Lash Center for Teaching & Learning

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CONTACT DETAILS

Lash Center for Teaching & Learning
LashCTL@BristolCC.edu
777 Elsbree Street
Fall River, MA 02720

2026 Professional Development Day

Building a Better Future Together

Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
H Building, Fall River Campus

Professional Development Day is a college-wide, conference-style event dedicated to faculty and staff growth. The day features workshops focused on pedagogy, technology integration, institutional priorities, and other professional development topics. Attendance is mandatory for all full-time employees and optional for adjunct faculty. This day ensures our community is well prepared to support student success and advance Bristol’s strategic goals.

Call for Workshop Proposals

The Lash Center for Teaching & Learning invites you to lead or co-facilitate a 1 hour 15 minute workshop for Spring 2026 Professional Development Day.

Please submit your workshop via the Proposal Form by February 28, 2026. Complete information will help us create a balanced, accessible schedule.

Note: The form does not automatically collect your name or email.

SUBMIT A WORKSHOP PROPOSAL

Keynote Speaker

Maria S. Cormier
Community College Research Center (CCRC)
Teachers College, Columbia University

Maria S. Cormier is a researcher at the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her work focuses on how community colleges design workforce programs that prepare students for high-value careers. She currently leads the Virginia Workforce Recovery project and contributes to national research on workforce training and community college innovation.

Keynote focus: Cormier will explore how community colleges can strengthen pathways to high-value careers by aligning academic and workforce programs, building employer partnerships, and supporting students through integrated credit and non-credit pathways. Her talk will highlight research-informed examples from colleges across the country and invite the Bristol community to consider how we can build a stronger future together for our students and region.

Questions? Contact LashCTL@BristolCC.edu.

We look forward to showcasing the talent and expertise within our Bristol community.

Bristol Community College’s hub for professional development, supporting faculty and professional staff in their pursuit of instructional excellence, continuous improvement, and career advancement.

The center offers a range of opportunities, from structured workshops and seminars to self-directed learning, research, and peer collaboration, that enhance teaching effectiveness and build professional competence.

LCTL also houses the Adjunct Faculty Center, providing essential resources such as office space, clerical assistance, and access to instructional support, ensuring adjunct faculty are fully integrated into the campus community.

More than a resource, LCTL is a collaborative space where faculty and staff engage in community, exchange ideas as thought partners, and drive innovation in teaching and learning. We foster a culture of curiosity, reflection, and lifelong learning that supports both individual growth and institutional excellence.

Events

Explore what’s happening at LCTL. Stay connected with the latest professional development opportunities designed to support your teaching, learning and growth. From workshops and speaker series to learning communities and drop-in sessions, the LCTL calendar is your gateway to collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement at Bristol.

Programs

The Lash Center for Teaching and Learning offers a variety of professional development programs that support instructional growth, high-impact practices, and innovation. To learn more about each program, including contacts, registration links and stipend eligibility, please visit the LCTL events section.

In addition to Lash's CTL programming, we also collaborate with key internal partners to promote professional development opportunities on their behalf, as these offerings also benefit Bristol faculty and staff.

Accessibility Academy

Bristol’s Accessibility Academy equips faculty and staff with the knowledge and practical skills needed to create inclusive, accessible learning environments. Through interactive sessions and real-world examples, participants learn how to design accessible course materials, engage in inclusive communication, and support diverse student needs, ensuring all students have equitable opportunities for success.

Adjunct Day/Evening Series

The Adjunct Faculty Evening Series (AFES) is a virtual professional development opportunity designed to support adjunct faculty at the start of each semester. Held over four evenings, the series offers targeted sessions on college updates, teaching resources, and divisional area meetings—all tailored to the needs and schedules of adjunct instructors. Participants who attend at least three sessions are eligible for a $100 stipend.

Adjunct Certification Program

The Adjunct Certificate Program (ACP) is a semester-long course which provides professional development opportunities to adjunct faculty members who want to enhance their classroom instruction. ACP will provide the tools and resources to help adjunct faculty become more effective classroom educators.

