Digital Commons@Lindenwood University

Caron, Claire

Dynamite Girl

Fall 2023 General Education Assessment Report

Lindenwood University

STUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023FOCUS ON GLOBAL ADVOCATE 2024The ILOs are approved, and a new general education assessment process is piloted within Canvas.The general education assessment pilot is rolled out to all general education courses. Key performance indicators are developed, and assessment occurs in all general education courses by the respective course instructor.A Community of Practice model was introduced to provide a focused approach and to improve the reliability of the assessment data. Focus from Fall 2019: Written Communication (ILO 3.1).The Community of Practice approach from Fall 2019 was replicated to assess Spoken Communication (ILO 3.2) in Spring 2020 and Diverse Perspectives (ILO 2.5) in Fall 2020. A Community of Practice model continued in 2021 with assessing Civic Responsibility (ILO 2.6) in Spring 2021 and Critical Thinking (ILO 2.3) in Fall 2021.A Community of Practice model continued with assessing Adaptive Thinking (ILO 2.2) in Spring 2022 and Effective Communicator (ILO 3.1 & 3.2) in Fall 2022 (The Year of the Effective Communicator). Implementation of Graduate Attributes; Community of Practice model continued with assessing the Effective Communicator.3Community of Practice will assess Global Advocate, Responsible Citizen, & Ethical Decision Maker.General education assessment is a key measure of institutional effectiveness because it helps an institution substantiate broad claims it makes about student learning through establishing high-quality outcomes across important domains of student educational experiences and carefully analyzing relevant student work. For example, Lindenwood’s Graduate Attribute of Global Advocate asserts that Lindenwood University students will seek to understand the perspectives of diverse populations, consider the global impact of their decisions, appreciate diverse perspectives, and demonstrate compassion and understanding of individual and cultural differences. Lindenwood University recently adopted Graduate Attributes to replace previous Institutional Learning Outcomes and began implementing them in Spring 2023. Many of the attributes were discussed in the Communities of Practice from Fall 2021 through Fall 2022. During the Spring of 2023 the first Graduate Attribute of Effective Communicator was assessed. The attribute of Effective Communicator was discussed in many communities prior, specifically the Community of Practice for Written Communication. This community first met as a pilot in Fall 2019 and has scored artifacts each year for annual data collections. This gathering three years after the pilot focused on the Graduate Attribute of Effective Communicator as well as artifacts from courses with embedded writing center and librarian service specialists. These embedded courses were the Focused Learning Improvement Project (FLIP) created in the Spring of 2020. One other FLIP that was established in the Community of Practice for Diverse Perspectives in Fall 2020, was the development of signature assignments. These assignments align specifically to Graduate Attribute rubrics and can also encourage student voice and reflection; instructors have started to align signature assignments to Graduate Attributes in courses and they were used for artifacts during this community. As artifacts were identified for this community it was noted that many courses were online, on-ground, and hybrid courses. Thus the community decided to also look for themes in the data when comparing course modality as well as alignment with current rubric, insights on the attribute of Global Advocate, and overall feedback from student work and signature assignments. Further, Diverse Perspectives was the ILO used for alignment to courses using the designation of Human Diversity. Students must have two HD courses in their General Education program in order to graduate. As we have transitioned to Graduate Attributes, the Community of Practice examined alignment of HD to Global Advocate.General Education Assessment at LindenwoodCommunity of Practice Model of AssessmentRobyne Elder, Head of Academic EffectivenessMelissa Qualls, Associate Professor, English Nichole Torbitzky, Associate Professor, Religion Ben Cooper, Associate Professor, English Sue Edele, Associate Professor, English Graham Weir, Professor, Educational Leadership Michiko Nohara-LeClair, Senior Professor, Psychology Melle Elmes, Associate Professor, English Rachel Jagust, Manager, Global Student Mobility Mitch Nasser, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership Emilie Johnson, Senior Professor, Curriculum & Instruction *ILO 3.1: Written Communication + ILO 3.2: Spoken Communication = Graduate Attribute of Effective Communicator *** ILO 2.5: Diverse Perspectives = Graduate