Instructors at an event working with sticky notes.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

 

Note: NCFDD webinars/events are available for free to all WMU faculty, academic staff, and graduate students—to access NCFDD webinars, activate your NCFDD institutional membership account.

January 30

NCFDD Event: "Every Career Chapter Needs a Plan"

Friday, January 30 

2 to 3 p.m.

This interactive NCFDD session will guide you through a series of clarifying steps to identify key goals and develop a high-level plan for the current chapter of your career.

February 11

Level Up Your Exams: LockDown Browser + Respondus Monitor

Wednesday, February 11 

1 to 2 p.m.

Join this interactive ITC session to discover how LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor can keep your exams honest, secure and hassle-free.

February 12

NCFDD Event: "SKILL #2: How to Align Your Time with Your Priorities"

Thursday, February 12 

2 to 3 p.m.

A step-by-step guide to holding a weekly planning meeting. Grab your strategic plan and learn the secret to making it work day-to-day and week-to-week!

February 25

Accommodations in Elearning Made Easy!

Wednesday, February 25 

1 to 2 p.m.

Join the ITC to explore Course-wide Accommodations and Special Access options. Learn how to create a flexible, inclusive learning environment without the guesswork.

March 4

Conduct Your Own Course Check-Up: Is Your Course in Top Shape?

Wednesday, March 4 

1 to 2 p.m.

In this session, you’ll work with the ITC to learn how to review your online course for navigation, accessibility, clarity, and engagement to keep it healthy, organized and learner-friendly.

March 6

NCFDD Event: "The Retention Equation: Negotiating for Academic Success"

Friday, March 6 

2 to 3 p.m.

In addition to speaking to job market applicants and early career faculty, this session will include negotiation advice for early/mid-career faculty and academic leaders.

March 12

NCFDD Event: "SKILL #3: How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice"

Thursday, March 12 

2 to 3 p.m.

Explore myths about writing that hobble productivity, differences between struggling and rising new faculty members and the strategy that will increase your writing productivity.

March 18

Mastering Groups in Elearning

Wednesday, March 18 

1 to 2 p.m.

In this ITC session, learn how to use the Groups tool to organize students for projects, presentations, and discussions. Explore different group setups, managing group work, and spaces for interaction and teamwork.

March 26

NCFDD Event: "Rewriting the Retention Equation: Strategies to Reward, Recognize, and Retain Faculty"

Monday, March 26 

2 to 3 p.m.

Everyday leadership actions can cultivate belonging, purpose & growth. Discover tools to align recognition efforts with institutional values, foster advancement & build structures that sustain engagement.

April 8

Bring Your Content to Life with H5P!

Wednesday, April 8

1 to 2 p.m.

Ready to make your courses interactive and unforgettable? Join us to explore H5P—a powerful tool for creating engaging activities like quizzes, interactive videos, and more! Discover how easy it is to transform static content into dynamic learning experiences your students will love!

April 9

NCFDD Event: SKILL #4: Mastering Academic Time Management

Thursday, April 9

2 to 3 p.m.

Successfully transfer from graduate student to professor. Learn about the biggest mistakes that new faculty make in managing time, why and how to align work time with institutional and personal priorities, and how to create time for writing and research.

April 22

Find It Fast: Navigating ITC Resources Like a Pro

Wednesday, April 22

1 to 2 p.m.

Gain the confidence to get answers quickly for tech issues and keep your teaching on track. Learn how to search the ITC Knowledge Base, use GoWMU to find resources, and know exactly who to contact. Explore differences between HelpDesk, Classroom Tech, Department IT, and ITC.

Ball State University hosts the 2026 Provost’s Faculty Summit: Cultivating Kindness and Belonging in Higher Education

Our MAC partners at Ball State University's Division of Online and Strategic Learning invite members of the Western community to join the summit virtually at no cost.

Thursday, February 5  noon – 4:30 p.m.
Friday, February 6  8:30 a.m. – noon

Application Deadlines

Office of Faculty Development

Faculty Working Group on Community-Engaged Teaching and Scholarship (CETS)

Application Due Date:  Monday, January 26  

The Office of Faculty Development invites faculty from across disciplines and at all career stages to participate in a new Faculty Working Group focused on community-engaged teaching and scholarship (CETS). This group will convene (up to 4 times) during the Spring 2026 semester to co-develop a framework for a CETS programming launch in 2027.
 
We invite faculty at all career stages who are actively involved in, or seeking to explore, a variety of community engagement modalities, including community-engaged pedagogy, community-based research and public scholarship.

Haenicke Institute for Global Education

International Education Faculty Development Fund Support Available

Application Due Date:  Wednesday, April 1  

Faculty are invited to apply for funding to support projects that improve international education at Western. Funding is available through Article 40.4 of the WMU-AAUP contract and is administered by the Haenicke Institute.

The International Education Faculty Development Fund supports the following internationalization goals:

  • International collaboration in research and creative activities, including archival or field work.
  • Attendance and presentations at international conferences, seminars or workshops.
  • Scholarly international travel to enrich international knowledge that directly contributes to the internationalization of WMU curricula.

Office of Faculty Development

2026 Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award Nomination

Application Due Date:  Monday, February 2

The Western Michigan University community is invited to celebrate and recognize faculty excellence by submitting nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award.

This prestigious award honors faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to their disciplines, enhanced the University’s reputation, and demonstrated a sustained record of scholarly excellence.