Getting back in the swing of the academic year can be a challenge after a summer hiatus. Fortunately for UNM instructors, the Center for Teaching and Learning is here to help.  

Get Set Reset will be held Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with virtual sessions planned on themes including inclusive learning communities, tips on how to successfully launch your course, communication, assessment and more.  

The event, organized by the Center for Teaching and Learning, is held every year the week before the start of the fall semester and features concurrent sessions focused on actionable strategies that all instructors can apply to their teaching in the coming semester and academic year. 

In addition to offerings designed for all instructors, the program includes sessions designed specifically for the needs of teaching assistants. 

Live captioning will be provided on all concurrent sessions, and some sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Each session will have a separate Zoom link. 

Organizers said the event has received positive feedback, such as this comment from an assistant professor who attended last year’s Get Set Reset:

"Participating in Get Set Reset provided me with ideas, tools, and techniques to fine-tune my teaching practice. I began the academic year with inspiring teaching goals, connections with new colleagues, and innovative methods to support students. Additionally, sharing time with dedicated faculty from across campus energized me for the start of the semester." 

Here is a closer look at the day’s sessions: 

  • 9 a.m. Well-being as Pedagogy: Cultivating Presence, Community, and Hope in Distressing Times. This opening session will focus on the notion of “thoughtful resiliency,” examining what it means to bring your heart to teaching and learning, as well as the importance of supporting students. This builds on the theme of Spring Teaching Conference 2025: “Teaching, Learning and Well-being at UNM,” continuing the conversation on the role of authentic care and presence in teaching for student and faculty success and well-being. The presenter is Leola Tsinnajinnie Paquin, associate professor of Native American Studies and 2024-2026 Presidential Teaching Fellow. 
  • 10:15 a.m. Concurrent sessions on Supporting the General Education Experience at UNM; Co-Creating Classroom Community and Planning for the Unexpected: A Peer-to-Peer Workshop for GTAs; and Collaborative Group Work: Designing for Engaging Learning Experiences and Sustaining Community. Presenters include Pamela Cheek, vice provost for student success; Eva Rodriguez Gonzalez, professor and coordinator of the Spanish as a Second Language Program; and Caitlin Lippitt, lecturer in Geography and Environmental Students and chair of the Teaching Enhancement Committee. 
  • 11:30 a.m. Concurrent sessions on Restorative Practices as Pedagogy; Designing the Path (course alignment and goal-oriented paths for student success); and Success, Well-being and Community Building Strategies in High Enrollment Courses.

After lunch, concurrent sessions continue at 1:30 p.m., including an introduction to Canvas; Creating Community, Cultivating Confidence: GTA [Graduate Teaching Assistants] Teaching Strategies Across Disciplines; and a session on using transparent assignment design to enhance student success. 

The day will end with a session titled Small Group Reflection: Action Planning Your Next Steps for the Semester, where instructors will have a chance to discuss and reflect on their main takeaways from the sessions.

For additional information, including detailed session descriptions, lists of instructors and Zoom links, visit the program website. 

If you are craving more resources and ideas for a successful course, the next day (Aug. 14), the Center for Teaching and Learning will hold Open Labs, which will be a virtual, drop-in session from 9-10 a.m. The session will give further support to instructors in building their courses. See the schedule for more information and dates of Open Labs during the semester.