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News, Events, Annual Report

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VITAL A.I. Series – Fall 2025

Series to help faculty navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of A.I. The series highlights recent developments in A.I,. examine its impact on student learning, and provide practical strategies for teaching and course design. Faculty will have opportunities to learn from colleagues, engage in hands-on workshops, and explore ways to thoughtfully approach AI in their courses.

  • A.I. Everywhere: A Faculty Discussion on Preserving Learning
    Tuesday, October 28, 2:30–3:45 p.m. | PwC Auditorium, Bartley 1011
    to register.

  • A.I. and Student Learning: Rethinking Purposeful Course Integration
    Tuesday, November 18,, 1:00–2:15 p.m. | Dougherty Hall, West Lounge

  • A.I. to Enhance Teaching Effectiveness: A Workshop with Prompts
    Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 10:00–11:15 a.m. | Zoom

Brightspace logo

New VITAL Resource: Teaching with Brightspace  

Discover how Brightspace tools might support your teaching goals and enhance your students’ learning experience. Gain familiarity with Brightspace as you engage with pedagogical use cases, sample activities, and instructional practices. .

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Flourish App for Student Well-Being 

The mobile app, an AI-powered tool for emotional health and stress management, is now available to students. This app provides 24/7 support through its AI assistant, Sunnie, offering science-backed tips and encouragement designed to proactively support student well-being by addressing everyday stress and motivation.

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Slate Success—Submitting Academic Concerns 

Do you have a student who is struggling in your course? As we approach the midpoint of the semester, faculty are encouraged to use the Student Success portal to report academic concerns (formerly early alerts). Search “Report an Academic Concern for a Student” in MyNova, then submit via My Classes or Student 360. Submissions are shared with the student’s academic advisor to help connect them with the proper support. Please visit our knowledge base article to learn more about how to report your concern. If you have questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Slate Success Team.

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Introducing Wittney Hammeke, Graduate Assistant 

We are delighted to welcome Ms. Wittney Hammeke to our team. She will bring her insights, academic work, and ideas to supporting our programs and services. Here's Wittney: "I am a recent graduate of Kansas State University where I earned my bachelor’s degree in News and Media. During my time at Kansas State, I served on the executive board of the university’s student media and completed a communications internship with the US Department of Agriculture. I plan on expanding my understanding of mass media and communication theory during my studies in Communication. I am  working towards a career in higher education, where I hope to contribute to the Communication field through teaching and research."

brightspace lms landing page

Villanova's Next Generation Learning Management System  

Villanova's next generation learning management system (LMS), D2L Brightspace is a mobile-friendly LMS that supports sound pedagogical practices and teaching innovation. Please consult this Next-generation Learning Management System website for timelines and updates, and the Brightspace Training and Support website for available resources and to sign up for training. 

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Academic Updates, Office of the Provost

For Faculty: Blackboard Bankruptcy, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 10/2025
For Faculty: Spring 2026 Course Material Adoptions, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 10/2025
For Faculty: Spring 2026 Textbook Orders, C. Palus, Senior Vice Provost for Academics (SVPA), 09/2025
For Faculty: FAQs About Immigration and Villanova's Campus, A. Dailey, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (AVPFA), 09/2025
For Students: Fall Semester Updates, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 08/2025
Fall Slate Update, R Weinstein, VPTL, 08/2025
For Faculty: Fall Semester Updates, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 08/2025
Brightspace Launch Update, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 05/2025

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Update on A.I. at ĂŰĚŇTV   

, May 2025
Guidance on A.I. Use in Your Education, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 1/10/2025
Teaching with A.I. Selected general and ĂŰĚŇTV resources
VITALITY: Strategies to Consider if You Suspect A.I. Misuse in Your Course 2/2024

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Test Proctoring and Testing Accommodations

(9/5/24) to learn how to better support your students with test proctoring needs and become familiar with the Villanova Test Centers. Facilitated by Learning Support Services (LSS) and The Office for Access & Disability Services (ADS).

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Teaching Podcasts

: Brings candid conversations with educators who are finding new ways to engage students inside and outside the class. Each episode will give you real-life examples and practical strategies you can put into practice in your own courses. Hosted by Eric Mazur, internationally recognized educational innovator in Social Learning and Peer Instruction.

