Dear Faculty Colleagues,

The fall semester is moving right along!  Across campus, there’s been no shortage of activity, conversation, and good work happening, and CAFE has been busy right alongside you. In this edition, I’m excited to share a few updates, celebrate some of what we’ve been up to, and highlight several opportunities still ahead. I hope something here gives you a useful resource, a new idea, a reason to connect with a colleague — or, at the very least, a pleasant few minutes away from your inbox. :)

FERPA & AI in the Classroom session - thank you!
Thank you to everyone who joined us on September 28 for our session on FERPA & AI in the Classroom! We appreciated the thoughtful conversation as Corey helped unpack important considerations surrounding student data and the use of AI in teaching. Our newly formed AI in the Classroom Working Group was excited to begin hearing directly from faculty about the questions, concerns, and opportunities they’re encountering as AI continues to shape our classrooms. We have plenty to consider and build upon as our work continues throughout the academic year. Thanks to everyone who came ready to listen, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation!

First-Year Faculty Cohort
On September 28, FYF faculty welcomed Dr. Chad Brooks, Associate Provost for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, and Kelly Pitts, Assistant Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, for an introduction to the APSU Grants & Research Office. Paired with Chapter 7 from our FYF text, “Navigating the World of Grants and Funding,” the session introduced faculty to the resources, guidance, and institutional support available as they develop their research and creative agendas at APSU. Chad and Kelly helped demystify the grants process while highlighting opportunities for funding, collaboration, and support available to faculty at various stages of their scholarly work.

On October 5, our cohort took in “Scholar, Teacher, Human: Navigating the Intersections of Scholarship and Life” by Dr. Katie Haase, Associate Professor of Biology; and Luke Warren, Assistant Professor of Sculpture. First, though, at the start of the session, APSU's Ombuds team, Margaret Rennerfeldt, Professor of Dance and Mickey Wadia, Professor of Languages & Literature, introduced our new faculty to the role of the ombuds and the confidential, informal support they provide to colleagues navigating workplace questions, challenges, and concerns. Then, through a thoughtful presentation and conversation, faculty explored the very real intersections between their professional responsibilities and their lives beyond the university — an important reminder that finding success in academia involves navigating not only the roles of scholar and teacher, but the whole person behind them. 

Upcoming Events
Here’s a quick look at upcoming opportunities:

• Oct. 8 - OIT Oracle training on Teams
• Oct. 8 - TechBytes on Teams
• Oct. 8 - Green Zone Training in MUC 305
• Oct. 8 - Béla Fleck with CCCA in Mabry Concert Hall
• Oct. 20 - October Lunch & Learn in MUC 307
• Oct. 20 and Nov. 12 - Concourse Template Editor Trainings in Woodward Library 232
• Oct. 27 - Cody D. Jarman New Publication Lecture and Celebration in AD 120
• Nov. 20 - Supporting Autistic Students in Higher Ed in CL 133

CAFE Calendar 
I’ll continue to update our CAFE Calendar as more events and sessions are finalized. Be sure to bookmark it and add events directly to your Outlook calendar.

As always, we welcome your ideas on how CAFE can better serve you.  Please don't hesitate to reach out at williamsjj@apsu.edu or 931-221-7648.

As we head toward fall break and the second half of the semester, I hope the coming days offer a little space to recharge, reconnect, and enjoy October (and perhaps some actual fall weather!). Keep doing the meaningful work you’re doing, keep looking out for one another, and know that CAFE is always here to support you along the way.

Here’s to a wonderful October ahead, Govs!

Yours always,
Jeff 

A place develoted to celebrating the achievements of our APSU faculty colleagues!

Jarman publishes new book with Syracuse University Press

Set to be released this month, Dr. Cody D. Jarman, Instructor of Languages & Literature, explores the phrase “beyond the Pale” for describing both the Irish Revival and the Harlem Renaissance. In medieval Ireland, “the Pale” referred to the area immediately surrounding Dublin where the Normans maintained political control. Popular histories of the phrase draw on notions of the native Irish as savage and, thus, to be “beyond the Pale” is to be uncivilized, uncontrollable, and offensive.

AND, join us for a special event celebrating Cody's new publication on Tuesday, October 27th at 3pm in Art + Design's Heydel Recital Hall!  Find the event details here or scroll down for further info.  

