Hi Friend of the CTE,   

Let’s get fired up for a new semester and a new year! The CTE is at the ready with programming and resources to support your teaching. 

Upcoming Seminars and Workshops

January 22, 2026

3:00 - 4:30 pm

320 Laws Hall

In this interactive session, we will share practical ways to frame sensitive topics, respond to difficult or unexpected questions, and keep class discussions respectful and productive. Together, we will explore how to create space for multiple (opposing) perspectives while staying grounded in your course goals and disciplinary expertise. You will leave with strategies, examples, and campus connections that can help you navigate these conversations with confidence and care.

Tuesday, February 3

10:00 - 11:00 am

320 Laws Hall

This session addresses faculty learning communities (FLCs): what they are; how they work; their tradition at Miami since 1979; and their teaching, learning, and/or institutional outcomes. Learn about the FLC facilitator role and how to develop a successful FLC proposal for 2026-2027. A Q&A will support individualized learning. FLC proposals are due March 3, 2026. 

Wednesday, February 4

10:30 - 11:30 am

320 Laws Hall

This seminar introduces faculty to the application components, submission process, and evaluation criteria for CTE major and minor grants. Major grant proposals are due March 15, 2026.

Thursday, February 26

6:00 pm

Farmer School of Business (Room 0025)

Explore how higher education can adapt to the widespread impacts of AI by rethinking curriculum and cultivating critical thinking and expertise.

News and Information

The purpose of CTE-IGNITE (Incorporating Generative AI With Novel Ideas for Teaching Excellence) grants is to encourage scholarly teaching around the opportunities and challenges presented by Generative AI. There are 3 levels of grants available. 

Deadline: February 13, 2026

This self-paced, asynchronous online, interactive, 5-7 hour course has been tested by the CTE, featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed, and was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Program: Noncredit Award by the UCPEA. The scholarship deadline is February 13, 2026. 

Note: Do not take any registration steps while exploring the course at Auburn’s website. Instead, use the scholarship link to apply. 

Check out these approaches to energize your first class meetings of the semester and set the tone for high-quality learning.

This article from The Teaching Professor, curated by Irena Kola (American Culture and English; CTE Faculty Teaching Associate), describes a syllabus scavenger hunt activity and ice-breaker to create an environment for dynamic class interaction.

This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education showcases six first-day activities for inviting students into the learning journey.

This Faculty Focus article discusses how to use interactive strategies to “transform the course syllabus from a passive document into an engaging, community-building tool.” 

Students’ active engagement is a requirement for effective learning. This Advice Guide from the Chronicle of Higher Education shares the whys, key principles, concrete applications, and research-based evidence of effective engagement.

Opportunities From Our Partners

Miami University is preparing for the April 24, 2026, updates to Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which require university digital content and online services to be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes websites, course readings and handouts, Canvas courses, emails, presentations, PDFs, and more. But it's not a solo effort. Learn about Title II and what the AccessMU Center is doing to assist faculty and staff.

January 27, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Learn more and register for this FREE WEBINAR from the Association for College and University Educators (ACUE).

Center for Teaching Excellence

317 Laws Hall

513-529-9266