Vilas A. Prabhu Center for Academic Excellence

This website is under construction. You can view our current programming on this page and return soon for updates!

HOT OFF THE PRESS: WINTER WORKSHOPS!

Want to invest some time over break making your pedagogy and course materials more accessible, or navigating the impact of AI on teaching and learning? We'd love to have you join us. Check out the full session descriptions below.

  • Founadations of AI Thursday, December 18th 9 AM - 12 PM in person. Sign up here by December 8th. 
  • AI in Practice Wednesday, January 7th, 9 AM - 12 PM in person. Sign up here by December 8th. 
  • Digital Accessibility Fundamentals Thursday, January 8th, 9 AM - 12 PM on zoom. Sign up here by December 19th. 

 

Foundations of AI

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.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe what generative AI and large language models are and how they generate responses.
  2. Identify common ethical, social, societal, and pedagogical concerns associated with AI in education.
  3. Use basic prompting techniques to produce purposeful outputs with AI tools.
  4. Critically examine AI-generated content for accuracy and bias
  5. Reflect on how AI might influence their discipline or professional practice.

You can participate in this session over winter break or during the spring semester. The opportunities to participate are:

  • December 18th, 9 AM – 12 PM, Lyle 141 (CAE conference room)
  • January 30th, 9 AM – 12 PM, Lyle 141 (CAE conference room)

 

AI in Practice

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.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify ways AI tools can enhance teaching, learning, and course design.
  2. Redesign assignments or assessments to align with AI-integrated or AI-conscious principles.
  3. Develop strategies for discussing AI expectations and disclosures with students.
  4. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of incorporating AI tools into their own teaching context.

You can participate in this session over winter break or during the spring semester. The opportunities to participate are:

  • January 7th, 9 AM – 12 PM, Lyle 141 (CAE conference room)
  • February 20th, 9 AM – 12 PM, Lyle 141 (CAE conference room)

 

Digital Accessibility Winter Workshop

Want to invest some time over break making your course materials more accessible? Take the next step toward creating inclusive learning environments in this online, half-day workshop. You will have the chance to apply accessibility principles directly to your own course materials with hands-on guidance and peer support. Participants will identify their greatest area of need—whether that’s designing accessible HTML pages in D2L, improving PowerPoint or slide deck accessibility, or transforming existing PDFs into accessible formats—and work through practical strategies and tools to meet accessibility standards.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with concrete improvements to their course materials, confidence in applying accessibility best practices, and a clearer path toward ensuring all students can fully engage with digital content. 

This session over winter break will be followed by additional opportunities in the spring semester.

  • January 8th, 9 AM - 12 PM, Zoom

 

FALL 2025 PROGRAMMING

Some events require us ordering books or food in advance, or reserving time/space, and so we need you to sign up in advance.

  • Sign up for the pre-tenure luncheons here.
  • Sign up for faculty mentoring events here.
  • If you want to make an appointment with the CAE Director, you can so that here.

FACULTY BOOK CLUBS

Ongoing discussions with your colleagues about issues that are relevant to teaching and learning.

The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson
            Fridays, 1 PM: September 19, October 3, October 31, November 14
            Facilitated by Leslie Gates
            Meeting in Person, Lyle 141

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick
            Wednesdays, 11 AM - 12 PM: September 24, October 29, November 19
            Facilitated by Ollie Dreon and Kerrie Farkas
            Meeting via Zoom 

LEARNING/TEACHING SESSIONS

One-time sessions meant to support your work as an educator with no sign up required. These sessions are BYOL (Bring your own lunch) and happening in Lyle 141.

Giving Feedback that Fuels Learning
The transformative power of feedback is dependent on choices we make about how to offer it.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 12 - 1 PM

Presenter: Leslie Gates

Supporting Neurodivergent Students
Key information and strategies for supporting the neurodiverse students in our classrooms.
Wednesday, Oct 1, 12 - 1 PM

Presenters: Janet Bertoni and Courtney Wagner

Moving Beyond the Lecture in Large “Lecture” Courses
Strategies to actively engage your students when there are a lot of them and only one of you.
Friday, October 3, 12 - 1 PM

Presenters: Steven Kennedy, Heidi Leitzke, and Jonathan Strayer

How do we balance inclusive teaching practices, student accountability, and instructor capacity?
Can we offer students both compassion and accountability, and without burning ourselves out?
Tuesday, October 7, 12 - 1 PM
Presenter: Melissa Mullen-Davis

Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom 
Learn how some MU colleagues are integrating AI into their classrooms and take away some ideas to try out for yourself.
Monday, November 3rd, 3 - 4 PM (click here to add this to your calendar!)
Facilitator: Greg Szczyrbak

PRE-TENURE FACULTY SESSIONS

Sessions will run Fridays from 12 - 1 PM in the Matisse Room, Gordinier Hall. The sessions are designed to support pre-tenure faculty. Lunch is included. Sign up required.

  • Friday, Sept. 12th: Tips for Academic Advising with Ankur Nandedkar, Kristen Lawson, and Dan Albert
  • Friday, Oct. 10th: Faculty Evaluation with Provost Gasparich and APSCUF
  • Friday, Dec. 5th: Semester Wrap Up and Entering Grades with Alison Hutchinson

GENERAL EDUCATION DROP-IN SESSIONS

Support for course proposals and assessment plans in alignment with Gateway general education labels with GEOAC members Kim McCollum-Clark, Krista Higham, Jessica Grady, and Josh Rea. No sign up required; just drop in!

  • Wednesday, Aug 27, 3 - 4 PM, McNairy 104
  • Tuesday, Sept 2, 11 AM – 12 PM, CAE conference room, Lyle 141
  • Friday, Sept 5, 1-2 PM, McNairy 104
  • Tuesday, Sept 9, 12-1 PM, CAE conference room, Lyle 141

FACULTY MENTORING SESSIONS

Any faculty member on campus can request a mentor at any time! Do you need help with a short-term project? A longer-term professional goal? A skill set you'd like to develop? A one-time question to which you can't find the answer? Perhaps you know you want some help but aren't sure what specifically you're hoping to address. That’s okay too. Email CAE@millersville.edu to request a mentor. Sign up required.

New Mentor/Mentee Pairs Breakfast
Meet one another, perhaps for the first time, and enjoy an informal space of conversation and connection.
Friday, September 12th, 9 - 10 AM, Lyle 141

Mentor Training
Designed for faculty who have agreed to serve as mentors to first and second year faculty, but open to anyone interested in principles of faculty mentorship.
Friday, September 12th, 10 AM - 12 PM, Lyle 141

Mentoring Meet Up
Designed for mentor pairs to attend together. This session will be an opportunity for you and your mentor to check in with one another. Lunch is on us!
Friday, November 7th, 12 PM - 1 PM, McIlwayne NPR, Gordinier Hall

DROP IN HOURS

I will be attending to CAE work in person most Tuesdays 10-1, Wednesdays 12-3, and Fridays 10-1. If there’s something you want to chat about, stop by! Check my availability and book an appointment here, or email me at cae@millersville.edu to arrange another time as needed. I look forward to seeing you!

Leslie Gates