Attribute of Global AdvocateSTUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORCommunity of Practice for Global Advocate A community of practice is a group who has a collective interest in and desire for improvement. This approach to assessment enhances the validity of assessment data, builds an advocacy network across campus, and aligns with national best practices for general education assessment. Seven communities of practice have been formed since Fall 2019 focusing on the previous ILOs and now Graduate Attributes. Two communities joined forces to form the first community for the Graduate Attribute of Effective Communicator, with our previous community of Diverse Perspectives forming to become the new community for Global Advocate.1  ILO 3.1: Written Communication* 2  ILO 3.2: Spoken Communication* 3  ILO 2.5: Diverse Perspectives**4  ILO 2.6: Civic Responsibility5  ILO 2.3: Critical Thinking6  ILO 2.2: Adaptive Thinking7  Graduate Attribute: Effective Communicator* 8  Graduate Attribute: Global Advocate**Scoring SessionThe SampleFOCUS ON DIVERSE PERSPECTIVESLower-Division Courses: SampleIn November, the Community of Practice convened to score lower- and upper-division courses. A population of artifacts was sampled from ART 22400, ENGL 28015, PHS 24000, and PHRL 22200. A stratified sample of 68 artifacts was scored by the community. Three artifacts were used for norming purposes, therefore the final sample used was 65. This provided a sample of on-ground, online, and hybrid courses. Upper-Division Courses: SampleA population of artifacts was sampled from GS 30000 and IR 35000. A stratified sample of 35 artifacts was scored by the community. This provided a sample of on-ground and online courses. Inter-rater Reliability For inter-rater reliability per criteria, the results showed a percentage of a gap greater than one: 9% for Criteria 1; 9% for Criteria 2; 5% for Criteria 3; 15% for Criteria 4; and 14% for Criteria 5. All artifacts scored with a gap greater than one were scored by a third rater. The RubricThe Diverse Perspectives Rubric was used previously in three Community of Practice scoring sessions. With the transition to Graduate Attributes, the General Education Taskforce revised the Diverse Perspectives Rubric to align to Global Advocate. STUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023Graduate Attribute Alignment and Assessment Committee Chairs: Robyne Elder, Graham Weir, Renee Porter, Liz MacDonald, Susan Gustafson, Gabriela Romero, and Sue Edele This scoring session was the first use of the rubric. The use of this rubric was more aligned to best practices in that: Methodology• Used signature assignments • Rubric was available before community of practice scoring sessions • General education courses include rubrics and signature assignments on syllabi • Some upper-level courses are able to designate attributes and aligning assignments through our mapping process. This is thanks to the hard work of faculty and our Graduate Attribute Alignment and Assessment Committee! 1. Knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks2. Skills: Cultural and Historical Empathy3. Skills: Articulation of one’s position4. Attitudes: Curiosity5. Attitudes: Openness Criterion 1-5:1008060402006222411226112417142839910301919Emerging AccomplishedProcientDeveloping17Did not meet33810132835714363299153531910Criterion 1 Criterion 2 Criterion 3 Criterion 4 Criterion 5General Education AssessmentDiverse Perspectives [ILO 2.5] Fall 2020 n=100Compare Results from Prior YearsFall 2022 ResultsDiverse PerspectivesAnnual Data Collection, Fall 2022, n=80(includes 1 score of 0)9 7 7 10 827 29 2933 334250 50 40 422012 1211 11020406080100120Diverse Perspectives, ILO 2.5Annual Data Collection, Fall 2021, n=100Emerging Developing Proficient AccomplishedDiverse Perspectives, ILO 2.5Annual Data Collection, Fall 2021, n=100Criterion 1        Criterion 2       Criterion 3       Criterion 4      Criterion 51. Context & Purpose2. Content Development3. Genre and Disciplinary Conventions4. Sources & Evidence5. Syntax & MechanicsCriterion 1-5:The SampleFOCUS ON DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES (CONTINUED)Results:STUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023EmergingDevelopingFall 2023 ResultsProficientAccomplishedAll results from the 100 artifacts scored: Global Advocate Fall 2023, n=100120100806040200103240181936341193636191229401911313523Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 5Results from Lower-Level Courses: 6050403020100924239172418682521111218231210222112Global Advocate: Lower-Level Courses Fall 2023, n=65 Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 570Results from Upper-Level Courses: 302520151050 18179212165111158011177191411Global Advocate: Upper-Level Courses Fall 2023, n=35 Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 54035Results for Online Courses:Global Advocate: Online Courses