Faculty Learning and Growth Groups (FLAGGs)

Spring 2021 Events

Our office encourages you to consider a variety of options for learning and growth in small groups this quarter. Faculty Learning and Growth Groups (FLAGGs) are a great way to learn in community, and despite the name, most groups are open to staff participation as well. 

Regular FLAGGs, Wesleyan Small Groups (in partnership with CBTE), and Affinity Groups (in partnership with University Ministries). Below is the list of groups scheduled for Winter 2021; new groups can form based on participant interest.



Regular FLAGGs

In lieu of faculty led FLAGGs, the Faculty Life Office will lead FLAGG sessions around MAGNA commons and Microsoft Include webinar topics:


Using UDL to Create Effective Educational Assessments 

Thursday, April 8th, 11:30am – 12:45pm

A tenured Universal Design for Learning (UDL) expert will discuss assessment alternatives based on UDL framework that are acceptable even in cases where instructors do not believe they have flexibility to change assessments.


Growth Mindset: Being willing to try, fail, and learn to get better at inclusion 

Tuesday, April 13th, 10:00am – 11:15am

A growth mindset is an important foundation for diversity & inclusion as it emphasizes building understanding over time through intentional effort, making mistakes, and then applying learnings. Eduardo Briceño of Wiring Growth offers strategies for lifelong learning.

Presented by: Eduardo Briceño, Founder and CEO - Wiring Growth

Sexual Orientation: Understanding the diversity within the diversity (understanding our students) 

Monday, April 26th, 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Alphonso B. David, civil rights lawyer and President of the Human Rights Campaign, is a leading advocate for LGBTQI+ equality. Alphonso will explore how a nuanced understanding of this diverse community can lead to a more inclusive workplace culture.

Presented by: Alphonso David, President - Human Rights Campaign

Teaching Underprepared Students to Take Control of Their Learning by Developing Metacognitive Skills 

Monday, May 3rd, 12:00pm – 1:15pm

Metacognition has been strongly linked with improved GPAs, college readiness, and retention; however, faculty are often unaware of how to purposefully instill and foster these abilities in students. This seminar will provide specific strategies to build these necessary competencies.

 

Faith: Conversations in the workplace (the workplace run at the speed of trust) 

Tuesday, May 11th, 10:00am – 11:15am

Discussing faith as part of the diversity & inclusion conversation can strengthen overall workplace culture. The Rev. Mark Fowler is CEO for Tanenbaum, a non-profit organization focused on combating religious prejudice in all of its forms. Dalia Mogahed is Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, where she leads the organization’s pioneering research and thought leadership programs on the Muslim community.

Presented by: Reverend Mark Fowler, CEO - Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding and Dalia Mogahed, Director of Research - Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Intersectionality: Understanding the social and political impacts of intersecting identities

Thursday, May 20th, 11:30am – 12:45pm

UCLA and Columbia Law School Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term intersectionality to describe overlapping social identities. Learn how different types of inequities can compound, and the way that it can fuel bias and discrimination. 

Presented by: Kimberlé Crenshaw, Cofounder and executive director - African American Policy Forum



Continuing Regular FLAGGs from Fall 2020

Mixed Race in America
Led by Jennifer McFarlane Harris and Audrey Kinase Kolb 
Meets from 12:30pm - 1:30pm on April 13, May 4, and May 25

What does it mean to identify as a mixed-race/multi-racial/multi-ethnic/multi-cultural individual in a country that is used to viewing racial identities as fixed categories? Join to discuss the issues, blessings, and challenges that are unique to those with multi-layered identities as we seek to better support mixed-race faculty, staff, and students in our community. This group is primarily intended for those who identify as having mixed-race/multi-racial/multi-ethnic/multi-cultural identities, as well as for individuals who are part of mixed-raced families by marriage or adoption. However, this group is open to anyone seeking to learn more. For the Spring 2021 quarter, meetings will be centered on representations on these identities in pop culture, literature, and art.


Racism and Anti-Racism in America
Led by Emily Huff and Becky Hughes
Meets from 11:30am - 12:20pm on April 8, May 6, and June 3

Come join us in discussing the dueling history of racism and antiracism in the US. We'll read Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. We'll be covering Thomas Jefferson in the fall, W.E.B. Du Bois in the winter, and Angela Davis in the spring.


