Jax State Essentials: Fall 2025
Program Description and Goals
Faculty Commons joins forces with important services, programs, and departments that positively impact the university learning environment to highlight the wealth of beneficial resources that faculty have access to at Jacksonville State University. Strengthening the partnerships between Jax State faculty and various divisions across campus will directly impact how engaged faculty feel in the campus community and will provide them with the support to reach our students, retain them, and ultimately, impact their long-term success. We hope you will join us as we explore the multitude of services and programs Jax State has to offer.
- To learn about JSU centric programs and services that offer support to JSU faculty
- To strengthen academic collegiality and collaboration
- To engage faculty in various academic faculty and student related issues outside of their disciplines
- To enhance student support through faculty development and growth
- To educate faculty on best practices in supporting students with diverse needs
Meeting Details
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Active Threat Response Training with UPD |
Date: September 30 Time: 9:00-11:00 AM Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: Jax State's University Police Department's active threat response training provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues, and considerations for conducting drills. Presenters: Chief Michael Barton and the Jacksonville State University Police Department |
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Partnering with Librarians: Enhancing Teaching through Library Instruction |
Date: October 1, 2025 Time: 2:00-3:00 Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: Did you know librarians can partner with you to strengthen student learning in your courses? This session will highlight how faculty can integrate library instruction into the classroom—whether you’ve used it before or are brand new to the process. Learn how librarians can support your teaching through customized sessions on research skills, information literacy, and discipline-specific resources. Faculty will also discover simple steps for requesting library instruction and connecting with their subject specialist librarians to enrich student success. Presenters: Houston Cole Librarians Karlie Johnson, Kim Westbrooks, and Dr. Laura Pitts |
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WAC Workshop |
Date: October 14, 2025 Time: 3:00-4:00 Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: This Writing Across the Curriculum workshop will equip faculty teaching writing-intensive courses with tools and strategies to design assignments that improve student learning and strengthen writing skills. Presenter: Katelyn Walker, Coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum |
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Digital Accessibility Foundations: What to Know about Word, PowerPoint, and Excel |
Date: October 16, 2025 Time: 10:00-11:00, Session A; 2:00-3:00 Session B Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: Make your course materials more accessible and inclusive! This hands-on workshop will guide faculty through essential digital accessibility practices in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Offered at two times (10:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–3:00 p.m.), the session will provide step-by-step help from our facilitators—so be sure to bring your laptop. You’ll leave with practical skills to ensure your documents and presentations meet accessibility standards and better support all learners. Presenter: Dr. Sean Creech, Assistant Vice Provost for Learning Support Resources |
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Supporting First Gen Students Faculty Luncheon |
Date: October 27, 2025 Time: 11:30-1:00 (Presentation begins at noon.) Location: The Gamecock Dining Room, Cafeteria Event Description: Join us for a luncheon focused on strategies to support first-generation student learners in the classroom. Faculty will gain practical insights and tools to foster an inclusive environment that empowers first-generation students to thrive academically and personally. Presenter: Charlcie Pettway Vann, Associate Dean of Students, First Generation Student Support |
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Fulbright Opportunities for Faculty |
Date: October 28, 2025 Time: 1:30-2:30 Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: Thinking about applying for a Fulbright grant? This session will help you prepare your proposal and plan for the experience, from finding the right opportunity to writing your final report. Presenters: Dr. Staci Stone, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs; Dr. Dan Mertens, Professor of Management; Dr. David Thornton |
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Active Threat Response Training with UPD |
Date: October 29 Time: 2:00-4:00 PM Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: Jax State's University Police Department's active threat response training provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues, and considerations for conducting drills. Presenters: Chief Michael Barton and the Jacksonville State University Police Department |
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Heart of Campus: Library as 3rd Space |
Date: November 11, 2025 Time: 12:00-1:00 BYOB Lunch (Faculty Commons will provide chips and drinks; just bring a sandwich!) Location: 208 Self Hall Event Description: The campus community is a busy, vibrant place filled with new experiences and people, but what about when you need those moments of focus and peace to complete assignments, projects, and well, just to be? The Library is the perfect 3rd place, away from the responsibilities and distractions of living spaces (1st spaces) or work/classroom spaces (2nd spaces). The Library is the last place in society where an individual can just 'be' without the expectation of buying something. These spaces are important neutral grounds to meet with others to study, work, or simply 'be'. An added bonus is that this space is welcoming to everyone with free information and information technology with which to live up to their full potential. Presenters: Houston Cole Librarian, Kim Westbrooks |
Upon registration for a workshop session, you will receive a calendar invite at your JSU Outlook email. Calendar invites are manually sent by Brandy Roberts. Please allow up to two hours to receive the invitation during regular business hours. After accepting the invitation, the event will appear on your Outlook Calendar. If you cannot see it, please contact Brandy Roberts at broberts@jsu.edu.
While Faculty Commons encourages registration for Jax State Essentials meetings, it is not a requirement to pre-register to attend meetings, with the exception of the Supporting First Gen Students Faculty Luncheon scheduled for the Gamecock Dining Room.