I have to admit, it was a challenge to carve out a few minutes of quiet in the whirlwind of week one to write this introduction. It’s an exciting time, seeing our campus spring to life with the arrival of new students and a new academic year. The LTC has some new things on the horizon, too – communities of practice are being established and we’re introducing a week 6 seminar opportunity for faculty and staff. We’ve also welcomed some new students to our staff, and I’m taking this chance to highlight their work.
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Many of you met Alex Mershon, our Student Partner Intern, during Summer Institutes. And if you haven’t met him yet, I hope you cross paths with him soon. His introduction in our welcome back newsletter reminded me of all the reasons I love working at Evergreen.
We’re also pleased to be hosting a Project Search intern again this fall. I really enjoy getting to know these students as they gain workplace skills in our office and prepare for bright futures. This fall our intern is helping us digitize many past reports and documents from the Washington Center’s rich history of supporting learning communities, educational reform, and equity in higher education.
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And we’ve just welcomed two brilliant new student workers who are giving me daily inspiration as they come up with great ideas for supporting and expanding the work of our office. One of them is contributing a new column in this issue – be sure to check out What’s New With Books by Maddie MacKenzie (and find out why there’s a squirrel here).
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Each one of these students brings something unique and enriching to our campus, enlivening our institutional ecosystem. We all play a part in this community, mutually supporting and learning from each other. As we embark on this new academic year, I hope this sense of community fills and sustains you as we face challenging times in solidarity, with joy and determination.
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Jaime O'Connor (she/her), Assistant Director
Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education
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What's New at the Commons? |
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Community of Practice: Low-Tech Teaching
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The Low-Tech Teaching Community of Practice will meet in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 of fall quarter on Thursdays 4-5. We will meet in the Learning and Teaching Commons conference room (Sem 2 E3123). The first meeting is Thursday 10/8 (week 2), 4-5. Snacks and tea courtesy of the LTC!
What will we do? Get to know each other and our interests in low-tech; offer strategies; offer puzzles, consider solutions; choose topics for future weeks; discuss how fall launch is going.
We already have an amazing list of tantalizing topics generated through last spring's survey, and room for more as you think of them.
If you'd like to join, just email learningandteaching@evergreen.edu and we'll see you on Thursday!
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Join colleagues in a seminar discussion in week 6 of each quarter, immediately following the leadership update. Topics and texts will be send in advance to everyone who signs up for more information. Complete this short form to sign up and our team will follow up with more details soon.
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October Book of the Month |
Myths, Mysteries, and the Macabre on American Campuses written by Christopher Broadhurst & Gordon W. Maples
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"When a memory becomes an action and that action is repeated over generations, then who is a historian to say that visiting a house won't cause you to fail if your parents and grandparents told you it would?" |
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Updated Guidelines from the Undocumented Student Task Force (USTF) for 2026-2027 |
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10-02 | Submit Attendance Reports
10-07 | Block Party on Red Square
10-07 | 1st PaCE & Faculty Meetings
10-9 | Syllabus & Community Agreements Due
10-12 | Submit Textbook Orders
10-18 | Faculty Foundation & Sponsored Research Proposals Due
11-30 | Summer Institute Proposals Due
12-02 | Academic Fair
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Teas With Sees
Wednesdays 3:30-4:45pm
Community Power and Response
October 6, 10:30-12pm
October 28, 1:30-3pm
Emotional Regulation
October 21, 1-2pm
Parents and Caregiver's Group
November 3, 12-1pm
Tending The Fire of Disability Justice
November 4, 2-3pm
Belonging Through Conflict
November 18, 1-3pm
Sensory Friendly Space
December 2, 1-3:30pm
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Do Less Harm: Minimizing Harmful Aspects of Grading to Center Student Learning
Dan Melzer, Jaime O'Connor
Oct. 27 | 10:00 - 11: 30 AM
[REGISTER]
Locating Innovation in Higher Education
Noah Coburn, Ryan Derby-Talbot
Nov 9 | 9 - 10:30 am
[REGISTER]
Looking Backward, Planning Forward: Reflection Strategies to Enhance Your Teaching
Lauren Barbeau
Dec. 2 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
[REGISTER]
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Writing Center Calendar 2026-2027
View the Writing Center Calendar 2026-27 for a schedule of tutoring hours, recurring events, and workshops throughout the academic year.
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| Math & Science Center Calendar 2026-2027 |
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Free Workshop from the National Learning Communities Association |
Teaching in Teams: Building Agreements, Navigating Friction, and Sustaining Collaborative Partnerships in Learning Communities
Friday, October 23, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern
Presented by JuliA Metzker, Director, Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education
In this interactive, 60-minute virtual workshop, participants will explore practical, human-centered tools and scaffolded models designed to support teaching teams before, during, and after their courses. Drawing from real-world implementations at Evergreen State College and institutions nationwide, we will delve into:
Four Critical Conversations: Communication & decision-making, course policies, workload sharing, and navigating friction.
Teaching Team Community Agreement Guide: A living document grounded in community care and power-sharing.
Self-Assessment & Reflection Touchstones: Concrete strategies for surfacing team dynamics and keeping agreements alive throughout the academic term.
Whether you are a faculty who teaches in teams or a professional who supports faculty teams, you will leave with concrete resources ready to adapt to your context.
[REGISTER]
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There are many opportunities for faculty to share your achievements, and we want to encourage you to contribute to the wealth of knowledge in our Evergreen community. Learn more about how to share your work with our community.
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These individuals and offices are eager to support students. Keep this list handy when advising students or reach out to schedule a visit to your program or course.
The Greener Hub connects students with people, offices, and services they need.
Academic Support
Access Services for Students with Disabilities works with admitted Evergreen students to ensure equal access to academic programs and services.
Academic and Career Advising helps students navigate their educational journey, from choosing programs to planning for graduation and career development.
The Daniel J. Evans Library provides access to information in multiple formats, instruction in the use of available resources, research support, and serves as a repository of unique titles and collections.
Media Services provides comprehensive media support for the Evergreen community, offering a range of technical resources and expertise.
TRIO Student Success provides holistic support services for students who are limited income, first-generation, and/or those with disabilities, empowering them to persist and graduate at higher rates.
The Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Center (QuaSR) promotes retention and equitable outcomes for students across identities and abilities in science and mathematics through peer tutoring and support.
Student Rights & Responsibilities addresses behaviors that violate the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, including academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, harassment, and discrimination.
The Writing Center supports writers of diverse abilities and identities through peer-to-peer collaboration at any stage of the writing process.
Community & Wellness Support
The Basic Needs Center helps students access resources for food, housing, transportation, childcare, and financial assistance.
BLISS (BIPOC & LGBTQ+ Intersectional Support Services) provides holistic support services to foster an environment where everyone can be their authentic self, centering BIPOC, trans, queer, undocumented and DACAmented students.
The CARE Team works with students who need additional support by providing resources, partnership, and navigation of systems to assist in student belonging and success.
The Social Justice Center (SJC) is a place to learn, connect, and grow, working toward the co-creation of a community where each person experiences a sense of belonging, purpose, and interconnectedness.
Student Wellness Services (SWS) provides basic medical and mental health care services to currently enrolled students through in-person and telehealth visits. Students can access services through Health eConnect, a secure online portal found under the "Students" section of MyEvergreen.
The Title IX Office addresses reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. All Evergreen employees are designated mandatory reporters. Report incidents of sexual misconduct using this form.
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