The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED), the Office of Distance & Alternative Education (ODAE), the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), the Office of Energy and Sustainability, and other collaborators across the College are offering several professional development events this spring semester. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar or add our Faculty Events Calendar to your own to never miss a professional development opportunity!

TLED offers and promotes essential tools and resources that enable Austin Community College (ACC) faculty and staff to grow professionally and enhance their learning environment.

  • Semester Prep
    • The semester prep web page lists the most relevant and helpful support information to help ACC faculty prepare for the upcoming semester.
  • Academic Alert
    • Academic Alert is a feature of Inspire, a comprehensive student support system, that allows ACC faculty to easily and quickly communicate with students who need extra support.
  • Bats to Cats Faculty Toolkit
    • This toolkit equips faculty with clear, ready-to-share resources to help students stay on track for successful transfer to Texas State and degree completion.
  • Coursera
    • Coursera is a free online learning platform available to all ACC students, faculty, and staff, offering industry-recognized certificates and skill-building courses from top universities and global companies.
  • Faculty Growth Series
    • The Faculty Growth Series: The Connected Classroom through Belonging, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), & AI is a professional development framework designed to support ACC student success for all. It focuses on building inclusive classrooms through belonging, purpose, and connection, ensuring access and flexibility with UDL, and equipping faculty with future-ready skills through AI literacy and fluency.
  • New ACC AI resource hub
    • The ACC Generative AI Resource Hub is your central space to explore how ACC is implementing Generative AI across the College. The work is guided by ACC’s Collegewide AI Strategic Planning and Implementation Steering Committees in close partnership with the Information Technology (IT) department.

FCLI’s Innovation Exchange

The FCLI invites you to join your colleagues for innovation exchanges! Each session offers hands-on, peer-driven learning focused on practical strategies you can apply right away.

  • Crafting Your AI Policy: A Hands-On Drafting Session
    • Wednesday, January 14, from 3 to 4 p.m.
      • Join us for a collaborative, working session designed to help you cross “AI Syllabus Policy” off your to-do list.
  • Breaking the Ice Without Breaking Your Students: Icebreakers That Actually Work
    • Tuesday, January 20, from 4 to 5 p.m.
      • Learn to apply quick-start techniques to build classroom rapport and reduce student anxiety during the first week of class.
  • Problem Solving with AI
    • Monday, February 2, from noon to 1 p.m.
      • Activity details TBA
  • Playing with G.A.I.
    • Friday, February 13, from 10 to 11 a.m.
      • This interactive session explores Generative A.I. (G.A.I.) and its creative applications.
  • Present your research with Notebook and Gamma!
    • Week of February 16 (date/time TBA)
      • Compare and analyze how these tools may assist with curriculum development, lesson planning, presentations, or creating learning materials using NotebookLM and Gamma.
  • Playing with G.A.I.
    • February 27, from noon to 1 p.m.
      • This interactive session explores G.A.I. and its creative applications.
  • AI for Futuring: Anticipating the World of Work, Knowledge, and Ethics 10–20 Years Ahead
    • Tuesday, March 3, from 6 to 7 p.m.
      • This interactive session invites faculty from every discipline to explore AI as a futuring tool as a way to help students imagine, analyze, and prepare for careers and challenges that don’t even exist yet.
  • Present your research with Notebook and Gamma!
    • Week of March 9 (date/time TBA)
      • Compare and analyze how these tools may assist with curriculum development, lesson planning, presentations, or creating learning materials using NotebookLM and Gamma.
  • AI for Futuring: Anticipating the World of Work, Knowledge, and Ethics 10–20 Years Ahead
    • Tuesday, April 14, from noon to 1 p.m.
      • This interactive session invites faculty from every discipline to explore AI as a futuring tool as a way to help students imagine, analyze, and prepare for careers and challenges that don’t even exist yet.
  • Crafting Your AI Policy: A Hands-On Drafting Session
    • Thursday, April 23, from noon to 1 p.m.
      • Join us for a collaborative, working session designed to help you cross “AI Syllabus Policy” off your to-do list.

Remote Recess sessions allow faculty to gather online and learn something new in a low-stakes, casual, and FUN way.

Our Bring Your Own (BYO) Lunch & Learns take place in person at the Teaching & Learning Centers at South Austin Campus (Building Main, Room 1214.2), Highland Campus (Building Main, Room 1311), and San Gabriel Campus (Building 1000, Room 1101.1) from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Faculty and staff are invited to attend these in-person screenings of synchronous training sessions.

