Faculty Mentoring
The College of Humanities and Sciences will host the following mentoring workshops and circles in the Spring 2026 semester. Participants must register via the link below prior to attending a workshop.
For questions, please contact CHS Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner.
Please also see Faculty Affairs Events offered by the Office of the Provost as well as workshops by the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, VCU Libraries and the Learning Experience Design Studio.
Mentoring Workshops on Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
Getting Started with Gen AI in the Classroom
Friday, February 6, 2026, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday, February 13, 2026, 1-2 p.m.
Designed for beginners, this introductory workshop is offered for faculty interested in learning about Gen AI for their classes. Offered at two different times, it is hosted by Dr. Joshua Smith, Founding Fellow of the Media & AI Initiative in the Robertson School of Communication. The workshop will provide an introduction to the licensed Gen AI tools and technologies at VCU as well as strategies on how to get started using them as teaching tools in the classroom.
Format: In person and capacity is limited to 25 participants for each workshop on a first-registered basis (location will be sent after registration).
Prompt Engineering AI Bootcamp
Friday, February 20, 2026, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Friday, February 27, 2026, 1-2 p.m.
This introductory, hands-on workshop is designed for faculty interested in exploring how to integrate VCU approved generative AI tools—such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini—into their teaching practice. Offered at two different times, the session invites participants to bring their own course materials—such as assignments, rubrics, syllabi, or classroom activities—for collaborative refinement using Gen AI technologies available at VCU. Led by Dr. Joshua Smith, Founding Fellow of the Media & AI Initiative in the Robertson School of Communication, the lab will guide participants through building custom, reusable AI prompts tailored to their instructional needs. Faculty will leave with practical applications they can immediately implement in the classroom.
Format: In person and capacity is limited to 25 participants for each workshop on a first-registered basis (location will be sent after registration)
CHS Gen AI Teaching Summit
Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
This full-day in-person conference on Spring Reading Day (no classes in session) will provide presentations, panels, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities for CHS faculty and staff around the topic of Teaching with Gen AI in the Classroom. The detailed program will be published after Spring Break. Registration is required.
Format: In person (STEM Building)
New Faculty Mentoring Lunches
Save the Date
Friday, February 6, 2026, 12-1 p.m.
Friday, March 27, 2026, 12-1 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 2026, 12-1 p.m.
Meetings with Dean Catherine Ingrassia and/or Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner for newly hired tenure-track and term faculty. Lunch will be served and prior registration is required. Restricted to newly hired faculty.
Format: In person (location will be sent after registration)
Mentoring Circles on Promotion Dossier Preparation
Writing Effective Promotion Teaching and Service Statements
Friday, March 20, 2026, 2-4 p.m.
Workshop with Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner as well as recently promoted faculty members on drafting effective teaching and service statements for promotion dossiers. This workshop is for faculty who will undergo promotion reviews during the 2026-27 P&T and promotion cycles.
Format: In person (location will be sent after registration)
Writing Effective Research/Scholarship Statements
Friday, March 27, 2026, 2-4 p.m.
Workshop with Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner as well as recently promoted faculty members on drafting effective research/scholarship statements for promotion dossiers. This workshop is for faculty who will undergo promotion reviews during the 2026-27 P&T cycle.
Format: In person (location will be sent after registration)
Tuning Your CV for Promotion Review and Writing the Promotion Bio
Friday, April 3, 2026, 2-4 p.m.
Workshop with Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner as well as recently promoted faculty members on drafting effective CVs and bios for promotion dossiers. This workshop is for faculty who will undergo promotion reviews during the 2026-27 P&T cycle.
Format: In person (location will be sent after registration)
Pre-Promotion Training
Q&A Sessions for Spring 2026 Pre-Promotion and Third-Year Review Candidates
Friday, January 16, 2026, 10-11 a.m.
Friday, February 6, 2026, 1-2 p.m.
Training sessions for term and tenure-track assistant professors who will be undergoing pre-promotion or third-year reviews during the 2026 Spring Semester. A training video will be shared prior to the sessions. Associate Deans Amy Rector and Marcus Messner will then answer questions about the review process in these sessions.
Format: Virtual via Zoom (link will be sent after registration)