No matter how long you’ve taught, there is always something you can learn from your colleagues. And if you generally prepare and teach your classes in isolation, you may wish you had more opportunities to have the kinds of conversations that would enrich your teaching practice, help you improve student engagement, and deepen your sense of belonging to a community of scholars. Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) at UMBC fill this niche: An FLC is a cross-disciplinary group of 6-12 faculty who meet regularly throughout an academic year in a casual atmosphere - in person or virtually - to investigate a teaching-related topic of mutual interest.
The Faculty Development Center is currently seeking proposals for new FLC topics. Funding may be available to support new FLCs in 2026-27. Any UMBC faculty or staff member with an interest in participating as a co-learner--not an expert--in investigating a particular need, issue, or opportunity related to teaching and learning may propose a topic for a year-long FLC. In order to entice other UMBC faculty/staff to join the FLC, topic proposals should describe in 1-2 paragraphs the importance of the topic and should suggest a few sub-topics the FLC might take up. Proposing a topic does not obligate you to facilitate the FLC. Approved topics will be announced as soon as possible.
The deadline for topic proposals is Friday, April 24th, 2026. Please submit your proposal using this Google form.
Some current and recent FLCs have devoted their attention to topics such as:
- Fostering Resilience: Pedagogies and Strategies to Address Student Stress and Mental Health
- Designing Humanizing Assignments in the Age of AI
- Exploring the Design and Delivery of High Impact Experiences (HIEs)
- Exploring Practical Metacognitive Approaches to Help Students Succeed
- Developing Students’ AI Literacy Within and Across Disciplines
- Using AI to Enhance and Expedite Teaching
- Who Are Our Students? Exploring Student Identities and Why They Matter
- Serious Fun: Exploring the Role of Play and Humor in the Classroom
- Teaching in the Era of AI: A Multidisciplinary Conversation
- Thinking Critically about Critical Thinking
- Contemplative Pedagogies
- Flexible, Alternative, or “Un”grading Strategies
- Teaching Creativity Across Disciplines
- Fostering pedagogies that engage and support transfer students
- Writing questions to foster deep learning and engagement
For further information about Faculty Learning Communities at UMBC, please consult the FLC page on the Faculty Development Center's website. If you would like to discuss your idea in more detail, please contact us at fdc@umbc.edu.