Now Brewing @ CAFE - September 30, 2024

ADVISING WORKSHOP
Facilitator: Sarai Blincoe and Renee Gutiérrez 
When: October 8th @ 3:30-5:00 pm
Where: Allen 208
Register: https://forms.gle/SCYbPA25YiLkSJLN7

Join CAFE and the QEP team for an interactive advising workshop for every adviser, new or experienced. We'll have two tracks, one for those who are new to advising at Longwood, and one for those who want to deepen their advising practice. You’ll leave with recent research, suggestions, and a set of handouts that can help you with your advising, whether it’s working with 10, 50, or more students. 

TEACHING DURING AN ELECTION YEAR: AN ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND STUDENT AFFAIRS COLLABORATION

STILL TIME TO REGISTER: Using Constructive Dialogue Activities to Talk About Difficult Issues 
Facilitators: Isabel Fay, Assoc. Professor of Communication Studies; Kris Paal, Assoc. Professor of Communication Studies, Jonathan Page, Asst. Dean of Multicultural Affairs 
When: Monday, September 30 from 3-4:15 pm on Zoom
Register @ https://forms.gle/KbLswkmr54fDZoCU9 

In this interactive session, faculty and staff will experience a variety of discussion activities designed to enhance dialogue skills, civil discourse, and critical thinking.  Participants will be equipped with practical resources and exercises to promote meaningful and constructive dialogue for students.  

TOMORROW NIGHT! Vice-Presidential Debate Watch: Viewing and Conversation
Facilitator: Dr. Eric Hodges, Associate Professor of Political Science
October 1 @ 7:30 PM
Wilson Chamber in Upchurch Student Center

The Vice-Presidential Debate is this coming Tuesday, October 1--please join us for a shared viewing and conversation led by Prof. Eric Hodges, Associate Professor of Political Science, beginning at 7:30 pm in Wilson Chamber in Upchurch Student Center.  This event offers an opportunity to engage with one of the key moments of the election season. 

Faculty, if you’re considering integrating this event into your curriculum, we’ve prepared a customizable assignment template. You can use or modify it to align with your course outcomes/goals. The template is designed to support critical thinking, media literacy, and reflective writing. Go to https://blogs.longwood.edu/cafeinstitute2016/files/2024/09/2024-Presidential-Debate-Watch-Assignment.docx to download the assignment.

En-light(e)ning Talks: Call for Proposals
docemus docere - we teach to enlighten
Faculty and staff are invited to submit a proposal to present an En-light(e)ning Talk during the Rock the BROCK and Vote Days on October 23.  This series of short, informative, and fascinating lessons will begin on the hour or the half-hour, followed by an opportunity for Q and A.  Selected speakers will receive a $150 honorarium.

Presentations must meet the following stipulations:

1. Precisely ten minutes in length
2. Focused on an important (if little known) issue, idea, historical moment, biographical figure, text, scientific discovery, etc related to voting, the election and/or civic engagement.
3. “In the spirit” of the election, but not advocacy for or against a particular candidate or party
4. Directed at a generalist audience (TED talk format): substantive, informative, and interesting
5. Not dependent on technology—beyond a microphone.

Interested? Please submit a brief (200 words) abstract of your idea and title for an “en-light(e)ning talk” to Pam Tracy @ tracypj@longwood.edu by the end of the day on October 14.

Election 2024 Resources
Lancers Vote-Voting 101 Canvas course @ https://longwood.instructure.com/enroll/WW3YTA 

Updated CAFE blog @ https://blogs.longwood.edu/cafeinstitute2016/ with teaching and learning resources to facilitate thoughtful and inclusive conversations in the classroom on critical issues such as democracy, governance, and public policy. 

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING CHANGEMAKERS AT LONGWOOD

Calling all women making a difference in their fields: Do you aspire to or currently hold a leadership position at Longwood? Are you interested in connecting with other women in leadership at Longwood?  Join Pam Tracy and Sarah Tanner-Anderson, Institutional Representatives for the Virginia Network, for a professional planning power hour on October 16, 2024! 

The mission of the American Council on Education Women’s Network is to identify, develop, advance, and support women in higher education at the national, state, and local levels. The goals of both The Network (national) and the Virginia Network are to promote women's leadership in higher education and throughout society as a whole; to create an educational, social, and political climate in which women, in all their diversity, can participate equally with men in setting public agendas; to facilitate connections among women in various sectors of higher education and with other organizations and networks with shared goals on the institutional, state, regional, professional, national, and international levels; and to foster strategic alliances and facilitate effective partnerships between women and men in the workplace.

We are offering three opportunities to connect with other women leaders for an informal professional planning session on October 16, 2024 at the following times: 

9:00 AM and 1:00 PM in Allen 310  or 11:00 AM via Zoom 

Register here to join us!

For more information, contact Sarah Tanner-Anderson at tannerandersonl@longwood.edu.  

MEDITATION
Dates: Tuesday/Thursday
Time: 11:30am-12:00pm
Location: Zoom https://shorturl.at/5WIIr

We know from research that since COVID, instructors and staff are experiencing burnout at higher than average rates. One way to combat the exhaustion is to try mindfulness techniques. Join Renee Gutiérrez to create a pause in your day. All are welcome for a brief, guided meditation; no previous experience is required.

FOCUSED PRODUCTIVITY SESSIONS

• Join CAFE for pomodoro sessions again this semester. All faculty and staff are welcome. The sessions use a focused cycle: set a goal, work towards it for 25 minutes, and then take a five-minute break. You will repeat the cycle three times. Choose the session that fits your needs: