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Welcome to "Faculty Rhode to Success!"
February 2026
The Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (ATL) is excited to bring you our monthly newsletter, "Faculty Rhode to Success." The purpose of our newsletter is to highlight the great work of URI faculty and graduate student instructors and share relevant information about professional development opportunities designed to support and equip all members of the university's instructional community. |
Registration Open Now
ATL is looking forward to hosting its third annual (virtual) Innovative Education Conference on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Our theme for 2026 is “Flourishing Together: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Today.”
For registration and conference details check out our webpage.
Find ATL on LinkedIn!
ATL has officially joined LinkedIn! Our goal with LinkedIn is to use the platform to connect with the URI instructional community about our special events, learning opportunities and variety of professional development experiences to support their success.
Follow us here.
Rhody Scholars
ATL is now recruiting our second cohort of Rhody Scholars! This cohorted yearlong program walks participants through the process of developing and completing a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project of their own. Accepted Rhody Scholars will receive a stipend to support their work, and may be eligible for additional funding if they plan to work with an undergraduate or graduate student partner. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 20.
Learn more and apply here.
Join the Innovative Grading Community
All are welcome to join the Innovative Grading Community of Practice listserv! This group is for anyone who currently practices or is interested in learning more about innovative/ alternative grading practices including ungrading, contract grading, labor based grading, and specifications grading.
Our community of practice is a place to build community, learn from each other, and share resources. To join the listserv, please email teach@uri.edu.
Writing Across URI
Writing Across URI, now housed in ATL, aims to support writing on two fronts. The first aim is to support faculty in their own writing endeavors. The second aim is to help faculty with their teaching of student writing, whether through formal writing-specific courses or in the writing assignments they use in their general courses. For this semester, Writing Across URI is offering multiple ways for you to engage with your own writing. In future semesters, we look forward to sharing additional writing support collaborations and opportunities.
As previously advertised, we will host an in-person Winter Writing Retreat at the Bay Campus from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27. Come for an hour or all day! Learn more and register.
New for spring semester, ATL will offer three half-day virtual writing retreats. You can sign up for any or all of them and join for the whole time or just an hour. Learn more and register. Virtual Mini-Writing Retreats will be held:
- 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Monday, March 13
- 12–3 p.m. on Monday, April 13
- 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13
Lastly, mark your calendars for our Summer Writing Retreat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 19–22 at the Bay Campus! More info to come!
ATC Ramadan Exam Accommodations 2026
To support students who are fasting during Ramadan, the Academic Testing Center (ATC) will offer exam sessions at sunrise and sunset for exams scheduled between Feb. 17 and Mar. 13. Faculty do not need to take any additional steps beyond the existing ATC exam request process. When submitting an exam, simply select the “Ramadan- Extended Hours” group from the selection menu. For more details, please review the ATC Ramadan Flyer.
The ATC was again awarded a CED mini-grant to support students who are fasting during Ramadan. The ATC and ATL staff extend their sincere appreciation to CED and the UDC Mini-Grant Committee for this generous award and for its continued commitment to advancing inclusive, equity-centered practices that support student success. Funding from the CED mini-grant enables the ATC to provide culturally responsive snack bags for students observing Ramadan, to be used for iftar and/or suhoor. These resources are intended to reduce barriers and promote student well-being during the fasting period.
CIRTL at URI
The University of Rhode Island is now a member of the CIRTL network: a cross-institutional group of research universities dedicated to graduate student and postdoctoral fellow professional development around teaching. Anyone at URI can freely register for one of the many asynchronous courses and synchronous workshops that CIRTL offers. Check out upcoming CIRTL offerings at https://cirtl.net/events/ and reach out to Sophia Abbot (sophia.abbot@uri.edu) to learn more.
Additional Spring Programming
ATL offers programs open to all instructors, as well as those geared towards particular groups of teachers.
Visit our website to see the full spring 2026 programming schedule.
Academic Summit 2026
Organized by the Office of the Provost on Thursday, January 15, 2026, faculty and staff gathered in the Memorial Union for the 2026 URI Academic Summit, a full-day event focused on resilience in academic life.
We extend our sincere appreciation to all presenters, facilitators, and participants whose engagement and contributions made the 2026 URI Academic Summit a meaningful and impactful experience. Thank you for your continued commitment to fostering a supportive, resilient, and collaborative academic community.
Positive ATL Impacts in January
During January, rather than sitting back during the semester break, the ATL staff was busy working alongside instructors.
Tell your teaching story
This virtual workshop was held on January 8 and 13 on Zoom. It helped new instructors intentionally think about their teaching practice and how it can be used to evidence their effectiveness in the classroom.
ATL also assisted with an “implementation day” on January 12 for a cohort of participants who recently completed a semester-long exploration into inclusive teaching in STEM.
On January 16, ATL helped lead a retreat with the biomedical pharmaceutical sciences department. At this retreat, participants worked toward developing action plans around recruitment, retention, curricular innovations, and internships.
TLS Upcoming Training
Archive Course and Student Data
February 18, 2025
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Brightspace courses are purged after four years, but this training will show you how to back up your course content and export key student information step by step for your records. Register.
For more professional development opportunities offered by TLS, visit this webpage.
AI Tools: Writing
February 25, 2026
9:30–10:30 a.m.
The session introduces students to various AI tools that can enhance their academic performance and overall college experience. Register.
Preparing Your Conference Poster
March 4, 2026
11 a.m.–12 p.m.
This session offers practical tips and strategies to help you clearly communicate your work and confidently present your scientific poster to scholars in your field. Register.
Writing Groups
ATL would like to share two writing group opportunities, hosted by faculty in the Department of Nutrition.
- Time to Write, hosted by Professor Ingrid Lofgren, is an informal writing group held on Zoom from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Mondays, 8:30–10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information or to join the group, email Professor Lofgren (ingrid_lofgren@uri.edu).
- Protected Writing Time with Kathleen is an informal writing group hosted by Professor Kathleen Melanson on Zoom from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and 9–11 a.m. on Thursdays. For more information or to join the group, email Professor Melanson at kmelanson@uri.edu.
February Celebrations
February invites us to learn, reflect, and celebrate together. ATL honors the histories, traditions, and observances that shape our community this month. From celebrations of culture and heritage to moments of spiritual reflection, February reminds us of the strength found in diversity and shared understanding.
- African American/Black History Month
- Lunar New Year: Feb. 17
- Ramadan: Feb. 17–March 19
- Ash Wednesday: Feb. 18
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