ELT: August 31, 2026 – Office of the Provost

News | Advising | Grants and Fellowships | Conferences and Workshops

August 31, 2026

News

Opening Convocation and Special Class Schedule

Classes begin Monday, September 14 at 8:30 a.m. with a special schedule of slightly shortened classes for the day to accommodate opening convocation at 3:00 p.m. in Skinner Memorial Chapel. Opening convocation will be preceded by our traditional academic procession. Faculty should assemble in front of Laird Hall by 2:45 p.m. in academic dress. Visit the opening convocation webpage for details on the academic procession, the special class schedule, and the special class schedule for Friday, September 18.

Update on ADA Compliance Working Group

Over the summer, the ADA Compliance working group has been planning and developing resources to remediate password-protected web-based content by April 2027.
The website housing this information is the Academic Programs and Departments page on the Digital Accessibility website. For Fall term, we are offering the following resources:

September 1, 1:00-3:30pm, the Academic Technologists will offer a second session of the online workshop Making your Moodle course ADA compliant. Here is a Panopto recording of the first session that anyone on campus can review.
During the fall term, Academic Technologists and librarians will offer a number of Ed Tech Teas with an accessibility focus. View the program and register for sessions on the Ed Tech Teas website.
The LTC Winter Conference (December 8-9, 2026) will also offer at least one workshop focused on digital accessibility and ADA compliance, and we will continue programming through winter and spring terms.

The ADA Compliance working group is currently building out content of Carleton’s Digital Accessibility web pages to emphasize how to redesign password protected content with the focus on the most common accessibility issues. This content will focus mostly on the “what” and “why” and will invite faculty and staff to submit questions, suggestions, and ideas.
A Moodle course will focus on the “how” for various tools that can be used to support this work. A similar Moodle course will be made available for student workers as well, so that administrative assistants can guide student workers through scanning practices and other tasks that will help faculty ensure that their course materials meet accessibility guidelines.
The Library is exploring ways it can provide support to faculty and staff, particularly by identifying accessible library resources that could update/replace non-compliant course content.

Academic Technologists continue to offer the AT drop-in hours, Mondays and Thursdays, 2-4pm.
Please consider inviting members of the ADA Compliance working group to department meetings for deeper conversations.

We know this mandate is overwhelming, and we want to assure you that, with small changes in how we design web-based content, we can make significant progress towards compliance in the coming months. If all of us learn how to address the most common accessibility issues and develop habits incorporating this learning into our design of web-based materials moving forward, not only will the College be on track to compliance by the April 2027 deadline, we will be reducing barriers for students and colleagues. We will have special cases that need more creativity and time to resolve. That should not stop us from working on everything else we can change now.

We leave you with this: In a recent meeting of folks from multiple campuses passionate about lowering barriers to online materials, we shared some of our stories about why this is near and dear to our hearts. What is your story? How has someone in your life changed your perspective on the importance of accessible design?

New Library Search Box & Catalog

On August 20, Carleton and St. Olaf libraries each launched an updated library website featuring a redesigned catalog search box on the library homepage and the latest version of the Catalyst online catalog. A Catalyst User Guide has been created to document some of the functionality.

The update provides a simpler, more intuitive interface, more sustainable infrastructure, and an improved user experience—all while preserving the core functionality you rely on. Many of the changes are based on recommendations from user testing.

Have questions about the project or the new catalog? We’d be happy to hear from you. Please reach out via the feedback form on the library homepage banner or the Catalyst Guide.

Syllabus Statements

Many offices across campus are eager to help students succeed in their courses and beyond. Resources include the library, academic accommodations, tutors, civic-engagement support, and more.

Please visit the Syllabus/Moodle Statements page for short blurbs you can insert in your syllabi, assignment sheets, Moodle courses, and advising materials to relay relevant information to your students.

Library Academic Open House: Sept. 9

Faculty and staff are invited to an open house in Gould Library on Wednesday, September 9 from 10 – 11:00 a.m. to connect with Library staff and learn how the Library can support their work this academic year.

Advising

For Those Advising First-Year Students

If you will be advising first-year students, you have been notified via email already. By September 1, you will be able to see the roster of your first-year advisees in Workday. Please write to them to let them know the location of your first advising group meeting on Wednesday, September 9 from 12:30-1:30 pm. If you haven’t yet sent your meeting location to Becky Krogh, please do that as soon as possible. Feel free to review the Advising Handbook for a refresher on advising and for some tips for that first meeting with your advisees.

In addition to the group meeting, you should plan to have short individual advising meetings on Thursday and Friday. The New Student Week schedule is packed, and there are various mandatory events your advisees must attend. Please schedule your individual advising appointments during the designated times indicated below:

Thursday, Sept. 10, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

You should remind your advisees that even though there are other activities planned during individual advising meeting times, these are all optional activities and they must prioritize meeting with you. Peer leaders and all New Student Week staff know this is the case and will also remind students throughout the week.

For All Advisers: Annual Advising Workshop

We are kicking off the new academic year with the Annual Advising Workshop in Weitz 236 on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. Beyond providing some key advising updates, we will cover how to connect students with peer-assisted learning support resources and feature a follow-up to last year’s workshop with the Career Center on helping students engage in a four-year career development plan.

Advising Quick Links

Grants and Fellowships

SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Visiting Professor Grants

The Social Science Research Council – Japan Foundation Next Generation Japan Studies Development Program provides grants of up to $20,000 to US academic institutions or consortia of institutions to host Japan-based faculty who research Japanese society for a six-week stay in the United States. At the core of the Next Gen Japan Program is the idea that scholarly engagement and collaboration by students and scholars across disciplines, the boundaries of the nation-state, and cultures are central to effectively addressing the pressing concerns facing societies today. Proposals are due Nov. 1. For more more information, contact the Grants Office

Educating Character Initiative Grants

The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University has announced a new round of funding through its Educating Character Initiative. ECI will award grants to U.S. colleges and universities that are committed to developing the moral, civic, and/or intellectual character of faculty, staff, students, and institutions. To learn more about any of these opportunities, contact the Grants Office.

1. Institutional Impact Grants will range from $100,000-$1,000,000 over three years. Extensive letters of inquiry are due Nov. 16.

2. Capacity-Building Grants will be up to $50,000 for one year; proposals are due Dec. 15.

3. A new Communities of Impact Grant will be up to $75,000 for one year, aimed at multi-institutional higher education teams and cross-institutional networks of colleges, universities, and organizations that wish to collaborate on a shared project. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis.