|
WELCOME and THANK YOU for reading! This newsletter covers what happened in December 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): |
| |
|
Draft Agenda
Presiding: Josh Morrison, President-Elect
AGENDA – 8:00 AM PT/11:00 AM ET Start
Time: Item (Facilitator)
8:00 am PT/11:00 am ET: Welcome & Agenda Overview, Celebrating successes to date (Josh Morrison)
8:10 am PT/11:10 am ET: Strategic Planning (Tris Utschig / Josh Morrison / Others)
- Goal: Review progress on update to Academy Strategic Plan & Develop draft version that is supported by consensus
9:40 am PT/12:40 pm ET: Nutrition Break
10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET: Conference Planning (Josh Morrison / Will Ofstad / Yuqin Hu / Steve Beyerlein)
- Proposals & Proposal Review Process
- Identify Plenary Sessions
- Program Development [daily schedule, session timings]
- Hall of Innovation
- Proposal Development & Encouraging Proposals
- Pre-Conference Workshop
11:30 am PT/2:30 pm ET: Academy Leadership Initiative (Bickkie Solomon)
12:45 pm PT/3:45 pm ET: Set Spring Meeting Schedule/Community Updates (Josh Morrison)
1:00 pm PT/4:00 pm ET: Adjournment (All)
Sharing IAoPE & PE Successes (as of July 2025)
Academy To-Dos
Develop Pre-Conference Workshop for Assessment Institute in Indianapolis. Call for Proposals: Due 3/6/26. Proposal development slides here. Draft proposal here - n.b. Modeled after the 2025 PE Conference PE in a Nutshell workshop presented by Tris Utschig. |
| |
|
June 1 - 4, 2026 @ West Coast University, Anaheim
PE Conference 2026 Registration is available!
Visit www.processeducation.org/peconf
The conference hotel information is available on the Location page, along with maps, directions, and links to all the area has to offer.
Don’t forget, you can get session templates and submit a session proposal too! Just visit the Presenter's page. |
| |
|
Choose where you'd like to listen... |
| |
|
In this episode of Active Listening, we dive into the essential question of why some individuals push themselves to their limits while others of equal intelligence do not. Research suggests that the defining quality shared by high achievers is grit, defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals". While standardized tests like the SAT are useful, studies indicate that grit and self-discipline are actually better predictors of success in college than IQ or test scores
We explore how educators can move beyond simply praising talent—which can actually harm student motivation—and instead foster a growth mindset
You will hear about the importance of teaching students that confusion and mistakes are a normal, expected part of the learning process rather than a sign of failure
This episode also examines the role of "tough love" in higher education. We discuss how creating a quality learning environment requires faculty to:
- Set high expectations that challenge students to move beyond their comfort zones
- Avoid "enabling behaviors" that create dependency, such as intervening too quickly when a student struggles
- Manage short-term failure so it serves as a catalyst for growth and long-term goal directedness
- Utilize peer interaction and common vocabulary to build a culture of character and resilience
-
Ultimately, student success is not an entitlement; it must be earned. By teaching students how to regulate their attention and emotions through deliberate practice, we empower them to reach their full potential.
To understand the necessity of high expectations, consider the high jumper: if an athlete successfully clears a bar at six feet, the coach must raise it to six feet and six inches to motivate a better performance
In the same way, academic excellence requires us to raise the bar for our students, providing them with the "stamina" to clear it.
This episode is based on the following sources:
Denna Hintze generated this podcast with Google's Notebook LM, checking and approving its content and quality. |
| |
|
Getting the Word Out!
Morrison publishes brief history of Process Education for a SoTL Journal |
| |
|
The National Teaching & Learning Forum (NTLF) is a Wiley journal, publishing short articles on topics of interest to the higher education teaching and learning community. For the January 2026 issue, Josh Morrison published therein a short article entitled "A brief history of Process Education," appearing on pages 8-10. The article provides a view into the development of PE over time, emphasizing its connection to various other education theories and philosophies, and highlights selected methodologies, tools, and resources, including the LPM, CLS, Assessment and a Culture of Assessment, and the IJPE. Also included are short summaries of key PE concepts, such as learning skills, reflection, learning to learn, and self-growth.
Josh hopes that this article sparks additional curiosity and engagement with the Academy, and encourages readers to visit the Academy website, become members, and contribute to our growing community. The full journal issue can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/21663327/2026/35/1 |
| |
|
Getting Even MORE Words Out:
The International Academy of Process Educators (US!!) is featured in an award-winning podcast! |
| |
|
This year, the Academy became a partner of the Assessment Institute, a major initiative of the Center for Leading Improvements in Higher Education at Indiana University Indianapolis. As part of that collaboration, Tris Utschig and Josh Morrison were invited on the Center's podcast, called Leading Improvements in Higher Education. The podcast features many aspects of Process Education, including applications of PE in both teaching and learning as well as personal and professional growth.
The podcast episode, Season 6, Episode 3, was recorded mid-semester, and was released in late December on the Center's website, as well as common podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and through a dedicated RSS feed. It is available to listen here as well. The podcast is the winner of numerous awards, including the APEX award for publication excellence for the years 2021-2025.