Fall 2023, n=45302520151050 1102311314208114181221119132131515Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 540355045Results for On-Ground Courses: Global Advocate: On-Ground Courses Fall 2023, n=2730252015105038115591121101243812428125Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 5Results for the Hybrid Course: Global Advocate: Hybrid Course Fall 2023, n=2830252015105061462111331712637109271083Criterion 1        Criterion 2        Criterion 3        Criterion 4        Criterion 5321 The Community of Practice for the Global Advocate will continue toreview the results from the Fall 2023 report as well as the past findings to inform ways to improve Global Advocacy. Working with campus partners, a FLIP (Focused Learning Improvement Project) will launch in the spring based on the findings. Assessment of graduate attributes will continue in the spring with the Community of Practice for the Responsible Citizen and Ethical Decision Maker.CLOSING THE LOOPSTUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023Broad Themes from Data WorkshopsWhat’sNext?Impressed with scores overall, especially with alignment of signature assignments to Global Advocate rubric. Not much difference between lower-division and upper-division scores. This could require further investigation or lead to more discussion in the FLIP.  However, most scores for upper-division courses are at a 3-4. Clear improvement of understanding in assessment from Fall 2020 to today.  It may be hard to make conclusions based on the online, on-ground, and hybrid results due to the inconsistent sampling comparisons and the signature assignments may varied in their alignment. However, participants noted encouraging results from online courses. Criterion 4 has the fewest capstone scores. This appears to be the most difficult criterion for students to excel in. The community may want to revisit the rubric and assessment measures.  All courses used HD as a marker except for one, which worked as a comparison for the effectiveness of the Global Advocate rubric as an assessment of Human Diversity. The community decided the rubric is an effective tool for assessing the Graduate Attribute of Global Advocate and Human Diversity.  The SampleFLIP FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STUDENT LEARNING AND GENERAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT REPORTFALL 2023Members of the Community of Practice for Effective Communication gathered to discuss results from the data collected during the Year of the Effective Communicator, Fall 2022-Spring 2023, and ideate actionable steps. The Community of Practice is currently working on a possible prototype of workshops focusing on Effective Communication where students can build their understanding of the Graduate Attribute, hone skills, and possibly earn a certificate or badge in Effective Communication. This prototype is still in its infancy, but the community is excited about the learning opportunities for students and further education focused on the Graduate Attributes. Further, the community will assess data from courses utilizing embedded writing center specialists and librarian services in further annual data collections as a continuation of the original FLIP as discussed earlier in the report.  ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE Members of the Assessment Committee attended the Assessment Institute and learned a great deal on best practices in assessment and were able to share our Culture of Continuous Improvement while networking with those at other institutions. Further, Robyne Elder and Aaron Shilling presented with Student Assessment Scholar alum, Madi Waters, on Student Voice in Assessment: Collaborating with Student Assessment Scholars to Gain Feedback and Change How NSSE Data are Shared. Members of the Assessment Committee enjoyed the Assessment Institute in October, 2023: Robyne Elder, Kate Herrell, Madi Waters (past student rep and student assessment scholar), Aaron Shilling, Christie Rodgers, and Geremy CarnesThey shared the Student Assessment Scholar research project which involved publishing NSSE results to the Lindenwood website. Their presentation was well received and they enjoyed sharing and discussing their results, especially with a past scholar.  STUDENT ASSESSMENT SCHOLARSThe 2023-2024 Student Assessment Scholars are hard at work on many projects this academic year. They have designed their own project focused on satisfaction, utilization, and awareness of tutoring services. Further, they are working with a graduate student on a survey on online course satisfaction. Also, they are excited to begin a stakeholder project on Student Involvement and Special Events with Madison Shaw and Emily Sebourn.2023-2024 Student Assessment Scholars: Matt Sherman and Melissa MegathlinContact: RElder@lindenwood.edu  |  Dr. Robyne Elder, Head of Academic Effectiveness, Academic Affairs

