More than a Number: Making the Most of Student Feedback (NF)
This session provides guidance to help instructors utilize IDEA and mid-semester feedback for their learning and professional growth.

Dates: October 14th and October 20th
Time: 10/14 from 9:30am – 10:30am; 10/20 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: October 14: In-Person, Tyler Hall 225; October 20th: Zoom
Registration & More information

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Part-time Faculty Community of Practice Session #2 (PTF)
Designed for all Part-time Faculty teaching at URI, this four-session Community of Practice will help faculty develop relationships with colleagues, explore teaching successes and challenges, and further establish their teaching practice. Repeat participants are welcome!

Session Dates/Topics:

• Session #2, Tues, Oct. 21 – Mid-semester challenges and recognizing early successes
• Session #3, Tues., Nov. 18 – Reflective teaching practice and gearing up for end-of-term.
• Session #4, Tues., Dec. 16 – Celebrate successes and strategize ongoing reflective teaching practice.

Date: October 21st
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Well-being/Vitality Workshop #2 Cultivating Vitality Through Intentional Rest (ALL)
Feeling overwhelmed? Looking for clarity, connection and revitalization? Instructors face many challenges that can lead to burnout or decreased well-being. And academia can perpetuate inequities across roles and labor. This workshop series is designed to invite reflection on these inequities and empower faculty with the knowledge to prevent (or manage) burnout and decreased well-being, while uplifting the importance of rest and clarity of roles. Join colleagues for thoughtful discussion and we’ll provide coffee, tea, and light snacks. You can attend individual sessions or all three, as your schedule allows.

Workshop #2 Description:

Feeling exhausted, more cynical, or less effective in your work? Burnout may be knocking at your door. Come learn about preventing (or managing) burnout by recognizing the signs, contrasting burnout with vitality-enhancing behaviors, and deepening your understanding of the importance of rest. Leave with a personalized plan for intentional rest and improved well-being.

Dates: Oct. 22nd & Oct. 28th
Time: Oct. 22 from 3-4:15pm & Oct. 28 from 11am-12:15pm
Location: In-Person, TBD
Registration & More Information

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Using AI to support your academic values (ALL)
In this workshop, we will explore a method for adopting AI in support academic values such as critical thinking and creativity.

Dates: October 23rd
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Fall Writing Retreat (ALL)
Writing Across URI (now housed in ATL) invites all writers to join our Fall Writing Retreats. Keep the momentum going on your academic article, grant proposal, or creative project! There’s no formal program: just bring your laptop and other materials, plus your own lunch/snacks. We will provide coffee and tea! The retreat will be on Friday, October 17 from 9 AM – 3 PM. Come to one or both and join for an hour or stay all day!

The retreats will be held in the Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute overlooking Narragansett Bay (for directions and a map to the Bay Campus). The Coastal Institute is Building #6 on the map (you can park in the lot shaded in blue directly in front of the building).

All are welcome! You will simply be asked, in confidence, to check in with a brief statement of your writing goal and to check out with a brief statement of what you accomplished. Check out this webpage for more information about Writing Across URI.

Date: October 17th
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: In-Person, Large Conference Room of the Coastal Institute (Bay Campus)
Registration & More Information

November

ATL Walk & Talk (ALL)
Looking for a way to connect with colleagues? Need a break from the stresses of faculty life? Come walk with us! This opportunity gives instructors an informal way to engage with peers, take a leisurely stroll/roll around campus, and discuss teaching and learning topics that are top of mind. Bring a colleague or join on your own!

Sign up here to let us know your interest and needs, and to receive email updates during the semester. Or, just drop by the Flagpole on the Quad any Wednesday at 10am to enjoy a conversation and stroll/roll!

Walk & Talks will begin on Sept. 10 with the last walk on Dec. 17, No Walk & Talk on Nov. 26.

Date: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Location: Meet at the flagpole the Quad 
Express Interest & More Information

________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Student Learning Community Session #3 (GTA)
Are you a Grad student teaching assistant who is looking to deepen your inclusive and effective teaching practice in a community of motivated graduate student instructors? This fall, we will be forming a learning community for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at URI. We have four scheduled meetings (on campus, in person) for GTAs to come together and explore their teaching practice. Our community is limited to 15 participants, to facilitate thoughtful conversation and relationship building. For each meeting, there will be about an hour of work to do after each session to practice implementing what we discussed.

Additional Session Date: Dec. 8

Date: November 3rd
Time: Noon
Location: In-Person, Location TBD
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Book Club – The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (ALL)
Academic life can be frenetic and sometimes overwhelming. Could slowing down help us connect with our professional purpose? Join us for a 4-session book discussion on The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy (Berg & Seeber, 2016). This short book explores how embracing principles of the “slow” movement can create a more reflective, balanced, and meaningful academic environment. The authors also present ways of alleviating stress while improving teaching, research, and collegiality. Connect with fellow instructors and share ideas for slowing down in a fast-paced academic world.

