CFC Announces New Universal Design for Learning Course

We’re excited to introduce our upcoming course on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach that expands how we think about creating a barrier-free classroom and beyond. 

Universal Design (UD) centers on a simple yet powerful concept: creating products and environments that work for the widest possible range of users, regardless of age, ability, or background. Originally developed by a collaborative team of architects, product designers, and engineers, UD is built on seven foundational principles that guide accessible design thinking. 

What is UDL? 

In educational settings, these principles evolved into Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is a comprehensive framework for developing course materials and courses that serve every learner. UDL recognizes that students bring diverse backgrounds and abilities, to the classroom. By designing with this diversity of learners in mind from the outset through its three principles engagement, representation, and action and expression, instructors can create more effective learning experiences for everyone. 

This proactive approach doesn’t replace the need for individual accommodations when students require them; rather, it operates on a fundamental principle: when instructors design inclusively from the beginning, this design naturally addresses many accessibility needs while enhancing the experience for all learners. 

Join us in exploring how UDL principles can transform your approach to creating truly equitable learning environments. 

Announcing Our New Universal Design for Learning Course 

We will kick off our first cohort for our new 4-week asynchronous Canvas course on UDL on Monday, November 3. This course is ideal for instructors who want to learn more about the fundamentals of UDL and want to learn together and from colleagues on campus.  

Canvas Training: New Course Accessibility Tools in Canvas

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

Essential Teaching Resources for a Strong Fall Semester

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

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)

Biltmore Park Day – September 2

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!

Join us for ETLE 2025!

ETLE 2025: A Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Learning

The Coulter Faculty Commons invites the WCU campus community to join us for our annual Excellence in Teaching & Learning Event (ETLE) – a two-day celebration of innovative and impactful teaching practices.

ETLE 2025 will feature a dynamic lineup of workshops, presentations, and opportunities to connect with colleagues who care deeply about student success. This year, we are especially thrilled to welcome Dr. Liz Norell – widely known as The Present Professor – as our invited speaker. Dr. Norell serves as the Associate Director of Instructional Support at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the University of Mississippi.

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

In addition to delivering the ETLE keynote and a featured workshop, based on her recent book, The Present Professor – Authenticity and Transformational Teaching, Dr. Norell will lead a special pre-ETLE workshop entitled “When and Why do Students Read for Class?”

Her work centers on the power of showing up fully – with honesty, heart, and presence – in the classroom and beyond.

Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration or eager to share your own experiences,
ETLE 2025 is for you!

Explore session descriptions and register now on the ETLE 2025 website.