Join one of CATE's many professional development opportunities this spring.

Since joining UIC six months ago, I have been grateful for many, many things: the opportunity to work every day with the CATE team, all of whom do their work with kindness and excellence; to work for an institution that prioritizes student success for all students; to be embraced by the UIC community as a valued colleague and expert, and to live in a place that has all four seasons.

As we approach the end of the semester, I hope you’ll think about what you appreciate about your work, and that this gratitude sustains you through a restful winter holiday. Our CATE team is grateful to work in collaboration with thoughtful, smart instructors who are focused on student success.

Warm wishes this holiday season,

Lori Mumpower
Executive Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence

Read more about CATE’s second cohort of Action Research Scholars, their classroom research projects, and their reflections on how the Action Research program has contributed to their development as instructors.

Need a space to wrap up your semester grading? We invite faculty, graduate student teaching assistants (TAs), and instructors to drop by the Teaching Excellence Building to gather in community, to grade, and to say goodbye to the fall semester. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and treats will be available, as well as quiet work spaces.

Are you interested in learning how to support student success and well-being by building an inclusive learning environment in the classroom? We invite you to join the spring 2025 cohort of the IESCP, featuring self-guided online learning modules and participation in learning communities and workshops. Over 150 faculty have completed or are on track to complete the program. Register by January 8, 2025 to be part of the spring cohort. 

After the success of fall semester’s short course, CATE is happy to offer a spring short course for faculty. Read more about this opportunity and how you can participate.

This spring there are several courses being offered through the Graduate College that are designed to support new and experienced graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) and instructors in developing their teaching knowledge and skills.

As our team continues to grow its offerings and services, we are delighted to be offering a new course design program for spring 2025. This self-paced program for instructors engages participants in the course design process, drawing on the framework found in The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching. Join us in spring 2025 to design equity-minded courses.

This spring, we’re offering monthly meetings for graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) to connect with peers, sip warm beverages, and discuss key aspects of teaching and life. Topics will include community building, wellness, time management, and professional development.

Learn more about last year’s Teaching Recognition Program award recipients, who have a documented history of teaching excellence and commitment to student success at UIC. Watch videos of winners’ teaching innovations to see how you can apply their strategies in your teaching.

CATE’s educational developers – April Andry Rah’man, Katie Pierson, Emily Potratz, Jenny Torres, Crystal Tse, Lauren Woods, and Lori Mumpower–attended POD 2025, the Professional and Organizational Development conference held November 10-14 in Chicago. Lauren presented an interactive workshop, “Building the Mentoring Network You Need Through Relationship Cultivation.” Lori delivered a research presentation, “Driving and Resisting Pedagogical Change: Lessons Post-Pandemic,” which won the conference's Robert J. Menges Award for Outstanding Research in Educational Development.

CATE’s offerings for spring semester have been updated! Review our Spring Catalog and participate in one of our new programs, events, or services.

Metacognition, or thinking about one’s thinking, can help support student success. Learn more about implementing Weekly Reflection Journals for Metacognition, which can afford instructors crucial insight into student thinking and help students cement and deepen their learning. 

An important correction: In last month’s CATE Calendar, we misspelled the name of one of our Action Research Scholars, Sajna Razi. Names are important, and we regret the error. For more on the importance of names, take a look at Michelle D. Miller’s new book, A Teacher’s Guide to Learning Student Names: Why You Should, Why It’s Hard, How You Can. 

THE TEACHING HUB FOR UIC INSTRUCTORS