As you are coming back from break, we wanted to share a quick preview of events and opportunities that begin in January. I am very much looking forward to the virtual Digital Literacy Institute on January 6-8. I am similarly delighted to see the wide array of faculty- and staff-led Learning Communities being offered this semester. Acknowledging that Winter Semester is a busy, busy time, I nevertheless encourage you to consider spending some quality time with colleagues, learning in community and sharing your perspectives, approaches, and experiences. The multi-disciplinary nature of our Institutes, Learning Communities, and Mentoring Programs is notable; know that your contributions to these efforts are what make Grand Valley a very special place indeed. Borrowing framing language from the Seidman College of Business academic pillars, I offer a few resources to explore in the new year:  

Learn (Know). At the base level of every digital literacy or AI literacy framework I have seen are the terms Know and Understand. Whatever your views, we all have a responsibility to be explicit with students about AI-related course expectations and to help them gain a foundational understanding. In preparing for your next courses, take some time to build out your own understanding and craft assignment guidance regarding Generative AI. I have learned a tremendous amount from the folks who have shared their expertise and discipline- and course-specific framings during the Digital Literacy Friday sessions (that will continue next semester). Here are several sites with helpful language, infographics, etc. that were shared with me over the last few months: Artificial Intelligence Resource Guide (all six sections of this LibGuide are fabulous); Pause Before Your Prompt: Empowering Students to Evaluate AI Tools in a Values-Based Framework (includes sample class activities); Digital Citizenship Toolkit (open access book, I highly recommend Chapter 4: Critical Approaches to Digital Literacy); AI Ethical Guidelines (an extensive resource from EDUCAUSE with scenarios and thought questions); The Scaffolded AI Literacy Framework for Education (a detailed framework with hands-on activities for all ages). Reviewing these frameworks and guides has bolstered my view that we need to be quite careful and thorough with the Know/Understand aspect of this topic before jumping right into use, application, and creation. May this small sample of sites help you guide students appropriately.  

Practice (Do). I have always been impressed by the content offered by the Intentional College Teaching Group. Dee Fink, Saundra McGuire, Christine Harrington, and Todd Zakrajsek are higher education heavyweights; the online courses they facilitate through ICT are now available in a self-paced format. Topics address course design, student motivation, online teaching, and more. For $99, you have access to scholarly and practical content to explore at your own pace. I have heard good things from faculty who have participated in the synchronous offerings, so I am confident that the newest course will be impactful and worth your time.  

Grow (Be). Gratitude is just as powerful for the receiver as it is for the giver. One way to experience the power of gratitude is to share a kind word with someone. A few years ago, we collaborated with Human Resources on a kindness campaign. I was happy to see that Kindness Cards are still available to download. I recommend having a few on hand so that when the mood strikes, you can share with a colleague. Or yourself, for that matter.  

Take good care. I look forward to being in community with you in 2026- 

-Christine Rener 

Have a resolution to connect more in 2026? Want to discover something new, after the New Year? Consider joining a Winter 2026 Learning Community!

Learning Communities (LCs) bring faculty together for a 1-2 semester-long conversation on a topic of mutual interest and encourage an application of the knowledge gained. Past participants report this experience to be supportive, fun, and restorative! New Winter LCs are being added daily, but below are just a few of the Learning Communities that are currently open and accepting new members. You can view the complete list of open LCs by visiting our Current Learning Communities webpage.

Apply online via our Grants System today!

Did you do some reading over the break? Want to share with colleagues? Consider LEADING an LC this Winter! Submit an online letter of intent (proposal) for an LC and we'll do the rest! Need inspiration? Check out some of the Past LCs that have run.

It's not too late to start to curate these long-standing relationships with colleagues. Consider joining a Faculty Mentoring Group in Winter 2026! We have groups for all faculty, including several for Affiliate and Visiting Faculty specifically!

Faculty Mentoring Communities will be meeting through the Winter 2026 semester and are open to adding new members. These mentoring communities offer structured meeting opportunities to gather with colleagues and explore the multiple sources of guidance and connection available at GVSU for professional growth and development. Sessions center around topics that are top-of-mind for participants—the content of each meeting is flexible and responsive to group members.

There are mentoring communities designed for faculty in their first year of teaching (meeting every other week) and communities that focus on faculty who are well beyond their first year of teaching (meeting once a month), as well as groups focused on specific topics. Visit our Mentoring Communities webpage to see a complete list of mentoring groups, as well as their meeting dates/times.

Our Sponsored Teaching and Learning Event (STLE) Grants support faculty attending a curated set of teaching and learning related workshops, institutes, and conferences. The STLEs listed below are still open and accepting applications. Don't delay! Apply online via our grants system today!

The Teaching Professor 2026 Conference

June 5–7, 2026
St. Louis, MO
Award Amount: up to $2800
4 spots available
Application deadline: February 1, 2026

No matter your discipline, your career stage, or your classroom, you’ll find what you need at The Teaching Professor Conference. Thousands of educators have come seeking practical, evidence-based tools and strategies, and left with so much more.

This annual conference is designed with the needs, challenges, and goals of higher education faculty and educators in mind. The Teaching Professor Conference provides an opportunity to dive into effective teaching practices, enhance student learning, and join a supportive community of fellow faculty members who share your same challenges. You'll be able to share your experiences, discuss actionable solutions, and rejuvenate your passion for teaching in an ever-evolving academic landscape.

NOTE: Preference given to first-time conference attendees. This grant supports the full cost of attendance and therefore additional funding should not be sought.

Learn more about these opportunities and others by visiting our Upcoming Sponsored Teaching and Learning Event Grant webpage.

Sponsored by the Digital Literacy Initiative, Pew FTLC, and eLearning Technologies, we are hosting sessions related to digital literacy. Nearly every Friday of this semester, we are featuring faculty and staff experts who will share approaches, provide hands-on learning, and facilitate lively, cross-disciplinary conversations. The sessions rotate between the Valley Campus, the City Campus, and Zoom. 

All sessions will take place from 11am to 12pm on Fridays. The table below provides schedule details and registration links for each session. As the schedule continues to be built, additional details will be added. 

Session materials are being shared via a Blackboard Organization–Digital Literacy-Faculty Professional Development–open to all faculty and staff. This organization is open for self-enrollment. Contact us at PewFTLC@gvsu.edu for access support, if needed. 

Missed the Summer and Fall Writing Challenges? Have looming writing deadlines for the end of the academic year? We're happy to announce that, starting in January, we will be hosting the Winter Writing Challenge! On select Thursdays, jump on Zoom for 1.5-hour writing sessions. Each session includes:

Join us on the following Thursdays from 2:00-3:30 PM on: January 22, February 5, February 19, March 19, April 2, April 16, and April 30. Whether you're working on articles, presentations, SOTL, book chapters, professional documents, syllabi, or other writing projects, these sessions provide accountability and momentum to help you make progress. We’ll provide a quiet, distraction-free space to keep you focused. Just bring your materials and a clear goal for the session.

We look forward to writing with you!