WCU's Commons for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Joy in the Journey,

I love the winter holiday season.  There are so many opportunities to celebrate the end of the old - the beginning of the new.

At the CFC, we're already preparing for next semester.  

We're getting geared up for some great new additions to our online tools and services.  We'll be walking through the upgrade processes after finals are over and will be testing everything in the weeks framing the holiday break.  Expect two CFC newsletters in January -- one to note upcoming events (and perhaps to announce a new director) and another to spell out some of the improvements to Blackboard and some of our other supported systems.

We have two interview candidates for the position of the full-time director coming up:

Today, Tuesday, December 4th, and next week, on Monday, December 10th.

We invite you to join us to hear the public presentation of both candidates. 

Both presentations will be held in the library in HL 186 from 11 am to 11:45 am.

We urge you to come and to give your input.  Schedule details and curriculum vitae can be found on the website of the Office of the Provost .

And I wish you joy, love, and celebration in this season and into the new year.

Here for You,

Jonathan D. Wade, PhD
Acting Director, Coulter Faculty Commons

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Coulter Faculty Commons at 828-227-7196.  If you have a basic Blackboard question or need, the ITHelp Desk can get you started at 828-227-7487.

Congratulations, Dr. Terry Pollard

Terry Pollard recently defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of Mississippi. His dissertation, entitled Exploring the Impact of Mississippi Virtual Community College Academy Professional Development for Online Teaching, examined the impact of online professional development on future teaching practice. Pollard was enrolled in the Doctor of Education program in Higher Education through the University of Mississippi School of Education. Pollard earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Having successfully completed the requirements for his Ed.D., Terry is looking forward to reading again…for pleasure. Please join us in congratulating Terry on this latest accomplishment.

Preparing For Next Semester

The Academic Toolbox

Don't forget that our Blackboard team keeps an "Academic Toolbox" link updated and that it appears in every Blackboard course shell.  Having the Academic Toolbox in your course gives students in every course a curated and immediately accessible link to all of the student services and supports that can help them remain engaged and successful.

Resources for Better Student Writing

The Writing and Learning Commons (WaLC) provides a number of services directly to students that can help them succeed in your courses.  They update their website with tools and connections that can aid you and aid your students.  Feel free to link to their main page .

Faculty Resources for Undergraduate Research

If you are thinking about ways to integrate elements of research into your courses or your instructional practice for the Spring semester, don't forget about all of the resources available to you on this campus.  If you didn't have an opportunity to look at it when it came through last month, you might find this edition of the Provost's Newsletter to be helpful.  It highlights the incredible investment that Western Carolina University is making into the work, scholarship, and practical pursuits of our students.

Do you Need a Writing Fellow?

For instructors who wish to require students to seek help with their writing, The Writing and Learning Commons offers writing fellows. Fellows are assigned to specific classes and work closely with professors to elevate student writing and encourage the draft and revision process. Students submit rough drafts to the fellows two weeks before the final draft due date. In that time, fellows review the drafts, send notes to the students, and meet each student for a one-on-one session.

Faculty who are interested in inviting writing fellows into their classes should contact Mattie Davenport (828.227.3426, mrdavenport@wcu.edu) or complete the application form by the end of the Fall 2018 semester.  

Brown Bag Lunch:  Using Rubrics in Blackboard

Third Thursday Brown Bag Lunch Sessions are designed to provide proactive and quick training, tips, and tools to help faculty members continually pursue excellence in their teaching. The next session is scheduled for January 17, 2018, 12:00-1:00 in Hunter Library, Rm. 166

January 17th: Rubrics in Blackboard