The Office of Academic Research was delighted to host our inaugural Research Café on December 12, 2025—an energizing, conversation‑driven gathering designed to cultivate a supportive and connected research culture across Yorkville University.
Although the session was facilitated by Jenny Ge, Senior Educational Developer (Scholarship of Teaching & Learning), on behalf of Dr. Thu Le, the energy and engagement from participants made the event a meaningful kick‑off to this new series.
The Research Café is meant to be an informal, judgment‑free space for faculty and staff to reflect, inquire, share challenges, and support one another in their research journeys. Participants represented a wide range of research experience—from seasoned scholars to colleagues taking their very first steps.
Our conversation explored three guiding questions:
1. Research Highlights from 2025
Participants shared an inspiring range of accomplishments, including:
- Presenting at conferences for the first time
- Securing SoTL or SSAF funding
- Launching new disciplinary research projects
- Engaging in VR/AR‑based classroom research
- Collaborating across programs and departments
- Supporting student‑led research initiatives
- Advancing community‑engaged and Indigenous‑informed research practices
These reflections underscored the creativity and momentum of our growing research community.
2. Challenges Encountered This Year
Through a real‑time word cloud activity, several key themes emerged:
- Time – balancing research with teaching and service
- Access to resources – especially around methods, REB processes, and examples
- Methodological uncertainty – selecting appropriate research designs
- Scope creep – navigating projects that grow too large
- Navigating predatory journals and conferences
- Finding collaborators
These shared challenges will directly inform the support, programming, and resources the Office of Academic Research will prioritize in 2026.
3. Visioning Research Goals for 2026
While time ran short, participants expressed interest in:
- Building stronger methodological skills
- Attending more research events and workshops
- Applying for SSAF or SoTL Scholars funding
- Strengthening dissemination practices
- Collaborating with colleagues on multi‑disciplinary projects
- Connecting with the Research Ethics Board earlier in the design stage
- Continuing community‑engaged and culturally grounded research approaches
The enthusiasm highlighted a desire not just to pursue individual projects but to grow research capacity collectively across the university.
The conversations were thoughtful, generous, and deeply encouraging. Special thanks to all faculty who contributed examples of their work, shared valuable resources, and offered to support others in areas such as data analysis, ethics navigation, SoTL design, Indigenous research methodologies, and academic publishing.
What’s Next?
Research Café sessions will continue throughout 2026. Each one will build on these early conversations to strengthen research collaboration, skills development, and community building across Yorkville University.
Stay tuned for our upcoming Cafe dates!
