2025 PreWeek PD Day will occur on Thursday, August 21st from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM in Seacobeck Hall. Space is limited for each session, so please register by Monday, August 18th to reserve your seat.
Coffee, tea, and water will be available throughout PD Day in the Seacobeck Dome Room.
8:00 – 9:00 AM Concurrent Sessions
Community Engagement Updates, Purpose, and Designation (Seacobeck 128; Facilitators: Sarah Dewees and Elizabeth Johnson-Young)
Join us for updates on community engagement designation requirements. We’ll discuss what community engagement in the classroom entails and why you might find it beneficial. Learn practical ways to include community-based learning in your teaching and bring a syllabus or two to workshop ways to incorporate CE into classes. #CivicEngagementCommunityService
Writing and Thinking Rhetorically and Critically with AI (ROOM CHANGE Seacobeck Weatherly Wing; Facilitator: Leah Schweitzer)
We all have (very valid) concerns about how AI is going to affect college writing; however, no matter how much we want to insist our students not us AI to write, that is, unfortunately, unrealistic. This session will take a positive spin on why AI is not going to be the demise of writing and instead suggest that this is a moment in which we can enhance rhetorical skills and critical thinking, as well as develop healthy skepticism, through writing assignments, even if our students use AI. We will talk about the rhetorical situation and argument theory and participants will leave with some small classroom lessons as well as ideas for activities/assignments they can do that will, hopefully, make them feel better about the writing their students are doing, even if it involves some AI. #Communication
9:30 – 10:30 AM Concurrent Sessions
AI Tools for Academic Research: New Developments in 2025 (ROOM CHANGE Seacobeck Weatherly Wing; Facilitators: Peter Catlin and Elyse Ridder-Roe)
UMW librarians Peter Catlin and Elyse Ridder-Roe will discuss recent developments in AI tools that can be used for academic research, and demonstrate several of these tools (library.umw.edu/ai-for-research/). Attendees will experiment with these AI tools and share their experiences with the group. Be sure to bring a laptop or tablet, and please create a free account with SciSpace (scispace.com) before this session. #DigitalFluency
SESSION FULL! FSEM Fall 2025 Workshop (ROOM CHANGE Seacobeck 151; Facilitator: April Wynn)
FSEM instructors will receive essential information for the fall semester including information on FY students, writing and research assessment results from the past two years and assessment expectations. Instructors should bring their syllabus, a writing/research assignment, or access to these on a computer/tablet. #CriticalThinkingProblemSolving
A Hands-On Look at Accommodate (Seacobeck 139; Facilitators: Alex Ecklund, Danielle Smith, Greta Kratowicz, & Jennifer Uber)
This session will feature a brief demonstration of the Accommodate Portal from the faculty perspective, highlighting how to access Accommodate (your one stop shop for all things accommodation related for your ODR registered students), as well as utilizing the system for routine tasks such as: uploading exams to the testing module, viewing accommodation letters, and more. We will also discuss important ODR Testing Center procedures, hear feedback from faculty, and answer questions. Special Note: Please reserve specific student situation questions for a separate time with an ODR specialist. #DigitalFluency
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Concurrent Sessions
AI Update 2025: What You Need to Know Before Fall Semester (ROOM CHANGE Seacobeck Weatherly Wing; Facilitator: Anand Rao)
Join us for an update on the latest developments in artificial intelligence from the summer of 2025. We’ll highlight key advancements in generative AI, updates from major platforms like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, and offer reflections on what these developments might mean for higher education and the classroom. Together, we’ll consider potential impacts on teaching, learning, academic integrity, student support, and faculty work as we head into the new academic year. #DigitalFluency
Actionable and Easy Ways to Level-Up Your LAMW Competency Game (Seacobeck 151; Facilitators: Alex Dunn and Victoria Russell)
This session provides faculty with hands-on guidance to integrate LAMW features into their classroom practice. Participants will locate syllabus statements and icons, map existing course material against the 10 LAMW competencies, and develop reflection plans for these competencies. Attendees should bring a laptop and syllabus, and will leave with syllabus statements, 1-3 LAMW competencies identified in their classes, and a plan for integrating competency reflection into their courses. #CriticalThinkingProblemSolving
12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch Break and Special Collections & University Archives Open House
Simpson Library Special Collections & University Archives is hosting an open house during the PD Day lunch break. Stop in to visit with the Special Collections & University Archives staff (Angie Kemp, Sarah Appleby, Regan Chancellor) and find out why they have the coolest place on campus! Note: No registration is required.
While lunch is on your own (and with friends), coffee, tea, and water with a few sweet treats will be available in the Seacobeck Dome Room when you return for afternoon sessions.
1:30 – 2:30 PM Concurrent Sessions
Provost Panel: AI and the Liberal Arts (Seacobeck Weatherly Wing; Moderator-Tim O’Donnell, Panelists-Maya Mathur, Krystyn Moon, Scott Powers, & Mike Reno)
UMW’s faculty cohort on the NEH Spotlight on the Humanities Grant “Developing a Public Liberal Arts Humanities Curriculum: Empowering Students to Navigate an AI World” will share their projects and insights developed during a cross-institutional meeting with grant participants held this past May in Springfield, IL. In addition, they will engage in conversation with the Provost about AI and its impact on teaching and learning. Questions are welcomed and encouraged from the audience! #CareerSelfDevelopmentProfessionalism
SESSION FULL! What’s New in Canvas-Fall 2025 Edition (Seacobeck 151; Facilitators: Jerry Slezak, Cartland Berge, & Shannon Hauser)
Digital Learning Support will share new (or newish) features in Canvas that you can use in the upcoming semester. Learn about updates in Discussions, Gradebook, New Quizzes, Speedgrader and other features. DLS will also cover ways to ensure the accessibility of your course site as we work towards alignment with WCAG standards. #CareerSelfDevelopmentProfessionalism
3:00 – 4:00 PM Session
Academic Advising Essentials: Tools, Trends, and Talk with Experts (Seacobeck Weatherly Wing; Facilitator-Wes Hillyard, Panelists-Alex Ecklund, Betsy Southern, Melissa Engelbert, and faculty advisors)
This session will focus on academic advising updates, trends, and tools, and is intended for academic advisors. During the session, participants will receive important updates, changes, and strategies that support their work as an academic advisor. There will be time designated for participant Q&A with experts across campus. #MeaningfulConnections
Personal and Professional Promotion: Sharing Your Expertise, Department Events, and Success Stories (Seacobeck 151; Facilitators: Lisa Marvashti, Sarah Mahoney, Ryland Willis)
This hands-on session will guide faculty and staff through best practices for updating departmental web pages to ensure they engage student audiences and showcase programs, initiatives, and accomplishments. We’ll also detail how to elevate faculty expertise through profile enhancements and strategic storytelling and where to share event details to our campus community to get your work noticed and make sure it’s accessible. #MeaningfulConnections
No Time to Read Book Club Pickup
If you signed up for the fall No Time to Read Book Club selection, The Opposite of Cheating: Teaching for Integrity in the Age of AI, you can pick up your copy on PD Day during the following times:
- 12:30 – 1:00 PM: Outside of the Dome Room (Victoria will be at the couches with the CfT pop-up cart)
- 3:00 – 5:00 PM: Seacobeck 209 (the stairwell or elevator can be accessed on the College Avenue side of the building)