Tillewein named 2026 Academician of the Year

Dr. Heather Tillewein, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance, has been named the 2026 Academician of the Year by the Tennessee Public Health Association, recognizing outstanding contributions to public health education, scholarship, and service.

We also celebrate Dr. Tillewein's recent recognition with Southern Illinois University's Young Alumni Achievement Award, presented at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on September 11. These honors reflect Dr. Tillewein's exceptional dedication, leadership, and impact in the field of public health. 

Thayer leads APSU VITA program with growing impacts

Associate Professor of Accounting, Finance, & Economics, Dr. Jennifer Thayer’s leadership of the APSU VITA program continues to make an impact in the community. United Way of Greater Nashville recently shared the following results for this year.

Bradley, Bruster, Kiser, Helmintoller, & Patterson published in National Social Science Journal

Amanda Bradley, Dr. Benita Bruster, Amber Kiser, Sloane Helmintoller, and Bethany Patterson published "Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Academic Student Engagement in a First-Year 50 Developmental Literacy Course” in the latest National Social Science Journal!

Their study explores how a developmental reading course can help first-year college students strengthen both their academic skills and their confidence as learners. Based on responses from 125 students, researchers found that while students often found college-level reading and writing challenging, explicit instruction, modeled learning strategies, and faculty support helped improve their understanding, motivation, and confidence. The findings suggest that credit-bearing developmental literacy courses can provide valuable support for students who struggle with academic engagement while helping them build the critical reading and writing skills needed for college success.

Jahangir published in the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Jenita Jahangir's research "Backward bifurcations in discrete-time epidemic models with vaccination" was recently published in the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology!

Her study uses mathematical modeling to explore how vaccination affects the spread and persistence of infectious diseases, particularly when vaccines reduce, but do not completely eliminate, the risk of infection. The researchers found that under certain conditions, a disease can continue to persist even when vaccination has reduced transmission below levels that would normally be expected to stop an outbreak. The study also demonstrates that the sequence in which vaccination and disease transmission are modeled can significantly affect predicted outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of considering both vaccine effectiveness and the timing of events when using mathematical models to understand disease spread.

To help us gather submissions for our Faculty Excellence in Action section, this form (click or scan) allows department chairs and faculty members to share honors, achievements, research publications, presentations, creative activity, and other accomplishments that we can celebrate and highlight in an upcoming CAFE newsletter!

Austin Peay State University has officially joined the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), a Launch Tennessee initiative designed to help public universities commercialize their academic research. To support this partnership, APSU has appointed Dr. Mike Wilson as its first commercialization counselor. Wilson will collaborate with faculty across departments to evaluate emerging projects and connect researchers with statewide industry networks, funding pathways, proof-of-concept grants, and IP support—resources typically limited to large R1 research institutions.

This strategic move builds on APSU’s rapid growth and unique strengths, including a record $17.8 million in grant funding and strong defense-focused research links with nearby Fort Campbell. By integrating with the state's Tennessee Innovation Exchange (TNIX) platform and working alongside APSU's College of Business, the partnership aims to help faculty translate breakthroughs—from defense technologies to digital environmental platforms—into viable market opportunities and real-world applications.

The state’s Annual Enrollment

starts Thursday, Oct. 1 and ends Friday, Oct. 16.

This is when you can make your Partners for Health benefits decisions, which will be in effect for the 2027 calendar year.

The State publication for this year’s Annual Enrollment is linked below.

There are also annual enrollment videos and handouts available to help you learn about your options. You can find all this information on the 2026 Annual Enrollment page.

You can also review the internal APSU Benefits & Wellness Page for updates - under the 2026 Annual Enrolment Information tab.

For MOST benefits, if you don’t want to make changes, you don’t have to do anything during Annual Enrollment.

If you’re already enrolled and don’t make changes, you’ll stay in the same plan options for medical, dental and vision insurance, but you’ll pay the 2027 employee premium amounts. However, flexible spending accounts require you to enroll each year.

The Office of Information Technology will introduce participants to Oracle learning resources designed to help them complete tasks and build confidence in using Govs Suite. This session will cover accessing and navigating the Oracle Help Center, locating resources for Finance, HR, and Budget using Oracle Guided Learning for in-application assistance, and choosing the right resource for each learning need. 

