Dear Colleagues,
I hope your first several weeks of the Fall Semester have been positive. I see and hear about your continued support of our students and want to express my appreciation. Your partnership and commitment play a vital role in our students' success.
I would also like to recognize the work of all our faculty this semester in submitting their participation rosters. Collectively, we reached a submission rate of 96.7%. I especially want to recognize the College of Science and Mathematics for its 98.18% submission rate.
Donations Needed for the Student Supply Closet
The Academic Success Centers’ Supply Closet is experiencing more demand for school supplies earlier in the semester than expected, and several of the most requested items are already running low. The Supply Closet was established through a Students First Fund grant from the Wright State University Foundation. Supplies ensure that students have access to no-cost materials that help them stay organized and prepared.
To assist with replenishing our supply, donations may be dropped off at the Academic Success Centers, in 122 Student Success Center, or contributed through its Amazon wishlist. Your support now will help us continue meeting students’ needs throughout the semester.
View the supplies needed and learn more.
Events
United States Constitution Day at Wright State University — The Center for Civics, Culture, and Workforce Development, in partnership with the College of Liberal Arts, Air Force and Army ROTC, the Veteran and Military Center, and the School of Aviation, invites faculty, staff, and students to join Constitution Day on Wednesday, September 17, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Student Union Patio and Quad.
This event commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event includes:
Morning Program, 11 a.m. to noon:
- Fife and drum performances
- Posting of the Colors by Air Force ROTC
- Singing of the national anthem
- Welcome remarks by President Sue Edwards
- Interactive Bill of Rights demonstration
- Musical performance
- Oath of office ceremony led by Lt. Col. Larrison
- Flyover by Wright State’s First Flight Team
Lunch and Networking, noon to 1:15 p.m.:
- Pizza from Cousin Vinny’s
- Tables and displays for informal engagement
Afternoon Panels, 1:25 to 3:25 p.m., 009 Student Success Center:
- 1:25 to 2:20 p.m.: Freedom of Speech Across Nations Panel
Moderated by December Green, featuring panelists from the United States, Nepal, Russia, and France - 2:30 to 3:25 p.m.: Right to Bear Arms Across Nations Panel
Moderated by Mike Jacobs, featuring panelists from the United States, Brazil, Germany, and Hungary
Faculty are encouraged to attend and share this with students. The event blends civic education, cultural engagement, and military partnership in a dynamic and engaging format.
Fall Career and Internship Fair — Wednesday, September 24, 1–4 p.m., Dayton Campus, Student Union, Apollo Room. Encourage your students to register in advance through Handshake or on the day of the fair at the student check-in station.
Students are encouraged to attend a Career Fair workshop prior to the event.
Graduate Programs Open House — The College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies will host a graduate programs open house on Tuesday, September 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Student Union Apollo Room. College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies staff will be available to address questions about graduate program admissions.
Prospective graduate students will have the opportunity to speak with graduate program leaders and peer mentors and learn about campus resources such as financial aid, University Libraries, and the Veteran and Military Center. Registered attendees will be eligible for one application fee waiver. Walk-ins are welcome. Faculty are encouraged to attend and meet prospective graduate students.
Explore Wright State Day —The Dayton Campus will host Explore Wright State Day for future students on Saturday, October 18, starting at 9:30 a.m. Faculty and staff are encouraged to invite prospective students and their families to register, attend, and learn why it's a great time to be a Raider!
World Mental Health Day — Wright State University will host World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, October 1, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Quad. This annual, global observance, established by the World Federation for Mental Health and supported by the World Health Organization, aims to raise awareness of mental health issues, promote education, and combat stigma.
Please encourage your students to participate in this important campus event. Your support will help create a more open, compassionate, and well-informed campus community.
