CTL Newsletter - May 2026
“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.” —
Dr. Colleen B. Wilcox,Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools from 1994 to 2007
🎉 Reflect, Celebrate & Look Ahead 🌱
The CTL staff is here to support all campus educators through freeconsultations,teaching resources,workshops, and otherprograms! We invite you to email our team with any questions related to teaching or to learn more atCTL@colorado.EDU.
A Time to Reflect and Celebrate
As the semester comes to an end, May invites us to pause, take a breath, and recognize all that has been poured into this academic year. Across campus, educators and staff have shown up each day with care, resilience, creativity, and commitment to support student learning and one another.
So much of the work that shapes a semester happens quietly. The extra time spent helping a student, the thoughtful redesign of a course, the encouragement offered to a colleague, the challenges navigated behind the scenes, and the countless moments of dedication that often go unseen all matter deeply.
Before summer begins, we hope you take a moment to reflect on what you made possible this year. Celebrate the progress, the growth, and the lives you impacted along the way.
Thank you for everything you bring to 鶹ѰBoulder. Your work makes this community stronger, and your impact reaches farther than you may realize.
📚Recommended Resources
Book Recommendation: by James R. Davis & Mark H. McLeod
For busy college educators looking to catch up on the latest developments in teaching and learning, this book offers an accessible guide to seven key evidence-based strategies for effective instruction.
🎉Celebrating Our Community
Student and Educator Achievements Across the CTL Community
We’re excited to share thatseveral of our student employees have been recognized as part of 鶹ѰBoulder’s2026 Student Employee of the Year awards.
Aaron Klass, a CTL Student as Pedagogical Consultant, was selected as theGraduate Student Employee of the Year,and Anna Hoisington, also a CTL Student as Pedagogical Consultant, and former student employeeAnthony Cortez were recognized asundergraduate nominees. Through their work at the CTL, our student employees support educators and students across campus and help create welcoming, effective learning environments.
We also celebrateKatharine Semsar, PhD, Teaching Professor & Assistant Director, who received theCollege of Arts & Sciences’ Collaborative Access & Innovation Award for her work on the CTL’s Students as Partners course“Genes to Gender.” Aaron, Anna, and Anthony were part of this Students as Partners program, highlighting the meaningful collaboration between students and educators.Click here to learn more about the Students as Partners program.
📅 Signature Events & Key Announcements
CTL Newsletter Update | Resuming August 2026
The CTL newsletter will pause for the summer and resume in August. We look forward to reconnecting with you at the start of the fall semester with updates, resources, and opportunities to support your teaching and learning. In the meantime, you can stay connected byvisiting the CTL website and exploring upcoming events and resources.
CTL Summer Book Club | Wednesdays, May 20 - June 24, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. MT | Zoom
Join CTL Professional Development Lead Preston Cumming alongside educators of all levels to read the book. You will discuss the text and ways you can apply this understanding in your own classrooms and university lives. The group will meet weekly on Wednesdays from May 20 - June 24, 10:00-11:00 am (MT) remotely on Zoom.
CTL Students as Partners Program | Apply by August 17, 2026
The AY26/27 Students as Partners program is expanding into a year long opportunity! This program is a collaborative pedagogical approach that pairs faculty and students to improve teaching learning by integrating the student perspective. Past projects have supported revised assessments, the integration of critical AI literacy, and new course development. We will also be supporting the development of Community-Engaged courses. Space is limited to 5 participants per cohort. For more information and to apply,visit the Students as Partners webpage.
CTL Faculty Fellows Program | Apply by May 29, 2026
Calling all collaborators! As we continue ourFaculty Fellows program, we invite faculty of all ranks to apply as departmental or interdisciplinary pairs to work on teaching, learning and technology initiatives. Individual submissions are also welcome. This new cohort will have an emphasis on Equitable Teaching in the Context of gen AI. Examples of interest areas could include assessment redesign, curriculum design, alternative grading, gamification, portfolios, challenges in large courses, interdisciplinary course design, equitable teaching all in the context of how gen AI is changing teaching and learning. For full consideration apply no later than May 29, 2026.For more information and the application link, visit the CTL Faculty Fellows webpage.
Just & Equitable Teaching(JET) Program | Sept. 3 – Dec. 4, 2026 | Hybrid Format
Elevate your teaching this Fall 2026 through the JET Program. Join a community of 鶹ѰBoulder educators committed to advancing equity and social justice in teaching and learning through a 12 week hybrid experience. Participants will explore evidence based practices, reflect with peers, and develop strategies for creating more inclusive learning environments. The program is open to all 鶹ѰBoulder instructors, graduate students, and instructional support staff. Space is limited to 18 participants and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.Submit your application here by June 30, 2026. For more information,visit our website, or contact Program Coordinator Margaret Prater atMargaret.Prater@colorado.EDU.
Pedagogy and Wellness in the Classroom | May 12 & 14, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. MT
This hybrid microcredential combines preparatory work, asynchronous online content, and two in-person community sessions. Participants will explore inclusive, evidence-based teaching and communication strategies that support the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. The program also provides tools for navigating difficult conversations, deepens understanding of student mental health, and helps create supportive and engaging learning environments. &
Canvas Template | Grade for Student Success | OIT Trainings & Support
Looking ahead, consider adopting the newCanvas templatein your summer and fall courses! The Canvas template aims to reduce the time spent building out your courses, while promoting promising practices in teaching and learning, digital accessibility, and design. Specifically, it includes resources like a start-of-semester survey, campus resources page, and fillable student-centered syllabus, as well as guidance on how to implementthe Grade for Student Success practices developed with 鶹Ѱfaculty to improve the grading experience for both students and educators. For support with Canvas or implementing the Canvas template specifically,.
✨More CTL Events This Month!
Thu, May 7 & Fri, May 8, 2026, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM MT, AI Summer Design Studio
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