English

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009

    January 17, 2024    CAMPUS-WIDE NEWS BROUGHT STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.        GOOD MORNING LINDENWOOD LIONS!   January Blood Drive Student Involvement is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive Tuesday, January 23, from noon-4 p.m. in the Evans Commons Recreation Center. Last week, the American Red Cross announced there is an emergency need for blood due to a shortage, so they need all possible donors.   Register for the upcoming blood drive.          LATEST NEWS Read Campus News     STAY CONNECTED Join LindenConnect                   2023 W-2 Tax Forms  Paperless Processing  All employees are encouraged to opt-in for paperless delivery of their tax documents. Paperless delivery provides employees with early access to their tax forms through Workday. As of Friday, January 12, the electronic versions of 2023 W-2 are available in Workday for those employees who opted out of receiving paper W-2s. Don’t worry, it’s not too late to get that W-2 now! Please make your election to opt out of paper in Workday and your W-2 will be available right away. For employees that do not, they will receive access to their W-2 in Workday on Monday, January 29, 2024 in conjunction with their paper forms being mailed out  W-2s will be posted to Workday under the Benefits and Pay Hub - My Tax Documents.  Employees Will Receive Two W-2s  As a reminder, all employees will receive one W-2 from the Lindenwood Education System for time worked through June 30 and one W-2 from Lindenwood University, LLC for time worked on and after July 1. The same will occur for ACA forms. The generation of two sets of tax forms is a one-time occurrence and will not be repeated in upcoming years.   If you have any questions, please contact Payroll Director Monica Seiter.    Missouri Pi Wins Grant  Congratulations to Lindenwood’s Missouri Pi Chapter of Alpha Chi: National College Honor Society!   We were recently awarded a grant to host a service-oriented event for Lindenwood students. These elite grants are awarded by the national office to active chapters that distinguish themselves in scholarship and service.   Alpha Chi invites the top 10% of undergraduate juniors and seniors, as well as graduate students, to membership and offers opportunities for distinction with awards, publications, and scholarships. Lindenwood’s chapter is one of the most active in the country and routinely inducts record numbers of students. An outside consultant to the national office cited our chapter as a model for others. Grants like this are crucial to Lindenwood’s outcome of becoming a national top-of-mind brand.      Recognize Employees Who Live Out Lindenwood’s Core Values!    Use the link under the ‘Announcements” section on your Workday home screen to access the form that allows us to recognize employees that we see living out LU’s core values.  Value: We have grit.  I wish I could select all four values for Dr. Kathi Vosevich. She is an exemplary member of our Lindenwood community. She definitely has grit. She is committed to doing the best by our students. She advocates for our students, and continually seeks opportunities for their real experience and real success.   Dr. Cynthia Schroeder is a combination of all values by always remaining student-centered and focused on promoting a synergistic team environment to get the job done by doing the right thing. This monumental responsibility takes grit – a core equity she embodies – to make tough decisions and promote program successes.   Amber Bush and I have been working together for four years. We have built a strong team bond. The thing I appreciate most about Amber is she has grit. She deserves a lot of credit for the amount of work she has produced for the University in the time she has been here. She grinds through our design projects day in and day out, and I truly appreciate her and the privilege to work with her.   View all of the submissions that recognize employees who live out our values.  Submit Your VIP Moment         Wall Street Journal Walkthrough January 17, 1-2 p.m.; January 18, 10-11 a.m. Lindenwood Learning Academy, LARC 009  Join Library Services staff in exploring the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) online resources that is now expanded and available for students, faculty, and staff.      Register       Safe Zone 1.0  Creating and Using Rubrics January 23, 1-3 p.m. Lindenwood Learning Academy, LARC 009  This interactive training session will help participants learn how to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. Participants will examine LGBTQ+ identities, genders, and sexualities. Participants will discover campus resources, as well as strategies to apply what they learned to their environment.  Register    January 24, noon-1 p.m. Online  Using rubrics in courses is an effective way to improve student performance as they communicate clear expectations. Rubrics also allow students to become familiar with their own work and have the tools necessary to critique and revise. By creating and using rubrics in our courses, we are defining quality for student work and communicating these criteria for students. In this workshop, we will discuss approaches to creating and using rubrics in courses. Participants are encouraged to bring current rubrics and assignments where rubrics are needed.  Register       DisAbility Bias January 24, 3-4 p.m. Lindenwood Learning Academy, LARC 009  This interactive training session will help participants develop an awareness of how disAbility bias can impact those around them with ability differences. Participants will discover campus resources and strategies to apply what they learned to their environment in order to identify and challenge their own disAbility bias. Register              LARC/LIBRARY SERVICES • Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. • Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  EVANS COMMONS REC CENTER • Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. • Saturday-Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.  • Sunday: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.     LU BOX OFFICE • Tuesday-Friday: Noon-4 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. • Sunday-Monday: Closed   STARBUCKS • Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. • Saturday: Closed • Sunday: 2 p.m.-9 p.m.     BOYLE FAMILY ART GALLERY • Monday: 1-6 p.m. • Tuesday: Noon-5 p.m.  • Wednesday-Friday: 1-6 p.m. • Saturday-Sunday: Closed         Lindenwood University | www.lindenwood.edu                     Marketing and Communications | 209 S. Kingshighway St., St. Charles, MO 63301   Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice  Sent by ludigest@lindenwood.edu powered by    Try email marketing for free today!      

Lindenwood Digest, January 17, 2024

LB, BEE

The Lindenwood Review22BEE LB asks what being loved feels likeafter K. Iverand I have to admit I’m still not sure. Maybe something like the fear of losing, or letting go. But the fear is mingled with sweat and joy and wonder at the possibilities of holding on. So maybe more like a clenched fist slowly releasing its tension, relaxing into the palm of someone else’s hand. Mostly it feels like belonging, in both senses of the word. Having somewhere to go, someone to go to. And the weight of responsibility; belonging to someone, and someone belonging to you. Possession without the threat. It’s like a lock clicking shut, and the safety of knowing exactly where the key is. It’s like knees giving out and arms holding you up before you even realize you’re falling. It’s that tight clench of the heart when something goes wrong, and that long sigh of relief when everything goes right. It’s hearing your name, your name, held in someone else’s mouth. Choosing what to give and what to keep, what to tell and what never needs to be spoken. Endless choices and the ability to fix your mistakes. Cowering under the sight of someone before learning to look back. And then looking back endlessly. Watching lips part and chest rise and tracing a small scar traveling through the fine hairs of a limp arm. Someone feeling safe enough to sleep with you watching over. I’d say I hope eventually I learn that same safety, feeling my body sink into a bed not my own and my eyelids so heavy I can’t keep them open and knowing somewhere inside me that nothing could go wrong. But even if it did, it wouldn’t mean harm. I think maybe being loved feels like knowing there is time for things to work out. So I don’t quite know yet and I’m never sure how long I’ll last but when I give myself the gift of suspended disbelief I can start to imagine a future where I’m alive long enough to learn what being loved feels like. I’d say something like that.

