May 2026 Academic Technology Newsletter

As we head into the summer months, Academic Technology invites faculty to submit expressions of interest for the Summer 2026 AI Academy, a focused learning experience centered on AI-native teaching practices in today’s evolving academic environment.

The global Canvas outage on May 7, resulting from a cybersecurity incident involving Instructure, clearly underscored the critical role of Canvas Insights in maintaining instructional continuity during unexpected disruptions. This summer, set "future you" up for success by running TidyUP by Cidi Labs. And check out our the Summer 2026 Academic Technology workshop series, which offers sessions on everything from Canvas streamlining to multimedia content creation.

See how the Academic Technology team works behind the scenes to livestream Commencement ceremonies, and explore both the Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning recap and the full report.

Wishing you a wonderful, restful, and productive summer break!

Academic Technology invites expressions of interest from faculty who would like to participate in the Summer 2026 AI Academy, a focused faculty learning experience on AI-native teaching practices in an AI-impacted learning environment.

On May 7, 2026, CSUN was impacted by a global Canvas outage resulting from a cybersecurity incident involving Canvas’s parent company, Instructure. The disruption occurred during the final weeks of the spring 2026 semester and affected access to Canvas services across institutions nationwide.

There's one simple accessibility step that you can take right now, while the Spring semester is fresh, which is a gift to "future you": run TidyUP. TidyUP by Cidi Labs is your first tool to tackle your accessibility workload.

This summer is the perfect time to tune up your courses, explore new teaching strategies, and refresh your instructional technology. Whether you want to streamline your Canvas course, experiment with AI tools, improve student engagement, create multimedia content, strengthen instructional continuity, or learn new classroom technologies, the Summer 2026 Academic Technology workshop series offers something for everyone.

As CSUN celebrates the Class of 2026, the Academic Technology team is once again playing a vital role behind the scenes to help deliver a memorable commencement experience for graduates, families, and viewers around the world.

The 2026 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Teaching and Learning Edition points to a higher education landscape under pressure. AI, financial strain, cybersecurity risks, accessibility requirements, climate concerns, and questions about the value of college are all reshaping teaching and learning. For faculty, the report’s central message is clear: the future of teaching will depend on thoughtful course design, human connection, trust, and responsible use of technology.

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.

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