Faculty Programs

Since 1997, faculty and instructional staff have gathered at the beginning of each academic year to learn about and share best practices for teaching at KU’s Teaching Summit. The Summit typically includes a plenary session with a nationally prominent speaker and breakout sessions offered by KU faculty and staff. Past speakers have included Ashley Finley, the Association of American Colleges and Universities; Ann Austin, Michigan State; Randy Bass, Georgetown; Robin Wright, University of Minnesota and the National Science Foundation. The Summit has become an integral part of the new academic year and usually draws 350 to 400 faculty and staff members from the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. 

The Student Learning Symposium, which began in 2015, provides a yearly occasion for faculty, staff and administrators to reflect on the university's work in assessing student learning. Participants hear from colleagues about ways to improve assessment, and engage in discussion about the best ways to use assessment data for educational improvement, and to increase faculty investment and ownership of assessment. This half-day event for about 100 faculty and staff consists of a plenary discussion and smaller workshops to highlight, share and reflect on examples, best practices, and results in degree-level and general education assessment.

Launched in 2015, the Celebration of Teaching is an occasion to share and honor faculty work on educational improvement and innovation. All participants who receive funding through CTE's programs generate a poster, with support from a CTE Graduate Fellow. The poster holds faculty accountable for making planned changes and looking at the impact on student learning, and the event fosters intellectual exchange about teaching strategies and results. Making faculty work on teaching visible can influence social norms by illustrating for faculty and administrators the breadth of teaching innovation on campus. The event has a festive nature, and university administrators usually join in discussions with instructors. The Celebration of Teaching usually has 50 to 60 posters and draws more than 200 attendees.

The Center for Teaching Excellence offers Course Transformation Grants of up to $3000 to faculty to support the implementation of student-centered, evidence-based, and inclusive teaching practices that improve the learning experiences of KU students. Examples include shifting the basic delivery of information to out-of-class time, organizing substantial amounts of in-class time around active or collaborative learning, implementing team-based learning, and creating authentic or realistic learning experiences for students (e.g., problem-solving, discussion, case-study analysis, problem- or project-based learning).

Application calls generally go out in the Fall and Spring. The priority deadline for Fall is generally the beginning of September and for Spring is generally the end of January. However, proposals will be considered on a rolling basis if funds are available. 

Deadline for Applications

We are now accepting proposals for Fall 2023: Priority Deadline Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.

To meet the priority deadline for Fall 2023, the proposal should be submitted by 5 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. We anticipate notifying applicants of funding decisions by Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, and funds will be available to successful applicants shortly thereafter. Proposals may be submitted after this time but consideration will depend on the availability of additional funds.

Money awarded must be spent in FY24. Awarded money that is not spent by early June FY24 will be forfeited.

Proposal Guidelines and Application Submission

See the Course Transformation Grant page for more specifics about eligibility and expectations, proposal development and guidelines, selection criteria, and access to the application submission survey.

KU faculty are invited to apply for CTE’s Fall 2023 Faculty Seminar on Course Internationalization. This faculty seminar represents a collaboration between CTE, KU’s Office of International Affairs, and the Provost’s Office, and links to a broader university initiative to transform KU into a comprehensive international university and integrate international more thoroughly and seamlessly into every aspect of institutional life. See this call for applications for further details. 

What is Faculty Seminar?

CTE’s Faculty Seminar gives faculty members an opportunity to develop teaching innovations and new models of teaching practice in a collegial setting that offers peer review and support. In Fall 2023, participants will attend four 90-minute meetings to explore ideas for internationalizing their classes. Through readings, discussion, and workshopping of ideas, participants will develop plans for a substantial change to acourse and plans to assess the impact on their students’ learning. In Spring 2024, participants will meet for two follow-up sessions, to reflect on progress and discuss implementation and assessment.

Deadline for Applications

The deadline for applications is August 25, 2023. Here is the application form. 

The Course Design Institute is a collegial, hands-on seminar especially useful for teachers who would like to reflect on and learn to represent their teaching. It is a good first experience for interacting with colleagues about course design. In the Course Design Institute, you will focus on one thing you want to change about one of your courses. You will work in small groups of colleagues from various disciplines, as well as with colleagues who have successfully implemented changes in their teaching. By the end of CDI, you will have a plan in place and will be ready to implement the course change you want to make next year, and you will be ready to document the results of your teaching project.

What will you do at CDI?

You’ll learn more about:

• Designing a course to maximize student learning
• Making the most of class time
• Using out-of-class time to promote learning (e.g. flipping classes)
• Assessing learning efficiently and productively
• Representing your teaching effectiveness

By the end of the seminar, you will have a plan for developing your ideas. And as a CDI participant, you will receive a $1,000 instructional fund you can use for materials, travel, or hourly help for any teaching project.

When is CDI?

The seminar is typically held in May. Participants also attend two follow-up sessions during the following Fall semester. 

