Faculty Affairs Newsletter

Volume 9 Issue 1

Upcoming Events

“The Art of Pitching, Writing, and Placing Op-Eds” by Peter Catapano

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Scofield Hall room 109

Peter Catapano, senior editor in the Opinion Section at The New York Times, is a thought leader and pivotal figure in bringing philosophical thought into public discourse. He edited and published over 1,000 pieces with both emerging and established thinkers and writers. His online series, several now collected into books, include “The Stone,” “Anxiety,” “Happy Days,” “Menagerie,” “About Us,” and “Home Fires.”

If you are interested in public-facing writing, philosophy, or the media, then this talk is for you.

UMKC in the New York Times: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2023/may/two-philosophy-professors-featured-in-the-new-york-times.html

Brown Bag Lunch Discussion: Generative AI - Trials, tricks and traps

An open forum to share ideas and talk about generative AI such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and other tools, and their effect on education. Where are they useful? Where are they an interference? How do we prepare our students for a world where these tools are being used (and misused)?

Date: Monday January 29th

Time: Noon-1

Location: CAFE Conference Room - Newcomb Hall

Third Thursday at 3:00 P.M (3Tr@3) Researcher Speaker Series

February 15, 2024

3:00pm-4:00pm

With a strong academic career ambition since undergrad, Dr. Ganesh Thiagarajan earned a Master's and Ph.D. in Civil/Structural Engineering/Applied Mechanics. Prior to their doctorate, practical experience in structural engineering enriched their background. After a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, they worked as a post-doctoral research scientist at LSU and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Since 2002, Dr. Thiagarajan has been a UMKC faculty member, specializing in mechanics, structural analysis, and design. Their research spans Structural Engineering, exploring blast, seismic behavior, and bridge structures, and Bone Biomechanics, employing simulations for bone mechanotransduction and dental structures.

Apply to have your Course Observed through the CAFE Peer Observation Program

The Peer Observation Program is in its second year at UMKC and will be conducted in both fall 23 and spring 24 semesters. This program is designed to promote teaching development through creation of a collaborative partnership between the faculty member being observed (the Observee) and a trained Observer. Observees can choose to identify a specific area of focus for their observation or ask for a more generalized observation.

Learn more about the Peer Observation Program.

Applications due: January 29, 2024
Observations take place between Feb. 5 and April 22, 2024

Apply to be an Observee

Funding Opportunity

Early Career Faculty Award Program

The Early Career Faculty Award (ECFA) program at UMKC provides annual grant support to faculty members in the early stages of their careers. Grants of $1000 are available to facilitate collaborations, attend meetings, cover travel expenses, and support networking opportunities. The deadline for applications for this annual program, sponsored by the UMKC Emeritus College, is April 15, 2024. Approved proposals will receive funding by Summer 2024 and are applicable for supported activities through 2025.

For more detailed information, please visit the UMKC Emeritus College website. Questions? Contact: Dr. Jakob H. Waterborg

Opportunities to Share with Your Students

Support UMKC's First Gen Community

The Center for First-Generation Student Success has recognized UMKC as a First Scholars institution for its dedication to supporting first-generation students.

Are you a first gen faculty or staff member? UMKC defines a first-generation college student as any student whose parents or guardians did not receive a bachelor's degree in the United States.

First gen faculty and staff are invited to join the First Gen Proud Directory. Faculty and staff who join the registry will receive First Gen swag, ensure you are kept up to date with ways you can get involved with First Gen Roo Programming, and potential speaking/presentation opportunities.

We also invite all faculty and staff to add FIRST GEN PROUD to your email signature.

Tutoring

Students can book tutoring appointments by downloading our app, RooLearning+ and signing in with their UMKC SSO.

In-person appointments take place in Miller Nichols Library (MNL) room 420, in the tutoring space. Drop-ins take place there as well. Some appts may take place in the Health Sciences Library.

Virtual options are available for students through the app.

Our tutors can also provide support in the following areas:

Organizational Skills
Study Methods
Creating SMART Goals
Test Anxiety

Students can contact UMKC Tutoring at umkctutoring@umkc.edu

If students are looking for support in a course we do not support, they can use NetTutor, a free resource where students can drop in and ask questions. NetTutor is not manned by UMKC students/faculty/staff.

Supplemental Instruction

Most SI sessions take place in MNL room 422. Virtual options are available for some sessions.

Students can log their attendance and view the session schedule by using our app, RooLearning+.

View the SI session schedule or contact UMKC SI by emailing umkcsi@umkc.edu.

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

5100 Rockhill Road Administrative Center, 300G
Kansas City, MO | 64110 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.