Spring 2026 Faculty Development Opportunities

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The Office of IDEAS is offering a wide variety of programs this spring. Please complete this applications linked below if you are interested in participating in any of the Office of IDEAS professional development programs.

Program descriptions and dates are noted below. The application deadline for spring programs is Sunday, February 8.

📩 Questions? Contact the Office of IDEAS

Apply for Spring 2026 Programming

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Programs and Faculty Learning Communities

Advancing Inclusive Mentoring (AIM)

Taxable Stipend Amount: $600 upon completion
Dates: 6 Weeks from February 19 - March 26, on Thursdays, 2:00 - 2:50 p.m.

The overarching goals of AIM are to provide a variety of engaging faculty training resources to promote student success through positive and inclusive mentoring. This is a six week program. You are expected to participate two hours per week - one hour in a Canvas course and one in a discussion group with your colleagues.

This will be held in-person in Library 2130.

Clifton Strengths Faculty Learning Community

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200 upon completion
Dates: February 20 - April 17 (in-person, Office of IDEAS)

• Friday, February 20, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

• Friday, March 20, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

• Friday, April 17, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

The goal of our Strengths Finder program is to explore what you do best in each of the 34 Clifton Strengths themes. The assessment, which you will take prior to the first session, provides you with a list and descriptions of each of your strengths and our faculty learning community will be to explore your signature strengths as well as your social identities in our educational context. During the three in-person faculty learning community sessions, we will discuss and explore the meaning of your strengths in the context of your teaching, research, and service. You will also have access to small groups or one-to-one Clifton Strengths coaching sessions.

CSU Quality Learning and Teaching Review

Taxable Stipend Amount: up to $1000

Do you teach a fully online course? You can earn up to $1000 if your course meets the Quality Learning and Teaching Framework. You will collaborate with one of our instructional designers and evaluate your online course using the QLT-based Self-Review process. The CSU Quality Learning & Teaching (QLT) Rubric 3rd Edition (2022) is a framework for ensuring the quality of online and hybrid courses that covers a range of areas, including course overview and information, course technology, course design, assessment and evaluation, and learner support. Participants will identify areas where their course needs to be updated and develop a plan to implement QLT-based course improvements that align with their specific teaching goals and the needs of their learners.

Before Apirl 24, 2026, complete the following to receive the first stipend of $500:

• Perform a QLT Self-Review
• Make an appointment and meet with an Instructional Designer to review the results of the self-review create a Course Improvement Plan
• Agree that the instructional designer I have worked with can submit my course for formal QLT Certification through CSU Online Course Services

Before August 24, 2026, complete the following to receive the second stipend of $500:

• Receive Formal QLT Certification through CSU Online Course Services.

Equity Minded Pedagogy (EMP)

Taxable Stipend Amount: $1000 upon completion
Dates: February 23 - May 8

The course will run from February 23 through May 8 with synchronous online sessions on Fridays from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. There will be four required synchronous sessions and two optional synchronous sessions.

The goal is for faculty to understand the specific structural barriers for underrepresented students as well as Pell-eligible students. Faculty will use Human-Centered and course design principles to redesign content, assignments, assessments, support, stories, and imagery in their courses. Faculty will engage in the co-creation of their course with student input. Faculty will set data-driven goals to improve inequities in their classroom and positively impact retention and graduation with colleagues across the CSU system.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Workshops - Centrally funded by the Vice Provost

AI and the Writing Course

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200

Dates:

• Mon, March 2 | 5:00–7:00 PM (via Zoom)
• Tue, March 3 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (Office of IDEAS, UL 21230)

At present, there is little consensus on the role AI should play in writing courses. Questions, misunderstandings, and anxieties about student writing and assessment persist as higher education strives to keep pace with the evolving technologies.

This workshop will examine perspectives from the University Writing Subcommittee, the university’s AI Task Force, and scholarly organizations such as the MLA and CCCC. Together, we’ll explore current discourse, research, and policies surrounding AI in the classroom.

Participants will learn strategies for setting clear expectations around AI use and addressing concerns about academic integrity. Time will also be set aside for participants to share experiences, discuss challenges, and exchange resources related to AI in their courses and disciplines.

Deliverable: A revised writing-intensive assignment that includes defined writing outcomes and a clear statement about what types of generative AI, if any, are appropriate for the assignment.

Designing a W Course

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200

Dates:

• Mon, April 6 | 5:00–7:00 PM (via Zoom)
• Tue, April 7 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (Office of IDEAS, UL 21230)

This workshop focuses on key components of a successful W course, including developing strong course objectives, selecting appropriate writing textbooks, and designing high-stakes, writing-intensive assignments.

It’s ideal for instructors planning to submit a W course proposal for Fall 2026 or those looking to incorporate new and creative writing-intensive assignments into their curriculum.

Deliverable: A timeline for a major writing project to include in the course schedule, detailing writing-focused lectures/readings, in-class activities, and assignment deadlines.

Zero Cost Course Materials (ZCCM)

Taxable Stipend Amount: up to $1400

As part of our campus Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) program, Applications for new ZCCM GE courses for Open Educational Resources (OER) are now being accepted. A taxable stipend is available to advance the goals of AB 798, including increasing student access to high-quality OER and reducing the cost of instructional materials.Priority will be given to courses that would create a zero cost general education pathway and/or a zero cost degree program. Participation means faculty will commit to zero cost course materials (ZCCM) and explore creating and/or adopting the materials for Fall 2026. 

OER Development Expectations:

• Remain current on the OER requirements
• Work with the ZCCM technical support team to complete the evaluation and approval of text(s) and course materials for accessibility and copyright
• Complete a self-directed online OER Orientation
• Attend a mandatory on-campus training; date to be determined
• Attend a workshop during the week of March 2nd - 6th

OER Initiative Faculty Deliverables:

• Complete the asynchronous Canvas Course
• Develop an OER course in the LMS in alignment with the Fresno State OER policies/procedures, the university’s OER timeline, curriculum development, and applicable student learning outcomes
• The ZCCM course must be designated as a ZCCM course to both scheduling and the bookstore by the Spring adoption deadline and the course materials must be verified by a AL$ Faculty Champion or an Instruction Desginer.
• Facilitate a group presentation along with other OER faculty during Open Access Week during Fall 26.

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CSU Online Course Services

CSU Online Course Services offers courses for CSU faculty and staff, taught by Certified CSU Facilitators. The courses are 3-weeks in length, online, asynchronous, and require 15-20 hours. While you are able to move ahead in the course, you must follow the due dates as peer-to-peer collaboration is integral to each course. Course descriptions and dates are below. Questions? Contact ocs@calstate.edu

Register for OCS courses

Introduction to Teaching Online Using QLT

Introduction to teaching online with the CSU QLT rubric representing the 9 sections of QLT. Content covered includes orienting students to the online course, setting up the structure and navigation of a course, designing online modules for content delivery and engagement, developing methods for facilitating discussions, developing assessment tools, using technology tools, and experiencing an online course from a student perspective.

Course Commitment: 3 weeks, 15-20 hours, online, asynchronous.

Dates Offered:
February 23 - March 15, 2026
March 23 - April 19, 2026