Events

Our programming, developed in collaboration with expert faculty and staff across campus, spans a variety of topics, including online course design, student mental health, and innovative approaches to pedagogy through digital scholarship.

Technology Consultations and Courses (New!)

We've recently redesigned our long-standing "Technology Short Courses" offerings, seen on our new Technology Consultations and Courses page. There you can find technology and online teaching workshops (also listed on this page), workshops offered by partner units at Illinois State (for example, Teams and the News.IllinoisState system), and contact information to connect you with experts on various software and teaching tools.

Learning Communities

Learning communities are professional development opportunities where a group of instructors meets regularly to discuss pedagogical strategies and challenges to improve their teaching.

Registration

Registration for events is now handled through iPeople, unless otherwise specified. When registering from off-campus locations, users may be asked to complete Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Users can see what they have previously registered for and cancel registrations by logging in to this tracking page.

If you have questions about the content of a workshop or need an accommodation to fully participate, please email ProDev@ilstu.edu. If you receive an error message while attempting to register, please contact the Technology Support Center.

If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in a Center event or service, please contact the Center at ProDev@ilstu.edu.

Difficult Conversation, “Hot Moments,” and Disruptive Behaviors

In this series of workshops, you will learn how to handle classroom disruptions, prepare for difficult dialogues, and respond to “hot moments” in the classroom.

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Empowering Faculty in Supporting Student Mental Health

Join Student Counseling Services staff as they facilitate a four-part series designed to empower faculty and staff in supporting students' mental health.

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Maker Day Workshops

In this new series from the Online Education team at the Center for Integrated Professional Development, Maker Days are a space where instructors can work independently and collaboratively to discuss topics related to teaching and develop artifacts that can be used in their courses.

Learn more

Difficult Conversation, “Hot Moments,” and
Disruptive Behaviors

Empowering Faculty in Supporting
Student Mental Health

Graduate Faculty Professional Development Series

Maker Day Workshop Series

Workshops

Autism Goes to College: Screening and Discussion

Synchronous Session:
Wednesday, March 19 • 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Location:
STV 401A

Facilitators:
Lori Henahan, Student Access and Accommodation Services
Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Integrated Professional Development

Join us for an inspiring documentary film screening that delves into the lives of autistic college students. This powerful film highlights their unique challenges and triumphs, offering a glimpse into their journeys towards academic and personal success. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the diverse experiences of autistic students and their interactions with instructors and supportive campus communities. Registration is required.

Intended Audience: Tenure-Track Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Course Instructors, Graduate Students, Staff (AP and Civil Service).

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Embracing Neurodiversity in the Classroom

Synchronous Session:
Thursday, March 20 • 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Online

Facilitators:
Lori Henahan, Student Access and Accommodation Services
Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Integrated Professional Development

Neurodiversity recognizes the natural variation in human brains and neurological traits. Neurodiversity focuses on the strengths of individuals and the support they may need to thrive. Neurodivergent students may include those diagnosed with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions, as well as those who may not have formal diagnoses.

Join us for an engaging workshop dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion and deeper understanding of neurodiversity among students. Explore the value of diverse minds and learn how to create supportive and inclusive classroom environments for all students.

Intended Audience: Tenure-Track Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Course Instructors, Graduate Students, Staff (AP and Civil Service).

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Difficult Conversation, “Hot Moments,” and Disruptive Behaviors

In this three-part series, participants will learn strategies and processes for managing difficult classroom situations. While attending all sessions is not mandatory, each session focuses on a specific aspect of classroom management and building positive student relationships. This series is open to faculty, staff, course instructors, and graduate students. Registration is required for each session you wish to attend.

Intended Audience: Tenure-Track Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Course Instructors, Graduate Students, Staff (AP and Civil Service).

Part 1: Overview of Handling Disruptive Behaviors in the Classroom

Synchronous session:
Friday, February 7 • 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Online

Facilitator:
Donald Reed, Dean of Students Office
Janice Blair, Dean of Students Office

Do you know the process instructors can take when a student demonstrates disruptive behaviors in the classroom? You’re not alone when dealing with such incidents. This session, led by staff from the Dean of Students Office (DoS), will walk you through the process of responding to classroom disruptions using real-life scenarios. You’ll also learn about the support available from the DoS office to assist you. Registration required.

In this session participants will:

Learn the process instructors can follow when a student demonstrates disruptive behaviors in the classroom
Understand what support the DoS office can provide.

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Part 2: Mitigating the Challenges Before They Occur

Synchronous Session:
Friday, February 14 • 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Online

Facilitator:
Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Integrated Professional Development

Learn strategies to create a “safe” classroom environment where students can engage in dialogue that fosters an understanding of diverse perspectives. While not all classroom disruptions and challenges can be mitigated, evidence-based strategies can help build trust in the classroom and equip students with the skills needed for respectful dialogue. Registration required.

