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Dear Faculty,<\/span><\/p>\n Curious about making your course even <\/span>more<\/b> accessible<\/b>? Considering <\/span>incorporating AI or OpenLab<\/b> into your instructional approach? Looking to get the hang of a feature in Brightspace you haven\u2019t tried yet? Professional learning opportunities abound this fall for SPS Faculty! In this edition of the newsletter, you\u2019ll find links to register for our <\/span>Open UDL Workshop<\/b> and an invitation to attend the next meeting of <\/span>SPS\u2019s UDL Collaborative<\/b> on November 4th. We also hope you\u2019ll join the <\/span>Faculty Discussion on Generative AI<\/b> on November 3rd, a virtual event to share practices, policies, and exchange ideas and solutions. We\u2019d like to announce the newly expanded modality available in our <\/span>Teaching Guides<\/b>, provide you with key dates about the <\/span>sunsetting of Blackboard at CUNY<\/b>, share OpenLab and OFDIT <\/span>office hour schedules<\/b>, and highlight upcoming <\/span>CUNY-wide conferences and workshops<\/b>. We hope you have a wonderful fall, and we look forward to seeing you at one of our many OFDIT trainings or another event soon!<\/span><\/p>\n Interested in making your courses more accessible and more engaging through Universal Design and Open Educational Practices? <\/span>Registration<\/a><\/strong> for the <\/span>Open UDL Workshop<\/a><\/strong> (Oct. 20 to Nov. 3) is extended through <\/span>Thursday, October 16<\/b>. Faculty who complete the workshop are compensated with 7 NTA hours. See all the details at <\/span>bit.ly\/OpenUDL<\/a><\/strong>!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On <\/span>Monday, November 3, 12:30-2:00 p.m.<\/b> join your fellow SPS faculty for a dynamic, 90-minute discussion on the evolving role of generative AI in teaching and learning. This virtual, interactive session will explore three key areas: academic policies around AI, approaches to discussions with students, and how coursework is changing in response to AI. Whether you’re navigating challenges or experimenting with new tools, this is a space to share your experiences, ask questions, and exchange strategies. Please register today!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>UDL Collaborative<\/a><\/strong> is a community of practice for faculty and staff exploring accessibility and Universal Design for Learning. All are welcome, whether new to UDL or experienced.<\/span><\/p>\n Please join us for our second meeting of the semester:<\/span> We’re excited to welcome guest speaker <\/span>Stephen Ippolito<\/b>, a PhD student at the University at Albany with an MA in Disability Studies from CUNY SPS, who will share insights on UDL and English as a Second Language learners. Following his short presentation, we’ll have time for discussion, Q&A, and updates on our accessibility projects.<\/span><\/p>\n We look forward to seeing you there!<\/span><\/p>\n Brian Le Lay, Antonia Levy, and Amarna Williams<\/span> As you’re aware, CUNY SPS successfully transitioned to the Brightspace LMS at the start of the Summer 2024 semester.<\/span><\/p>\n CUNY will officially <\/span>retire the Blackboard LMS on December 18, 2025<\/b>, after which the platform and its contents will no longer be accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n Key dates to remember<\/span><\/p>\n December 15, 2025: December 18, 2025: <\/p>\n \ud83d\udce3 Thinking about using OpenLab in your course or organization? Drop by our Virtual Support Hours and:<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re just getting started or looking to take your site to the next level, we\u2019re here to support you. Drop in, ask questions, and get inspired!<\/span><\/p>\n For more information, visit the <\/span>SPS OpenLab Support page<\/a><\/strong> or email us at <\/span>openlab@sps.cuny.edu<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Register or Plan to Join<\/b><\/p>\n Tuesday 10\/21\/2025 6-7PM<\/a><\/strong> Finding you have questions or need help with an update in your course? OFDIT\u2019s <\/span>open Brightspace office hours<\/a> continue Tuesday evenings (6-7pm) and Wednesday afternoons (1-2pm).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Brightspace Rubrics include an <\/span>Overall Score<\/b> area that <\/span>requires<\/b> manual input<\/b> during the Rubric set-up to mirror the points in your rubric and report a correct performance level. You can check your course\u2019s rubrics to ensure students are receiving accurate feedback for this portion of the rubric assessment tool, and use the steps in the Overall Score section of our <\/span>Creating Rubrics in Brightspace<\/a><\/strong> to update if needed!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Join colleagues from across CUNY for the 24th Annual CUNY IT Conference, happening December 4\u20135 at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This year\u2019s theme, \u201c<\/span>Moving Forward: Reimagining CUNY in an AI-Enhanced World<\/b>,\u201d promises engaging sessions, innovative ideas, and practical strategies for teaching, learning, and working in the age of AI. Whether you\u2019re exploring new tools, refining digital pedagogy, or curious about AI\u2019s impact on higher education, this conference is your chance to learn, connect, and shape the future of CUNY. For details and the full schedule, visit the <\/span>CUNY IT Conference website<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Register for the conference now<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programming, in partnership with the Office of Faculty Affairs\/CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (CITA), is offering a new professional development series on credit for prior learning (CPL).<\/span><\/p>\n Faculty Perspectives on CPL at CUNY <\/b>This session will feature a presentation by <\/span>Myci Atkinson<\/b>, a PhD student from the Teachers College Postsecondary Education Applied Research (PEAR) Fellowship program, who has been conducting quantitative and qualitative <\/span>research over the past year about CUNY faculty awareness and perspectives<\/b> related to CPL policy and practice.<\/span><\/p>\n Register for the Zoom session<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n CUNY Office of Faculty Affairs\/CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (CITA)\u2019s second session of their new professional development series on <\/span>adult learning<\/b> will take place in November.<\/span><\/p>\n Session 2 \u2013 Designing Adult-Centered Curriculum The session will focus on practical approaches for creating flexible, relevant, and career-connected courses. Participants will begin to redesign elements of their syllabus to <\/span>align with adult learners\u2019 needs<\/b> and CAEL\u2019s <\/span>Teaching\u2013Learning Process<\/span><\/i> standards. The session will also highlight how to incorporate <\/span>career-connected learning opportunities<\/b> into the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nOpen UDL Workshop:
\nLast chance to register!<\/span><\/big><\/h2>\n
\nFaculty Discussion on Generative AI\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/big><\/h2>\n
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\nUDL Collaborate: November Meeting<\/strong><\/big><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/span>Tuesday, November 4 at 3pm ET<\/b> via Zoom. <\/span>Register here<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Facilitators, UDL Collaborative<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBlackboard Retirement\u00a0<\/big><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Final day to <\/span>retrieve any remaining course content<\/b> or <\/span>resolve outstanding issues<\/b> in Blackboard (e.g., copies of course \u00a0 materials, Collaborate recordings, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Blackboard access will be <\/span>permanently<\/b> discontinued across all CUNY campuses.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nOur Teaching Guides Site \u2014 Now with Video!<\/strong><\/big><\/h2>\n
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<\/span>The OFDIT team is excited to announce a new addition to our Teaching Guides website: <\/span>video guides<\/b>! Starting with the most popular guides – the ones you\u2019ve visited most – we’re making <\/span>short, focused videos<\/b> to provide a visual walkthrough that accompanies the written guide. Both our video and written tutorials provide step-by-step directions on various topics to support teaching online. Explore our growing collection of videos on the <\/span>Video Guides Playlist<\/a><\/strong> page, or check out all the tutorial pages on the <\/span>Teaching Guides<\/a><\/strong> site.\u00a0 Whether you prefer reading or watching, you now can <\/span>choose which mode you’d like<\/b> to access the resources you need.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nOpenLab Support Hours for Fall 2025<\/big><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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\nMonday 10\/27\/2025 6-7PM<\/a><\/strong>
\nMonday 11\/10\/2025 6-7PM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBrightspace Office Hours Schedule<\/span><\/big><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Did you know?<\/span><\/big><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nCUNY Opportunities for SPS Faculty<\/span><\/big><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Register Now for the 2025 CUNY IT Conference!<\/small><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Credit for Prior Learning Workshop<\/small><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Friday, October 31, 2025, 11:00am – 12:00 pm<\/b><\/p>\nCUNY Innovative Teaching Academy\u2019s Adult Learning Series<\/small><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Presenters: Meghan Gilbert (Guttman Community College) and Carl Andrews (Bronx Community College)
\n<\/b>Friday, November 14, 2025, 11:00 am \u2013 12:00 pm<\/b><\/p>\n