As the spring semester winds down and finals season kicks into full swing, we’re here with timely updates and resources to support your teaching and summer planning.

Explore our Summer Waves 2025 Canvas course to revisit top workshops or discover new ones—available anytime, on demand. Learn how the CSU’s free summer training can help you sharpen your course design and AI skills.

We're also recapping Digital Equity Day 2025, where innovation, accessibility, and faculty voices took center stage. Plus, get inspired by the winners of AI Jam 2025, where students didn’t just code—they built community. For a look into the future, see how CSUN students are pioneering research on digital twin systems and XR technologies.

Join us in congratulating Academic Technology's Sebastian Banas as one of the 2025 Outstanding IT Student Employee Award winners!

This summer, CSUN will transition from Ally to Cidi Labs, bringing enhanced accessibility tools like TidyUP to improve course usability. We also want to remind faculty that the HEERF tools expire on June 30th.

Finally, don’t miss our featured workshops this month: our Canvas Grading Clinics offer hands-on help just in time for finals, and a special session on Uploading Final Letter Grades to Portal will help streamline your end-of-term tasks.

Wishing you a smooth wrap-up to the semester and a well-deserved start to summer!

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.

Refresh your teaching toolkit this summer with the Summer Waves Canvas Course! Revisit top workshops or explore new ones on Canvas, AI, video creation, and more—anytime, on demand. Get started and make the most of your summer prep.

Did you know that the CSU offers free online faculty trainings during summer? Whether you're refining your course design with QLT or exploring new AI tools, there's something for everyone. Explore flexible, self-paced options and sign up today!

CSUN’s Digital Equity Day 2025 spotlighted inclusive innovation in education, featuring insights on accessibility, AI, and the future of digital learning. View the keynote presentation slides by Kari McCoy: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community Partnerships on Continuation High Schools

At CSUN, emerging technologies like Extended Reality (XR) and digital twin systems are not only the subject of academic discourse—they are being actively developed and investigated through student-led thesis initiatives. Read more about digital twin and XR technologies. 

This spring, CSUN hosted AI Jam 2025, an annual innovation competition where 25 student teams developed AI-powered solutions to real-world challenges. The three winning teams were announced at Digital Equity Day 2025. Read more and join us in congratulating the winners.

Big changes are coming to accessibility in Canvas! CSUN is moving from Ally to Cidi Labs this summer—with added tools like TidyUP to help you clean up course content and boost usability. Learn what’s changing and how to get ready before the semester starts.

Campus-wide access to Canvas Studio, Hypothesis, and Pronto will end on June 30, 2025. Learn what this means for your courses and explore alternative tools on the HEERF Software Transition webpage. Plan ahead to stay prepared!

Need help with grading in Canvas? Join us for one-on-one support and get expert guidance on Gradebook, SpeedGrader, external tools, and more. Learn how to grade efficiently and accurately—bring your questions!

Save time during finals! Learn a faster, easier way to import your final grades into the Portal—perfect for large classes and busy schedules. Join us and streamline your grading process with confidence.

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.