The importance of mentoring. Mentoring is a pursuit that requires ongoing effort, not only in terms of establishing, refining, and redefining your own mentoring networks throughout your career, but also in serving as a mentor to others. I recognize that most of you reading this mailing mentor students in a variety of ways, both in and out of the classroom, and that many of you also serve as mentors to faculty colleagues. I consider mentoring a form of leadership and I am extraordinarily grateful to those who have stepped up to lead one (or more) of the Pew FTLC mentoring communities over the years. As our mentoring programs grow, so does our need for new and emerging leaders. I invite you to consider serving as a Lead Mentor this coming academic year. While we offer a range of mentoring offerings each year, they share a common approach in being structured as small group communities that meet over the course of a semester or year. We have a short form that we invite you to complete if you would like to express interest in serving as a mentor. The mentoring communities are formed based on faculty needs and interests, with registration opening in late August or early September and meetings beginning in late September.

A few resources on the topic of mentoring and/or fodder for mentoring conversations:

Designing or refining your next course(s). There exists a wealth of evidence-based practices to consider when designing a new course or refreshing an existing one. Whether you are seeking a checklist for syllabus review or a more theoretical approach to course structure and assignments, here are a few items that came to my attention recently:

Happy exploring and take good care -

- Christine Rener

Connections are Everything: How Relationships Drive Student Success - Fall Conference on Teaching and Learning featuring Dr. Peter Felten

Thursday, August 14, 2025
8 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Eberhard Conference Center

As a new academic year approaches, we’re focusing on a topic that drives student success: meaningful relationships. With the help of our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Peter Felten, we will focus on educational experiences that center human connection and relationships. Our Annual Fall Conference on Teaching and Learning is a chance to explore this topic, engage with our vibrant GVSU teaching community, and learn from each another. Visit our Fall Conference webpage for the most up-to-date information.

We invite your session proposals! See our Proposal Call page for more information about each session type. Proposals only require providing the session type, 80-word abstract, and title through this webform. Proposals that involve multiple facilitators, staff and/or students are welcomed and priority will be given to Pew FTLC funded/supported projects. Session proposals deadline: Friday, July 11. 

Questions? Contact Maggie Goss or the Pew FTLC. 

FALL and YEAR-LONG LEARNING COMMUNITIES – Propose an LC Today!
Attend any fun conferences on Teaching and Learning? Have a good discussion with a colleague? Want to talk and learn more?

Fall and Year-Long Learning Communities (LCs) are small, faculty-led groups that gather around a shared topic for a semester or two. These communities create space for collaboration, new kinds of learning, and the opportunity to meet people across campus.

If you’ve got an idea—or just the start of one—we invite you to propose a Fall 2025 or Fall 2025/Winter 2026 Year-Long LC. Submit a Letter of Intent using our online form. And if you're wondering what’s possible, browse our Past LCs webpage for inspiration from years past.

Join us on select Wednesdays this summer for 1.5-hour writing sessions in JHZ 3000 or on Zoom—your choice! Each session includes goal-setting, focused writing time, and a chance to share your progress. Just come with a writing goal! Each session you attend enters you in a book drawing at summer’s end.

Exciting News: We have added some NEW dates for entirely remote writing accountability IN ADDITION to our hybrid date offerings!.

Dates for Hybrid: 7/2, 7/16
BRAND NEW Dates for Virtual: 7/9, 7/23
Time: 10:00–11:30 AM

Bonus: Our Fall Writing Challenge dates are posted on our Upcoming Events Calendar, too. We'll keep the same schedule, starting in September. 

New Faculty Orientation – August 6, 7, and 13 (full schedule on our website)

Whether you're transitioning to a new role at Grand Valley or you know someone brand new, we invite you to New Faculty Orientation. Recognizing that the needs of new faculty can vary, this multi-day orientation is built with optional sessions to allow for differentiation based on the unique circumstances of each new and "new-ish" faculty member.

Orientation will provide a robust overview of what it means to be a part of the GVSU Community. The sessions not only equip you with information that will support your success at GVSU but are also designed with built-in opportunities to meet and engage with GVSU leadership and fellow faculty.  The hope is that you will leave orientation armed with tools, resources, new relationships and supports, and with a better sense of our Laker Community.

Topics covered over orientation include:

Learn the Library Half-day Conference — Register Here

When: Monday, August 11, 2025: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
Where: Mary Idema Pew Library, Valley Campus, Allendale.

This half-day conference seeks to engage with faculty at all levels, particularly adjuncts, visitors, and new arrivals, with the many services and resources the University Libraries has to offer. 

Engagement Scholarship Consortium International Conference: Bridging Resources to Build Stronger Communities

When: October 8-9, 2025 with Pre-Conference on October 6-7
Where: Roanoke, Virginia

This year's conference theme is "Bridging Resources to Build Stronger Communities." The 2025 ESC Conference will be a place for engaging conversations about the many ways that we work collectively to bridge the resources of our universities and communities, strengthening us all. The member discount applies to GVSU faculty.