New Faculty Institute
2025-10-10 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York), 2025-12-12 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York), 2026-01-09 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Toronto), 2026-02-13 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | IC 123

Canvas Training w/ Q&A
2025-10-17 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Osterlin Building/Library, 4000 College Ave, Manistee, MI, United States
The purpose of this one-hour session will be to address best practices for course building and settings, effective use of the SpeedGrader, and the ins-and-outs of cross-listed sections (what we called META’s in Moodle).
The session will conclude with a Q&A.

CIE Coffee Club
2025-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York), 2026-01-16 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto), 2026-02-20 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Library Reading Room
Supporting Honors Contracts and Phi Theta Kappa

Presenters: Katy Knight, Lindsey Dickinson, Mark Howell

CIE Friday Forum: Practical Approaches to Controversial Discussions with John Zachman
2025-11-07 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Osterlin 205
Talking to others with different ideologies is challenging in these polarized times. If it’s difficult for us, how do we begin to help students engage with ideas and people they disagree with? And how do we respond to spontaneous discussions of controversial issues in the classroom?
Dr. John Zachman spent his sabbatical investigating these tough questions and developing practical answers. He joins us to share his research in his presentation, Democratic Deliberation in the College Classroom: Practical Approaches to Promoting Rigorous Analysis of Controversial Issues. Topics covered in his talk will include:

Current obstacles to engaging in deliberation with others.

The importance of developing in our students the ability to rationally analyze controversial issues.

Why engaging students in thoughtful analyses of key issues is essential to the health of our political society, as well as to their own personal autonomy.

A sampling of pedagogical approaches that will help to overcome the obstacles our students face in engaging with ideas that they see as hostile to their beliefs and their identities.

While John’s research is centered in his discipline of political science, he will offer strategies for guiding discussions of controversial topics that arise organically in any classroom. For instructors in the technical fields, he has suggestions for guiding discussions around ethical issues. Even if none of these situations apply, John says his presentation will be relevant to all faculty who are interested in “the broader liberal arts mission of colleges and universities.” We wholeheartedly agree!
Lunch is at 12:30 with the presentation at 1. See you in Osterlin on Friday!

New Faculty Institute
2025-11-14 14:15 - 15:45 (America/Toronto) | IC 123
14 Nov. 2025 NFI Agenda Welcome to the New Faculty Institute, a monthly meeting hosted by the Center for Instructional Excellence for new full-time and adjunct instructors. Our meetings feature guests from around the college who share guidance on the logistics of teaching at NMC. I line up guests for our meetings, but your input will guide future programming. Tell us what you need to know, and we’ll find the person who can give us the answers. But we are as much about creating relationships as about sharing information. We hope that the friendships you make in your “newbie” cohort will last throughout your career at NMC. NOTE: Adjunct instructors are welcome! You are paid a $25/hr stipend for attending the New Faculty Institute. — Janet Lively, CIE Director

CIE Coffee Club: Practical Approaches to Controversial Discussions with John Zachman
2025-11-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Library Reading Room
Join us to continue the conversation with Dr. John Zachman on discussing controversial issues in these polarized times. John began sharing his sabbatical research on the topic at the Nov. 7 Friday Forum, but will focus on classroom strategies at the Coffee Club.
Whether or not you were able to attend the Friday Forum, you will benefit from John’s discussion of pedagogical approaches to ease the obstacles our students face in engaging with ideas that they see as hostile to their beliefs and their identities.
We’ll have coffee, of course, and treats. See you fireside!

NMC Observed Holiday
2025-11-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-28 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | MI

Yellowdig Webinar: Boost Engagement, Skip the Student Fee
2025-12-04 10:00 - 10:45 (America/New_York) | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86504723330?pwd=[REDACTED]
In a recent CTL Newsletter, we shared an exciting opportunity to try Yellowdig for FREE this Spring: Exclusive Pilot Opportunity: Try Yellowdig FREE in Spring 2026!
This is an exclusive offer for only a few NMC faculty members. If you’re thinking about this opportunity or if you are looking for proven strategies to combat isolation and maximize student success in your online, hybrid, or face-to-face courses, we are pleased to invite you to a webinar for NMC faculty focused on using Yellowdig to cultivate a vibrant community, boost student engagement, and foster a strong sense of belonging—crucial factors for retention and performance in the digital learning landscape.
Webinar Details
Who: Any NMC faculty member interested in learning how to use Yellowdig.
What & Why: Learn how Yellowdig—a community-building platform designed specifically for academic courses—can transform passive participants into active, connected learners. Hosted by:

Alessandra Puilen, Yellowdig Success Partner

Dr. Sarah Montgomery-Richards, NMC Adjunct Faculty and GVSU Assistant Director of Faculty, Northern Michigan

Dr. Mark Howell, NMC Communications Faculty

When: Thursday, December 4th; 10:00 a.m. EST
Join the Webinar
What You Will Learn
This insightful session will provide you with practical, proven techniques for successful adoption:

What is Yellowdig? A brief, clear overview of the platform’s core features.

Boosting Engagement: Practical, proven strategies for using Yellowdig to increase student activity and meaningful interaction, moving beyond traditional discussion boards.

