Faculty Affairs Newsletter
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Education thrives when barriers to access are removed, making knowledge and resources available to all. In this issue of the Faculty Affairs Newsletter, we highlight UMKC’s commitment to expanding knowledge—through innovative research, inclusive teaching, and initiatives that make learning more accessible and impactful. |
The Only Way to Win Is Together |
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In this most recent Innovator Spotlight from the UMKC Innovation Center, graduate student Nathaniel Hartman shares how he is bridging the gap between research and commercialization. From cutting-edge, Navy-funded projects to launching his own company, Hartman offers insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the power of small wins.
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Ensuring Education Leads to Opportunity |
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Higher education should be both accessible and meaningful. The Lumina Foundation’s Credentials of Value initiative aims to ensure that by 2040, 75% of the U.S. labor force will hold degrees or certifications that contribute to economic prosperity. This effort aligns with UMKC’s mission to provide students with an education that translates into long-term career success. Learn more about this initiative here.
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The Student Experience Project is Coming to UMKC! |
UMKC is launching the Student Experience Project (SEP)—a national initiative designed to improve student success by fostering a sense of belonging, engagement, and equity in the classroom. Faculty play a key role in shaping students’ academic experiences, and you can be part of this exciting effort!
Why is SEP a game-changer? Three reasons:
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Research-backed strategies – SEP provides evidence-based tools to help faculty create inclusive learning environments that boost student confidence, motivation, and performance.
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Small changes, big impact – Simple adjustments to course structure, feedback, and interactions can significantly improve student retention and achievement, especially for historically underserved students.
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Practical & actionable – SEP equips faculty with easy-to-implement strategies that enhance student experiences without overhauling existing teaching methods.
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Opportunities for Faculty
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- Faculty Fund for Excellence – Pool 2 is now open, focusing on humanities, arts, and social sciences. Applications are due March 20 at 5:00 PM—don’t delay!
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Looking for fresh insights on your course? Consider a peer observation. The Peer Observation Program (POP) fosters teaching development through a collaborative partnership between the Observee and a trained Observer. Register online by March 24 at 11:59 pm.
- Remote and distance faculty—join CAFE Faculty Fellow Joey Lightner on Wednesdays from Noon–1 pm CT on Zoom to connect with colleagues, access campus resources, share insights, problem-solve challenges, and expand your teaching and research network across UMKC, Missouri, and beyond.
- Highly Engaging Learning Practices (HELP) Join us at CAFE on April 9, 2025, from 1:00–4:30 PM for this hands-on workshop designed to equip participants with proven facilitation strategies, collaborative learning techniques, and effective session planning to enhance student engagement.
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Looking for your next CAFE professional learning opportunity? Check out the online calendar—we’d love to see you there.
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Spotlight Research Resource |
Congratulations UMKC Faculty
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In just the past 36 months, UMKC faculty have published an impressive 2,367 articles, driving innovation and advancing knowledge across disciplines! This issue of the Faculty Affairs Newsletter highlights some of their latest outstanding contributions—congratulations to our faculty on their impactful research!
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Bloch School of Management: Congratulations to Charles Y. Murnieks on his recent Journal of Business Research article (vol. 188), which examines how entrepreneurial identity aspirations drive employees to engage in intrapreneurial behaviors that enhance work performance.
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School of Science and Engineering: Congratulations to Paul Rulis on his recent Computational Materials Science article, Elemental and Layer-Based Analysis of Optical Properties: A New Technique Applied to Four MAX-Phases (DOI link), which introduces a novel method for decomposing optical properties by atoms, elements, and layers, providing new insights into the optical behavior of TiSiC and TiAlC MAX-phase materials.
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School of Humanities and Social Sciences: Congratulations to Dr. Cristina Albu on her recent Leonardo article (vol. 58, no. 1, 2025), Nervous Extensions for Planetary Balance in Nina Sobell's Collaborative Séances, which examines how Sobell’s participatory artworks merge brainwave oscillations, video feedback, and automatic drawing to reveal the invisible ties between individuals and planetary rhythms, fostering collective imagination and embodied presence.
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Over the past 36 months, UMKC faculty have authored an incredible 76 books, shaping conversations, challenging ideas, and making a lasting impact across disciplines. Their scholarship continues to inspire—congratulations to our faculty on this remarkable achievement!
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Bloch School of Management: Congratulations to Jeffrey Hornsby on the release of his co-authored book, Corporate Innovation: Disruptive Thinking in Organizations, now available from Routledge. This volume explores how organizations can foster disruptive thinking, drive innovation, and navigate change in an increasingly complex business landscape.
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School of Humanities and Social Sciences:Congratulations to Dr. Izabel Galliera on the upcoming release of her co-edited volume, Pedagogical Art in Activist and Curatorial Practices, now available for pre-order. This collection explores the intersection of art, activism, and institutional transformation, featuring case studies on critical pedagogy, systemic challenges in art institutions, and the evolving role of museums and universities.
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ADA Title II and Digital Accessibility: What UMKC Faculty Need to Know |
By April 24, 2026, UMKC must ensure that all digital content complies with ADA Title II and meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. The U.S. Department of Justice has reinforced that digital accessibility is a civil rights issue, requiring universities to proactively provide equal access to students with disabilities.
What This Means for UMKC Faculty
All course materials, online platforms, instructional videos, and digital documents must be accessible, including:
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Screen-reader compatibility for course websites and LMS content
- Accurate captions and transcripts for videos
- Structured, accessible documents (e.g., PDFs, Word files, PowerPoints) with headings, alt text, and readable fonts
- Keyboard-accessible interactive elements (quizzes, discussion forums)
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To support faculty in this effort, Missouri Online and Academic Technology will be implementing Ally in Canvas, a tool designed to audit course content and provide guidance for improving accessibility. Additionally, CAFE will offer workshops on accessible content creation, and a system-wide digital accessibility policy is in development to ensure ongoing compliance. These initiatives will resources and support for making course content more inclusive, providing a better experience for all students.
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Making your content accessible isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating an inclusive learning experience for all students.
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| The Pokédex of Accessibility (A11y News Substack)
Testing for access barriers is part of a comprehensive quality assurance process—but where does one start? While WCAG guidelines are as extensive as the Pokédex, what exactly is the assistive tech equivalent of Bulbasaur? Where do you start to catch ‘em all? READ MORE
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The Foodiverse and Faculty/Staff Meal Plans
Affordable access to resources includes food. UMKC’s transition to the Foodiverse in the Student Union provides a cost-effective dining experience for faculty, staff, and students. Faculty and staff meal plans offer savings on meals, ranging from 5 to 25 meals per plan. Plans are available through the Roo Card Office, Room 327, Student Union.
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Knowledge knows no bounds—keep exploring, questioning, and pushing the edges of what's possible. |
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