As always, thank you for the incredible efforts that you are making to provide our students with support for their learning, flexibility, and empathy as we settle into the fall semester. Our work can be isolating, and many offices across Academic Affairs areas will be focusing on ways to both foster community among faculty (virtually) and to celebrate the impact that our faculty are having on student learning, through their research, and in our community. Please stay tuned for details in the weeks ahead.
Following this issue of our newsletter, we will be shifting to brief “just in time” communications only when there is important information to share as we know that the flood of emails everyday can be overwhelming. We also will continue to have monthly town halls for the remainder of the semester to ensure that there are opportunities for you to have your questions addressed and your ideas heard.
The end of the last academic year was like none we had ever experienced due to COVID-19 and there was a need to take our courses online. It was a huge effort that overall went well. This past summer was another huge effort with preparations for restarting the campus for the fall semester. Thank you all for your hard work and diligence!
Let me mention two newsworthy events that occurred during August. The IU Board of Trustees passed a new policy, UA-21, Sanctions for Noncompliance with COVID-19 Health and Safety Directives. The University Faculty Council Executive Committee was consulted on the draft of this policy. The trustees also passed a similar policy for our students (STU-02). If you haven’t read these policies, please make it a priority to do so. The second item is that President McRobbie announced that he will step down in June 2021. Thanks to President McRobbie for his steady leadership! The trustees are forming a search committee that includes a number of faculty, so we will have representation and a voice in choosing the next president of IU.
I hope this new semester is off to a good start for you. Your efforts, insight, and expertise are essential for the restart to succeed!
The deadline for the 2020 U.S. census has been moved to October 31, 2020. If you have an opportunity to share this with your returning students, we hope you will share that students should complete the census based on where they intended to be living on April 1, 2020. In cases where a parent reported a student on their census, students should still complete the census.
Reporting by Michele J. Hansen, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Decision Support
The Instructor COVID-19 Transition Needs Survey was designed to help campus leaders understand the needs of instructors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was administered to all IUPUI instructors teaching spring 2020 courses. We launched the survey in early May in an effort to enhance understanding of what struggles or advantages instructors were experiencing early on as they transitioned to online teaching. The survey was sent out under the signature of Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Kathy Johnson. There was also a complimentary student survey. A total of 1,256 IUPUI Indianapolis instructors responded to the survey resulting in a high response rate (56.5%). Instructors reported the following as the primary challenges they had with the teaching environment (in order of most responses): 1) feeling disconnected with students, 2) lack of student interest and motivation, 3) distractions at home, 4) lack of resources for adapting hands-on learning experiences for students in an online learning environment, 5) feeling disconnected from instructors/faculty members, and 6) lack of online teaching skills.
There were several parallels between instructors’ and students’ experiences as they transitioned to online teaching and learning. Instructors were attuned to students’ needs and struggles. Just as students reported struggles with online learning, instructors noted they had difficulties with online teaching and called for more resources and professional development to improve students’ online learning experiences and outcomes. Instructors also noted students’ inequities in terms of technology equipment access and high-speed internet availability. Please see the 2020 IUPUI Student COVID 19 Transition Needs Survey for more information about the experience of students. Please see the full reports, the IFC presentations of highlights, as well as analyses of differences by gender, rank, and ethnicity here: Instructor COVID-19 Transition Needs Survey Reports and Presentations.
Congratulations to IUPUI who was ranked in the top 50 for the best undergraduate teaching (we tied for 49th among national universities, too!). This is great news! We salute all of you who help teach our students, mentor them along the way, and generally be their cheerleaders. See the complete article here.
Effective September 2019, Hilary Kahn was named IUPUI associate vice chancellor for international affairs as well as associate vice president for international affairs at Indiana University. Check out this video to learn a little more about Hilary, the not-so-historical figure she’d like to meet, and how she prefers her bagels!
Reviewed by Michele Hansen, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Decision Support
The book Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil should be required reading for anyone who models data or uses data to make key decisions affecting their lives or the lives of others. Currently, data algorithms govern many decisions in our lives: what product to purchase, which students are at risk, what person to interview for a job, what university is the best one for our child, the loan amount we qualify for, what groups we may want to join on Facebook. The examples are endless. Cathy O’Neil is a data scientist and author of the blog mathbabe.org. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard and is a former Wall Street mathematician. She writes a cautionary tale and sounds the alarm about how dig data, mathematical models, and algorithms that are ubiquitous in our lives can reinforce discrimination, punish the downtrodden, increase inequality, and threaten democracy. For example, a low-income student may not be able to get a needed loan because the lending data model determines they are too risky due to ZIP Code, the student is unable to get the loan and is not able to gain access to the type of education that could put an end to poverty. Although she writes about the dark side of big data, she also offers solutions that can lead to greater fairness, less bias, and appropriate use. She recommends that our data models be transparent (we know all variables and statistical techniques used), are constantly reexamined to increase accuracy, and are used to help people gain access to resources rather than used for harm (e.g. used to deny access healthcare, education, admission to colleges/universities, and more). The book is not the antithesis to using data to make more effective decisions, but rather a call for us to take more responsibility and become more aware about all the data models and algorithms that govern our lives.
