Thursday, September 8, 2022

From the desk of Mary Raschko, associate dean for faculty development:

 

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) fosters professional growth and collaboration among faculty to support academic excellence and innovation. We are excited to offer a dynamic program of in-person professional development events that are exploratory, communal and relevant to our campus’ distinct initiatives and needs. 

 

September activities will include:

• Friday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.: WCTS workshop on grading with Canvas (register here)
• Monday, Sept. 12 at 12 p.m.: New faculty discuss student priorities with ASWC President Gabby Rose '23
• Friday, Sept. 23 at 12 p.m.: Coordinators of the academic theme ("Climate Justice, Climate Action") discuss developing related class assignments

We are also planning an event on "Pandemic Impacts," exploring how our collective experience of COVID-19 affects teaching, learning and collaboration in ongoing ways that are both challenging and transformative.

 

The CTL steering committee is eager to hear your ideas and priorities for our communal learning. Committee members are Mary Raschko (chair), Amy Blau (library), Jon Collins (Div. III representative), Sarah Davies (Div. I representative), Machelle Hartman (non-tenure-track representative), Sarah Hurlburt (Div. II representative), and David Sprunger (instructional technology).

Noteworthy

Katie Wagner '04, associate professor of botany at the University of Wyoming, is part of a research team that received a $2.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant designed to look at the effects of climate change on Lake Tanganyika and the people living in Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Wagner has studied this lake throughout her academic career, including while she was an undergraduate student at Whitman College.

Meet representatives from partner organizations at the Community Fellows Fair today at 4 p.m. in the Reid Coffeehouse. Learn about how you could become a fellow for organizations such as Children's Home Society, Blue Mountain Action council and many more! View the fellow job postings on Handshake. If you have any questions please contact Abby Juhasz.

Three Whitman a cappella performance groups are holding auditions in the Music Building during the next several days. If interested, please sign up in advance and be prepared to sing about 30 seconds of a song of your choice.

 

The Tones (lower register voices, any gender) - sign up here

• Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 9 at 5-7 p.m.
• Questions? Email wallacec@whitman.edu.

Schwa (mixed voices) - sign up here

• Friday, Sept. 9 at 4-6 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Questions? Email schwa.acappella@gmail.com.

The Sirens (soprano-alto voices, female and non-binary) - sign up here

• Friday, Sept. 9 at 5-8 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Questions? Email coomess@whitman.edu.

Intramural sports sign ups are now available for soccer, spikeball, and tennis. Last day to sign up is Wednesday, Sept. 14!

Sheehan Gallery and Maxey Museum will host a panel discussion with several of the faculty and staff featured in the current collaborative exhibition, "time | creature | portal | self." The panel takes place tonight at 5 p.m. in Olin Auditorium, and the participants will include: Maria Lux, associate professor of art, Kyle Peets, visiting assistant professor of art. Justin Lincoln, associate professor of art, and Kynde Kiefel, director of the Donald H. Sheehan Gallery, with moderation provided by Lydia McDermott, associate professor of rhetoric, writing, and public discourse. Refreshments in the gallery and museum will follow.

Daily COVID-19 Update

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, two people with Whitman access were confirmed positive for COVID-19. 

 

Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols to help prevent transmission. Mask use will be required during the first couple of weeks of classes. 

 

If you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested. Additional masks and rapid test kits are available 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Welty Student Health Center. 

Have an event you'd like to share with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students. All times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time. 

 

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