These bring-your-own-lunch events aim to explore the achievements and challenges faced by women in leadership roles across various sectors, while highlighting those faced by female-presenting administrators in higher education.Despite progress in recent decades, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions. This series aims to address this ongoing disparity by providing role models for aspiring women leaders and creating a platform to discuss the unique challenges women face in leadership roles. Through these sessions, participants will explore strategies for overcoming gender-based barriers, engaging in valuable networking opportunities, and advocating for women in leadership roles. The goal of this series is to empower and equip women and allies with the tools and support needed to excel in leadership positions by bringing these crucial issues to the forefront.All members of the University community are welcome to attend and contribute to these important conversations. You do not need to be a woman or someone with a position of authority to attend these sessions.Please contact Sue Hildebrandt (shildeb@IllinoisState.edu) with any questions and visit the Provost Office website for more information about each session.

Teaching can be an isolating experience. This reading group, intended for those who have been teaching at Illinois State for over four years, allows faculty to engage in discussions, encourage peer support, build networks, and develop mentorship connections. Gain new confidence in yourself and your ability to teach! During the Spring semester, we will read Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn by Barbara Oakley as the springboard for our conversations. Student motivation and long-term retention of knowledge (e.g., ensuring concepts are not “immediately forgotten after a test”) will be key areas of focus. We will use the text to find ideas for slight changes we can make in our classes to see positive impacts on our student learning and motivation.  Reading assignments are kept to reasonable amounts between our biweekly meetings and encouraged, though not required, for participation.  We will meet six times throughout the semester to discuss the book and support each other in our teaching across disciplines. Feel free to bring your lunch! Registration is Required.Outcomes – Discuss innovative teaching strategies 

April 14, 16, 21, 23 (Mondays/Wednesdays) 1:30-3:30 p.m.Attend in person at ISU’s Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal            ORWatch Online via ZoomFEES:$35 for Senior Professional members (includes all four sessions)$45 for non-members (includes all four sessions)For in-person participation, pricing is per person.For Zoom participation, pricing is one registration per household.Price includes:Four 2-hour sessions (one Academy of Seniors class).$15 single-session option available for in-person attendance (pay at door).Register online at seniorprofessionals.illinoisstate.edu or call (309) 438-2160.Zoom participants will receive a Zoom link a week prior to the start of the class(es) and again on the day of each session.Class DescriptionMore than any other form of contemporary technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought the Baby-Boomers’ sci-fi-fantasies (or nightmares) to reality. Originally coined in 1956, the term artificial intelligence has emerged as a headline grabber, tied to everything from drone warfare to intelligent, “living” art shows. In fact, AI has forced contemporary culture to reexamine ancient questions related to authenticity, authorship, and “being” in both scientifically profound, and very personal ways. This class will examine whether we should love, run away from or simply learn to live with the new “un-reality” that is AI.Tom McCulley, Associate Professor of Humanities, Heartland Community College

In your role as a faculty or staff, students may turn to you for support, advice, or encouragement recognizing you as a good listener and someone who can help in their time of need. This consultation space is designed to address specific concerns you have about individual students or groups, questions about our services, and an overall supportive environment among staff/faculty to collaborate with one another. Registration is Required.This training will help you to: Deepen your understanding of how to support to students experiencing mental health challenges. Gain knowledge into student mental health issues and the resources and support services available on campus. Learn how to refer students to Student Counseling Services (SCS) and facilitate conversations about accessing campus resources.  

The Champaign County Action Team meets ever third Wednesday of the month.Group meetings are virtual on Teams. If you are interested in joining, contact chairperson: Heide Gulbrandson-Andrews (DCFS) (217) 278-5400

 This learning community serves graduate students who are interested in exploring issues related to college teaching, ranging from bread-and-butter pedagogical techniques to strategies for making teaching more equitable, diverse, and inclusive, to classroom management and course organization tips and tricks. This circle is appropriate for any graduate student, whether currently teaching as an instructor of record, serving as a teaching assistant, or considering college teaching as a career path. Discussions are framed around the content of a scholarly text concerning teaching in higher education, but no pre-reading is expected or required.  In Spring 2025, we will be basing our discussions on Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills by Linda B. Nilson. This text discusses how we can teach in ways that promote self-actualization and agency in our students, helping them to become life-long learners. Our discussions will connect this text to participants’ journeys as instructors and to ISU’s signature pedagogy, the Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence. This learning community is open to all graduate students, with meetings scheduled on alternating weeks in the Spring semester. This is a hybrid offering, and participants will be able to meet in person at the Center for Integrated Professional Development (WIH 325) or participate via Teams meeting. No registration is required, but to see copies of the handouts and to join the Teams meeting, you should join the Future Faculty Teams site.  Intended Audience: This learning community is open to all graduate students. No Registration is Required  Outcomes Become more confident in their abilities as an inclusive, effective college instructor Demonstrate familiarity with the Framework for Inclusive Teaching Excellence Develop relationships beyond their own programs