Events

Fri, Oct 3 and Fri Nov 7 | 3:30–5:00

The Chairs' and Directors' Community of Practice is open to all current department chairs and program directors, as well as chairs- and directors-elect.

We gather twice per quarter.

Further details are available on the Community of Practice page here.

» Register (separate registration form from other events)

Tue, Oct 7 | 12:30–1:20 | PAVL 050 (CDLI)

Lunch provided by CDLI. 20 places available.

Co-sponsored by CFD, Center for Digital Learning & Innovation, Technology Ethics Initiative, Lemieux Library, and University Core

Facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Department of Media & Communication; Provost Fellow for Pedagogy and AI), Megan Otis (CDLI), and Eric Jaderlund (CDLI)

What is generative AI and how does it work? In this hands-on workshop, you are invited to come learn some basics about generative AI with the guidance of SU Instructional Designers Megan Otis and Eric Jaderlund (Center for Digital Learning and Innovation) and faculty member Julie Homchick Crowe (Communication and Media; AI and Pedagogy Provost Fellow). 

While several other generative AI platforms exist, you'll learn about two free platforms: 1) ChatGPT, which is the tool most used by SU students, according to a survey in spring 2025 and 2) Microsoft's Copilot, which is included in your SU Microsoft suite. By the end of the session, you'll have a better grasp of some of the functionality of these platforms that will inform how you and your students can use them.

This workshop is open to all faculty, but faculty who have used these platforms minimally may find it most useful. 

To make the most of our time together, please bring your own device and come ready to play with these technologies.

Note that Sandbox Sessions are stand-alone – you are welcome to participate in one or all of them (pending available space), but they are not intended as a sequenced series.

» Session full. Please do not try to register for this event.

Co-sponsored by CFD and the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects 

Facilitated by Andrea Verdan (Center for Faculty Development; Chemistry Department)

Tue, Oct 14 | 12:30–1:00

The “research on research” gives us good evidence on what helps faculty progress with their research, and in response, we’ve been launching Faculty “Writing” Groups since 2007. “Writing” encapsulates whatever is involved from the inception of your idea to the completion of the final “product.” These groups provide you with camaraderie and accountability to achieve more in your scholarship. And they are intentionally interdisciplinary so that you remain the expert in your own field throughout.  

By the end of this session, you will be grouped with two or three other colleagues from across campus and will be ready to meet with your group independently and regularly to help you achieve more in your research – and with less stress. 

Click here for our webpage with full details on Faculty "Writing" Groups. 

» Register

Wednesdays, 11-12:15 | Oct 15, Oct 29, Nov 12 | LOYA 201 

Co-sponsored by CFD, Technology Ethics Initiative, Lemieux Library, Center for Digital Learning and Innovation, and University Core

Facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Communication & Media Department; Provost Fellow for AI and Pedagogy)

Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, speculation about AI in education has often been overwhelming, vague, or impractical. In contrast, authors Dan Levy & Ángela Pérez Albertos have created an approach that is winning plaudits from higher ed researchers and practitioners for its usefulness and clarity.

In Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT (2025), already in its second edition, the authors focus on encouraging faculty to explore Generative AI before thinking about how to incorporate it into their classes to enhance students’ learning. They provide practical strategies, real-world examples, and a focus on sound pedagogy to boost faculty comfort and familiarity with these new tools. They also offer timely advice on choosing the right model for meeting your course goals, all of which is augmented by a companion website full of fresh ideas.  

What can you expect?

In this three-session learning community for faculty, facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Department of Communication & Media; Provost Fellow for Pedagogy and AI), you’ll read through the book with colleagues and discuss the authors’ ideas on how to use this technology to support pedagogy and student engagement, as well as sharing your own discoveries and hesitations as you experiment with ChatGPT yourself.

This community is open to all AI-curious faculty interested in adjusting their pedagogy and practice.

20 places are available. 

Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT is 359 pages long (with plenty of examples, call-outs, and figures), and the reading will be split across the three sessions to be manageable for participants.

