Center for Learning Excellence Fall 2026 Calendar
Events will be held in the CLE, Phillips (Building 3), room 3-125 or via Microsoft Teams. Select the title to access the Teams link. Each workshop refers to the associated goal in the College's Strategic Plan.
Presentation evaluations are also available during and after the sessions. We strongly encourage your feedback.
August
- Durham Tech Professional Learning Presentations
The Canvas Preflight Check: Preparing for a Smooth Semester Takeoff
Date and Time: Tuesday August 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. via Teams
Presented by: Maureen Walters Coordinator, Distance LearningBefore your students log in, make sure your Canvas course is ready for takeoff! This webinar will walk through the essential checks and best practices that help ensure a smooth and successful start to the semester. We'll cover effective student communication, course entry quiz requirements, gradebook setup, and other key course management tasks that can save time and prevent common first-week issues. Whether you're teaching a new course or refreshing an existing one, join us for a final preflight check to help ensure your course is ready when classes begin.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and apply best practices for setting up online, hybrid/blended, and seated courses at the start of the semester, including communication strategies and course entry requirements.
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively configure the gradebook and other essential course tools to support student success from day one.
Recommended for faculty using Canvas
Start the Semester Strong: BibliU Training for Faculty and Student Services
Presenter: Stephanie Gilbert, Change Management Lead for BibliU
Date and Times:- Thurs. Aug 6, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. – Faculty in CLE and Teams
- Thurs. Aug 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. – Faculty in CLE and Teams
- Thurs. Aug 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. – Faculty in CLE and Teams
Last year we launched BibliU as our campus store platform—fully integrated with Canvas and designed to simplify course material management. Join us for an interactive hybrid session where you’ll explore how BibliU functions and receive hands-on guidance to get set up with ease. This session is designed to equip you with everything you need to confidently navigate the BibliU platform. Open to any full-time or adjunct faculty. If you are in Student Services, the first 30 minutes of each session will be the most relevant.
To make the most of this experience:
- In-person attendees: Please bring your own device.
- Online participants: Be sure to have a computer ready for practice activities.
Open Virtual Office Hours hosted by Bibliu on Google Meets:
- August 10 – 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- August 17 – 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- August 24 – 28, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Recommended for staff or faculty using BibliU
Organizational Development and Learning (ODL) Preview of offerings for the Fall 2026
Date and Time: Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. via TeamsThe Organizational Development and Learning (ODL) will present the professional development offerings scheduled for the Fall 2026 semester which will include Leadership programs, faculty development, AI-focused sessions, Collaborative programs, and staff developments. The presentation will highlight the connection of the workshops/presentations with the Durham Tech strategic plan.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand what professional developments are being offered and the associated timeline(s).
- Know where to find information on what the ODL offers.
- Understand the rationale for professional development and its alignment with student success.
Recommended for all Durham Tech employees
New Faculty Orientation for Fall 2026
Date and Time: August 14, 2026, from 9:00am to 10:30am via Teams.
Presenter/Facilitators: Dr. Cathy James-Springer, Director of ODL; Dr. Barbara Clarke, Coordinator ODL; College Leadership Team MembersNew faculty are invited to learn about how the college supports our new faculty and presents opportunities for professional development across all faculty career stages. You’ll learn how to find information and meet key college leaders.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about instructional and student support resources at Durham Tech
- Meet key college personnel
- Review effective strategies for working with adult learners
*All New Faculty invited – please email Barbara Clarke to indicate your attendance! Recommended for all new faculty
- Central Hub Professional Learning Presentations
September
- Durham Tech Professional Learning Presentations
College Leaders Inquiry Collaborative Information Session
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 from 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. via Teams
Speakers: Dr. Barbara Clarke, ODL; Dr. Cathy James-Springer, ODLDurham Tech is proud to announce a return of a collaborative inquiry program for both faculty and staff. The College leadership Inquiry Collaborative (CLIC) will serve as a collaborative inquiry and action research vehicle to explore challenges and implement solutions for student success. The topic areas are aligned with the college's updated Strategic Plan and fully align with the college mission of ensuring all students develop the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to be successful in college, work, and life.