[redacted] asks what being loved feels like

Lange, Joan

The Lindenwood Review 11Joan LangeInheritanceWe met early one Saturday. Two sisters unlocking a door to that still room. Dust swirling as light streamed from one small curtained window near the worn chair that was her final resting place. What remains?A wall covered with photos of smiling grandchildren, tape peeling from the wall. Stacks of yellow legal pads on the floor and felt-tip pens for easy reach to draw a sketch or take notes as she watched her favorite political show, Firing Line, Buckley’s caustic wit and erudite speech breaking down an opponent’s arguments. On a crowded bookshelf, a few volumes of classics and a Rembrandt art book that one son gave to honor a mother so gifted in art.In the bedroom, a photo of a handsome man in a fireman’s cap and jacket, the photo’s glass frame smudged with fingerprints of the widow who greeted this husband with a smile and kiss before rising from the bed each day. On a nightstand, a glass of water, medicine bottles, a rubber-banded book bulging with prayer cards, and a silver metal rosary, the beads still bearing the impressions of teething babies that were held by the nursing mother, her days buoyed by moments of prayer.And then the cherished discovery, a tattered envelope filled with yellowed newspaper clippings, a drawing of a young soldier holding his first-born son, and wartime letters, mementos of love, linking a young couple during years of separation.What remains? Not an heirloom necklace, hefty trust account, or a family mansion. What is passed on? A love of curiosity, a passion for creativity, and a devotion to faith and family. What remains? An inheritance of love.

Inheritance

Lamothe, Cindy

The Lindenwood Review 21Cindy LamotheI Am PainOn a highway in Florida in the early ’80s, a small family of three ended up in a devastating car crash. A man watched his wife bleed to death on the side of the road; his two year old nestled on the grass beside her. When my father tells me this story, I am less than ten, not entirely sure what it means to have had a wife before my mother. Or what it means to have a brother considered only half, not wholly mine. What I am is a child that understands ghosts and how they haunt not only homes, but people, too. What I never ask is whether I would still exist had my brother’s mother never died that day. Then I understand that my very existence I owe to my father’s deep, bottomless grief. Just as my birth came about from my mother’s own excruciating pain. I am pain, I think.

I Am Pain

Caradine, Linda

The Lindenwood Review12Linda CaradineWithoutWhat’s happened to me?Friends and family have mostly gone before me into that long good night. Those that remain are as entangled in their own mortality as I am in mine. We have nothing, and everything, in common. I can’t bear to see them anymore, can’t tolerate their searching eyes and their need to touch me to see if I am real.Where I once solicited companions with whom to go to movies and walk in the park, now I do those things alone. Where I once sought lovers to lay with me and quell my fears, now I am quiet in the darkness. I seek only my own counsel. I talk only to my dog. I revel and worry and contemplate by myself.These are the years of wisdom. I have earned them with many missteps and many false analyses. I don’t need things anymore. I have purged my house of the detritus of a misspent life. I have dropped relationships by the wayside like so many neglected crumbs. I have ignored the dogmatic truths that once ruled me.Only the essence remains, looks out at the world through wizened eyes. It is not without appreciation or humor that I see myself. Those things are there, under the heavy cloak of sheer astonishment. I can’t believe what I have come to. It is neither good nor bad but is nonetheless a shock to my system. I have become a monument to my past, a husk deprived of the sap that once ran through me. Sometimes I think that I will wither and drift away like a winter leaf, no longer a part of the whole. Or that one day I will simply forget to breathe.But I go on. And, in my way, I thrive. Like a Southwestern sunset or a giant redwood, I persevere against all odds. Not eaten away at by useless details or worried about the thin veneer of civilization, I can make my own way into the darkness. I have constructed a sense of time and place that no one else inhabits. Only myself. And there is a little bit of room for my memories and my dog. My dog smiles when she sees me. She knows things.The Lindenwood Review 13Have I withered into foolishness? Are none of these revelations real or relevant? Have I come to a sorry end where I am traipsing on beyond my rightful time? That can’t be the case because here I am. Not eternal, but as close as anyone comes to it. When I was fifty, I doubted myself. When I was sixty, I doubted everyone else. Then, at seventy and beyond, I knew things. My body had indeed become my temple, vine-covered and alone in the jungle, witness to the wind and the screeching of tropical birds overhead. It had become as precious as diamonds, and as hard. Without it I am nowhere and no one. There was another time when I needed love and comfort. I can’t remember how long past that was. Now I need only myself. Everything crucial is within me. Around me orbit superficial bits of the past, like colored confetti, distracting but in no way real. It peppers my thoughts but adds no value. Now, when I gaze outside my own perimeter, I see other people living other lives. It is hard to imagine they will be me one day. It makes no sense to think they will come to the place where I have come. Our paths are different. Our destinations cannot be the same. They will always need their bible and their laws and their loved ones. They will never be free.Then what of my own situation? Have I come to that sorry end? Am I the fool to know that none of what I say is true? Not at all, I tell myself. Nothing is true. Nothing is false. I am only a woman meandering by herself in the darkness, getting ready to do the one thing we all do alone.But I’m not quite ready yet. 

