鈥淭he Push and Pull of Mentorship: Empowering Research Students Through Balanced Support and Challenge鈥

鈥淭he Push and Pull of Mentorship: Empowering Research Students Through Balanced Support and Challenge鈥

Natalya Zinkevich, Assistant Professor of Biology and recipient of the 2025 Pearson Faculty Award, has mentored students in the life sciences as they have engaged in research, applied for grants and fellowships, presented papers, and authored peer-reviewed work. Her talk will cover her approach to mentorship and her experiences helping students to strengthen:

Online Discussions Workshop

Online discussion are vital to building a community in an online course. In order to achieve that goal, we need students to engage in these online discussions. Join COLRS staff as we explore some strategies for making the most of your online discussions. We'll think about different thinking routines and prompts, post length, frequency, and more!

  • When: Tuesday, November 11 at 1 p.m.
  • Where: BRK 141A and
  • Duration: 1 hour

Journaling Workshop

Understanding how our students are feeling about our classes is important, but survey fatigue might prevent them from sharing those thoughts--especially multiple times in a course. Journaling is a strategy we can use to find out how our students are doing in a low-stakes and personal way (and for so much more!). Join COLRS staff to learn more about how journaling can be leveraged in your courses.

AI-Proofing Assignments Workshop

While generative AI can be a powerful tool, it can also keep students from meeting course objectives and developing necessary skills in our courses. Join COLRS staff to discuss ways that we can build assignments to prevent students from turning to AI tools.

  • When: Wednesday, September 17 at noon
  • Where: BRK 416 and
  • Duration: 1 hour

Retention Through Connection: CASA鈥檚 Efforts to Empower Student Learning

In this session, Tarah Sweeting will highlight the strategies CASA is using to help students achieve their academic goals and improve retention at UIS. Participants will learn how CASA leverages key resources such as academic tutoring, supplemental instruction, and intensive first-year advising to create meaningful support pathways for students.

Tarah will also walk through CASA鈥檚 initiatives funded by the Strengthening Institutions Grant, including:

Classroom Technology Walkthrough

Classroom Technology Walkthrough

Join Kara McElwrath for a walkthrough of the tools available in our classrooms. You鈥檒l get to explore:

  • The control panel that makes it easy to manage classroom technology
  • Using dual monitors (including one for annotation!)
  • Bring-your-own-device features that keep classes flexible and engaging

We鈥檒l also highlight the software available for you and your students, plus the instructional tech support resources you can lean on throughout the semester.

Classroom Technology Walkthrough

Classroom Technology Walkthrough

New to UIS? Curious about classroom tech?

Whether you鈥檙e just getting started, need a quick refresher, or want to explore new ways technology can enhance your teaching, this session is for you!

Join Kara McElwrath for a walkthrough of the tools available in our classrooms. You鈥檒l get to explore: