Provost Communication: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

As we settle into the rhythm of the semester, I want to take a moment to highlight the exceptional work of our Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and the many ways the CTL supports our faculty, staff, and ultimately, our students.

One of the most important ways we support student success is by investing in our educators. Professional development provides opportunities for faculty to explore innovative approaches to teaching, strengthen curriculum and course design, and respond thoughtfully to the changing needs of our students. Just as important are opportunities for faculty and staff to come together as colleagues to exchange ideas, explore emerging issues in higher education, and learn from one another.

Our CTL continues to create these opportunities, and I am pleased to share that this work has received recognition from the CSU Office of the Chancellor. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities outlined below, as well as the many other resources our colleagues in CTL provide throughout the year. Whether you are rethinking an online course, exploring new approaches to student engagement, or simply looking for a space to exchange ideas with colleagues, CTL is an important resource for our entire academic community.

Congratulations! CSU Chancellor's Office Recognizes CTL's Quality Assurance Work

The Chancellor's Office recently commended Cal Poly Humboldt's Center for Teaching & Learning for its continued success in implementing multiple Quality Assurance (QA) strategies and awarded the CTL funding to support its 2026/27 work.

Among the accomplishments recognized were CTL's Online Instruction Academy, which had 23 faculty completions; 23 Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT) peer reviews conducted during Fall 2025; the development and publication of teaching feedback methods in the CTL Hub; and the participation of three CTL Faculty Scholars who shared their work with instructional designers from across the CSU.

Building on that success, CTL's work this year includes expanding professional development opportunities in online teaching and learning, growing our capacity for QLT peer review, further developing the CTL Faculty Scholar Program, and creating an expanded instructional resource hub for our campus community.

Certificate for Online Instruction Academy: Registration Deadline Sunday, September 20, 2026

The Center for Teaching & Learning is preparing to welcome its next cohort for the Certificate for Online Instruction Academy. This six-week, asynchronous online experience provides faculty with an opportunity to examine and strengthen the design and delivery of a specific online course while learning alongside colleagues. The Academy is designed for Humboldt educators who have taught a specific online course at least twice and would like to use that course as the focus of their Academy experience. Participants who complete the program will earn a Certificate for Online Instruction.

The Academy runs from October 5 through November 15, 2026. The deadline to register is Sunday, September 20, 2026. Use this link to register: Register for Certificate for Online Instruction.

Introduction to Online Teaching & Learning

For educators who are newer to online instruction, CTL also offers an Introduction to Online Teaching & Learning, as an asynchronous, self-paced course that introduces the essentials of effective online teaching and student learning.  This program is designed for educators with little or no previous online teaching experience and can be completed anytime, from anywhere. Participants who complete the course will earn a Certificate of Completion.

The course is offered by the Center for Teaching & Learning QLT Team. To participate, enroll through the Canvas Instructional Development Hub at the following link: Instructional Development Hub

CTL Scholar Lightning Talk & Roundtable Discussion Series: Session 2 is Today!

If you are looking for an opportunity to connect and exchange ideas with colleagues, join the Center for Teaching & Learning today from 12 to 1 p.m. in the CTL "Glassroom" on the third floor of the Library for the second installment of its fall Lightning Talk & Roundtable Discussion Series. Each one-hour gathering begins with a 20-minute conceptual "spark," followed by a 40-minute interactive roundtable facilitated by Dr. Michelle Cartier, CTL Scholar.

Today's Session: The Spark, Agency, and Authentic Engagement - "When they're enjoying it… they're not outsourcing it." The conversation will explore "grazing" as a pathway to non-outsourced joy and collaborative strategies for strengthening student agency, voice, and authentic engagement.

The final session: Wednesday, September 30: Critical AI & Preserving the Human Narrative - 
From "Equity Partner" to Collaborative Auditor: What does that mean? Is it possible? And do we even want that? This conversation will explore authenticity, assignment design, and preserving the human narrative in AI-assisted learning environments.

Please use the following link to register: CTL Lightning Talk & Roundtable Series

Thank you to everyone at CTL, and all of the faculty and staff who contribute their time, expertise, and ideas to these programs. Your collective efforts help foster a culture of teaching, learning, curiosity, and continuous improvement at Humboldt. 

Sincerely, 

Shawna