Faculty Retreat
Building Resilience Through Community, Connection, and Collaborative Problem-Solving
Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm
Location: Illini Union, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Description
In today’s sociopolitical climate, teaching and mentoring can feel like navigating shifting terrain. We are asked to uphold teaching excellence, academic freedom, and foster civil discourse, all while keeping ourselves grounded and safe. This retreat is a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect. It’s about building collaboration and learn that you are not alone in this work.
The retreat is a space where faculty can show up as their whole selves to share stories, swap strategies, and build the kind of community that makes resilience possible. It isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. It’s about learning from each other and leaving with tools and relationships that make the hard stuff feel a little lighter.
This year’s theme, Building Resilience Through Community, Connection, and Collaborative Problem-Solving, will frame a program designed to bring faculty together to exchange ideas, reflect on teaching and mentoring practices, and consider approaches for addressing current challenges with empathy and confidence.
Sponsors: The Teaching Advancement Board and Inclusion, and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.
Collaborators: The Institute for Citizens and Scholars, University Library, Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services, and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8 – 8:30 | Coffee & Community Icebreaker |
| 8:30 – 8:45 | Welcome & Agenda Overview |
| 8:45 – 9 | Remarks: Reminder of Support for Faculty in their Civil Discourse Work |
| 9 – 9:45 | Faculty Lightning Talks: Stories from the Community |
| 9:45 – 10 | Wellness Break |
| 10 – 11 | From Dialogue to Action—Tools for Civil Discourse |
| 11 – 11:30 | Student Panel: Co-Creating a Learning Environment |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Lunch & Thematic Table Conversations: Campus Café |
| 12:30 – 1:10 | The Case for Academic Freedom |
| 1:10 – 1:15 | Coffee Break |
| 1:15 – 1:30 | Lighting Talks: Connecting and Co-Creating Communities of Support |
| 1:30 – 2:45 | Interactive Workshop: Dialogue in Practice |
| 2:45 – 3 | Closing Reflection & Call to Community |
For additional resources around these topics, we invite you to explore the Discourse Series.
What You’ll Experience
- Expert Insights from The Institute of Citizens and Scholars: Learn practical strategies for navigating disagreement and fostering inclusive dialogue from national leaders in civil discourse.
- Stories from Across Campus: Faculty lightning talks on resilience, navigating difficult conversations, and balancing mental health.
- Interactive Sessions: Hands-on activities, dialogue circles, and role-play scenarios to practice strategies for civil discourse.
- Student Perspectives: A panel discussion on co-creating learning environments that foster trust and collaboration.
- Thematic Table Conversations: Table discussions with faculty and staff across campus on topics like academic freedom, mental health, and inclusive dialogue—designed to spark collaboration.
Framework
Guiding Questions
How do we create classrooms that invite honest and constructive dialogue?
What does resilience look like in the face of academic and political pressures?
How can we support one another in fostering inclusive and respectful learning environments?
Resources
Interested in learning more about civil discourse, academic freedom, and self-care?
Listen to the latest episodes of Off-Syllabus with Manny, where professionals from the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and faculty from across campus share their strategies on how to facilitate difficult conversations with their students.
Join Us
This retreat is more than a professional development event—it’s a call to community. Together, we will explore strategies, share stories, and build partnerships that carry forward beyond a single day. Come ready to listen, learn, and lead.
Registration details and full agenda coming soon.
Questions: Please contact Manny Rodriguez Rivera
