WELCOME and THANK YOU for reading! This newsletter covers what happened in July and will give you a heads up on what to look for in the months following.

In this issue (please note the links below will only work when viewing this newsletter in a browser):

The next board meeting is August 13, 2025

6:00 to 7:30pm Eastern

(23:00 to 00:30 UTC)

As always, ALL board members and directors are welcome!

Zoom information is available on the Member’s site

A Call for Collective Action!

In alignment with several key priorities outlined in July’s newsletter, I would like to take this moment to emphasize the importance of our collective actions in strengthening the Academy. Chief among the priorities is the development of the Academy’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan—a collaborative endeavor with shared vision and ownership. These priorities include:

(a) building a robust, ever-growing and sustained membership base;

(b) streamlining theory and practice from implementation to scholarly dissemination; and

(c) fostering ongoing learner development and self-growth with focus on diversity and innovation, leveraging both national and global resources.

As we face a transformational paradigm shift driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is essential that we judiciously develop our five-year goals and strategies. One promising approach is to make this planning process a collaborative venture, facilitated through a series of ‘workshops’ over the coming three months for dissemination of the final draft for approval at the 2026 winter meeting. I am pleased to share that Tris Utschig, Director of Professional Development, fully supports this initiative. While details are still being finalized, I am excited that the process will be open to all members of the Academy and PE community, ensuring broad engagement, global networking and inclusive participation.

Another key priority calling for our timely, joint action is encouraging every Academy member to actively engage their peer network about the 2026 Annual Conference. Early outreach will provide prospective participants with ample time to plan travel and thoughtfully consider submitting their scholarly work.

A heartfelt note of thanks and appreciation to each of you for your unwavering dedication and ongoing ownership in strengthening the Academy. Our commitment continues to shape us into the impactful and inclusive organization we aspire to be.

The 2026 PE Conference will be hosted by West Coast University at their La Palma location in Anaheim, California. Stay tuned for further details, but look forward to hitting the west coast next summer!

West Coast University
2411 West La Palma Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92801

Elevating Next Year's PE Conference from 2025 PE Conference Assessments

With sessions ranging from keynotes and plenaries to workshops and team time, the 2025 PE Conference explored how Process Education can reduce stress and support both faculty and students. A total of 49 assessments were submitted for individual sessions and the full conference—offering a snapshot of what worked well and where we can grow.

Strengths

• Engaged Facilitators: Presenters adapted to participants’ needs and encouraged active learning.
• Clear PE Frameworks: Sessions grounded in key PE concepts helped attendees connect ideas.
• Interactive Formats: Role play, self-assessment, and small-group work deepened learning.

Key Themes

• Participation Drives Learning: Doing, not just listening, made sessions more impactful.
• Design for All Levels: Newcomers need clearer framing and help with jargon to stay engaged.
• Bridge Contexts: Tools and examples that transfer across roles were especially valued.
• Assessment Shapes Growth: Reflection prompts and self-assessment helped learners identify next steps.
• Use AI Thoughtfully: AI was helpful when used to support—not replace—core learning goals.

Recommendations for Next Year

• Foster Deliberate Growth: Guide team time to strengthen goal-setting, planning, reflection, and synthesis.
• Onboard New Participants Early: Offer PE in a Nutshell before the conference and recruit new participants.

Even with limited assessments, the feedback affirms that the strengths of Process Education—engagement, structure, and growth—continue to resonate. Small shifts can make next year’s experience even stronger.

Tris Utschig is a member of the Teaching Excellence Task Force for the American Society for Engineering Education. The task force is focused on developing a national framework to recognize and reward faculty professional development in teaching within engineering and engineering technology using a three-level program focusing on knowledge, application, and leadership in teaching. Our achievement is that we are piloting the first level of the program this year! This framework aims to encourage faculty to improve their teaching practices and enhance the student learning experience, which of course many of us in the Academy are focused on as well. Read more about the NSF-sponsored effort here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2417098&HistoricalAwards=false

Academy members Ingrid Ulbrich and Josh Morrison are excited about their contributions published in a new book on student success, ASCEND to Higher Retention Rates (Volume 3). Among the edited volume's chapters are two from these Academy Members. Their co-authored work, "Improving Academic Performance and Retention" highlights efforts over the last several years at UIndy to implement the Learning to Learn course for students in probationary status, bringing the concepts of Process Education to a broader audience. A second chapter, authored by Josh, focuses on the implementation of a student retention CRM which utilizes predictive analytics and machine learning to identify students who may need additional attention and support. The book was published in July and is now available on Amazon, alongside the two previous volumes. 

• Episode 1: The Heart of Teaching: Building Human Connections

We are pleased to introduce something truly new (for us): A podcast called Active Listening! Our goal is to offer an engaging discussion of each article published in the International Journal of Process Education in this delightful and FREE format.

Our first episode focuses on the article “Human-to-Human Relationship Model as a Strategy for Student (and Teacher) Success" by Romann-Aas and Hintze. The article itself is available HERE.

When you're ready aim your ears and do some active listening, simply click to stream Episode 1: The Heart of Teaching: Building Human Connections

The article and podcast highlights that true student success stems not just from techniques, but from authentic human-to-human relationships. Inspired by nursing theorist Joyce Travelbee, it encourages educators to move beyond the roles of "teacher" and "student", instead seeing each person as a unique individual. When teachers genuinely connect with students as whole human beings, fostering an "I-You" bond, it profoundly impacts achievement, growth, and willingness to learn.

