![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/openlab.sps.cuny.edu\/sps-faculty-community-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2023\/05\/CUNYSPS-1.jpg?resize=923%2C84&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Happy New Year!<\/b> Hoping you had moments of <\/span>rest <\/b>and <\/span>joy <\/b>over the holidays. In this month\u2019s newsletter, we share some guidance for <\/span>Spring Course Prep<\/b>, and several upcoming events to support your teaching this semester! Stop by an <\/span>AI policy drafting workshop<\/b> to help you prep your syllabus for Spring, learn more about how <\/span>OpenLab<\/b> can work for SPS staff, and check out tracks for the upcoming <\/span>CUNY Teaching and Learning Conference<\/b> \u2013 submit your proposal by Jan 22! You\u2019ll also find registration info for February\u2019s virtual <\/span>UPCEA Digital Teaching and Learning Conference<\/b> (including a poster presentation from OFDIT\u2019s Media Team!) We wish you a smooth start to the upcoming Spring semester and we look forward to joining you for a <\/span>great year ahead of teaching and professional growth<\/b>!<\/span><\/p>\n Finalizing course sites for Spring semester? You can refer to our <\/span>Course Site Prep Checklist for CUNY SPS Faculty<\/a><\/strong> for steps and links to assist as you prepare. In the Checklist, you\u2019ll find links to guides for how to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, on the <\/span>SPS Faculty Community site<\/a><\/strong>, you will find an array of <\/span>Teaching Guides<\/a><\/strong> from our OFDIT team, including ones on accessibility with <\/span>Anthology Ally<\/a><\/strong>; on setting up and managing <\/span>Groups in Brightspace<\/a><\/strong>; or on <\/span>Creating Rubrics in Brightspace<\/a><\/strong>. And you can also check out our <\/span>Teaching Guide Video Playlist<\/a><\/strong> for handy how-to videos!<\/span><\/p>\n \u26a1TIP:<\/strong> If you want to test how your course looks from a student point of view, including grades and feedback, use the handy <\/span>CUNY Demo Student tool<\/a><\/strong>!<\/span><\/p>\n Also, some of you may have noticed a due date field in your discussions; this is a new feature just rolled out in December for first posts. We\u2019ll be testing and then providing more guidance in our next newsletter, but if you\u2019re curious you can get an overview of the new feature in <\/span>this Brightspace article<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Join your SPS colleagues for a discussion and drafting session of AI course policies and statements. We’ll look at <\/span>sample policies<\/b> and discuss how they fit with your teaching approach. Then you\u2019ll have <\/span>time to draft policies<\/b> and get feedback from the group, if you like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n OpenLab for Staff<\/strong><\/span> Join us for an <\/span>OpenLab Clinic <\/b>on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET<\/span> for<\/span> an informal, hands-on session for SPS staff. Whether you\u2019re building a new site, have questions, or just want to bounce around ideas, this is a space to collaborate and explore together. Drop in, co-work, or just come see what others are working on! Get more information and register <\/span>here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/span>We also have the spring semester support hours schedule <\/span>published on the CUNY SPS Open Road<\/a><\/strong>. You can also <\/span>book daytime appointments<\/a><\/strong> at your convenience.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>2026 Digital Teaching & Learning Conference<\/b> (DT&L), hosted by UPCEA, takes place virtually on February 4\u20135. This year\u2019s theme, \u201cDesigning the Future,\u201d invites faculty to explore innovation, foster community, and advance online teaching. DT&L offers peer-reviewed workshops, roundtables, lightning talks, and keynote panels! The OFDIT Media Team (Matt Lewis, Fallon Saratovsky, and Sharon Jorrin) will be <\/span>presenting a video poster on Deconstructing Media<\/b> \u2014 check it out for tips on making video for learning!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CUNY SPS is a member institution, so registration is <\/span>free<\/b> for faculty and staff. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues and shape what\u2019s next for digital learning! To learn more and register visit: <\/span>2026 Digital Teaching & Learning Conference<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n OFDIT\u2019s <\/span>open Brightspace office hours<\/a><\/strong> will resume January 13th:<\/span><\/p>\n Tuesdays: 6-7 p.m. ET We look forward to seeing you in a drop-in session with your questions!<\/span><\/p>\n As SPS Faculty, your instructional experiences align with the 3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Conference theme, <\/span>Reimagining Possibilities: Adult Learning in a Changing World<\/span><\/i>. The conference will be in person at the Graduate Center, May 8 from 9 a.m. ET – 3:30 p.m. ET. <\/span>Share your experience designing and delivering meaningful education to adult learners<\/b>!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more information about conference tracks and to submit your proposal (<\/span>due January 22nd<\/b><\/a>) visit CITA\u2019s <\/span>3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Conference<\/a><\/strong> website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you have discovered a setting, process, or tool that made teaching go more smoothly, or learned something new about Brightspace, we would love for you to share! Submit a teaching tip (in 200 words or less) using our <\/span>Faculty Corner Submission Form <\/a><\/strong>and we\u2019ll share it here in our newsletter! Your extensive knowledge and experience is valuable to everyone!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/openlab.sps.cuny.edu\/sps-faculty-community-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2026\/01\/hny-scaled.png?resize=960%2C320&ssl=1\")
Dear Faculty,<\/span><\/p>\n
\nCourse Prep For Spring<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\nEvents and Announcements for SPS Faculty<\/strong><\/span><\/big><\/h2>\n
Creating Your AI Policy Sessions<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
OpenLab Clinic for SPS Staff<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/openlab.sps.cuny.edu\/sps-faculty-community-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/OpenLab-Updates-Banner-Options-4-Option-3.png?resize=960%2C201&ssl=1\")
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n<\/b><\/p>\nDesigning the Future of Digital Learning – UPCEA Conference<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Brightspace Office Hours<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/span>Wednesdays 12-1 p.m. ET<\/span><\/p>\n
\nCUNY Opportunities for SPS Faculty<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
CUNY 2026 Teaching and Learning Conference CFP<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nFaculty Corner: Call for Tips?
![\"Faculty](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/openlab.sps.cuny.edu\/sps-faculty-community-hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2022\/03\/Faculty-corner-image.jpg?resize=170%2C206&ssl=1\")
<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n