The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is committed to fostering a culture of teaching excellence through meaningful grants and awards that support faculty innovation. One of our key initiatives is the Innovative Teaching Grant program, designed to encourage faculty and teaching staff to experiment with new instructional strategies that enhance student learning.
A unique feature of this grant is its connection to the Celebration of Teaching, a biannual event that showcases faculty and teaching staff accomplishments in teaching and learning. Grant recipients are expected to share their work and findings at this event, sparking excitement and inspiring others to explore new approaches in their own classrooms. This synergy between the grant program and the showcase creates a dynamic culture of teaching excellence that directly impacts student success and retention.
During the Celebration of Teaching, faculty and teaching staff present their projects through poster presentations and 5-minute lightning talks while colleagues from across campus engage in conversation and learn from their work. External judges, who are teaching and learning experts from other institutions, evaluate the presentations using a structured rubric. They then select two winners, each of whom receives a Teaching Innovation Award and $1,000 in professional development funds to continue advancing their teaching practice.
By investing in faculty innovation and providing a platform for sharing ideas, these initiatives collectively strengthen our university’s commitment to student-centered learning and instructional excellence.
In addition, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers a variety of professional development certificates designed to recognize faculty and teaching staff for their commitment to enhancing teaching and learning. These certificates are endorsed by the Provost’s Office and serve as an official acknowledgment of faculty engagement in ongoing professional growth.