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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dear Colleague<span style="color:#1F497D">,</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On Monday, August 29 we have the privilege of being present for a big day in the lives of our new students and an eagerly anticipated one for our continuing students. Let’s
make an impression.<span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I ask that you take a few steps at the start of the semester and through its course to strengthen our relationship with our students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1.) Connect your course content and/or skills developed by course assignments with the expectations of the workplace. State the connection and reaffirm it through the
semester. For some courses/content this is easier or harder, but make the connection nonetheless. Intake surveys indicate our undergrads’ two biggest concerns are graduating on time and getting a job afterward.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">2.) Connect with your students personally on this first day. This is simpler than it sounds, and needs to be done in a way that is authentically you. You could tell
of a challenge you had as an undergrad. You might describe a mistake or failure that opened up new opportunities. You might tell about how you came to be a professor, or talk about the role of a mentor in your life. Don’t underestimate the power of your
story!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">3.) Undergraduates benefit from early and frequent feedback on their work. Surveys of undergrads in November 2018 and November 2021 indicated student dissatisfaction with
the timeliness of feedback on assignments. We can turn that around with a few steps:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> a. Consider revising your syllabus to include a graded assignment prior before the third week of the semester, if you do not already have one.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> b. Report grades when Early Intervention opens September 16-October 6 for freshmen, sophomores, and student athletes.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> c. Keep your grades in D2L gradebook. This has been required for some time. Show students how to access the D2L gradebook and understand how grades are
calculated. It is not as clear as you might think!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> d. Report midterm grades for all students. This will represent a change in past practice, but it will be helpful for students as well as advising staff.
The Office of Academic Technology is looking into ways to automate this as part of the D2L gradebook.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Connecting our teaching to our students’ future. Connecting to our students as people. Providing the feedback they need to improve and succeed. Your help can make a tremendous
difference!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I will be visiting each college’s fall kick-off this coming week, and welcome whatever questions you might have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ricky<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Ricky Dobbs, Ph. D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Professor of History<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Associate Provost<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">SACSCOC Liaison
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">903-468-8707<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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