As of July 1, 2020, transfer and adult students now have one centralized location to receive assistance in navigating through their unique collegiate journey. The new Center for Transfer and Adult Students combines the Degree Completion Office, Passport Office, and Transfer Student Services into one cohesive center.
The Center for Transfer and Adult Students will offer support from admission through transition into degree programs for the following students:
Intercampus transfer students (permanent and temporary)
Transfer students from two- and four-year institutions outside the IU system, with a focus on students at Ivy Tech Central Indiana
Prospective, new, returning, and adult students who may or may not have previously attended IUPUI
Students in the general studies degree program
IU Online students
Current IUPUI and Ivy Tech Community College students who take classes at their host institution as guest students
Robbie Lopez-Shue is serving as the interim executive director of the new center, which is located in Walker Plaza, Suite 130. Additional information is available on the center’s website.
You can stay up-to-date with the IUPUI United Way campaign via their social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter–be sure to give them a follow and a like! Check out their website for more information on donating and getting involved. We hope to see faculty participate in this year’s virtual campaign!
Digital Teaching Repository: Now Accepting Submissions
The Digital Teaching Repository is now accepting submissions of innovative teaching materials. Disseminate your pedagogical knowledge through our peer reviewed collection of course and curricular products!
The Digital Teaching Repository is an interdisciplinary, online archive of instructional materials created by faculty and teaching staff from IUPUI, IUPUC, and IUFW. All submissions to the Repository are peer reviewed by teaching experts from FACET, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Forum Network. Accepted materials are published to the Digital Teaching Repository webpage and indexed in ScholarWorks, giving them a potentially international reach.
Submissions are open to faculty and teaching staff of all ranks and appointments. To submit, authors will upload their materials (e.g. a syllabus, an assignment, a Canvas module, etc.) and complete a reflective questionnaire. Publication decisions are made within two months of submission.
While the editors invite all submissions, we are particularly interested in:
Sample Syllabi
Model Assignments
Assessment Instruments Classroom Activities
Technological Innovations
Innovative Responses to COVID-Related Teaching and Learning Challenges
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Natasha Flowers as the diversity and inclusion faculty fellow for the 2020-21 academic year. Dr. Flowers is clinical associate professor of urban teacher education in the School of Education at IUPUI. Her scholarship and expertise centers on multicultural education and critical race theory in K-16 education. Dr. Flowers has a passion for multicultural faculty development and is adept at instructional design, making her invaluable to her colleagues in various academic disciplines and communities. In her role as faculty fellow, Dr. Flowers will be working closely with Associate Vice Chancellor Gina Sanchez Gibau to implement leadership development workshops in conjunction with the Project EPIC ADVANCE program, provide educational opportunities for faculty groups, particularly those engaged in processes related to faculty hiring and advancement, and generate and disseminate work that highlights faculty efforts and critical perspectives needed to sustain equity work in faculty affairs.
On August 12, 2020, the Office of Academic Affairs hosted its annual New Faculty Welcome event. This year’s event hosted virtual presentations and table talks with campus leadership, providing timely and useful information for the faculty to begin their new roles at IUPUI, IUPUC, and IUFW.
Speakers from the event included:
Nasser H. Paydar, Chancellor, IUPUI; Executive Vice President, IU
Margie Ferguson, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Rachel Applegate, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs
John Watson, President of IUPUI Faculty Council
Janice Blum, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education
Jay Gladden, Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education
Opening speakers gave overviews of their respective offices and information for new faculty. Topics varied from the history of IUPUI, COVID-19 guidelines, upcoming workshops, the IUPUI Faculty Council, and a variety of resources for undergraduate and graduate education.
After the opening presentations, faculty were divided into smaller groups to discuss topics of their choice in virtual table talks. These collaborative meetings allowed new faculty to ask questions and dive deeper into resources that will ensure their success in their new roles. More resources, including the presentation slides from the event, can be found on the Faculty Forum webpage.
As we head into the election season, a number of resources are available to promote voter registration and voting across the campus. These include a Canvas module, a voting guide, and the opportunity to have Civic Engagement Assistants present to your class. Read more about these resources here.
Each semester, the Faculty Forum offers writing groups that provide encouragement, accountability, and a sense of community for faculty and staff. This fall, there are three ways to participate.
Hybrid Writing Group: Participants will meet in person or on Zoom for two hours each week. In the first 30 minutes of the meeting, participants will discuss a writing-related topic. In the remaining 90 minutes, they will sit quietly and write.
Online Writing Group: Participants will meet on Zoom for two hours each week. In the first 30 minutes of the meeting, participants will discuss a writing-related topic. In the remaining 90 minutes, they will sit quietly and write.
