TLC Newsletter

Open Calls and Invitations

Apply for Fall 2026 Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations Program

Are you interested in getting student feedback and perspectives on your teaching practices? Do you want to boost your teaching confidence or reignite your passion for teaching? If so, consider participating in the Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations Program during the Fall 2026 semester! This program pairs you with two WCU students who will provide frequent and varied feedback on one of your courses from their perspective.

To learn more, visit our website, or review program information on our blog. Past participants may sign-up again. To apply, review the Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations Call for Applications. 

Become a Faculty Mentor 

• Are you looking for a University-level service opportunity?
• Do you want to make a significant difference in a colleague’s career development?
• Do you want to increase your own job satisfaction?

If so, then please consider becoming a mentor to other faculty. We are looking for mentors for faculty at three career stages:  

1. Junior, untenured faculty 
2. Faculty seeking promotion
3. Adjunct faculty 

For more information about requirements and expectations visit the Faculty Mentoring Committee Call for Mentors. To learn more about the mentoring experience listen to Faculty Mentoring with Dr. Colwell and Dr. Ocasio. To submit your interest in being a mentor, complete the Mentoring Interest Form.  

Upcoming Events

Student Feedback Reading Party

 That notification just hit your inbox: Student Feedback on Instructor reports are now available. Before you spiral into a rabbit hole of "that one comment" from a student, stop! You don’t have to do this alone. We’re hosting a Student Feedback Reading Party, a collaborative space to process evaluations with peers.

 Goal: To engage student feedback from an analytical and actionable perspective in a supportive environment.

• Filter the Noise: Distinguish between actionable pedagogical insights and... well, everything else. 
• Find the Trends: Identify common themes across your sections with a clear head. 
• Build Community: Realize that we all get "that" comment sometimes. 

Date: Monday, May 18, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Zoom 

Bring your evaluation data and a willingness to discuss it with others, and together we will turn data into development.  Your student feedback will stay with you during this process. You will decide what to share or not share with others during this session. Register to participate. 

Attend the Celebration of Teaching

Join your colleagues at any or all of the four events on Thursday, May 7 celebrating the incredible teaching happening every day across WCU!  Sample and discover new WCU teaching innovations, dialog with peers on teaching topics, and celebrate the teaching excellence that happens at WCU. The day’s events include:

• 4 mini-workshops
• The 11th Teaching Excellence Showcase
• A virtual keynote presentation with Eileen Kogl Camfield, editor of “Joy-Centered Pedagogy in Higher Education”
• TLC Golden Rammy Teaching Awards Ceremony 

Learn more or register to attend any of the four events. 
​We still have some slots left in the Teaching Excellence Showcase. If you are interested in presenting submit an application by Sunday, April 12. 

Summer Teaching Circle: Balancing AI Use in Teaching Lesson Plan Creation

 A teaching circle is a group of faculty who collectively explore a teaching topic of interest and work together to create products reflecting their learning experience. This summer 2026 teaching circle will explore questions around the extent to which AI use should be encouraged or incorporated in teaching lesson plan creation to pre-service teachers. This topic is specifically targeted to College of Education and Social Work faculty; however, any faculty interested in the question of balancing AI use in teaching are welcome to join this circle. Past Teaching Circle participants may sign up again. 

Dates: Wednesdays in June, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Zoom

For more information visit the Teaching Circle website. Please register here.   

Register for Summer and Fall ACUE Courses

Courses Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and ACUE have partnered to bring faculty and staff high-quality and research-backed professional learning courses. Through an engaging learning design and guided by expert facilitation, course takers will learn practices that can be implemented with students right away. These evidence-based practices have been shown to increase student retention, strengthen belonging and achievement, and close equity gaps. 

ACUE’s courses lead to the only nationally recognized Certificate in Effective Teaching. The courses are delivered fully online in a collaborative cohort model and are professionally facilitated. 

What to Expect During the Courses:

• Asynchronous (available in Canvas 24/7).
• Spend 2-3 hours per week engaging in module content.
• Move through the course one module at a time, gaining practical strategies that can be implemented immediately with your students.
• Participate in virtual discussions with colleagues that expand your thinking and provide opportunities for collaboration.
• Complete reflection assignments based on your use of new practices.

More information and registration is open on the ACUE website.

Program Updates

The Teaching and Learning Center Welcomes Instructional Designer MB Henry

 We are pleased to share a recent addition to the TLC!  MB Henry has joined the team. 

Faculty Mentoring Program Updates

Monthly Discussion: Reflection

As we wrap up this semester, we encourage you to reflect on the academic year. Some discussion points for consideration include:

• What were my greatest accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, and service?
• What were some of the biggest challenges I faced this year, and who or what helped me address those challenges?
• What would I say to my beginning-of-the-academic-year self if I could go back in time?
• How did I care for and nurture myself during the academic year?
• What are my goals for the summer, and are they realistic?

The FMP wishes everyone a happy, healthy, and restful summer!

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The Teaching and Learning Center is far more than just a newsletter! Our website hosts a variety of teaching resources and our full Event Calendar. To get in touch, feel free to send us an email, or schedule a consultation to speak live with one of our designers.