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CFC Listening Sessions This Fall

by | Sep 15, 2025 | Blog, Feedback, Pedagogy, Teaching and Learning

This semester, the CFC is taking a closer look at how you experience the resources and support available to you, and how we can better align our programs with what you truly need. To kick things off, we just launched a needs assessment survey (check your inbox). But that’s just one part of the conversation.

We’re also hosting a couple of informal listening sessions this fall, and we’d really like to hear from you. These are relaxed, drop-in gatherings (no presentations, no pressure). Just a chance to share what’s on your mind.

We’ll be at:

  • Lazy Hiker in Sylva | 4:30–6:00 PM on Monday, October 27
  • Hillside Grind (on campus) | 9:30–11:00 AM on Thursday, October 30

We’re especially interested in hearing:

  • What’s working well for you?
  • What could be better?
  • What kinds of support or resources would make a difference?

It’s buy-your-own beverage style, so feel free to grab a drink and join us whenever you can. Whether you’ve got ideas, questions, concerns, or just want to chat, we’re here to listen. Your input helps shape how the CFC grows and how we support teaching and learning at WCU. We hope you’ll stop by and be part of the conversation!

We Want to Hear from You!

by | Aug 29, 2025 | Blog, Feedback, University Support

Help Shape the Future of the Coulter Faculty Commons 

At the Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC), everything we do is grounded in our commitment to supporting our teaching community members – as teachers, scholars, and leaders. This year, we’re taking a closer look at how you experience the resources and support available to you, and how we can better align our programs with what you truly need. 

To start, we’ll soon launch an online survey/needs assessment. By taking part, you’ll help us better understand your teaching experiences, priorities, and challenges, so we can design programming that reflects your reality in the classroom and beyond. 

Listening Sessions This Fall 

Alongside the survey, we’ll also be hosting a series of listening sessions, both in-person and online, throughout the fall semester. These sessions are relaxed, open conversations where you’ll be invited to share your thoughts, ideas, and insights with the CFC staff. 

Think of them as our way of asking: 
What do you need from us? What’s working? Where are the gaps? What would make your teaching and leadership journey easier or more inspiring? 

Why Your Voice Matters 

Your perspective will directly shape how the CFC evolves in the years ahead. The feedback you share will help us create programs, practices, and resources that are meaningful, practical, and innovative – designed to support you and, in turn, enrich the experience of our diverse community of students. 

Join the Conversation 

We’re excited to hear from you and to work alongside you as we plan for the future. Whether through the survey or a listening session, your voice will make a difference. Together, we’ll build a stronger, more connected community of teachers and learners. We can’t wait to listen, learn, and grow with you this year! 

 

How is your teaching going? TAPs are back

by | 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.

QR code for fall TAPs registration

Call for Interest: Hurricane Helene Symposium Fall 2025

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Blog, Discussions, Event, Feedback, Professional Development

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.

 

How is your teaching going? Find out with a TAP

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Assessment, Blog, Feedback

Teaching Analysis Polls (TAPs) return this Spring Semester

Save your spot now & register! 

The Coulter Faculty Commons is excited to announce the return of Teaching Analysis Polls (TAPs) this spring, the CFC’s mid-semester assessment program!  

Why sign up for a TAP? 

Unlike end-of-semester surveys, a TAP provides actionable mid-semester feedback from your students. Use it to: 

  • 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 completely confidential. New this year, we’re offering in-person options at both the main campus and Biltmore Park, as well as online options for evening or remote classes. 

Registration is open now to all instructors teaching at WCU. Please reach out to Anabel Livengood at llivengood@wcu.edu if you have any questions.

Rubrics in Canvas

by | Apr 19, 2021 | Blog, Canvas, Feedback, Student Engagement

Rubrics can be used to grade assignments, discussions and quizzes in a course. 

Rubrics can be used to as an efficient way to evaluate assignments, quizzes and discussions with more effective and valuable individual feedback and expectation for students. 

 

Why You Should Consider Rubrics

Rubrics help instructors:

  • Provide students with feedback that is straightforward, focused and central to learning improvement.
  • Reduce time spent on grading; Increase time spent on teaching.
  • Promote student comprehension of assignment instructions and expectations so they can easily discern what to focus on rather than guessing “what the teacher wants to see.”
  • Streamline evaluation of rubric results to make informed adjustments to course content and material based on identified thematic gaps in student learning across a class.
  • Refine consistency in evaluation of student learning throughout an entire class as well as individual students.

Rubrics help students:

  • Sharpen their efforts on completing assignments and assessments that align with clearly defined expectations.
  • Self and Peer-reflection on their own learning to make informed adjustments and improvements to accomplish learning level and mastery.

 (Adapted from UC Berkely Center for Teaching & Learning – Evaluate Course-Level Learning – Rubrics)

It is important to note that rubrics used in Blackboard may look different in Canvas depending on the criteria and settings. Review the information provided in the knowledge base article “Do my rubrics in Blackboard migrate to Canvas?” 

How does this align to Canvas training materials?

Canvas logoPriming the Canvas: Module 2: “Designing a Canvas Course” & Module 12 “Teaching in the Virtual Classroom”

 

Additional Resources:

Our next article will highlight Canvas Implementation Core Integrations ; visit Canvas Blog to see all our Canvas articles.