Welcome back, Matador faculty! We hope you had a restorative summer and are ready for an exciting fall semester.

This issue highlights the new Fall Prep Packet full of resources to get your courses off to a strong start, introduces Jenny Nguyen as the new Doctoral Fellow in Academic Technology, and kicks off the Lunch Bytes workshop series.

You’ll also read about the CSUN projects recognized in the CSU AI Innovation Challenge, new features in ChatGPT Edu including Study Mode and Sharing Custom GPTs, and the launch of Kortext, a digital course materials platform.

We’re also excited to share that CSUN hosted the first Accessible Technology Initiative Summit, and you’ll find updates on faculty services, free student tech tools, the updated CSUN Canvas Template, the Student Tech Resources Module, and the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report featuring Academic Technology's own Data and Analytics Lead, Sirish Malisetty.

To get hands-on this semester, take a look at our featured workshops. The Canvas Course Setup Clinic offers personalized support to refine your courses, while AI Train the Trainer helps faculty introduce students to AI with confidence and integrity.

Faculty can also learn how to boost engagement with Poll Everywhere and explore inclusive teaching practices in the Introduction to Accessibility and Universal Design session.

In other news, keep an eye out for news on the annual Fall Academic Technology event coming this October. Learn more about Instructure's partnership with OpenAI to bring IgniteAI to Canvas, and get prepped for all things AI with Fall 2025 OCS Professional Development Courses through the CSU.

We’re excited to support you in making this semester a success!

This year's Fall Prep Packet is packed with valuable resources to help you get ready for the new semester, including resources about AI, Canvas, Lecture Capture with Zoom and Panopto, empowering your students with ePortfolios, Universal Design & Accessibility, and more! Access the Fall Prep Packet.

CSUN's Office of Academic Technology in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, and the Research and Sponsored Programs office, are excited to announce Jenny Nguyen as the 2025-26 Doctoral Student Academic Technology Equity Fellow!

Lunch Bytes is a recurring Monday lunchtime workshop series designed as an enrichment opportunity for faculty, focusing on practical tech tools and creative strategies for teaching and productivity. Check out Lunch Bytes dates.

In 2025, the CSU launched its first Artificial Intelligence Educational Innovations Challenge (AIEIC), awarding four CSUN projects for their creative approaches to teaching and research while raising important questions about AI in higher education. Read more about AIEIC awards.

Study mode is a new learning experience in ChatGPT Edu to build a deeper understanding of any topic. ChatGPT asks interactive questions to understand your goals and skill level, then work with you to reach the answer together. Learn more about Study mode.

Build your own specialized GPTs for classes, research, or departmental projects, and share them across the university. Watch the Sharing Custom GPTs in CSUN ChatGPT EDU video.

Starting this Fall 2025 term, the CSUN Campus Store is introducing Kortext, a new ebook platform that will improve the student and faculty experience with digital course materials. Get more information about Kortext.

The Chancellor’s Office selected CSUN to host the first Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) Summit, bringing together accessible technology experts from around the CSU system. Read more about the ATI Summit at CSUN.

The Faculty Technology Services flyer provides tools and resources for faculty needs, like ChatGPT Edu and Copilot, making course materials accessible, utilizing Canvas Insights, accessing the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, and more! Download the Faculty Tech Services flyer.

As the new semester begins, remind your students that powerful technology tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Edu, and Adobe Creative Cloud are available to them at no cost. Learn more about tech tools for students.

This template, available through the Canvas Commons, was developed by Academic Technology, Faculty Development, and Faculty Fellows to align with CSU's educational standards and principles of inclusive teaching. Learn more about the CSUN Canvas Template.

Did you know the Student Technology Resources module is available in Canvas Commons and can be imported into your course with a few clicks? We encourage you to review the new AI-focused content and share it with your students. Read more about Student Tech Module. 

Academic Technology is proud to announce that Sirish Malisetty, Data and Analytics Lead, was part of the Expert Panel Roster for the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report Teaching and Learning Edition. Join us in congratulating Sirish and read the 2025 report.

Get hands-on help from Instructional Technologists to check your Canvas courses and get ready for a successful semester.

This workshop equips faculty to introduce students to AI, covering its background, ethical use, prompt integrity, and assignment applications.

This workshop covers setup, creating activities, and using interactive features
in Poll Everywhere, an online polling and student response tool.

Explore essential strategies and principles of accessibility and universal design aimed at fostering inclusive learning environments.

Find more professional development opportunities on the Academic Technology workshop calendar.

Share topics you would like to see covered in a future newsletter, give us feedback on your experience with instructional technology, or let us know of workshop resources you are interested in with the Academic Technology Feedback Form.

Want to connect? Join our Zoom Drop-in Hours, make an appointment, or send us an email. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more Academic Technology updates.