Without

President Porter\u27s explanation for the decision to eliminate some sports programs

Porter, John

  Real Experience. Real Success.Lindenwood University  /  209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles, MO.  /  636.949.2000 The Real Story Behind Lindenwood University's Recent Decisions  By John R. Porter, EdD, President, Lindenwood University    There have been varied perspectives shared publicly regarding Lindenwood University's decision to discontinue 10 sports teams. I wish to provide additional context, highlight the reasoning behind our strategic decisions to transform Lindenwood, and clarify any potential misinterpretations regarding financial challenges.   Lindenwood University is in a strong operating position and is focused on institutional success. Enrollment is up 4.1 percent. Revenues have increased by 9.7 percent this year, and resources are being reinvested into groundbreaking initiatives that serve our students. The University maintains very little debt, and our healthy endowment, largely unrestricted, provides the financial strength to boldly invest in our future.    The decision to discontinue 10 athletic teams aligns with our overarching strategy and newly instated core values: Students First, Do What’s Right, Thrive Together, and Have Grit. Each element contributes to Lindenwood's transformative journey.   First and foremost, our commitment to "Students First" served as the guiding principle behind this complex decision. Lindenwood boasted one of the largest athletic programs nationwide, with 30 NCAA teams – a greater scale than flagship public universities which typically sponsor fewer than 20 teams. However, our commitment to providing a quality experience meant confronting the reality that such an extensive program was not sustainable. Following this decision, we are tied as the largest athletic department in our conference. In addition, we will continue to invest in our remaining teams to provide an experience in alignment with our peer institutions.   In upholding the value of "Do What’s Right," we faced a tough call – delay the announcement until spring and spare students the immediate impact before finals week or tell them now and be upfront about the decision. Given our commitment to transparency and, ultimately, to the well-being of our students, we chose to communicate this decision promptly. This afforded students the time and agency to plan for the upcoming spring semester. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. But it was the right thing to do.   We made a firm commitment to maintain scholarships for all affected athletes throughout the remainder of their undergraduate education. This offer also extends to incoming students who were recruited for the discontinued sports. These actions underscore our unwavering dedication to student success and well-being within the Lindenwood community.    Our strategy is rooted in anticipating and meeting the evolving needs of students. This year, we initiated a realignment, forming a dedicated student experience division to promote student   Real Experience. Real Success.Lindenwood University  /  209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles, MO.  /  636.949.2000persistence and retention. Our staffing plans include an expanded academic advising team which will enable a more personalized approach to student success and mentorship. This investment underscores our strategic imperative to anticipate what students need and deliver it when and how they need it.    We are being strategic as we work to position Lindenwood as “The Next Great Learner-Centric University.” Our commitment to "Thrive Together" encompasses investing in mental health and counseling services, recognizing the challenges students face post-pandemic. Paired with substantial investments in technology and ongoing financial support for our students, it reveals a university that is actively responding to the evolving landscape of higher education.   In the face of a changing market, Lindenwood is not merely adapting; we are charting a course for a future where innovation, resilience, and student-focused values lead the way. The recent adjustments are not signs of financial trouble but strategic moves to ensure that Lindenwood remains at the forefront of providing high-quality, affordable education.   As we navigate this transformative journey, we are actively reaching out to the New Majority – underserved students, including first-generation students, students of color, military families, and adult learners. Our new offerings will include competency-based education for business students and subscription-based pricing, making high-quality education accessible and affordable.   Additionally, in a move that distinguishes us from struggling universities, we are proud to award annual raises to our faculty and staff. This commitment to our people further exemplifies our fiscal stability and unwavering dedication to the Lindenwood community.    Finally, our commitment to "Have Grit" underscores our resilience, recognizing that negative reactions and misunderstandings are an inherent part of our journey. This enduring determination propels us forward in navigating challenges, exemplifying that Lindenwood's narrative is not one of adversity but a compelling story of transformation, and an unwavering dedication to our students’ success and future prosperity. Go Lions!            Author Bio:  John R. Porter, EdD, is president of Lindenwood University and has an extensive background in fiscal management, business growth and sustainability, developed over three decades with IBM Corporation.  (636) 949-4908  Presidents_office@lindenwood.edu    

