A Day Dedicated to Scholarly Teaching at WCU

by April Tallant | Jul 1, 2026 | Blog, Event, Faculty Development Workshop, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Pop quiz: What is scholarly teaching?

A. Thinking about your work as an educator and talking about teaching and learning with colleagues.
B. Consulting with an educational developer and other resources (newsletters, peer-reviewed research, blogs) about your teaching practice or student learning.
C. Designing course elements that are evidence-informed.
D. All of the above.

If you chose D – All of the above – you are correct!

Flyer for the Coulter Faculty Commons’ Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day, depicting a happy light bulb.

Want to know more? Check out the Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day website for the full schedule!

Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day, hosted by Coulter Faculty Commons on July 28, 2026, offers an opportunity to explore and engage in scholarly teaching. Participants will have a chance to reflect, re–energize and connect teaching with evidence–based inquiry that benefits students, faculty and instructional staff.

Provost Starnes will welcome participants and Dr. Laura Cruz, Research Professor at Penn State University’s Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, will serve as the keynote speaker and facilitator for this professional development experience. Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day also includes concurrent sessions around the following three tracks:

High-Impact Practices (HIPs) Made Practical: HIPs that Fit Your Course
From One Course to the Next: Sustaining Student Learning Over Time
Teaching Students to Think and Talk: Facilitating Meaningful Dialogue

Another highlight of the day will be a panel of WCU faculty members who will share reflections on their Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) journeys, highlighting their growth from early inquiry to deeper scholarly engagement.

Unable to attend but interested in learning more? Watch Elon University’s SoTL vs. Scholarly Teaching video interview with renowned SoTL scholars, stop by Coulter Faculty Commons to chat with a member of the CFC team, or set up a time to meet with April Tallant that works with your schedule.

Register for the 2026 Teacher-Scholar Day

CFC Announces Keynote Speaker & Panelists for Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day

by April Tallant | Apr 30, 2026 | Blog, Event, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day on July 28

Teacher–Scholar Inspiration Day, to be held July 28 in Apodaca, offers a chance to reflect, re–energize, and connect teaching with evidence–based inquiry that benefits students, faculty and instructional staff. The CFC is pleased to announce the keynote speaker and panelists who will help shape a day of reflection, inspiration, and practical takeaways. We are delighted to welcome Laura Cruz, Research Professor with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State, as the keynote speaker and facilitator for the day.

Register for Teacher-Scholar Inspiration Day

An excellent panel of WCU faculty will reflect on their scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) journeys, highlighting experiences from early exploration to more advanced engagement:

Jessica Casimir, Assistant Professor, Sociology
Matt Rave, Associate Professor, Physics
Melissa Snyder, Associate Professor & Coordinator of Clinical Education, Athletic Training
Mary Whatley, Assistant Professor, Psychology

Don’t miss this chance to join fellow teacher‑scholars in exploring thoughtful, evidence‑based changes that can have a lasting impact on teaching and learning.

Teacher–Scholar Inspiration Day

by April Tallant | Apr 6, 2026 | Blog, Event, Faculty Development Workshop, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

You are invited to attend Teacher–Scholar Inspiration Day, a one‑day gathering designed to energize your teaching, deepen student learning, and support your own well‑being as an educator. The event will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM in Apodaca. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, a letter from the Coulter Faculty Commons, and a light breakfast and lunch.

Through an engaging keynote delivered by Laura Cruz, faculty panel, interactive sessions, and collaborative conversations, participants will explore how small, intentional, evidence‑based shifts in teaching can make a meaningful difference for students and for ourselves.

Register for the 2026 Teacher-Scholar Day

The day emphasizes scholarly teaching: using curiosity, reflection, and research- informed practices to guide instructional choices. You’ll exchange ideas with colleagues, explore shared teaching challenges, and leave with practical inspiration you can carry into the year ahead. We’ll also have SoTL (the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) concurrent sessions as one possible pathway for turning teaching questions into collaborative inquiry. If you have never heard of SoTL, are ready to begin planning a SoTL study, or your SoTL project is complete and you need help moving forward, we have you covered.

