UT Dallas Center for Teaching and Learning Newsletter

March 2024, Issue 17

Microsoft Copilot Now Available to Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff at UT Dallas now have access to an enterprise version of Microsoft Copilot, which provides a secure and efficient way to use generative AI on campus. Users can log in at copilot.microsoft.com using their NetID and password.

This tool has been engineered to deliver tailored responses based on current web data, and each response is backed by sourced citations. The green “protected” icon in the top righthand corner indicates that all personal and company data are protected.

To learn more, join the CTL Office Hours session online on Thursday, April 4, at 4 p.m. Kishore Thakur, assistant vice president of enterprise technology and innovation services in the Office of Information Technology, and Dr. Sarah Moore, director of the Business Communication Center and associate professor in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, will be on hand to answer questions about this new tool. Dr. Moore is facilitating a Faculty Learning Community on Generative AI and Instruction.

RSVP here to receive a calendar invite.

You can also find recordings and resources on Generative AI in the CTL eLearning Resource site.

SWG Information Session Slated for April 11

Are you a faculty member interested in applying for the Short-term Working Group program? Register now to attend an information session scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 11. You’ll learn about the program, the proposal process, and how to develop a project that is mutually beneficial for you and your student cohort. SWG faculty span disciplines and develop goal-oriented, short-term projects for undergraduate students. CTL provides mentorship training, administrative support, student recruitment effort, and a faculty community for communication, collaboration and consultation. SWG faculty will be recognized at the annual CT Celebration of Teaching Excellence. Register Register for the April 11 session, and view current and past SWG projects.

Virtual Exchange/COIL Faculty Showcase on April 11

Virtual exchange is an innovative pedagogy that allows professors and students to use technology to engage with their peers at universities around the globe. Faculty from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, the Naveen Jindal School of Management and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science will showcase their collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects at this event. Students also will share their experiences. RSVP to join us at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, in the CTL Classroom inside the Eugene McDermott Library (MC 2.404) to learn more about how it works and how to find an international partner for your fall 2024 courses.

CTL Associate Director Selected as a Fulbright Specialist

Carol Cirulli Lanham, associate director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, has been chosen as a Fulbright specialist by the U.S. State Department to work on a project called “Co-operative Virtual Learning Across Borders” at Deakin University in Australia. This initiative focuses on Virtual Exchange (VE)/Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), a method that uses digital technology to connect students and educators across different countries for collaborative learning and cultural exchange. By participating in this program, Lanham will contribute to the expansion of the VE/COIL program, leveraging her expertise to enhance international collaboration and intercultural competence among students. Her trip to Australia later this year marks a significant step toward fostering global connections and understanding through education.

CTL Calendar

Tuesday, April 2
CTL Webinar: Students’ sense of belonging at UT Dallas: Lessons learned and next steps., 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Microsoft Teams — Please join us for a conversation covering the research on students’ sense of belonging and two projects that were done at UT Dallas. This is a joint presentation by the Office of Campus Resources and Support and the Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support. Register to receive a calendar invite.

Thursday, April 4
Cultivating Career Readiness: Engaging Conversations Between Faculty and the University Career Center, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — Please join us for an interactive workshop designed to foster dialogue and collaboration between faculty members and career center professionals. Together, we will explore innovative strategies and evidence-informed practices to enhance student career readiness using course assignments within the classroom environment. RSVP.

Thursday, Apr. 4
CTL Office Hours: Introduction to Microsoft Copilot-Enterprise Edition, 4 to 5 p.m., Microsoft Teams — You are invited to learn more about the enterprise edition of Microsoft Copilot, which offers a secure way to use generative AI on campus. RSVP here to receive a calendar invite.

Friday, April 5
Workshop: Tenure and Promotion Strategies for Tenure-Track Faculty, 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — Join this special information session from the Provost’s Office on UTD’s tenure and promotion policy. Learn all the details of the review process so you can prepare and plan for a successful review. RSVP.

Thursday, April 11
SWG Information Session, 9 to 10 a.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — Facilitated by Dr. Salena Brody, CTL associate director. Please attend this session if you are a faculty member interested in applying for the Short-term Working Group program. Register here.

Thursday, April 11
Teaching as Well Being: UT Austin Provost Teaching Fellows Showcase, 1 to 3 p.m., Microsoft Teams — This showcase, presented by the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers (UTSADT), in collaboration with UT System Faculty Developers, will demonstrate the impact of our faculty-led teaching innovation program through the stories and experiences of three faculty members. Register here.

Thursday, April 11
Virtual Exchange/COIL Faculty Showcase, 4 to 5 p.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — Virtual exchange is an innovative pedagogy that allows professors and students to use technology to engage with their peers at universities around the globe. Faculty from the EPPS, JSOM and the ECS will showcase their collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects at this event. RSVP here.

Friday, April 26
Seventh Annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center (DGA 1.1.2A-B) — Remarks by President Richard C. Benson at 4 p.m. Recognition of award winners will follow. Register here by April 17.

Tuesday, April 30
Monthly Faculty High Tea, 3 to 4 p.m., CTL Classroom (MC 2.404) — Join us for a delightful opportunity to reconnect with your faculty mentors/mentees and colleagues over a cup of hot tea and assorted pastries. This event is open to both past and present faculty mentors and mentees. Feel free to come and go at your convenience.

Thursday, May 2

UTD Faculty End of Semester Social, 4 to 6 p.m., Northside Drafthouse and Eatery. The Center for Teaching and Learning and the Provost’s Faculty Success program cordially invite you to the Faculty End of Semester Social. RSVP here.

The University of Texas at Dallas

800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080-3021
972 883-2111

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