We will have a more robust CELT Notes next Monday as we start to wrap up our Spring 2022 classes but I wanted to send along a reminder and a quick, personal note about the Curriculum conversations from my CELT desk. 

Sabbatical Launch Social Hour - Today 4 to 6 pm CELT (Valders 240) 

We are starting a new tradition in an effort to collectively highlight and celebrate the very good work faculty do every day in our research. We plan to send successful sabbatical recipients off with a hurrah and toast, and welcome back sabbatical faculty with an informal dinner. 

This afternoon CELT is hosting an informal social hour from 4 to 6 to launch our colleagues into their sabbatical years. There is no program - just a chance to informally talk more about our colleagues' plans for their upcoming research. 

One of the common themes we found in the results of the CUTE Faculty climate survey that we issued last fall is that many of us are feeling a sense of isolation and a feeling that faculty from outside our home departments don't really know what we do. I have plans to start addressing that next academic year, but coming to this informal event and chatting with your colleagues about how the plan to spend their sabbatical research time is a fantastic step towards building that community again. 

Pop by CELT this afternoon from 4 to 6 -- have a beer, a glass of wine, or a cup of tea and a snack and some conversation. All are welcome! 

Last thoughts on the curriculum from CELT

I want to add my thanks and appreciation to the Curriculum Committee and all the work they have put into the model we have currently in front of us.

Listening intently in full faculty and divisions, I've been impressed with how seriously everyone is taking these discussions. The curriculum is the purview of the faculty and you all are rising to the challenge. 

I'm also hearing fear and anxiety surrounding implementation or worries that this model isn't fleshed out enough or doesn't go into enough detail. If I'm reading these comments correctly, I think that many of us are worried about how we are going to define these literacies - what kinds of classes or experiences might count - and how our majors will be impacted.

So -- in this moment -- I want to remind everyone that that very important work comes next - after we have voted on a framework. 

Once we pass a framework - we can then start working on the Learning Outcomes for each of the Literacies. We'll work on defining what those outcomes are for Experiential Learning, for a "Culture" class, for a Wellness experience. etc. 

Once those learning outcomes are established, then we can do the exciting, generative work of creating high-impact, creative, rigorous 21st century courses that meet those learning outcomes. 

Course design (or redesign) is also our purview and the place where we excel.  But we need to redesign to a purpose -- and that purpose is designing towards meeting the learning outcomes for the a new curriculum that fits our vision for the future of Luther College. 

We have an awesome chance to update our collective courses to not only fit a new curriculum, but meet the needs of ALL of our students, help retention, move our equity work along, maintain our rigorous curriculum, whatever your worry is at this moment. 

The last time we did this -- we didn't have CELT to help guide the process - but we do now. 

That's all I want to say - and I'm putting on my coach hat now - we can do this, It's going to be hard, but its going to be worth it. 

Kate