Race and Pedagogy (Limited to continuing faculty and student support staff)
Led by Office of Inclusive Excellence, times/dates TBD by group

This FLAGG is open to continuing participants in the three-part race and pedagogy workshop series facilitated by Dr. Anu Taranath. Participants will meet in trios or quartets to continue conversations and skills building in between workshop sessions and after the series. Group meetings will provide a space to practice problem solving in a low-stakes way while also working out the implications of the workshop content in the context of your faith. Each trio or quartet should select a facilitator and identify three meeting dates for the fall quarter based on the availability of members. If you've already signed up, follow this link to see a list of groups. For more information, email vpoie@spu.edu.



Wesleyan Small Groups

Wesleyan Small Groups (open to faculty and staff as capacity permits)
Led by Celeste Cranston; contact cransc@spu.edu to be assigned to a group.
Derived from SPU’s Wesleyan/Holiness heritage, Faculty Wesleyan Small Groups embody a practice in Christian formation and reconciliation that builds Christian community, and facilitates growth in awareness and love of self, neighbor, and God. To accomplish these purposes, faculty gather weekly under the leadership of a facilitator to ask and answer the question, “How goes it with your soul?” These are not Bible studies, prayer groups, or groups guided by a curriculum. Rather, their sole content is the state of one’s soul — the deepest self, which lies underneath surface experiences and emotions. When you sign up, select a particular time fall quarter with a given leader. During fall quarter, groups will decide what day/time to meet subsequent quarters. Groups will meet weekly, 8 times per quarter (not the first week of the quarter, finals, or when classes are not in session). Meetings should be no more than 60 minutes and may be 50 minutes depending on teaching schedules. Staff may be invited to join a group that has openings. Members encouraged but not required to read The Class Meeting by Kevin Watson (books will be ordered for you – no need to purchase copies; please contact tulluckc@spu.edu to request a book).



University Ministries / Community Groups

Please contact Lisa Ishihara to be connected to a group by emailing chaplainlisa@spu.edu.

Fac/Staff: FLAGG Black/African American Affinity Group
Staff and Faculty: you are invited to join one of our online Community Groups this Quarter. Each group will meet approximately 3 times. In our Black/African American Community Group we will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. We will also take a dive into sustainability and thriving as a person of color in Christian Higher Education. We know it is helpful to have places where we can be known and in spiritual community consider the wisdom gained from perseverance and endurance.

Fac/Staff: FLAGG LatinX Affinity Group
Staff and Faculty: you are invited to join one of our online Community Groups this Quarter. Each group will meet approximately 3 times. In our LatinX Community Group we will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. We will also take a dive into sustainability and thriving as a person of color in Christian Higher Education. We know it is helpful to have places where we can be known and in spiritual community consider the wisdom gained from perseverance and endurance.

Fac/Staff: FLAGG Asian/Asian American Affinity Group
Staff and Faculty: you are invited to join one of our online Community Groups this Quarter.  Each group will meet approximately 3 times. In our Asian/Asian American Community Group we will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. We will also take a dive into sustainability and thriving as a person of color in Christian Higher Education.  We know it is helpful to have places where we can be known and in spiritual community consider the wisdom gained from perseverance and endurance.

Fac/Staff: FLAGG Catholic Community Group
Staff and Faculty: Gather together with other Catholic staff and faculty online. Each group will meet approximately 3 times. We will continue to consider how to facilitate and create spiritually formative places and spaces of connection and community. We know it is helpful to know there are places of support, being known and engaging with one another. 

In lieu of faculty led FLAGGs, the Faculty Life Office will lead FLAGG sessions around MAGNA commons webinar topics (a resource available to you). Below are the webinars we plan to host for Winter. We are in the process of determining a range of dates and times that will allow for faculty with varying schedules to participate, this final schedule will be shared with the official FLAGG announcement. 

 

I am fully aware that while many of you express complete exhaustion from the toll of teaching online during a pandemic, I know many of you have shared that the ability to break free and be in community with your peers is something that you value. Thus, I did not want to take away the option for you to spend an hour getting to know your colleagues through thoughtful discussions around topics that are timely to your work with students. Please email me if you have any questions.

 

Winter Quarter Series

  1. Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Teaching in Uncertain Times (M: 12-1:15pm)
    This online seminar is designed for educators who are interested in learning about how they can teach their students despite the presence of trauma. Participants will acquire strategies they can use to help students continue their learning in the middle of this pandemic.
  2. Beyond Pedagogy: Infusing Equity into your Syllabus, Assignments, and Course Content (T:10-11:15am)
    Have you integrated inclusive pedagogies into your teaching and wonder what’s next? Are you ready to be more intentional about making your assignments and course content more equity-minded? This Magna Online Seminar will identify evidence-based approaches to add equity-minded content and improve the success of minoritized students in your disciplinary and institutional context.
  3. How to Improve Academic Lectures with TED Talk Principles: Connect, Convey, Communicate (R:2:30-3:45pm)
    For faculty who struggle with engaging content delivery (lecture) How to Improve Academic Lectures with TED Talk Principles: Connect, Convey, Communicate is a Magna Online Seminar that gives specific, practical steps to add enthusiasm and excitement to lectures and presentations.

 

  1. 7 Indispensable Strategies to Build Community in Your Online Courses (M: 12-1:15pm)
    Students in online courses and degree programs sometimes report that studying online can leave them feeling isolated and unconnected to their instructor and student peers. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Online instructors can utilize a variety of strategies to build and maintain a sense of community in their online courses and doing so will result in a better course experience for both student and instructor.
  2. Online Course Design Strategies to Increase Student Completion Rates (T:10-11:15am)
    Online enrollments are on the rise, even as overall enrollments decline. As an increasingly diverse student body flocks online to meet their educational goals, online completion rates are not yet on par with traditional classrooms and are more problematic for students outside of the once-traditional student demographic.

 

  1. The Role of Higher Education in Times of Crisis: Healing Strategies for Educators (M: 12-1:15pm)

Colleges and universities have a long-standing role in advancing civil discourse. How can we lead our communities in a meaningful and healing way when we are geographically displaced and relying on remote, online communication? For academic leaders and faculty who are challenged with effective communication during a time of social unrest, this Magna Online Seminar provides direction for leaders to provide healing, helping, education, and engagement.

In lieu of faculty led FLAGGs, the Faculty Life Office will lead FLAGG sessions around MAGNA commons webinar topics (a resource available to you). Below are the webinars we plan to host for Winter. We are in the process of determining a range of dates and times that will allow for faculty with varying schedules to participate, this final schedule will be shared with the official FLAGG announcement. 

 

I am fully aware that while many of you express complete exhaustion from the toll of teaching online during a pandemic, I know many of you have shared that the ability to break free and be in community with your peers is something that you value. Thus, I did not want to take away the option for you to spend an hour getting to know your colleagues through thoughtful discussions around topics that are timely to your work with students. Please email me if you have any questions.

 

Winter Quarter Series

  1. Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Teaching in Uncertain Times (M: 12-1:15pm)
    This online seminar is designed for educators who are interested in learning about how they can teach their students despite the presence of trauma. Participants will acquire strategies they can use to help students continue their learning in the middle of this pandemic.
  2. Beyond Pedagogy: Infusing Equity into your Syllabus, Assignments, and Course Content (T:10-11:15am)
    Have you integrated inclusive pedagogies into your teaching and wonder what’s next? Are you ready to be more intentional about making your assignments and course content more equity-minded? This Magna Online Seminar will identify evidence-based approaches to add equity-minded content and improve the success of minoritized students in your disciplinary and institutional context.
  3. How to Improve Academic Lectures with TED Talk Principles: Connect, Convey, Communicate (R:2:30-3:45pm)
    For faculty who struggle with engaging content delivery (lecture) How to Improve Academic Lectures with TED Talk Principles: Connect, Convey, Communicate is a Magna Online Seminar that gives specific, practical steps to add enthusiasm and excitement to lectures and presentations.

 

  1. 7 Indispensable Strategies to Build Community in Your Online Courses (M: 12-1:15pm)
    Students in online courses and degree programs sometimes report that studying online can leave them feeling isolated and unconnected to their instructor and student peers. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Online instructors can utilize a variety of strategies to build and maintain a sense of community in their online courses and doing so will result in a better course experience for both student and instructor.
  2. Online Course Design Strategies to Increase Student Completion Rates (T:10-11:15am)
    Online enrollments are on the rise, even as overall enrollments decline. As an increasingly diverse student body flocks online to meet their educational goals, online completion rates are not yet on par with traditional classrooms and are more problematic for students outside of the once-traditional student demographic.

 

  1. The Role of Higher Education in Times of Crisis: Healing Strategies for Educators (M: 12-1:15pm)

Colleges and universities have a long-standing role in advancing civil discourse. How can we lead our communities in a meaningful and healing way when we are geographically displaced and relying on remote, online communication? For academic leaders and faculty who are challenged with effective communication during a time of social unrest, this Magna Online Seminar provides direction for leaders to provide healing, helping, education, and engagement.