The Academy has been invited to present a pre-conference workshop at the 2026 Assessment Institute in Indianapolis, which will be held October 18-20 in downtown Indianapolis. This year, the Assessment Institute is hosting several free webinars on assessment-related topics that may be of interest to Academy members. You can see past recordings and future dates here. |
| |
 |
Secretary
Steve Spicklemire |
|
| |
|
Summary of the December 10 Board Meeting
. . . |
| |
|
Meeting Overview The Board convened to approve previous minutes, discuss upcoming events including the Winter Meeting and the annual conference, and review strategic planning initiatives. The financial report indicated no new updates, with the budget remaining on track.
Key Highlights & Discussions
Winter Meeting & Conference Planning
- Winter Meeting: Scheduled for Saturday, January 3. The agenda will include scheduling meetings for the spring semester.
- Conference Updates: Registrations are increasing, with potential for institutional memberships to support further attendance. A planning meeting is required prior to the January gathering.
- Workshops: The Board discussed pre-conference workshop concepts, including a “PE in a Nutshell” session and breakout topics covering SII (Strengths, Improvements, Insights), Activity Design, and Assessment.
Strategic Planning
- Focus Areas: The Board discussed championing specific areas of the strategic plan, including research initiatives and membership growth.
- Workshops: There was a suggestion to hold a workshop focused on Notebook LM as part of the strategic initiatives.
Professional Development (PD)
- Fall & Spring Programming: The fall PD schedule has concluded. Planning for the spring semester is underway, with proposed topics including PE Basics, SII, Activity Design, and AI-related subjects (such as AI adventures/gamification).
- Engagement: There is a focus on ensuring sufficient participation, potentially through promotions targeted at institutional members.
- Schedule: Starting in February, sessions can be scheduled on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Details to follow.
Operational & Technical Updates
- Zoom Security: The Board addressed the need to review authentication processes, specifically setting up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to allow multiple authorized users (host machines) to manage meetings, breakout rooms, and conference flows more effectively.
- Meeting Minutes: A suggestion was made to utilize Zoom transcripts and AI tools to assist in summarizing future meetings to streamline administrative work.
Publications & Announcements
- Newsletter: Articles are due by the 20th of each month. Suggested topics for repurposable content include PE for student success, faculty development, and new faculty onboarding.
- IJPE: The International Journal of Process Education has shifted to a rolling submission process rather than set deadlines.
Meeting Assessment & Reflections
During the closing assessment, the Board noted that while the strategic plan is moving forward and the core group remains committed, there are concerns regarding attendance and engagement. The discussion highlighted that the Academy is currently navigating a “technology inflection point” that mirrors broader societal shifts, which may require time to reach a new equilibrium.
|
| |
|
The DRAFT minutes from the December 10 Board Meeting are available HERE. |
| |
|
Staying Vigilant AND Informed
|
| |
|
In order to act effectively, we need to be informed. What follows are several sources and resources I've found, read, and recommend. Please use what you can and stay safe.
Pittsburgh professors say research was weaponized in Trump’s higher education fight (AP News) https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-donald-trump-donald-trump-es-education-funding-pittsburgh-acd5864b9691d90ff35d80dd2092d795
Tracking Trump’s Higher-Ed Agenda (The Chronicle of Higher Education) https://www.chronicle.com/article/tracking-trumps-higher-ed-agenda
Over 300,000 student loan borrowers were denied a new repayment plan, court filing shows — here’s why (CNBC) https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/26/trump-rejects-student-loan-idr-applications.html
‘Buckle Up’: Trump Official Pledges to Fix Accreditation (Inside Higher Ed) https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/accreditation/2025/12/17/kent-tells-accreditation-panel-buckle
The Americans Who Saw All This Coming—but Were Ignored and Maligned (from The New Republic) https://newrepublic.com/article/204254/survey-2024-election-cassandras-trump-2025
FREE Webinar Series
from The Chronicle of Higher Education
Trump and Higher Ed: Understanding the Latest
Sign up for free today and you’ll automatically be registered for all three new dates, taking place once a month January, February, and March.
|
|
|
Sarah Brown, The Chronicle’s news editor, and Rick Seltzer, author of the subscriber-only Daily Briefing newsletter, will tackle the most pressing issues in higher-ed policy, helping you stay informed and prepared for what’s ahead.
- Session 1: January 21 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
- Session 2: February 19 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
- Session 3 (Audience Q&A): March 26 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
|
|
|
| |
|
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!
|
| |
|
The Current Academy of Process Educators Executive Board
|
| |
Chaya Jain (President)
Joshua Morrison (President Elect)
Patrick Barlow (Past President)
Matthew Watts (Treasurer)
Steve Spicklemire (Secretary) |
Peter Smith (Finance Officer)
Grace Onodipe (Member-at-Large)
Yuqin Hu (Member-at-Large)
Jim Morgan (Member-at-Large)
George Dombi (Member-at-Large) |
|
| |
|
