CTLE Events
CTLE hosts workshops and sessions, including annual and pop-up events, as faculty needs arise. For example, we regularly host our ‘Conversations About Inclusion’ and ‘Gen AI & Teaching & Learning’ series for faculty throughout the school year. Please see below for more information. If you have an idea for a session or workshop focused on an area of teaching and learning that you and others might like to see, please let us know! For a complete list of upcoming sessions and events from Faculty Affairs this semester, please see our Faculty Affairs events page.
Upcoming events
Conversations About Inclusion Series - Captioning and Title II: Making Smart Choices for Your Courses | January 30 | 10:00-11:15am | Virtual, via Zoom | Register Here
Ensure your course videos are accessible and Title II-ready -- without overworking yourself! Join us for a practical guide to VCU’s main captioning tools, from live captions in Zoom to editing automated transcripts in Kaltura. We'll focus on scenarios to help you confidently manage your course videos, make smart captioning choices, and know when to request professional captioning support from additional VCU resources.
Lunch and Learn Workshop with Dr. Nancy Chick - Getting Started with SoTL: Making Your Classroom a Place of Scholarly Inquiry | February 4 | 12:30-2:30pm | James Branch Cabell Library, Lecture Hall - Room 303 | Register Here
This interactive workshop introduces faculty to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) as practice for improving teaching and student learning through inquiry. You will explore ideas, ways of thinking, and approaches to deepen your understanding of your teaching and how students learn in your classroom. Through guided activities and discussion, you will craft meaningful questions and identify ways to connect SoTL with your teaching. Whether you are curious about why students struggle with particular concepts, are interested in testing new pedagogical strategies, or seek to engage in conversations with the broader teaching community in ways that contribute to the field, this workshop will provide you with concrete tools and strategies to begin your SoTL journey. You will leave with a clear understanding of how to embed scholarly inquiry into your teaching practice, and a preliminary plan for your own SoTL project. No prior experience with SoTL is required. All faculty are invited to attend. This event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Faculty Affairs and the CTLE.
RAMS WRITE, a March 14-Day Writing Challenge with NCFDD | March 2-15 | Register Here [registration closes February 22]
RAMS WRITE is a VCU-exclusive NCFDD writing challenge is an opportunity for faculty to experiment with daily writing, online community, and supportive accountability. (If you've not already done so, please visit our NCFDD page for more information on how to activate your free membership)
Past events
Life Cycle of Your Semester: Course Milestones and Tips for New Faculty | August 14 | 9:30-10:45am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
Prepare yourself to effectively manage crucial timeline milestones throughout the semester by participating in this workshop. We will provide you with an overview of important details that can help your course go more smoothly. The workshop will cover key considerations for the pre-, early-, mid-, and end of the semester phases. This session is specifically designed for new and adjunct faculty, although all faculty members seeking a quick review are welcome to attend.
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - GenAI’s Impact on How Students Seek, Evaluate, and Use Information for Research | August 26 | 9:00-10:30am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
This session explores how generative AI is reshaping student research practices and provides library-supported strategies for navigating these shifts in the classroom. Presenters will give examples of using GenAI responsibly to advance learning and examples of steering students away from GenAI uses that hinder learning.
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Crafting a Gen AI Use Policy for Your Syllabus | September 25 | 11:00am-12:15pm | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
With generative AI tools transforming how students approach assignments, it’s important for faculty to set clear expectations in their course syllabi. This session will help provide guidance to start crafting a Gen AI course policy that clearly communicates how these tools may be used— or restricted— in your course. You’ll learn strategies to promote academic integrity, address ethical concerns, and support transparent communication with students about AI’s role in their learning.
Speakers: Dayna Henry, Assistant Director of the Scholarship Area at the Center for Faculty Innovation, Associate Professor of Health Sciences, College of Health and Behavioral Studies, James Madison University; Jess Taggart, Assistant Director and Assistant Professor, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Virginia
Conversations About Inclusion Series - Turning the Page: Helping Students Reconnect with Reading | October 23 | 10:00-11:15am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
Research shows that university students are reading less than in past decades— posing new challenges for teaching and learning. As reading habits shift, faculty face the ongoing challenge of fostering meaningful engagement with course texts. This session provides colleagues' perspectives on these trends and offers actionable approaches to encourage deeper, more effective reading practices across diverse classrooms.
Conversations About Inclusion Series - Accessible by Design: A Title II Primer | November 19 | 9:30-10:45am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
New federal requirements under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act will soon impact how digital content is created and shared in higher education. This session will provide faculty with a practical introduction to what the law requires and how it applies to your course materials. A panel of experts will offer a brief overview of the legal context, highlight key compliance expectations, and walk through examples of what constitutes accessible versus inaccessible content. Whether you're uploading PDFs, using videos, or designing presentations, this session will help you begin thinking about how to align your materials with the new standards ahead of the April 2026 compliance deadline.
Maximizing Student Success: Resources to Support Your Students | January 21 | 9:00-10:15am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
VCU has a goal of reaching 90% first year retention and 78% six-year graduation rates. To accomplish these academic success goals, both faculty and student success must partner to support every student as they navigate study skills, time management, academic writing, career development, test taking, etc. Please join us for a power-hour of learning about what resources you have at your disposal to support students in your classes, and to learn more about the "culture of care" VCU has built around every student who needs guidance, support, and clarity for their journey to graduation. | View the slide deck >>
Conversations About Inclusion Series - Addressing Student Absences: Practices and Challenges | February 6 | 12:00-1:15pm | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
This session, designed for new faculty (but open to all faculty), explores the topic of student absences in the classroom. Common challenges and policies will be discussed, along with syllabi statements and approaches for managing absences effectively while also maintaining course integrity. Gain practical insights and strategies to develop clear, equitable class attendance policies that align with your teaching goals and support student success.
Speakers: Frank Cha, Associate Professor, Department of Focused Inquiry; Shelli Fowler, Associate Professor Emerita, Department of English; Courtney Holmes, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling; Emily Smith, Assistant Professor, Department of Interior Design
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Just One Thing: A Hands-On Gen AI Workshop | February 26 | 11:00-12:15pm | Cabell Library, Room 303 | Registration closed
This interactive session invites faculty to explore how Gen AI can streamline your classroom tasks and enhance teaching practices. Participants are encouraged to bring a small, manageable project or idea-- such as developing a rubric, creating slides, or generating assignments or activities based on course topics-- to work on during the session. Through hand-on work, faculty will have the opportunity to refine Gen AI outputs into usable classroom resources, and receive feedback and guidance from peers. Please bring your laptop and a course-based element you'd like to develop to make the most of this workshop.
Speakers/facilitators: Joe Cipolla, Information Systems, School of Business; Oscar Keyes, Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian, Assistant Professor, VCU Libraries; Shraddha Mainali, Associate Professor Neurointensivist, Neurology, VCU Health Systems; Jesse Senechal, Executive Director of Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE), Assistant Professor, Foundations of Education
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Bridging Gaps: Gen AI Use and Student Accessibility Considerations | March 20 | 12:00-1:15pm | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration Closed
This session explores the intersection of Gen AI and student accessibility in the classroom. Discussion will explore how these tools may enhance learning for some students, while remaining inaccessible to others due to technological, financial, or ability-based barriers. Participants will gain insights into fostering equity by understanding these limitations and identifying approaches to create classroom environments that support students effectively.
Speakers: Peyton Burgess, Emerging Technologies Program Manager, Technology Services; Robert Godwin-Jones, Professor World Studies, College of Humanities and Sciences; and Chris Parthemos, Associate Director, Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity
Critical Thinking and Your Course Pedagogy | April 9 | 11:00am-12:15pm | Academic Learning Commons, Room 4100 | Registration closed
This session invites faculty to critically examine their pedagogical approach to teaching. Speakers will explore ways to design course elements that enable student success. Through discussion and reflection, faculty will gain insights into aligning their teaching approaches with the goal of fostering deeper thinking skills in their classrooms.
Speakers: Maurice Brown, Business Essentials, School of Business; Dina Garcia, Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health; Megan Gough, Urban and Regional Studies/Planning, Wilder School
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Getting to Know Gen AI - A Primer of the Basics as a Hands-On Workshop | April 23 | 9:30-10:45am | Virtual, via Zoom | Registration closed
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and is quickly becoming an integral part of the academic landscape in universities. Amidst the many potential benefits and challenges associated with Gen AI, the first step is becoming familiar with what this technology actually is. During this session, faculty will be introduced to Gen AI fundamentals-- including key concepts, familiarization with common tools, and building a comfort level by experimenting with readily available Gen AI platforms. This session is a foundational step in creating your Gen AI literacy!
