WHAT IS A RENGA?

As more than forty of your colleagues discovered last year, rengas are convivial, interdisciplinary groups of faculty, professionals, administrators, and, in some cases, students, who meet monthly to discuss topics of mutual interest over light refreshments. Like their namesake (a style of witty Japanese-linked poetry created in group settings), our Fredonia rengas value community, collaboration, spontaneity, improvisation, and wit.

Rengas are a great way to connect with colleagues while exploring a question or topic that has the potential to improve our campus, benefit our community, and advance all of our professional skills and accomplishments. Of course, they are also a great way to have fun and get to know people!

Join a Renga!

Holistic Education

To participate in this community, contact: John.Arnold@fredonia.edu or Christopher.Taverna@fredonia.edu

This group will explore educational philosophies that develop the entire individual through attention to moral, spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs. We will examine approaches that appreciate life-long learning, value creation, and humanistic educational principles.

Cross-Cultural Exchange

To participate in this community, contact: Daniela.Peterka-Benton@fredonia.edu

Launched in Fall 2010, this forum explores cross-cultural exchanges with our campus members from diverse backgrounds. We strive to promote dialogue around the unique requirements (i.e., needs, interests, and perspectives) posed by students, faculty, and staff of diverse cultural, religious, and sexual orientations. Ideas from the first year include establishing community outreach efforts, mentorships, and fostering cross-cultural contact. Most importantly, we want to expand the existing resources to retain students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, who often face unique challenges as a part of our national community.

Exploring Approaches to Information Literacy

To participate in this community, contact: Kerrie Fergen Wilkes or Scott Richmond at infolitteam-grp@fredonia.edu

This is an opportunity for faculty and staff to come together to discuss the future direction of Information Literacy instruction on SUNY Fredonia’s campus through the exploration and evaluation of different program models, activities and pedagogical approaches for infusing information literacy concepts across the curriculum. Faculty and staff will have an opportunity to discuss innovative approaches to research assignment design with colleagues across the disciplines.

 
For further information, or to ask questions, please email  PDC-grp@fredonia.edu.