TLC Newsletter

Open Calls and Invitations

We invite you to apply for the following opportunities:

Pedagogical Innovations Faculty Learning Community 

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) invite faculty to submit an expression of interest for the third cohort of the Pedagogical Innovations Faculty Learning Community. Grounded in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and the teacher-scholar model, this program supports faculty in connecting teaching and research. Participants work with an interdisciplinary cohort to examine the effectiveness of a pedagogical approach designed to address a specific teaching challenge and its impact on student learning, experiences, and outcomes. The program requires participation in 10 in-person meetings across three semesters and ongoing project work between meetings. Fall 2026 meetings will be Mondays on the following dates: Mondays, September 21, October 19, November 9, and December 7, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Participants who complete the program will receive a $1,000 stipend. 

Deadline for applications: Wednesday, September 9

More information about the program and application are available on the TLC website and via via this blog post.  

Diversity & Inclusion Faculty Learning Community

We invite all faculty members who are interested in improving their inclusive teaching methods and promoting equitable learning outcomes to apply for the 2026-27 Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Learning Community (DI FLC). This year-long program will take place via Zoom during the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters. By participating in the FLC, you will join a multidisciplinary group of faculty members who will collaborate to explore and enhance equitable and inclusive teaching practices. Our goal is to create supportive and inclusive learning environments where all students feel a strong sense of belonging. To learn more, please visit the FLC website or submit your DIFLC application today! Questions about this FLC or the application process should be directed to Dr. Radis (bradis@wcupa.edu) or Dr. Bennett (tbennett@wcupa.edu). Applications are due by Friday, September 11.

Write by the Bay: A Teaching & Scholarship Retreat over Spring Break 2027

This three-night, four-day retreat during spring break provides faculty participants with focused time to work on teaching and scholarship. The retreat removes distractions and takes advantage of sustained time in community to help ten faculty be productive while also strengthening teaching skills through a mix of workshop, independent time, and discussion facilitated by Teaching & Learning Center staff.

Dates: Monday, March 8, 4:00 PM - Thursday, March 11, 10:00 AM 
Location: Eagle Point Retreat Center, North East, MD

The retreat is free and includes three nights of accommodations and all eight meals. For detailed information and the link to the application review the Write by the Bay blog post. Applications to participate are due by Sunday, October 18.

Upcoming Events

Please consider joining us for the following events and opportunities:

Accessibility Webinar Series

Join us for this webinar series designed to help you strengthen your accessibility practices and create instructional materials that meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 standards. Grounded in the seven core accessibility practices, this series includes sessions that build essential skills, offer strategies to streamline your workflow, and introduce advanced techniques, such as providing audio description. Each topic will be offered on multiple dates throughout the fall semester; complete the registration form to participate. If you're not able to join us live, you can also watch recorded sessions on our blog.

Teaching Circles

A teaching circle is a group of faculty who collectively explore a teaching topic of interest and work together to create products reflecting their experience. Circles offer structure and accountability to help you improve your teaching practice with just a 10 hour commitment over the semester. There are multiple teaching circle opportunities for the fall semester:

1. Engaging Students in AI Conversations will focus on how to hold productive conversations with students that engage in critical conversations about the impact of AI tools. Meetings are on select Mondays 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM on Zoom.
2. Problems of Practice: Finding Solutions to Tricky Teaching Challenges will focus on exploring the literature and creating solutions to a teaching challenge you bring to the circle. Meetings are on select Wednesdays 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM on Zoom. 
3. Incorporating a Unique Pedagogical Approach will helping faculty research and potentially implement a new or unique pedagogical approach.  Meetings are on select Thursdays 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM on Zoom. 
4. Teaching Diverse Community Courses will focus on strategies and challenges of teaching courses that fulfill the Diverse Communities requirement. Meetings are on select Mondays 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM.  

To learn more about each circle, including meeting times, visit the Teaching Circle website. Registration is due by Monday, August 31.

