FREMONT, Calif., August 5, 2026 — San Francisco Bay University is opening its annual faculty preparation institute to college and university faculty from across the Bay Area, encouraging regional participation in practical sessions about learning design, the application of artificial intelligence and relationship-building.
In its second year, the Roots and Branches Faculty Institute will be held Aug. 10-12, 2026, on the SFBU campus in Fremont. The SFBU Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation (CEPI) hosts the gathering, part of its mission to cultivate innovative, inclusive educational experiences through revolutionized faculty training.
Student and workforce needs are constantly changing, so it’s essential that we always assess and evolve our approaches to learning,” said Dr. Anzar Khaliq, the chief learning officer at SFBU and CEPI founding director. “In Roots and Branches, we have a hands-on studio that helps faculty plan for the academic year and craft timely curricular materials that keep them and their students far ahead of the curve. This is foundational to our work as a teaching-centric institution.
Launched in August 2024, CEPI keeps SFBU faculty up to date on teaching strategies and instructional practices amid developments in technology, research and student expectations. The center merges student-centered experiences, cultural sustainability, adaptive learning environments and AI-integrated teaching with Universal Design for Learning, a teaching framework that promotes equal opportunities for success.
The Roots and Branches institute applies those pillars across three days of in-person workshops. The first day will center on learning design, including how to equip students for carrying through a well-polished thought or idea to real-world execution.
On the second day, CEPI will explore AI-related changes in learning and welcome conversations with SFBU’s Excellence in AI Integrated Teaching Award winners. Activities will include discussion of individual AI practices and collaboration on AI tools for the coming academic year.
Finally, the institute’s third day turns to human connection in a technology-saturated context. As AI absorbs more of the production of student work, what happens between people becomes the most valuable thing a university offers, a shift now moving to the center of conversations across higher education.
"We'll dig into relationship mapping, the conditions that make learning possible and everything faculty built over the first two days," Dr. Khaliq said. "As AI takes on more of the production of work, the human parts of teaching grow in value: how we relate, how we build belonging, how we keep learning together. Relational intelligence is a serious intellectual pursuit and the leading edge of higher education, and this institute models it rather than lecturing about it."
SFBU compensates and provides certification to faculty for their participation in training, including the Roots & Branches institute. All full-time faculty members and around 75% of the visiting faculty members are expected to join the August event, which will run from 9 a.m. to about 2:45 p.m. each day.
Faculty at other Bay Area institutions may sign up, at no charge, by sending an email expressing interest to cepi@sfbu.edu. SFBU faculty should RSVP via calendar invite.
Dr. Khaliq noted the institute is rooted in SFBU’s Personalized, Experiential, Relational, Student-Centered framework, known as PERS. The framework prioritizes mentorship; one-on-one student engagement with faculty; and practical engagement throughout the university experience. SFBU’s new MBA Pro+ program reflects those priorities in action.
We’re proud to provide Roots and Branches as an accessible resource for teaching and learning in Silicon Valley,” Dr. Khaliq said. “Redesigning education for the AI era demands collaboration, and we all need to keep learning from one another.
About San Francisco Bay University
San Francisco Bay University creates accessible learning opportunities that prepare diverse undergraduates and graduate students for lifelong personal and professional success. Through high-quality, career-focused programs in psychology, business, computer science and engineering, SFBU is building an international model for higher education in service of the common good.
The SFBU campus in Fremont, Calif., captures the entrepreneurial and technology-forward spirit of Silicon Valley. By integrating cutting-edge technology, real-world learning experiences and personalized support, SFBU equips students for leadership. Its affordable tuition, range of scholarships and streamlined application process dismantle traditional barriers and welcome new generations of learners.
As part of SFBU’s holistic commitment to excellence, its Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation trains faculty in best pedagogical practices while generative artificial intelligence spans the curricula. The university is a member of the College-in-3 Exchange and developed an initial trio of three-year bachelor’s programs introduced in 2026. SFBU’s AI-enhanced Master of Business Administration program, MBA Pro+, will enroll an inaugural cohort in September.
SFBU students graduate with a cultivated set of industry-aligned competencies, identified and refined in collaboration with the Silicon Valley community. The student-centric core curriculum, known as the Agility Praxis Pathway, is the foundation for the university’s redefined undergraduate teaching and learning practices. SFBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
