Announcements

The Center for Teaching, Learning & Scholarship (CTLS) has a few opportunities coming up January 12-15 designed to support, inspire, and re-energize the work of faculty and staff. If the new year has you thinking about your writing, there are still 2 spots available in the Faculty/Staff Writing Retreat, happening Monday and Tuesday in the Library—an ideal chance to jump-start or reconnect with a writing practice. On Wednesday, we’ll come together for a lunch discussion exploring AI and its implications for teaching and learning. We’ll close out the week on Thursday with the Syllabus and Course Design Collaboratory, a hands-on space to think creatively about course design. More details about each event are included below. Please pre-register if you plan to attend so we can ensure enough food and materials. Those who register in advance will receive a detailed schedule for the Writing Retreat and the Collaboratory. Schedules and program information will also be posted on the CTLS webpage (https://www.dickinson.edu/info/20650/center_for_teaching_learning_and_scholarship/4443/center_for_teaching_learning_and_scholarship_programs/7) as they become available.

JANUARY FACULTY/STAFF WRITING RETREAT (CO-SPONSORED BY THE NORMAN M. EBERLY MULTILINGUAL WRITING CENTER) – MONDAY AND TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 & 13 IN THE WAIDNER-SPAHR LIBRARY
The writing retreat is back to help you kick off your writing practice for the spring semester. Goal setting and reflection will be facilitated. A light lunch, snacks, and beverages are provided. Optional consulting appointments and writing break activities will be available. The writing retreat will be a brief oasis to make individual progress on a writing project in a supportive, semi-social environment. The retreat is two days from 10 am – 3 pm but you may attend one or both days and can come and go as you need to. Spaces are limited to please register to save your place. Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VbAyYrl2E0ybiLVirn22-2oR26DCxyBCtgbuSVFyn4pUNTRPVU44MEpKMzE3QkVYUUhVRkQ2NEdQNy4u

AI REFLECTION LUNCH – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 FROM NOON – 1PM (CO-ORGANIZED BY THE NORMAN M. EBERLY MULTILINGUAL WRITING CENTER) IN THE WRITING CENTER
Before the spring semester begins, we would like to give faculty the opportunity to reflect on the impact of AI in our classrooms and on our students. Rather than offering a programmed event, we will be holding a conversational lunch (catered by the Grazery) at noon on January 14th in the Writing Center. Join us to discuss how AI creates opportunities for classroom conversations about important ethical questions, including potential conflicts between Dickinson’s commitment to sustainability and academic freedom and what we know of AI’s effect on the physical and intellectual world around us; share observations about how of AI is impacting students; or pose questions about how the CTLS might help faculty position themselves in this constantly evolving context. To sign up for the lunch discussion please complete the form here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VbAyYrl2E0ybiLVirn22-2s6CWJjWAdAraJ38YKahbhUMUpMWUtGSEVGS0tITFU4NThXRktWWjY0Si4u

SYLLABUS AND COURSE DESIGN COLLABORATORY – THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 FROM 9 AM - 4 PM IN THE WAIDNER-SPAHR LIBRARY
Come fine tune or finalize your syllabi in community with peers, learn a new pedagogy by attending one of the workshops, sign-up for an individual or group consultation with campus partners, and enjoy lunch with colleagues. Individuals from the Multicultural Writing Center, Archives and Special Collections, The College Farm, Center for Civic Learning and Action, Ethics Across Campus & the Curriculum, Information Literacy and the Library, Academic Technology, Access and Disability Services, Women’s and Gender Resource Center, Quantitative Reasoning Center, Wellness Center, Center for Spirituality and Social Justice, Center for Career Development, Trout Gallery, and Visual Resource Center will be present to answer questions and provide assistance and consulting. We will also have workshops throughout the day on integrating career development into the classroom, pedagogy on the College Farm, generative AI as a teaching and learning tool, best practices for syllabus and course design, and more. Lunch will be provided. The link to register is here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VbAyYrl2E0ybiLVirn22-8pjxo9--shPhHwRBsfMBjNUM1VJOFZSMjc2T0RDMlZMR05OVjVYRDFKUS4u

The deadline to submit curricular changes to APSC for Academic Year 2026-27, including changes to majors, etc., is Tuesday, January 27, 2026. APSC must take these items to the March faculty meeting to secure approval. Additional information is available on the APSC Curriculum Revisions webpage.

This program is pending APSC approval.

