Academic Affairs News

Dear Colleagues,

Ever since coming to WKU, I have witnessed the many paths faculty take to engage themselves and each other on various teaching topics: attending talks by national experts on pedagogy, leading CITL workshops, engaging in department-level discussions on teaching, and having one-on-one hallway conversations about what strategies are currently working in their classrooms. We want to continue creating spaces where faculty can come together and discuss teaching and expand their pedagogical toolkit. Two such opportunities are the One WKU Inclusive Teaching Academy (ITA) and the Online Teaching Course (OTC).

The Inclusive Teaching Academy is a four-module academy that is designed to help anyone interested in the fundamental principles of equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive pedagogy. The 15 faculty who are selected will not only enter into a community of peers with shared interests in inclusive teaching but will also earn a CPE Cultural Competence Certificate. Moreover, the home college of each participating faculty member will allocate $1,500 toward an undergraduate scholarship fund to attract students from a broad range of backgrounds. This way your participation will directly and positively benefit WKU students. The application is open until November 16, and you can apply here.

The Online Teaching Course is a five-week asynchronous online course designed for faculty who are either new to the online teaching experience or need a refresher of the basics. Participants will discuss different pedagogical approaches with peers and design the beginnings of an online course in Blackboard Ultra with the support of an instructional designer. This course begins on Nov. 28 and the registration is available here until Nov. 18.

Finally, join me in congratulating the 2022 CITL Teaching Honors recipients. Since 2019, close to 3,500 nominations were submitted by 2,681 students in which they shared inspiring stories of the difference our faculty made in their academic and personal journeys. The five individuals below were selected by former Teaching Honors recipients based on the strength of this year’s nominations.

Please help me celebrate this year's honorees:

•             CEBS – Christina Noel

•             CHHS – Brian Weiler

•             GFCB – Jim Lindsey

•             OCSE – Natalie Mountjoy

•             PCAL – Brittany Martin

With appreciation for the care and time you invest in our student scholars,

Robert "Bud" Fischer