Thursday, October 8, 2026

10:00 A.M. via TEAMS

Creating accessible content in D2L just got easier! Explore Panorama's new ability to analyze D2L HTML content. Whether you are creating a new file or editing HTML, Panorama can provide accessibility scores and remediation guidance. It can also identify issues in real time as you build a page. We'll also showcase the redesigned Accessibility Report that helps prioritize the most critical improvements. 

TechBytes sessions provide you with key information and tips on how to better promote academic integrity in testing environments, improve the accessibility of content, and prepare for upcoming changes to our online environments.

Distance Education would be very happy to have you at their second TechBytes of the semester, on October 8th, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12 noon. Microsoft Teams Registration Required. To register and for more information, please check out our TechBytes page.

Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Location: Morgan University Center Room 305

What is Green Zone?

Green Zone is an APSU initiative that helps support student veterans and
military-affiliated students by:

Designating locations recognized as safe places.

Identifying faculty and staff who are knowledgeable about military-affiliated student issues and campus resources.

Displaying the Green Zone emblem outside offices and on syllabi to show support.

Ensuring military-affiliated students receive the services necessary to succeed academically, adjust to campus life, and transition to civilian employment.

Who is a Green Zone Volunteer/Ally?

APSU faculty and staff who:

Are aware of the issues and concerns faced by military-affiliated students.

Are available to assist students when needed.

Have completed Green Zone Training.

Support Austin Peay’s military-affiliated students by taking an active role in being Green Zone certified.

Oct. 20, 2026
Noon - 1 p.m.
MUC 307

Dr. Stephanie Bilderback
Assistant Professor of Management, College of Business & 
Cutter Shepherd Student and SOAR President

Professional identity begins developing long before students enter the workforce and is shaped by social experiences, peer norms, and career expectations. This study examines whether motives for alcohol use are associated with professional identity, career readiness, and perceptions of professionalism among undergraduate business students. Using survey data collected from students at a public university in Middle Tennessee, the research explores how social behaviors may influence the formation of a professional self during emerging adulthood. The findings offer practical implications for management education, student development, and the preparation of Generation Z for successful transitions into the workplace.

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Oct. 16 so we can plan accordingly! 

Dr. Cody D. Jarman, Instructor of Languages & Literature, New Publication Lecture and Celebration

Writing the Pale in the Irish Revival and the Harlem Renaissance

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

3 - 4:30pm

Heydel Recital Hall

Art + Design Building

Health and Counseling is available to provide presentations on various topics for your class. Presentations cover a range of topics, including stress management, physical and mental well-being, and bystander training.  

To request a presentation, please complete the form at https://www.apsu.edu/wellness/. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Quianda Harris at harrisq@apsu.edu or Jill de Graauw at degraauwj@apsu.edu. 

We’re excited to introduce a new APSU Global Faculty Collective, designed to create a welcoming space for faculty from around the world to connect, share experiences, and build community at APSU. The group will provide opportunities for conversation, professional connection, and mutual support around the unique experiences and perspectives of international faculty.

We look forward to building this community together and welcome anyone interested in participating.

Facilitated by Dr. Amanda Patrick, Associate Professor of Sociology

GovSignal Faculty Development, AP Navigate video available here.

Distance Education Support has received an increasing number of questions related to Honorlock and Respondus. The good news is that the fastest way to resolve many of these issues is with the troubleshooting resources available on our website.

These resources address the most common setup and access problems and can help students avoid unnecessary delays, especially when they are preparing to begin an exam. Faculty are encouraged to share these links in their D2L courses wherever Honorlock or Respondus is introduced, so students know where to go first for help. 

As we begin a new semester, the Office of Community Care and Standards wants to make sure you are aware of resources available to support students and understand how to report a student of concern when additional support may be needed.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to review the division care resources as well as all the following information and keep this as a reference. 

FACULTY NOTIFICATIONS

Maxient - How notifications are sent
The Office of Community Care and Standards uses Maxient, a secure case management system, to send official communications to faculty about students in their courses who have connected with our office for support. You will receive these notifications via APSU email through Maxient.

This may include, but is not limited to: 

--Absence notifications due to medical or personal circumstances.

