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August Institute

August 11 - 15, 2025

The FDIC August Institute is the premier professional development series aimed at preparing Eastern Illinois University faculty and staff for the coming academic year. This year's institute will feature online workshops on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the Booth Library Center for Student Innovation, active learning, belonging in the classroom, accessibility, artificial intelligence, and tours of classroom technology across campus. The week kicks off with the Welcome Back Social on Monday August 11 at 1PM, and ends Friday, August 15 with a lunch-and-learn introducing the new Easing into Artificial Intelligence (AI) Faculty Learning Community (FLC).

Registration is not required, but much appreciated.

Monday August 11, 2025, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Welcome Back Social

Facilitator: Andrew Kerins, PhD, Director, Faculty Development and Innovation Center (FDIC)
Location: Just outside of the Center for Student Innovation (CSI) on the first floor of Booth Library

Join FDIC Director Dr. Andrew Kerins at the Welcome Back Social for the opening of our 2025 August Institute. Come meet our staff - new and familiar - and learn about the center and our programs (weekly workshops led by our ISTS staff and a number of wonderful Faculty Learning Communities (FLC). Snack will be provided.

Registration:

Tuesday August 12, 2025, 10 AM – 11 AM

Troubleshooting Course Struggles Using UDL 

Facilitator: Kim Ervin, Instructional Designer

Webinar link:

When students struggle in our courses, it's easy to jump to conclusions about why. This interactive webinar introduces faculty to a blend of structured troubleshooting approaches developed by Jennifer Pusateri, Ph.D. and Zachary Smith that leverages the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to identify and address barriers to student success. Rather than defaulting to student-focused explanations for student struggles, faculty will learn a five-step process—Naming, Blaming, Reframing, Taming, and Claiming—that shifts the focus to solutions that are course design based. Through this mindset shift, faculty can explore how to analyze course challenges, consider alternative explanations for student struggles, and implement evidence-based UDL strategies to enhance learning for all students.

Registration:

Tuesday August 12, 2025, 1 PM TO 2 PM

Unlocking Inspiration: Exploring the Center for Student Innovation

Facilitators: Brian Keith, Dean of Library Services and Kyle Cody, Library Associate

Webinar Link: 

Join Booth Library Dean Brian Keith, Library Associate Kyle Cody, and faculty members Bonnie Laughlin-Schultz and April Fletcher for a session all about the Center for Student Innovation (CSI). If you have been wondering what the CSI is and how to get your students over there, this session is for you! We'll begin with a broad overview of what is available, and then our faculty presenters will share what they do with their students.

Registration:

Wednesday August 13, 2025, 1PM – 2 PM

Active Learning

Facilitator: Andrew Kerins, PhD, Director, Faculty Development and Innovation Center (FDIC)

Webinar Link:

Active learning strategies are instructional activities involving learners in doing things and thinking about what they are doing. These require learners to engage in meaningful activities and think deeply about the concepts they are learning. When people engage in active learning, they are more likely to retain what they’ve learned. (Virtually) join incoming FDIC Director Andrew Kerins for a description of how you can adapt your class to include more active learning.

Registration:

Thursday August 14, 2025, 10 AM – 11 AM

Promoting Belonging in the Classroom

Facilitator: Michael Gillespie, PhD, Dean, Student Success

Webinar Link:

Creating a sense of belonging is essential for student success, especially in today’s diverse and dynamic college classrooms. This interactive faculty development session explores practical, research-informed strategies to foster belonging and inclusion across disciplines. Participants will examine how course design, classroom climate, and instructor-student interactions influence students’ sense of connection and engagement. Through discussion, reflection, and real-world examples, faculty will leave with tools to:

• Recognize barriers to belonging that students may face
• Integrate inclusive teaching practices that validate diverse identities and experiences
• Build classroom norms that encourage participation, collaboration, and trust
• Reflect on their own positionality and its impact on student learning

Whether you teach in-person, online, or hybrid courses, this session will offer actionable insights to create more welcoming and equitable learning environments for all students.

Registration:

Thursday August 14, 2025, 1 PM – 2 PM

Accessibility in the College Classroom

Facilitators: Keerthana Saraswathula, Instructional Support Training Specialist (ISTS)

Webinar Link:

In an increasingly digital learning environment, ensuring that web-based course materials are accessible is essential to supporting all students—especially those with disabilities. This virtual session will guide faculty through key principles and practical steps for creating accessible web content in college classrooms.

Participants will learn how to:

• Identify common accessibility barriers in online course materials
• Apply best practices for accessible documents, presentations, and media
• Use tools and platforms (like LMSs and website builders) to improve accessibility
• Meet basic ADA and WCAG standards with minimal extra effort

Designed for instructors of all tech comfort levels, this session will provide real-world examples, easy-to-use resources, and time-saving tips to make your course content more inclusive, equitable, and learner-friendly.

Registration:

Friday August 15, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

CSI and Classroom Technology Tours

Facilitators: FDIC Instructional Support and Training Specialists

Location: Center for Student Innovation (CSI) on the lower level of Booth Library

This in-person session will begin in the Center for Student Innovation (CSI) in Booth Library. Then, FDIC's Instructional Support and Training Specialists will take you on a technology tour in one or more of your college buildings, walking you through new technology, setups, permissions, etc. This is a great chance to get a heads up on any new and improved classroom features!

There will be some walking to campus buildings, so please wear comfortable shoes!

Registration:

Friday August 15, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch and Learn with AI - A Discussion and Introduction to a AI Faculty Learning Community

Facilitator: Alexis Jones, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching, Learning & Foundations

Location: West Reading Room in Booth Library

Join us for an interactive Lunch and Learn session exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning in higher education. From AI writing tools to intelligent tutoring systems, generative technologies are rapidly entering the classroom—and faculty are navigating both the opportunities and challenges they bring.

In this session, we’ll discuss (and preview our Fall 2025 FLC):

• What AI can (and can’t) do in academic settings
• Practical ways to integrate AI into teaching to enhance student learning
• Ethical and pedagogical concerns, including academic integrity and equity
• Sample assignments, syllabus language, and classroom strategies

Bring your questions, insights, and curiosity—and enjoy lunch while you learn!

Registration: