Facilitators: 
Wade Bloomquist, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Mathematics
Adam Brummett, Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Chemistry

This peer mentoring community is designed for instructional-track faculty who teach large lecture courses, with “large lecture” intentionally defined within the context of each participant’s department rather than by a specific enrollment cutoff. A major focus of the group will be learning across disciplines. Participants will have opportunities to compare how different departments approach common challenges associated with teaching at scale. Possible topics include student engagement, assessment and grading at scale, coordinating TAs and graders, academic integrity, instructional technology, student communication, consistency across sections, workload management, accessibility and inclusive teaching, course redesign, building community in high-enrollment courses, using student feedback and course data, and balancing standardization with instructor autonomy. Meetings will have planned themes selected to reflect participants’ interests while leaving time for open discussion, troubleshooting, and sharing experiences. 

The overarching goals are to build a cross-campus community of instructional-track faculty, exchange practical strategies, learn from approaches used in other departments, and collaboratively address challenges that arise in large-enrollment instruction. 

This community builds on a peer mentoring group offered in previous years and welcomes both returning and new participants; no prior participation is expected or required.

Schedule

Meetings will be held in person on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Six meetings are planned for Fall 2026, with the schedule avoiding Thanksgiving week.

Proposed Fall 2026 Meeting Dates

• Thursday, September 24, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 8, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 22, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 5, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, November 19, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 3, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Registration Link

Facilitators: 
Ben Hassman, Associate Professor of Instruction, Rhetoric, Department of Communication Studies
Katlyn O’Shaughnessy, Associate Professor of Instruction, Rhetoric, Department of Communication Studies

This peer mentoring community is designed for instructional, clinical or research-track faculty interested in intentionally considering, discussing, and practicing professional communication skills. The facilitators draw on a decade of teaching Public Speaking for Academics, a semester-long professional development course for interdisciplinary cohorts of graduate students. 

Possible topics include articulating the intersections between identity and career, telling one’s story in professional contexts, reflecting on effective and less effective communication in public-facing academic spaces across disciplines, identifying opportunities to strengthen teaching, presentations, and promotion materials, and implementing practical improvements. The group will also emphasize building connections and conversation among faculty. 

Meeting agendas will remain flexible and will be shaped by participants’ needs and interests.

Schedule

Meetings will be held in person on Wednesdays from 1:30–2:30 p.m., roughly every other week throughout the 2026–2027 academic year, with flexibility around busy points in each semester. Seven dates are proposed for each semester; one may be dropped based on cohort needs.

Proposed Fall 2026 Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, September 9, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 23, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 7, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 4, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 18, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 2, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Proposed Spring 2027 Meeting Dates

• Wednesday, January 27, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 10, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 24, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 10, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 31, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 14, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 28, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Registration Link

Facilitators: 
Elizabeth Kleiman, Professor of Instruction; Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Computer Science
Eric Ewing, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Computer Science

Generative AI is here to stay, and the growing number of AI tools available to students and instructors is changing how we teach and assess learning. 

This mentoring community will explore meaningful assessment strategies in the age of GenAI and consider whether traditional approaches still accurately measure student learning and performance. We will discuss how faculty are using AI tools in the classroom, how these tools affect student learning and performance, and whether assessment practices should shift toward more in-person assessments and away from low-stakes assignments. A central question will be whether we are measuring student performance or AI performance when students use AI tools unethically. 

The group will provide an opportunity for faculty to share experiences, discuss challenges, and explore practical approaches to assessment in the age of GenAI.

Schedule

The group will meet in person from 3:00–4:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month during the fall and spring semesters. The first meeting will be September 22, 2026.

Registration Link

Facilitators: 
Anna Jensen, Assistant Professor of Instruction; Director of the Office of Field Experience, Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
Debra Trusty, Associate Professor of Instruction, Coordinator, Museum Studies Certificate, Department of Classics

This peer mentoring community brings together faculty from across disciplines who are committed to strengthening students’ career readiness through intentional course design and learning experiences. In partnership with the Pomerantz Career Center, participants will explore practical strategies for integrating career readiness into teaching by identifying short-, medium-, and long-term opportunities for impact. The community will focus on topics such as career exploration, experiential learning, and assessment of student learning outcomes. 

Open to faculty across all tracks and disciplines, the group provides a space for collaboration, reflection on teaching, resource sharing, and innovation aimed at better aligning academic experiences with students’ professional goals and diverse career pathways, regardless of course topic or content.

Schedule

The group will meet in person five times during both the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters, for a total of 10 meetings. All meetings will be held in Pomerantz Center (PC) C330, and light refreshments will be provided. Spring semester dates and times will be announced in December. 

Fall 2026 meetings Dates

• Wednesday, September 16, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 30, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 14, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 4, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 2, 3:00–4:00 p.m.

Registration Link

Facilitators: 
Bin He, Associate Professor, Department of Biology
Erik Krohn, Professor of Instruction, Department of Computer Science

This peer mentoring community brings faculty from across disciplines together to support exercise, physical activity and sustainable health habits during busy academic life. Through activities such as walk-and-talks, shared fitness groups and conversations about staying active, managing stress and preventing injury, we hope to build connection and accountability for faculty at all fitness levels. The goal of this community is to help one another avoid burnout and build healthier, more sustainable academic careers. 

This group is intended for all faculty, regardless of fitness level or experience. Meetings will explore a variety of topics related to physical activity, healthy habits and sustainable well-being during busy academic semesters. Potential topics include healthy eating and nutrition, injury prevention (including a session with a physical therapist), how to hold a walk-and-talk meeting, (re)starting exercise after a break, exercising without becoming a “fitness” person, staying active when busy, sleep and recovery, accountability through smaller groups with similar interests and movement during the workday. 

Schedule

The first meeting will be held Wednesday, September 23, from 9:00–10:00 a.m.; subsequent meetings are planned for the first Wednesday of each month from 9:00–10:00 a.m. The group will meet in person whenever possible, with Zoom available for participants unable to attend a particular session. In addition to the monthly meetings, participants may form smaller groups based on shared interests.

Registration Link