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Center for Integrated Professional Development

Workshop Series Events

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

Defining the Challenges and Introducing Campus Resources for Undocumented Students

Designed for faculty, staff, and administrators, this three-part series offers a comprehensive approach to actively supporting undocumented students by defining the challenges they face and exposing existing resources. Beginning with foundational knowledge, the series progresses to practical skills for navigating complex situations and creating a supportive campus environment. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of issues affecting undocumented students, campus resources, and actionable steps to take in a variety of scenarios. 

Intended Audience: Faculty, Course Instructors, Staff, Graduate Students

Session 1

Understanding the Challenges of Undocumented Students in Higher Education

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, September 24
Register for this session by Tuesday, September 23

In this first session of this series, we will define what it means to be an undocumented student in the context of higher education. We will discuss the key challenges that undocumented students face in a university setting, such as financial aid access and legal status concerns. Participants will come away with ideas and strategies for creating an inclusive and supportive campus environment for undocumented students. Registration is required.

Facilitators:
Donald Reed, Dean of Students Office, Undocumented Student Liaison 
Melissa Ramirez, CAUSA, Department of Special Education 

Session 2

Know Your Students’ Rights and Yours as an Ally!

Synchronous Meeting: Thursday, October 16
Register for this session by Wednesday, October 15

In this session, we will discuss some basic legal rights and how they are applicable in various contexts, particularly in interactions with law enforcement or immigration officials. We will share campus and community resources that offer support or guidance for undocumented individuals. Participants come away with their understanding of the role of an ally in upholding and protecting the rights of undocumented students. Registration is required.

Facilitators:
Samantha Vazquez, JD; CAUSA, Students’ Attorney, Dean of Students Office 
Melissa Ramirez, CAUSA, Department of Special Education

Session 3

Campus Resources and Holistic Supports

Synchronous Meeting: November 11
Register for this session by Monday, November 10

In our third session we will learn about campus units that can offer support to undocumented students (e.g., financial aid, counseling services, etc.). We will describe the holistic support available to undocumented students, including academic, emotional, and financial resources. Participants will leave with practical suggestions for referring undocumented students to the appropriate campus unit based on their unique needs. Registration is required.

Facilitator:
Melissa Ramirez, CAUSA, Department of Special Education

Event Information

Synchronous Sessions: All meetings are from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on their respective days.

Location: Student Services Building, 130

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Gladly We Teach, Learn, and Research in the Age of AI

This series, offered as a partnership between the Center for Integrated Professional Development's Scholarly Teaching Unit and the Adaptive Edge Institute at Illinois State, explores ways that scholars can adapt their teaching, learning, and research practices to meet the current moment with artificial intelligence. Each session is aligned to a dimension of the Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence and will invite discussion on how generative AI could be used, where it can't be used, and when it must not be used. All employees are welcome to register. Registration is required per session, and each session is self-contained, not depending on the prior sessions or setting up the subsequent ones.

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

Session 1

Demystifying AI for Teaching and Learning Science of Learning icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, September 10
Register for this session by Tuesday, September 9

A practical and conceptual introduction to AI in education—how it works, what it can do, and why it matters. Participants will gain a baseline familiarity with terminology related to AI and what tools are available for use at the University. Registration is required.

Session 2

AI and Academic Integrity

Classroom Climate and Culture icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, September 17
Register for this session by Tuesday, September 16

An overview of the potential academic integrity concerns created by AI and appropriate responses in syllabus language and assignment design. This session focuses on how to effectively communicate your expectations to students about their use or non-use of AI. Registration is required.

Session 3

AI-Informed Course Design 

Impact of Course Design icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, September 24
Register for this session by Tuesday, September 23

A deep dive into how to design assignments, assessments, and activities that account for AI. Participants will explore the affordances and limitations of using AI-powered tools in creating course materials, lesson plans, and assignments. Registration is required.

