March 2025 Tuesday Tips

4th March 2025

Tuesday Teaching Tip: Expand Your Horizons by Teaching Abroad

This tip is brought to you by our friends in International Education. 

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

Have you ever thought about teaching abroad during the summer break? Chico State faculty have the unique opportunity to apply to teach abroad with the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC)(opens in new window) as a Visiting Professor (VP).

USAC is soliciting applications from faculty to teach pre-determined courses in select program sites around the world. They are also welcoming proposals for courses in defined topic areas. Refer to the Call for Applications document (PDF) for information on specifics, as well as the link to the application.  

SNAPSHOT DETAILS from USAC:

• 33 Visiting Professor (VP) openings available for Summer 2026.
• Sites already selected (see attached).
• Specific courses and/or topics already selected (see attached).
• USAC will award the selected VPs a flat $6,000 stipend. This stipend is compensation for teaching and may go toward related expenses (i.e. flight, housing, meals, etc.). VPs will make and pay for all their own travel and personal arrangements. CISI health insurance included.  
• 5 student enrollment minimum. Faculty selected as VP are required to actively assist in student recruitment.
• Courses taught in English (unless otherwise noted).

Deadline for faculty to apply is April 4, 2025. Selected applicants will be notified by June 1, 2025.

Please share this with colleagues who may be interested in applying, or who teach in the disciplines listed in the call.

Note: All applicants are required to submit a statement of approval from both their department head/chair AND International Education & Global Engagement (IEGE) with the application. IEGE has a sample template for this statement, so please let us know as soon as possible if you’re considering applying.

Questions about the application or USAC program sites can be directed to Dr. Jennifer Gruber (jlgruber@csuchico.edu), AVP of IEGE, or Kenya Chavez, Study Abroad & Exchange Coordinator (kchavez6@csuchico.edu).

Best,
Jennifer L. Gruber, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President &
Senior International Officer (SIO)
International Education & Global Engagement
California State University, Chico

If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.

11th March 2025

Tuesday Teaching Tip: We Want To Hear From You

The last few weeks I have made visits to Tehama Hall and the Arts Building to engage faculty in conversations about where they need additional support and what keeps them motivated in their work. Following Spring Break, I will be visiting the new BSS building and the Science building. Eventually, I plan to make it to buildings central to the work of every college. The goal of this effort is to meet you where they are at and get the pulse of what you need (without sending out another survey). If you would rather email, please contact me at zjustus@csuchico.edu(opens in new window) to let me know where you think more support would be helpful for the faculty of Chico State and/or what keeps you motivated. If you would prefer a conversation with your unit, I am happy to come to you as long as you can schedule 15 minutes for me in a meeting. 

We provide a lot of advice and opportunities through Tuesday Teaching Tips, but in this one we want to learn from you. Come and talk to me when I am in your area or email us here. Regardless, we want to hear from you.

Zach Justus
Director of Faculty Development
Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Google Voice/Text: 530-487-4150

If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.

25th March 2025

Tuesday Teaching Tip: AI Webinar Series 

The Chancellor’s Office is producing a four-part webinar series on “AI Across the CSU: Innovations and Insights(opens in new window).” I (Zach) am hosting the series. The first iteration is on Wednesday, March 26 from 12-12:45 p.m. and covers the AI Retrofit work we have developed at Chico. The session will feature contributions by Allison McConnell from TLP and Hannah Burdette from Languages and Cultures. You will need to register to attend the series, but there is no cost and recordings will be available with a CSU log-in.

We will be offering the popular AI Retrofit again this May (call forthcoming) so this is an opportunity to find out if the program will be a good fit for you. Even for those of us who have been reading and experimenting since the launch of ChatGPT, the ground keeps shifting under our feet and there is always something to be learned to improve our teaching. 

Finally, two quick updates. 

1. I continue to make my way to different buildings to hear from faculty. This week I’ll be in the BSS Atrium from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Stop by to chat or message me if you have ideas about how FDEV can better support faculty or what you like best about your work. 
2. The campus is doing a big push to get first year and senior students to take the NESSE survey which helps us understand how engaged our students are in comparison to other campuses. Students will be emailed directly. If you teach first year or senior students, please encourage them to take the survey through Canvas or in person.

Zach Justus
Director of Faculty Development
Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Google Voice/Text: 530-487-4150

If you’d like to comment on this or any other Tuesday Tip, visit the FDEV Blog(opens in new window).
All past Tuesday Tips are curated on the FDEV website.