Spend an unforgettable three weeks this summer at Universal Orlando Resort, home to some of the world’s most thrilling and imaginatively engineered theme parks. Immerse yourself in the worlds of Jurassic Park, The Simpsons, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and more. You won’t just visit some of the most popular themed lands on the planet—you’ll study the mathematics and related disciplines behind the magic.

Using the theme parks at Universal Orlando Resort as a backdrop, this course explores real-world applications of mathematics and data science. Students will investigate topics across applied mathematics—including probability, statistics, optimization, graph theory, combinatorics, and mathematical modeling—through direct observation and hands-on analysis of guest flow, attraction efficiency, and operational decision-making.

Over the three-week program, students will make daily excursions to the parks to gather data, develop and test hypotheses, and complete both small and large projects. Each day will include mini-lectures and discussions to reinforce key concepts, held in a variety of settings such as outdoor spaces, the suite’s common area, and even inside the parks themselves.

In the final week, students will design and carry out an independent project, collecting and analyzing data, making predictions, and testing solutions. They will present their findings to the group at the end of the course.

Program Dates
May 18 – June 9, 2026

Application Deadline
February 1, 2026

Information Session
Wednesday, November 19 at 8pm in Tome 115

For more information, email Prof. Dick Forrester at forrestr@dickinson.edu or Prof. Barry Tesman at tesman@dickinson.edu

Infrastructure Systems will be upgrading and replacing network server systems on Sunday, January 11th, 2026 between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Multiple systems will be impacted during this period. Please contact Kevin Truman with any question at trumank@dickinson.edu.

Attention Seniors: Join Tony Trandafir ’24 and Harper Sinclair ’25 for a casual conversation at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, as they talk about their experiences as Young Alumni Trustees. Get your questions answered about the application process and what it is like serving on the Board of Trustees. The zoom information is available in EngageD.

We are looking forward to our upcoming annual Town Meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, in ATS. President Jones, along with members of President’s Staff, will be sharing information on the state of the college and updates on ongoing initiatives. Questions may be asked following the presentations or submitted in advance via email to townmeeting@dickinson.edu, by calling Human Resource Services at 717-245-1503 or sending a note through campus mail. Please address envelopes to Human Resource Services, Attention: Town Meeting. Questions should be submitted no later than Monday, Jan. 12.

Workday is Live!

As the campus community starts using Workday, the project team continues to adjust, tweak and fine tune areas within the platform to provide a smooth, seamless user experience for all.

This spring we begin the process to implement Finance Adaptive Planning. Starting in the fall 2026 semester and continuing through 2028, we begin the planning and implementation process for Workday Student. To explore what happens in the next phases of Workday, please visit the Workday Project Website (www.dickinson.edu/workday).

Workday Wednesdays
Now through February 25, join weekly open sessions every Wednesday in the HUB where you can drop in to ask questions and get personalized assistance from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Live Training Session Recordings
Couldn’t attend in-person Workday training sessions in December? No problem! Recordings are available for you to watch at your convenience and will continue to be added as additional training sessions occur. All recordings are posted in the Workday Learning Pathways as well as the topic areas within the Workday Training Resources online.

Please submit requests for Workday assistance via email to helpdesk@dickinson.edu.

To view the full content of January 2026 Workday News online, click the ‘more information’ link below.

Thursday, January 15 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Happiness matters—it affects how we feel, perform, and connect in both our personal and professional lives. Research shows that happier people experience better health, stronger relationships, and greater success. Understanding the science of happiness and practical ways to cultivate it can help you lead a more fulfilling life.

Join Karen Beaudoin, MSW, EAP Program Manager and Senior Trainer of Health Advocate, to explore the science of happiness, how it impacts different areas of life, and practical activities you can do to increase your well-being.

Tuesday, January 20 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | HUB Conference Room, Lower Level

Questions about retirement? Your financial consultant has answers. Making decisions about your money can feel complicated. TIAA’s experienced financial consultants are available to help you plan for your future. One-on-one personal advice and education about your retirement plan assets is available at no additional cost. During your discussion, they’ll cover questions like:

Am I saving enough?
Am I invested appropriately?
Am I on track to meet my retirement goals?

Schedule time today for an appointment with TIAA financial consultant, Nigel Stearns. To schedule a personal meeting, please click the "more information" link below or call 800-732-8353 (remember to ask for the Dickinson College schedule), weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET). All appointments must be scheduled through TIAA.