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As we return to familiar routines at the start of a new academic year, we have the chance to think about what we want to do differently. The balance between what we carry forward and what we leave behind has been on my mind lately, particularly as I think about an experience that has played an important role earlier in my career. 

When I was an assistant professor, I received a fellowship that bought me out of teaching for a full academic year so that I could focus on my research in preparation for tenure. I moved to Austin to be closer to my research materials and made big changes in my personal life. It was a major, much-needed reset. Since 2017, I have been invited to speak at the annual fellows’ retreat, where each new cohort receives career guidance from post-tenure alums of the program. The first year, I was on the publishing panel—but truth be told, I am a slow writer and don’t have as prominent a publication record as others do. So the following year, they switched me to the work-life balance panel . . . and it just so happened that three of the four panelists got divorced during our fellowship year, which freaked out a number of that year’s fellows. So in 2019, they invited me to offer a tenure workshop, as I could clearly demonstrate success in that area. 

When the invitation to do the workshop arrives each year, I happily accept because I appreciate the opportunity to give back to an organization that played a role in my professional success. Well, earlier this summer, when I received the schedule for this year’s retreat, I saw some of the same folks who have been featured speakers for years. My eyes rolled as I thought, “They’re bringing them back?” And then it struck me: They very well might be huffing, “Maggie’s tenure workshop again?!”

It’s not always clear when we need to step away from something that we find meaningful. Why change what doesn’t seem broken? It’s not that something has to be “wrong” with what we’re doing in order to make a change. We may still enjoy it and be great at it. Other people may still appreciate that we do it. But that doesn’t mean we stick with it forever.

Which brings me to this newsletter. When Faculty Friday started in January 2022, the aim was to move away from one-off emails and instead communicate in one place updates and opportunities related to faculty success. Since its launch, I have written an introduction, usually turning a recent experience into an opportunity to reflect on the work we do as higher education professionals. More than one person has observed, “It’s like ‘chicken soup for the academic soul.’” Every month, colleagues from across the division have reached out to say that an introduction resonated with them, and one superfan has repeatedly encouraged me to publish the intros as a book. That feedback has meant the world to me and, as someone who always dreamed of being a creative writer, this newsletter offered one small outlet. 

That being said, I really don’t want Faculty Friday to become “Maggie’s tenure workshop again?!” So, after four and a half years, this will be my last regular Faculty Friday introduction. To be clear, Faculty Success is an important part of my portfolio as Senior Vice Provost, and I remain committed to the work. However, I’m handing over this greeting to Dr. Friederike Bruehoefener, AVP for Faculty Excellence, and the CFETI team, who have been leading with tremendous energy and breathing new life into longtime programming. I know they will find new and creative ways to use this space.

So before we get too busy with Fall 2026, I encourage you to consider what might be your version of my tenure workshop: Is there a role you continue to play largely because you’ve played it for a long time? An assignment or way of doing your work that once served you well but would benefit from a fresh approach? Something you still enjoy and value, but that perhaps someone else can take on and make their own? It’s not always easy to pinpoint when something that once fit us no longer does. But we can and should stay open to the possibility that we have changed, the work has changed, or that it’s time to make room for a new iteration of something good.

Sincerely,
Magdalena L. Barrera
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and
Accreditation Liaison Officer

San José State University is reviewing its University Learning Goals (ULGs) in accordance with University Policy S17-12. This review is important to ensure the ULGs continue to reflect our institutional values, educational priorities, and the evolving needs of our students. 

Please check your email inbox and look for an email sent by Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics (IRSA) to review the proposed revisions and complete the survey by Thursday, September 10, 2026. Your feedback will help inform the final recommendations. Thank you for your participation.