Fostering Belonging: Specific techniques to use Yellowdig to build rapport, reduce isolation, and create a stronger social presence for all learners.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing successful strategies to make your courses more engaging and effective!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86504723330?pwd=[REDACTED] (ID: 86504723330, passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by phone
(US) +1 719-359-4580 (passcode: [REDACTED]
Joining instructions: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://applications.zoom.us/addon/invitation/detail?meetingUuid%3Dln9izTAYQqmZXPrChCfpjw%253D%253D%26signature%3D680e6ebba2a6a0d10ef9bec3961e71e773af7d32ea7b03f6bf96e6a6925acc9a%26v%3D1&sa=D&source=calendar&usg=AOvVaw0OrQyWFrvxD1cUcLXhtT4M
Meeting host: alessandra.puilen@yellowdig.com
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86504723330?pwd=[REDACTED]

CIE Friday Forum
2025-12-05 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York), 2025-12-05 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto), 2026-02-06 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto), 2026-04-03 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | TJNIC 106/07
Join the Center for Instructional Excellence for lunch and professional development programming on the first Friday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to help us make an accurate lunch order. If you forget to RSVP, still come!

CIE Friday Forum
2025-12-05 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | Okerstrom Fine Arts Building
We’re pleased to invite you to a special event for this Friday Forum to re-energize before the final push of the semester! Once again, our fine arts faculty are hosting us for a hands-on workshop, this time to make bright, personalized holiday cards. We’ll fuel up our creativity with lunch at 12:30 in the Okerstrom Art Building, then start painting. Please RSVP so we can prep, but come anyway if you forget!

Join the Center for Instructional Excellence for lunch and professional development programming on the first Friday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to help us make an accurate lunch order. If you forget to RSVP, still come!

Grades Entered by 11
2025-12-17 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | MI

January Faculty Professional Development
2026-01-07 08:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Osterlin Building
GVSU’s Dr. Robert Talbert will be back for a hands-on workshop on alternative grading. Building on his presentation in January 2025, Dr. Talbert will explore how alternative grading is interwoven with course design; he will help us align course standards with assignments, active learning strategies, and assessments.
CIE will distribute copies of Grading for Growth, by Talbert and David Clark, to help us prep for the workshop. Get your copy soon!
The three-hour workshop follows breakfast at 8:30. January PD is contractually required for full-time faculty. Adjunct faculty receive a stipend for participating.

Canvas Camp
2026-01-08 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center & Library (Computer Lab #123), 1701 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686, USA, https://nmc.zoom.us/j/93480839224?pwd=[REDACTED]
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Ben Post is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://nmc.zoom.us/j/93480839224?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 934 8083 9224Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Adjuncts Only: Information and Q& A
2026-01-26 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join colleagues from the Center for Instructional Excellence, Ed Tech, and Faculty Council for an adjunct-only check in. We’ll share news and announcement specific to adjuncts and field your questions, comments, and concerns. See you on Zoom!

Attendance Report Survey Due
2026-01-27 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | MI

Complete Early Alert Survey
2026-02-13 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | MI

Curling Watch Party
2026-02-13 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | TJNIC 104/105

CIE Friday Forum: The Environmental And Social Ethics Of AI
2026-03-06 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Toronto) | TJNIC 106/07
Join us at Friday Forum for an important discussion of the environmental and social ethics of artificial intelligence. Rachel Wilczewski and Pat Kawula will reprise their popular session from October Conference. If you missed Rachel and Pat in October, don’t miss them in March!
From Rachel and Pat:
The development of AI is ushering in a technological and social revolution that has and will continue to change society in a drastic way. Like the technologies of previous revolutions, AI has its own share of environmental and ethical considerations. This session will highlight some of the environmental and social ethical issues imbued in generative AI, including energy and water consumption and the creation of electronic waste. In addition, we will outline some of the labor and bias issues entailed both within the production and use of AI systems. The purpose of this session is to share resources on these topics and to create a space for discussion and questions.
Join the Center for Instructional Excellence for lunch and professional development programming on the first Friday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to help us make an accurate lunch order. If you forget to RSVP, still come!

New Faculty Institute
2026-03-13 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | IC 123
13 March 2026 NFI Agenda

CIE Coffee Club: Q & A with Ready for Life
2026-03-20 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Toronto) | Library Reading Room and Zoom https://nmc.zoom.us/j/94388438599
Please join us for a Q & A discussion about Ready for Life, a program that offers people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in campus life. NMC will begin hosting Ready for Life students this fall. We will meet with representatives from the non-profit organization, along with faculty who have worked with Ready for Life students at Ferris State and Hope College.

Friday Forum: Durable Skills
2026-04-10 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | TJNIC 106/07
Join us for a workshop on Durable Skills presented by Kristy McDonald and Brandon Everest of the Experiential Learning Institute. Here’s a summary of their presentation: Durable skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, resilience, and self-directed learning are essential to student success and are consistently identified by employers as critical for long-term career readiness. We will introduce our durable skills framework found in the new strategic plan and guide you through a course and assignment mapping activity. This process will help you identify where you already teach durable skills in your courses and where there may be opportunities to embed them more intentionally. You will leave the session with a completed map and concrete ideas for teaching and strengthening these skills in your curriculum. Join the Center for Instructional Excellence for lunch and professional development programming on the first Friday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP to help us make an accurate lunch order. If you forget to RSVP, still come!
