October 28, 2026 – Further Together

October 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Next week, 91Ƶ State will celebrate Raiders First Celebration Week, a university-wide recognition of our first-year and first-generation students. These students bring determination, resilience and ambition to our university, and their success is strengthened by the faculty and staff who support them every day. As a proud member of the FirstGen Forward Network, 91Ƶ State remains committed to creating opportunities that help students persist, thrive and achieve their goals.

Students will have opportunities to connect with their colleges and prepare for spring 2027 registration through the following events:

Thursday, Nov. 5:

  • Coffee and Donuts with Aviation Registration Party, 9:30–11:30 a.m., Allyn Hall Lounge
  • Frame Your Future with Nursing Registration Party, 3–5 p.m., 014 and 101 Student Success Center

Friday, Nov. 6:

  • Student Showcase with the College of Liberal Arts Registration Party, 3–5 p.m., Allyn Hall Lounge
  • Party Deck with Athletics, Nutter Center Concourse Party Deck, featuring the women’s basketball game at 5 p.m. and the men’s basketball game at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 9:

  • Lakers First Social Mixer, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Laker Lounge, Lake Campus
  • Pumpkin Decorating with the Raj Soin College of Business Registration Party, noon–2 p.m., Rike Hall Lobby
  • Legos with the College of Engineering and Computer Science, 3–5 p.m., Russ Engineering Center Lobby
  • Frame Your Future with the College of Health, Education and Human Services and Boonshoft School of Medicine Registration Party, 3–5 p.m., 014 and 101 Student Success Center

Tuesday, Nov. 10:

  • Breakfast with the College of Science and Mathematics Registration Party, 9:15–11:15 a.m., 109 Oelman Hall
  • Take Flight Connect, 2–3 p.m., 101 Student Success Center
  • FAFSA and Scholarship Workshop, 3–5 p.m., 014 Student Success Center

Thursday, Nov. 12:

  • First-Generation Faculty and Staff Social, 9:30–11 a.m., 101 Student Success Center
  • Etiquette Dinner with the Berry Family Career Hub, 5–7 p.m., Student Union Atrium

I encourage you to share these opportunities with your students and participate when your schedule allows. Your engagement sends a powerful message that our students belong here and that their success matters to all of us.

Thank you for the many ways you contribute to a welcoming and supportive 91Ƶ State community. 

Register for our Fall Commencement Ceremonies

Commencement marks a significant moment in the lives of our students and their families. The granting of a degree and the admission to the “rights and privileges” associated with a given degree are extraordinarily important events for graduating students.

The presence of faculty is especially important to our graduates and their families. All faculty should prioritize their attendance, and bargaining unit faculty are reminded of their responsibility under Article 7.4.8.

All faculty are encouraged to attend one or both fall commencement ceremonies in the 91Ƶ State Nutter Center. Registration is required and is open now through Nov. 24. .

Graduate Ceremony: Friday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m.

Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.

Information about renting regalia from the 91Ƶ State Bookstore was emailed earlier this week, with a deadline of Nov. 14. You can also find this information on the commencement website. If you have questions about regalia rental, please contact merchteam@ecampus.com.

Integrating Coursera Content into Pilot

With 91Ƶ State’s expanded access to Coursera Career Academy Plus, faculty can now seamlessly incorporate Coursera content directly into their Pilot courses using the Coursera LTI integration. Faculty may embed entire Coursera courses, individual modules, assignments, videos, specializations or professional certificates within Pilot while maintaining a consistent learning experience for students. Course and assignment grades can also be synchronized with the Pilot gradebook, providing additional flexibility when integrating Coursera content into coursework.

Faculty can request a guide to help integrate Coursera content into their courses by emailing Provost@wright.edu. The guide includes information on identifying appropriate content, embedding Coursera resources into Pilot and configuring gradebook settings.

Coursera also hosts Curriculum Integration Office Hours every Wednesday at noon to help faculty identify, embed and manage Coursera content in Pilot. .

Faculty with questions about integrating Coursera content in their courses or aligning it with learning outcomes can contact Provost@wright.edu. 

Quality Matters Workshop

The Center for Faculty Excellence is offering the Quality Matters (QM) Applying the QM Rubric Workshop, which provides practical, evidence-based strategies for improving online, hybrid and face-to-face courses. Completion of the workshop also fulfills the prerequisite for the QM Peer Reviewer Course. Faculty will also learn nationally recognized course design standards and explore program-level LMS templates to improve course consistency, accessibility and student success.

The workshop is free for all 91Ƶ State employees, thanks to funding provided by the Provost’s Office (a $360 value). The interactive workshop will be offered on Webex from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates: 

  • Nov. 13, 2026
  • March 26, 2027

Faculty are encouraged to register early, as fewer sessions will be offered this year and space may be limited.

or contact Dr. Sheri Stover with questions. 

When a Student Needs Support

is a great resource for helping students or making referrals. This site contains contact information for emergency or essential departments that can assist your students all in one location.

The Student Success Navigator showcases the wide range of resources designed to support our students. Whether students are interested in joining a student organization, looking for access to mental health services, playing a sport or finding a job, all information is available in one central location.

I am grateful for your dedication to promoting student success. I hope you have a wonderful and productive week!

Jim Denniston, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost