Western Carolina University logo with Coulter Faculty Commons

CFC Hosts Harvest-Themed Teacher-Scholar Gathering

by | Oct 14, 2026 | Blog, Event, Faculty Development Workshop, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Harvesting Insights: Exploring Successes and Challenges as Teacher-Scholars

The Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) invites you to join colleagues for an engaging teacher-scholar conversation on October 29, 2:30-4:00 p.m. at the CFC Conference Room (156 Hunter Library). Two fellow teacher-scholars will kick off our time with success stories of their own experiences with the high-impact practices of Open Educational Resources (OER) and collaborative projects. Dr. Amanda Storm will share some practical strategies for implementing OER materials to aid student preparation, as well as lessons learned and insights into student engagement. Dr. Kaleigh May will present a collaborative learning activity from her classroom that uses the Start-Stop-Continue framework to strengthen group practices and norms.

Flyer advertising October 2026 teacher-scholar gathering with decorative images

After celebrating what’s working, we’ll turn our attention to the challenges we’re facing in our classrooms. You will have the opportunity to share a teaching challenge, question, or idea you’d like help thinking through. We’ll work together to generate practical strategies and fresh perspectives grounded in the scholarship of teaching and learning. We invite you to nominate topics in advance via our Teacher-Scholar Discussion Topics form. Come ready to contribute, ask questions, and learn from the collective wisdom of your colleagues! Fall-themed refreshments will be provided.

Submit a Discussion Topic

November Writing Days with the CFC

by | Sep 29, 2026 | Blog, Learning Community, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, University Support

How are your writing projects going?  

Have you set yourself a goal over the summer to draft that journal article, edit the method section of your dissertation, or polish chapter 3 of the book you have been working on?  Whatever your writing plan might have been, it’s easy for the demands of the semester to throw a wrench into your beautifully sketched out timeline.  

No worries, we’ve got you covered to get you back on track! Sometimes it can help to work in the same shared space with fellow writers instead of putting off writing in favor of a grading emergency (we all have been there – no judgement!).  

Those of you familiar with the benefits of independent co-working time (sometimes also called body doubling or parallel play) might be intrigued by joining a writing circle. We set aside two days in November to allow you to leave your office and join us in Hunter Library to sneak in a few hours of planned writing time – and we will even provide coffee & snacks to keep you energized. 

Looking forward to writing with you! 

close up of desk scattered with papers and a laptop and hands of individuals holding pencils.

Who is the writing circle for? Anyone who wants some quiet time to write! 

What should I bring? Whatever YOU need to write:
Laptop / hardcopy of manuscript for edits / notepad / earbuds

November Writing Days: 

  • Monday, November 9 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm 
  • Thursday, November 12 | 9:00 am – noon 
Register for a Writing Circle

Calling all WCU SoTLers! Join us for the SoTL Commons Conference in Savannah, GA

by | Sep 15, 2026 | Blog, Pedagogy, Professional Development, Research, Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Teaching and Learning

The Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) Commons Conference is celebrating 20 years on March 3-5, 2027 in historic Savannah, Georgia. Founded by former Coulter Faculty Commons Director Dr. Alan Altany, this conference has built a community of SoTL practitioners that has inspired educators, impacted students, and transformed communities around the globe for two decades. Please consider submitting a proposal about a pedagogical technique, educational resource, or curricula that you use to engage and support students. Join the conversations with a community of scholars from around the world, spanning more than 100 institutions, and hear from the ultimate SoTL experts: Pat Hutchins, Dan Bernstein, and Randy Bass.

If you would like help preparing your proposal, please reach out to April Tallant at atallant@wcu.edu. Don’t have a proposal but want to attend? There is usually a group of WCU folks who attend the SoTL Commons Conference each year to continuously build our teaching tool kits. Plus, Savannah in March – yes, please! Review the registration information. Reach out about attending, carpooling, or just learning more about what to expect.

 

Hyatt Regency Hotel on Savannah’s Riverfront

Image: Hyatt Regency on Savannah’s Riverfront.

A Day Dedicated to Scholarly Teaching at WCU

by | 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 | 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 | 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. 

SoTL at WCU banya tree
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.