In this session, participants will:

Use strategies to create a safe and inclusive environment for dialogue that fosters an understanding of multiple perspectives
Learn evidence-based strategies to build trust in the classroom and teach students skills they would need for respectful dialogue

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Part 3: Responding to Challenges

Synchronous Session:
Friday, February 21 • 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Online

Facilitator:
Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Integrated Professional Development

Learn strategies that will help you intervene in challenging situations and disruptive behaviors in your classrooms. Whether your course covers controversial topics or not, “hot moments” could arise in any classroom. Knowing strategies to deescalate tense situations would help you and your students work through tough issues and create shared understanding. You’ll get a chance to practice the strategies with colleagues in this interactive workshop. Registration required.

In this session, participants will:

Learn strategies to help you intervene in challenging situations and disruptive behaviors in your classrooms
Implement strategies to deescalate tense situations, work through tough issues, and create shared understanding.

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Empowering Faculty in Supporting Student Mental Health

Join Student Counseling Services staff for a 4-part series designed to empower faculty and staff in supporting students' mental health. While attending all sessions is not mandatory, participating in each one will enhance your ability to meet the diverse needs of our students. This series is intended for faculty, staff, course instructors, and graduate students intersted in supporting student mental health. Registraiton is requried for each individual session you wish to attend.

Intended Audience: Tenure-Track Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Course Instructors, Graduate Students, Staff (AP and Civil Service).

Part 1: Red Folder: Identifying Students in Distress

Synchronous Session:
Tuesday, January 21 • 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location:
Student Services Building 130

Facilitator:
Venique Chappell, Staff Counselor, Student Counseling Services

The Red Folder, created by Student Counseling Services, is inspired by similar initiatives in California universities. It equips faculty and staff with tools and knowledge to identify signs of student distress and take appropriate actions. It includes vital information, protocols, strategies, and resources to help faculty and staff respond effectively to students in need. Registration required.

This training will help you to:

Identify common signs of student distress.
Respond to students with empathy and understanding.
Use the Red Folder as a resource for protocols, strategies, and resources.
Connect students with appropriate help and support.

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Part 2: Kognito: Managing Difficult Mental Health Struggles for Students

Synchronous Session:
Wednesday, February 19 • 10:30 a.m. to12 p.m.

Location:
Student Services Building 130

Facilitator:
Venique Chappell, Staff Counselor, Student Counseling Services

In the second part of this 4-part series, Student Counseling Services (SCS) will go in-depth into ways to have difficult conversations with students who are struggling with mental health concerns, as well as resources and referrals where they can get help. Emphasis will be placed on faculty and staff self-care in managing these difficult interactions effectively. Participants will also be introduced to Kognito, an interactive training program that teaches users how to recognize, approach and assist individuals in emotional stress by connecting them with the appropriate resources on and off campus. Registration required.

Please bring your laptops

This training will help you:

Navigate difficult conversations with students facing mental health challenges.
Identify resources on and off campus to support both students and yourself.
Maintain self-care and establish boundaries to handle challenging situations effectively.

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Part 3: Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Training

Synchronous Session:
Wednesday, March 19 • 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location:
Student Services Building 130

Facilitator:
TBD

Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone for help. As members of the ISU community, faculty and staff are often the first to notice signs and symptoms of suicide in a colleague, student, resident, coworker, friend, or loved one. This positions you as the first line of defense to assist someone in getting help and therefore, getting life-saving help. Participants will receive electronic resources and receive a certificate from the QPR Institute upon completion. Registration required.

This training will help you to:

Recognize the warning signs of suicide.
Provide empathetic support and hope to students in need.
Effectively refer individuals to appropriate professional help and resources.

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Part 4: Let’s Talk: Student Mental Health Consultations for Faculty and Staff

Synchronous Session:
Wednesday, April 16 • 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location:
Student Services Building 130

Facilitator:
Venique Chappell, Staff Counselor, Student Counseling Services

In your role as a faculty or staff, students may turn to you for support, advice, or encouragement recognizing you as a good listener and someone who can help in their time of need. This consultation space is designed to address specific concerns you have about individual students or groups, questions about our services, and an overall supportive environment among staff/faculty to collaborate with one another. Registration required.

This training will help you to:

Deepen your understanding of how to support to students experiencing mental health challenges.
Gain knowledge into student mental health issues and the resources and support services available on campus.
Learn how to refer students to Student Counseling Services (SCS) and facilitate conversations about accessing campus resources.

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Graduate Faculty Professional Development Series

The Graduate School is offering three sessions for graduate faculty. These sessions cover a wide range of topics on supporting our graduate students. Registration for earch session required.

Intended Audience: Graduate faculty, Graduate Program Directors

Session I: Thesis/Dissertation Process

Session:
Wednesday February 26 • 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

Location:
DEG 551

Facilitator:
Mindy Kinney, Assistant Director Graduate School

Whether you are new to chairing committees or just want to brush up on the process, this workshop is for you! Join the Thesis/Dissertation team from the Graduate School for a workshop reviewing the forms that need to be submitted to the Graduate School throughout the thesis/dissertation process and the deadlines for each milestone.

This session is intended for any graduate faculty members that serve on or chair thesis/dissertation committees as well as support staff that may have responsibilities for submitting thesis/dissertation forms to the Graduate School. Registration required.

