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From River Valleys to Mountain Peaks: Call for SITL Proposals

by | Feb 25, 2026 | Blog, Call for Papers, Faculty Development Workshop, Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning (SITL)

The Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) invites faculty and staff to submit proposals for the 2026 Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning.

Under the theme River Valleys to Mountain Peaks: Expanding Our Teaching Horizons, this year’s institute celebrates the many pathways of teaching and learning at WCU. Just as our region’s landscape invites exploration and growth, we welcome sessions that highlight effective practices, creative innovations, and thoughtful reflections that support student success.

Call for Proposals flyer for SITL 2026 from the Coulter Faculty Commons, depicting a mountain and lake painting.

We look forward to learning with you as we explore new perspectives and expand our teaching horizons together.

At a Glance

📅 Dates: May 13 & 14, 2026, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm 

📍 Location: WCU Main Campus, Apodaca  

📝 Proposal Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026 

📩 Notice of Proposal Acceptance: April 15, 2026 

Ready to share your work?

Visit the 2026 SITL webpage for full details and submission guidelines.

Exploring GenAI Learning Series @WCU

by | Jan 24, 2026 | AI, Assessment, Blog, Educational Development, Faculty Development Workshop

Faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to participate in a new AI-focused professional learning series that explores how generative AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and everyday work in higher education. This collaborative series is being offered by Coulter Faculty Commons, Hunter Library, and IT.

The series features three sessions, including From Detection to Design: Rethinking Assignments with GenAI in Mind, Everyday GenAI at Work: Boosting Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot, and Evaluating AI Information for Reliability. Together, these workshops provide practical strategies, shared language, and campus-informed perspectives to help participants thoughtfully engage with AI tools while supporting effective pedagogy, responsible use, and institutional goals. 

 

 

From Detection to Design: Rethinking Assignments with GenAI in Mind

Friday, February 6 | 11:15 am – 12:45 pm 

In this workshop, instructors will explore how and why structural changes to assignments are essential in the age of generative AI (GenAI). Drawing on current research, the session emphasizes designing assessments that promote learning, integrity, and student engagement rather than attempting to “AI‑proof” coursework. 

 

 

Everyday GenAI at Work: Boosting Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot 

Friday, March 20 | 10:00 – 11:30 am

Discover how Microsoft Copilot can transform your daily workflow. This session will explore practical ways to integrate AI into routine tasks—drafting documents, summarizing content, analyzing data, and more. Learn tips and best practices to streamline processes, save time, and enhance productivity using Microsoft Copilot. Perfect for anyone looking to work smarter, not harder.

 

 

Evaluating AI Information for Reliability

Friday, April 17 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm

This session acknowledges the value of the (trained) human eye when working with new technologies, such as AI, to ensure that the information is accurate and reliable, and can therefore be used for some purpose/application (to make decisions, solve problems, etc.) without issue. The goal of the session is for participants to learn how to critically evaluate GenAI outputs to determine if the information can be trusted and used reliably, while enhancing our overall thinking skills. 

Register for AI Learning Series Session(s)

Back due to popular demand: AI Forum

by | Jan 9, 2026 | AI, Blog, Classroom, Educational Technology, Faculty Development Workshop

Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Teaching & Learning

Tuesday, January 27 | 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Hunter Library 156 (CFC) or via Zoom

You’re invited to an open forum for faculty across disciplines to share ideas, challenges, and best practices focused on uses of AI in the classroom. The forum will be structured into two parts. Part 1: Faculty will share ideas regarding how they are using generative AI for teaching innovation and to ease course administration burdens. Part 2: Faculty will share ideas for setting and maintaining clear expectations regarding ethical and responsible student use of AI and the impacts of AI on student learning processes. We will also reflect on how faculty and students can set competency-based learning goals that emphasize distinctive human skills. Come ready to share your ideas and to learn from and be inspired by others.

Register for "Using AI to Enhance Teaching & Learning"

Get Ready for Spring with the CFC. January’s Week Zero: Canvas, Syllabi, and More

by | Dec 1, 2025 | Blog, Canvas, Faculty Development Workshop, Teaching and Learning

Week Zero: We’ve got you covered for Spring semester

Finalize your spring courses before the semester begins! During Week Zero, the Coulter Faculty Commons has you covered:

Our team will be available for individual consultations all week (both in-person and virtual), and we’ll host focused workshops on Thursday and Friday to help you finalize your course setup.

Join us for:

  • Canvas Essentials: streamline your gradebook and boost your communication strategies.

  • AI & the Syllabus: explore ways to address AI thoughtfully in your course policies.

  • Syllabus & Canvas Clinic (in-person drop-in support): bring your syllabus, assignments, or Canvas questions and get one-on-one help from our team.

Week Zero flyer: Get ready for Spring with the CFC.
Register for Week Zero

All Week (Monday, January 5 – Friday, January 9)

Our team will be available for individual consultations all week to help you get your spring classes ready — wherever you are in the process. Whether you’d like feedback on your syllabus, ideas for new or revised assignments, or a hand with your Canvas setup and gradebook, we’re here to support you. Bring your questions, drafts, or big-picture plans, and we’ll work with you to make sure your course is ready to launch with confidence.

Schedule a consultation directly or email cfc@wcu.edu to set up an in-person or virtual appointment.

Thursday, January 8

Canvas Gradebook Setup & Best Practices – hybrid | 10:00 – 10:45 am
Because your Canvas gradebook is built from your assignments, it’s important to set it up accurately from the start. In this session, we’ll guide you through organizing assignments, applying weights, and setting grading policies correctly. This is a 30-minute demo, followed by a brief Q&A.

AI & Syllabus Policy – hybrid | 11:00 am – noon
Explore ways to address AI thoughtfully in your syllabus. We’ll look at sample policy language, classroom scenarios, and strategies for aligning expectations with your teaching goals. This session is an interactive workshop.

Syllabus & Canvas Clinic – in-person | 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Work side-by-side with CFC consultants to review your syllabus, organize your Canvas materials, and make sure your course is ready for students on day one. This session follows a drop-in consultation format.

 

Friday, January 9

Syllabus & Canvas Clinic – in-person | 10:00 am – noon
Work side-by-side with CFC consultants to review your syllabus, organize your Canvas materials, and make sure your course is ready for students on day one. This session follows a drop-in consultation format.

Communication in Canvas – hybrid | 1:15 – 2:00 pm
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. 

Opportunities to Learn about Artificial Intelligence

by | Nov 4, 2025 | AI, Blog, Classroom, Educational Technology, Faculty Development Workshop, Help Your Students, Learn, Pedagogy, Student Engagement, Teaching and Learning

AI in the WCU Classroom

Join colleagues for an open discussion on using AI in teaching and learning on Tuesday, Nov 18, 3:30-5:00 pm. This two-part program will include sharing strategies for integrating generative AI into instruction and course management, as well as approaches for setting clear expectations around ethical student use. We’ll also consider how to design learning goals that emphasize key human skills. For more information and to register, read the blog post.

UNC System Pilot: Student AI Literacy

The UNC System Office is piloting a new AI Foundational Skills program, developed collaboratively by faculty, librarians, and instructional designers across the System, in Spring 2026 to strengthen student AI literacy and workforce readiness. This collaborative initiative gives students practical AI experience and critical evaluation skills while connecting them with industry perspectives. We’re seeking faculty to integrate the training into their courses and provide feedback, which will help refine the program. Faculty will receive a stipend. Interested? Complete this interest form to receive more information. Questions? Contact Dr. Heather McCullough, Director, Learning Technology and Open Education, hamccullough@northcarolina.edu

Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Teaching & Learning

by | Oct 29, 2025 | AI, Blog, Classroom, Educational Technology, Faculty Development Workshop

Tuesday, November 18 | 3:30 – 5:00 pm in Hunter Library 156 (CFC)

You’re invited to an open forum for faculty across disciplines to share ideas, challenges, and best practices focused on uses of AI in the classroom. The forum will be structured into two parts. Part 1: Faculty will share ideas regarding how they are using generative AI for teaching innovation and to ease course administration burdens. Part 2: Faculty will share ideas for setting and maintaining clear expectations regarding ethical and responsible student use of AI and the impacts of AI on student learning processes. We will also reflect on how faculty and students can set competency-based learning goals that emphasize distinctive human skills. Come ready to share your ideas and to learn from and be inspired by others.

Register for "Using AI to Enhance Teaching & Learning"