Dear faculty colleagues,
This newsletter starts by sharing information and important reminders for faculty and ends with sharing faculty-related Stories and News. The Updates section includes the following:
- Faculty Development Events
- Accepting Submissions: Faculty Authors Reception
- Faculty Guide to Getting Started with AI
- Fall 2024 Grade Submission Refresher
- Undergraduate Academic Status Change
- CTL Updates
- Texas Global Updates
- AI LIVE November 13–15
- Texas Performing Arts 24/25 Season
Please share relevant information with colleagues and those you mentor. If you have any faculty-related questions, concerns or solutions, please contact the Faculty Affairs team — we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Stay well,
Tasha Beretvas
Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Faculty Updates
Faculty Development Events
Planning for Your Promotion and Tenure Dossier: November 11
To continue supporting the integration of new faculty into the culture and community of education and training at UT Austin, Faculty Development is hosting a supplemental series post-orientation. Designed for both professional-track and tenure-track faculty, this session will overview key elements that lay the foundation for a future, successful promotion review. More information can be found on the Faculty Development website. Faculty hired in the 2022–23, 2023–24 or 2024–25 academic years are encouraged to participate.
The session will take place in person on Monday, November 11, from 2–3:30 p.m. Register by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 4 and receive a confirmation email with additional information about the event, including location information.
Register for the November 11 Session
Faculty Development is hosting a workshop facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Parks from NCFDD to help faculty identify personal and professional goals, create a strategic plan to achieve milestones and identify the types of professional support and accountability they need.
Register for the December 9 NCFDD Workshop
New Faculty Orientation: January 6
Faculty Development is offering a spring term faculty orientation on Monday, January 6, 2025 at Rowling Hall for faculty hired after the start of 2024–25 academic year. The Office of Faculty Development will help new faculty gain a better understanding about how the University works, where to access critical resources, and how to leverage opportunities for growth and advancement. Additional in-depth monthly sessions are being offered on topics to advance scholarly agendas, develop teaching practices, integrate service with scholarly and teaching pursuits, plan for promotion and tenure, and much more. Details about supplemental sessions are on the program website.
Please RSVP by Monday, December 16 to reserve your spot!
Register for the January 6 New Faculty Launch Event
Accepting Submissions: Faculty Authors Reception
The Faculty Authors Reception was created to highlight the breadth of scholarship and creative activity taking place across the University. Submissions for this year’s Faculty Authors Reception are still being accepted! The in-person celebration of works published in 2024 is slated for Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Eligibility:
- Published works including scholarly monographs, published creative works (e.g. novels and anthologies of poetry), exhibition catalogs and edited collections.
- Books must have been published between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
- Current UT Austin faculty member.
- Registration deadline: November 8, 2024
Faculty Guide to Getting Started with AI
The Office of Academic Technology, in partnership with Grammarly, worked across 30-plus departments at the University to develop and test 20 activities and nine lesson plans. The guide is intended to help any faculty member get started with responsible use of AI by emphasizing the importance of evaluating output. The activities and lessons plans are all authored by UT faculty and staff. While Grammarly was the preferred AI tool used to test and validate the activities, the activities can be carried out in virtually any generative AI tool, and there are templates to help make your own activities.
Download Your Gen AI Faculty Guide
Fall 2024 Grade Submission Refresher
On Monday, November 18, the Office of the Registrar will be conducting a Zoom training and refresher regarding Fall 2024 grade submission. This presentation will cover all aspects of grade reporting.
“Making the Grade: Grade Reporting 101”
Monday, November 18
11 a.m.–noon
https://utexas.zoom.us/j/96870150748
Undergraduate Academic Status Change
There will be an important change to undergraduate student academic status language when students are assigned their academic status based on their Fall 2024 grades. Beginning December 19 — and effective from Spring 2025 forward — the new designations of “Academic Warning” and “Academic Dismissal” will replace the terms “Scholastic Probation” and “Scholastic Dismissal,” respectively.
No change will be made to graduate student academic status language.
CTL Updates
Please see below for several updates from the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).
AI and Instructor Wellness Part 2
November 5 | 9:30–11 a.m. | Online | RSVP
In this two-part workshop, we will discuss strategies for mindfully implementing AI as a teaching tool and managing students’ use of AI as they complete course assessments and assignments.
Accessible Pedagogy Conversations
Join us each Wednesday this fall from 12–1 p.m. on Zoom for Accessible Pedagogy Conversations. This informal, peer-directed space is open to all instructors who hope to share questions, strategies and recommendations regarding accommodations and inclusion in learning environments. Hosted by CTL, the Disability Cultural Center (DCC) and Disability & Access (D&A).
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- November 6 – Group Projects/Participation
- November 13 – Dealing with Disappearing Students
- November 20 – Deadlines
Focus on Feedback: Strategies and Tools Part 1 & 2
November 7 and 14 | 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Online | RSVP
This two-part workshop will provide instructors with technology-enhanced opportunities to consider assessment and feedback strategies that focus on creating student-centered instruction.
Texas Global Updates
Visit the New Texas Global Space
Texas Global invites you to explore our renovated space at an Open House on Tuesday, November 19, from noon–3 p.m., during International Education Week. Visit the beautiful new Global Lounge, enjoy refreshments, and learn about global opportunities for faculty. We look forward to welcoming you to 2400 Nueces Street.
Texas Around the World
Texas Global displays data reflecting the University’s international activities and connections on the Global Explorer Map. This map showcases UT Austin’s global engagement, including student mobility, alumni networks, partnerships, and the research and creative efforts of more than 1,000 faculty members across country-specific webpages. To contribute or update your information, please complete this survey. For further details, contact our Global Strategies Officers at txglobalgso@austin.utexas.edu.
Join AI LIVE November 13–15
To cap its Year of AI, The University of Texas at Austin will be hosting AI LIVE with three days of interactive sessions, panels and learning about artificial intelligence and its applications for our community. Some events are especially targeted to faculty to showcase uses of AI in education, such as SAGE UT’s new AI tutor. Applications of AI in educational psychology, research, start-ups and society will also be highlighted November 13–15. Encourage your students to find a session that speaks to them. A complete overview of workshops, panels, and events can be found at the AI LIVE conference page.
Texas Performing Arts 24/25 Season
Texas Performing Arts would like to welcome UT faculty to its all-new 24/25 Season and offer a pair of complimentary tickets to the Texas premiere of Ink by Huang Yi on Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Bass Concert Hall. Just enter the code 25UTTPA in the promo box at this link to claim your tickets.
Featured News & Stories
“It’s Always Our Decision Who We Are”
Robert Solomon and Kathleen Higgins have a more-or-less typical love story — it’s just that Nietzsche was their matchmaker. Solomon joined the faculty of UT Austin’s Department of Philosophy in 1972 and Higgins joined a decade later.
Teacher Feature: Dara Chambers, English Language Center Instructor
The English Language Center (ELC) at The University of Texas at Austin offers an impressive range of language-learning services, which can be tailored and customized for groups from a diverse range of backgrounds working across all levels of proficiency.
Accounting Chair Steven Kachelmeier Garners Coveted Award for Scholarship
The American Accounting Association (AAA) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award for Behavioral Accounting Research to Steven Kachelmeier, a professor and chair of the Department of Accounting at The University of Texas McCombs School of Business.
Provost’s Office LinkedIn
Follow the Provost Office on LinkedIn! We will share faculty news, program highlights and information, and updates from the Provost’s portfolio and UT. Network, stay informed and share the important work happening across The University of Texas at Austin.
Access past issues here.