Professional Activity Days

The CTE coordinates college-wide professional development, called Professional Activity Days, twice per academic year as the MAHE Contract dictates.

Our goal is to engage our colleagues through various methods of professional interaction to inspire educational approaches that support creativity, agency, inquiry, and culture. We rely on our caring LCC community of scholars to help us achieve this goal. 

Professional Activity Days include general assemblies, keynote presentations, discussion panels, and breakout sessions both in-person and virtually. A website with detailed information is made available for participants for each event. 

We extend thanks to those who put time and effort into crafting presentations and discussions that spark interest for the Professional Activity Days. Likewise, we appreciate your open-minded participation. Lastly, a round of applause for all of us who show up and do our best not only for our students but for ourselves as well.

---

Upcoming Professional Activity Days:

Spring 2026

Spring 2026 Professional Activity Days Wednesday, January 7 - Thursday, January 8, 2026

January 2026 PA Days Website

If the PA Days website experiences too much traffic, which causes a delay, please view the printable schedule.

January 7 Printable Schedule

Wednesday, January 7 begins with breakfast for pre-registered participants followed by welcome remarks in Dart Auditorium from LCC President, Steve Robinson, Faculty Senate President, Tracy Nothnagel, and Associate Vice President of External Affairs, Development, and K- 12 Operations, Toni Glasscoe.

Next, our keynote speaker, Sarah Silverman, an independent faculty developer and instructor of Disability Studies, will deliver a talk titled, “Neurodiversity for Educators: History, Theory, and Practice.” She will also facilitate two afternoon sessions exploring case studies about collaborative learning in neurodiverse classrooms.

After the keynote, an interdisciplinary panel of LCC faculty will discuss the use of generative AI in the classroom. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and there will be an afternoon AI Unconference session to continue the discussion. Lunch will be on your own.

In the afternoon, choose from multiple sessions led by LCC faculty and staff in Arts and Sciences classrooms. Topics include AI & Emerging Tech, Career & Outcomes, Classroom Strategies, D2L & Accessibility, Institutional Collaboration, Neurodiversity, and Student Well-being & Care. If you find your first choice session is full, additional options are available in nearby classrooms.

The morning session will be available via Webex and some afternoon sessions will have a virtual option for employees not required to attend in-person.

On Thursday, January 8, academic areas will meet with their departments. Departments will share schedules and locations.

Important things to know about January 2026 Professional Activity Days:

• All employees are welcome.
• Adjunct faculty will be paid to attend live sessions, only if approved by their supervisor. Questions about compensation may be directed to your supervisor.
• Specific questions regarding PA Days may be directed to the Center for Teaching Excellence cte@star.lcc.edu.
• Session descriptions, information, and Webex links are provided within the January 2026 PA Days website.

January 7, 2026 Schedule (In Person) 

8:00 am - 8:45 am   Breakfast* Michigan Room and Grand River Room

9:00 am - 9:40 am   General Assembly | Dart Auditorium

9:40 am - 11:00 am   Neurodiversity for Educators: History, Theory, and Practice Dart Auditorium 

11:00 am - 11:15 am   Break Dart Auditorium 

11:15 am - 12:00 pm   Generative AI in Teaching Faculty Panel Dart Auditorium

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm   Lunch On Your Own

1:10 pm - 2:00 pm   Concurrent Sessions (Round 1) A&S Building

2:10 pm - 3:00 pm   Concurrent Sessions (Round 2) A&S Building

3:10 pm - 4:00 pm   Concurrent Sessions (Round 3) A&S Building

---

PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY dAYS

May 2025
January 2025 
May 2024
January 2024