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
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: The Ultimate Teams Playbook
Did you know that Teams can help you keep your notes, schedule your meetings, organize your groups, assign tasks, make announcements, and keep records of your meetings that you can share? Join us for this interactive workshop on ways to make Teams your digital platform for effective teamwork and tasking. Bring your laptop and be prepared to jump right in to using Teams effectively!
Presenter: Gayle Sollfrank, M.A., Assistant Director, Center for Faculty Development
Tuesday, October 14th
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Coursera and AOP's Professional Standards Program - Keys to Your Success
Coursera is a global online learning platform that is available (at no cost) to all
Southern Miss students, faculty and staff. Staff will be introduced to the course
offerings provided in Coursera's "Career Academy," which includes approximately 85
industry provided micro-credentials. Combined with the Association of Office Professional's
Professional Standards Program, presenters will demonstrate how staff are empowered
to make successful, career-enhancing choices.
Presenters:
Russ Willis, Associate Provost for Student Success
Cory Williams, CEOE, System Administrator in iTech and AOP PSP Committee Chair
Wednesday, November 19th
2:00-3:00 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
FYF: Navigating Challenging Conversations with Students: A Panel for New Faculty
Join a panel of experienced faculty as they share practical strategies for responding to difficult student conversations—from academic concerns to personal disclosures. This session will highlight key campus policies, boundaries around faculty roles, and the support resources available to both you and your students. Bring your questions and leave with tools to foster compassionate, clear communication in the classroom and beyond. Designed especially for new faculty, this session encourages proactive, informed engagement with student needs.
Panelists:
Dr. Hugh Broome, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Dr. Kendrick Buford, Academic Integrity Director, Associate Teaching Professor, Center for STEM Education
Dr. Ragan Downey, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and
Security
Wednesday, September 24th
3:00-4:15 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Preparing for Annual Evaluation
This session will discuss an overview of the annual evaluation process and how it is completed in Watermark Faculty Success. Attendees will gain insight about the annual evaluation process, how this connects to the promotion and tenure process, and what you should be thinking about now to prepare for USM’s promotion and tenure processes.
Friday, November 21st
9:00-10:15 am
Hybrid | IC 319 &Teams
Graduate Mentorship Training Series
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Program during the 2025–2026 academic year. This program, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, will 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
Wednesday, October 22nd
Time: 12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
Developing Discipline-Specific First-Year Experience Success Courses
Do you have a course designed to help new students succeed in college and/or the major, or are you interested in developing one? As part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Ready for Success, the QEP Research and Design Team recommended the creation of a First-Year Experience (FYE) designation for discipline-specific student success courses to serve in place of the university-wide first-year experience course, UNV 100. Learn more about applying for the FYE designation and funding opportunities to create or redesign a course in your program, school, or college. This session is being offered twice, so when registering, choose the session that best fits with your schedule.
Presenter: Julie Howdeshell, Director of Quality Enhancement
Tuesday, September 30th
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Program Coordination 101: Navigating the Year Ahead
This session is necessary for all new Program Coordinators and new School Directors; experienced Program Coordinators and School Directors are welcome to attend as a refresher. The session will provide an overview of the key responsibilities for Program Coordinators in the academic year 2025-2026. This discussion will include monitoring academic quality, coordinating program assessment, and maintaining curricular relevance.
Presenters:
Dr. Douglas Masterson, Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success
Ms. Claire Blackwell, Institutional Assessment Coordinator
Mr. JB Amacker, Institutional Effectiveness Data Coordinator
Friday, October 3rd
9:30-10:30 a.m.
International Center 101
*Starbucks Coffee and light snacks will be provided. Door prizes will be raffled off at the end of the session; must be present to win.
Workshops & Events by Date
September
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
FYF: Navigating Challenging Conversations with Students: A Panel for New Faculty
Join a panel of experienced faculty as they share practical strategies for responding to difficult student conversations—from academic concerns to personal disclosures. This session will highlight key campus policies, boundaries around faculty roles, and the support resources available to both you and your students. Bring your questions and leave with tools to foster compassionate, clear communication in the classroom and beyond. Designed especially for new faculty, this session encourages proactive, informed engagement with student needs.
Panelists:
Dr. Hugh Broome, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Dr. Kendrick Buford, Academic Integrity Director, Associate Teaching Professor, Center for STEM Education
Dr. Ragan Downey, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and
Security
Wednesday, September 24th
3:00-4:15 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Developing Discipline-Specific First-Year Experience Success Courses
Do you have a course designed to help new students succeed in college and/or the major, or are you interested in developing one? As part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Ready for Success, the QEP Research and Design Team recommended the creation of a First-Year Experience (FYE) designation for discipline-specific student success courses to serve in place of the university-wide first-year experience course, UNV 100. Learn more about applying for the FYE designation and funding opportunities to create or redesign a course in your program, school, or college. This session is being offered twice, so when registering, choose the session that best fits with your schedule.
Presenter: Julie Howdeshell, Director of Quality Enhancement
Tuesday, September 30th
2:30-3:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
October
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development
(CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing
group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating
time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability.
Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant
proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
Program Coordination 101: Navigating the Year Ahead
This session is necessary for all new Program Coordinators and new School Directors; experienced Program Coordinators and School Directors are welcome to attend as a refresher. The session will provide an overview of the key responsibilities for Program Coordinators in the academic year 2025-2026. This discussion will include monitoring academic quality, coordinating program assessment, and maintaining curricular relevance.
Presenters:
Dr. Douglas Masterson, Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Success
Ms. Claire Blackwell, Institutional Assessment Coordinator
Mr. JB Amacker, Institutional Effectiveness Data Coordinator
Friday, October 3rd
9:30-10:30 a.m.
International Center 101
*Starbucks Coffee and light snacks will be provided. Door prizes will be raffled off
at the end of the session; must be present to win.
*Gulf Park attendees will be sent a Zoom link.
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: The Ultimate Teams Playbook
Did you know that Teams can help you keep your notes, schedule your meetings, organize your groups, assign tasks, make announcements, and keep records of your meetings that you can share? Join us for this interactive workshop on ways to make Teams your digital platform for effective teamwork and tasking. Bring your laptop and be prepared to jump right in to using Teams effectively!
Presenter: Gayle Sollfrank, M.A., Assistant Director, Center for Faculty Development
Tuesday, October 14th
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Graduate Mentorship Training Series: Promoting Professional Development
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Program during the 2025–2026 academic year. This program, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, will 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
Wednesday, October 22
12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
November
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Coursera and AOP's Professional Standards Program - Keys to Your Success
Coursera is a global online learning platform that is available (at no cost) to all
Southern Miss students, faculty and staff. Staff will be introduced to the course
offerings provided in Coursera's "Career Academy," which includes approximately 85
industry provided micro-credentials. Combined with the Association of Office Professional's
Professional Standards Program, presenters will demonstrate how staff are empowered
to make successful, career-enhancing choices.
Presenters:
Russ Willis, Associate Provost for Student Success
Cory Williams, CEOE, System Administrator in iTech and AOP PSP Committee Chair
Wednesday, November 19th
2:00-3:00 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
 |
 |
 |