University of Utah logo with text below reading “Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence.” The background is black, and the logo is in red and white.
 

Newsletter December 30, 2025
cte.utah.edu

 
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Spring 2026 Semester Startup Tips

If you haven’t already posted your syllabus to the course schedule, please make sure to do so via these tips from the Registrar’s office.  Posting your syllabus to the class schedule helps students know what to expect before the semester starts. Syllabus templates, mandatory institutional policies, and more can be found on CTE’s Syllabus Design page. 

When updating your Canvas course for Spring 2026, here are some helpful links and resources:

  • Check out Digital Learning Technologies’ Canvas help page. From this page, you can set up a consult, email for help, get to a live chat through Instructure, and get answers to frequently asked questions. 
  • Search the Canvas Instructor guides for more step-by-step tutorials
  • Check out a previous CTE newsletter for the top 5 Canvas tips from CTE and DLT consultants
  • Email classhelp@utah.edu or schedule a consult with CTE 
Flyer titled “Who Should I Ask?” compares help options for faculty at the University of Utah. Left side (Technology – Digital Learning Technologies): support for A/V, recording, Canvas, video, creative, assessment, and accessibility tools. Right side (Pedagogy – Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence): help with teaching design, syllabus and content reviews, accessibility, belonging, and new ideas. Bottom banner: visit both offices at the Faculty Center, 1st floor Marriott Library, Suite 1705.
 

Spring 2026 Canvas Tips

When updating your Canvas course for Spring 2026, here are some helpful links and resources:

  • Check out Digital Learning Technologies’ Canvas help page. From this page, you can set up a consult, email for help, get to a live chat through Instructure, and get answers to frequently asked questions. 
  • Search the Canvas Instructor guides for more step-by-step tutorials
  • Check out last week’s CTE newsletter for the top 5 Canvas tips from CTE and DLT consultants
  • Email classhelp@utah.edu or schedule a consult with CTE 

Need more help with Canvas? Schedule a consult with DLT or email classhelp@utah.edu

 

Accessibility Essentials — Canvas

Banner: Pixelated background with the Universal Access icon. Banner reads

When creating your Canvas page, make sure to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines so that content is accessible to ALL students, regardless of whether they have documented disabilities or accommodations through the Center for Disability and Access. Briefly, this means: 

  1. All images, graphs, & figures included in the course have alternative text available or are marked as decorative.
  2. All videos have closed captions and/or transcripts available.
  3. All colorful content is high contrast, and color alone is not used to emphasize information (e.g., important text is not indicated by being highlighted in a color).
  4. Modules, files, and links used throughout the course have descriptive names (e.g., "Assignment 1" or "Marriott Library", not "Thing.pdf" or "Click Here").
  5. Official textbooks, high quality PDFs (i.e., text is selectable and can be copied/pasted), and/or text-only documents that are compatible with reading assistance software are provided for all readings.

Want more information? Visit CTE’s Accessibility Essentials site for detailed tutorials, links, and resources. 

Note that the U.S. Department of Justice has ruled that all state government web content should meet these guidelines by April 24, 2026. This includes course content on Canvas pages.

 

Financial Wellness Center

Flyer for the University of Utah Financial Wellness Center Open House on January 6th from 11 AM to 2 PM in the Union, Room 410. Includes invitation to tour the new center, enjoy snacks, and learn about free services. Features illustrations of three people talking and smiling.
 

Learning Center

Flyer for the Learning Center Open House on January 5 and 6 from 1–4 PM in Marriott Library Room 1180. Promotes free resources, snacks, music, and virtual reality tutoring software. Features three smiling students holding books.
 

Graduate Student Instructor Training in Pedagogy

Almost every department on campus includes graduate student instructors in some way, whether as sole course instructors, TAs, lab section leaders, or other roles. Did you know that CTE offers graduate student training in pedagogy? We offer a 15-credit online graduate certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, and most of those courses can be taken individually. Courses are offered fall and spring. 

In Spring, our course offerings include a graduate special topics seminar in Teaching with AI. Spots are still open!

Flyer titled “Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education” from the University of Utah’s Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence. Describes a flexible online program open to graduate students preparing for higher education teaching positions. Lists four core courses: CTLE 6000 Teaching in Higher Education, CTLE 6200 Equitable Teaching in Higher Education, CTLE 6510 Cyber Pedagogy, and CTLE 6800 Teaching Practicum in Higher Education (each 3 credits). Includes a special topic course, CTLE 6960 Teaching with AI, available Spring 2026. Notes that courses taken before Fall 2024 may count toward the certificate. QR code and website for more information.
 

Community Engaged Faculty Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the Public Service Professorship and Distinguished Faculty Service Award. Faculty are invited to apply for the following awards recognizing research, excellence in the classroom, and passion for strengthening communities. Apply by February 1, 2026.

Public Service Professorship

The Public Service Professorship award is designed to help a faculty member strengthen community-engaged learning experiences and opportunities tied to civic engagement and also foster stronger partnerships with the local community. It is open to all faculty members at the University of Utah. The prize funds of $7,500 may be used in any way that enables the recipient to carry out the proposed project. Applications due February 1, 2026.

Distinguished Faculty Service Award

The Distinguished Faculty Service Award honors faculty members who have demonstrated sustained commitment to the campus-community connection through a life of active, unpaid community service and the integration of service with research and teaching. Dr. David and Susan Jabusch generously donate $1,000 to the non-profit community organization of the award winner's choice. Applications due February 1, 2026.

Linda K. Amos Award: Nominations Open

NOMINATION DEADLINE: JAN 31

Know someone who champions women at the University of Utah? 💐 The University of Utah Chapter of Utah Women in Higher Education Network (UWHEN) invites nominations for the Linda K. Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women, honoring a faculty or staff member whose work has advanced equity and opportunity for women at the University of Utah. The awardee will be recognized at the Women’s Week Awards Dinner on March 5, and the top five nominees will be invited to attend the dinner.

Flyer announcing the Linda K. Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women at the University of Utah, featuring a portrait of Linda K. Amos, award details, eligibility criteria, and a QR code with a January 31, 2026 nomination deadline.
Nominate here!

Upcoming Funding Deadlines

University  Teaching Grants

January 26, and March 6

 
 
 

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