Course Atlas: Your Syllabi Needed

Emory College, with endorsement from the College Faculty Senate, put in place last fall several measures and strong recommendations for faculty to help address student concerns and needs. Key among them was the posting of syllabi in the Course Atlas to aid students with their course registration.

For Spring 2022 registration, all faculty are strongly encouraged to submit their syllabi to their department course scheduler (usually the department’s ADA or Undergraduate Coordinator) for posting to the Course Atlas starting now but no later than Monday, November 22 prior to the beginning of Add/Drop/Swap for Spring 2022. While final versions of syllabi may not be available yet, students find that even a draft version is helpful as they navigate registration and Add/Drop/Swap. Thank you in advance for your support of this initiative.

Department staff should follow the steps below to upload syllabi:

• To have a syllabus appear in the Course Atlas, schedulers must submit a PDF copy to courseatlashelp@emory.edu and include the following information in the body of the email message:
  • Term
  • Subject, Course Number and Section (ex. HIST 240-1)
  • Primary Instructor’s Full Name
• Syllabi can be sent individually or in a batch. If you are sending syllabi in batch, please be clear to note which PDF file belongs to each course.
• If you have any questions, please reach out to us at courseatlashelp@emory.edu.

Spring 2022 Emory Public Scholars Institute: Applications Now Open

In Spring 2022, the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence and the Emory College Office of Communications will offer the Emory Public Scholars Institute, a four-session curriculum for faculty interested in engaging more deeply with various forms of traditional and new media and public audiences to heighten the profile and influence of their research and scholarship. The curriculum will be activity-oriented and participatory, with workshops focused on helping participants hone their expertise in each topic area.

All faculty are invited to apply to participate in the institute. Space is available for at least three faculty from each school who have the potential and interest to contribute meaningfully to public discourses, and who would welcome and benefit from a structured program of guidance and support.

The institute will take place one Friday per month, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Apply online here by Wednesday, December 15.

The institute’s four sessions include:

• Communicating with a General Audience
  Friday, Jan 21, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  Explore best practices for persuasive communication that makes messages memorable for non-specialist readers/audiences. Develop/practice delivery of a three-minute elevator pitch about your research and scholarship.
• Your Online Identity and Finding Your Comfort Zone in Social Media
  Friday, February 18, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  Online and social media strategies to extend the reach of research and scholarship and strategies for counteracting misinformation and managing online hostility.
• Media Training (or, How to Become an “Expert”)
  Friday, March 18, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  Strategies for working effectively with mainstream media outlets and with print/digital reporters. Will include mock interviews videotaped for feedback on everything from length of answers to posture to verbal and nonverbal tics.
• Workshop with Dad’s Garage Theater
  Friday, April 22, 11 a.m. – 1:30 pm:
  Learn to use improvisational theater techniques to engage non-expert audiences with research and ideas in live settings.

The first three institute sessions will be led by teams of experienced Emory faculty and skilled Emory communications professionals, while the fourth session will be led by theater professionals from Dad’s Garage.

The first three sessions will be offered in a hybrid format – both online and in-person (box lunches will be provided for in-person participants). The fourth session will be offered in-person only. If pandemic conditions necessitate, however, we will pivot to an online only format for all four sessions.

For more information, contact Allison Adams, associate director, research and scholarship, Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, aadam02@emory.edu, or Beverly Cox Clark, director of communications, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, beverly.clark@emory.edu.

100 Senior Honorary Nominations Needed by Nov. 8

The Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement, Emory Alumni Board, and the Student Alumni Board are seeking nominations for the 100 Senior Honorary for the Class of 2022. These seniors are campus leaders, thought provokers, dynamic athletes, academic mentors and community influencers. They are committed to their passions and pursuits, and have made significant contributions to the Emory community. Nominations are accepted from students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Nominate a current Emory student today. Nominations are due Monday, November 8. For more information about criteria and the process, please visit the AAE website.

Reminder: Flu Shot Attestation Needed

Annual Benefits Enrollment Ends Nov. 8

Benefits annual enrollment will close on Monday, November 8 for the upcoming plan year. The annual enrollment website contains all of the information you need to know including what’s new for 2022, the 2022 Benefits Guide, rates, and more.

Take the Campus Climate Survey on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As part of the university’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a thriving academic community—one that is more diverse, equitable, and inclusive—Emory is participating in the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC). This survey, administered by the USC Race and Equity Center, seeks to assess the campus climate around racial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The survey launched on Tuesday, October 26, and closes on Saturday, November 13. Faculty, staff, and students will receive an email from helpdesk@nacccsurvey.org that will provide them an individualized link to the survey. Learn more. Individuals who complete the NACCC survey will automatically be entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card and a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Fall 2021 Course Evaluations Timeline

Emory College of Arts and Sciences will conduct online course evaluations, as usual, this term. Department staff will be asked to review and amend their evaluation setup November 1-23 while instructors will be able to customize their own evaluations November 8-19. 

A basic training screencast on the course evaluation system is scheduled for 9:15-11:15 a.m. on Thursday, November 4 (requests to attend should be emailed to ec-courseevals@emory.edu). The target audience includes department staff who are entirely new to the system but the session may also be useful to those with some experience who could use an overall refresher, those whose departments are looking to make broad changes in how they evaluate courses, or those with specific “weedy” questions. 

Course evaluations will (by default) be open for student submission Dec 1-15 but as usual, this can be modified at the department or individual course level. All evaluations must close by Dec 15, the last day of final exams.

Faculty Development Opportunities and Resources

Hightower Speaker Funds

Each year Emory College receives funds from the Hightower endowment, which memorializes the late Robert E. Hightower Sr. This endowment provides funds to bring outstanding visiting lecturers to Emory.

The College has typically committed funds of $75,000-$100,000 annually. These include small allocations for partial funding of a single speaker to large amounts to support conferences with several speakers. Applications for Spring and Summer events are currently being accepted.

The deadline to submit applications for Spring events is Monday, November 15. More information about the application process can be found on the Office of Faculty website. Applications should be submitted electronically to Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu. 

Reminder: Open Office Hours for Faculty

Deboleena Roy, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty, will hold open office hours twice a month during the remainder of the semester. New faculty are especially encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to speak with Dean Roy and meet other faculty in smaller group settings. Faculty may RSVP and receive meeting information by contacting Shannon DeMyers at Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu. Office hours this fall include:

• Friday, Nov. 5, 2 – 3 p.m. (In person)
• Friday, Nov. 19, 1 – 2 p.m. (Zoom)
• Thursday, Dec. 2, 1 – 2 p.m. (In person)
• Friday, Dec. 10, 2 – 3 p.m. (Zoom)