CSC Awarded Teaching & Learning Innovative Practice Grant to Launch eLearning Design Studio
WARNER, Okla. – Connors State College has been awarded a $10,000 FY26 Teaching & Learning Innovative Practice Grant from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) to support the development of an eLearning Design Studio aimed at advancing innovative, active, and student-centered online teaching practices.
The funded project, “eLearning Design Studio: Enhancing Active & Innovative Online Teaching,” will establish a collaborative space where faculty can redesign online courses using active learning strategies, digital media creation, and innovative instructional technologies. The initiative directly supports OSRHE’s emphasis on high-impact teaching practices, faculty empowerment, and workforce-relevant learning experiences.
Beginning Fall 2026, Connors State College will require all online courses to meet its internal Connors Quality Course (CQC) certification standards. Grant funding will accelerate faculty participation in course redesign efforts by providing access to instructional technology, media production tools, and targeted professional development—ensuring online offerings meet quality, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) expectations.
“This grant allows us to move beyond compliance and truly innovate,” said Gwen Rodgers: CSC LMS Coordinator and project lead. “The eLearning Design Studio will give faculty the tools, training, and creative space they need to design engaging online courses that improve student learning and success.”
Grant funds will support the acquisition of dual-monitor workstations, high-quality audio and video recording equipment, instructional software licenses, and flexible collaborative furniture—resources aligned with OSRHE’s funding priorities for instructional technology and active learning environments.
The eLearning Design Studio will be sustained beyond the grant period through ongoing instructional design support and academic technology funding, ensuring long-term impact and scalability across disciplines.
For more information about the eLearning Design Studio or Connors State College’s online teaching initiatives, please contact Connors State College’s LMS Coordinator – Gwen Rodgers: gwen.rodgers@connorsstate.edu.
About Connors State College:
Connors State College, located in Warner and Muskogee, Oklahoma, is a comprehensive two-year institution offering associate degrees and certificate programs. Founded in 1908, CSC is governed by the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents with the mission of building futures one at a time while promoting excellence in our community and the global society.
Media Contact: Emily Efird Free – Communications & Marketing Coordinator – eefird@connorsstate.edu