Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education

04/13/2026

Join us next Monday (4/20) for Artificially Intelligent: Resisting AI in Modern Learning, a workshop facilitated by Kyle Pittman of The Evergreen State College, Native Pathways Program. View details and register: https://t.e2ma.net/webview/s7tk8j/d4223cd292ec9cddc7de1e2ef5c6ba7a

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-with-number-code-on-her-face-while-looking-afar-5473956/

03/13/2026

Join us for Clearing Away Obstacles to Learning: Higher Education in Prisons | Wednesday, March 18 | 1-2:30 PM ET | 10-11:30 AM PT

The Evergreen Liberation Education Network is based at The Evergreen State College with a mission to expand access to an Evergreen education and to provide holistic support services for currently incarcerated and legally liberated people. This workshop will focus on two organizations in the network, the Evergreen Prison Education Program and the Sustainability in Prisons Project. Both organizations support the delivery of credit-bearing college education for incarcerated scholars. Presenters will provide a brief overview of their respective programs, select highlights, and learning and teaching models co-created with participants in carceral settings. The workshop will include group discussion on lessons learned, successes, and challenges that come with offering higher education in prison.

REGISTER: https://evergreen.zoom.us/meeting/register/Fd5tVlpFRxCq9yCvr8IV4Q #/registration

Photo by lucas souza: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-brown-wooden-fence-2002161/

11/05/2025

Join us on Monday, November 17 for the next collaborative workshop in our series for academic year 2025-2026. Therese Saliba of The Evergreen State College will be sharing Narrating Palestine: Teaching Strategies for Justice and Belonging. See details here:

Register today! Free virtual workshop # Washington Center Collaborative Workshop # Narrating Palestine: Teaching Strategies for Justice & Belonging Free Virtual Workshop Monday, November 17 | 2-3:30 pm ET | 11 am - 12:30 pm PT [if mso]> The late scholar Edward Said asserted that Palestinians have be...

11/04/2025

Washington Center Director JuliA Metzker recently co-authored an article for the National Teaching and Learning Forum, highlighting the importance of communicating the value and relevance of learning to students. Learn more about practical strategies you can use in your teaching: https://doi.org/10.1002/ntlf.30616

10/24/2025

The October newsletter is here! Check it out for information on upcoming programs and events to support your work.

# Washington Center Collaborative Newsletter Our Guiding Purpose: We are guided by the academic success of all students. Ultimately, the measures of our success are improvements in students' persistence, achievement, and graduation rates--particularly students who are the first in their families to....

10/13/2025

It's fall! And the first Washington Center Collaborative Workshop of the year is coming up on October 21. Join us for this engaging session with Mandie Mauldin for strategies to improve student learning. See details ➡️

Register today! Free virtual workshop # Washington Center Collaborative Workshop # STRIVE Toward Transformation: Building Risk-tolerant, Resilient Learning Environments Free Virtual Workshop Tuesday, October 21 | 1-2:30 pm ET | 10-11:30 am PT [if mso]> Reimagine teaching with tools that foster equit...

09/05/2025

The National Learning Communities Association invites you to our September offering:

Date & Time: September 19th, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST
Registration Link: https://nsu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/AN5uAOTdRhSYosVnkarsqQ #/registration
Free & all are welcome!

The Critical Moment is NOW
They've moved in. They've found the dining hall. Their schedules are set. But the real challenge begins today: helping first-time, first-year students truly connect and persist during these pivotal first weeks on campus.

Join us for They're Here, Now What? as we explore evidence-based strategies that transform early student experiences into foundations for success. Drawing on research and best practices from learning communities nationwide, this session showcases practical interventions that boost retention while narrowing equity gaps.

07/08/2025

Join us for a one-hour virtual workshop on "Bringing Whimsy to Your Work" hosted by the National Learning Communities Association.

Whimsy can boost engagement, creativity, and well‑being in educational settings.

Learn playful and creative strategies to energize your teaching and mentoring.
Connect with like‑minded professionals across the country.
Ideal for faculty, staff, advisors, and student affairs professionals.

July 17 | 1-2 pm ET | 10-11 am PT | ZOOM
Register: https://unf.zoom.us/meeting/register/VFPSakJLSJmPXyRFRD7X9A #/registration

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/wooden-octopus-figurine-on-book-3661238/

05/28/2025

As we wrap up this academic year, we hope you'll peruse our May newsletter for updates on what's happening at the Washington Center!

# Washington Center Collaborative Newsletter Our Guiding Purpose: We are guided by the academic success of all students. Ultimately, the measures of our success are improvements in students' persistence, achievement, and graduation rates--particularly students who are the first in their families to....

02/26/2025

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to drive meaningful change on your campus? Our Campus-Based Action Planning Institutes offer a dynamic planning opportunity for your cross-divisional team — right on your own campus! Join us for a free information session on Friday, March 7 to learn more. REGISTER: https://evergreen.zoom.us/meeting/register/1L2Gs9o4RpeXAQaWxX9eHw #/registration

02/03/2025

Learning Community Essentials in Higher Education: Models and Practices

The National Learning Communities Association (NLCA) is delighted to sponsor a focused, one-hour virtual session exploring the features of learning community programs in higher education. This free session offers valuable insights for faculty, scholars, practitioners, and administrators with an interest in the benefits of learning community programs for student belonging and success.

Whether you're exploring learning communities for the first time or seeking to enhance your existing program, this session offers valuable insights for all experience levels.

Date: February 28, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM Pacific | 12:00 PM Eastern
Length: 1 hour
Registration Link: https://evergreen.zoom.us/meeting/register/XV5EP6xETUiBNBOxghLpwQ
Cost: Free!

PRESENTERS
Nathan Phelps, NLCA President
University of Wisconsin - Madison

JuliA Metzker, Director for the Washington Center for Improving Undergraduate Education
The Evergreen State College

The National Learning Communities Association is delighted to sponsor a focused, one-hour virtual session exploring the features of learning community programs in higher education. This free session offers valuable insights for faculty, scholars, practitioners, and administrators with an interest in...