Faculty Learning Communities
CAFE supports faculty participation in learning communities each semester to explore teaching and scholarship. Each year, we will announce faculty learning communities on a range of topics related to student success, faculty success and UMKC's strategic plan.
Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs)
An FLC is a peer-led group of faculty members who engage in an active, collaborative program structured to provide encouragement, support and reflection. FLC members work together to produce outcomes or products. Through FLCs, faculty members engage in scholarly teaching and student-centered learning, collaborating within a collegial framework that offers peer review and support.
FLCs are inclusive spaces where members exchange experiences, ideas and strategies about teaching, research, creativity and engagement. They experiment with research-based practices, build skills and reflect on their roles. Faculty members have a significant voice in shaping the program based on their needs, skills and goals. Each community has two outcomes: individual changes to one's practice and a group give-back to the larger UMKC faculty community.
Expectations
- Integrate new practices into their teaching. Related activities include actively preparing and participating in the FLC meetings (six times per semester) and reviewing and revising course materials (e.g., syllabi, learning outcomes and class activities).
- Build collaborative relationships with colleagues. Related activities include sharing experiences, successes and challenges with peers in the FLCs.
- Articulate the process for developing skills for reflective teaching. Related activities include writing reflections about the FLCs' outcomes on teaching, networking and scholarship.
- Disseminate practices and scholarship within and beyond UMKC. Related activities include sharing work by providing a presentation, instructional resource materials (e.g., a classroom activity) or publication of findings at a UMKC event or external venues.
A faculty facilitator will lead each FLC with logistical support from CAFE.
FLCs support student success by allowing faculty to connect with colleagues from across the university and engage in professional learning. All UMKC faculty members, regardless of tenure status, are encouraged to participate in FLCs.
Faculty Learning Communities for AY 2026-2027
Academic Career Enhancement (ACE)
The UMKC ACE FLC is a structured and supportive learning community undertaken by faculty members to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development. The UMKC ACE FLC offers new ideas for thinking about research, teaching and scholarship, engagement and career development.
Researchers have found that ongoing professional learning enhances career growth and satisfaction. The UMKC ACE FLC is a structured, inclusive process that supports professional learning holistically, academically, personally and professionally. This process involves self-reflection, personal record-keeping and goal-setting to track and achieve personal and professional objectives.
Faculty will engage in self-reflection to define their career goals as a UMKC faculty member, with deliverables aligned to their personal aspirations. They will select professional learning opportunities through the UMKC Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) and other sources to support their goals. CAFE will monitor learning plans, participation, deliverables and final reflections.
The ACE FLC is designed around a cohort experience which serves to foster a scholarly community that supports collective growth and advancement. All benefit-eligible faculty are eligible to apply. This FLC will start in September 2026. Interested? Please contact Lorie Holt.
UMKC ACE goal
The goal of the UMKC ACE FLC is to support cohorts of faculty members to utilize resources to engage in career conversations, goal setting and professional development planning, and gain awareness of the lifelong impact work has on your cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being.
UMKC ACE FLC objectives
- Engage in self-reflection to assess personal strengths and identify areas for growth.
- Identify career goals that will support continued growth as an academic at UMKC.
- Create a professional learning plan that establishes both career development goals and strategies for achieving those goals.
- Develop collegial networks and collaborations with university peers.
UMKC ACE FLC features
- All ranked full-time tenure-track, teaching, clinical and research faculty at UMKC are invited to participate.
- UMKC ACE FLC participants will participate in two half day in person workshops, as well as 2-3 virtual sessions.
- Participants will create a Career Development/Professional Learning Plan.
- Participants are expected to participate in campus activities that will include a variety of professional learning opportunities that address topics designed to support professional learning/development goals.
- Participants will engage with an academic coach.
- Participation in the program will last one academic year.
- Participants will represent a diverse distribution of academic disciplines enhancing the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Successful completion of the ACE FLC will be documented in MyVita.
- A letter of completion will be sent to the faculty member's direct report.
- Participants that successfully complete the FLC will earn a badge.
AI-Aware Teaching
In this 11-week faculty learning community, members will read The Norton Guide to AI- Aware Teaching by Annette Vee (University of Pittsburgh), Marc Watkins (University of Mississippi), and Derek Bruff (University of Virginia).
This book offers practical strategies and flexible guidance for adapting your teaching to address AI’s impact on your students’ learning in all disciplines. Whether you are embracing AI, setting firm boundaries, or finding a balance, this book will be a meaningful resource.
Between meetings, you’ll have an opportunity to apply the book’s strategies to reimagine one of your upcoming Fall 2027 courses as AI-aware. All instructor types are welcome to join!
Spots are limited to 15 and are first come first serve! Members will receive a free physical copy of the book!
Developmental Editing
Bad feedback wastes everyone’s time.
Good feedback changes a manuscript.
Start with a special workshop featuring Laura Portwood-Stacer, author of Make Your Manuscript Work.
September 18 | 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
This launch event opens a new Faculty Learning Community, led by Jennifer Phegley, exploring developmental editing, scholarly revision, and sustainable feedback practices.
Book included for FLC participants. FLC participants register and participate in the three additional Developmental Editing programs.
THRIVE: Teaching High-Enrollment Courses with Resilience, Innovation, Value & Engagement
Large lecture courses are demanding. THRIVE is designed for faculty looking for practical strategies, sustainable systems, and practical conversation about teaching at scale.
Led by Lena Hoober.
Topics include: managing large classes; streamlining communication; student engagement in the age of AI, and sustainable teaching practices
First meeting: August 28 | 1–2 p.m. | CAFE
TIME: Teaching in the Misinformation Era
How do we help students think critically in a world shaped by AI, algorithms, misinformation, and overload?
Led by Mardi Mahaffy, TIME explores practical strategies for integrating information literacy and AI literacy into teaching across disciplines.
First session: September 4 | 8:30–9:30 a.m. | CAFE