Speakers: Oscar Keyes, Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian, Assistant Professor, VCU Libraries; Gabe Willis, Associate Vice President and Dean of Student Advocacy
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Fair Images: Creating and Recognizing Bias in Gen AI Imagery | September 18 | 10:00-11:15am | Registration closed
This session focuses on the inherent visual bias in text-to-image Gen AI generation. Participants will learn how to recognize these biases and use AI-generated images as an effective tool to illustrate and discuss bias with students. The session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and strategies to both create fairer images and teach about bias in AI.
Oscar Keyes, Multimedia Teaching & Learning Librarian, VCU Libraries, Creative Technologies and Scholarship Department; TyRuben Ellingson, Associate Professor, Communication Arts, Cinema Program, VCUarts; Shraddha Mainali, Associate Professor, Neurointensivist, Neurology, VCU Health | View the slide deck >>
Fostering Critical Thinking in These Challenging Times: Engaging Multiple Perspectives and Dialogue | October 7 | 12:00-1:15pm | Registration closed
In an environment where geopolitical conflicts and national elections fuel uncertainty and polarized perspectives, the need for critical thinking in higher education has never been more important. This session invites faculty to explore how to cultivate critical thinking in the classroom, while ensuring a space where diverse perspectives are welcome, open dialogue is promoted, and everyone feels safe and supported. Panelists and participants will explore ways in which to balance open dialogue with respectful analysis, along with strategies to foster deeper reflection without imposing singular perspectives. Best practices will be offered regarding the use of readings, discussion formats, experiential learning, and other techniques that empower both faculty and students to develop independent thought in the times of crisis.
Gina Longo, Department of Sociology, College of Humanities and Sciences, Co-Founder of the Digital Sociology Lab; Jihad Aziz, Executive Director, University Counseling Services, Student Affairs; Maurice Brown, Business Essentials, School of Business; RaJade (Jade) Berry-James, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs, Wilder School; Joe Coombs, Management and Entrepreneurship, School of Business
Conversations About Inclusion Series - Harnessing Humor: Inclusive Approaches for Increasing Engagement | October 16 | 10:00-11:15am | Registration closed
Humor in the classroom can positively impact student engagement and learning outcomes, but incorporating it effectively is not always straightforward. This session will explore the role of humor in fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment, and provide practical strategies for integrating it in respectful and inclusive ways. Discover practical approaches to create a more connected classroom experience.
Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff, Professor, Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems, School of Nursing; Nicholas (Nick) Williams, Assistant Director of Student Engagement, School of Business; Charlene Crawley, Director, Interdisciplinary Science Program, College of Humanities and Sciences; Chris Saladino, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Sciences
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series - Gauging the Landscape: Current Faculty Perspectives on Gen AI in the Classroom | November 7 | 10:00-11:15am | Registration closed
In this interactive session, we invite faculty to share their current thoughts, and experiences regarding the impact of Gen AI on teaching and learning in their classrooms. As Gen AI continues to evolve, so do faculty experiences. Hear from your colleagues about how it is shaping classroom dynamics, influencing student learning, and affecting course design. This discussion aims to gather faculty feedback on the current landscape, explore emerging concerns, and identify opportunities related to the integration of Gen AI in academic courses.
CTLE Series Offerings
Conversations About Inclusion Series
This series provides an opportunity to hear about, and share, tips and strategies that help faculty continue engaging students in the classroom. Faculty-student interactions are constantly changing, perhaps now more than ever. With a heightened attention to differences embedded in privilege, our faculty are practicing more nuanced strategies to engage a highly diverse student body. The Conversations About Inclusion Series provides a space for faculty to think deeply and innovatively about interactions with students whose lived experiences vary based on a wide range of ‘differences’ (first gen, region of residence, socioeconomic factors, race, gender, and body ability among many others). By being attentive to these varying lived experiences, faculty can gain understanding of how to better facilitate the learning experiences of students, and integrate our approaches in the classroom, to help students be successful.
Gen AI & Teaching & Learning Series
Starting in fall 2023, CTLE initiated a series on Gen AI & Teaching & Learning. This series serves as a valuable resource for faculty, focusing on the many possibilities and challenges presented by this technology, specifically as related to teaching. Past events in this series have included workshops to introduce faculty to Gen AI basics, implementing Gen AI in course design, discussions of ethics and integrity considerations, among others.