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USM News

USM Announces Formation of Digital Accessibility Working Group

The ÏÂÔض¶Òõ (USM) is proud to announce the formation of the Digital Accessibility (DA) Working Group, spearheaded by the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. This initiative brings together representatives from all 12 USM campuses, community college representatives, independent public university representatives, private college representatives, and MarylandOnline to address the critical need for accessible digital course materials across the State of Maryland.

Teach Access Announces Academic Hub at Kirwan Center

, a nonprofit dedicated to making digital accessibility fundamental to higher education curricula, proudly announces its newest academic hub, the ÏÂÔض¶Òõ’s (USM) William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. This collaboration aims to advance accessibility education, research, and practice by integrating accessibility-focused initiatives into faculty development, curriculum design, and institutional strategy across USM.

Spring 2025 SoTL Showcase Call for Proposals

The Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation invites faculty across the ÏÂÔض¶Òõ (USM) to participate in a spring 2025 showcase celebrating the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). This system-wide event will provide a platform to share research findings and innovative teaching practices. This event is an extension of the Kirwan Center’s Elkins Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Fellows Program that has been ongoing since 2023.

Dr. Nancy O'Neill Named Executive Director

The Kirwan Center is pleased to announce that, following a nationwide search, Dr. Nancy O’Neill has accepted the position of Executive Director of the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. Dr. O'Neill joined the Kirwan Center in February 2016 and has served as the Acting Director since May 2022, shaping the Kirwan Center’s strategic direction and leading its work. At the Kirwan Center, she leads Systemwide projects related to student success as well as capacity-building initiatives with and for faculty development leaders across the System.

ÏÂÔض¶Òõ Receives Federal Grant to Examine the Role of Academic Libraries and Consortia in Increasing the Relevance of Open Educational Materials

The ÏÂÔض¶Òõ (USM) has received a two-year planning grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency charged with advancing, supporting, and empowering America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.

Inaugural Cohort of Faculty from Five USM Institutions Named SOTL Fellows

The William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the ÏÂÔض¶Òõ (USM) welcomes Dr. Kelly Elkins of Towson University as a Senior Fellow, to lead system support of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This will include working with an inaugural cohort of faculty selected as 2023-24 Elkins SoTL Fellows from across five USM institutions.

USM and UMGC Form $2.6 Million Partnership to Support Expansion of Online Learning Across System Institutions

The Kirwan Center and UMGC have formed a $2.6 Million partnership, called USM OnTrack, to work with provosts, teaching and learning center directors, instructional designers, technology professionals, and others to support and assess expansion of high-quality online learning across the system.

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