Dear Faculty of Arts, 

As September gets into full swing, some of us are dipping our toes back into the waters of face-to-face instruction, some are standing on the shore waiting for calmer waters, and some have plunged right in, exalting in the exhilaration of meeting students in person and the joys of being part of a vibrant university campus again. Whatever the delivery mode you are currently employing, anyone and everyone with courses in the Fall is now sharing in the common experience of diving headlong back into teaching. Today’s Update salutes all those taking the pedagogical plunge!

INFORMATION ITEMS

From Flotsam to Jetsam: If you are a new employee at KPU and are finding yourself a little at sea, you may want to check out HR’s new employee orientation, which is slated for this coming September 23rd at 9 AM. For more information and to register, you can click here.  

Tsunami Surfing: The Teaching and Learning Commons has added two additional modules to its much-acclaimed Foundations of Teaching Excellence program. In addition to Learning Design, Learning Assessment, and Learning Technologies – the program now includes Inclusive Teaching and Reflective Practice. Check it out here.

Dive Right In: The Fall 0.6% PD call for applications was communicated in Today@KPU (see the message here).  For more information, including which activities are eligible for funding, click here. As you prepare and submit your application, please keep in mind that applications completed on ROMEO need to be submitted before Friday, September 24, 2021 (1 week prior to the deadline). Once you have completely submitted your application, the Associate Dean will receive an automated e-mail letting them know that your application requires a letter of support. The Associate Dean will upload the letter of support to your application on ROMEO. 

Surfacing: The Task Force on Racism is hosting an Unlearning Anti-Blackness workshop for all KPU employees, on October 25th. The workshop, which is recommended for groups who have intermediate to advanced social justice knowledge, aims to unpack the manifestations of anti-Black racism in our society. It will explore issues of cultural appropriation, solidarity, activism, intersectionality, Black and queer identity, microaggressions, intergenerational trauma and transformative justice. It will also examine key events in Black history and explore contemporary examples of racism and tangible actions for allies. 

Be Buoyant and Beware the Undertow: Mental Health issues continue to be front of mind as we weather the stormy seas of the pandemic. Homewood Health is offering a workshop on Wednesday, September 22 from 11 – 12 noon. Intended for all employees, it aims to help build resilience and cope with change. You can register using this link. 

KUDOS & CONGRATS! 

Swimming Freestyle: Several KPU faculty were in the news this week commenting on current events and issues. You will want to have a listen to this CBC interview with Irina Ceric (CRIM) as it addresses the issues of police discrimination against indigenous protesters. Also, in the news this week, Dr. Gira Bhatt (PSYCH) was in conversation with FM 93.1 Red Radio’s Harpreet Singh canvassing the various push and pull factors that draw youth into gangs. You can listen here.

UPCOMING EVENTS   

Duct-Tape Divemaster! The Creative Writing Department will be hosting a reading by Billeh Nickerson from his latest book, Duct-Taped Roses, at an online event on Tuesday, September 21 from 4:00 – 5:20 PM. All are welcome to join! Please contact Department Assistant Anne Linn for the secure Zoom link to the event. To learn more about Billeh’s recent book, check out “Looking Toward the Sky” – the next installment of Faculty Voices! 

Take a Dip with the Arts Speaker Series – The Faculty of Arts’ Research & Scholarship Committee is excited to announce the return of the Arts Speaker Series for the 2021-2022 season! The series will dive right in with the first presentation titled, “Learning and Social Change: Reflections from Two Canada Research Chairs”. This discussion between Asma Sayed, Dept. of English, Canada Research Chair in South Asian Literary and Cultural Studies, Danny Bernstein, Dept. of Psychology, Canada Research Chair in Lifespan Cognition, and a KPU Student panel will take place on Wednesday, September 22 from 1-2 pm on Microsoft Teams. Click here to join the meeting 

*** 

Pier-a-wet: The Faculty of Arts office staff held its annual fall barbeque at Blackie Spit Park on Wednesday. The event was our first opportunity to get together with many of the new staff that only joined our ranks after the start of the pandemic. As you can tell from the group photo, it was a wonderfully fun-filled afternoon filled with family and furry friends, finger food and snacks, and lots of lovely mingling, visiting, and socializing. One day – when this pandemic has passed – we hope to bring the whole Faculty together for some fun in the park.

The event on Wednesday began with a bang, and it ended – as you will see below – with a big splash.  

We trust that those who honor Yom Kippur had an easy fast this week. And here’s hoping that everyone’s weekend goes swimmingly!

Diane, Shelley, Greg, and Wade