Recommended for all faculty and staff
New Faculty Cohort Connection launch meeting
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. in the CLE (Phillips 3-125)
Speakers: Dr. Barbara Clarke, ODL; Dr. Cathy James-Springer, ODL; Tervon Blount & Samantha Earnhardt, New Faculty Cohort alumni ... and more!New to Durham Tech? Come join the conversation, meet other faculty, and build a faculty community! This is the first of three structured networking and reflection sessions for first-year faculty. Building on the New Faculty Cohort Monthly Meetups. This program creates opportunities for first-year faculty to connect across disciplines, reflect on their teaching experiences, and build a stronger sense of belonging and shared practice at Durham Tech. Meet alumni, meet peers, and build your Durham Tech connections!
Recommended for all new faculty
Upcoming Workshops for Sept and October: MHFA, AI, and More
Date and Time: Monday, September 14, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. via Teams
Speakers: Adrian Knight, Reference Librarian at Main Campus Library; Dr. Cathy James-Springer, Director, ODL; Dr. Barbara Clarke, Coordinator, ODLJoin us as we share details about some of our upcoming workshops. Chief among them, our Graphic Novel Workshop on Fri. Oct. 23, 2026. We will chat with Adrian Knight about the rationale for this workshop and the collaboration with the library and ODL. The much-requested Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) is back on Fri. Sept. 18, 2026. AI focused hands-on workshops for CTE & Liberal Arts AI with Dr. Lane Freeman (NCCCS) on Fri. Sept 25, plus Staff & Student Services AI workshops on Tues. Oct. 10.
It's your chance to learn more about them. Don’t miss these great opportunities!
Register for these workshops on the training.durhamtech.edu training portal.Recommended for all faculty and staff.
Durham Tech's Online Course Quality Status Update: a PELI Report
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the CLE (3-125) or Teams
Presented by: Dr. Jason Moldoff, Dr. Catherine Ward, Charminique Williams, and Victoria Deaton; President's Emerging Leaders Institute inducteesAs part of their ongoing commitment to leadership and student success, we warmly invite you to attend the presentation of the President's Emerging Leaders Institute (PELI) capstone project "Durham Tech's Online Course Quality Status Update: a PELI Report" from the past academic year. We invite attendees to attend either in the CLE room (Phillips Bldg. 3-125) or on Teams as this will be a hybrid presentation.
Recommended for all faculty and staff
Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst: Canvas Backups for Faculty
Date and Time: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, on Teams
Presented by: Marisa Sullivan, Director of Instructional TechnologiesFollowing the Canvas outage experienced during the May 2026 cybersecurity incident, it is more important than ever for faculty to have a plan for accessing critical course materials and student data during unexpected disruptions. In this session, participants will learn practical methods for backing up key Canvas content, including Gradebook data, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and rubrics. Faculty will leave with a personalized strategy for preserving essential instructional resources and ensuring they can continue teaching and grading even if Canvas becomes temporarily unavailable.
Learning Outcomes:
- Export and save critical Canvas course data, including Gradebook records, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and rubrics.
- Develop a course continuity plan that ensures access to instructional materials and grading information during unexpected system outages or technology disruptions.
Recommended for all Faculty
Staff Spotlight on Sarah Devlin Page, Senior Advisor, Office of the President
Date and Time: Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the CLE (3-125) or Teams
Moderated by: Dr. Cathy James-Springer, Director, Organizational Development and LearningOver the past two years we have taken some time to chat with our Vice Presidents and Deans each month. Following on the theme of our Service Professional Development Day, we focus on getting to know some of our staff through our Monthly Podcast series "Staff Spotlight." The goal is to highlight all the many ways our staff, across all of our campuses and college areas, support the college, the students, and the mission of the college. This month we highlight the work of Sarah Devlin Page, Senior Advisor Office of the President.
