Dear Colleagues,
We made it—it’s the final week of the spring semester! I look forward to seeing you at this week’s commencement ceremonies. Your support means so much to our students and their friends and family.
Since many of you will not be on campus over the summer months, this newsletter will pause and resume in August. I hope you have an enjoyable summer, and I look forward to seeing our campuses thrive in the fall semester.
Spring Commencement Ceremonies
Lake Campus Ceremony: Thursday, May 1, 5:30 p.m.
Graduate Ceremony: Friday, May 2, 7:00 p.m.
Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m.
Boonshoft School of Medicine Ceremony: Saturday, May 3, 4:30 p.m.
Fall Semester Academic Calendar and Dates
I want to remind you that the fall semester will begin on Thursday, August 21. This change accommodates a new fall break on Thursday and Friday, October 9 and 10.
As you construct your course schedule, refer to the fall semester calendar.
Faculty Workshop—AI in the Classroom to AI in the Workplace
Faculty interested in equipping students with practical AI skills relevant to their future careers and data analysis powered by AI are encouraged to apply for a faculty development workshop this August. Participants will learn how AI is reshaping fields across all colleges—from political science and business to human services and biology—enabling pattern discovery, informed decision-making, and deeper understanding of complex systems. AI-based advances in data analysis help us discover and visualize patterns in data and make policy, marketing, and intervention decisions, or understand fundamental processes like gene expression in cancer.
Over 2.5 days (August 11–12 and August 18), participants will explore AI-based data analysis through a mix of presentations and hands-on sessions. No coding experience is required. By the end, you will create a discipline-specific lecture or activity to enhance your classroom teaching.
Participants will present their work at the Teaching for Student Success Symposium on August 18. All materials and refreshments will be provided.
Space is limited to three faculty members per college, so early application is encouraged. Apply by May 7.
Faculty Resources and Workshops
The Center for Faculty Excellence is pleased to bring weekly tips to your inbox through Monday Morning Mentors. These are quick video presentations with additional materials provided. The presentation and supplemental material for “How Can I Assess Active Learning Strategies in the Classroom?” are available through May 4. To access the presentation, use “learning358” as the password.
When a Student Needs Support
- The Student Success Navigator showcases the wide range of resources designed to support our students. Whether students are interested in joining a student organization, looking for access to mental health services, playing a sport, or finding a job, all information is available in one central location.
- Wright.edu/help is a great resource for helping students or making referrals. This site contains contact information for emergency or essential departments that can assist your students all in one location.
I am grateful for your dedication to promoting student success. I hope you have a wonderful and productive week!
Jim Denniston, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
