News, Events, Annual Report

VITAL Welcomes Hetal Thaker, Assistant Director for Instructional Technologies Integration

Hetal Thaker joins VITAL as the Assistant Director for Instructional Technologies Integration. Her initial focus will be on helping faculty, departments, and colleges optimize their use of the Brightspace LMS to achieve inclusive, impactful learning experiences as the University transitions away from Blackboard. She is also available to support faculty's broader instructional technology goals, whether they include integrating active learning tools such as polling software or developing multimedia assignments like podcasts or websites. Please reach out to her if you are interested in meeting to discuss your instructional technology goals, needs, or even just to say hello.

2025 Teaching and Learning Strategies Program: 5/14

The TLS program affords us the opportunity to come together as a teacher-scholar community to deepen, diversify, innovate our instructional practices. The program offers an engaging, collegial campus-wide forum to share teaching approaches that support students’ learning, exchange ideas, learn from and with each other. The keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Rose Cavanagh, will guide us in a pedagogy of care and compassionate challenge to support student mental health and faculty well-being. Villanova experts on mental health and wellbeing will lead sessions following the keynote. Faculty colleagues will facilitate concurrent sessions in the afternoon.
Detailed agenda 
Sponsors: VITAL, UNIT-IT

VITAL Instructional Minigrant Recipients 2025-2026

Congratulations to the faculty colleagues who have been awarded grants to enrich students’ learning experiences and innovate both undergraduate and graduate course curricula across colleges. Learn more about the faculty recipients and their projects, VITALITY, May 2025 - forthcoming

Program details, past grant recipients, and CFP

Villanova's Next Generation Learning Management System  

Villanova's next generation learning management system (LMS), D2L Brightspace is a mobile-friendly LMS that supports sound pedagogical practices and teaching innovation. Please consult this Next-generation Learning Management System website for timelines and updates, and the Brightspace Training and Support website for available resources and to sign up for training. 

Dr. Maria L. Lenardon, Associate Teaching Professor, Spanish, serves as VITAL Brightspace for Learning Fellow during AY 2024-2025. 

Making Your Course Accessible in LMS: Self-Paced, Online Program

How can you ensure that your course materials are accessible? The program establishes the legal framework for accessibility in education, articulates why we need to address accessibility issues proactively in our courses, and demonstrates how to create ADA-compliant courses in LMS. Please click on course enrollment to enroll in this online program offered in Bridge. Access details.
Co-developed by VITAL and LSS

Update on A.I. at Villanova University   

Guidance on A.I. Use in Your Education, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 1/10/2025
A.I. Updates and Resources, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 12/19/2024
Updates on A.I. at Villanova, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 5/22/2024
Update on A.I. at Villanova, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 1/3/2024

Teaching with A.I. Selected general and Villanova University resources
VITALITY: Strategies to consider if you suspect A.I. misuse in your course 2/2024
                The State-of-the-Discussion on A.I. and Teaching at Villanova 9/2024

Faculty Focus Live (podcast): Streamline Your Teaching and Workload with A.I.

Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Academic Updates

Fall 2025 Textbook Adoptions - Last Call, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 5/15/2025
Book and Course Material Adoptions for Summer and Fall 2025, R. Weinstein, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), 2/24/2025
Spring 2025 Updates and Resources, R, Weinstein, VPTL, 1/06/2025
Fall 2024 Academic Updates, R. Weinstein, VPTL, 8/5/2024

Test Proctoring and Testing Accommodations

Consult this recorded session (9/5/24) to learn how to better support your students with test proctoring needs and become familiar with the Villanova Test Centers. Facilitated by Learning Support Services (LSS) and The Office for Access & Disability Services (ADS).

All Required Course Materials: Villanova Textbook Access Program  

All required course materials must be entered into the Discover tool in Blackboard (login, select tools in the left menu, and select Discover). Students in the textbook access program receive required texts/access codes as part of a fixed fee. Do not have students purchase materials on their own if they are part of this program. Direct them to the bookstore for assistance if they have issues and make sure your materials are in the online system.

Details and FAQs for students and faculty
Resource to help students make informed decisions about whether participation in the Textbook Access Program is the best choice for their circumstances.
Communication from Craig Wheeland, Senior Vice Provost for Academics, 2/19/24

VITALITY: VITAL Teaching Ideas with Focus on Mental Health

This two-part series highlights the importance of making mental health visible in their teaching and the steps faculty can take to make this a reality in their courses. It also offers sample dialogue that faculty might use to support students' mental well-being.

Part I: Making Mental Health Visible in Class
Part II: Talking with Students About Mental Health in Class

Access past VITALITY issues

Teaching Podcasts

Social Learning Amplified: Brings candid conversations with educators who are finding new ways to engage students inside and outside the class. Each episode will give you real-life examples and practical strategies you can put into practice in your own courses. Hosted by Eric Mazur, internationally recognized educational innovator in Social Learning and Peer Instruction.

Dead Ideas in Teaching and Learning: Guests share discoveries of “dead ideas”—ideas that are not true but that are often widely believed and embedded in the pedagogical choices we make. Hosted by Catherine Ross, CTL, Columbia University

Faculty Focus Live: Offers research-based teaching tips to boost your creativity and motivation hosted by Magna Publications. Current episode: From concept to practice: Implementing liquid syllabi in higher ed

Intentional Teaching with Derek Bruff: Aimed at faculty to help them develop foundational teaching skills and explore new ideas in teaching.

Tea for Teaching: Series of discussions of innovative and effective practices in teaching and learning. Hosted by State University of New York at Oswego.

Teaching in Higher Ed: Explores the art and science of being more effective at facilitating learning. Hosted by B. Stachowiak, Vangard University, CA.

On Cultivating Student Engagement in Higher Ed: Features faculty and course designers using creative approaches to enhance students' learning experiences and turn engagement "ON".  Hosted by Dr. Kathryn Berkow, University of Delaware.

Student Support Services

Faculty can now find all student support services on our campus unified on one website focused on supporting and elevating students, and assisting them in applying their learning through a multitude of academic services to support students in their academic success, wellbeing, and post-graduate careers. 

Villanova Policy Library

The Villanova Policy Library (VPL) assists faculty, staff and students in better understanding the many University policies and procedures. The University Compliance Office continues to feature compliance-related policies. For example, the Academic Integrity Policy sets expectations for honest academic work and provides for equitable administrative procedures to address suspected violations of Villanova’s Code of Academic Integrity. Access VPL through MyNova.

Innovative Teaching at Villanova 

Link to Innovative Teaching site