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Canvas Training: New Course Accessibility Tools in Canvas

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Accessibility, Blog, Canvas, Faculty Development Workshop, Teaching with Technology

Would you like to make your course more available and accessible to your students?  

The Division of IT, in partnership with the Office of Accessibility Resources and the Office of the Provost, has made a new set of tools available in Canvas to help guide you to make your courses more accessible. This Accessibility Suite is already active in your Canvas courses, but if you’d like more training about how to get the best out of these tools, we urge you to register for this professional development opportunity.

Register even if you can’t attend, and we will make the recording available to you!

Register:

Friday, October 17, 10:30 am – WCU Online Accessibility Tools Update 2025 

Or

Thursday, November 6, 3:00 pm – WCU Online Accessibility Tools Update

Upcoming Fulbright Specialist Panel

by | Aug 29, 2025 | Blog, Professional Development, Research, Teaching and Learning, University Support

Want to Learn More About Fubright Opportunities?

Flyer for Fulbright Specialist Panel on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Friday, September 12 from 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Hunter Library 186 or Zoom

Panelists:

  • Wes Milner, Director of Global Engagement, WCU Fulbright Liaison
  • Chuck Thomas, Dean of Library Services
  • Marie-Line Germain, Professor of HR and Leadership

Drop-ins welcome, pre-registration preferred
Pre-Register at http://bit.ly/4oQ7ci3

Finding the Right Fulbright Program for You

By Yanjun Yan, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering, UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching Winner 2023, Fulbright U.S. Scholar 2021 

It is with mixed feelings that I write about this as the funding for Fulbright has been turbulent this year. The good news is that as of August 22, 2025, several Fulbright programs are among 28 programs at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to get their FY25 budget released and Congress has a 15-day period to fully approve them by early September. Meanwhile, a budget of $287.8 million was proposed for Fulbright programs in FY26. Unfortunately, 22 other programs at ECA may get their FY25 budget cut. The Fulbright-Hays Program was funded through the Department of Education and was cancelled in FY25. 

Despite the recent funding turmoil, Fulbright has been the flagship international exchange initiative since 1946. Every U.S. dollar invested in Fulbright leverages an additional 60 cents in funding from private sectors or other countries. People may not realize that there are various Fulbright programs for different stages in their careers. Fulbright programs in the FY26 budget proposal include: 

Fulbright programs require U.S. citizenship to be eligible. The most suitable programs for faculty are the U.S. Scholar (2-12 months) and/or the Specialist (2-6 weeks). I will provide some tips on the U.S. Scholar program below, and we will offer a panel on the Specialist program on Friday, September 12, 2025, in Hunter Library 186, 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Zoom option (pre-register at http://bit.ly/4oQ7ci3 but walk-ins are welcome).

Explore Fulbright Opportunities

For Fulbright U.S. Scholar program:  

  • The programs can be research, teaching, teaching/research, or professional. Some programs are set in one of the types, but other programs may allow you to choose the type. A Research-only grant is treated as a non-taxable fellowship, but if the grant is used to support teaching, even partially, it becomes taxable income. The monetary amount of the grant can vary depending on location and the number of awards. As reviewers, we have seen applications from community college faculty who identified an equivalent host abroad, or researchers who pioneered a research field. All applications were reviewed by the suitability of the project and the preparedness of the applicants, and none of them were at a disadvantage.  
  • The programs may last from 2 months to 12 months. Some programs are set in their durations, while others may allow you to choose the number of months. The FLEX option may allow one to split their stay into two segments, but not all programs have the FLEX feature. 
  • Many programs require an invitation letter from the host institution, but some are optional, and some prohibit you from submitting an invitation letter. If you do not have a connection beforehand, you may still find a program that suits you. 
  • For a country with sizable Fulbright programs, there is often a Fulbright Commission with dedicated staff to manage the programs. Or else, the U.S. embassy in that country is the contact and manager of the programs. They often organize cultural and academic events while you are there. During the application process, you can also reach out to IIE (the platform for Fulbright applications) staff or alums if you have a question. 
  • About 60% of the grants provide dependent support. While on-site, there can be mini grants for projects or travel grants for presentations. Every family’s situation is different. You may need to consider children’s education, spouse’s work relocation, and renting out your house or finding a house sitter and/or pet sitter. Most programs expect you to find a rental room locally and pay for it, although some programs may provide some lodging support, or the hosts may provide lodging. It’s okay to ask the local staff if there may be English schools for your children. 
  • Most programs are in a single country, but there may be programs involving two or more countries.  
  • There are two rounds of reviews, and some countries may call for an interview. The first round of reviews is in the U.S. based on merit and the decision may be released in late November. The second round of reviews is in the host country to make the match. The final decision can be awarded, rejected, being an alternative (if the awardee declines the offer, you will be awarded), or switched to a nearby country (if you agree). 
  • At WCU, you could sync up your Fulbright U.S. Scholar application (due around September 15) with the WCU Scholarly Development Assignment Program (SDAP) application (due around October 1), with approval from your Department Head and Dean, or reach out to the Provost’s Office for more guidance on the timing. 

As a Fulbright alum or a supporter of Fulbright, you are welcome to join the Fulbright Association (FBA). I have been on the NC FBA board since summer 2023, and we have organized several events such as a panel in Fall 2023 “Meet WCU Fulbrighters”, a panel in Spring 2024 on U.S. Scholar, and the upcoming panel on Specialist on Sep 12, 2025. If you’d like to encourage your students to consider Fulbright, please contact WCU ONIA (Office of National and International Awards) and watch out for the third annual WCU Fulbright Week events, expected in Spring 2026. 

