Photos of faculty participating in 2025 Brightspace + Universal Design for Learning workshop.
WHY + HOW: Implementing Universal Design for Learning* in Your Brightspace Course Sites
- Do you need TIME + SUPPORT to design your Brightspace course sites for Spring 2026?
- Do you want to make your Brightspace course sites INCLUSIVE + ACCESSIBLE?
APPLY BELOW for a 2-day workshop, January 13-14, 2026 for hands-on support to incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies into your Brightspace course sites.
Apply at: https://forms.office.com/r/XRzWzrPV8a
Instructors, including full-time and adjunct faculty, who will be teaching in the spring are welcome to apply. (Note that the 2026 workshop is open to faculty who did not previously participate in 2025.)
Workshop time is set aside for you to complete significant course prep in Brightspace that incorporates Universal Design for Learning.
We will be using Brightspace as the learning platform, so you’ll have an opportunity to experience it as a learner.
In-person Workshop
Dates: Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13-14, 2026
Time: 9:45am-3:30pm
Location: In person at Queens College, Muyskens Conference Room
Breakfast + Lunch will be served
Faculty who complete both days will receive a stipend of $500. Please see additional information about stipend arrangements/eligibility below.
Bring your questions about creating an inclusive Brightspace learning environment for in-person and online classes, and design the course materials you need for the semester!
Space is limited! Please complete your Application by 11:59 pm on November 3, 2025.
- Apply soon to make sure you have a spot!
- Applicants will be notified by November 10, 2025.
Who should attend?
- Faculty who want to make their Brightspace course sites inclusive and accessible to all learners, including creative course design ideas and ways to give students options in how they demonstrate skills
- Faculty seeking Tech support to build out their Brightspace course sites
- Faculty interested in implementing Universal Design for Learning strategies in their classes
What do faculty who participated in last year’s workshop have to say?
I had no idea Brightspace was so versatile.
I’m more confident in implementing UDL, addressing most students’ needs with several ways of presenting information, engaging and assessing them.
See photos and more faculty feedback from the previous workshop faculty cohort at https://www.qc.cuny.edu/hhmi/brightspace-udl/
Stipend arrangements/eligibility:
CETLL will provide a $500 stipend to faculty who complete both workshop days and are eligible to receive this payment. This payment will be subject to the standard taxes and deductions from your regular pay. If you are a FT faculty member, a $500 payment will be added to your paycheck after completion of the workshop. If you are a PT faculty member, CETLL will need to hire you as an NTA (non-teaching adjunct) for ~10 hours to total $500. Adjunct hours (all teaching and non-teaching adjunct hours, combined) are capped at 225 hours for the Fall semester and Winter session.
Apply at: https://forms.office.com/r/XRzWzrPV8a
Send any questions to: CTLOnline@qc.cuny.edu
*About Universal Design for Learning
As described by About Universal Design for Learning, “Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.
The goal of UDL is learner agency that is purposeful & reflective, resourceful & authentic, strategic & action-oriented.”
UDL Guidelines
- Multiple means of engagement: instructors offer options that engage students in course content and keep their interest
- Multiple means of representation: instructors show information in different ways
- Multiple means of action and representation: students approach learning tasks and show what they know in different ways
Facilitators:
Dr. Sally Izquierdo, Director Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Programs, Department of Psychology
Sally Izquierdo, PhD is a Board Certified and NYS Licensed Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist. She graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a master’s degree in counseling and from CUNY Queens College and The Graduate Center with a PhD in Behavior Analysis. Dr. Izquierdo has over 30 years of clinical experience, providing support to individuals with developmental disabilities, families, and professionals in homes, schools, and in the community. Her work as chair of NYSABA’s public policy committee contributed significantly to the recent removal of the scope of practice restriction for licensed behavior analysts in New York.
At Queens College, Dr. Izquierdo is responsible for the clinical training for all master’s programs in the psychology department and directs the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate programs. As Director of QC Project REACH, she has developed behavior analytic supports for autistic CUNY students, and workshops for neurodivergent students and faculty. Dr. Izquierdo, in collaboration with psychology graduate students, developed the Queens College Neurodiversity Hub, which is a faculty resource bank and collegial discussion forum on the Teams platform. Dr. Izquierdo is also an active member of the Psychology Department DEIA Committee and faculty advisor to the QC Neurodiversity Advocacy Club.
Dr. Izquierdo is dedicated to helping improve the practice landscape for behavior analysts in New York, experience opportunities for students, and inclusive support for neurodivergent college students.
Jean Kelly, Instructional Technologist, CETLL
Jean has been with CETLL since 2010, providing pedagogical and technical support for faculty in various instructional modes. She helps organize workshops to prepare faculty for teaching online and assisted faculty during the transition from Blackboard to Brightspace. In addition, she has created tutorials on Blackboard, Brightspace, Google Classroom; lecture capture; and other educational technologies.
Elena Sigman, Director of Learning & Development, CETLL
Elena joined Queens College in July 2024, bringing more than 30 years of experience in stakeholder engagement to drive equitable program design and nonprofit program management. She was most recently the Director of Collaborative Learning at John Jay College’s Institute for Justice and Opportunity, where she developed a suite of workforce programs as part of the Institute’s commitment to increasing access to higher education and careers for people directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Elena is also an Associate Certified Coach with certifications from the International Coaching Federation and NeuroLeadership Institute.
WayGuard Wong, Brightspace Administrator, CETLL
As the Brightspace Administrator at Queens College CUNY, WayGuard manages the technical support and front-end administration of Brightspace, collaborating with Queens College Information Technology Services (QC ITS) and the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership (CETLL) to optimize faculty development and support innovative, equitable, and student-centered pedagogical practices. WayGuard’s role includes configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Brightspace, ensuring seamless integration with other institutional systems, implementing security protocols, and providing technical training to faculty. With expertise in instructional technology and digital learning environments, WayGuard enhance Brightspace’s functionality and user experience, facilitating the creation of engaging and effective learning modules while supporting faculty professional growth through advanced technical solutions.