Meeting the moment. What does it actually mean for each of us to meet the moment? This question is sticking with me and has inspired the related reflections: How will you show up? How will you support those around you? How will you use your voice?

Today we recognize International Trans Day of Visibility. Whether it be right in this moment, on this day, or this week, I encourage you to hold space for both joyful celebration and active support of our trans community. Taking the time to learn, engage, and respond is paramount and I am grateful to be able to recommend several local resources:

For a whole host of reasons, folks around us are struggling. And fifteen years at GVSU has taught me that energies and attention are highly focused at this time of year. So, drawing a page from Jim Lang’s book, Small Teaching, I encourage you to look for small ways to offer yourself and those around you a bit of grace, patience, and gentleness. Whether a quick refresher or a deeper dive is of interest, I offer the following:

Timely ideas. On the theme of small, I offer several brief but deep statements from my travels this past week:

Take good care, 

- Christine

When: May 5 (8:30 AM–5 PM) & May 6 (8:30 AM–12 PM)
Where: DCIH 445

Help your students start strong! This institute provides best practices for engaging first-year undergrads. Sessions include in-person and asynchronous components, valuable for new and experienced faculty alike.

Limited to 40 participants – Priority for first-time attendees, adjunct, affiliate, and visiting faculty. See the Strong Start page for more details.

PERSONNEL PORTFOLIO WORKSHOP 
Prepare for contract renewal, tenure, or promotion with our multi-week virtual workshop! Gain guidance on crafting your Personal/Reflective Statement and assembling your portfolio through large group meetings, optional small groups, and one-on-one mentoring.

Large Group Meetings: Mondays (4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/27), 1-3 PM (Virtual)
Small Group & Individual Mentoring: Mid & End-of-Week (Flexible)

Register by April 21, 2025 – Only 6 spots remain!

SPRING/SUMMER LEARNING COMMUNITIES – Propose Yours Now!
Are you passionate about a particular topic or eager to explore something new? Want to engage with fellow faculty in meaningful discussions? Consider leading a Spring/Summer Learning Community (LC)!

LCs provide a space for faculty and staff to connect over a shared interest, fostering a 1-2 semester-long conversation that encourages both learning and practical application. Each LC is led by a faculty facilitator and includes at least four faculty and staff members. Past participants have found the experience to be restorative, supportive, and—above all—fun!

To propose an LC for Spring/Summer 2025, submit a Letter of Intent using our online form. Need inspiration? Explore our Past LCs webpage to see the diverse topics faculty have led in previous years.

SPRING TEACHING INNOVATION GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE
Deadline: April 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Next Round Deadline: July 1st at 11:59PM

Teaching Innovation Grants support faculty in launching new, research-based approaches to enhance teaching and learning. Innovations can be cutting-edge, field-specific, or new to the instructor. Funding is for new ideas, with ongoing support expected from units/colleges. Check out more information on our TIG Webpage Here! 

FACULTY CONFERENCE GRANT OPEN SOON
Traveling July-December? Apply starting May 15 — Rolling applications until funds are depleted. The application window is open for two weeks before applications are reviewed and selected.

This grant supports in-person or virtual teaching-related conferences, workshops, or training—no presentation required. All faculty (tenure-track, tenured, affiliate, visiting, adjunct) are eligible; staff are not. Apply and you could receive up to $700 per faculty member (one per fiscal year). Want to know more? Visit our Faculty Conference Grant Webpage.

We are delighted to announce an opportunity for GV faculty to sign up for select courses offered by the Association of Colleges and University Educators (ACUE). Through our institutional engagement with the AASCU Student Success Equity Intensive, 24 seats in dedicated sections of two ACUE courses have been reserved for GV faculty. The Pew FTLC has supported ACUE course engagements in the past and can attest to the fact that participants rated the experiences as being high quality and having meaningful impact. In 8-week courses that are fully online, asynchronous, and professionally facilitated, faculty spend approximately 2-3 hours of activity per week, including implementation of new practices. The course opportunities are:

PROMOTING ACTIVE LEARNING

September 2 – October 14

October 20 – December 8

DESIGNING LEARNER-CENTERED COURSES

May 19 – June 30

October 20 – December 8

Seats are open to tenure-track and affiliate faculty who have not previously taken the course and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. As we are being provided access to the courses along with other institutions in our AASCU cohort, availability may be limited. And while we acknowledge that fall semester may not be top of mind at the moment, an advance commitment is needed in order set up the courses. Access the ACUE Partnership Portal to apply for the ACUE course of your choice. If you have any questions about this opportunity or the registration process, please contact Christine Rener (renerc@gvsu.edu). Application deadline: April 18.

Our Sponsored Teaching and Learning Event (STLE) Grant supports faculty in attending selected conferences, events, and workshops focused on teaching and learning. The list of STLEs evolves each year to highlight leading practices in pedagogy. Several STLEs are currently open and accepting applications. To explore these opportunities and more, visit our Upcoming Sponsored Teaching and Learning Events webpage.

Lilly Conference-Traverse City, MI

October 8-10, 2025
Traverse City, MI
Award Amount: up to $2000
10 spots available
Application Deadline: June 23, 2025.
Apply for this grant via FTLC Grant System. 

Lilly-Traverse City is a part of the overall Lilly Conference Series. For nearly 40 years, Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning have provided opportunities for the presentation of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Faculty and administrators at various stages in their academic careers come from across the United States, representing nearly every discipline found in higher education. Visit the Lilly Conference Traverse City webpage for more information.

NOTE: This conference takes place during the 2026 Fiscal Year. Although faculty will apply for and may be awarded the grant to attend this conference, NO reimbursements may be submitted prior to July 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins.

The 2025 Knapsack Institute: Transforming Teaching and Learning

The Knapsack Institute is a three-day summer institute focused on social justice pedagogy. 

June 9–11, 2025
Online/Virtual
Award Amount up to $850 (for registration fee)
5 spots available
Application deadline: April 18, 2025—must be reimbursed by end of fiscal year 2025. Please work with your department PSS to coordinate reimbursement. 
Apply for this grant via FTLC Grant System. 

The 2025 Landmark College Summer Institute for Educators

The Summer Institute at Landmark College has been an annual opportunity for education professionals to reboot their learning and refresh their enthusiasm for supporting students who learn differently. 

June 24–26, 2025
Putney, VT
Award Amount up to $2500
3 spots available
Application deadline: April 10, 2025—must be reimbursed by end of fiscal year 2025. Please work with your department PSS to coordinate reimbursement. 
Apply for this grant via FTLC Grant System. 

The Pew FTLC is on LinkedIn!

Connect with us to stay updated on faculty development opportunities, teaching resources, and community highlights. Follow, like, and engage—we’d love to hear from you! Want us to highlight something specific? Let us know at PewFTLC@gvsu.edu or send us a message right on LinkedIn. 

Summer Intensive on Community-Engaged Scholarship
June 2-6, 2025

Our colleagues at Michigan State University welcome community-engaged scholars and practitioners with interests in community-engaged research and community-engaged teaching and learning to participate in this learning opportunity. Through interactive workshops, field trips, lightning talks, case studies, panel discussions, and individual consultations, Summer Intensive participants explore big-picture issues related to community engagement in a learning community setting and develop strategies and plans for their own successful engagement activities. Application deadline is April 4th.