Faculty Institute 2023 - Faculty Portal
The Faculty Institute is a rich compendium of professional development opportunities for distance educators across the University of Maine System and our valued community partners and colleagues worldwide through a virtual attendance option.
There is no cost to attend the Faculty Institute!
Normally, as a collaborative event, the Institute has a system-wide planning committee with faculty and staff representing each campus. The University of Maine at Augusta hosts this event for in-person attendees and facilitates the ability to participate virtually. While it has had various names over the years, the Faculty Institute has existed in some variation for the system for more than 30 years.
It is our pleasure to carry on this tradition of offering a system-wide, collaboratively designed event with sessions presented by our faculty, staff, and guests.
Thank you for visiting our site. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Join us at the UMA Faculty Institute, where innovation in teaching and learning takes center stage. This year, we extend our invitation not only to members across all campuses and outreach centers of the University of Maine System but also to our valued community partners and colleagues worldwide through a virtual attendance option.
This institute is a vital gathering for anyone engaged with or supporting today's educational methods, including hybrid, hyflex, and online modalities. Whether you are working with synchronous online classes, asynchronous content, hybrid or hyflex formats, or fully online courses, this event is designed for you. It is especially relevant for those involved in
- Faculty (full-time, adjunct, or part-time)
- Graduate students with teaching roles
- Undergraduate students, and teaching assistants
- Academic leaders and administrators
- Support staff in academic and student services
- Professionals in instructional design and technology
- Anyone involved in developing or delivering digital learning content
By participating in the Faculty Institute, you'll connect with peers, discover innovative practices, and gain insights into leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of education in our University of Maine System and within the communities you serve.
UMA Centers are located across the state. UMA is truly statewide providing Mainers with the opportunity to start or complete their college degree close to home. Students can take part in distance education or onsite classes that fit their schedules.
The FI Planning Committee and support staff make every effort to make all content and experiences accessible to all from the outset. The university will also make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities upon request.
Certain accommodations may require planning and resources for us to implement, so we ask that individuals needing accommodations submit their request as soon as possible and no later than May 6th.
Email the UMA FDC if you have questions at uma-fdc@maine.edu.
The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is committed to free speech and fosters an environment in which all members of our community have access to a vibrant, enriching education befitting a democracy. A hallmark of our work is academic freedom and open inquiry. We are proud to affirm our ongoing commitment to an education that is diverse, inclusive, equitable and anti-racist. We recognize that diversity is a strength, and encourage our college community to examine issues related to: race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, gender, gender identity/expression, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, and disability.
UMA applauds the endeavors of students, faculty and staff who engage in this work, including the development of programs and curricula. Through these and other undertakings, UMA actively promotes the lively exchange of ideas to improve our efforts and be responsive to the needs of our community. UMA will continue to lead by example, rising to the challenge of embracing change, acknowledging shortcomings, and prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in pursuit of our mission.
The President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides support and advocacy for these efforts.
Endorsed by Faculty Senate: 2/19/21
Endorsed by President’s Cabinet: 2/23/21
Related Links
UMA is committed to ensuring a productive and inclusive environment for all members of our diverse community, which includes people of all abilities, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, religious traditions, socioeconomic classes, and ages. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council will work to support strategic initiatives, partnerships, advocacy, innovation, and educational programs that will create, sustain, and enrich UMA’s institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion of its entire community. They will also work to identify challenges, propose strategies, and make recommendations for new and ongoing policies that support DEI initiatives.
Putting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Action
The DEI Council will:
- Promote a long-term and sustained culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that is flexible, evolving, and open to continual improvement.
- Establish institutional funding for ongoing education and training programs in DEI areas, to include regular professional development opportunities for all members of the community.
- Recognize that inequalities and exclusions are the products of both structural policies and unconscious prejudice, and that DEI initiatives are not possible without both institutional support and healthy self-reflection and openness to learning from all members of our community.
- Organize and promote workshops, activities, professional development, and research in DEI related areas and advocate that these opportunities be supported and rewarded through administrative and institutional support. These development activities should be provided by university professionals as well as initiated by student interests in order to better address structural blind spots and increase attention to diverse students’ actual needs.
- Create a shared culture of DEI through deliberate and public expressions of DEI values. This means that we will seek to actively and positively create learning communities that are inclusive of sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, age, and income differences and actively understand and promote the benefits of DEI across our entire community.
- Intentionally prioritize and support faculty efforts to integrate DEI research, tools, and perspectives into their curriculum and classroom practices.
- Intentionally recruit and retain faculty, students, and staff that reflect multicultural and diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Susan Baker, Co-Chair
Professor of Science
sbak@maine.edu
Pamela MacRae, Co-Chair
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
pamela.macrae@maine.edu
Aaminah Aleem
Administrative Specialist, Office of Student Life
aaminah.aleem@maine.edu
Jeremy Bouford
Assistant Director of Recruitment, Admissions
jeremy.bouford@maine.edu
Lynett Kelly
Student Services Coordinator, Bangor
lynett.kelly@maine.edu
Charlotte MacDonald
Academic Administrative Coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences
charlotte.macdonald@maine.edu
Patricia Clark
Lecturer of Mental Health and Human Services
pclark@maine.edu
Kristin McLaren
Director of Academic Success
kristin.mclaren@maine.edu
Samira Musleh
Post-Doctoral Scholar for DEI Initiatives
samira.musleh@maine.edu
Kelby Myers
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Technology
kelby.myers@maine.edu
Lynn Poor
Student Services Coordinator, Augusta & Lewiston Auburn Center
lpoor@maine.edu
Dave Samuelian
Professor of Mental Health and Human Services
davidjs@maine.edu
Carter Skemp
Assistant Professor of Architecture
carter.skemp@maine.edu
Lauren Stark
Assistant Professor of Education
lauren.stark@maine.edu
Piper Stiles
Student Representative
Brent Wooten
Director of Enrollment Marketing
brent.wooten@maine.edu
Special Announcement
Meet the new president of UMA at noon during a special announcement in the Farber Forum and reception event at the Fireside Lounge to follow on the UMA Campus.
The University Collaborative
Faculty Institute
Venue: The University of Maine at Augusta Campus [Directions to Campus]
$ Hotel And Mileage For Faculty And Staff Presenters
Faculty (full and part-time) and presenters are eligible to request a hotel room for the night of May 9th. Registration will begin at 7:30 am with a continental breakfast.
Instructions for requesting mileage reimbursement will be provided at registration, where you will also receive conference materials and a swag bag full of items to support your future collaborations.
The Faculty Institute is free to attend for full-time faculty, adjunct instructors,
and staff in the University of Maine System.
Faculty Institute 2023 Theme & Essential Questions |
| Partners in Progress: Collaborating for Our Future |
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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FOR THIS YEAR'S INSTITUTE Collaboration, Change, and Progress
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education
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The Program Agenda is Being Developed
This year's schedule will include a live keynote, plenary, and several concurrent breakout sessions. Sessions will be live on the Augusta campus. Virtual live access is under consideration.
Support and Funding
We are honored and thankful to the UMS Davis Educational Foundation* Steering Committee and the UMS Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs office for jointly funding this year’s Faculty Institute.