Collaboration Corner

Join us for Collaboration Corner, a new LCTL podcast designed to foster cross-campus connections and deepen understanding of the many offices that support Bristol Community College and its students. Each session highlights a key department, offering insights into its services and practical tips for how faculty and staff can best engage with the team to enhance student success.

Course Design Institute

The Course Design Institute at Bristol Community College is a hands-on, collaborative experience designed to support faculty in creating or redesigning courses with intention and impact. Grounded in evidence-based practices and aligned with Bristol’s commitment to inclusive, student-centered learning, CDI guides participants through backward design, assessment planning and active learning strategies. Faculty leave with a clearer course structure, refined outcomes and practical tools to enhance engagement and promote student success.

Course Transformation Series

The Course Transformation Series (CTS) invites faculty to collaborate with peers and facilitators to reimagine and redesign courses to better meet the needs of today’s students. Each of the self-contained workshops focuses on a distinct teaching technique or methodology, including Active Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Student-Friendly Syllabi, Trauma-Informed Teaching, Effective Assessment, Technology in the Classroom, etc. While these sessions are part of a larger series, faculty do not need to attend all of them to see an immediate impact as each workshop stands on its own and is designed to provide practical strategies that can be applied right away. Participants should come prepared with a course or activity they would like to improve. Whether you join one session or several, CTS offers actionable tools to support your teaching goals and enhance student learning outcomes.

Employee Education Support Group

The Employee Education Support Group is a space for Bristol faculty and staff pursuing academic degrees or professional certifications. Whether you're working toward a new credential, returning to school after a break, or balancing coursework with full-time responsibilities, this group offers encouragement, shared resources, and peer support to better connect and uplift colleagues on their educational journeys.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an on-demand, online learning platform available to all Bristol employees. With thousands of expert-led courses in business, technology, creative skills and personal development, it’s a flexible and powerful tool for professional growth. Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership abilities, explore new software, or develop communication skills, LinkedIn Learning offers something for every stage of your career, anytime, anywhere.

Resources

Bristol is committed to supporting its faculty and staff in achieving their educational and professional goals. Here is a list of some of the many resources the college offers:

Professional Development Funds

Bristol provides all employees with the opportunity to apply for Professional Development Funds, which can be used to help reimburse conference and professional development opportunities, professional development costs, and other efforts that further your professional goals.

Bristol's Learning Council oversees these applications and funding. Members of the Learning Council will review applications periodically over the course of the academic year and will award professional development activities until funds are depleted. For more information about the distribution of professional development funds, please refer to the Professional Development Fund Guidelines. The next review of applications will take place on the first Tuesday of each month.

Click HERE to apply for Professional Development Funds

Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Spring 2025 Bristol Inspiring Educator Award: Kristine Hastreiter

Kristine L. Hastreiter

The Bristol Community College Learning Council is proud to announce Kristine L. Hastreiter, Adjunct Instructor of Culinary Arts, has won the inaugural Bristol Inspiring Educator Award. Several students nominated Chef Hastreiter for this award, highlighting her passion for teaching and dedication to her students.

One student discussed how Chef Hastreiter “[gave] me the chance to learn more [by] having fun activities.” Another credited her with “giving us the best advice, like for example telling us what we did wrong and how we could make it better.” This impact reflects Professor Hastreiter’s teaching philosophy.

“My teaching philosophy is rooted in Howard Gardner’s ‘Theory of Multiple Intelligences’ and Lev Vygotsky’s ‘Zone of Proximal Development,’” Prof. Hastreiter tells us. “I strive to accommodate the individuality of my students and their respective learning needs.”

Chef Hastreiter also emphasizes the emotional and intellectual growth of her students: “It is essential that we cultivate resilient, confident, kind, courteous, broad-minded individuals who are prepared and ready to face the future.”

Describing a specific class, one of Chef Hastreiter’s students said, “she explained and demonstrated how to accomplish making baguettes (which is my favorite bread) and because of her passion and dedication to educating I feel I can make baguettes with no problems.” Stories like this illustrate how Chef Hastreiter turns her expertise and teaching excellence into student success and show why the Learning Council is so proud to recognize her as our first Bristol Inspiring Educator award winner.

Need More Information?

Click below to fill out inquiry form.

LASH Center Inquiry Form