Faculty Rhode to Success – November 2025

Welcome to "Faculty Rhode to Success!"

November 2025

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.

Spotlights

Faculty Spotlight:
Neil Greene

Neil Greene is the ATL’s Faculty Spotlight for November 2025.

Read Neil's full interview and nominate an instructor for our next spotlight.

Graduate Spotlight:
Derek Dubois

Derek Dubois is the ATL’s Graduate Student Spotlight for November 2025.

Read Derek's full interview and nominate a graduate teaching assistant for our next spotlight.

Announcements and Reminders

Call For Proposals: Innovative Education Conference 2026

ATL is looking forward to hosting its third annual (virtual) Innovative Education Conference on April 1. Our theme for 2026 is “Flourishing Together: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Today.”

We will accept proposals through Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Learn more about the conference and submit your proposal.

Writing Across URI Listening Sessions

Writing Across URI has joined the Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (ATL). This fall, ATL wants to learn from you what you’d like to see through Writing Across URI. What programs would be helpful to support your writing practice? What kinds of resources have you found beneficial?

Join a Listening Session to share your thoughts and preferences. We'll incorporate a consensus into future programming and resource development.

Listening session details:

November 19, noon–1 p.m. (in person, Tyler 225)
December 1, 11 a.m.–noon (Zoom)

Visit our website for more information.

Mental Health First Aid

November 21, 2025

9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Virtual

Join the campus call to action! Faculty can sign up for Mental Health First Aid completely free of cost.

Registration and more information.

SoTL Reading Club

December 8, 2025

10 a.m. –11 a.m.

Join colleagues to learn about scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) by reading and discussing research in various disciplines. Our next discussion centers on SoTL and professional studies. While the selected article will be shared ahead of time, don’t worry if you cannot read it!

The session will start with a summary of the article and its finding before opening to group discussion about its applications. Visit our website for more information.

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 listserv, please email the ATL at teach@uri.edu.

Resources and Program Spotlight

Fall Symposium 2025

The Fall Symposium was a huge success as we celebrated those who “teach outside the box”. Our keynote speakers were Scott Carlson and Ned Laff who are the authors of Hacking College: Why the Major Doesn’t Matter—and What Really Does. Read more.

Blended Teaching and Course Design

Blended Learning courses include a combination of face-to-face and online instruction or learning. The key element to focus on when developing a blended course is the complementary and integrated combination of these two learning environments.

On this page we will provide some basic information on best practices for blended course design and resources to assist instructors with a deeper look into some specific aspects of blended teaching and learning.

Classroom Observation

Teaching can be an isolating experience and receiving feedback when it does not come from a peer or someone we trust can be difficult. However, through a transparent and supportive classroom observation process, we don’t have to be alone.

The goal of classroom observation is to break down the isolation, and develop solidarity among instructors at URI. Visit our website for more information.

Course Modalities and Teaching Methods

We are providing a comprehensive overview of URI’s six course modalities and eight teaching methods, complete with practical examples and clear definitions. Whether you’re designing a new course or adapting an existing one, use this guide to explore your options, understand the requirements for each modality, and make informed decisions about how to best deliver your course content. Learn more on our webpage.

Teaching Effectiveness Webpage

The primary purpose of this page is to provide guidance to URI instructors seeking to translate their experiences teaching in the classroom into evidence of effective teaching for their portfolios and tenure and promotion packets. Secondly, this page includes information that will help instructors develop an effective teaching statement as well as supporting materials, and provides a roadmap for colleagues to use who desire to partner with ATL as they build their portfolios and align their work in the classroom with the 2025-2028 URI AAUP contract.

Visit our teaching effectiveness webpage to learn more.

Campus Partners

AI Lab Workshop: AI Tools for Educators

November 13, 2025

4–5 p.m.

This virtual workshop introduces AI tools tailored for educators, focusing on how to enhance teaching, streamline administrative tasks, and personalize student learning. Participants will explore practical applications of AI in the classroom, including content creation, assessment support, and student engagement strategies. No prior experience with AI required. Register.

Copilot in Action for Teaching and Learning

November 21, 2025

10–11 a.m.

This is an interactive workshop on Copilot offered by Information Technology Services designed for instructors to learn, explore, and leave with usable items and sharable resources.

Objectives:

Feel confident experimenting with AI tools in their academic practice
Be aware of ethical and responsible AI use in higher education.
Register.

Reduce Brightspace Course Data

December 5, 2025

10–11 a.m.

Got a lot of material in Brightspace? You're not alone. Cleaning up data can significantly improve your efficiency but data management can be a challenge—especially with a plethora of tools. Not all tools have the same features. We will discover which URI tools can help reduce Brightspace digital clutter and improve efficiency. You will also learn about data management and important information on emerging data storage trends.

Training will cover:

Which URI tools work best to streamline the management of course content and student submissions
How to organize and manage course content documents, presentations and videos for efficient storage. Register.

Appreciation and Recognition

November Celebrations

November is a time for gratitude and reflection. As the year winds down, the ATL celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures and stories that continue to shape our community. This month, we honor the traditions, histories, and voices that remind us of the strength found in diversity and the importance of coming together.

National American Indian Heritage Month
Day of the Dead: November 1
Veterans Day: November 11
Trans Day of Remembrance: November 20

Office for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning
University of Rhode Island
Tyler Hall, Second Floor, Room 201
9 Greenhouse Drive, Kingston, RI 02881 | 401.874.4274

Faculty Spotlight: Neil Greene

Graduate Spotlight: Derek Dubois