Date: November 4th
Time: 12:30-1:45pm
Location: In-Person, Tyler Hall, 225
Registration & More Information

________________________________________________________________________________

AI and Assignment Design (ALL)
In this workshop, we will explore integrating AI into an assignment and communicating the propoer use of AI to students in a transparent way.

Dates: November 13th
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Location: Zoom
Registration & More information

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Finishing the Semester Strong (NF)
 A conversation to support “landing the plane” of your 1st semester in a positive manner and with success.

Dates: November 17th and November 18th
Time: 11/17 from 3:30pm – 4:40pm; 11/18 from 9:30am – 10:30am
Location: November 17: Zoom; November 18th: In-Person, Tyler Hall 225
Registration & More information

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Part-Time Faculty Community of Practice Session #3 (PTF)
Designed for all Part-time Faculty teaching at URI, this four-session Community of Practice will help faculty develop relationships with colleagues, explore teaching successes and challenges, and further establish their teaching practice. Repeat participants are welcome!

Session Dates/Topics:

• Session #3, Tues., Nov. 18 – Reflective teaching practice and gearing up for end-of-term.
• Session #4, Tues., Dec. 16 – Celebrate successes and strategize ongoing reflective teaching practice.

Date: November 18th
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information

_________________________________________________________________________________

Strategies & Tools for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)
Are you ready to elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom? Join us for a series of dynamic workshops crafted to empower your teaching journey. Attend at least 3 out of the 4 workshops and earn an esteemed certificate/badge recognizing your commitment to professional development.

• Session #5: Nov. 26: Choose Your Own Adventure (Participants will determine the topic based upon interest)

Additional Session: Dec. 10

Date: November 26th
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Tyler Hall, 225 or Virtually
Registration & More Information

December

ATL Walk & Talk (ALL)
Looking for a way to connect with colleagues? Need a break from the stresses of faculty life? Come walk with us! This opportunity gives instructors an informal way to engage with peers, take a leisurely stroll/roll around campus, and discuss teaching and learning topics that are top of mind. Bring a colleague or join on your own!

Sign up here to let us know your interest and needs, and to receive email updates during the semester. Or, just drop by the Flagpole on the Quad any Wednesday at 10am to enjoy a conversation and stroll/roll!

Walk & Talks will begin on Sept. 10 with the last walk on Dec. 17, No Walk & Talk on Nov. 26.

Date: Wednesdays
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Location: Meet at the flagpole the Quad 
Express Interest & More Information

____________________________________________________________________________

SoTL Reading Club, Session #3: SoTL in Professional Studies (ALL)
Keeping up with the latest research in teaching and learning doesn’t have to be onerous! Join this monthly meeting to explore some of the newest scholarship in SoTL and connect with your colleagues as you consider possible applications to your own teaching context.

Date: December 5th
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Location: Zoom

Registration & More Information

________________________________________________________________________

Graduate Student Learning Community Session #4 (GTA)
Are you a Grad student teaching assistant who is looking to deepen your inclusive and effective teaching practice in a community of motivated graduate student instructors? This fall, we will be forming a learning community for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at URI. We have four scheduled meetings (on campus, in person) for GTAs to come together and explore their teaching practice. Our community is limited to 15 participants, to facilitate thoughtful conversation and relationship building. For each meeting, there will be about an hour of work to do after each session to practice implementing what we discussed.

Date: December 8th
Time: Noon
Location: In-Person, Location TBD
Registration & More Information
________________________________________________________________________

Strategies & Tools for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA)
Are you ready to elevate your teaching skills and make a lasting impact in the classroom? Join us for a series of dynamic workshops crafted to empower your teaching journey. Attend at least 3 out of the 4 workshops and earn an esteemed certificate/badge recognizing your commitment to professional development.

• Session #6: Dec. 10: Gearing up for the final push of the semester

Date: December 10th
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Tyler Hall, 225 or Virtually
Registration & More Information

____________________________________________________________________________________

Assessing Learning  (NF)
A conversation about best practices to equip instructors to measure their students learning in viable and practical ways over time.

Dates: December 15th and December 16th
Time: 12/15 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm; 12/16 from 9:30am – 10:30am
Location: December 15: Zoom; December 16th: In-Person, Tyler Hall 225
Registration & More information

________________________________________________________________________________________

Part-Time Faculty Community of Practice Session #4 (PTF)
Designed for all Part-time Faculty teaching at URI, this four-session Community of Practice will help faculty develop relationships with colleagues, explore teaching successes and challenges, and further establish their teaching practice. Repeat participants are welcome!

Session Dates/Topics:

• Session #4, Tues., Dec. 16 – Celebrate successes and strategize ongoing reflective teaching practice.

Date: Dec. 16th
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Location: Zoom
Registration & More Information