Essential Teaching Resources for a Strong Fall Semester

by | Aug 25, 2025 | Blog, Faculty Development Workshop, Teaching and Learning, University Support

The Coulter Faculty Commons is here to support you this Fall semester! With all the back-to-school emails, you might have missed hearing about these three opportunities:

1

Excellence in Teaching & Learning Event (ETLE)

Get students to read & discover tools on how to be an authentic professor

Flyer for the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Event 2025, including information about the speaking times and titles

Our Excellence in Teaching and Learning Event, (ETLE), will feature two days of celebrating teaching and learning at WCU, September 11–12. Featured guest Dr. Liz Norell (University of Mississippi), author of The Present Professor, will lead a pre-ETLE workshop on Thursday afternoon.

Friday’s sessions will open with remarks from Chancellor Kelli R. Brown and will be followed by a keynote and an interactive session on authenticity and transformational teaching.

Learn more and register for ETLE.

2

Mid-semester Assessment

What are your students thinking? Don’t wait until the end of the semester to hear their feedback!

Optimize your teaching in less than 2 hours with a TAP. Coulter Faculty Commons

Teaching Analysis Polls (TAPs) have returned this fall! The TAP is a mid-semester feedback program designed to support instructors. It gives you the opportunity to hear directly from your students at a meaningful point in the semester, allowing you to make adjustments that can strengthen both your teaching and your students’ learning. 

To sign up for a TAP please see registration details. 

TAPs will run from Monday, September 22, to Friday, October 10, during the 2025 Fall semester.

3

Equality Policy

How does the UNC System Equality Policy impact my teaching?

The UNC System logo, depicting the outline of the state of North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina System has adopted a revised policy on equality that emphasizes academic freedom, equal opportunity, and institutional neutrality. The Coulter Faculty Commons is hosting two separate information sessions with Shea Browning and Heather Baker from the Legal Counsel team. They will provide an overview of the policy and practical implications for faculty as well as staff who have a teaching role at WCU. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion to better understand how these changes impact their roles and responsibilities.

Faculty: Tuesday, September 9, 2:00-3:15 pm

Staff (SHRA and EHRA-non-faculty) who serve as the instructor of record for a course: Tuesday, September 9, 3:30-4:45 pm

Reserve your spot & register for the UNC System Equality Session.

UNC System Equality Policy

by | Aug 19, 2025 | Blog, Faculty Development Workshop, Professional Development, Teaching and Learning, University Support

UNC System Equality Policy: Overview and Its Application to Faculty and Instructional Staff

The University of North Carolina System has adopted a revised policy on equality that emphasizes academic freedom, equal opportunity, and institutional neutrality. The Coulter Faculty Commons is hosting two separate information sessions with Shea Browning and Heather Baker from the Legal Counsel team. They will provide an overview of the policy and practical implications for faculty as well as staff who have a teaching role at WCU. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion to better understand how these changes impact their roles and responsibilities.

We are offering the following two sessions, one designed for faculty and one for instructional staff.

Faculty

 

Tuesday, September 9, 2:00-3:15 pm
Location: Hunter Library Flex Room (1st Floor)

Staff (SHRA and EHRA-non-faculty) who serve as the instructor of record for a course

Tuesday, September 9, 3:30-4:45 pm
Location: Hunter Library Flex Room (1st Floor)

Register for Equality Policy Session

Biltmore Park Day – September 2

by | Aug 5, 2025 | Biltmore Park, Blog, Event, Faculty Development Workshop, Teaching and Learning

Join us for a whole day of workshops in Biltmore Park

The Coulter Faculty Commons is heading to Asheville! We’re excited to host a Biltmore Park Day featuring four hands-on, practical workshops designed to support your teaching, wherever you’re based.

These workshops are open to any instructor who teaches at Biltmore Park, as well as main campus or online instructors who live nearby and would like to participate.

Join us for any or all of the following sessions on Tuesday, September 2, 2025:

Workshop 1: 9:00 – 10:00 am | BP 330

Teaching Philosophy Make & Take

It’s common for instructors to find it difficult to clearly express their teaching philosophy, even after years in the classroom. In this hands-on session, you’ll explore your core teaching beliefs, narrow them down to 3–5 guiding priorities, and learn how to express them in a clear, authentic narrative. Whether you’re preparing a statement for promotion and tenure or simply want to reconnect with your teaching purpose, you’ll leave with a strong draft and next steps. 

Workshop 2: 10:30 – 11:30 am | BP 330

Active Learning for In-Person Classes

Looking to energize your classroom? Explore simple, research-backed strategies to get students thinking, talking, and engaging. You’ll leave with ready-to-use ideas and a renewed sense of what’s possible face-to-face.

Workshop 3: 1:00 – 1:45 pm | BP 330

Grading in Canvas: SpeedGrader, Rubrics & Feedback Tools 

Simplify your grading workflow while maximizing feedback quality. Learn how to use SpeedGrader, apply rubrics, record video comments, and manage your gradebook with ease. 

Workshop 4: 2:00 – 2:45 pm | BP 330

Communication in Canvas: Be Present, Be Heard 

Stay connected with your students with built-in Canvas features. We’ll show you how to use announcements, feedback tools, the syllabus feature, and discussions to build an engaging and communicative course environment. 

Come connect with colleagues, learn something new, and let the CFC come to you!
Register for Biltmore Park Sessions