Recommended for all faculty and staff
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training
Date and Time: Friday, September 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the CLE (3-125)
Facilitators: Ms. Willa Robinson, Durham County Department of Public Health (DCDPH); Dr. Letitia Johnson-Arnold, MS, CHES, NBC-HWC, CHWI Community Health Worker Coordinator/Instructor (Durham Tech CC)Register Here Spaces Limited
Faculty Fridays Featured Faculty Member: Dr. Brittney VornDick, Instructor, Physics, Science & Math (SAM)
Date and Time: Friday, September 18, 2026, from 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. via Teams
Conversation Moderator: Dr. Barbara Clarke, coordinator in Organizational Development and LearningPlease join us each month for Faculty Fridays, a 45-minute podcast-style conversation where instructors share an instructional strategy that’s worked well in their classes. September's conversation is with Dr. Brittney VornDick, who is a physics instructor in the Science and Math (SAM) department. We hope you will join us for a fascinating discussion!
Recommended for all faculty and staffCanvas Cafe
Presented by: Marisa Sullivan, Director, Instructional Technologies; Maureen Walters, Coordinator, Distance Learning; Amy Netzel, Coordinator, Instructional Design and Media
Date and Time of Presentation/Workshop:- September 21, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the CLE (Phillips 3-125)
- October 29, 2026, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., in the CLE (Phillips 3-125)
- November 30, 2026, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., in the CLE (Phillips 3-125)
Canvas Cafe is a monthly, informal space to talk about Canvas and online teaching. We'll use the time to talk through whatever questions or challenges you are dealing with at the moment. Bring your questions (and your coffee) and stop by for some Canvas conversation!
Recommended for all faculty using Canvas
Introducing the new Social and Human Services Associate's Degree Program
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. via Teams
Presented by: Serenity Ellis, Director/Instructor, Social and Human ServicesRecommended for all faculty and staff
- Central Hub Professional Learning Presentations
View All NC Teaching and Learning Hubs Events
Obstacles to Opportunities: We Need To Change How We Think About Change
September 15, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.Obstacles to Opportunities: Navigating Institutional Change as Higher Education Staff and Faculty
September 29, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
October
- Durham Tech Professional Learning Presentations
PELI Presentation: Evaluating the Impact of 8-week Instructional Formats on Student Success, Retention, and Engagement
Date and Time of Presentation: October 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the CLE (3-125) and via Teams
Presented by: Demitrius Bullock, Coordinator, Advisor of Veteran Services, Advising; Sara Juarez, Director and Instruction of Translation & Interpretation, CGL; Theresa McLaurin, Assistant Registrar, Admissions, Registration & Records; Scott Neal, Director, Cybersecurity, Networking & Support, Information Technology.Faculty Fridays Featured Faculty Member Abigail Woodhouse, Coordinator and Instructor, EMT Education, Emergency Medical Science
Moderated by: Dr. Barbara Clarke, Coordinator, ODL
Date and Time: Friday, October 2, 2026, from 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. via TeamsPlease join us each month for Faculty Fridays, a 45-minute podcast-style conversation where instructors share an instructional strategy that’s worked well in their classes. October's conversation is with Abigail Woodhouse, who is a coordinator and an EMS instructor at our Orange County Campus (OCC), in the Emergency Medical Science program. Abigail will talk with us about teaching in a high-stakes field and will show us the "immersive room" at OCC.
- Central Hub Professional Learning Presentations
View All NC Teaching and Learning Hubs Events
Thriving in the Classroom: A Psychology of Student Motivation in the Classroom
October 6, 12:00-1:00 p.m.Obstacles to Opportunities: Change Fatigue and a Positive Attitude. Can They Coexist?
October 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
November
- Durham Tech Professional Learning Presentations
More sessions will be announced soon.
- Central Hub Professional Learning Presentations
View All NC Teaching and Learning Hubs Events
Obstacles to Opportunities: Beyond Burnout - Practical Strategies for Thriving in Higher Education
November 2, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.Thriving in the Classroom: One Course, Many Instructors -The Power of Master Courses
November 12, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
December
- Durham Tech Professional Learning Presentations
More sessions will be announced soon.
- Central Hub Professional Learning Presentations
View the Spring 2026 Calendar.