Center for Faculty Development
WORKSHOPS
Page Content
The Center for Faculty Development (CFDFREEMississippi) and the Office of Online Learning (onlineFREEMississippi) are available for one-on-one consultations through email and virtual meetings.
Workshops & Events by Topic
MC Exammer: U Can't Guess This! Designing Reliable Multiple-Choice Assessments with
AI
Multiple-choice assessments are one of the most widely used tools in higher education, yet writing questions that accurately measure student learning is challenging and time-consuming. This workshop will explore evidence-based practices for developing high-quality multiple-choice items, including effective stem construction and strategies for assessing higher-order thinking. Participants will learn how large language models (LLMs) can be used to generate, revise, and create isomorphic question variants aligned with course learning outcomes. The session will conclude with an introduction to Rasch modeling as an approach for evaluating item performance, validating questions, and improving the reliability of assessment instruments.
Presenter: Johnathan Hugh Broome, Ph.D. Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Thursday, September 17
12:30-1:30 p.m.
IC 319 & Teams
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Excel Series
The Center for Faculty Development in tandem with the Office of Institutional Research are sponsoring the Excel workshop series. This series is open to all faculty, staff, or graduate students who are interested in expanding their skill level in Excel. There are 6 sessions or levels offered in this series, and you may choose to attend all 6 or choose the sessions that are of most interest to you. Attendees will need to bring their laptop to each session, as these workshops are designed to be hands-on and interactive.
*A hybrid alternative is offered. Virtual attendees are asked to have their laptop or desktop computers ready and be engaged in the session.
Presenter: Chris Lowe, Data Literacy Program Manager & Statistical Analyst, Institutional Research Office
Level 2 – Everyday Formulas and Sorting: Level 2 focuses on essential operations used in both basic and advanced datasets, including simple formulas and functions, cell referencing, and staple tools like sorting and filtering.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Level 3 – Data Manipulation and Using Logic: Level 3 splits our attention into 2 areas: logical functions and manipulating data. This session will explore IF/AND/OR concepts, conditional formatting, transposition, and splitting.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Level 4 – Tables and Pivot Tables: Tables, tables, tables! Level 4 is entirely dedicated to them, starting briefly with an introduction to in-sheet options and following up with a lengthy dive into their more advanced and functional cousins, pivot tables.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Level 5 – Basic Data Visualizations: Building from our previous session, Level 5 explores data visualization options in Excel, utilizing both in-sheet and pivot-based sources. Manual creation/formatting and more dynamic options like PivotCharts will all be covered.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Level 6 – Text Functions and Lookups: Level 6 will end our bootcamp with 2 mostly unrelated, but very important, function concepts. We will discuss text functions used to manipulate string data and finish strong by performing a deep dive into Excel’s ever-useful LOOKUP functions, VLOOKUP specifically.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
*All six sessions are listed on the registration form.
Fix It Fridays
Fix It Fridays is hosted on the first Friday of the month as a hybrid session in IC 319 and on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD). The goal is to provide dedicated time to work toward remediating files and other course material to be compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2-AA. Join us for camaraderie, accountability, and collective effort to make our campus more accessible for all. Come with specific files and goals, and let's help each other to work toward this goal of accessibility by April!
Fix It Fridays will meet as a hybrid session in IC 319 and on Teams on the first Friday of the month this fall from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. beginning September 4, and concluding December 4, 2026.
Mark the dates on your calendar:
October 2
November 6
December 4
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder/calendar invite along with the Teams information to join virtually.
Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development,
is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series during the 2026–2027 academic
year. These workshops, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, provide practical
guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee
relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged
to register.
Promoting Professional Development
Faculty mentors play a vital role in preparing graduate students for success beyond the classroom. Led by Dr. Banu Elm, Associate Professor of Marketing, this workshop will use a case study to highlight the importance of promoting professional development opportunities within the mentoring relationship. We will discuss when to introduce professional development conversations, explore mentors’ responsibilities for guiding their mentees, and review sample tools to help integrate career readiness into graduate education.
