UIW School of Professional Studies Faculty and Staff Gather for Faculty Assembly

On Saturday, Sept. 14, UIW’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) hosted its annual faculty assembly. SPS faculty and staff gathered in the Student Engagement Center (SEC) Ballroom to share insights, best practices and consider new strategies for enhancing student education and engagement. The assembly is meant to foster a sense of community and collaboration as the SPS community commits to their shared goals for the upcoming year.

This is the first time that SPS has been able to host this event in person since 2019 due to the restrictions the COVID-19 pandemic presented.

“SPS has held a combination of online and in-person faculty assemblies since 2017,” noted Dr. Jessica Parra, SPS interim dean. “While this was the first in-person faculty assembly since 2019, the assembly had continued in an online format during the pandemic. It feels rewarding to finally bring back in-person participation, which fosters a deeper connection among faculty members, while also maintaining the online component for those who are not local. It marks a return to some sense of normalcy and strengthens our community spirit.”

Approximately 70-80 participants attended the event, both in person and online. The hybrid model allowed faculty who aren’t locally based to participate.

Topics that were discussed at this year’s assembly included how to responsibly integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into curriculum and engaging with students both face-to-face and online so that they feel supported (SPS students take classes 100% online). Faculty and staff in attendance also heard from Dr. Dimitri Tamalis, interim University provost, who spoke on the importance of collaboration, adapting to the evolving needs of students and maintaining excellence in both online and in-person environments.

“The assembly encouraged networking, collaboration and the adoption of innovative practices. Students benefit indirectly from these gatherings as faculty gain new ideas for enhancing their educational approaches, which ultimately leads to improved student outcomes and a stronger sense of community within the institution. This event marked a fresh start for reconnecting in-person, which I hope will continue to strengthen the relationships between faculty members,” shared Dr. Parra.