NOTE: Participants will need to try out ideas using ChatGPT as they read, so be sure to allow time to experiment.

» Registration closed

Thursdays: Oct 16, Nov 13, Dec 4 | 1:30-2:30 | Via Zoom | Zoom link provided upon registration

Co-sponsored by CFD and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Facilitated by Colette Hoption (Center for Faculty Development; Management Department)

Being a faculty member of color in academia often comes with unique challenges—both visible and invisible. From navigating institutional culture to managing racialized experiences around teaching, research, and service, there is a need for supportive community. In response, the Center for Faculty Development is offering an affinity group for faculty of color.  Members of this group will have space to connect, reflect, and build relationships with colleagues who share similar experiences. In this space, we will affirm one another, exchange strategies for success, and foster resilience.

Why an affinity group?

Affinity groups bring together individuals around shared identities and lived experiences, offering vital psychological and professional benefits. These include reduced feelings of isolation, increased confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging. Professionally, participants often gain access to informal mentoring, shared strategies for career advancement, and a deeper understanding of how to navigate institutional systems. For faculty of color, such groups create space for affirmation, collective insight, and solidarity. Research shows they contribute to well-being, empowerment, and sustained engagement in academic life.

Aims of the group

Our aim is to provide an environment that supports faculty of color success and satisfaction in academic life. 

» Register

Wed, Oct 22 | 12:30–1:20 | PAVL 050 (CDLI)

Lunch provided by CDLI. 20 places available.

Co-sponsored by CFD, Center for Digital Learning & Innovation, Technology Ethics Initiative, Lemieux Library, and University Core

Facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Department of Media & Communication; Provost Fellow for Pedagogy and AI), Megan Otis (CDLI), and Eric Jaderlund (CDLI)

How can you effectively use generative AI in your teaching and learning activities? In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about different ways to use generative AI as a teaching tool for class activities, discussions, and more.  

With the guidance of SU Instructional Designers Megan Otis and Eric Jaderlund (Center for Digital Learning and Innovation) and faculty member Julie Homchick Crowe (Communication and Media; AI and Pedagogy Provost Fellow), you'll learn from examples and will have the opportunity to experiment with different generative AI features that are well-suited to teaching and learning activities.
 
This workshop is open to all faculty interested in learning more about the possibilities of this technology in teaching. 
 
To make the most of our time together, please bring your own device and come ready to play with these technologies.

Note that Sandbox Sessions are stand-alone – you are welcome to participate in one or all of them (pending available space), but they are not intended as a sequenced series.

» Session full. Please do not try to register for this event.

Fri, Oct 24 | 3:30–5:00 | Casey Commons (CASY 530)

Facilitated by Andrea Verdan (CFD/Chemistry) and Katherine Raichle (CFD/Psychology)

Active learning is an essential ingredient of Ignatian Pedagogy, where is it captured as “Experience.” While it’s promoted as a teaching method that increases student engagement, improves student retention of course content, and is more inclusive than lecture alone, we don't often discuss the process—the nuts and bolts of how we put it into practice. 

As a participant in this hands-on workshop, you will 

• Experiment with a range of active learning approaches as both a student and a teacher. 
• Examine active learning as a vehicle for transformative learning. 
• Reflect on the experience of new active learning strategies. 
• Develop concrete plans to embed active learning strategies in future courses. 
• Explore how active learning is supported both in higher education literature and in Ignatian Pedagogy 

All faculty are welcome to attend. Whether this is new to you or is simply a refresher, you will get to experiment with active learning strategies and come away with a handful of techniques and activities that you can adapt for your own courses. 

» Register

Tue, Nov 4 | 12:15-1:45 PM | Zoom (Link to follow on registration) 

Co-sponsored by CFD, Center for Jesuit Education, and University Core 

Facilitated by Lydia Cooper (University Core/English), Yancy Dominick (CJE/Philosophy), Jen Tilghman-Havens (CJE), and Andrea Verdan (CFD/Chemistry) 

This workshop invites faculty who are new to Jesuit education to engage in conversation about teaching and learning at a 21st century Jesuit university. 