Wednesday, September 16
12:00-1:30pm
International Center 319 (CFD) | Zoom (registration required)
Building Ethical Research Mentorship
Faculty mentors play an important role in helping graduate students navigate ethical research and scholarly collaboration. Led by Dr. Don Sacco, USM Research Integrity Officer and Professor of Psychology, this workshop will explore best practices for mentoring graduate students, with a focus on authorship, credit, intellectual contributions, and publication expectations.
Wednesday, October 21
12:00-1:30pm
International Center 319 (CFD) | Zoom (registration required)
Accreditation Rebranded: Updates to SACSCOC
Following the appointment of their new president, The Commission on Colleges and Universities, formerly known as SACSCOC, has updated their branding, communications, and standards. Despite this, the mission of The Commission remains the same – ensure higher education quality. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness invites faculty and staff, primarily School Directors, College Deans, and Program Coordinators, to hear about the ongoing and potential changes to USM's accrediting body.
Presenter: Dr. Douglas Masterson, Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:30-10:30 a.m.
International Center 101 & Teams
Show Up & Write!
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) and provides a quiet, physical or virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams every Friday this fall from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. beginning September 4, and concluding December 4, 2026.
Mark the dates on your calendar:
September 11, 18, 25
October 2, 16, 26, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 4
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder along with the location and a Teams link if you plan to join virtually.
Workshops & Events by Date
September 2026
Show Up & Write!
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) and provides a quiet, physical or virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams every Friday this fall from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. beginning September 4, and concluding December 4, 2026.
September 11, 2026
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
IC 318 & Teams
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder along with the location and a Teams link if you plan to join virtually.
Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series during the 2026–2027 academic year. These workshops, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, provide practical guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged to register.
Promoting Professional Development
Faculty mentors play a vital role in preparing graduate students for success beyond the classroom. Led by Dr. Banu Elm, Associate Professor of Marketing, this workshop will use a case study to highlight the importance of promoting professional development opportunities within the mentoring relationship. We will discuss when to introduce professional development conversations, explore mentors’ responsibilities for guiding their mentees, and review sample tools to help integrate career readiness into graduate education.
Wednesday, September 16
12:00-1:30pm
International Center 319 (CFD) | Zoom (registration required)
MC Exammer: U Can't Guess This! Designing Reliable Multiple-Choice Assessments with AI
Multiple-choice assessments are one of the most widely used tools in higher education, yet writing questions that accurately measure student learning is challenging and time-consuming. This workshop will explore evidence-based practices for developing high-quality multiple-choice items, including effective stem construction and strategies for assessing higher-order thinking. Participants will learn how large language models (LLMs) can be used to generate, revise, and create isomorphic question variants aligned with course learning outcomes. The session will conclude with an introduction to Rasch modeling as an approach for evaluating item performance, validating questions, and improving the reliability of assessment instruments.
Presenter: Johnathan Hugh Broome, Ph.D. Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Thursday, September 17
12:30-1:30 p.m.
IC 319 & Teams
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Excel Series - Level 2 - Everyday Formulas and Sorting
The Center for Faculty Development in tandem with the Office of Institutional Research are sponsoring the Excel workshop series. This series is open to all faculty, staff, or graduate students who are interested in expanding their skill level in Excel. There are 6 sessions or levels offered in this series, and you may choose to attend all 6 or choose the sessions that are of most interest to you. Attendees will need to bring their laptop to each session, as these workshops are designed to be hands-on and interactive.
*A hybrid alternative is offered. Virtual attendees are asked to have their laptop or desktop computers ready and be engaged in the session.
Level 2 – Everyday Formulas and Sorting: Level 2 focuses on essential operations used in both basic and advanced datasets, including simple formulas and functions, cell referencing, and staple tools like sorting and filtering.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Presenter: Chris Lowe, Data Literacy Program Manager & Statistical Analyst, Institutional Research Office
*All six sessions are listed on the registration form.
