Fall 2025 Faculty Development Opportunities

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The Office of IDEAS is offering a wide variety of programs and one-time workshops this fall. Please complete this applications linked below if you are interested in participating in any of the Office of IDEAS professional development programs. 📩 Questions? Contact the Office of IDEAS
NOTE: There are separate applications for the programs and the workshops.

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Programs and Faculty Learning Communities

Program descriptions and dates are noted below. The application deadline for programs and FLCs is Sunday, September 14.

Apply for Fall Programs and FLCs

Advancing Inclusive Mentoring (AIM)

Taxable Stipend Amount: $600 upon completion
Dates: 6 Weeks from October 2 - November 6, on Thursdays, 2:00 - 3:00 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 2132. Dr. Zhanna Sahatjian will bring her expertise and facilitate this semester's cohort. 

Clifton Strengths Faculty Learning Community

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200 upon completion
Dates: October 10 - December 12 (in-person, Office of IDEAS)

• Friday, October 10, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 14, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
• Friday, December 12, 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 November 7, 2025, 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 April 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: September 29 - December 5

The course will run from September 29 through December 5 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.

Publishing Your Scholarly Works: Article or Chapter - A Faculty Learning Community (FLC)

Taxable Stipend Amount: $0
Dates: Mondays 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27

The FLC is based on Wendy Belcher’s Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks. It will loosely go over the book (not required to purchase but suggested). The first part of our meetings will be going over the book chapters and the last half will be a writing retreat. 

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

Assessing Student Writing

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200

Dates:

• Tuesday, September 16, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Zoom
• Wednesday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. - noon, In-person (UL2134)

This workshop will help instructors develop practical strategies for assessing student writing in both low- and high-stakes contexts. Much of the focus will be on ensuring fair, transparent evaluation through rubrics, feedback, and opportunities for student self-assessment. Each session is limited to 15 faculty, with additional participants considered at the discretion of the WAC Faculty Champion.

Deliverable: Participants will create or revise an assessment tool (e.g., rubric, feedback guide, or self-assessment prompt) for an assignment description.

Finishing Strong: Proofreading and Formatting Writing

Taxable Stipend Amount: $200

Dates:

• Tuesday, November 4, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Zoom
• Wednesday, November 5, 10:00 a.m. - noon, In-person (UL2134)

Help students produce polished, audience-ready writing that reflects professionalism and care. This workshop focuses on the final stage of the writing process—proofreading, formatting, document design, tone, and readability - while exploring how to guide students in using AI tools responsibly for surface revisions. Each session is limited to 15 faculty, with additional participants considered at the discretion of the WAC Faculty Champion.

Deliverable: A low-stakes activity or assignment in which students imagine a realistic workplace audience for their document and list specific strategies to meet that audience’s expectations.

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 Spring 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 in October. 

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 at Open Access week during Open Education week during Spring 26.

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Workshops

Sign up for our fall Workshops! You have opportunity to learn about AI from our AI Faculty Champions and Instructional Designers, as well as learning about making your course content accessible and why this is important.

📩 Questions? Contact the Office of IDEAS

Register for Fall Workshops

AI Fridays with the AI Champions

 

Office of IDEAS AI Workshops

Creating Learning Content with AI
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 9:30 - 10:20 a.m.
Location: UL2134
Learn strategies for creating a variety of learning content to enhance courses and training programs, including: quiz questions, case studies, and assignments.

AI & Universal Design for Learning
Date: Thursday, October 16, 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
Location: UL2134
Explore AI tools that support the integration of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into your learning design to foster accessibility, engagement, and personalized learning experiences.

Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Future
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
Location: UL2134
Explore how to prepare students for a world shaped by AI, focusing on career readiness, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Gain practical strategies to integrate AI literacy into your teaching and empower students for success.

Navigating the Intersection of AI & Equity
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Location: UL2134
Examine how AI can perpetuate bias and how it may address systemic bias in higher education. Strategize how to leverage AI responsibly while keeping equity and access at the center of education.

Accessibility Workshops

Prepare for Title II with the Canvas Accessibility Report/TidyUp
Date: Tuesday, September 9, 2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Location: UL2134
Learn how to identify and fix accessibility issues in your Canvas course using the Accessibility Report and TidyUp tool. This hands-on session will show you how to interpret results, prioritize fixes, and align your course content with Title II requirements for digital accessibility.

Prepare for Title II with Document Accessibility Basics
Date: Monday, September 15, 3:00 - 3:50 p.m.
Location: UL2134
Get the essentials for making files accessible before adding them to Canvas. In this session, you’ll learn practical steps to create documents that meet Title II accessibility requirements and support all learners.

Register for Fall Workshops

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CSU Chancellor's Office Programming

Small Changes, Big Impact: TILT toward Student Success

Friday, September 19 12:30pm-2:30pm

Want to boost student success with minimal effort? TILT (Transparency in Learning and Teaching) is a simple framework that transforms how students experience courses and other interactions with educators. Research shows that making just two assignments more transparent supports learning while significantly increasing student belonging, confidence, and persistence—and enhances teaching satisfaction.

Open to all student-facing educators in the CSU: faculty, librarians, advisors, counselors, learning support staff, and instructional designers.

Register for this webinar

 

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:
Oct 06, 2025 – Oct 26, 2025
Nov 03, 2025 – Nov 23, 2025