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Training for New Canvas Online Course Template

by | Mar 7, 2025 | Blog, Canvas, Online Learning

New Online Course Template Launching Summer 2025

Starting Summer 2025, all online courses (distance and residential) at WCU will use a new Online Course Template designed to enhance consistency, engagement, and support for both students and faculty.

Register for CFC Training Sessions

Key Benefits

    • Consistent Course Layout: Standardized format for easy navigation.
    • Enhanced Engagement: Built-in features for interactive learning.
    • Streamlined Support: Simplified access to Canvas tools and resources.

What’s Included?

The template follows best practices in online course design and includes:

    • Verbiage for the Syllabus tool.
    • An editable master module for customization.
    • A sample module demonstrating best practices.
    • An Instructor’s Guide with video tutorials and quality guidelines.

Training & Support

The CFC will offer drop-in training sessions to help you integrate the template into your courses. Video tutorials are also included in the template for on-demand support.

We encourage faculty to adapt the template to fit their course needs while maintaining a cohesive structure across WCU. For questions or assistance, reach out to the CFC.

CFC Online Course Template Training Sessions

  • Mar 21 (virtual), 1 – 3 p.m., Zoom
  • Mar 26 (in-person), 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., CFC (HL 166)
  • Mar 26 (virtual), 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Zoom
  • Mar 31 (in-person), 3 – 5 p.m., HHSB 433
  • Apr 3 (in-person), 3 – 5 p.m., CFC (HL 166)
  • Apr 3 (virtual), 3 – 5 p.m., Zoom
  • Apr 10 (in-person), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., CFC (HL 166)
  • Apr 10 (virtual), 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Zoom
  • Apr 28 (in-person), 3 – 5 p.m. – HHSB 433
  • May 12 (in-person), 3 – 5 p.m., HHS Room TBD

Call for Proposals – SITL 2025

by | Mar 6, 2025 | Blog, Event, Professional Development, Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL)

Submit your Proposal for SITL 2025 

The Coulter Faculty Commons invites faculty to submit a proposal for a dynamic presentation, panel, hands-on workshop, or short story session for their annual 2-day institute.

The Call for Proposals for the 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning is now open! The theme for this year’s institute is Renaissance of Teaching: A Summer Faire of Ideas, Innovation, and Inspiration and will be held May 14 & May 15.  

Find detailed information, including a description of the conference tracks and proposal guidelines, on the 2025 SITL CfP website. Proposals will be accepted until the submission deadline on April 1, and presenters will be notified by April 15. 

Call for Proposals flyer for the 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning of the Coulter Faculty Commons.

Apply to be a Faculty Mentor

by | Feb 24, 2025 | Blog, Learning Community, Mentoring, Professional Development

This is a call for interdisciplinary faculty mentors for the Faculty Mentoring Learning Community (FMLC).

Due to the success of our pilot mentoring program, The Coulter Faculty Commons for Teaching Excellence is excited to offer again our interdisciplinary learning community mentoring program for the 2025–2026 academic year.

2025-26 Faculty Mentors

Application reviews begin April 4, 2025.

What’s involved?

The community will consist of two tenured faculty mentor facilitators and 8 to 10 first- or second-year faculty. The community will meet approximately every two-three weeks throughout the program (10 sessions, 5 per semester). The mentor facilitators will meet virtually to plan each session.

 

Who are we looking for?

First, you identify with being a faculty mentor because you find working with others energizing, empowering members of the Catamount community is part of your personal mission, and you believe not only in mentorship, but you see WCU fostering a mentoring culture.

 

Preferred skills/attributes/abilities include evidence of successful:

  • Ability to facilitate peer interactions, creating an adult learning style (andragogy) environment
  • Cultural awareness and sensitivity (ability relatability to new faculty of varying ethnicities, learning styles, sexual orientation and gender identity, economic status, religion, etc.)
  • Mentorship experience
  • Creating and maintaining a collaborative, welcoming community
  • Strong communication skills
  • Goal setting and goal progression
  • Teaching and scholarship
  • Tenured, Associate/Full Faculty rank

These mentor positions will be supported by a stipend of $500 per semester for two semesters, totaling $1,000 per mentor. Your participation is recognized as a significant service contribution. 

 

Application Materials

Download & edit the following three Word documents:

For questions, please contact Resa Chandler at tmchandler@wcu.edu.
Please send your application and approval letters from your Department Head and Dean to CFC@wcu.edu and use “Faculty Mentoring Application” in the subject line.

 

Sincerely,
Resa Chandler, Faculty Fellow for Faculty Mentoring
Associate Professor, School of Teaching and Learning

 

Register for AI conference on February 28

by | Feb 17, 2025 | AI, Blog

Spring 2025 Excellence in Teaching & Learning Event:
AI in Teaching and Learning

 

Friday, Feb 28 | Blue Ridge Conference Rooms | 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Let us know you are coming!    REGISTER

Poster for the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Event on AI. It includes a qr code to register now.

Join us for one of the Coulter Faculty Commons’ signature events. This year’s theme focuses on Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning. We’re excited to partner with Hunter Library to bring two outstanding speakers to WCU. The event also features a faculty panel showcasing practical applications of AI in teaching and research.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to engage with experts, explore AI’s potential, and connect with colleagues. Read more about the presenters and view the schedule of events on our 2025 ETLE Blog Post.

Lunch is included for those who register by February 23. Register today, we look forward to seeing you there! 

Register Today!

Faculty Publishing Opportunity: Submit to JECT

by | Feb 5, 2025 | Blog, Call for Papers, Other Resources, Professional Development, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Call for Manuscripts: Journal on Excellence in College Teaching

Are you interested in sharing your teaching insights with a wider audience?
We wanted to highlight this opportunity for faculty to submit manuscripts to the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, a peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing student learning and innovative pedagogy. If you have research, experiences, or strategies to share, consider submitting by April 1, 2025! See details below.

 

Logo for the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching

Call for Manuscripts: Volume 36 (2025) of the Journal

Consider submitting a manuscript to the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, a peer-reviewed quarterly publication by and for faculty at universities and two- and four-year colleges to increase student learning through effective teaching, interest in and enthusiasm for the profession of teaching, and communication among faculty about their classroom experiences. The Journal provides a scholarly, written forum for discussion by faculty about all areas affecting teaching and learning, and gives faculty the opportunity to share proven, innovative pedagogies.

Manuscripts received by April 1, 2025, will be considered for inclusion in Volume 36 (2025).

Visit the Submissions page for more information, or contact Gregg Wentzell, Editor-in-Chief, at wentzegw@miamioh.edu.

Access Call for Manuscripts