Vilas A. Prabhu Center for Academic Excellence

Spring 2026 Program Themes & formats

This spring the CAE prgorams attend to the following themes: Teaching and Learning, Digital Accessibility, Artificial Intelligence, and the General Education Gateway Program. In addition, the CAE will continue to host events to support pre-tenure faculty and faculty mentees/mentors. 

There are one-hour sessions, ongoing book clubs, three-hour workshops, drop-in sessions, and half-hour skill builders in a mix of in-person and online formats.

Check out the programs by theme/format below, or as a chronological list at the bottom of this page. See you soon!

Spring program list

Book Clubs

Creating Self Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students' Self-Awareness and Learning Skills by Linda B. Nilson
Wednesdays from 9 - 10 AM on February 18th, March 18th, and April 15th in Lyle 141.
Co-facilitators: Tatiana Pashkova-Balkenhol and Melissa Mullen-Davis. 

Generative AI for Academics by Mark A. Carrigan
Thursdays from 12 - 1 PM on February 5th, March 5th, and April 9th on Zoom
Facilitated by Jessica Fellmeth. 

Sign up to participate in a book club by January 30th.

Teaching and Learning 

Active Learning Strategies in a Post-iClicker World
Thursday, February 12th from 11 AM - 12 PM at the CAE
Polling your class is a great way to check for understanding, but finding software that is free, university supported, and seamlessly integrates into slidedecks is tough. Come find out how faculty are using Microsoft Forms (yes - can you believe it)? as an iClicker replacement to engage students in classes of all sizes.
Presenters: Frank Vitale and Maja Klosinska

Evidence of Effective Teaching Beyond Course Evaluations
Monday, February 23rd from 12 - 1 PM at the CAE
Becoming an effective teacher requires an ongoing assessment practice in which you gather evidence to determine your effectiveness, and improve your practice based on what you learn. Course evaluations often provide too little information too late. This session includes examples of the diverse ways our colleagues demonstate their teaching effectiveness to themselves and in formal faculty evaluation processes.
Presenter: Sarah Brooks

Developing Course-Specific Policies: Attendance, Late Work, In-Class Devices, etc.
Thursday, April 23rd from 12:15-1:15 PM at the CAE
Have you ever had a course policy totally fail you in a complicated situation? Do your course policies feel a bit stale or out of touch? Do you wonder how your course policies could better align with your values as an educator and the goals of your course? Do you have effective course policies that peers would benefit from learning about? This session will help you consider whether revisions might be necessary, offer some examples, and allow you to workshop new language for future courses.
Presenter: Dan Albert

Lancaster Learns Conference
Happening February 27th!
Contact the CAE at cae@millersville.edu by Feb 1 if you’d like to attend for free! 

Digital Accessibility

Digital Accessibility Fundamentals Series 
Offered in collaboration with IT
Mondays, 3-3:30 PM on Zoom
Presenter: Marie Firestone
Sign up required; zoom links will be sent once you sign up.

  • Feb. 2: Meeting Accessibility Guidelines: Where Do I Start?
  • Feb. 9: Text Alternatives for Non-Text Content
  • Feb. 16: Do's and Don'ts for Accessible Links
  • Feb. 23: Transcripts and Captions for Multimedia Content
  • Mar. 2:Color Considerations for Accessiblity
  • Mar. 23: Document Structure and Formatting
  • Mar. 30: Accessible PDFs (Does your PDF need to be a PDF?)

Digital Accessibility Drop-Ins
Are you looking for 1:1 help with making your teaching more accessible? Bring your problems, issues, and the PDFs you are white-knuckling to a drop-in session at the CAE. We're here to help!

  • Fri. Feb. 20th, 11 AM - 1 PM with Emily Baldys and Marie Firestone
  • Wed. Mar. 4th, 12 - 2 PM with Nicole Pfannenstiel and Marie Firestone
  • Fri. Mar. 20th, 11 AM - 1 PM with Sarah Jackson and Marie Firestone
  • Wed. Apr. 1st, 12 - 2 PM with Janet Bertoni and Marie Firestone

Also, check out the other IT Tech Talks scheduled for this spring. Sign up required.

Artificial Intelligence

Sign up for these sessions by January 23rd.

Foundations of AI
January 30th, 9 AM – 12 PM, Stayer MPR
This introductory session is designed for faculty who are curious about artificial intelligence but still developing their understanding of what it is and how it works. Participants will explore key concepts such as how generative AI and large language models function, discuss emerging concerns about AI’s impact on teaching and learning, and practice basic prompting techniques that can enhance productivity and creativity. The workshop provides a grounding in both the technical and ethical foundations of AI use in education.
Presenter: Ollie Dreon

AI in Practice
February 20th, 9 AM - 12 PM, Stayer MPR
This session is geared toward faculty who already have a working understanding of AI and want to explore its pedagogical applications. Participants will examine how AI can be integrated as an instructional asset, experiment with redesigning assessments that are AI-integrated or AI-conscious, and develop strategies for transparent AI use through disclosure forms. The workshop emphasizes practical implementation, responsible use, and the alignment of AI practices with learning goals.
Presenter: Ollie Dreon

AI Symposium
Happening on April 30th, 2026! Look for more details soon.

General Education Gateway PROGRAM

There is much to learn about the new general education curriculum! Kim McCollum-Clark and Krista Higham have prepared a series of sessions to fill you in, whether you need a basic overview, have specific questions, or have encountered an issue that will needs to be resolved. Each session is being offered face to face and on zoom. Locations and links for each session are below.

  • Gateway Fundamentals
    • Tue. Jan. 27th 12 - 1 PM in the CAE
    • Thur. Feb. 5th 2 - 3 PM on Zoom
  • Integrating Gateway and Your Majors/Minors
    • Wed. Feb. 18th 12 - 1 PM in the CAE
    • Mon. Mar. 2nd 2 - 3 PM on Zoom
  • Gateway for Special Populations (honors college, athletes, etc.)
    • Thur. Mar. 19th 12 - 1 PM in the CAE
    • Fri. Mar. 20th 3 - 3 PM on Zoom

General Education Assessment Luncheon
Happening on March 17th 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM in the Lehr Dining Room, Gordinier Hall. More details coming soon!

pre-tenure and Mentoring luncheon sessions

Pre-tenure faculty and faculty mentees/mentors will receive outlook invites to these events.

Working with Students in the Honors College
Fri. Feb. 13th, 12 - 1 PM in the Matisse Room
Presenter: Charlton Wolfgang

Spring Mentoring Meet Up
Fri. Mar. 20th, 12 - 1 PM in the Matisse Room
Facilitator: Leslie Gates

Using D2L Shells for Advising
Fri. Mar. 27th, 12 - 1 PM in the Matisse Room
Presenter: Kelly Banna

chairs' circle

Monday, February 2, 3:05-4:20 at the CAE
The Chairs' Circle is a moderately structured conversation and problem-solving space for current (and/or incoming/newly elected) department chairs. The Chairs Circle is hosted by Scott Anderson.

CAE Faculty Committee 

The CAE Faculty Committee consists of six faculty members (each appointed by their respective academic dean and one appointed by APSCUF) that meet monthly to provide counsel to the CAE director. The faculty committee for the 25-26 academic year includes Lexi Hutto (LCOB), Kim McCollum-Clark (AHSS), Jennie Burke (EDHS), Steven Kennedy (SCTE), Kristen Lawson (UC), and Greg Szczyrbak (APSCUF). Spring 2026 meetings are scheduled for January 21, February 18, March 25, and April 22.

DROP IN HOURS

I will be attending to CAE work in person most Mondays 12-2, Tuesdays 10-12, and Wednesdays 11-1. If there’s something you want to chat about, stop by! Check my availability and book an appointment, or email me at cae@millersville.edu to arrange another time as needed. I look forward to seeing you!

Leslie Gates