Wednesday Schedule
Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30am
CUB Junction
Morning Sessions:
Musselman Library
9:30 – 10:45 am
Welcome: Michelle Schmidt, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Keynote: Cate Denial, “A Pedagogy of Kindness”
Bright Distinguished Professor of American History and Director, The Bright Institute, Knox College
Library Apse
11am – 12pm
Concurrent Session 1: Grading Best Practices
Facilitators: Rachel Lesser (Classics), Kelli Murphy (Educational Technology), and Theresa Hoover (Center for Student Success)
How we grade our students and how we communicate with them about their grades impacts their learning. This session will explore best practices in grading, keeping the specific needs of Gettysburg students in mind, and attendees will leave with a collection of strategies that they can apply to their own courses. In the first part of the session, Theresa Hoover, Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility, will provide an overview of Spring 2024 student feedback on faculty grading practices, discuss student needs surrounding grading, and offer thoughts on how to meet these needs; Kelli Murphy, Senior Instructional Technologist, will share a checklist of grading best practices; and Rachel Lesser, Associate Professor of Classics, will discuss some of her own successes and failures in grading and reflect on what she has learned. In the second part of the session, attendees will have the opportunity to participate and share their own experiences on topics that may include current grading practices and policies, assessing class participation, and approaches to dealing with late assignments.
Library Room 14
Concurrent Session 2: Inclusive Teaching by Scholars Sponsored by HHMI Grant
Facilitators: Josef Brandauer (Health Sciences), Luke Thompson (Chemistry), Kate Buettner (Chemistry), and Greg Hershey Suryn (Chemistry)
The session on inclusive teaching will present projects undertaken by HIPP scholars supported by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) grant. Greg Suryn aimed to reduce the cost of textbooks and online homework for Chem 107/108 by using the flexible LibreText and ADAPT platforms. Kate Buettner’s project integrates a Scientist Spotlight component in her Advanced Inorganic Chemistry course, which highlights chemists from traditionally underserved populations and culminates in a student symposium. Luke Thompson explores mastery-based grading in the lab section of the Contemporary Issues and Practices course to enhance skills in experimental design and problem-solving, with plans for future adjustments. As a whole, the session will focus on sharing experiences in creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
Library Room 18
Lunch
12 – 1:30pm
Musselman Apse
Lunch-and-learn tables
Tracie Potts, Eisenhower Institute
Krista Dhruv, Counseling and Wellness Services
Afternoon Sessions:
Musselman Library
1:30 – 2:30pm
Concurrent Session 1: Honor Code – Current Status and Next Steps
Facilitators: Hannah Sollenberger (Center for Student Success), Renica Minott (Center for Student Success) et al.
Join faculty advisors to the Honor Commission and the Center for Student Success to learn about the proposed updates to the Honor Code. Be part of the discussion to review changes and additions from our student Honor Commission members and have the opportunity to share your feedback and suggestions.
Library Room 14
Concurrent Session 2: Working with Our International Students
Facilitators: Brad Lancaster and Kelly Whitcomb (International Student Services)
Join Brad Lancaster and Dr. Kelly Whitcomb for an update on our international students and a discussion on how best to work with them in your classes. They will share demographic data about our international students (including the incoming first-year class) and discuss the challenges these students may face. Then they will lead an interactive workshop focused on strategies for working with international students.
Library Room 18
2:40 – 3:40pm
Implementation of the New Curriculum: An Overview
Jeanne Hamming (Associate Provost for Academic Affairs) and Bill O’Hara (Music, Director of the Gettysburg Seminars & Skills Program) will offer a concise overview of the new curriculum, which will come into effect for the 2025-26 school year. They will outline resources and professional development opportunities, and answer questions about the curriculum.
Library Apse