Now Brewing at CAFE & Across Campus - September 8, 2026

I’m Tenured!  What Now?
Facilitator: Dr. Renee Gutiérrez
When: September 16, 2026, 3:30-5:00 pm
Where: Allen 308
Register @  https://forms.gle/7mJXdHpYzCzZST2s8

 If you’re within a year or two of earning tenure, join us for a reflective workshop to help you think through your mid-career academic opportunities.

Graduate Faculty Lunch and Learn - Adult Graduate Learners
When: September 22nd, 12:00-1:00pm
Where: CAFE Lounge and Zoom
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/UZHWY9BQMDBuuzWbA

Join us for a Lunch and Learn session focused on today's adult graduate learner.  What are the students' needs?  What changes are we seeing with adult learners?  What trends are you noticing?  What strategies are you using with them in your courses that are successful?  What isn't working in your courses that you'd like to talk through.  This will be a discussion.  There will not be a formal presentation, but just a time to come and talk as graduate faculty.  

For those coming to CAFE Lounge, lunch will be provided! For those on Zoom, bring your lunch to your computer!

Developmental Advising
Facilitator: Dr. Renee Gutiérrez
When: September 29, 2026, 3:30-5:00 pm
Where: Allen 308

Register @  https://businesslongwood.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_40fQKthjxHw47X0

Are you new to advising? Are you looking for a theory refresher, or a reminder tour of  Longwood’s technology for advising? Join CAFE’s workshop where you’ll meet to get information, discuss advising case studies, and look at what DegreeWorks and myLongwood can do for you.

FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITIES 

Percolating Perspectives (PP): A Qualitative Research Faculty Learning Community
Facilitator: Scott Grether, CAFE Research Consultant, Assoc. Professor of Sociology, and Co-Director of U.S. Race & Ethnic Studies
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month (9/15; 10/20; 11/17; 12/15 (if needed))
Where: Allen 310
RSVP: https://forms.gle/b3FMm9hVq8b2ukPY6

PP is a Faculty Learning Community centered around qualitative research. All interested faculty members who are currently working on a qualitative project are welcome to join. This can range from those who are at the development/design stages of a project to those who are in the writing stages. Community members will share their project ideas, develop a plan of work for the fall semester, and use the expertise and experience of community members to advance their research project. These meetings will occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month during the fall semester. The first meeting will be held in the CAFE lounge on Tuesday, September 15, from 4:00-5:00 pm. 

Please contact Scott Grether at gretherst@longwood.edu  or 434-395-2061 with any questions!  

Evidence, Beliefs, and Challenging Conversations
Facilitator: Dr. Larry Collins, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Earth Science and Director of the Environmental Education Center
Register @ https://forms.gle/pc4Z9wmBfpoAvUfy7

You are invited to join a Fall 2026 Faculty Learning Community of colleagues interested in exploring how we can effectively teach controversial subjects in our classrooms. Together, we will read Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It, which examines cognitive explanations for why people reject evidence and presents strategies for responding to that rejection. While the book focuses on science denial, it provides a useful cross-disciplinary foundation for considering how identity, values, trust, and social context shape people's engagement with evidence, ideas, and perspectives that challenge their existing beliefs.

Using the text as a starting point, we will consider how these factors influence students’ engagement with controversial topics in our classrooms and explore approaches for fostering productive conversations around challenging ideas. We invite you to share your experiences and expertise, learn from colleagues across disciplines, and consider new ways to navigate challenging topics in the classroom. Space is limited.

Please contact Larry Collins @ collinslb@longwood.edu or 434-395-2386 with any questions.

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WELL-BEING & FOCUSED WORK SESSIONS 

Meditation
When:  Monday and Wednesday, 11:30 am-12:00 pm
Where: Zoom https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/95744314696

Mindfulness meditation can significantly improve your mental well-being by helping you manage stress, enhance focus and concentration, and better understand your emotions, all potentially leading to a calmer and more centered life. Current research also indicates potential benefits for physical health, like lowered blood pressure and improved sleep quality.  Join Renee Gutiérrez to create a pause in your day. All are welcome for a brief, guided meditation; no previous experience is required. 

Pomodoros: Focused Work 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 and attend when you are able.

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ACROSS CAMPUS 

Midterm Elections 2026:  Fostering Civic Engagement in a Polarized Climate Webinar
When: Thursday, October 1, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Where: Allen 308

The Constructive Dialogue Institute is hosting a free webinar exploring how campuses can use the midterm elections as an opportunity to foster meaningful conversations about civic engagement. Participants will explore what is shaping student attitudes toward the midterms, barriers to civic engagement, and strategies for developing election programming that builds trust, connection, and engagement. CAFE and the CommonTies Collaborative will host a live viewing of the webinar.

Contact Kris Paal @ paalkm@longwood.edu for more information

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
When: Thursday and Friday, October 22 & 23; you need to commit to both days.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
Where: Moton Museum
Facilitators: Certified Longwood University faculty and staff facilitators

Register here: https://forms.gle/689ShdMnUDQrKxX87

Have you ever wondered…How do highly effective people prioritize what truly matters?
What habits help leaders manage change and build trust?
How can I align my daily decisions with my long-term values?

If these questions resonate with you, we invite you to join your colleagues for the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® Signature Program. During this interactive two-day program, you’ll explore principles of effectiveness, strengthen both personal and professional leadership, and develop practical tools to improve communication, teamwork, and productivity. Sponsored by Longwood’s SNVC Leadership Institute, the program is free of charge to all Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College faculty and staff.

Your participation in this program is an investment in yourself—and in the campus community. By learning and practicing the 7 Habits together, we create a shared language of effectiveness that strengthens both individual growth and collective success.

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SYNC YOUR CALENDARS: 2026-2027 CAFE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Pre-Semester Pedagogy Series                       January 6-7, 2027

Faculty Well-Being Month                            April 2027

2027 Teaching and Learning Institute           May 18, 2027