Membership applications have closed and the 2024-2025 Faculty Learning Community (FLC) Cohorts supported by the Office of Distance Learning are underway, exploring trauma-informed instruction and AI implementation at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Each year, the FLC initiative offers faculty a chance to collaborate, share insights, innovate, and enhance their teaching practices in critical areas of education.
Communities will present research progress and findings during Innovative Teaching and Learning Week and the FLC Showcase, both held during the spring semester.
Trauma-Informed Instruction: Childhood Adversity and the Collegiate Learner
Co-facilitated by Dr. Valanne MacGyvers and Whitney Storey, this FLC explores how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact college learners and how trauma-informed practices can support their success.
Participants will learn to recognize trauma responses, understand their impact on learning, and develop flexible teaching methods that foster a supportive, inclusive learning environment. The focus will be on creating strategies that help students feel safe, valued, and empowered, whether they are learning online or in face-to-face settings.
Faculty will engage in discussions, share personal experiences, and collaborate on designing course materials that are sensitive to the needs of students with trauma histories.
Members include:
- Matthew Green, Educational Curriculum & Instruction
- Albertaeve (Aeve) Abington-Pitre, Educational Curriculum & Instruction
- Jordan Thibodeaux, Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center
- Ladi Opaluwa, English
- Candice Dazet, Office of Student Engagement and Leadership
- Chloe Le, Educational Curriculum & Instruction
- Lucy Satzewich, Architecture and Design
- Allison Marcel, Student Success/Louisiana Educate Program
AI University-Wide: Strategies for Effective AI Implementation
Led by Dr. Laura Guichard Latiolais and Dr. Latasha Holt, this FLC builds on last year's work to develop strategies for implementing AI across online, hybrid, and in-person environments.
Members will identify effective AI tools, devise best practices, and address ethical considerations for AI use in teaching. The community aims to explore how AI can enhance student engagement, personalize learning experiences, and streamline administrative tasks.
Participants will also examine case studies from other institutions and experiment with different AI applications in their own courses. By collaborating, they will create guidelines and resources that can be shared across the university to support the responsible and effective use of AI in education.
Members include:
- Jeanne Cartier, Nursing
- Tarrah Davis, EDFL
- Marissa Lajaunie, Health Sciences
- Kathe Managan, Sociology, Anthropology, HDFS
- Olivia Peltier, Instruction Librarian
- Penny Powell, Biology
- Clai Rice, English
- Aminul Islam, Computer Science
Interested in updates on FLC events and future application cycles? Request to be included on our FLC email list!