The authors detail a five-phase process for building these impactful relationships: from the initial "Original Encounter" where we move beyond roles, through "Emerging Identities" where we recognize uniqueness, to "Empathy" and "Sympathy" (understanding and desiring to help), culminating in "Rapport"—a state of experienced relatedness. This approach aligns perfectly with Process Education's focus on the "whole person" and fostering environments ripe for active learning, where students feel valued and engaged.

Compelling evidence shows that strong teacher-student relationships directly correlate with not only academic success, but personal growth…on the part of both teacher and student!

This isn't about doing more; it's about rediscovering the profound humanity at the core of our educational journey.

We hope this conversation inspires you to cultivate even stronger, more impactful relationships when you're teaching AND when you're learning.

Josh Morrison generated this podcast with Google's Notebook LM. Its content and quality were approved by the article's authors.

IAPE Professional Development Plans for Fall 2025

Hold Your Wednesdays!

00:00 UTC / 6pm EST / 5pm CST / 4pm MT / 3pm PT.

These times coordinate with our monthly Academy leadership meetings and with PE Self-Growth Community activities occurring on Wednesdays at the same time. Only one weekly day and time to remember!

Current Fall Activity Plans

1. PE in a Nutshell – if you missed this session at the conference in June, or if you want to review your expanding understanding of PE using a simple framework, you won’t want to miss this updated workshop. Process Education (PE) offers a broad array of tools supporting personal and professional growth and development, whether it be for students in the classroom through active learning, broadly within our own life as we strengthen our growth mindset, and more. This session will show how these ideas and tools fit into a clear 5-point framework. Hold this date: Aug 27

2. Academy 5-yr goal workshops – come join a series of robustly designed PE experiences where you can help infuse your own goals into Academy plans for the near future. Working jointly with Academy leadership, we will hold three workshops in the fall semester to integrate the thinking and goals of Academy members into our Academy-wide 5-year plan. A special focus on the impact of AI on these plans will be included. Hold these dates: Sept 24, Oct 29, Dec 3

3. Possible additional sessions – one or two sessions on core PE topics such as designing active learning experiences, writing performance criteria to clearly outline expectations, or similar topics. One or two extended sessions (~2.5hr each) on developing holistic rubrics (performance measures is the specific PE term we use) for complex skills. Dates TBD

Summary of the July 2 Board Meeting

. . .

Present

Chaya J, Denna H, Josh M, Peter S, Tris U, Jim M, Bickkie S, Grace O., Patrick B, Matt W, Steve B, William O, Yuqin H, Knut Are R-A, Steve S

• New Director appointment

Bickkie S was appointed Marketing Director, but the board is flexible about the scope of this role. We may expand the scope officially once Bickkie has a chance to investigate the possibilities.

• 2025-2030 Five-year Plan

A subcommittee was formed to develop the condensed version of the proposed goals for the updated plan.

Volunteers for the subcommittee: Steve S, Chaya J, Denna H, Jim M

• Current Year’s Priorities

Membership/outreach: ideas and assignments

Lots of discussion about how to increase membership (dissemination of PE scholarship at non-PE forums within USA and global)

Chaya: How do we reach out to folks who are not familiar with PE? Please contact Denna before you try to send out mass emails

• Conference Planning: Venue and date finalization

Lots of conversation about next year’s conference at West Coast U, in La Palma CA.

Good discussion of reaching out to new people, plus a concern about not sending unsolicited email.

• Primer on the Academy

From Josh: Maybe two pages? It would be helpful to have a resource that can be given to a provost.

We need something. Tris agreed to look into re-framing the “nutshell” document with less jargon.

• Treasurer’s Report: Matt Watts 

Post-conference update: Posted report on member site (fiscal year begins Oct 1, ends Sep 30); this is the end of our third quarter.

• Directors & Chairs Reports

Professional Development (Tris Utschig): Set up a new PD committee; discussed multiple possible workshop/PD topics

SII of the conference: Maybe a simpler feedback form?

How about a newsletter article about how the feedback is being used to improve the conference? Maybe an SII would be the most helpful.

• Announcements

2026 Conference planning team/volunteers and mtg schedule

Winter meeting (online/hybrid?) → next agenda

Self-Growth Community: July 30 Orientation

The DRAFT minutes from the July 2 Board Meeting are available HERE.

The AAUP’s Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom has curated practical resources for those facing threats to their academic freedom, including how to find organizations that offer legal support. They also offer resources concerning digital security, travel, and dox defense. Click the link above or the cover below. (Last updated 7/24/2025.)

Important Information:

FREE Webinar Series: The Latest on Trump and Higher Ed

(from The Chronicle of Higher Education)

This free webinar series exploring the Trump administration’s impact on higher education has been extended for more sessions. Join as Chronicle experts break down the latest developments from the Trump White House.

• August 20: 1 p.m. ET | 10 a.m. PT

https://connect.chronicle.com/trump-webinar-series-2.html

Let us know:

• What have you achieved (WHO and WHAT)
• Suggest someone for an open board position (give us a NAME and POSITION)
• Request a workshop (please let us know the TOPIC, WHY you would find it valuable/useful, and CONTACT information so we can follow up with you)
• Pretty much anything else!