TLC Newsletter

Open Calls and Invitations

We invite you to apply for the following opportunities:

Faculty Support for Preparing Accessible Course Materials for Spring 2027

We encourage you to begin reviewing your Spring 2027 course materials and make digital accessibility part of your course preparation process. Take advantage of the self-service resources, individual consultation, and advanced remediation support available through the TLC to make your digital course materials more accessible.

Learn more about available support and what you can do now. 

Faculty Fusion: Real Talk, Real Teaching 

EASL Pathway: Explore

Connect with colleagues and talk teaching strategies ahead of the spring semester. Lunch and coffee provided.

Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2027, 10:30 AM - 2:45 PM 
Location: WCU Foundation (202 Carter Drive)

Here is what one attendee said about last year's Faculty Fusion: “I really appreciated hearing from everyone about strategies that work and those that do not. It's very validating to know that the challenges I face in the classroom are not unique. More importantly, having the dedicated time to brainstorm and share ideas is incredibly valuable. A great way to kick off the semester.” 

Learn more about Faculty Fusion and register to attend. 

Spring 2027 Opportunities:

Join the 2027 Student-Faculty Collaboration Program 

EASL Pathway: Apply

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 Spring 2027 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, or contact Tom Pantazes tpantazes@wcupa.edu about visiting a student collaborator meeting. 

To apply, review the Student-Faculty Teaching Collaborations Call for Applications. Past participants may sign-up again. 

 

 

APSCUF-BIPOC Faculty Alliance Faculty Advance Book Club 

EASL Pathway: Explore

How do we make diversity work amidst tensions? Join us in conversation and gain insights from others as we discuss Dr. Claude Steele’s new book Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome It. 

Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2027, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Location: Sykes 257

For more information visit the Faculty Advance Book Club page. Direct questions to Janet Chang or Tiffany Jones. Register early to receive a copy of the book.

CELT Spring Book Club: Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching 

EASL Pathway: Explore

 We invite you to join members of the Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) for the 2027 spring book club where we will read and discuss The Present Professor: Authenticity and Transformational Teaching by Elizabeth Norell.  The Present Professor explores the role of authenticity and presence in creating meaningful and transformative learning experiences. The book encourages educators to consider how showing up as their authentic selves can strengthen connections with students and shape their teaching practice. 

Twice during the semester, we will meet to discuss the reading. Attend the meeting option that works best for your schedule.  

• Session 1: Monday, March 15 from noon to 1:00 pm on Zoom or Tuesday, March 16 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in-person in Anderson 125.
• Session 2: Monday, April 26 from noon to 1:00 pm on Zoom or Tuesday, April 27 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in-person in Anderson 125. 

Register online to participate and receive directions on securing your copy of the book . 

Apply to Join PETAL for the Spring Semester (Due Nov 6)

EASL Pathway: Apply and Study

There may be space available in PETAL during Spring 2027 for current faculty members in addition to the new faculty. We invite any interested faculty to express their interest in participating in this program. We are starting this process early to give interested faculty members ample time to plan for it. Please note that the exact number of seats available will not be confirmed until the hiring process for new faculty is completed. Interested faculty members should complete the online application, including approval signatures, by November 6, 2026.

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

EASL Pathway: Apply and Study

This three-night, four-day retreat during spring break provides faculty participants with focused time to work on teaching and scholarship through a mix of workshop, independent time, and discussion.

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. The retreat is almost full so sign up soon.

Help Us Assess the Impact of TLC Programs 

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) is launching a new study to better understand how our programs and services influence teaching practice, professional growth, and the broader teaching and learning community at West Chester University. We need your help to better understand the impact of these experiences. Please consider participating in this IRB research study (IRB Protocol #IRB-FY2027-21). 

Participation is voluntary. You can participate in a variety of ways, including surveys, reflective questionnaires, interviews, and the voluntary submission of illustrative teaching artifacts. You may choose the activities that best fit their interests and availability. Participation in the study is not required for participation in TLC programs. 

Interested in participating or learning more? Review the study’s Enrollment and Consent Form and our blog post for additional information.

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.

