Call for Proposals
Presented by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Our evolving educational landscape calls for actionable and transformative practices. Proposals that inspire innovation, encourage practicality, and support meaningful professional growth are welcomed.
Submit Your Proposal
The call for proposals for Colleague Development Days 2025 is now open through April 30. This year our theme is Maximize the Moment — embracing every opportunity to learn, grow, and lead with intention.
Provost Pamela Zarkowski kicks off CDD 2024 with a session dedicated to University Highlights.
Colleague Development Days is a professional development series designed to inspire, engage, and celebrate the expertise of Detroit Mercy faculty, staff, and administrators. Proposals that inspire innovation, encourage practicality, and support meaningful professional growth are welcomed. Additionally, our goal is to maximize this year’s CDD experience by curating a lineup of the most impactful, forward-thinking presentations. Please join us in shaping the future of education at Detroit Mercy by presenting within our learning community.
Suggested Categories for Presentation Topics:
- Pedagogy (engagement, experiential learning, assessment, outcomes, scaffolding, feedback)
- Faculty Development and Growth (outlining the tenure process, research, publishing, and professional statements)
- Staff Professional Development (job satisfaction, productivity, best practices, new technology)
- Health and Wellness (meditation, service, mindfulness, fitness, hobbies)
- Assisting our Students (international students, first-generation students, non-traditional students, reviewing data and trends)
- Community (external speakers and their ties to Detroit Mercy, environmental concerns, community leaders)
- University Climate (trends in higher education, data points from Detroit Mercy, the community at large)
- Mission Driven Education (promoting civility in the classroom and/or workplace, teaching compassionately, topics relating to the mission, spirituality, belonging)
Session Formats
Colleague Development Days will offer in-person and virtual sessions. To assist in planning, we are asking that you indicate in your proposal which mode you would prefer.
All faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to select the format that best represents their proposal:
- Solo Presenter (one speaker presents a session).
- Partner/Group Presentation (multiple speakers co-facilitate a session; the maximum number of suggested speakers per session is three).
- Roundtable Discussion (approximately 5-6 speakers discuss one topic for approximately 10 minutes each, leaving time for questions and answers at the end).
- Workshop (facilitator/s assist participants in hands-on activities such as creating, planning, or revising a specific project).
Single Session Block Presentations
This year, we’re excited to offer Single Session Block Presentations. These 75-minute sessions are designed to be non-competing and impactful.
• Does your presentation have broad appeal?
• Is your content significant and transformative?
If so, consider submitting your presentation for a Single Session Block. Indicate your interest in the CDD proposal application and provide your rationale.
Once proposals are received, they will be reviewed by a Planning Committee composed of CETL staff, a representative from the Faculty Development Team, and the Office of Academic Affairs.
Above: Dr. Sarida Scott leads a CDD session on Understanding Community Engagement as Culture, History & Art.
Have Questions?
Please direct questions about Colleague Development Days and potential presentation ideas to cetl@udmercy.edu.
Above: Ahmed Radwan, Dean of the College of Health Professions facilitates a session on Ergonomic Workspace Design.
Above: Detroit Mercy colleagues engage in a lively round of Trivia with the Provost.