In order for UNC to achieve many of the goals outlined in Vision 2030 we must build a strong foundation for developing teaching excellence for all members of our community. I hope since January 2020 you have seen positive changes in the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) as we work to achieve this goal. We’ve been busy since January 2020 revitalizing CETL and making it a center that instills pride in UNC instructors. The Revitalization Team worked during a global pandemic to develop CETL’s mission, strategic direction, form the Advisory Board, and make decisions on center policies and procedures. The 3-year strategic plan is now in its second year. I am happy to report improvement in CETL’s structure and programming. You can read the three-year strategic plan and 2020 report on the CETL webpage. Here is the vision and mission that now guide our work:
Vision
CETL is recognized as the place for teaching-related development at UNC and a leader in advancing teaching excellence.
Mission
CETL serves as a hub to discuss teaching practice and teaching-focused scholarship. CETL advances teaching excellence of all members of the teaching community by providing professional learning opportunities and resources on pedagogy, inclusive teaching practice, curriculum development, instructional models, and student learning assessment. CETL programming is responsive to current needs of educators and cultivates a campus culture that values and rewards teaching excellence. CETL is recognized as the place for teaching-related development at UNC and a leader in advancing teaching excellence.
I’m proud of our current programming offerings which include learning communities, a robust webinar series, the Teaching & Assessment Symposium, and a graduate student field experience. We are continuing our partnership with STEM-IEC to offer the Teaching for Inclusion & Equity Program and building new partnerships with the Disability Resource Center and the Office of Equity and Inclusion to build programming focused on course design that ensures success for all students. With the CETL Advisory Board (a group of faculty, staff, and students) helping to determine future programming and services, I’d say our future looks bright!
And, we have a new blog! The CETL Blog will include posts from folks across campus sharing teaching ideas along with practical advice. We will share teaching news, ideas, and research from around the globe so that our teaching community stays informed about new innovations. We want CETL to be a hub to discuss teaching practice and teaching-focused scholarship at UNC. If you have a teaching idea or assessment results you want to share, you can post too (and if you’d like to share your work through a workshop or webinar, we are happy to host!).
