The Office of the VPAA is pleased to announce two faculty professional development (PD) sessions focusing on Cultural and Intellectual Diversity. These are qualifying events for the 2025-2026 VPAA Professional Development Passport Program. Faculty are eligible for a $250 RIA deposit for participating in 5 VPAA PD events during Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom in the Learning Environment - Presenters: Kevonna Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Simon-Dack
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (SC 301) | Register
Freedom of expression and academic freedom are foundational to higher education, shaping how ideas are shared, challenged, and developed in the classroom. This session will explore the principles and limits of free expression in the learning environment. Participants will explore how to foster inclusive dialogue and balance the rights and responsibilities that come with freedom of expression in academic settings.
Learning Outcomes:
- Define the concepts of freedom of expression and academic freedom, including how they intersect and differ in higher education.
- Recognize the rights and responsibilities of faculty and students related to expression in the classroom.
- Reflect on modeling academic freedom and embracing student expression.
Classroom Civility and Shared Accountability: Workshop for Faculty - Presenters: Dr. Linh Littleford and Dr. Stephanie Simon-Dack
April 9, 2026, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (SC 301-302) | Register
This interactive and collaborative workshop will introduce a toolkit developed by faculty for faculty to foster inclusiveness, civility, and shared accountability in learning environments through relationship-rich practices.
Attendees will have the opportunity to practice these strategies by:
- Workshopping scenarios in the classroom where students express concern or distress to course content.
- Identifying best practices and strategies to address and to de-escalate potentially contentious situations.