When is the application deadline?

Application guidelines and submission portal for CDI are typically available each spring semester.

CTE’s Inclusive Teaching Faculty Seminar is a semester-long learning-community in which a small group (7 to 15) of faculty members meet regularly to reflect on their teaching and learn how to incorporate more inclusive teaching practices to foster a more diverse, inclusive and equitable KU learning environment. The seminar will have 5-6 meetings in the semester, plus a follow-up/check-in/reunion session the following semester. Between meetings, participants read relevant teaching/learning literature and work on applying the lessons to one or more courses. Participants receive a $1500 stipend and produce a poster for the Celebration of Teaching after completing their work.

The Spring 2024 Seminar will meet from 10 to 11:30am on Wednesdays: January 31, February 14, March 6, March 27, and April 17 and participants will be expected to attend a follow-up meeting (TBA) in Fall 2024. 

Applications are due December 13, 2023. Here is a link to the application portal. You can download the call for applications here. 

This Faculty Seminar planned for Spring 2024 will be structured much like our other faculty seminars will will invite multidisciplinary partners (or even trios) to apply to participate as a pair/group, with reading, discussion and planning centered on the design of inter- multi- or trans-disciplinary learning experiences (at the course level) for students.

The Spring 2024 program will meet meetings from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. at CTE in 135 Budig Hall on these Tuesdays: January 30, February 27, March 26, April 23, and May 7. There will also be a follow-up in Fall 2024. 

Applications are due December 13, 2023. Here is the application portal, and you can download the call for applications here.  

The Large Class Working Group will focus on strategies that instructors can use to create effective, inclusive and meaningful learning experiences that engage large numbers of students, while alleviating the stress associated with teaching 100s of students. Led by Mark Mort (CTE/Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) and Tara Welch (Classics). 

Meets 12-1 pm on the following Thursdays in Fall 2023:

• August 24 (in CTE)
• September 14 (location TBA)
• October 5 (in CTE)
• October 26 (in CTE)
• November 16 (location TBA)

Follow this link to get on the list for the Large Class Working Group. 

This is a faculty learning community/discussion group organized around non-traditional approaches to grading, such as competency-based grading, mastery grading, contract grading, and ungrading. Participants will each receive the book Ungrading and as they work their way through the book they will meet regularly to discuss what they are reading and how to apply it to their own practice. Led by Mark Mort (CTE/Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), Marie Brown (History/CTE fellow) and Drew Vartia (CTE).

Meets 12-1 pm in CTE on the following Thursdays in Fall 2023:

• August 31
• September 2
• October 12
• October 26
• November 9

Check back or watch for our e-newsletter to sign up for this book club.

The AI Working Group will focus on the challenges and opportunities in higher education presented by generative artificial intelligence. Led by Doug Ward (CTE associate director/Journalism) and Sara Wilson (Faculty Fellow/Mechanical Engineering) and Ben Rosenthal (Faculty Fellow/Visual Art).  This working group will meet online.

Meets 2-3 pm online on the following Fridays in Fall 2023:

• September 1
• September 22
• October 6
• October 20
• November 3

Check back or watch for our e-newsletter to sign up for this book club.

This working group meets monthly to discuss strategies for effective, inclusive and engaging online teaching. This working group will meet online and is facilitated by Doug Ward (CTE/Journalism).

Meets 12-1pm online on the following Mondays in Fall 2023: 

• Sept 11
• Oct 2
• Nov 6
• Dec 4 

Check back or watch for our e-newsletter to get on the list for this working group.

This working group will meet online and is co-hosted by CTE, C3BE (the Center for Certification and Competency-Based Education), and KUMC. This working group will explore the use of competency- and mastery-based teaching approaches to help students focus on learning and skill acquisition rather than performing for a grade.  Led by Connie Chow (C3BE), Chris Fischer (Physics and Astronomy) and LesLee Taylor (Rehabilitation Therapy, KUMC).

Meets 10-11am online on the following Fridays in Fall 2023: 

• September 15
• October 13
• November 10
• December 8

Check back or watch for our e-newsletter to get on the list for this learning community. 

In Fall 2023 we will offer a New Faculty Teaching Community for faculty in their first year at KU (including those who started in Spring 2023) to get together regularly with colleagues and discuss teaching. Each meeting will center on a particular topic (e.g., what do we know about KU students, how to prepare for tenure) and will be held in different locations in order to engage with the greater Lawrence community. Led by Brad Osborn (Music and CTE Fellow) and Amy Leyerzapf (Leadership Studies and CTE Fellow). Schedule, discussion themes, and locations to be determined by the needs and interests of the new faculty. 

If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this brief survey. 

Energy Bites is a new monthly lunch “non-workshop” series to provide a regular occasion for faculty to find energy and social support and discuss top-of-mind issues.

Meets 12-1pm in CTE the last Monday of the month:

• August 28
• September 25
• October 30
• November 27