--Information to provide context about a student’s situation.

--Requests for collaboration or flexibility when appropriate.

Each message includes a secure, personalized link to retrieve the letter from Maxient. These are legitimate APSU emails and do not contain attachments for privacy reasons.

REPORTING A STUDENT OF CONCERN

Maxient is also used to report students of concern. If you have concerns about a student's well-being, safety, behavior, or ability to successfully engage with the university, you can submit a report through Maxient here:

STUDENT ABSENCES

The Office of Community Care and Standards tells students to communicate directly with their faculty regarding absences from classes. 

Visit this link to view the information that is shared with students.

Would you like some help integrating AI into a course you're teaching this semester?  Ask one of the AI Faculty Mentors in your College!  These faculty were chosen by your Deans and have already shown creative approaches to
utilizing AI in the classroom.  

Rather than serving as technology "enforcers" or authoritative experts, our AI faculty mentors serve as trusted guides, collaborators, and pedagogical partners who support faculty in making informed, values-aligned decisions surrounding AI use in higher education. CAFE hopes this initiative will help faculty build confidence with AI while recognizing that meaningful AI integration is best supported through shared learning, collaboration, and community.

Established in Fall 2026 under the direction of URIL, SOAR is a new student organization dedicated to fostering a culture of research, scholarship, and creative activity across APSU.

The organization provides students from all academic disciplines with opportunities to connect with faculty mentors, learn about research and creative endeavors, engage in

professional development, and discover pathways to graduate education and career success.

By bringing together students who share an interest in inquiry, innovation, and discovery, SOAR helps strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration while expanding access to high-impact learning experiences.

Faculty, SOAR needs your help to identify students for this organization!

Explore these short tutorial videos designed to help faculty and staff become familiar with the core features of the AP Navigate platform. Each video provides clear, step‑by‑step guidance on essential tools such as viewing student profiles, submitting alerts and referrals, documenting meetings, and managing availability. These resources are here to support your work and help you use Navigate confidently to promote student success.

Dr. Md. Al Haider was recently named a recipient of the Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching! Here is a little bit more about him and his accomplishments. 

Dr. Md. Ali Haider is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at Austin Peay State University, specializing in industrial automation, circuit design, and Internet of Things. His teaching 

emphasizes practical, hands-on learning that prepares students to apply engineering concepts to real-world challenges and develop the technical skills needed for successful careers in industry. A Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Dr. Haider is actively engaged in teaching, research, curriculum development, and professional service. He is particularly committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage students to think critically, work collaboratively, and approach engineering problems with confidence. Through his work at APSU, he strives to prepare students not only with technical knowledge but also with the ability to adapt, innovate, and contribute effectively in their professional fields. 

“What I value most about teaching at APSU is the opportunity to work closely with students and witness their growth throughout their academic journey. The university’s supportive, student-focused environment allows me to build meaningful relationships with students while helping them develop both professionally and personally. I especially enjoy working with students in our hands-on engineering technology laboratories, where they can move beyond theory and apply what they learn to real-world problems. Seeing a student go from uncertainty to confidently designing, building, testing, and troubleshooting a project is incredibly rewarding. Those moments when students recognize that they can solve challenging problems and create something of their own are among the most fulfilling parts of teaching at APSU.” 

100 years in the making.

Monday, April 26, 2027, at the Evans Harvill Quad.

Trust us, you'll want to be there.

"What’s Worth Teaching? Say It Loud"

published August 18, 2026

by Christina M. Schmidt

Have you bookmarked the CAFE Calendar yet?  We’re constantly adding new events!  Stay up to date with all CAFE-affiliated programming happening across campus.  Don’t forget - you can easily add any event directly to your Outlook calendar with a click! 

If you will be a candidate in a retention, tenure, or promotion review, your workflow
within Watermark Faculty Success should be launched. You can find the key dates as well as the dates for each phase of the Retention, Tenure, and Promotion review process in the updated personnel actions calendar.

Report dates for next academic year can be found in the faculty report dates calendar.

Both of these calendars are posted on the Faculty Calendars web page.

Do you have an event that you would like promoted in CAFE's bi-monthly newsletter?

Feel free to email us at cafe-fac@apsu.edu with the information. We will review it and inform you if the request is appropriate for the CAFE audience.