Student Recognition in Best Integrated Writing Journal
Our students inspire us every day by submitting exceptional written work. Wright State’s biannual journal Best Integrated Writing will continue to showcase student excellence in fall 2025. Please consider submitting the work of students you believe deserve recognition and publication. These written works can come from fall 2024, spring 2025, or summer 2025 courses.
The deadline for the fall 2025 edition of Best Integrated Writing is September 12. To submit, email the editors at kristie.mckiernan@wright.edu or tracy.smith@wright.edu.
Submissions should include brief comments about the piece and are accepted only by faculty nomination in Word or PDF format. Nominations (whether they are collaborative or individual) may include essays, posters, multimedia projects, or any other work that involves superior writing. Nominations do not guarantee acceptance of a student’s work. Selection is done by the editors. Student permission and knowledge are required for a nomination before a work is published. We ask that each faculty member send no more than three nominations unless there have been previous arrangements.
Academic Success Centers Faculty and Staff Open House
The Academic Success Centers are your partners in learning. Learn more about the centers’ services at the Faculty and Staff Open House on Tuesday, September 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Success Center.
Wright State Online Accessibility Essentials
Wright State Online offers a compilation of resources designed to support faculty as they ensure their courses meet accessibility standards. These resources include an interactive course, which takes about 20 minutes to complete, along with comprehensive guides.
Once faculty have completed the Accessibility in Course Design training and updated their content to reflect what they have learned, they are encouraged to submit their content for a digital accessibility review. A member of the WSO team will assess the content and provide feedback on any necessary revisions to ensure accessibility standards are met.
Learn more about Accessibility Essentials Information.
Student Success
Academic Success Centers — Embed academic success in your course! Getting students connected to the Academic Success Centers early in the semester is essential to their success. Faculty are our best way to make students aware of the support that is available to them. Here are three ways you can help connect students to our support:
- Put support information in your syllabus. We have ready-made snippets you can use on our Faculty and Staff Resources webpage.
- Bring your students to the Academic Success Centers or have us visit your class. You can request tours and classroom visits through our Class Visit Request form.
- Add the Academic Success Centers widget to your Pilot homepage.
If you are unsure if your course is supported by the Academic Success Centers, check the following webpages: Course-based Tutoring, the Math Learning Center, Supplemental Instruction, and the Writing Center.
Contact Dr. Alison Witte, director of the Academic Success Centers, with any questions.
Peer Navigators — The Peer Navigator Program is designed to connect students with upperclassmen for regular support and mentorship. The program matches students with a peer navigator for regular meetings that encourage, give direction, and help navigate the university successfully. Peer navigators focus on holistic well-being by providing support, problem-solving, and goal-setting tips that assist students in reaching their educational goals.
The Peer Navigator Program seeks to:
- Increase sense of belonging with a built-in peer support system
- Initiate early intervention strategies as needed
- Provide an additional touch point via regular follow up
- Identify barriers prohibiting student success
- Allow students to see their peers model excellence
- Assist in the transition between high school and university life
- Promote healthy classroom behaviors
Learn more about the Peer Navigator Program.
Raising Early Alerts for Students — Faculty play a critical role in identifying student issues. By raising an early alert, you enable timely interventions from various campus teams, enhancing Wright State’s ability to foster student success. The Slate Student Success Portal can be accessed through WINGS using your Wright State login credentials. Learn more.
Faculty Activity Reporting
Continuing this fall, annual faculty activity reports are due September 15. As a reminder, faculty report their activities for the previous academic year (fall 2024 to summer 2025), not for the calendar year.
Activity reporting is collected through information entered by faculty in Watermark’s Faculty Success software. One-hour user training sessions are available.
Evaluation of teaching and service as well as scholarship for TETs will be based on a 0-4 scale (11.3).
Teaching and service are evaluated for the year under review only; scholarship is evaluated for the year under review, with the merit score for that year then averaged with the two prior years (11.2).
Criteria for evaluation of teaching and service are found in Article 11.6 for Bargaining Unit Faculty Members.
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