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Session II: Collaborations and Clarity on International Admissions processing, INTO, and Pathway Programs

Session:
Wednesday March 19 • 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

Location:
STV 401

Facilitator:
Wouter Van Alebeek, Director of Academic Programs, Office of International Engagement

In this session, an Office of International Engagement (OIE) representative will address frequently asked questions about international applications. A brief overview of the relationship between Illinois State University (ISU) and the international recruiting company INTO University Partnerships, its history, and ongoing work will be provided. In addition, an in-depth discussion of international admission practices and pathway programs will give participants an understanding of how these programs contribute to ISU’s goals of increasing enrollment, access, and diversity. Registration required.

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Session III: Holistic Admissions

Session:
Wednesday April 16 • 3 p.m. to 4 p.m

Location:
STV 401

Facilitator
Emma Kopko, Assistant Director, Graduate School

Join us for a professional development session covering how to review applications to your graduate program with a holistic approach including how to weigh each piece of an application equally when each piece is demonstrating different information about a student’s previous academic experience, writing skills/abilities, interest in the program, and potential success in your graduate program.

We will provide an admissions toolkit to help review applications with a holistic lens and demonstrate how to use it when reviewing applications during this session.

This session is intended for any graduate faculty members with responsibilities in the admissions process for their program. Registration required.

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Intro to Queer Allyship

Synchronous Sessions:
Register for this session by Thursday, February 13
Friday, February 14 • 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location:
WIH 325

Facilitator:
David Giovagnoli, Center for Integrated Professional Development

LGBTQIA2S+ youth, including college students, are among the most at-risk groups for mental health challenges, housing and food insecurity, and domestic violence, because of the ways in which society’s support systems fail to see and value them. Formerly referred called Safe Zone, Intro to Queer Allyship is a knowledge-level workshop focusing on using terminology appropriately, understanding the relationship between sex, gender, and sexuality, and finding the resources available to support Queer Redbirds (faculty, staff, and students) at Illinois State University. This experience is tailored to faculty, staff, and graduate assistants, with either teaching responsibilities or other student-facing roles, particularly in Academic Affairs. Registration is required.

Intended Audience: Tenure-Track Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Course Instructors, Graduate Students, Staff (AP and Civil Service).

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Maker Day Workshop Series

In this new series from the Online Education team at the Center for Integrated Professional Development, Maker Days are a space where instructors can work independently and collaboratively to discuss topics related to teaching and develop artifacts that can be used in their courses. Staff will be available throughout to answer questions, brainstorm, and guide the session with brief lectures on specific, timely subjects. Each Maker Day will focus on a chosen theme with three subtopics that guide and focus the artifacts that you may choose to work on. While we encourage you to come for the entire 3 hours, you may also drop in as interested. Bring a laptop and course materials you'd like to work on!

Maker Day: Facilitating Online Discussions in Turbulent Times

Workshop:
Thursday, January 30 • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location:
Williams Hall 325

This maker day focuses on facilitating online discussions by acknowledging the turbulent times that many students are experiencing beyond the classroom. The first hour will focus on contextualizing the current social climate and considering the way in which student identity is at play in the classroom. The second hour will focus on best practices for drafting discussion questions and laying the ground for productive discussions in Canvas. The final hour will focus on what you as the instructor can do to facilitate a safe and respectful discussion for all students in the course. Artifacts that can be drafted during this Maker Day include: discussion prompts, netiquette policies, discussion requirements, syllabus or instructor statement on identity, etc. Registration is required.

Facilitators:
Allison Hauser, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Addison Lamb, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Alyssa Herman, Center for Integrated Professional Development

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Maker Day: Building Trust with Students in Online Courses

Workshop:
Thursday, February 27 • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location:
Williams Hall 325

This maker day focuses on different approaches to online learning that can support students of different backgrounds, from Gen-Z to non-traditional students. The first hour will focus on how to best support non-traditional older students who are returning to the classroom after time away. The second hour will focus on how to engage Gen-Z learners in a quickly changing technological environment. The final hour will focus on how Covid has impacted all learners and instructors, and how the shift to online learning can be a space for encouraging intergenerational learning in online spaces. Artifacts that can be drafted during this Maker Day include: assignment sheets, communication plans, plans for incorporating new technology, module maps, late work policies, etc. Registration is required.

Facilitators:
Allison Hauser, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Courtney Cox, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Alyssa Herman, Center for Integrated Professional Development

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Maker Day: Intergenerational Online Learning

Workshop:
Thursday, March 27 • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location:
Williams Hall 325

This maker day focuses on building and fostering trust between students and instructors. The first hour will focus on what you can do as the instructor to build trust with your students. The second hour will focus on evaluating how you are communicating that trust with students. The final hour will focus on how you can use this mutual trust to encourage students to take risks in their learning and support their creativity, while still meeting course learning objectives. Artifacts that can be drafted during this Maker Day include: communication policies, instructor bios, assignment sheets, syllabus policies, draft announcements, plan for technology incorporation, etc. Registration is required.

Facilitators:
Allison Hauser, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Nichol Brown, Center for Integrated Professional Development

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