How is your teaching going? TAPs are back

by Anabel Livengood | Jul 29, 2025 | Assessment, Blog, Feedback

Teaching Analysis Polls (TAPs) return this Fall Semester

Fall 2025 TAPs Dates

Teaching Analysis Polls (TAPs), the CFC’s mid-semester assessment program, will run from Monday, September 22 – Friday, October 10 during the 2025 Fall semester.

Register for a TAP & save your spot!

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

Why sign up for a TAP?

Get feedback from your students when it matters most: while you are actually teaching your class.

Improve student learning: Make small teaching changes now and see the benefits for your current class.
Promote inclusive teaching: Show students you value their input by collecting feedback and making meaningful changes.
Document your teaching: Highlight your responsiveness to student needs in your teaching materials.

TAPs are available to anyone who teaches at WCU and are completely confidential. We are offering in-person options at both the main campus and Biltmore Park, as well as online options for evening or remote classes.

Please reach out to Anabel Livengood at llivengood@wcu.edu if you have any questions.

Jumpstart Your Semester with the CFC: Week Zero is Here!

by Anabel Livengood | Jul 21, 2025 | Active Learning, Assessment, Blog, Canvas, Faculty Development Workshop, Teaching and Learning

Week Zero

Looking to start the semester with confidence? The Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) is launching a brand-new initiative this fall: Week Zero, a series of practical, faculty-focused sessions running the week before classes begin from August 11–15.

Designed to help you hit the ground running, Week Zero offers workshops on assignment design, Canvas, accessibility, and active learning. Whether you’re completely new to teaching or you’re looking to brush up on your teaching toolkit, there’s something for everyone.

With just four weeks to go until kickoff…

… now is the perfect time to:

Sign up for sessions that spark your interest

OR

Schedule a consultation with the CFC team if you’d like more tailored support

Register for Sessions

Week Zero Schedule

Schedule a consult

We hope to see you there!

SITL 2025 Recap: Teaching Magic, Shared Wisdom, and Huzzahs

by Anabel Livengood | Jun 4, 2025 | Blog, Professional Development, Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL), Teaching and Learning

Looking back at our Summer Faire of Ideas, Innovation, and Inspiration

Our 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL) brought together 51 faculty and staff over two energizing days filled with ideas, innovation, and inspiration.

Each morning featured presentations from 12 incredible faculty and staff members, followed by hands-on afternoon workshops designed to explore new strategies and deepen practice. The energy was fantastic; you could feel the teaching magic in the air!

Participants at the opening session at the 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning.

Faculty and staff connecting over lunch.

From lively hallway conversations to thoughtful discussions in sessions, SITL reminded us that great teaching doesn’t happen in isolation. Thank you to everyone who shared their work, asked thoughtful questions, and helped make this year’s event such a meaningful gathering.

Huzzah for teaching and learning!

Support Continues: Online Course Template Training This Summer

by Anabel Livengood | May 9, 2025 | Blog, Canvas, Online Learning

Get Course-Ready: Summer Training for Canvas Online Template

We’re continuing to support the rollout of the new Online Course Template with additional training opportunities throughout the summer! Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your course, these sessions are here to help you make the most of the template.

Register for Summer Training Sessions



CFC Online Course Template Training Sessions

Tue, May 27 (virtual), 10 – 11:30 a.m., Zoom
Wed, May 28 (in-person), 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., CFC (HL 166)
Mon, June 9 (virtual), 1:30 – 3 p.m., Zoom
Tue, June 10 (in-person), 10:30 a.m. – noon, CFC (HL 166)
Thu, July 10 (virtual), 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Zoom
Fr, July 11 (virtual), 10 – 11:30 a.m., Zoom
Mon, July 21 (virtual), 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., Zoom
Tue, July 22 (virtual), 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., Zoom

For Summer and Fall classes, WCU’s Online Course Template will be added to all online course shells (distance and residential). While the university is not requiring faculty to use the template, some departments and programs have chosen to adopt it as a standard. The template is designed to enhance consistency, support, and engagement for both students and instructors.

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 continues to offer 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.

Register for the 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL)

by Anabel Livengood | Apr 21, 2025 | Blog, Professional Development, Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL), Teaching and Learning

Summer Faire of Ideas, Innovation, and Inspiration – 20th Anniversary of SITL

Join us for two energizing days of interactive workshops, inspiring presentations, and practical takeaways you can use right away. Whether you’re looking to refresh your teaching or try something new, SITL is a great way to connect with colleagues and leave recharged for the year ahead.

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.

The full program is now available – take a peek and start planning your experience!

Don't forget to register!

Your RSVP helps us plan and—most importantly—order enough food to nourish all our hungry scholars.

Register for SITL 2025