UPCOMING CFE EVENTS
Thank you for your interest in the Center for Faculty Excellence’s faculty development opportunities. Please explore our upcoming events below.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The First AI Hackathon: Leveraging AI for Teaching, Research, and Administrative Purposes
October 16, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Whether you’re AI-curious, AI-cautious, or already experimenting with new tools, this interactive hackathon offers an accessible pathway from everyday AI use to creating practical solutions for teaching and learning. Participants will discover that building AI agents is more approachable than they might think, and that effective agents often emerge from collaboration rather than technical expertise. Beginning with familiar, non-academic examples of how AI can simplify everyday tasks, the event gradually progresses toward educational applications. After a brief introduction to AI agents and a hands-on demonstration of how to build one, participants will form interdisciplinary teams to design and develop an agent that addresses a real teaching, research, or administrative challenge. Teams will be intentionally composed to bring together complementary strengths, including disciplinary expertise, pedagogy, instructional design, creativity, and technical knowledge. The hackathon concludes with lightning presentations, audience voting, and recognition of the most creative, impactful, and scalable projects. Participants will leave with a working prototype, practical AI development skills, new collaborators, and a deeper understanding of how AI can augment—not replace—the work of educators.
Location: Butler Boardroom
Adjunct Circle Community Roundtable
October 20, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Join fellow adjunct faculty from across AU for collaborative roundtable discussions designed to foster connection and shared learning. The Adjunct Circle creates space for part-time instructors to exchange teaching strategies, discuss common challenges, and build meaningful relationships with colleagues who understand your unique experience. Whether you’re navigating your first semester or bringing years of expertise, your voice matters here. Come ready to share insights, ask questions, and connect with peers across schools and disciplines in an informal, supportive environment
Location: MGSC 306
Research Methodology Workshop: Introduction to 2-Way ANOVA
October 21, 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
In this workshop we will discuss the problem of analyzing data from an experimental design using the two-way ANOVA method. We will analyze the effect of two independent variables (also called factors) on one dependent variable. We will look at the following cases: (a) both the independent factors are fixed effects, (b) both the independent factors are random effects, and (c) one independent factor is fixed and the other factor is random (also called mixed effect model). We will discuss the statistical assumptions of the three cases. For the analysis we will use the software SPSS.
Location: MGSC 306
The AU Research Pledge: What Faculty Should Know
October 26, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
This session will provide an update on AU Ready’s undergraduate research pledge, which guarantees every student access to a funded research experience, including a $4,500 stipend, beginning in their sophomore year. Participants will learn about the first AU Ready Research Prep course, including a forthcoming online asynchronous version, and how the course equips students with the skills needed to conduct independent research. The session will also cover the process for accessing the stipend, ways faculty can support student participation, and how faculty can use the program to identify and recruit research-ready undergraduate research assistants.
Location: Butler Boardroom
Is Knowledge a Public Good? A Faculty Panel on AI and Copyright
October 28, 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Faculty from across disciplines, including the law school, come together for a conversation between ethics and law, discussing knowledge as a public good, the legal protections publishers hold over paywalled academic content, and what this means for faculty and students navigating research and AI tools today.
Location: MGSC 305
Fall Course Design Institute
November 5, 12, 19, 12:45 – 2:15 PM
Join us for the Course Design Institute — a four-part, hands-on workshop series where faculty transform their course materials through student-centered and inclusive pedagogy. Bring a syllabus, a new course you are teaching for the first time, or existing materials to refresh. Leave with refined, semester-ready teaching materials. Featuring collaborative activities, peer feedback, and expert facilitation. CDI offers dedicated space to (re)design your course and activities with intention. We will also explore whether and how to incorporate genAI.