Greetings RIT 365 Facilitators,

Our students are halfway through their first semester!  We love observing your classes. Recently we heard a student declaring to the rest of the class “You’re not alone…Never give up.” You’re all doing such important work! Remember the importance of utilizing in-class activities that spark dialogue. 

In this week’s issue: 

• Well-Being Surveys
• Unplanned Observations
• Important Reminders
• Bi-Weekly Meetings
• This Week’s Expert Advice - FROM YOU

THE RIT WELL-BEING SURVEYS ARE HERE
Please share this survey information with students. You can post the attached image in  myCourses or share through another method you find suitable. Help us to obtain an accurate representation of the health behaviors on RIT’s campus! By completing the 10-minute Well-being Survey, students are helping to improve the health and wellness programs and services here at RIT. 

Students will receive an email with a unique link to access and complete the survey. The email will be sent on behalf of Dr. Wendy Gelbard with the following subject line: Well-being starts with you - Take the survey today. Students who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win one of 70 Amazon gift cards. More information about the survey, incentives, and a list of FAQs can be found here: https://www.rit.edu/studentlife/health-promotion#well-being-survey

UNPLANNED OBSERVATIONS
To ensure support of continuous improvement, the YOP team strives to observe each 365 facilitator during their class. This semester some observations will occur with limited notice in order to accommodate for the ebb and flow of our department's bandwidth.  We want to be sure we can provide developmental feedback to as many Facilitators as possible, and with enough time in the remainder of the semester for them to implement changes based on feedback. 
This means you may receive an email to inform you of an upcoming observation by the end of business the day before the observation in your class. As ever, if the timing doesn’t work for you please reach out and we can adjust. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• Gradebooks: Please keep your myCourses gradebook up to date.It’s important for students to know their standing in the class, especially if they are missing work.
• Portfolios: Students must tag at least one skill category for each Portfolio submitted. Please remind students to include at least one tagged skill for each portfolio submitted.  A summary of the top skills students have tagged so far is at the bottom of this PULSE.
• Remember to grade on the rubric and share feedback to students within the myCourses gradebook, rather than in the Portfolio tool itself. As noted during Zoom Training 3, providing feedback through the gradebook not only alerts students that feedback has been left, but also supports YOP’s program assessment efforts. 
• Do not cancel class for any reason. Contact the YOP team if there is a need for someone to cover your class.  We are here to support you. 

BI-WEEKLY TEAM MEETINGS
Our Bi-Weekly meetings have become a no-judgment zone of caring and sharing how to grow as Facilitators. We’re thankful for everyone who shows vulnerability and courage in these meetings as well as those who step in to share what’s working well.  Our meetings are essential for the development of our Facilitator community. And we need every voice to be part of this community.

Our meetings take place on a bi-weekly cycle (see calendar). If you have missed a meeting please join a different one to make up the time. All are welcome at each meeting. Simply let the facilitator know which date you’re making up.  Please remember you must make up the meeting as you are being compensated for this time and it is a requirement of this position.

FROM OUR EXPERTS (YOU!)
Thank you to everyone for attending and contributing to our Bi-Weekly meetings. Your thoughtful advice and caring words helped to boost everyone at each meeting! 
Some ideas that emerged from recent meetings include:

If students demonstrate a lack of care, interest, value, and/or purpose in the course:
ÔùÅ Remind students that they are in charge of their own education, and they have a choice.
Whether or not they get something out of this course and if it is a waste of their time is, in
part, determined by whether they choose to participate.
ÔùÅ Bring to mind the Super Speakers, who all talked about the importance of reflection,
relationships, and networking as a means of success.
ÔùÅ Ask students to think about what employers are looking for in quality contributors, beyond
their ability to produce a tangible product, and where they can develop those skills (i.e.,
ask about the soft skills not taught in core classes).
ÔùÅ Ask them curious questions: “What’s the point/purpose of a zero credit course? Why
does RIT include these in both required and optional parts of the curriculum?” Note:
Wellness courses are also zero credit and are required; optional zero credit courses
include leadership courses, some business courses, and academic support courses.

If students are disengaged during class:
ÔùÅ Capitalize on activities that use individual responses/reflections.
ÔùÅ Use coaching sessions to dive deeper into the meaning and value of the course.
ÔùÅ Remove the physical barriers in the classroom as much as you are able (Circle up, stay away from that podium).
ÔùÅ Remember students are coming to the space with a variety of needs and challenges, sometimes they are doing the best they can just being physically present.

For questions that can not be answered by visiting the Facilitator Resources website, feel free to contact one of us as follows.

PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT 
ÔùÅ Facilitator general questions:  
Deborah (faculty/staff, ddlyop@rit.edu) or Robyn (peers, rmrldc@rit.edu)
ÔùÅ myCourses, PDR guides, course schedule, “Do” experiences: Daniele, dmccst@rit.edu
ÔùÅ Generic questions (not time sensitive): yop@rit.edu 

Thank you for all you do, 
The YOP Team