CTE Faculty Wellness Workshop Series. Spring 2021

The Center for Teaching Excellence’s  Spring Faculty Wellness Workshop Series begins Friday January 15^th. Funded by State APSCUF, it will offer seven sessions that will draw  upon shared readings, reflection, and the skills of nationally known consultants, as well as IUP faculty and staff, to promote personal wellness and build resilience in the face of challenges and change.  

These workshops will offer each participant the choice of one of two faculty productivity and well-being related books, a coffee mug to remind participants to give priority to their own self-care (while supplies last), and the opportunity to attend any or all of the six interactive workshops and an online yoga session.  

Save the date for Individual Session Topics and Descriptions

Session One: Planning a Balanced and Productive Semester

Jan 15, 10:00–11:00  a.m. 

Susan Robison, author of Peak Performing Professor, with join faculty facilitators to  provide an overview of the learning community design and guide faculty participants in goal-setting exercises designed to reduce stress through aligning work with core values and prepare holistically for a productive semester.  

Session Two: Thriving in the Mix of Physical and Virtual Relationships at Work and Home

Jan 29,  12:15–1:15 p.m. 

Spring 2020 brought into sharp focus the challenges presented by online teaching and working from home to productivity, health, and well-being. This session will share challenges presented and best practices in preserving sanity and physical health, and avoiding social isolation while teaching online and allowing faculty to discuss and apply strategies for personal practice. Activities will include an analysis of  your home office space to maximize comfort and productivity.   

Session Three: Planning for Faculty Research and Scholarly Productivity Through Self-Care Practices

Feb 12,  12:15–1:15 p.m. 

This interactive session will offer faculty an overview of research-supported best practices for scholarly productivity through the use of self-care practices and promoting well-being. An emphasis on “well-functioning” within academic productivity will be discussed as it relates to balancing teaching, service, and scholarship.

Session Four: Understanding How You Spend Your Time and Aligning Time Management with Your Priorities

Feb. 26, 12:15–1:15 p.m.

Time management has two aspects: understanding how you use your time, and intervening to manage your time with your priorities. Prior to the session, faculty participants will be given instructions for a two-week time audit where they engage in a self-study of their own time use.  In this session, we will explore methods for aligning your time with your priorities, using your own time audit. 

Session Five: Finding Time and Reaching Goals by Sharing Responsibility with Expert Helpers

March 5, 12:15–1:15 p.m.

This session will involve a panel of IUP campus and community service providers who will share content related to offices and personnel that have as their mission the provision of expert assistance to students and faculty. Utilizing these services can enable faculty to gain time by referring inquiries to faculty, staff, and local health wellness agencies who support faculty and student academic work and well-being.    

Session Six: Zoom Yoga Session

March 19,  8:00–9:30 a.m. 

Mid-semester, participants will be led in a relaxing yoga session with Julie Means, a TriYoga teacher. TriYoga is a system of postures and movements, breath, and focus that brings health to the body and peace to the mind. Through the practice of yoga, participants can experience a relaxed and strong body, a clear and calm mind, and inner peace. Studies continue to show that the benefits of yoga include, but are not limited to, emotional balance, mental clarity, and self-confidence; increased flexibility, strength, and endurance; and transformation of body, mind, spirit. 

Session Seven: Avoiding Burnout at Semester’s End, Assessing Wellness Level, and Planning a Healthy Productive End to the Semester

March 26, 12:15–1:15 p.m.

Week thirteen of the semester may feel like the 24th mile of a marathon. You have come so far and just need to make it to the end! Susan Robison, author of Peak Performing Professor, will join faculty facilitators to share content related to avoiding faculty burnout through a wellness approach. Activities will include a personal well-being self-assessment, working in small and then large groups to share advice on avoiding burnout through self-care, and an avoiding burnout takeaway activity to choose a next step. 

Zoom links are available via IUP Login page.