Service learning (SL) and Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) can be a powerful way to demonstrate the connections between teaching, research, and service. In this interactive workshop, which takes place on August 28, 2026, from 10:00-11:00 AM, SJSU faculty will share practical strategies for documenting and showcasing SL/CEL contributions. Participants will explore ways to capture quantitative metrics and qualitative evidence across three areas of impact, translating curricular community engaged work into a clear and meaningful narrative for the dossier. To register, please complete this registration form.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to break the stigma surrounding suicide and shift the culture from silence and shame to open, honest dialogue, empathy, and support. The Student Wellness Center invites staff, faculty, and students to attend QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training and learn practical skills for recognizing warning signs, starting a supportive conversation, and connecting someone with help. Register for QPR Training: Staff Only Session and Student Only Session facilitated by Kathy Lee, Ph.D. (Director of Counseling & Psychological Services) & Wilson Deng, M.A. (Housing Behavioral Case Manager) 

Additional mental health and crisis-support resources are available on sjsu.edu/wellness.

- Student Wellness Center | Counseling & Psychological Services

- Student Wellness Center | Mental Health Resources

- Well-being @ SJSU | Mindful Steps for Mental Health

With the Library Course Materials (LMC) tool, instructors can include a variety of resources—such as electronic articles, streaming media, digitized content, and physical materials—all in one place, making it easy for students to access everything they need for their courses.

For more information, view the LCM LibGuide.

Are you a tenure-line faculty member working to submit an RTP dossier this academic year? Do you have questions about “what” to submit, and “where” and “how” to submit it? Join Friederike Bruehoefener, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence, and James Lee, Associate Vice President, Faculty Services, for drop-in Office Hours. Use this Zoom link to join any of the following sessions:

Use your current course as a foundation during this hybrid, four-part workshop series! You'll learn simple, time-saving techniques that you can quickly apply without starting from scratch! This series is for faculty both familiar and new to using Canvas. In this hybrid workshop series, you will leverage the Quick Canvas Checklist to:

For details and to apply by August 25, 2026, go to the Canvas with Purpose Workshop Series Application Form.

Faculty eligible to apply for sabbaticals are invited to this Zoom-based workshop, which CFETI conducts in collaboration with Faculty Services, Division of People and Culture. You’ll gain an overview of the process and hear from experienced reviewers on what makes a compelling application. To register, please complete this registration form.

These Lunch & Learn gatherings are designed for lecturer faculty who are interested in building a community of learning and practice. They are a space for you to discuss lecturer-specific topics and learn from each other. This fall semester, the Lunch & Learns will be held on

If you are interested in joining and to suggest topics you would like to see covered, please complete this registration form.

All lecturer faculty eligible for Range Elevation are invited to this zoom-based workshop that will provide you with an overview of the process and best practices for a strong application. CFETI is hosting this workshop in collaboration with Faculty Services, Division of People and Culture. To register, please complete this registration form.

Would you like to gain insights into your students’ writing processes, moving beyond the final product to reveal drafting history and to guide responsible AI usage? Turnitin Clarity could be the right tool for you, as it supports transparency, student learning, and constructive conversations about AI use. 

This fall, SJSU faculty and staff can participate in the Turnitin Clarity Pilot. If you are interested in piloting Clarity, scheduling a consultation, or continuing the discussion, please fill out the Fall 26 SJSU Turnitin Clarity Pilot Interest Form by September 13 at 11:59 PM.

Are you ready to make your online courses and materials more accessible for every student? The Digital Accessibility Essentials: A Quick-Start for Course Content and Design series combines five brief, 15-minute webinars with a companion Canvas course featuring practical activities you can apply directly to your own materials. Topics include Accessible Documents, Media, Images, Canvas, and Accessibility Testing. Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate and a $500 stipend. To apply please complete the Digital Accessibility Essentials Application Form by September 13, 2026.

Join CFETI for a dynamic opportunity for learning and collaboration! Participants will attend three interactive in-person sessions and a wide variety of asynchronous lessons and webinars. We will explore tested, new and different approaches to teaching excellence! The program is ideal for faculty who are new or fairly new to teaching as well as for faculty who wish to explore tested, new, or different approaches to teaching excellence. It starts on September 29, 2026 and concludes on March 25, 2027. For details and to apply by Friday, September 18, 2026, go to the Learning Together to Flip the Curve Application Form.