by Gina Merys, Director, Reinert Center
Welcome to the 2022-2023 academic year!
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Reinert Center. We have many things planned for year, some of which celebrates this milestone, but most of which showcases what we have done best throughout our 25-year history—supporting instructors in the teaching tips, techniques, strategies, and structures you express are your highest priorities.
As in past years, we have chosen a theme by which to organize the programming we have planned for the year. This year, our theme is “Teaching as Act of Hope.” In his text, Pedagogy of Hope, Paulo Freire states, “Hope, as an ontological need, demands an anchoring practice in order to become historical concreteness.” His discussion of hope is layered and nuanced focusing on the idea that while we need to have hope in order to move forward, hope on its own is not enough, enacting hope is the essential element creating change. Following a particularly daunting and disheartening set of years across the globe, and here in our own community, it seems particularly important to find ways to enact the hope we so desperately need. With this in mind, our programming this year is a collection of ways in which instructors can enact hope through the anchor of teaching.
Please look out for the following programming throughout the year:
- a mini-workshop series focused on foundational topics to enhance your teaching practice,
- our new Certificate in Online University Teaching Skills that highlights effective teaching in online spaces,
- book discussions on various topics, and
- a virtual workshop facilitated by outside speakers on inclusive teaching.
We also will continue our regularly scheduled events, such as
- Praxis workshops,
- Ignatian pedagogy discussion groups and workshops,
- and much more.
Thank you for your continued support of the Reinert Center, we look forward to the next 25 years with you.
The Notebook 