Session 4

Prompt Engineering for Educators

Evidence-Based Pedagogy icon
Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, October 1 
Register for this session by Tuesday, September 30

A hands-on chance to explore how different types of prompts can be used with university-supported tools. Participants will learn how to talk to their students about effective prompt engineering, and test prompts that are relevant to their own work as scholars. Registration is required.

Session 5

AI for Feedback and Assessment

Feedback and Assessment Loop icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, October 8 
Register for this session by Tuesday, October 7

An overview of how AI can be used to create robust rubrics and contribute to assessment practices. Participants will consider the ethical ramifications of using AI in the assessment process and consider which tools could be used with proper disclosure and data security. Registration is required.

Session 6

AI for Student Success and Engagement 

Classroom Climate and Culture icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, October 22 
Register for this session by Tuesday, October 21

An exploration of how AI tools can improve student retention and performance. Participants will learn about what tools students could utilize in their own study habits and how to build a culture of trust related to AI in the classroom. Registration is required.

Session 7

Reflective Teaching with AI Analytics

Data-Informed Reflection

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, October 29 
Register for this session by Tuesday, October 28

An overview of how AI tools can be used in instructors' reflective practices on their own teaching. Participants will consider how AI tools could be used to identify patterns in their teaching and scaffold pathways to improving instruction. Registration is required.

Session 8

AI as a Research Assistant

Campus Research icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, November 5 
Register for this session by Tuesday, November 4 

A discussion about how to use AI to improve research productivity. Participants will consider how AI-powered tools can assist in literature reviews, data analysis, and other important but time-consuming stages of the research process. Registration is required.

Session 9

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and AI 

Data-Informed Reflection icon

Synchronous Meeting: Wednesday, November 12 
Register for this session by Tuesday, November 11

An overview of how student and faculty use of AI could be studied in the classroom. Participants will consider how they might conduct a SoTL project to study the use of AI in their own teaching and in their students learning, as well as how AI tools might inform their SoTL practices. Registration is required.

Event Information

Synchronous Meeting Time:
Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Note: There will be no session on October 15th.

Location:
STV 401A

Facilitators:
David Giovagnoli, Adaptive Edge Institute, Center for Integrated Professional Development  
Roy Magnuson, Adaptive Edge Institute, School of Music

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Little Ideas for Teaching (LIFTS): Strategies for Student Success

The Center for Integrated Professional Development is excited to introduce a new series of workshops titled Little Ideas for Teaching (LIFTs) for Student Success. These sessions invite educators to explore evidence-based strategies that enhance student learning, engagement, and equity.

Each session will provide instructors with opportunities to articulate key concepts, examine practical classroom applications, and collaboratively generate new approaches. Designed for instructors across disciplines and experience levels, the series supports reflective teaching practices that focus on student success and engagement.

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

Session 1

Cultivating Metacognition in the Classroom - Friday, September 19.

This session explores the role of metacognition in student learning and how instructors can integrate metacognitive strategies into their teaching. Participants will articulate key concepts related to metacognition, examine pedagogical approaches that support student self-awareness and regulation, and collaboratively brainstorm additional strategies to promote intentional learning practices. Registration Required.

Session 2

Feedback as a Tool for Learning - Friday, October 10.

Effective feedback is central to student learning. In this workshop, instructors will engage with core concepts of formative and constructive feedback, analyze diverse feedback strategies that promote student autonomy, and generate new ideas for integrating meaningful feedback cycles into their courses. Registration Required.

Session 3

Centering Student Voices in Teaching and Learning - Friday, November 7.

This session focuses on the importance of listening to and reflecting student voices in your instruction and course design. Participants will examine what it means to center student perspectives, explore inclusive practices that analyze and respond to student input, and co-create strategies for cultivating a more meaningful and equitable learning environment. Registration Required.

Event Information

Synchronous Sessions: All meetings are from 12:00 p.m. to 1 p.m. on their respective days.

Location: Online - Zoom.

Facilitator: Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Civic Engagement.

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Peer Feedback Strategies for Teaching Effectiveness

This three-part workshop series equips college instructors with evidence-based strategies for gathering data on, and providing feedback about, the teaching effectiveness of their peers. Each session focuses on a distinct method—Midterm Chat – Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), classroom observation, and instructional artifact review—offering both theoretical grounding and practical tools. Participants will engage in reflective dialogue, hands-on practice, and collaborative analysis to enhance the rigor, fairness, and developmental value of peer feedback.

Intended Audience: Faculty, Course Instructors, Staff with Teaching Responsibilities.

Session 1

Midterm Chat as a Formative Peer Review Tool - Friday, September 26.

This workshop introduces Midterm Chat, also known as Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), as a structured, confidential method for gathering mid-semester student feedback to inform peer review of teaching. Participants will explore the process of Midterm Chat, its role in promoting intentional teaching practices, and its value in peer review processes. Through guided practice, you will learn how to facilitate Midterm Chat sessions, interpret student feedback collaboratively with your colleagues, and help support your colleagues integrate responsive and inclusive teaching strategies in their teaching. Registration is required.

Session 2

Classroom Observation for Reviewing Teaching Effectiveness - Friday, October 17.

This session focuses on evidence-based approaches to classroom observation as a component of peer review of teaching. Participants will examine the observation process and protocols and discuss their alignment with evidence-based teaching practices. Emphasis will be placed on focused observation, minimizing bias, and providing formative, actionable feedback. Participants will engage in simulated observations and practice developing observation reports that support professional growth for reviewees and reviewers. Registration is required.

Session 3

Reviewing Instructional Artifacts: Syllabi, Assignments, and Beyond - Friday, November 14.

This workshop explores the review of instructional artifacts—such as syllabi, assignments, assessments, and course materials—as a lens for understanding teaching effectiveness. Participants will discuss criteria for assessing alignment with learning objectives, inclusivity and equity, student engagement, and transparency. The session will include hands-on analysis of sample artifacts and introduce frameworks that support consistent, equitable peer review. Participants will leave with tools to conduct artifact reviews that are both rigorous and collegial. Registration is required.

Event Information

Synchronous Sessions: All meetings are from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on their respective days.

Location: TBD.

Facilitators:
 Dana Karraker, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Mayuko Nakamura, Center for Integrated Professional Development.

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Practical Advice for New Accessibility Standards Series

Join us for an engaging series of workshops designed to empower faculty with practical strategies for creating accessible learning environments. Each session will dive into the importance of accessibility in education, providing actionable tips and tools to enhance your teaching materials and strategies. Whether you're working with Canvas, documents, or videos, you'll leave equipped to promote inclusivity and support all students in their learning journeys. You’ll also receive a foundational overview of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), helping you build your ability to meet essential standards for inclusivity. For each session, feel free to bring your own course materials so you can ask questions and apply the concepts taught in the workshop. Let’s make accessibility a priority together!

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

Session 1

Accessible Canvas - Thursday, October 2.

In this dynamic session, we’ll explore why accessibility matters in your courses and how it can transform the learning experience, whether you are teaching face to face or online. Discover the secrets to creating a consistent layout that enhances navigation and learn how to use headings effectively to structure your content. We’ll explore the essentials of writing alt text for images, crafting meaningful hyperlinks, and ensuring color contrast that is easy on the eyes. Plus, we’ll tackle cognitive load and how to simplify course materials for better comprehension. Bring questions or ideas about your Canvas course; we will have time for questions and hands-on practice. Get ready to make your Canvas courses more inclusive and engaging! Registration is required.

Session 2

Accessible Documents - Thursday, October 16.

Join us for an interactive workshop focused on making your Word, PDF, and PowerPoint documents accessible to every learner. We’ll kick off with a discussion on why accessibility is crucial across all formats. You’ll learn how to maintain a consistent layout across different document types, utilize headings for better organization, and write alt text that conveys the right message. We’ll also cover the importance of hyperlinks and color contrast, ensuring your documents are not only informative but also visually accessible. Bring your questions or ideas about your Canvas course; we will have time for questions and hands-on practice. By the end of this session, you’ll have the tools to create documents that everyone can read and understand! Registration is required.

Session 3

Accessible Video - Thursday, October 2.

In our final accessibility session of the series, we’ll focus on the vital role of accessible videos in education. Discover why accessibility matters in video content and how it can enhance learning for all students. We’ll discuss the importance of providing descriptions and hints for low-vision students, ensuring that your visual content is inclusive. Learn how to create effective transcripts that support both comprehension and engagement. This workshop will equip you with practical tips to make your video materials accessible, engaging, and beneficial for every learner. Let’s bring your videos to life in a way that everyone can enjoy! Registration is required.

Event Information

Synchronous Sessions: All meetings are from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on their respective days.

Location: Online - Zoom.

Facilitators:
Evan Brown, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Stephanie Wilson, Center for Integrated Professional Development
Courtney Cox, Center for Integrated Professional Development.

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Recognize. Respond. Refer.: A Three-Part Series to Support Student Mental Health Across Campus

Student Counseling Services invites faculty and staff to participate in Recognize. Respond. Refer., a campus-wide series designed to support your ongoing efforts in promoting student well-being. This three-part series offers approachable, practical strategies to help you identify signs of student distress, respond with care and confidence, and connect students to helpful campus resources.

You don’t need to be a mental health expert to make a meaningful difference. While attending all sessions is not required, participating in the full series can deepen your comfort and capacity in supporting the diverse mental health needs of our campus community.

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

Session 1

Recognize — Red Folder: Identifying Students in Distress - August 28th.

Adapted by Student Counseling Services and inspired by similar initiatives at other universities, the Red Folder is a quick-reference resource designed to help faculty and staff recognize when a student may be struggling and feel confident in taking supportive action. This session introduces key behavioral indicators, compassionate ways to check in, and how to use the Red Folder to connect students with the help they need. Registration is required.

This session will help you:

  • Recognize common behavioral and emotional signs of student distress.
  • Respond with empathy and confidence.
  • Use the Red Folder to guide next steps and connect students to campus support.

Session 2

Respond — Suicide Prevention and Empathetic Support with QPR Training - Tuesday, September 23.

Just as people trained in CPR help save lives, those trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and connect someone with help. As members of the ISU community, faculty and staff are often the first to notice signs of distress in students. This session positions you as a vital link in the chain of support and equips you with tools to respond with clarity and compassion. Participants will receive a QPR booklet containing helpful information and strategies to reinforce their learning and assist with future situations. Registration is required.

This session will help you:

  • Recognize the warning signs of suicide.
  • Provide empathetic support and offer hope to students in need.
  • Guide individuals toward appropriate professional help and resources.

Session 3

Refer — Let’s Talk: Student Mental Health Consultations for Faculty and Staff - Thursday, October 23 OR Wednesday, November 13.

In your role as a faculty or staff member, students may turn to you for support, advice, or encouragement, often because they see you as a trusted presence. Let’s Talk is a consultation space designed to support you in those moments. Whether you're concerned about a specific student, navigating a classroom dynamic, or simply unsure of what resources are available, this session offers a space to connect with Student Counseling Services staff, ask questions, and collaborate with colleagues. Registration is required.

This session will help you:

  • Know when and how to refer students to campus mental health resources.
  • Consult with SCS staff about individual or group concerns.
  • Receive support and guidance in navigating student mental health concerns.

Event Information

Synchronous Sessions:
Session 1: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Session 2: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Session 3: October 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. OR November 13, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Session 1: Online - Zoom.
Session 2 and Session 3: Student Services Building 130.

Facilitator: Student Counseling Services Staff.

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Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence logo

Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence (FITE)

The Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence (FITE) guides CIPD’s approach to advancing inclusive teaching at Illinois State University. Designed to support instructors at all career stages, the FITE promotes growth in six dimensions: Science of Learning, Impact of Course Design, Evidence-based Pedagogy, Classroom Climate and Culture, Feedback and Assessment Loop, and Data-Informed Reflection. CIPD has built a robust suite of programming and services around this framework, offering a dynamic lineup of events and learning opportunities to meet the evolving needs of educators across the university.

Explore FITE