2025 SoTL Design Institute Ignites Faculty Innovation

In May, the Coulter Faculty Commons hosted the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Design Institute at the Waynesville Inn & Golf Club, bringing together faculty from across disciplines to explore how classroom questions can become publishable research.

Led by SoTL expert Dr. Laura Cruz (Penn State) and supported by Western Carolina faculty panelists Susan Braithwaite (Health Sciences), Chip Ferguson (Engineering and Technology), and Katharine Mershon (Philosophy and Religion), the Institute offered sessions on framing meaningful research questions, research design, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) considerations, all in service to excellence in teaching and learning. The agenda focused on helping participants align their curiosity with methods that transform everyday classroom practice into evidence-based inquiry.

Many left energized by the realization that any teaching curiosity could become a SoTL project. “It is fantastic to know that there are experts in the CFC who can help with design,” one attendee noted. 

Faculty are already planning classroom changes, emphasizing metacognition, involving students in research, and using SoTL to guide innovation. The Institute planted seeds that will grow into engaged classrooms and impactful scholarship. Participants will be supported by the CFC throughout the summer with personalized coaching sessions and into the fall through a Write and Learn Collaborative, designed to help them implement classroom innovations, share progress, and support one another through dedicated collaboration and focused writing time. For more information about SoTL, please contact April Tallant atallant@wcu.edu.

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

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.
Logo with a wizard's hat with the words "Teaching Magic" and "Coulter Faculty Commons"
Participants at the opening session at the 2025 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning.
Faculty and staff connecting over lunch.
Logo with a wizard's hat with the words "Teaching Magic" and "Coulter Faculty Commons"

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

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.

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)

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 availabletake a peek and start planning your experience!  

Logo with a wizard's hat with the words "Teaching Magic" and "Coulter Faculty Commons"

Don't forget to register!

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

Call for Interest: Hurricane Helene Symposium Fall 2025

Are you interested in a Learning Symposium to mark one year since Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact and to exchange knowledge across disciplines regarding the service, research, and teaching response of our faculty, staff, and students?

The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning is assessing interest in a potential university-wide event to do that next fall. Please indicate your interest by completing a brief form (< 2 minutes) no later than Friday, May 2.

There is no commitment required at this time. If there is enough interest, the information that you provide will help us to plan the event. Please contact Joy Mischley, Director, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, for more information at jmischley@wcu.edu.

 

Open Up Learning: Apply for an OER Grant

A Million Reasons to Go Open

OER Grants Now Available! 

Open Education Resources (or “OER”) are openly-licensed, free or low-cost materials that can be modified and redistributed to educate students while reducing the cost of a college education. We are excited to announce a partnership between the Bookstore, Hunter Library, and Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) to sponsor up to $1,000,000 in faculty grants for the adoption of OER materials into the Book Rental program.

OER graphic depicting an open book and the text "Open Educational Resources"

This program is designed to: 

  • Promote additional course flexibility in the Book Rental program,
  • Support faculty with largely unrestricted grant funds,
  • Foster long-term savings for students,
  • Give faculty the tools they need to explore and adopt materials with the assistance of Hunter Library, and,
  • Help faculty integrate OER materials through course redesign assistance with Coulter Faculty Commons 

OER materials can be made available digitally and/or as a printed book through the Book Rental program to accommodate all styles of teaching.

Visit our OER Grant Program page for more information on grant types, how to apply, and support resources.