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New to WCU? Start Strong with These Two Faculty Programs

by | Aug 1, 2025 | Blog, Faculty Development Workshop, Learning Community, Teaching and Learning

Start your WCU Journey with Momentum

Starting a new faculty or teaching position can be both exciting and overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your teaching practice, build connections, or chart a path toward tenure, two programs offered through the Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) are designed to support you from year one.

🌱 Faculty Forward

Faculty Forward is a supportive program designed specifically for early-career faculty who want to build a strong foundation in teaching. Faculty Forward is open to faculty and instructors in years 1-3 at WCU.

Through a series of interactive sessions during your first semester, you’ll explore effective, evidence-based strategies to create engaging learning environments, foster student success, and grow your teaching confidence. You’ll also connect with peers from across campus who are on a similar journey – because good teaching doesn’t happen in isolation.

Facilitators:

  • Alesia Jennings, PhD – Chemistry Instructor, CFC Faculty Fellow
  • Anabel Livengood, PhD – CFC Senior Educational Developer

Fall 2025 Meeting Dates
Thursdays | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

  • August 28
  • September 18
  • October 9
  • November 6
Sign up for Faculty Forward!

🤝 Faculty Mentoring

The Faculty Mentoring Learning Community is a year-long program that empowers new tenure-track faculty to thrive across all areas of academic life.

Rooted in an evidence-based learning community model, the FMLC offers an inclusive, interdisciplinary space where experienced faculty mentors guide you through collaborative growth and goal setting. You’ll explore essential topics like:

  • Promotion and tenure

  • Engaged and effective teaching

  • Scholarly and creative development

  • Work-life integration

  • Building successful mentoring relationships

Each cohort’s experience is tailored to their specific needs, making the learning community both personal and practical.

Facilitators:

  • Resa Chandler, PhD, Associate Professor, CFC Faculty Fellow for Mentoring
  • Derek Becker, PhD, Associate Professor

Fall 2025 Meeting Dates
Mondays | 3:30 – 5:15 pm

  • September 8 (2-hour meeting)
  • September 29
  • October 27
  • November 17
  • December 1
Apply for Faculty Mentoring!