Learning Communities

New Faculty | New Chairs | Interpretive UDL Studio

New faculty learning community Fall activities:

* All meetings are held in the Weller Room (Lib 212)

• Choose-Your-Adventure Pedagogy Conversation – Friday, September 11, from 2:30-3:45
• Teaching Challenges - Friday, October 16, from 2:30-3:45
• Advancing Research/Creative Work - Friday, November 13, from 2:30-3:45

New Chairs/Program Directors Learning Community Fall Activities:

*All meetings are held in the Weller Room (Lib 212)

• Course Scheduling – Friday, September 11, from 4:00-5:00
• Working with an Associate Chair + Advising Strategies - Friday, October 16, from 4:00-5:00
• Challenges and Benefits of Leadership - Friday, November 13, from 4:00-5:00

Interpretive UDL Studio

The Center for Leadership, Teaching, and Learning (CLTL), The Learning Commons, and Learning Experience Design & Digital Scholarship Support (LEDS) are excited to announce a year-long initiative dedicated to exploring, learning, and implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into institutional practices and educational settings at Skidmore College. This initiative provides faculty and staff a unique opportunity to engage with UDL concepts, fostering inclusive and accessible learning environments. Participants will learn to leverage Generative AI tools to embed UDL principles into their workflows and instructional practices, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for campus constituencies.

Program Structure:

Participants must commit to attending all or most of the 8 meetings throughout the academic year, scheduled for Friday afternoons from 2:30-4:00 PM. The meeting dates for Fall 2026 are:

• October 2
• October 30
• November 20
• December 4

Spring semester dates will be determined in collaboration with the participants. Each participant will receive a $750 stipend distributed upon completion of the program as well as a Gen AI subscription for the academic year.

Who is Eligible?

All faculty and staff members at Skidmore College are invited to apply! We especially encourage participants interested in leveraging technology and UDL principles to advance student-centered, inclusive practices across academic and administrative settings. You are not required to have any formal training in UDL or GenAI (we will learn together!)

Why UDL for Faculty?
UDL helps faculty proactively address diverse learner needs, enhancing access, equity, and engagement. By revising content delivery, assignments, tools, and assessments, and by rethinking how content is delivered, how students demonstrate understanding, and how they stay motivated, faculty can create flexible, inclusive learning environments supportive of all students.

Why UDL for Staff?
UDL extends beyond classrooms, guiding staff in designing inclusive and accessible campus experiences. Staff in all roles contribute to shaping how students, colleagues, and visitors engage with our systems, services, and spaces, and can leverage UDL and generative AI to enhance inclusivity, efficiency, and equity in their work.

How Do I Indicate Interest?

To better curate this experience, we would like to know how conversant you are with UDL principles and AI tools (respectively), what aspects of your professional practice could benefit from integrating UDL principles, and how exploring UDL principles in concert with AI tools may support your goals for creating a more inclusive and accessible learning or work environment. Please complete this form by Friday, September 18. We will notify accepted participants shortly thereafter.

(Some) Possible Benefits of Integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Generative AI Tools and Topics for Inquiry and Innovation:

Sustainable and Ethical AI Integration

How can faculty and staff ensure ethical use of AI technologies, addressing issues of privacy, bias, environmental impacts, and academic integrity while promoting accessibility and inclusion?

Enhanced Accessibility

How might Gen AI facilitate the rapid creation of accessible materials, including alternative text descriptions, transcripts, captions, and multilingual resources?

Personalized Instructional Support

How can AI tools and UDL principles assist in creating personalized learning experiences that account for diverse student abilities, learning needs, and engagement levels?

Inclusive Assessment and Feedback

How can UDL principles and AI tools help design assessments that offer multiple means of demonstrating student understanding, ensuring greater equity and inclusivity?

Improved Student Engagement

How might UDL principles and AI tools support the development of varied and high-impact learning activities that engage students with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles? 

Curriculum/Program Design and Alignment

How could generative AI assist in aligning course objectives, activities, and assessments with UDL principles, promoting inclusive excellence?

Support for Neurodiverse Students

How might UDL principles help faculty provide targeted support, materials, and resources to neurodiverse learners, enhancing their academic success?

Inclusive Communication and Outreach

How might UDL support the development of inclusive communication strategies that reach and effectively engage all students, faculty, and staff?

Fostering Digital Equity

How can we synergize UDL principles and AI tools to facilitate equitable access to digital resources, bridging technological gaps and enhancing student learning opportunities?

Mental Health and Wellness Support

How can UDL principles be leveraged to provide proactive, inclusive resources aimed at improving student wellness and mental health?