Professional Development Day is a day of opportunities provided for faculty and staff to improve their skills and knowledge through training sessions. The sessions will be led by Michigan Tech faculty and staff and provide development in a learning-centered peer-to-peer environment.
Peruse the complete schedule of events below. Registration links are included for each presentation.
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| 2026 | ||
| Thursday, October 22nd | ||
| 8:30 AM |
Michigan Technological University Library East Reading Room 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
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|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM |
Iris Photobook - Professional Headshots Michigan Technological University Library Exhibit Space 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM In addition to attending sessions, faculty and staff are welcome to stop by to receive professional headshots provided by Career Service’s Iris Photobooth. This is a great resource for those looking to update their LinkedIn, MTU email accounts, staff listing websites, and more! All photos are free of charge and delivered right to your email. |
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| 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Keynote: Never Finished. David Banker, Chartwells Library East Reading Room 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Join us for a keynote from David Banker, Resident District Manager, Chartwells. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17672668 |
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| 9:45 AM |
Michigan Technological University 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
5S Your Drive: A System for Finding What You Need, Fast Kirsti M. Arko, Michigan Technological University Library 242 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM You know the file exists. You worked on it. You commented on it. You're 100% sure it's in your Drive somewhere. Twenty minutes and four search terms later, you're messaging your teammate: "Hey, do you still have that doc?" This is the love/hate relationship many of us have with Google Drive. But it doesn't have to be that painful. This session will introduce you to the 5S process, share practical methods for applying it, and give you dedicated time to start reorganizing your personal or team Drive. The end result: less time searching, less frustration, more time doing actual work. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17672704 |
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| 10:00 AM |
Lois Blau Library East Reading Room 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Asahi is a simple wellness exercise developed in Finland that combines slow movement, deep breathing and mindfulness. It’s easy to learn and doesn’t require special clothing or equipment. It’s done standing up but can also be done sitting or lying down and builds strength along with many other health benefits. When combined with Nordic Walking, it meets the World Health Organization’s recommendation for fitness. The session will give additional background plus an introduction to the movements. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17672719 |
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| 10:00 AM |
Posting On-Campus Jobs on Handshake Liz Fujita, Michigan Technological University Library 244 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Students are aware that Handshake is a central hub for all things job-related, and that includes on-campus opportunities! This session will walk through how to post your on-campus student employment opportunities on Handshake. Whether you want to use Handshake to manage the process or link out to your own PDF/Google Form application, we can get you closer to ready. Learn what helps when posting work-study, what to consider when choosing major groups, how to copy previous postings, and get immediate traction on filling your roles. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17672743 |
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| 10:00 AM |
Anna Pfeiffelman, Michigan Technological University Library 312 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Explore the newly constructed Testing Center on the 3rd floor of the Library, meet our staff, and get answers to your questions about the Testing Center. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17672988 |
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| 10:45 AM |
Michigan Technological University 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM |
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| 11:00 AM |
Accessible Documents: Small Changes, Better Access Jeff Toorongian, Michigan Technological University Library 242 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Creating accessible documents is easier when accessibility is considered from the start. This 45-minute session will introduce practical strategies for creating documents that are structured and formatted with accessibility in mind. We’ll review several foundational practices, including the effective use of headings, lists, meaningful links, alternative text for images, tables, and color and contrast. Along the way, we’ll look at common accessibility barriers and discuss how they can be avoided when creating new documents or corrected when revising existing ones. This session will review the essential elements of document accessibility and highlight practical techniques that university staff and instructors can apply when creating or revising everyday documents. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17673010 |
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| 11:00 AM |
Conversations Worth Having: Building Better Conversations at Work Laurie Stark, Michigan Technological University Library 244 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Every conversation is an opportunity to make a difference. This interactive workshop introduces practical tools from Conversations Worth Having to help us approach everyday workplace conversations with greater curiosity, possibility, and intention. We’ll explore how appreciative questions, generative language, and a shift in perspective can help create more meaningful conversations—even when the topic is challenging. Participants will have opportunities to practice these approaches and consider how they can use them in their own conversations with colleagues, students, and others. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17678212 |
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| 11:00 AM |
Level UP: Navigating the Shift into Leadership Jackie Dohm, Michigan Technological University Library 243 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Transitioning into leadership can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to step into a supervisory role feeling unequipped for the road ahead. Whether you are leading for the first time, stepping up to manage former peers, or simply looking to refine your management style. Join me for this interactive workshop where you will gain practical strategies to set boundaries, deliver honest feedback, and maintain trust. No matter where you are on your leadership journey, you’ll walk away feeling more confident and curious in your ability to unite your team and understand the unique systems of your people. |
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| 11:00 AM |
Anna Pfeiffelman, Michigan Technological University Library 312 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Explore the newly constructed Testing Center on the 3rd floor of the Library, meet our staff, and get answers to your questions about the Testing Center. Registration Link: https://mtu.libcal.com/event/17673024 |
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