The closing of the academic year has always been bittersweet for me, especially now as my time in Richmond comes to an end. I may look back fondly and gratefully at how I have grown, but as the events calendar reminds me, as I move on to my graduate studies at Rutgers, life at the University of Richmond continues. The classrooms where I had so many "aha!" moments remain; each semester, there are always students walking between classes from 10:15 to 10:30 a.m., and the faculty find themselves in charge of yet another search committee.
|
|
|
|
We tend to celebrate this longevity of place when former students are welcomed back with great fanfare through reunion weekends and homecoming games. Isn't it wonderful, the alumni association says, that the campus where we made so many memories is still here? However, as I reflect on my experiences as both a student and a staff member, I can't help but feel as though this story is misguided. My memories of the University of Richmond have far less to do with the place than with the people–the dining hall staff who welcomed me every morning, the instructors who patiently guided me through difficult problems, and the countless others whom I encountered every day.
|
|
|
|
So, as the new graduates (and I) leave campus, I would like to extend a hearty congratulations and a debt of gratitude to those who remain, to the faculty and staff whose hard work and passion continue even when the classroom doors are closed.
|
|
|
|
Alan Declerck served as a post-bac fellow in the Faculty Hub during the 2025-2026 academic year. We wish him all the best as he heads to graduate school at Rutgers in the Fall.
|
|
|
|
P.s. As we head into the summer months, we'll put our weekly newsletter on hold to give you a chance to shift into summer mode. Keep a lookout for our next newsletter in early August!
|
|
|
|
Coming Up in the Faculty Hub
|
|
Program Spotlight: Inclusive Pedagogy Partners Program
|
|
If you haven't already experienced our Inclusive Pedagogy Partners Program, this fall might be the perfect time to try it. A student partner sits in a class over the course of the semester, offering feedback on any area that you'd like to learn about--student engagement, course design, or maybe...how your implementation of the new LMS is working for the students in your class. Faculty members who have participated in the program have found it to be helpful. In the words of one colleague, "nothing has been as impactful as sitting a student observer in my class and having deep weekly conversations about engagement and inclusion of my students."
|
|
|
|
|
We are always looking for new and exciting projects and collaborations. Feel free to contact us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|