Kris Hollingsworth, PDR AY {{ page.academic_year }}

Kris Hollingsworth, PDR AY 2025-2026

Professional Development Report (PDR)
Summary Information for 2025-2026
Faculty Name Kris Hollingsworth
Terminal Degree Ph.D.
Joining Date at MSU August 1, 2022
Appointment Type at Joining Probationary
Rank at Joining Assistant Professor
Current Tenure Status Probationary
Current Rank Assistant Professor
PDP Period 2025-2026
Submission Date TBD
Criterion One: Evidence of Excellence in Teaching
Teach six classes: 4 sections of Math122: Calculus II, Math605: Graphs and Algorithms, and Math170: Intro to Mathematical Software Programming
Completed
Description: I am responsible for teaching 6 classes during the 2025-2026 academic year. This includes 2 sections of Calculus II in both Fall and Spring semesters, a graduate course on Graphs and Algorithms in the Fall, and an introductory course on Mathematical Software Programming in the Spring. While I have taught Calculus II many times, Math170 is a new course for me and I will be developing all materials from scratch. Math605 will be significantly revised from prior versions as it has generally started at too high a level for our students, thus a significant amount of new introductory material will be developed for the first half of the semester.
Activity Report:
Add detailed description of work and evidence of excellence in teaching.
Progress towards PDF/UA Digital Document Accessibility Compliance.
Significant Progress, Ongoing
Description: In response to new federal digital accessibility requirements, I have undertaken a comprehensive effort to ensure that all PDF course resources for my courses are compliant with PDF/UA standards.
Activity Report:
Updated all PDF course resources to be compliant with PDF/UA standards, ensuring that all digital course materials are accessible to students with disabilities. This involved researching the requirements of PDF/UA compliance, implementing necessary changes to existing documents, and verifying compliance through testing and validation tools. These efforts were aimed at meeting new federal digital accessibility requirements and ensuring that all students have equal access to course materials.
Criterion Two: Scholarly, Creative Achievement and Research
Progress towards PDF/UA Digital Document Accessibility Compliance.
Significant Progress, Ongoing
Description: In response to new federal digital accessibility requirements, I have undertaken a comprehensive effort to ensure that all PDF course resources for my courses are compliant with PDF/UA standards.
Activity Report:
Researched, developed, and published guides on GitHub for creating PDF/UA-compliant documents in LaTeX, a platform widely used in scientific publishing and in the preparation of teaching materials for science courses. This work was undertaken to support compliance with new federal digital accessibility requirements and to ensure course materials meet evolving legal standards.
Investigate Fullbright Scholars Grant
Significant Progress, Deemed Out of Scope
Description: I am investigating the possibility of applying for a Fullbright Scholars grant to support advancing my work in open educational resources (OER) or mathematical community outreach. This grant would provide an opportunity to collaborate with international experts in the field, conduct research on best practices for OER development and digital accessibility, and further develop resources and tools to support educators and learners globally. The application process involves researching the requirements and eligibility criteria for the Fullbright Scholars program, identifying potential host institutions and collaborators abroad, and preparing a compelling proposal that outlines the goals and impact of the proposed project.
Activity Report:
Add description of scholarly activity.
Criterion Three: Evidence of Continuing Preparation and Study.
Investigate Fullbright Scholars Grant
Significant Progress, Deemed Out of Scope
Description: I am investigating the possibility of applying for a Fullbright Scholars grant to support advancing my work in open educational resources (OER) or mathematical community outreach. This grant would provide an opportunity to collaborate with international experts in the field, conduct research on best practices for OER development and digital accessibility, and further develop resources and tools to support educators and learners globally. The application process involves researching the requirements and eligibility criteria for the Fullbright Scholars program, identifying potential host institutions and collaborators abroad, and preparing a compelling proposal that outlines the goals and impact of the proposed project.
Activity Report:
Add description of workshop/information session attendance and learning about program.
Criterion Four: Contribution to Student Growth and Development.
Provided mentorship to students.
Ongoing
Description: Includes academic advising, project supervision, and career guidance. This mentorship has involved regular meetings with students to discuss their academic progress, providing feedback on their work, and offering support and resources to help them succeed in their studies and future careers. This frequently includes providing letters of support for scholarships, internships, and graduate school applications. I have also supervised student research projects, guiding them through the research process and helping them develop their skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication of their findings.
Activity Report:
Academic Advising:
Direct Project Supervision:
Letters of Recommendation:
Criterion Five: Service to the University and Community.
Progress towards PDF/UA Digital Document Accessibility Compliance.
Significant Progress, Ongoing
Description: In response to new federal digital accessibility requirements, I have undertaken a comprehensive effort to ensure that all PDF course resources for my courses are compliant with PDF/UA standards.
Activity Report:
Provided templates, supplementary guides, and practical tools to faculty and the broader community through my GitHub page. Initiated discussions with the library to expand access to these resources through workshops and tool development, with potential collaboration through CESR. These efforts directly support institutional Equity 2030 goals by improving accessibility and inclusion in digital learning and scholarly materials produced by our institution. I additionally plan to create a quickstart guide for faculty and students on Cornerstone to further facilitate the adoption of accessible document practices in our courses and research outputs.
Calculus Curriculum Review Sub-committee
Initial Progress, Deferred
Description: The Calculus Curriculum Review Sub-committee is responsible for evaluating and updating the institution’s calculus curriculum. Its work includes reviewing course structures, identifying areas for improvement, and developing recommendations to ensure the curriculum remains current, coherent, and aligned with best practices in mathematics education. The sub-committee collaborates with faculty and other stakeholders to gather input and support informed, evidence-based curriculum development.
Activity Report:
Volunteered for and was then elected chair for an Ad Hoc Committee to review the Calculus curriculum and textbook selection. The department identified this as a potentially high-impact review because of the large number of students enrolled in Calculus courses and the fact that the curriculum had not undergone comprehensive review in more than a decade. The committee's work was paused pending the departmental program review, which was anticipated for AY2026--2027 early in the academic year. One recommendation from the external program reviewers was to 'establish a multiyear schedule for reviewing the curricula of all departmental programs'. The committee's preliminary work positions the department to resume this review process as part of a broader, ongoing cycle of curricular assessment and improvement.
Developed planning materials and a departmental survey to identify and rank faculty priorities related to the Calculus curriculum review process. The survey instrument may also serve as a useful artifact for future curriculum review efforts.