Alternative Grading Faculty Learning Community

Alternative Grading FLC focuses on implementing alternative grading strategies through sharing ideas, strategies, and support. Meetings are the second Friday of every month from 10:00 to 11:00 am and include an in-person option and a Zoom option.  All are welcome at any time.

Register for Meeting Invites and FLC Notifications

CELT Podcast Club

Join members of the Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) for a variation on the traditional book club. Three times this semester, we will all listen to the same podcast episode(s) and then meet to discuss what we learned. 

Session 1: The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies (38 minutes) | Cult of Pedagogy with Jennifer Gonzalez.

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Zoom

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Anderson 125

Session 2: The Power of Silent Discussion (21 minutes) | The Creative Classroom with John Spencer or Letting Students Lead with Learning with Spider Web Discussions with Alexis Wiggins (53 minutes) | The Balance by Dr. Caitlin Tucker

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Zoom

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Anderson 125

Session 3: Facilitating Contentious Conversations in Your Classroom with Mylien Duong (45 minutes) | Teaching in Higher Ed. 

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Zoom

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Anderson 125

Please register to participate.

Non-Evaluative Feedback

The Teaching Triangles Program involves three faculty members in a triad who agree to visit each other’s classes over the semester and meet to discuss what they have learned about their own teaching from the observations. The process is non-evaluative, and the program is open to all WCU faculty, including adjuncts. Learn more about the program on the Teaching Triangles website or from our ODLI on Air podcast episode. To participate, register online by Monday, August 31.

The Class Consultation Program empowers faculty to enhance their teaching by requesting non-evaluative feedback on any instructional session, regardless of modality. This program is in a pilot phase and is currently only available to tenured faculty. To learn more, visit the Class Consultations website.

At the end of each semester, TLC hosts a Student Feedback Reading Party, a collaborative space to process evaluations with peers. Please save the date for the Fall semester party:

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Zoom

Navigating AI

Connect with colleagues at one of three in-person sessions for fresh ideas on assessment and assignment creation. Registration

AI, Teaching, and the Questions We are Navigating with Mike Rosario 
Date: Thursday, September 17, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: SECC 115 

Found Poetry Workshop with Nancy Pearson and Rebecca Rich  
October - TBD

Picture Based Assignments Workshop with Anne Gill & Tom Pantazes 
Date: Monday, November 2, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 
Location: Anderson 305 

Sustained AI Integrations FLC is a new group focused on supporting the ongoing integration of generative AI tools into instructional practices and research processes. Meetings are on a Friday each month from 11:00 am to noon and include an in-person option and a Zoom option. All are welcome at any time. 

Schedule: September 25, October 30, November 20, December 18, January 15, February 19, March 19, and April 23. 

Register for Meeting Invites and FLC Notifications

ACUE

PASSHE has partnered with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) for another year. Visit the PASSHE registration page for all fall courses available. Amy Osborne (aosborne@passhe.edu) is available to answer any questions about the program. 

Program Updates

Technology Roundup - Fall 2026

The Technology Roundup is a blog feature that is released each Fall and Spring semester to keep our community of educators informed on the latest available instructional technologies that are supported by the university. Check out the Fall 2026 edition of the Technology Roundup.

Teaching Tools, Tips and Resources for Fall 2026

 The new semester is almost here! We have curated a collection of resources to support your preparation for teaching in Fall 2026. Whether you are putting the finishing touches on a course, exploring new teaching tools, or looking for fresh ideas, you will find guidance on course design, digital accessibility, accommodations, AI approaches, and teaching technology in TLC's Fall 2026 Teaching Tools, Tips, and Resources. We hope the resources in this collection spark new ideas, introduce you to new teaching tools, or remind you of teaching strategies worth revisiting as you prepare your courses for the semester ahead.

Calling all ODLI on Air Listeners

Do you listen to the ODLI on Air podcast? If so, we want to hear from you in advance of our 100th episode coming in early 2027. Please email Tom Pantazes at tpantazes@wcupa.edu and he will explain more.

Not yet an ODLI on Air listener?  You can be! Check out our latest episodes.    

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