At Your Pace: Participants in the at-your-pace writing groups will record their time spent writing in an online spreadsheet that is shared with the other writers. In addition, participants will receive a weekly email sharing a concise reading on a writerly topic.
The online writing group session will start on Tuesday, September 29, and the hybrid group session will start on Friday, October 2. Membership is open to IUPUI, IUPUC, and IU Fort Wayne faculty and staff of all ranks, appointments, and disciplines. For more information and registration: facultycrossing.iupui.edu/WritingGroups or contact: ude[dot]iupui[at]ssorccaf.
Join your colleagues for an informal hour to share ideas, learn from others, and engage with the teaching community at IUPUI. All faculty of any rank are welcome! This group will meet from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom.
The next session will take place on September 29. No registration is necessary, just grab your lunch and log in at this link.
The Faculty Inclusive Excellence Grants initiative, sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will award up to 10 grants of up to $1,000 in support of faculty-engaged activities that advance the objectives of our campus Strategic Goal 9: Promoting an Inclusive Campus Climate.
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis during the 2020-2021 academic year, as funds are available. Full-time faculty of any rank who have completed at least one year of employment at IUPUI are eligible to apply. Application and more information are available on this page.
“Picture a Scientist” movie chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychele Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries—including social scientists, neuroscientists and psychologists—who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable and open to all.
After registering, participants will be emailed the link to screen the film on their own. “Picture a Scientist” will be available to screen from Monday, September 28, to Sunday, October 4. After watching the movie, participants are invited to a post-movie discussion scheduled with others from around our campus.
The Office of Academic Affairs delivers workshops throughout the year to address various topics for promotion and tenure success. You can view and register for upcoming workshops on the promotion and tenure workshops and materials web page. All workshops will be held via Zoom until further notice.
The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer is hosting a series of monthly town halls. These town halls will cover a wide range of topics and answer questions in order to promote faculty well-being during the 2020-2021 academic year.
This website provides information on all faculty town halls and registration for the upcoming webinar on October 22 (11 a.m. to Noon).
In March, IU faculty and staff converted 14,000 sections of face-to-face classes to remote delivery in just two and one-half weeks. Read the summer edition of the IU Online Newsletter to find out how IU's model for online education meant that faculty and staff had the experience, resources, and technology they needed when COVID-19 struck.
Dear Colleagues,
The deadline for the 2020 U.S. census has been moved to October 31, 2020. If you have an opportunity to share this with your returning students, we hope you will share that students should complete the census based on where they intended to be living on April 1, 2020. In cases where a parent reported a student on their census, students should still complete the census.
The Instructor COVID-19 Transition Needs Survey was designed to help campus leaders understand the needs of instructors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was administered to all IUPUI instructors teaching spring 2020 courses. We launched the survey in early May in an effort to enhance understanding of what struggles or advantages instructors were experiencing early on as they transitioned to online teaching. The survey was sent out under the signature of Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Kathy Johnson. There was also a complimentary student survey. A total of 1,256 IUPUI Indianapolis instructors responded to the survey resulting in a high response rate (56.5%). Instructors reported the following as the primary challenges they had with the teaching environment (in order of most responses): 1) feeling disconnected with students, 2) lack of student interest and motivation, 3) distractions at home, 4) lack of resources for adapting hands-on learning experiences for students in an online learning environment, 5) feeling disconnected from instructors/faculty members, and 6) lack of online teaching skills.
The book Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil should be required reading for anyone who models data or uses data to make key decisions affecting their lives or the lives of others. Currently, data algorithms govern many decisions in our lives: what product to purchase, which students are at risk, what person to interview for a job, what university is the best one for our child, the loan amount we qualify for, what groups we may want to join on Facebook. The examples are endless. Cathy O’Neil is a data scientist and author of the blog mathbabe.org. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard and is a former Wall Street mathematician. She writes a cautionary tale and sounds the alarm about how dig data, mathematical models, and algorithms that are ubiquitous in our lives can reinforce discrimination, punish the downtrodden, increase inequality, and threaten democracy. For example, a low-income student may not be able to get a needed loan because the lending data model determines they are too risky due to ZIP Code, the student is unable to get the loan and is not able to gain access to the type of education that could put an end to poverty. Although she writes about the dark side of big data, she also offers solutions that can lead to greater fairness, less bias, and appropriate use. She recommends that our data models be transparent (we know all variables and statistical techniques used), are constantly reexamined to increase accuracy, and are used to help people gain access to resources rather than used for harm (e.g. used to deny access healthcare, education, admission to colleges/universities, and more). The book is not the antithesis to using data to make more effective decisions, but rather a call for us to take more responsibility and become more aware about all the data models and algorithms that govern our lives. 
You can stay up-to-date with the IUPUI United Way campaign via their social media platforms on 
The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of