CTL Newsletter - May 2026
鈥淭eaching is the greatest act of optimism.鈥 鈥斕
Dr. Colleen B. Wilcox,听Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools from 1994 to 2007
馃帀 Reflect, Celebrate & Look Ahead 馃尡

The CTL staff is here to support all campus educators through free听consultations,听teaching resources,听workshops, and other听programs! We invite you to email our team with any questions related to teaching or to learn more at听CTL@colorado.EDU.听
A Time to Reflect and Celebrate听
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 CU 麻豆影院. Your work makes this community stronger, and your impact reaches farther than you may realize.
馃摎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.
馃帀Celebrating Our Community听
Student and Educator Achievements Across the CTL Community听
We鈥檙e excited to share that听several of our student employees have been recognized as part of CU 麻豆影院鈥檚听2026 Student Employee of the Year awards.
Aaron Klass, a CTL Student as Pedagogical Consultant, was selected as the听Graduate Student Employee of the Year,听and Anna Hoisington, also a CTL Student as Pedagogical Consultant, and former student employee听Anthony Cortez were recognized as听undergraduate 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 celebrate听Katharine Semsar, PhD, Teaching Professor & Assistant Director, who received the听College of Arts & Sciences鈥 Collaborative Access & Innovation Award for her work on the CTL鈥檚 Students as Partners course听鈥淕enes to Gender.鈥 Aaron, Anna, and Anthony were part of this Students as Partners program, highlighting the meaningful collaboration between students and educators.听Click here to learn more about the Students as Partners program.
馃搮 Signature Events & Key Announcements 听
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 by听visiting the CTL website and exploring upcoming events and resources.听
CTL Summer Book Club | Wednesdays, May 20 - June 24, 2026 | 10:00鈥11:00 a.m. MT | Zoom
Join CTL Professional Development Lead Preston Cumming alongside educators of all levels to read the book听. 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.听
CTL Students as Partners Program | Apply by August 17, 2026
The AY26/27 Students as Partners program is expanding into a year long opportunity!听 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,听visit the Students as Partners webpage.
CTL Faculty Fellows Program | Apply by May 29, 2026
Calling all collaborators! As we continue our听Faculty 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.听For more information and the application link, visit the CTL Faculty Fellows webpage.
Just & Equitable Teaching听(JET) Program | Sept. 3 鈥 Dec. 4, 2026 | Hybrid Format
Elevate your teaching this Fall 2026 through the JET Program. Join a community of CU 麻豆影院 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 CU 麻豆影院 instructors, graduate students, and instructional support staff. Space is limited to 18 participants and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.听Submit your application here by June 30, 2026. For more information,听visit our website, or contact Program Coordinator Margaret Prater at听Margaret.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.听 &听
Canvas Template | Grade for Student Success | OIT Trainings & Support
Looking ahead, consider adopting the new听Canvas template听in 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 implement听the Grade for Student Success practices developed with CU faculty to improve the grading experience for both students and educators. For support with Canvas or implementing the Canvas template specifically,.
鉁∕ore 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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