LU Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

08/18/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Kucknoor! This high honor seems just right for one of LU’s most passionate mentor-teachers. We hope you have the best year!

Congratulations to one of our amazing professors Dr. Kucknoor for being awarded the TSUS Regents Teacher Award!

08/17/2026

"...when a submission raises questions about whether a student did their own thinking, you need a legitimate way to find out. AI detectors won’t give you one; research has shown they produce unacceptable false positive rates and carry particular bias against non-native English speakers (Liang et al., 2023; Weber-Wulff et al., 2023).... Rather than trying to prove how a submission was produced, ask the student to demonstrate that they understand what they submitted."

Learn five practical ways to verify student learning and assess genuine understanding in higher education when AI tools are part of the learning environment.

08/12/2026

We welcomed 37 new, returning, and promoted faculty today, but the cohort is 45, and they come to us from all six colleges. It’s the largest and most academically diverse new faculty class we’ve had in many years. LU is so fortunate to have them all!

08/10/2026

"Strong UI/UX design helps direct attention toward learning tasks rather than platform navigation and has been associated with increased engagement, reduced mind-wandering, and improved learning outcomes (Chaganti, 2023; Wong, 2024). For these reasons, prioritizing effective UI/UX design is critical to supporting motivation, participation, and success in online learning environments."

What is UX/UI design? Our instructional design team can help! Your course design in Blackboard, *regardless of course modality*, is paramount to your students' success. Email [email protected] to connect with us!

Remember, you must subscribe to read FF articles, but subscription is free, and there are great new articles every day to help us navigate the wildly, rapidly-shifting higher ed learning environment.

Learn how effective LMS course design and UX principles improve online learning by enhancing navigation, reducing cognitive load, and supporting student success.

08/06/2026

We are so excited to welcome Lamar University faculty back to campus and prep for Fall 2026 start! Faculty return to offices on Monday, August 10 for the Week of Welcome.

New faculty, Tuesday is for you. Bring your excitement and your laptops to New Faculty Orientation on August 11. Our LU Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning and University Innovation teams are ready to welcome you with an Academic Affairs orientation designed to prepare you for both the work and the experience of being part of the LU community.

All faculty are invited to join us that afternoon for networking, music, and fun at the President and Provost Mixer. Beginning at 4 p.m. at the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum Pavilion, the mixer will feature live music from two educators whose talents extend beyond the classroom and administrative suite. LU Provost Dr. Brett Welch is also a recording singer-songwriter whose music is available on Spotify, Apple, and popular streaming platforms. His catalog includes several EPs and singles, a 20-song album, and his newest release, Corduroy Jacket. Joining him will be Carl Richardson, Commercial Music Program Coordinator at Lamar State College-Port Arthur. Carl is a singer, songwriter, bassist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist who performs throughout SETX and SW Louisiana. His decades of contributions as performer and teacher were recently recognized with his induction into the City of Vidor Walk of Fame. Together, Brett and Carl represent some of the region's best! Join us to begin Fall 2026 on a high note. Parking at Spindletop is limited, so carpooling is recommended.

On Wednesday morning, new faculty will complete benefits, paperwork, and other final onboarding needs with Human Resources.

All faculty and staff will then come together for the President’s Convocation and Lunch at the Montagne Center. Attendance is expected as we hear from executive leadership about Lamar University’s vision and priorities for the year ahead. Food and LU swag will be provided!

Following Convocation, new faculty will continue with hands-on course design support. Our instructional designers, technologists, media specialists, success professionals, and others will be available in person to help finalize preparations for the fall semester.

On Thursday, all faculty will gather for Cardinal Kickoff, our full-day faculty professional development experience in the Live Oak Ballroom and Setzer Student Center. Attendance is expected to kickstart our fall as a united front! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eazcR_xt

On Friday, it's time for College Convocations. Brush off the summer heat and take a look at your inbox for details from your dean or department chair.

On Monday, August 17, faculty take their final opportunity to prepare classrooms, courses, and student communications before the first day of classes on August 18.

We are so happy to have everyone back and to help get this new academic year moving. See you soon, Cardinals!

08/05/2026

Faculty Week of Welcome is...NEXT WEEK! Summer rages on as Fall 2026 begins.

Two things to look at: the flyer for all events (check your LU email!) and the spectacular program for Cardinal Kickoff next Thursday (linked here).

We hope to see you EVERYWHERE! It's our great pleasure to welcome LU Faculty back to campus.

https://canva.link/xrg23ay613ktapt

08/05/2026

"A growing number of universities have prohibited AI detectors, arguing they are unreliable indicators of cheating. But where does that leave faculty, who know all too well that cheating is rampant in the age of AI?"

A growing number of universities have prohibited AI detectors, arguing they are ‘unreliable’ indicators of cheating. But where does that leave faculty, who know all too well that cheating is rampant in the age of AI?

07/29/2026

Let your syllabus be the story you tell about the journey students will take in your class...

Dr. David Smith...writes: “Teachers do not simply list course content for learners. They sequence it in ways that imply a story about what fits together and where it is headed.” Automatically I asked myself, *what is the story my syllabus is telling students? To be completely honest, is it even telling a story at all?*

Discover how storytelling in teaching can transform your course syllabus into a guide that engages students, builds context, and creates a more meaningful learning experience.

07/01/2026

This is how we do it! Listen to our show!

06/23/2026

We won! Thanks, Press Club of Southeast Texas! Want to take a listen to our award-winning podcast/radio show?

Each episode of LU Innovations features conversations with the leaders and innovators who manage the platforms, programs, and services that make modern teaching and learning possible. Whether you're a faculty member looking to enhance your teaching, a student curious about what goes on behind the scenes, or simply interested in the future of higher education, this show offers insights into how we're building a culture of teaching excellence at Lamar University.

Find ways to listen here: https://www.lamar.edu/lu-online/instructional-support/blog/2025/11/lu-innovations-empowering-teaching-excellence.html