Welcome to Fall 2025!
The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) has published a blog with curated resources to support your teaching this fall—from student-friendly syllabus design and AI policy guidance to D2L templates, technology tools, and inclusive teaching strategies. For your convenience, this blog is also available in audio format if you prefer to listen while multitasking or commuting.
Open Calls and Initiatives
Teaching Triangles: A Peer Observation Program (Due Sep 5)
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 our website or from our podcast, ODLI on Air. If you're interested, register online by September 5.
Fall Teaching Circle Opportunities: Semi-Structured Learning with Peers (Due Sep 5)
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. They offer structure and accountability to help you improve your teaching practice. There are multiple teaching circle opportunities for the fall semester:
- Generative AI Lesson Plan will explore creating a lesson to teach students about generative artificial intelligence.
- Classroom Conversations: Discussions, Debates, and Dialogues will explore these conversational approaches as pedagogical strategies.
- Community Engaged Learning, offered in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement & Social Impact (CCESI), will focus on preparing community-engaged learning opportunities.
- Academic Freedom will explore how to better understand, nourish, and promote academic freedom
To learn more about each circle and register to participate visit the TLC Professional Learning Communities webpage. Register by September 5.
Introducing the CELT Podcast Club
We invite you to join members of the Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) for a variation on our traditional semester book club. This semester we are trying out a different medium – Podcasts. Three times this semester, we will all listen to the same episodes and then meet to discuss. Episodes will be focused on ideas for assessments and instructional activities. Each episode will have two virtual discussion meeting options, pick the one that works best for you each month.
- Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 am - September 17 - October 22 - November 19 or
- Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm - September 18 - October 23 - November 20.
Register online and we will send you the month’s episode and a listening guide. If you have any questions, please contact podcast leaders Paul Sylvester psylvester@wcupa.edu and Christopher Roemmele croemmele@wcupa.edu. PS: Book club will be back in the spring.
Alternative Grading Faculty Learning Community
Do you implement or want to implement alternative grading strategies in your course? Are you looking for ideas, strategies, and support? Join our group to share experiences and details of the various alternative grading possibilities such as mastery grading, specifications grading, standards-based grading, and ungrading.
These varied approaches can be used in different contexts to ensure a course's assessment supports and aligns with student learning. Alternative grading approaches seek to transform the way we evaluate student work, shifting the emphasis from traditional measures of performance to fostering a mindset of learning which acknowledges that mistakes are an integral component of an educational journey.
Participating in the group will ensure exposure to resources and opportunities to promote alternative grading strategies with peers at various WCU and external venues. The group provides support and guidance for faculty at any stage in the alternative grading journey from beginner to experienced. You can join at any time.
Meetings are the second Friday of every month from 11:00 am to noon with both an in-person option in Anderson 125 or an online option via Zoom.
To join, please complete the registration form. For questions or additional information, please contact the TLC tlc@wcupa.edu.
Diversity & Inclusion Faculty Learning Community (Due Sep 17)
We invite all faculty members who are interested in improving their inclusive teaching methods and promoting equitable learning outcomes to apply for the 2025-26 Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Learning Community (DI FLC). This year-long program will take place via Zoom during the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 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 application today!
Questions about this FLC or the application process should be directed to Dr. Johnson kjohnson4@wcupa.edu or Dr. Bennett tbennett@wcupa.edu. Applications are due by September 17.
Upcoming Events
Faculty Fusion 2026: Save the Date!
Faculty Fusion will be held January 14, 2026 from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm at the WCU Foundation: an in-person set of three interactive panels covering hot topics to help you prepare for the new semester. Each session has 25 minutes of presentation from a faculty panel followed by 10 minutes of Q&A and 15 minutes of table conversations with your peers. Watch this space for a call for panelists and moderators and registration details. If you are interested in serving on the planning committee or have questions about the event reach out to the TLC tlc@wcupa.edu.
Program Updates
New Faculty Orientation: A Warm Welcome to Campus
West Chester University of Pennsylvania proudly welcomed its newest faculty members during New Faculty Orientation held August 12–13. The event was a tremendous success, thanks to the thoughtful planning and dedication of New Faculty Orientation chairs Bridget Asempapa and Colleen Commisso and the entire committee— we thank them for their outstanding work!
The orientation featured engaging programming, meaningful connections with senior leadership, and a vibrant resource fair and reception. These touchpoints provided new faculty with valuable insights and support as they begin their journey at WCU.
We are thrilled to welcome all new faculty to our campus community. We look forward to collaborating with you and serving as a resource throughout your time at West Chester University!
ODLI on Air is back!
The seventh season of the podcast is back on August 27. This season includes episodes on the second year of tenure track, what it is like to lead the Ed.D. program, and building a research collaboration around shared interests. Subscribe to ODLI on Air on your favorite podcast app and check out some of our 60+ episodes.
PA-ADOPT Releases Six New eTextbooks
This summer, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (PA-ADOPT) released six new free and open eTextbooks:
- Laboratory Manual: General Chemistry II Honors
- Making Meaning With & Through Writing: An Approach to Research Writing
- General Biology Laboratory Booklet
- Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Booklet
- Developmental Biology Laboratory: Experiments in Classical and Experimental Embryology
- Mi Voz. Mi Historia. Español Para Estudiantes de Herencia
For more information, check out our blog!
Technology Roundup - Fall 2025
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 2025 edition of the Technology Roundup.
Stay Connected
Connect With Us
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.