 

 

 

CELT Fall Podcast Club 

EASL Pathway: Explore

Join members of the Committee for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) for a variation on the traditional book club. The third meeting will be discussing Facilitating Contentious Conversations in Your Classroom, with Mylien Duong (45 minutes) | Teaching in Higher Ed. The two attendance options are: 

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

If joining us for the first time, please register to participate.

Faculty Learning Communities You Can Join at Any Time

EASL Pathway: Apply and Study

Both groups have in-person and Zoom attendance options and welcome participants at any meeting.

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 - 12:00 PM. Schedule: November 20, December 18, January 15, February 19, March 19, and April 23.

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 AM - 11:00 AM. Schedule: November 13, December 11, February 12, March 19, and April 9.

Register for Meeting Invites and FLC Notifications

Receive Non-Evaluative Feedback 

EASL Pathway: Apply

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.

Student Feedback Reading Party is a collaborative space to process evaluations with peers after the semester is over.

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

Student Feedback Reading Party Registration

Teaching Triangles (Spring 2027) Three faculty members in a triad agree to visit each other's classes over the semester and meet to discuss what they learned about their own teaching from the observations.  The process is non-evaluative, and the program is open to all WCU faculty, including adjuncts and can be repeated.  Learn more about the program on the Teaching Triangle website or from our ODLI on Air podcast episode.  To participate, register online.

Attend the APPQMR Workshop 

EASL Pathway: Apply

The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) workshop is facilitated by TLC staff and introduces you to the principles of the Quality Matters (QM) program. You learn how to draft a QM recommendation and practice applying the QM rubric to an actual course. Completing the full day workshop is a requirement for participating in the Quality Matters Initiative and it renews your WCU CAPC Distance Education statement.

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Anderson 125

The training will be in person; participants must attend the whole day. Lunch will be served. Complete the APPQMR Interest Form, and a member of the TLC will be in contact with official registration information. Space is limited.

 

Tech-Free Teaching and Learning Conference | May 18-19, 2027 | Penn State University (University Park)

As classrooms continue to be flooded with educational technologies, many faculty have concerns about the unintended consequences of these digital distractions for learning and the offloading of critical developmental learning processes. A growing segment of faculty are now choosing to remove these distractions from their classroom in an effort to improve student learning, foster creativity and critical thinking skills, and strengthen interpersonal competencies. The Tech-Free Teaching and Learning Conference will assemble faculty and educational developers/designers from colleges and universities across the U.S. to engage in sharing research and best-practices related to tech-free pedagogies. 

Call for Abstracts: Abstracts will be reviewed on a rolling basis up until Friday, December 11th. Abstract categories include: 

• Traditional Empirical and/or Theoretical Paper Presentation 
• Tech-Free Pedagogy in Practice Session
• Flash Talks on a Tech-Free Active Learning Strategy or Tech-Free Assessment Strategy 
• Poster Session

View conference details and submit your proposal.

Program Updates

Building Your Teaching Legacy: The EASL Studio Guide

We developed this resource in collaboration with the Teaching Excellence Network to serve as a roadmap for navigating TLC programming. The TLC offers a wide range of programs, services, and opportunities. Determining which opportunities are the best fit for you can sometimes feel overwhelming. The EASL Studio Guide helps faculty navigate TLC opportunities through four pathways: Explore, Apply, Study, and Lead.

Whether you are looking for new ideas, support for a teaching project, opportunities for pedagogical scholarship, or ways to contribute to a culture of teaching excellence, the guide can help you identify opportunities that align with your goals, interests, and schedule.

ODLI on Air Podcast

Check out our latest episodes on Gamehut.org and Video Analysis with Simulations.    

Hub Highlights

 West Chester University students share eight tips on how to improve the learning experience based on their own observations in What Students Wish Faculty Knew: Eight Ways to Improve the Learning Experience. 

Sign up today to receive an email notification of new TLC Teaching Hub posts as soon as they are published.

Faculty Mentoring Program

November Discussion: Goal-setting

November’s suggested topic for discussion is Goal Setting – consider setting SMART goals for teaching, scholarship, and service, possibly picking one area to focus on. Be honest and realistic about the goals you set, and discuss motivation and accountability—and don’t forget to build in rewards for yourself!     On a related note, did you know that WCU is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity?  If you haven’t yet done so, explore their tremendous content.  Have a great month and Thanksgiving Break, and we will touch base again in December!

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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.