  • Build Smarter Projects with AI Knowledge Stacks
    • Wednesday, January 28
      • Discover how to combine AI tools and data for custom projects. No technical expertise required!
  • Fostering Creativity with Adobe Express
    • Wednesday, February 18
      • This session will highlight simple ways to design engaging content and explore ideas to support creativity in any learning environment.
  • Google’s Best-Kept Secrets
    • Wednesday, February 25
      • Explore a treasure trove of lesser-known Google tools that can enhance productivity, creativity, and learning in your classroom.
  • The AI Games: May the Best Tool Win
    • Wednesday, March 11
      • Professional development presenters go head-to-head in a friendly AI showdown! Each will share a favorite AI tool and how it can make your work easier or your classroom smarter.
  • 10 Ways to Use Canva in the Classroom
    • Wednesday, April 22
      • This session covers ten useful Canva applications for teachers and includes an opportunity for participants to share their own tips with the group.
  • Canva Code Unleashed
    • Wednesday, May 6
      • Discover how Canva’s new coding features can transform your design process and boost your productivity during the new school year.

  • DE Faculty Consultations
    • Collaborate with DE Instructional Designers to finalize your spring courses with expert guidance on DE course design, providing valuable tips, strategies, and technological support.
      • Monday, January 12, through Friday, January 16, from 11 a.m. to noon
  • DE Spring Institute: Eight-Week Course Design and Teaching Strategies
    • This institute is designed to help faculty prepare for teaching eight-week course sections.
      • Monday, February 2, through Thursday, February 19: Asynchronous Online Activities
      • Friday, February 20, from 9 a.m. to noon via Zoom
      • Friday, March 6, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. via Zoom
        • Deadline to apply: Monday, January 26, at 5 p.m.
  • DE Accessibility Series

    • This training equips faculty with the skills to make online courses accessible and inclusive for all students. Participants will learn to identify and remove barriers, ensuring equitable learning environments. Join to gain practical tools for creating welcoming and compliant distance education experiences.
      • Fridays on January 30, February 6, February 20, March 6, March 27, April 3, and April 24, from noon to 1 p.m.
      • Google Workspace Accessibility (Docs & Slides): January 30 (virtual) and March 27 (in-person)
      • Microsoft Office Accessibility (Word, PowerPoint): February 6 (virtual) and April 3 (in-person)
      • PDF Accessibility: February 20 (virtual) and April 24 (in-person)
      • Blackboard Ally: Your Friend in Accessibility: March 6 (virtual)
  • Online Course Redesign Academy (OCRA)
    • This is a two-part training to help ACC distance education courses meet Quality Matters standards: A) Learning to apply the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) by attending this training, and B) Completion of the course (re)design, development, and QM Review Process with DE Instructional Designers.
      • Virtual Session (two days):
        • Thursday, February 19, and Friday, February 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. via Zoom
          • Deadline to register: Friday, February 13, at 5 p.m.
      • Face-to-Face Session (one day):
        • Friday, April 24; AM session: from 9 a.m. to noon; PM session: from 1 to 4 p.m. at Highland Campus
          • Deadline to register: Friday, April 17, at 5 p.m.
  • Faculty Learning Community (FLC): Teaching Strategies for All Learners

    • This FLC is designed to equip educators with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to effectively facilitate distance education while promoting inclusivity.
      • Fridays on March 27, April 3, April 10, April 17, and May 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon via Zoom
        • Deadline to apply: Friday, March 20, at 5 p.m.
  • DE Self-Paced Training Courses
    • ODAE offers asynchronous training courses in Blackboard, allowing participants to learn at their own pace. Registration is ongoing.
      • Universal Design in Postsecondary Education
      • Learning Blackboard Ultra
      • ACC Internal Peer Reviewer Training
  • Faculty Development Monthly Onboarding Sessions
    • The Office of Faculty Development invites all faculty to monthly online onboarding sessions focused on ACC culture, student success, course design, and the faculty evaluation process.
      • Connecting With Your College, Colleagues, and Students
        • Friday, February 6, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
        • Wednesday, February 11, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
      • Faculty Evaluation and Portfolio Process
        • Friday, March 6, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
        • Wednesday, March 11, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
      • Student Success and Resources
        • Friday, April 10, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
        • Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
      • Teaching and Learning Strategies
        • Friday, May 1, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
        • Wednesday, May 6, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Additional Opportunities

What the Best College Teachers Do: Book Club Hosted by FCLI

  • This book club offers faculty a collaborative space to explore effective teaching through Ken Bain’s research, shared experiences, and practical strategies that support deeper, lasting student learning.
    • Monday, February 2, through Friday, March 6

“So, You Want to be a Department Chair” Info Session

  • Have you ever considered stepping into a leadership role as a department chair? Whether you’re actively exploring the idea or simply curious about what the role entails, we invite you to attend this information session. For questions, contact Catherine Solaas at [email protected].
    • Save the date: Friday, February 13

Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI: Book Club Hosted by FCLI

  • This book club provides a collaborative space for faculty to build confidence with AI by exploring its practical and theoretical implications, guided by Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence.
    • Monday, March 23, through Friday, April 24

Spark Tank: The Spark Fund Pitch Competition – More Details Coming Soon!

    • Join FCLI’s inaugural Spark Fund Pitch Competition, a “Shark Tank”–style event where faculty pitch innovative, inclusive, and creative teaching ideas for the chance to receive direct grant funding.
      • Save the date: Friday, April 3, at Highland Campus

Celebration of Great Teaching Retreat

  • This professional development retreat brings full-time and adjunct faculty, including librarians and counselors, together to share successes, address challenges, and explore innovative teaching strategies in a restorative setting at no cost beyond transportation.
    • Applications open Monday, February 2
    • The retreat is from Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, at the Flying L Ranch Resort.

Lily Conference Sponsored by Committee for Faculty Innovation and Development

  • The Lilly Conference for College and University Teaching and Learning was founded over 35 years ago to provide a platform for presentations in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Austin has hosted the conference for the past eight years as part of the nationally and internationally recognized Lilly series.
    • Monday, May 18, through Wednesday, May 20

  • Spring Development Day (SDD) offers ACC faculty and staff a full day of inspiring sessions to enhance practices, foster creativity, and develop new skills. This year’s theme, “Level Up Your Work,” builds on the Faculty Growth Series and extends the Connected Classroom concepts from Mini Development Day into more advanced, skill-building territory. Register here.
    • Friday, January 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
  • SDD Employee Mixer Event
    • Join us for an employee mixer the day before SDD. Enjoy art activities hosted by the Office of Faculty Development’s Chelsea Biggerstaff, sponsored by TLED’s Office of Faculty Development, the Office of Belonging and Purpose, and FCLI, in collaboration with ACC’s Joyful Ambassadors.
  • Exploring Uncertainty Part Two: Opening Reception
      • The Art Galleries at ACC is hosting an opening reception for Exploring Uncertainty: An Interactive Art Exhibition. Developed in tandem with ACC Faculty, this exhibition features artworks by ACC Studio Art faculty shown alongside works by students, alumni, and Austin-based artists.
        • Thursday, January 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Highland Campus
  • Central Texas (CTX) Learning Festival
      • The CTX Learning Festival is a free, weeklong celebration of learning. Partnering with Central Texas organizations, the festival features flexible, real-world learning experiences that connect students’ academic work to public audiences.
        • Wednesday, March 11, through Sunday, March 15, at various locations. Visit the festival website  for more details.
        • Anyone interested in hosting a learning experience may sign up through the festival website by the registration deadline of Friday, January 16.
  • Through Our Eyes: Student Voices in the Gallery
    • The Art Galleries at ACC is hosting Through Our Eyes: Student Voices in the Gallery. During this program, ACC ART 1301 students will present their own interpretations and analyses of the artworks on view in Exploring Uncertainty Part Two: An Interactive Exhibition.
      • Wednesday, March 11, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
  • The Red Bench Dialogue Event
    • TLED’s Service-Learning Program, in collaboration with Interfaith Action of Central Texas and the ACC Office of Belonging and Purpose, invites you to an on-campus conversation event on the topic, “Weaving and Building Relationships.” ACC employees, students, employers, and the community are invited to attend this free in-person event.
      • Tuesday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Rio Grande Campus, Building 3000, Room 3340, Center for Government and Civic Service
  • ACC Awards Celebration Dinner
      • Save the date for the ACC Awards Celebration Dinner, where outstanding faculty and staff will be honored. Add your congratulations on the ACC Awards Padlet
         to help celebrate our colleagues!
      • Thursday, April 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Join us virtually for the celebration on the
        Awards Celebration Dinner web page!

     

    Office of Energy and Sustainability Opportunities

  • Spring 2026 Eco Conference Grant

    • ACC students, faculty, and staff who are interested in attending a sustainability conference with the Office of Energy & Sustainability in the spring are invited to apply for this semester’s Eco Conference Grant!
  • ACC Learning Gardens
    • Coming soon: ACC Learning Gardens will open at the Cypress Creek, Highland, and Elgin campuses this spring. Faculty and staff can volunteer or adopt a raised garden bed and join the Green Team for updates and ways to get involved.
  • Earth Week 2026
    • ACC celebrates Earth Day for a full week with a variety of hands-on activities, seminars, and other fun events across the District. This year, join us Monday, April 20, through Friday, April 24. A full calendar is coming soon.
    • Interested in hosting an event? ACC students, faculty, and staff are invited to lead events and can request event planning support via the Earth Week Event Request Form.

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View all of these events and more on our dedicated TLED Events Calendar. Be sure to follow TLED on social media for daily opportunities: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.