October 2026
Accreditation Rebranded: Updates to SACSCOC
Following the appointment of their new president, The Commission on Colleges and Universities, formerly known as SACSCOC, has updated their branding, communications, and standards. Despite this, the mission of The Commission remains the same – ensure higher education quality. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness invites faculty and staff, primarily School Directors, College Deans, and Program Coordinators, to hear about the ongoing and potential changes to USM's accrediting body.
Presenter: Dr. Douglas Masterson, Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:30-10:30 a.m.
International Center 101 & Teams
Fix It Fridays
Fix It Fridays is hosted on the first Friday of the month as a hybrid session in IC 319 and on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD). The goal is to provide dedicated time to work toward remediating files and other course material to be compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2-AA. Join us for camaraderie, accountability, and collective effort to make our campus more accessible for all. Come with specific files and goals, and let's help each other to work toward this goal of accessibility by April!
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder/calendar invite along with the Teams information to join virtually.
October 2, 2026
11:30 am -1:30 pm
IC 319 & Teams
Show Up & Write!
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) and provides a quiet, physical or virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet as a hybrid session in IC 318 and on Teams every Friday this fall from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. beginning September 4, and concluding December 4, 2026.
October 2, 2026
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
IC 318 & Teams
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder along with the location and a Teams link if you plan to join virtually.
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Excel Series - Level 3 - Data Manipulation and Using Logic
The Center for Faculty Development in tandem with the Office of Institutional Research are sponsoring the Excel workshop series. This series is open to all faculty, staff, or graduate students who are interested in expanding their skill level in Excel. There are 6 sessions or levels offered in this series, and you may choose to attend all 6 or choose the sessions that are of most interest to you. Attendees will need to bring their laptop to each session, as these workshops are designed to be hands-on and interactive.
*A hybrid alternative is offered. Virtual attendees are asked to have their laptop or desktop computers ready and be engaged in the session.
Level 3 – Data Manipulation and Using Logic: Level 3 splits our attention into 2 areas: logical functions and manipulating data. This session will explore IF/AND/OR concepts, conditional formatting, transposition, and splitting.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Presenter: Chris Lowe, Data Literacy Program Manager & Statistical Analyst, Institutional Research Office
*All six sessions are listed on the registration form.
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Excel Series - Level 4 - Tables and Pivot Tables
The Center for Faculty Development in tandem with the Office of Institutional Research are sponsoring the Excel workshop series. This series is open to all faculty, staff, or graduate students who are interested in expanding their skill level in Excel. There are 6 sessions or levels offered in this series, and you may choose to attend all 6 or choose the sessions that are of most interest to you. Attendees will need to bring their laptop to each session, as these workshops are designed to be hands-on and interactive.
*A hybrid alternative is offered. Virtual attendees are asked to have their laptop or desktop computers ready and be engaged in the session.
Level 4 – Tables and Pivot Tables: Tables, tables, tables! Level 4 is entirely dedicated to them, starting briefly with an introduction to in-sheet options and following up with a lengthy dive into their more advanced and functional cousins, pivot tables.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
10:00-11:15 am
IC 318 & Teams
Presenter: Chris Lowe, Data Literacy Program Manager & Statistical Analyst, Institutional Research Office
*All six sessions are listed on the registration form.
Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Series during the 2026–2027 academic year. These workshops, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, provide practical guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged to register.
Building Ethical Research Mentorship
Faculty mentors play an important role in helping graduate students navigate ethical research and scholarly collaboration. Led by Dr. Don Sacco, USM Research Integrity Officer and Professor of Psychology, this workshop will explore best practices for mentoring graduate students, with a focus on authorship, credit, intellectual contributions, and publication expectations.
Wednesday, October 21
12:00-1:30pm
International Center 319 (CFD) | Zoom (registration required)
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