The Real Story Behind Lindenwood University\u27s Recent Decisions

The Learning Log is the electronic newsletter of the Lindenwood University Learning Academy

       CONTENT  Celebration of Teaching Day  Ally Course Accessibility Tool in Canvas  MS Copilot - A New LU Resource  Accountability- A HPT Training  CEL  Tech Tips How to Reset Your Password  Highlighted Professional Development Opportunities         Celebration of Teaching Day February 13  All faculty are invited to attend Celebration of Teaching Day on February 13. Join us in learning about RISE, teaching and learning, EdTech and in celebrating the wonderful work our educators do! To view the sessions, download a printable schedule, and register, please visit the Learning Academy Calendar. If you plan to participate in lunch, be sure to register for the lunch session no later than February 5th. For additional questions, please refer to the FAQ email or send a note to Erin Morris or the Learning Academy. We hope you can join us for opportunities to learn and build community with one another!  REGISTER       Ally Course Accessibility Report Tool in Canvas - A Quick Way to Improve Course Accessibility  Wondering how accessible your course is for your students, but unsure how to assess your course materials quickly? Try using the Ally Course Accessibility Report Tool in Canvas!  To enable the tool in your course navigation, simply go into your Canvas course shell and select “Settings” from the course link menu. At the top, select “Navigation” and locate the “Ally Course Accessibility Report” tool from the list. Clicking on the three dots next to it allows you to “enable” it for the course navigation. Don’t forget to click “Save” at the bottom after enabling it.   The Ally Course Accessibility Report Tool can now be located in the Navigation menu for the course, and will give you a quick overview of how accessible your course materials are, as well as suggestions for actions to improve each item’s score.   Have more questions about this tool? Reach out to Lindenwood LX Design Services.      Lindenwood Learning  Academy     Microsoft Copilot AI A New Resource for Lindenwood  Lindenwood University has recently acquired Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, a new AI tool for full-time faculty and staff use. Copilot is powered by the OpenAI GPT-4 large language model (LLM) and can generate text, code, and images based on your queries and prompts.  Please note that using Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection is governed by Lindenwood University's Use of Generative AI in Employment Policy. Please refer to the policy for guidelines on acceptable and prohibited Generative AI use cases.   To access Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, sign in to http://copilot.microsoft.com with your Lindenwood University account. You can access it directly via the URL above, as part of the Microsoft Bing search engine, or in the Microsoft Edge browser. The preferred browser for Copilot is Microsoft Edge, which is available for both desktop and mobile devices.         Streamlining your Work with  Microsoft Copilot  Use your LU credentials to log into LinkedIn Learning and learn how MS Copilot can perform a wide variety of tasks and help you streamline your entire workflow, from generating ideas and summarizing data to solving common work problems such as planning itineraries, scheduling, and communicating with coworkers. Follow along with Jess as she explains how to boost your productivity using Copilot, beginning with a quick primer on how chat AI tools function, then diving into how to put them to work for you. By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to perform robust online searches, generate ideas, compose text, automate your work, fact-check the results, and more.    REGISTER       Accountability - How to Get the Results You Want A HPT Training  Accountability has a negative connotation for many, but it does not have to! Some see accountability as a means of blame-shifting or a form of punishment when it is implemented improperly. You will begin to see the positive side of accountability and how it affects the results you are seeking to achieve. Two aspects need to be considered when analyzing this topic: personal accountability and joint accountability. Bustin says, “accountability starts with knowing who you are, what you want, and what you don’t want” (p. 14). Once you are accountable to yourself, you can start being accountable to others and your organization.  The Oz Principle’s definition of accountability is a “personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results to see it, own, solve, and do it” (p. 47, Connors, Smith, & Hickman, 1994). Personal accountability involves the idea of “continually asking what else can I do to rise above my circumstances and achieve the results I desire”? (p. 47, Connors, Smith, & Hickman, 1994).  Reflection Exercise Complete this 5 Choices Worksheet to help you resolve your accountability challenges. Feel free to use this worksheet with various real-life scenarios in both your personal and professional life.   Learning Academy Challenge  The first employee to email their response to the reflection exercise above wins a wireless Bose portable speaker!  