August 2025 ARC

Opening Plenary
President Rick Muma and Provost Monica Lounsbery ring in a new Academic Resources Conference with updates about the campus and issues facing higher education. 

Dr. Richard Muma
President, Wichita State University

Dr. Monica Lounsbery
Senior Executive Vice President and Provost, Wichita State University

This session introduces faculty to the core features of Blackboard Ultra. Join Mary to learn how to create and organize course content, communicate with students, and manage your course. 

Want an empty development shell to work with while Mary shows you the ropes? Fill out a Development Shell Request. 

Mary Morriss
LMS Specialist, Office of Instructional Resources

Creating and Using Rubrics in Blackboard
Rubrics help clarify expectations and streamline grading. In this session, learn how to create, customize, and apply rubrics in Blackboard to support consistent, transparent assessment. We’ll also explore how rubrics align with learning goals and how to use them effectively across assignments and discussions.

Magi Penner-Hiebert
Instructional Designer, Office of Instructional Resources

Tests in Blackboard: Banks, Pools, and Settings
This session guides faculty through building effective assessments in Blackboard Ultra. Learn how to create tests, build and reuse question pools, and configure test settings for flexibility and integrity. We’ll also cover common issues—like undeletable pools, upload errors, and test visibility—and how to resolve them with confidence.

Mary Morriss>
LMS Specialist, Office of Instructional Resources

Incorporating Publisher Materials in Blackboard
In this session, you will learn how to integrate publisher content—like Pearson, McGraw-Hill, and Cengage—into your Blackboard Ultra course. 

Mary Morriss
LMS Specialist, Office of Instructional Resources

Setting Up Your Gradebook Right the First Time
Avoid grading headaches later by setting up your Blackboard Ultra gradebook correctly from the start. This session will walk you through through best practices for organizing grade columns, applying categories, weighting grades, and using filters to streamline grading. Learn how to build a gradebook that supports your course goals and saves time throughout the semester.

Heather Merchant
Senior Educational Accessibility Technologist, Office of Instructional Resources

Building Your Course for Student Analytics
Design your course with data in mind. This session explores how to structure content, assessments, and engagement tools in Blackboard to generate meaningful analytics. Learn how to use built-in reports and progress tracking, and find out what kinds of data questions OIR can answer from the admin side. 

Magi Penner-Hiebert
Instructional Designer, Office of Instructional Resources>

Give Your Blackboard Class that "Wow" Factor
At OIR, we are always excited to see the innovative ways you design your courses. When we come across a Blackboard class that truly impresses us, we make sure to take notes. Join Jacie for an inside look at one such class, and discover some valuable tips on enhancing the visual appeal, organization, and other aspects of your own courses.

Jacie Green>
Director of Graduate Programs and Associate Educator, College of Health Professions, Department of Public Health Sciences

Building a Jetsons Course
Step into the future of teaching with this hands-on session focused on designing interactive, tech-forward courses in Blackboard Ultra. See examples built with AI tools, 360° video, augmented and virtual reality, HTML enhancements, and more to create dynamic, student-centered learning experiences. This session is perfect for faculty ready to push the boundaries of digital instruction.

Carolyn Speer
Director, Office of Instructional Resources

All About Blackboard Video Studio
In this session, you will learn how to create, edit, and share engaging video content directly within Blackboard Ultra. This session introduces the features of Blackboard Video Studio, including trimming, captioning, and embedding videos into your course. See what's coming next, including in-video knowledge checks and more advanced analytics. Learn how to enhance student engagement and accessibility with easy-to-use tools—no extra software required.

Rachel Bastian
Instructional Design Lead, Office of Instructional Resources

Making Feedback Matter: Strategies for Instructors

Effective feedback can transform learning—but only when it’s timely, actionable, and student-centered. But what "time" is "timely?" What tone is best? This session explores research-based strategies for delivering feedback that motivates and guides learners. Bonus: In this session, you will get to meet (or revisit) STABI, the feedback Unicorn! 

Rachel Bastian
Instructional Design Lead, Office of Instructional Resources

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Introduction to AI
Catch up on the way Large Language Models (LLMS) are shaping the world around us, and how Wichita State is bringing them to our faculty, staff, and students in safe and responsible ways.  

John Jones
Executive Director, Media Resources Center

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Watermark Tools for Instructors
This session introduces faculty to the Watermark suite, including Course Evaluations & Surveys (CES) and the Faculty Success platform used for advancement and FAAR reporting. Learn how to navigate each tool, interpret evaluation data, and streamline your annual reporting process with confidence and clarity.

Sandy Ranney, 
Administrator, Watermark CES; Director, Social Science Research Lab

Rachel Crane
Administrator, Watermark Faculty Success; Associate Professor & Music and Fine Arts Librarian

Accessible Infographics
Infographics can be powerful teaching tools—but only if everyone can engage with them. In this session, Heather will teach you how to make your infographics support diverse learners, including those with visual, cognitive, and language-related disabilities. Learn how to use alt text, color contrast, reading order, and layout to ensure your visuals are inclusive and effective.

Heather Merchant
Senior Educational Accessibility Technologist, Office of Instructional Resources

Using Copilot for Grading Workflows
Explore how Microsoft Copilot can streamline your grading process. This session introduces practical ways to use AI while keeping your voice and academic standards front and center.

Carolyn Speer
Director, Office of Instructional Resources

Jennifer Sebes
Associate Teaching Professor, College of Health Professions

University Accessibility Training
Get ready to create an inclusive environment in your classes. This dynamic session covers everything from key expectations to service animals and the tools available to make accessible instruction possible. 

John Jones
Executive Director, Media Resources Center

Microsoft and Blackboard: Better Together
Discover how Microsoft tools and Blackboard Ultra work hand-in-hand to create a more connected, efficient, and engaging learning environment. This session explores practical integrations—like embedding Teams meetings, using OneDrive and Stream for content delivery, and leveraging tools like Reflect, OneNote, and Forms—to enhance communication, collaboration, and classroom management across modalities.

Ali Levine
AITS Applications Training Lead, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Microsoft Office Specialist Master

Rachel Bastian
Instructional Design Lead, Office of Instructional Resources

Creating Effective Tests and Using Honorlock to Proctor Them 
In this session, Carolyn will guide you through some strategies for building effective tests, with a focus on alignment to course materials and promoting academic integrity. Then Rachel will demonstrate how to set up and use Honorlock for secure, flexible online proctoring that supports student success while maintaining exam integrity. This session is ideal for faculty looking to enhance both the quality and security of their assessments.

Carolyn Speer
Director, Office of Instructional Resources

Rachel Bastian
Instructional Design Lead, Office of Instructional Resources

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Navigate Training for Faculty
In this session, Kim and Brett will introduce you to the Navigate platform and its role in supporting student success. Learn how to use Navigate to view student profiles, track progress, issue alerts, and coordinate outreach with advisors and support staff. Discover how this tool can enhance communication, streamline interventions, and help you stay connected with your students.

Kim Sandlin
Director, Office of Student Success

Brett Bruner
Assistant Vice President, Student Success and Persistence

Faculty Collaboration Corner: Success Beyond the Syllabus
This session will preview how Student Success is collaborating this fall with faculty, instructors, and departments to create individualized classroom experiences and connections. Faculty and instructors at all levels are encouraged to collaborate with us.

Kim Sandlin
Director, Office of Student Success

Chelsea Dey
Lead Success Coach, Office of Student Success

Accessible Course Design as a Foundation for Student Success
Designing with accessibility in mind helps all students thrive. In this session, you will learn how to create inclusive, student-centered courses using Blackboard Ultra. We’ll highlight practical strategies for structuring content, improving usability, and leveraging Anthology Ally to provide alternative formats like audio, HTML, and tagged PDFs. Learn how small design choices can remove barriers and support diverse learning needs from day one.

Heather Merchant
Senior Educational Accessibility Technologist, Office of Instructional Resources

Campus Strong, Career Ready: on Shocker Career Accelerator, Shocker Success Center
Discover how Wichita State’s Shocker Success Center and Shocker Career Accelerator work to support students academically, personally, and professionally. This session will introduce you to a wide range of services—from tutoring, success coaching, and tech resume building, career fairs, and internship placement. Whether guiding students through challenges, helping them prepare for life after graduation, or even just trying to answer their many questions, this session will equip you with the knowledge to connect them with the right resources at the right time.

Sarah Mathews
Director of Career Development

Aaron Hamilton
Director, OneStop Student Services

2025-2026 Common Read Discussion - Eat Like a Fish by Bren Smith
Eat Like a Fish by Bren Smith is the WSU Common Read for the 2025-2026 school year and is required reading for First-Year Seminar classes and is assigned in a few other classes. Join librarians and FYS instructors in the Digital Scholar Commons in Ablah Library or virtually at this hybrid event.  Open to the WSU community. Registration is required only for online participation and is optional for in-person attendance. All registered attendees will receive an email reminder

Register to Attend Online

Angie Paul
Instruction and Outreach Librarian, Teaching Professor

Register to Attend Online or attend in person in the Digital Scholar Commons, Ablah Library (no registration required for in-person attendance)

 Services for Struggling Students
When students face challenges—academic, emotional, or personal—Wichita State offers a wide range of support. Join Alicia Newell to better understand how to connect students to specialized support and guide them toward the help they need.

Alicia Newell
Assistant Vice President of Student Belonging, Student Affairs

From Clicks to Creativity: AI Tools in Blackboard
Blackboard has embraced AI, and it’s transforming the way instructors create and deliver content.Whether you’re designing a new course or updating existing materials, Blackboard AI tools can help streamline your workflow and enhance student engagement. We’ll walk through practical examples of how AI can assist with content generation, course structure, and more. You’ll leave with ideas you can implement right away and a better understanding of how Blackboard is evolving to support innovative teaching.

Carolyn Speer
Director, Office of Instructional Resources

Academic Integrity at Wichita State
This session offers a clear and practical overview of WSU’s academic integrity policies and procedures. Whether you're new to teaching or simply curious about how the process works, this session will help you understand what happens when a student is suspected of academic misconduct.We’lldiscuss the steps of the accountability process, from concerns to resolution, and clarify the roles of instructors, students, and university staff. 

Grace Henderson
Assistant Director, Student Conduct & Community Standards

Alicia Newell
Assistant Vice President of Student Belonging, Student Affairs

AI and Students
Artificial Intelligence is here, and many of your students are already using it. This session will explore how instructors can engage students in meaningful conversations about AI use in academic settings. We’ll address common concerns such as: Are students allowed to use AI? If so, when and how? You’ll learn how to create clear, thoughtful guidelines that align with your course goals and institutional policies

Magi Penner-Hiebert
Instructional Designer, Office of Instructional Resources