Overview
The SEISMIC Phase Two Kick Off Event will take place May 19-22, 2026 in Ann Arbor, MI at the University of Michigan. The purpose of this conference is to launch our Phase Two efforts, which include a disciplinary focus on STEM assessment reform. This conference will provide opportunities to learn about alternative approaches to course assessments, build community across disciplines and institutions, and explore how we measure equitable and effective outcomes in STEM courses. Please see our Program, linked below, for details. Information will continue being added to the Program as it becomes available. Conference sessions, other than the two Keynotes, are for registered participants. Please email nitaked@umich.edu by April 28 if you would like to register for the conference. No registration is required to attend the Keynotes.
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:40 am | SHUTTLE from HOTEL to MICHIGAN LEAGUE | Pick up at AC Hotel. Drop off at Michigan League. |
| 12:00 – 5:00 pm |
Pre-Conference Session: Generative AI for Assessment Lunch provided. Pre-registration required. Session is FULL. Description: Participants are exposed to various uses of GenAI and have space to explore the impact of GenAI in their contexts. |
Henderson Room, 3rd Floor – Michigan League |
| 5:10 pm | SHUTTLE from MICHIGAN LEAGUE to HOTEL | Pick up at Michigan League. Drop off at AC Hotel. |
Wednesday, May 20
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | SHUTTLE #1 from HOTELS to CCCB | Pick up at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. Drop off at Central Campus Classroom Building (CCCB). |
| 8:30 am | SHUTTLE #2 from HOTELS to CCCB | Pick up at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. Drop off at CCCB. |
| 8:00 – 9:00 am |
Check In Light snacks and beverages provided. Description: Participants pick up name tags, folders, etc. and get settled before Welcome. |
Room 1420 – Central Campus Classroom Building (CCCB) |
| 9:00 – 9:30 am |
Welcome & Overview of Day Presenter: Tim McKay Description: Welcome to conference, overview of materials in folder, and info on today’s sessions. |
Room 1420 – CCCB
|
| 9:30 – 11:00 am |
SESSION 1: Challenges and Dream Alternatives Description: Institutional teams brainstorm challenges with current assessments. Through the gallery walk, participants share potential solutions to stated challenges. |
Room 1420 – CCCB |
| 11:00 – 11:15 am |
BREAK |
|
| 11:15 am – 12:30 pm |
KEYNOTE 1: Panel on Testing Accommodations Panelists: Feranmi Okanlami, Maira Goytia, Renée Link, Angela Dillard Description: Panelists discuss testing accommodations: the systems around making tests accessible and the challenges with designing tests to accommodate large numbers of students.
|
Room 1420 – CCCB |
| 12:40 pm | SHUTTLE from CCCB to MICHIGAN LEAGUE | Pick up at CCCB. Drop off at Michigan League. |
| 12:40 – 2:00 pm |
Lunch & Unconferencing Lunch provided. Description: If desired, discuss emerging topics one-on-one or via group discussions. This is also an opportunity to pick up your SEISMIC T-shirt and book giveaway. |
Hussey, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 2:05 pm |
SHUTTLE from MICHIGAN LEAGUE to CCCB
|
Pick up at Michigan League. Drop off at CCCB. |
| 2:15 – 3:50 pm |
SESSION 2: Speed Dating Alternative Assessments Description: Participants each attend three 12-min talks to learn about alternative assessments. They share key takeaways with peers in their roles. |
Room 0460 – CCCB
|
| 3:50 – 4:00 pm |
BREAK Light snacks and beverages provided. |
Room 0460 – CCCB |
| 4:00 – 5:00 pm |
SESSION 3: Digging into SEISMIC Phase 2 Description: Info on SEISMIC Phase 2, then guided prompts for each role to make sense of SEISMIC in each context. Opportunities to clarify the project through Q&A. |
Room 0460 – CCCB |
| 5:10 pm | SHUTTLE #1 from CCCB to HOTELS | Pick up at CCCB. Drop off at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. |
| 5:40 pm | SHUTTLE #2 from CCCB to HOTELS | Pick up at CCCB. Drop off at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. |
Thursday, May 21
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:45 am | SHUTTLE #1 from HOTELS to MICHIGAN LEAGUE | Pick up at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. Drop off at Michigan League. |
| 8:30 am | SHUTTLE #2 from HOTELS to MICHIGAN LEAGUE | Pick up at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. Drop off at Michigan League. |
| 8:00 – 9:00 am |
Unconferencing Light snacks and beverages provided. Description: If desired, discuss emerging topics one-on-one or via group discussions. This is also an opportunity to pick up your SEISMIC T-shirt and book giveaway. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 9:00 – 9:15 am |
Overview of Day Description: Info on today’s sessions. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League
|
| 9:15 – 10:45 am |
SESSION 4: Leveraging our Teaching Centers and More Description: Discussions on how instructors work within their institutional environment with the support of teaching and learning staff and staff of introductory sequences. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 10:45 am |
GROUP PICTURE |
TBA |
| 11:00 – 11:15 am |
BREAK |
|
| 11:15 am – 12:30 pm |
KEYNOTE 2: Grading for Growth: Toward more humane, authentic, and trustworthy ways to evaluate student work Speaker: Robert Talbert Description: Grading as we know it is significantly broken. The traditional approach—involving one-and-done assessment, points, partial credit, and averaging—demotivates students, demoralizes faculty, consumes time, disconnects from science, and has questionable statistical validity. But it is changeable, and now is the time to explore alternatives that prioritize student growth and align better with how humans learn. In this talk, we will explore the history and issues of traditional grading, propose a framework for “alternative” grading practices, and see how to implement alternative grading without massive time or energy requirements. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 12:30 – 2:00 pm |
Lunch & Unconferencing Lunch provided. Description: If desired, discuss emerging topics one-on-one or via group discussions. This is also an opportunity to pick up your SEISMIC T-shirt and book giveaway. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm |
SESSION 5: Topical Discussions Description: Targeted parallel discussions:
|
Michigan League – see Description for specific rooms
|
| 3:00 – 3:15 pm |
BREAK Light snacks and beverages provided. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 3:15 – 5:00 pm |
SESSION 6: Forming Your Project Within SEISMIC Phase 2 Description: Identify a few clear teams and what it will look like to work on a project together over the next two years. |
Ballroom, 2nd Floor – Michigan League |
| 5:10 pm | SHUTTLE #1 from MICHIGAN LEAGUE to HOTELS | Pick up at Michigan League. Drop off at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. |
| 5:40 pm | SHUTTLE #2 from MICHIGAN LEAGUE to HOTELS | Pick up at Michigan League. Drop off at Residence Inn Hotel first, then AC Hotel. |
END OF CONFERENCE. Participants depart on May 22.
Participants
Each partner institution may send at least 10 participants to the Kick Off Event (funds for travel and hosting are provided by SEISMIC):
- 8 instructors / staff members involved in introductory STEM courses (including graduate student instructors)
- 1 institutional researcher comfortable working with student performance and demographic data
- 1 SEISMIC Campus Liaison (or delegate) to represent the institution in SEISMIC-level discussions
If you fall into one of the above categories (instructor / staff / institutional researcher / Campus Liaison) and would like to attend, please contact your Campus Liaison (listed on our Institutions webpage) as soon as possible to let them know. SEISMIC will be reaching out to Campus Liaisons for their participant lists in mid March. After this, SEISMIC will reach out to you to complete registration and assist with your travel arrangements.
Additional spots are available for:
- Undergraduate students at our partner institutions who are involved in STEM education reform and who are eager to attend and provide input on our alternative assessment plans
- Staff in teaching centers or related units at our partner institutions who are eager to attend and help to shape how our Disciplinary Teams will function
If this describes you (undergraduate student / teaching center staff), please reach out to Project Manager Nita Tarchinski (nitaked@umich.edu) by April 1, 2026 to express your interest!
Accessibility & Questions
Please reach out to Project Manager Nita Tarchinski (nitaked@umich.edu) with any questions about the event, including questions about access or accommodations that will facilitate your full participation.