: Guests share discoveries of “dead ideas”—ideas that are not true but that are often widely believed and embedded in the pedagogical choices we make. Hosted by Catherine Ross, CTL, Columbia University

: Offers research-based teaching tips to boost your creativity and motivation hosted by Magna Publications. Current episode: From concept to practice: Implementing liquid syllabi in higher ed

with Derek Bruff: Aimed at faculty to help them develop foundational teaching skills and explore new ideas in teaching.

: Series of discussions of innovative and effective practices in teaching and learning. Hosted by State University of New York at Oswego.

: Explores the art and science of being more effective at facilitating learning. Hosted by B. Stachowiak, Vangard University, CA.

: Features faculty and course designers using creative approaches to enhance students' learning experiences and turn engagement "ON".  Hosted by Dr. Kathryn Berkow, University of Delaware.

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Villanova Policy Library

The Villanova Policy Library (VPL) assists faculty, staff and students in better understanding the many University policies and procedures. The University Compliance Office continues to feature compliance-related policies. For example, the Academic Integrity Policy sets expectations for honest academic work and provides for equitable administrative procedures to address suspected violations of Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity. Access VPL through MyNova.

VITAL A.I. Series – Fall 2025

  • A.I. Everywhere: A Faculty Discussion on Preserving Learning
    Tue., October 28, 2:30–3:45 p.m. | PwC Auditorium, Bartley 1011
    Brian Grant, Assistant Professor, Accountancy, Stephen McGill, Assistant Teaching Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Jim Mendez, Clinical Associate Professor, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Veronika Ryjik, Professor and Chair, Spanish

    This discussion brings together faculty who have been experimenting with ways to ensure students continue doing the essential cognitive work required for learning in their courses. Panelists will share what’s working, what isn’t, and what they are trying next. Following brief presentations, attendees will join an open discussion and leave with concrete, discipline-informed strategies for preserving learning in their own courses.
  • A.I. and Student Learning: Rethinking Purposeful Course Integration
    Tue., November 18, 1:00–2:15 p.m. | Dougherty Hall, West Lounge
  • A.I. to Enhance Teaching Effectiveness: A Workshop with Prompts
    Tue., January 27, 2026, 10:00–11:15 a.m. | Zoom

Monday Morning Mentor - Week of 10/27 - 11/2 
How to Use Retrieval Practice to Make Learning More Effective 
Password: retrieval77
Program details and Fall 2025 Monday Morning Mentor Schedule
Past Morning Mentor topics on  (Transcripts are available)

Building Safe Spaces: Lunchtime Workshops 
Sponsors: Title IX Office and It's On Us, Nova Initiative

  • Supportive Measures for Students Impacted by Sexual Violence
    October 22, 2025, Noon-1:00 pm, Dougherty West Lounge
  • Masculinity 101
    November 19, 2025, Noon-1:00 pm, Dougherty West Lounge
  • Sexual Harassment in the Workplace - Prevention and Response
    December 11, 2025, Noon-1:00 pm, Dougherty West Lounge

To register,  and select any and all workshops you plan to attend.

Part 2 Program for Newly Appointed Full-Time Faculty
Wed., January 7, 2026
Location TBD
Refer to 01/25 agenda 

Teaching Conferences

Lilly Conferences


November 20 - 22
Miami University, Oxford, OH


January 8 - 10, 2026
Doubletree - Mission Valley

Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Conferences:
OLC Accelerate 2025 Conference
Orlando, FL: November 17-20, 2025

OLC Innovate 2026 Conference
Dallas, TX: April 14-17, 2026

OLC Accelerate 2026 Conference
Orlando, FL: November 16-19, 2026

Annual Reports

The annual reports detail the services and programs that VITAL provided to the Villanova academic community to support high quality teaching and learning environments. The central goal of all VITAL services is to facilitate dialogue and interaction among faculty who share common curricular and/or pedagogical interests.

VITAL works to ensure that services are aligned with Villanova’s mission, academic priorities, interests and needs of the academic community: e.g., University and Colleges’ strategic plans, formal feedback data, and discussions with the faculty advisory board. We welcome your suggestions and program ideas; please stop by the VITAL office at 106 Vasey Hall or send e-mail to: vitalinfo@villanova.edu.

* annualreportvitalweb1718.pdf
Annual Report 2017-2018