All faculty, instructional staff, and graduate teaching assistants are welcome to attend and take away what is most meaningful for your teaching, your students, and your professional renewal. Come grounded in your current practice. Leave inspired, connected, and supported.

Dr. Katie Searles to Speak at WCU

by Chris Cooper | Apr 2, 2026 | Blog, Campus Community Connections, Event, Professional Development

The Haire Institute for Public Policy is pleased to sponsor a guest speaker on April 6, 2026. Dr. Katie Searles, Olin Johnson Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina, will facilitate events throughout the day, including a session called “Supporting Faculty Facing Occupational Intimidation” and “How News Coverage of Democracy Affects Audience Perceptions.” Please email Chris Cooper at ccooper@wcu.edu for more information and to RSVP.

Flyer with women sitting. Cover of book and event title included.

Supporting Faculty Facing Occupational Intimidation

by Chris Cooper | Feb 19, 2026 | Blog, Campus Community Connections, Event, Professional Development, Research

Dr. Katie Searles, Olin Johnson Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina, will be holding an open session for interested faculty on “Supporting Faculty Facing Occupational Intimidation.” The larger project has been featured in Inside High Ed. Lunch will be served for participants. The event will be held in Hunter Library 101A on April 6th from 10:30am-2:00pm. Please email Chris Cooper at ccooper@wcu.edu to reserve a space.

Campus Community Connections – February 2026

by Anabel Livengood | Jan 29, 2026 | Blog, Campus Community Connections, Event

Highlighting Opportunities and News from our Campus Partners

Black History Month at 100: Reclaiming the Legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s Black History Month and the War Over Historical Erasure

February 3: “In the Legacy of Black History: The Revolutionary Praxis of Malcolm X.: Dr. Richard Benson, Professor, University of Pittsburgh
February 5: Global Black Studies Inaugural Undergraduate Student Research Conference: “A Century of Struggle, Scholarship, and Survival: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”
February 10: “The ‘Mis-Education’ of 2026: Modern Erasure and Woodson’s Warning.” Dr. Alicia Fontnette, Director of the National Council for Black Studies and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies, University of Delaware
February 17: “When the Witness Becomes the Record: on ‘Bombingham’ and the Record of Racial Terror in Birmingham, Alabama.” Mr. Dale Long, Survivor of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Alabama
February 19: “Commemoration or Confrontation? Interrogating if Black History Month Needs a Makeover”

All events held in Apodaca Science Building, Room 123 @ 2:00 pm.

From the Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL)

SLC/CEC Faculty Roundtable

February 18, 2026 (Wednesday) | 3:30 – 4:30 pm Hunter Library 156 (CFC Conference Room)

For All Interested Faculty: Come discuss service-learning and community experience courses with WCU faculty Dr. Brian Byrd (School of Health Sciences) and Dr. Patricia Bricker (School of Teaching and Learning). This roundtable conversation will feature opportunities to hear about their experiences, to learn about the designation process (coming March 2nd!), and provide an open forum to exchange ideas. Questions? Contact CCESL Director Joy Mischley (jmischley@wcu.edu). A Zoom option is available for those not able to attend in-person (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81328274742)

Community-Engaged Courses: Upcoming Deadline

The Service-Learning Course (SLC) and Community Experience Course (CEC) designation process for Fall/Summer 2026 courses is currently underway. The initial designation process involves the faculty member completing a brief (~9 min) form. Please refer to the CCESL website for more information or contact Joy Mischley, Director (jmischley@wcu.edu). If you submitted your course during one of the deadlines last year, you do not need to repeat the process this year. Instead, CCESL will contact you individually about completing a brief renewal.

Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026, for Summer & Fall 2026 courses

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Website: staffsenate.wcu.edu