Message from the Director

Dear USC Educators,  

As we wrap up the spring semester, I want to thank our USC educators and campus partners for their ongoing commitment to teaching and student success. This semester has included strong engagement across CTE initiatives – from the completion of the UDL in Practice Short Course and the selection of Winter Session course development grant recipients, to the launch of a new cohort of the AI Teaching Fellowship and the successful completion of the New Faculty Academy.

We celebrate the accomplishments of our graduate students through the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program, a nationally recognized initiative that supports the next generation of educators. This spring, in partnership with the Graduate School, we recognized 39 outstanding PFF awardees whose work reflects a strong commitment to teaching, research, and service.

We also saw great participation in campus-wide events like CAREolina and the Generative AI Showcase, where educators explored ways to support student well-being and integrate emerging technologies into their teaching. Ongoing efforts, including the expansion of the Online Course Quality Review Process and continued work in digital accessibility, reflect a shared focus on strengthening course design and supporting access for all learners.

This newsletter also highlights faculty whose work is shaping meaningful learning experiences, including recipients of the Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation and colleagues recognized for their contributions to accessibility and course design.

I hope you have a well-deserved and refreshing summer, and I look forward to continuing this work together in the coming year.

Sincerely,


Matt E. Thatcher, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence