Email from Center for Teaching Excellence

Message from the Director

Dear USC Educators,

This fall has been both busy and inspiring at the Center for Teaching Excellence. The 2025 New Faculty Orientation welcomed 105 new faculty, followed by the launch of the New Faculty Academy, which will continue supporting new colleagues throughout the year.

We’re also advancing our commitment to accessible and inclusive teaching. The Digital Accessibility Microlearning Series and the upcoming Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Short Course (Jan 26–Mar 6, applications due Jan 9) provide practical ways to make courses more engaging and accessible.

The Fostering Student Learning Through Effective Teaching course is now open to all USC educators. Since August, 92 participants have completed it, describing it as clear, relevant, and confidence-building. The next facilitated cohort runs December 1 – 22 (register by Nov 20).

As AI transforms higher education, we’ve released the Guiding Principles for AI Use in Teaching and continue to offer workshops and cohorts that promote responsible and effective integration of AI tools.

The Online Course Quality Review Process, launched by the Provost’s Office and supported by CTE, will strengthen undergraduate online learning beginning Summer 2026.

I’m also excited about new initiatives like the Faculty in Focus Ambassador Program, which strengthens connections between the CTE and departmental faculty, and tools like CircleIn, which are already enhancing student engagement.

Finally, thanks to everyone who made Oktoberbest 2025 such a success with 156 participants, an engaging keynote from Dr. Thomas Tobin, and six Garnet Apple Award recipients celebrated for teaching innovation.

Thank you for your dedication to teaching excellence and student success.

Sincerely,

Matt E. Thatcher, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Teaching Excellence

New Faculty Orientation

Welcomes Over 100 Educators to USC

The 2025 New Faculty Orientation welcomed more than 100 new faculty members to USC for a day of connection, learning, and support. Held on September 5 at the University Conference Center, the event featured remarks from university leadership, interactive breakout sessions on teaching, research, and student success, and a resource fair highlighting campus programs and services. The orientation set the tone for a strong start to the academic year and marked the beginning of an ongoing development experience through the New Faculty Academy.

Learn More: New Faculty Orientation

Building a Culture of Digital Accessibility

The CTE continues to expand resources that support accessible teaching and learning. The Digital Accessibility in Teaching and Learning resources provide practical strategies and guidance through the Digital Accessibility Toolbox, developed by the Digital Accessibility Team in the Division of Information Technology. Upcoming opportunities, including the Digital Accessibility Microlearning Series and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Short Course, help educators design engaging, accessible learning experiences for all students. The six-week UDL course runs from January 26 - March 6, 2026, and applications are open through Friday, January 9.

Learn More: Digital Accessibility

Effective Teaching Course

Now Open to All USC Educators

The Foster Student Learning Through Effective Teaching course is now open to all educators at USC Columbia, the Schools of Medicine, and Palmetto College, including faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants. This online experience helps participants strengthen their teaching through evidence-based strategies that enhance course organization, communication, feedback, and student engagement. Since its launch in August 2025, 88 new faculty members have completed the course, describing it as clear, practical, and confidence-building. The course is available as a self-paced option or through a facilitated cohort, with the next session running December 1-22, 2025. Registration is open through November 20.

Learn More: Foster Student Learning Through Effective Teaching

Provost Initiative Launches

Online Course Quality Review Process

The Office of the Provost has launched a new initiative to strengthen online learning through a structured Online Course Quality Review Process supported by the CTE. Guided by the Quality Standards for Online Courses (QSOC), the process begins with 100 and 200 level asynchronous courses enrolling 50 or more students in Summer and Fall 2026 and will expand to all undergraduate online courses. Faculty collaborate with instructional designers or peer reviewers to enhance course design and teaching effectiveness. Educators are encouraged to review the QSOC checklist and Get Started Teaching Online resources to prepare proactively for future reviews.

Learn More: Online Course Quality Review

Oktoberbest 2025 Brings Educators Together

to Share, Learn, and Inspire

The 16th Annual Oktoberbest: A Symposium on Teaching on October 17 brought together 156 participants from USC campuses and other colleges and universities across South Carolina for a day of collaboration and innovation in teaching. Thomas J. Tobin from the University of Wisconsin-Madison delivered the keynote on inclusive design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), followed by 14 sessions on topics such as active learning, generative AI, and course accessibility. The event also featured the Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation ceremony, a networking lunch, and Oktoberfest-themed refreshments. Presentation materials are available on the Oktoberbest website.

Learn More: Oktoberbest 2025

New Faculty in Focus Program

Enhances Communication Across Departments

The Faculty in Focus Ambassador Program, led by CTE Instructional Designer Courtney Bailey, has launched with 28 faculty members representing departments across USC. The program strengthens collaboration between the CTE and academic units, ensuring faculty perspectives inform programs, resources, and future planning. Ambassadors will meet monthly from November through May in “Caffeinate and Collaborate” sessions focused on open dialogue, idea sharing, and strategies that advance a strong culture of teaching at USC.

Learn More: Faculty in Focus Ambassador Program

New Guidelines for AI

in Teaching

Generative AI continues to influence teaching and learning, and the CTE has released new Guiding Principles for AI Use in Teaching to help educators integrate AI responsibly and effectively. Informed by recommendations from the Provost’s AI Task Force report, the principles provide practical direction for enhancing instruction, maintaining academic integrity, and supporting responsible innovation. The guidelines will continue to expand with reflection prompts, strategies, and examples to help educators apply AI thoughtfully across disciplines.

Learn More: GenAI Teaching Guidelines

2025 Garnet Apple Award Winners Honored at Oktoberbest

The Garnet Apple Award for Teaching Innovation recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional teaching and sustained innovation that enhances student learning. Six educators were honored as the 2025 recipients during Oktoberbest: A Symposium on Teaching on October 17: Sahar Aghasafari, Kate Bernheisel, Christina Cox, Meena Khalili, Vanessa Kitzie, and Eilea Knotts. Each was celebrated through a tribute video showcasing their innovative approaches and impact on students. Nominations for the 2026 Garnet Apple Awards are now open and due by Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Learn More: Garnet Apple Awards Ceremony

Circle-ing in on

Student Success

USC has implemented CircleIn, a peer-led collaboration platform that enhances student engagement and learning outcomes. Backed by an NSF grant, CircleIn’s four-semester pilot logged over 2.8 million study actions, with some courses showing improved grades and reduced DFW rates. Students can collaborate anytime through the app to share notes, ask questions, and study with an AI tutor, while instructors gain real-time insight into engagement and progress. To learn more or add CircleIn to your course, complete the CircleIn Interest Form or contact Lara Lomicka Anderson, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, at lomicka@mailbox.sc.edu.

Learn More: CircleIn

Bringing Empathy to Life through

Virtual Reality in Teaching and Learning

Faculty across USC are using immersive technology to deepen empathy and reflection in teaching. In the College of Nursing, Kate Bernheisel, Sevilla Bronson, and Ayzia Taylor led a 360-degree virtual reality simulation that placed students in the experience of a fictious patient navigating life after hospital discharge, encouraging reflection on community-based care and quality of life. In the Darla Moore School of Business, Deb Hazzard uses virtual reality in her leadership course to help students explore empathy through experiences with racism, homelessness, visual impairment, and war. These projects highlight how faculty are integrating care and connection into learning to prepare students for leadership and service.

Learn More: Virtual Reality in Teaching and Learning