Communities

Applications open Sept. 8, 2026, for the 2026-2027 Faculty Learning Communities.

Applicants must be assigned to teach a UL Lafayette online, hybrid, or face-to-face course during the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters.

Each member is expected to participate, attend meetings, and contribute to the core deliverables of the community. FLCs are supported by a DL Liaison, a representative from the Office of Distance Learning Instructional Support Team who serves as an additional community member and resource.

2026-2027 Faculty Learning Communities

The Power of Instructor Presence: Developing Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) Practices to Drive Online Retention and Success

Facilitator: Lisa Delhomme, MHA & RHIA, Department of Health Sciences

This Faculty Learning Community will focus on leveraging regular and substantive interaction (RSI) to transform online course delivery from mere compliance into inspired, student-centered instruction.

Participants will explore high-impact teaching practices that elevate instructor presence, boost student retention, and decrease DFW rates. Ultimately, the cohort will collaborate to establish course-level best practices and lay the groundwork for institutional policy that enhances the online student experience campus-wide.

Access Granted: Building Accessible Course Content Everyone Can Use

Facilitator: Christie M. Charles, Ph.D., Department of Psychology

This Faculty Learning Community will explore practical strategies for making Moodle courses accessible to every student by meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

Through collaborative discussions and shared problem-solving, members will investigate barriers to accessibility, examine relevant policy and campus data, and develop meaningful, practical solutions. We will also strategize ways to promote and expand digital accessibility across campus. Beyond checking a legal box, this community aims to build genuine campus-wide buy-in by reframing accessibility as good teaching that benefits all learners.

Membership Eligibility & Expectations

Faculty and graduate teaching assistants are eligible to apply.
ULearn Certification is encouraged but not required for membership in an FLC.
Each community is limited to eight member-role participants.
Applicants may choose more than one FLC of interest in the event they are not able to participate in their first choice.
Members will attend an FLC Orientation in the Fall semester.
Members are expected to meet with their community at least eight times during the academic year and participate in FLC activities.
Members will contribute to meeting the core deliverables for the community and to disseminating their findings in the Spring semester.
Members will receive a $500 honorarium after participating in the FLC.

Apply for Membership

You will need to sign in to Microsoft Office 365 with your UL Lafayette credentials to complete and submit the application form.