Connection Workshops

Connection workshops are 80 minutes and have built-in time to engage beyond the presentation. Participants will be able to engage in discussion and work on activities in small groups. Some of these sessions include a virtual option when available, but some will be offered only in-person.
 

Please click on the session title to see the description and option to register.

1. Apr

   7

   Tue

   STEP Partnerships Power Hour – (April 7, 2026 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)

   Location:
   TLPDC Room 150
   2802 18th Street
   Lubbock, TX 79409
   

   Room: TLPDC 150

   Available Seats: 27

   The STEP Faculty & Student Partnerships Program Power Hour, held in the Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center (TLPDC), is an open-format, bi-weekly conversation designed by faculty, for faculty. Twice per month, a STEP Program Scholar will share a specific, actionable tip to enhance the classroom experience for both instructors and students. You'll hear directly how the implementation of these tips has transformed classroom dynamics. Half of our time will be dedicated to collaborative discussion on adapting these suggestions to fit your unique classroom environment. You will leave with a clear implementation strategy, ready for use in your very next class period. All Instructors of all ranks are invited and lunch is provided. 

2. Apr

   9

   Thu

   Identifying and Destigmatizing Burnout – (April 9, 2026 11:00 am – 12:00 pm)

   Location:
   TLPDC Room 150
   2802 18th Street
   Lubbock, TX 79409
   

   Room: TLPDC 150

   Available Seats: 34

   Feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated?  Struggling to focus? Already dreading tomorrow today?  Join Suzanne Tapp and Mitzi Ziegner for a workshop on the topic of burnout based on the research and work of Rebecca Pope-Ruark. They will share ideas to help you reboot and refocus on your sense of purpose, compassion, connection and balance.

3. Apr

   24

   Fri

   The Swings That Have Missed – (April 24, 2026 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

   Location:
   TLPDC Room 153
   2802 18th Street
   Lubbock, TX 79409
   

   Room: TLPDC 153

   Available Seats: 26

   This discussion invites participants to rethink the role of failed attempts in academic life—not as a flaw or a dead end, but as an essential and often unseen part of growth, learning, and persistence. The Swings That Have Missed will center on the moments that don’t make it onto résumés or CVs: the rejected proposals, unsuccessful teaching techniques, misses in mentorship, and other paths that didn’t unfold as planned this semester.  It may feel vulnerable to participate in a conversation about endeavors we wish would have turned out differently and share stories about the successes that were not to be, but it is important for our wellbeing to be able to do so. It is our hope that participants can find a supportive space and think about how setbacks shape our academic journeys at every stage and feel comfort that we are not alone as we “swing and miss”. Join Mitzi Ziegner, Associate Director at the TLPDC, for a facilitated discussion that will help us acknowledge that both wins and losses are a normal part of our academic journeys. By the end of the conversation, we hope to foster resilience, authenticity, and connection. This session is designed for anyone navigating academic spaces who seeks a more honest, compassionate, and realistic in their approach to achievement.