We will explore practical teaching approaches for use in any discipline that foster personal and cooperative insight, discovery, creativity, and reflection to promote life-long learning and the formation of leaders for a just and humane world, consistent with SU’s Jesuit educational mission. 

Participants will receive pedagogical tools that they can use this quarter, as well as share with colleagues effective teaching strategies and questions that have arisen in their time at SU.  

All are welcome; visiting faculty, instructors, adjuncts, and lecturers are especially welcome to attend. We understand that this timing may conflict with your teaching schedule, so we will offer flexibility for you to attend this session. Please feel free to come when you can and leave when you must. 

» Register

Tue, Nov 4 | 12:30–1:20 | PAVL 050 (CDLI)

Lunch provided by CDLI. 20 places available.

Co-sponsored by CFD, Center for Digital Learning & Innovation, Technology Ethics Initiative, Lemieux Library, and University Core

Facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Department of Media & Communication; Provost Fellow for Pedagogy and AI), Megan Otis (CDLI), and Eric Jaderlund (CDLI)

How can generative AI help you with your course development? In this hands-on workshop, you will have the opportunity to experiment with ways to use generative AI for assignments, rubrics, lessons, adaptation to semesters, and more.

Instructional Designers Megan Otis and Eric Jaderlund (Center for Digital Learning and Innovation) and faculty member Julie Homchick Crowe (Communication and Media; AI and Pedagogy Provost Fellow) will offer examples and guidance as you play with different functions and capabilities of generative AI in thinking about your own course design.

This workshop is open to all faculty interested in learning more about the possibilities of this technology in course and curriculum development. 

To make the most of our time together, please bring your own device and come ready to play with these technologies.

Note that Sandbox Sessions are stand-alone – you are welcome to participate in one or all of them (pending available space), but they are not intended as a sequenced series.

» Session full. Please do not try to register for this event.

Fri, Nov 14 | 3:30–5:00 | PIGT 205

Facilitated by Colette Hoption (CFD/Management) & David Green (CFD/International Studies)

This workshop is designed for new faculty to explore cura personalis—the Jesuit value of “care for the whole person”—in the early stages of their academic career - and applied to faculty themselves. 

Together, we will reflect on the unique challenges and opportunities of balancing teaching, scholarship, and service within a values-driven academic life. Through guided discussion and evidence-based practices, you will be introduced to practical strategies for setting sustainable goals, fostering authentic connection, and cultivating a meaningful, balanced approach to your professional journey.

While this session is a formal follow-up for this year's New Faculty Institute, all faculty - including visiting faculty, instructors, adjuncts, and lecturers - are welcome to attend.

» Register

Mon, Nov 17 | 12:00–1:30 | Via Zoom (Zoom link to follow on registration)
OR
Tue, Nov 18 | 12:30–2:00 | Loyola 201

Co-sponsored by CFD, Technology Ethics Initiative, Lemieux Library, Center for Digital Learning & Innovation, and University Core

Facilitated by Julie Homchick Crowe (Department of Media & Communication; Provost Fellow for Pedagogy and AI)

Critical thinking is one of the most essential skills students cultivate during their university education. It not only equips them for success in the workplace but also underpins their ability to participate meaningfully in democratic society.

Yet, as many scholars and public intellectuals have observed, the rise of generative AI presents significant challenges to how we teach and foster these skills. A recent survey conducted at Seattle University underscores this issue: Students identified the impact of generative AI on their critical thinking abilities as their top concern about the technology.

As faculty, we now face a pressing question: How can we effectively teach critical thinking in an era shaped by this new technology?

In this workshop, you'll have the opportunity to:

1. learn about recent research on critical thinking and generative AI usage,
2. discuss challenges and opportunities for using this technology in the classroom, and
3. think through strategies for revising course assignments and activities in light of this technology.

To make the most of our time together, please remember to bring an assignment or activity from one of your classes to the workshop.

» Register