Email reflections to the Lindenwood Learning Academy            The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) is pleased to welcome Emily Huey as Lindenwood University’s next Director of Career Development. Emily will provide leadership and strategic direction for the Career Development department, which offers comprehensive career planning services to undergraduate students, graduate students, and alumni. In addition, she will collaborate with her team of career strategists, as well as the manager of service learning and responsible citizenship and the manager of global student mobility, to advance CEL’s mission of guiding students in Real Experience.     Emily herself brings a wealth of experience to the position, as well as a student-centered spirit. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and her Master’s degree in Workforce Education and Development, both from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. In addition to working as a consultant in merchandise analytics and planning, she has shared her experiences as a faculty member and director of career development at Stevens – The Institute of Business and Arts and most recently at Fontbonne University. At Fontbonne she secured a major grant from the Post Secondary Equity Network and Complete College America, developed an Employer and Community Partner Council, and introduced new software platforms to aid career development and student engagement. Please join us in welcoming Emily to the Lindenwood family!  Emily Huey joins just in time for the Spring Career and Internship Fair, which is scheduled for Thursday, February 22, from 2 to 5 PM in the Evans Commons. In the past, we have had over 100 employers representing a wide variety of sectors that draw students from all of our colleges. CEL invites faculty, instructors, and staff to encourage students to attend. For example, some have given extra credit or made attendance a class assignment. Other faculty members have even taken their students to attend the Career and Internship Fair as a class. All students who attend are required to sign in at the Fair and Career Development staff will be able to help confirm participation. Prior to the Fair, students will be given opportunities to get ready through pop-up events that help students with resumes and professional attire. The ever-popular “Suits for Success” will be in the LARC Grove on Thursday, February 15. For more information, please contact career services: CareerServices@lindenwood.edu .     TECH TIP  Forgot Your Password?  No Problem!  Here’s How To Reset It In A Jiffy!   Lindenwood has a Self-Service Password Reset Portal that you can use to reset your password. You CANNOT use this if you have never signed in before and don’t have your Microsoft Authenticator setup. If this is the   case call or email Lindenwood’s help desk at 636.255.5100 or helpdesk@lindenwood.edu to get your password reset.   To use the self-service password reset port go to https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/ and follow the steps. We also have instructions on Lindenwood’s site on how to reset your Lindenwood password.      Learning Academy Professional Development Highlights  Training Highlights     Culture Connection, Cohort 8  Culture Connection is a 6-week PLC hosted by the Learning Academy. You will learn where we have been, where we are going, and what it looks like to be an employee at Lindenwood University. You will hear from university leaders and Q2 Champions throughout these 6 sessions. Theses sessions are highly recommended for newly hired faculty and staff. Please contact the Lindenwood Learning Academy if you wish to register for these sessions.      Dismantling Racism: Creating a Culture  of Equity  February 14, 10-11 a.m. Lindenwood Learning Academy, LARC 09  This interactive workshop will review current events regarding anti-racism along with the harms of racism in today’s society. Training participants will discover campus resources and  Lindenwood Employee Campus Tours   February 21, 3-4 p.m. LARC 10  Join Lindenwood's Student Ambassadors for an hour long tour of Lindenwood's campus. Employees will learn about Lindenwood's historic past, the location of important buildings and anti-racist strategies to apply what they learned to their environment. Keela Ross will be leading these sessions.   Dismantling Racism sessions can be logged in HealthCheck360 to achieve Pride Points and Lifestyle Rewards. Employees can upload proof of attendance under "Complete a Wellness Activity". REGISTER    their functions, and other information that will help employees put our Students First. The tour will help to orient employees to Lindenwood's unique culture and ensure that staff are knowledgeable of locations of important campus functions, buildings and areas. Dress for the weather and walking.  REGISTER       Training Calendar        Visit our Website      Lindenwood Learning Academy LARC 09 & 10 209 S. Kingshighway St. Charles, MO 63301 636-949-4408                                          Lindenwood University | 209 S Kingshighway St, Saint Charles, MO 63301  Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice  Sent by learningacademy@lindenwood.edu powered by    Try email marketing for free today!      

The Learning Log, February 2024

Communities throughout the United States have experienced a shortage of teachers for several years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this teacher shortage has escalated, creating a major crisis in public education. The struggle to hire and retain a highly qualified teaching staff is true in all fifty states, including Missouri and Kansas. In this article, complex reasons for the growing teacher shortage in Missouri and Kansas are detailed and needed actions to rectify this dire situation are discussed

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