KU has a deep commitment to student learning and success. Beyond the classroom, we promote academic excellence through trainings, bootcamps, workshops, and partnerships. Two key resources for instruction at KU are the Center for Teaching Excellence and KU Libraries. 

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) helps instructors find new ways to innovate and experiment in their classes, and increase visibility of their work to colleagues. CTE is dedicated to building a community where instructors can share their pedagogical concerns, successes, and research. They also provide guidance and mentorship to instructors at all stages of their careers and host numerous workshops and events for faculty members and GTAs. 

KU Libraries collaborate with faculty and instructors from all disciplines to design learning opportunities that develop critical thinking, awareness of information sources, and an understanding of the research process. KU Librarians are available to provide library instruction for courses and consult with faculty on scaffolding the research process for students in order to improve student learning and success. To learn more about how KU Librarians have partnered with KU faculty to enhance their course designs, visit the KU Libraries website and contact them to request a consultation with a library instructor.

Read on to learn more about CTE and KU Libraries!

The Office of Faculty Affairs centers our work on three values: care, community, and equity.

Faculty Affairs serves all faculty across their career stages and classifications, and equity is the lens through which we engage in all of our priority areas. It is our goal to ensure all voices are heard when creating policy, planning programming, and recognizing faculty achievements. In fulfilling our mission, we work to identify and connect faculty to the support and resources they need throughout all stages of their career cycle.

What is CTE?

CTE (Center for Teaching Excellence) sees teaching as an exciting intellectual journey worthy of sharing with peers. CTE hosts numerous workshops, working groups, seminars, and events throughout the year, starting with the annual Teaching Summit on August 22.

Think of CTE as a hub for connecting with peers around the University and a resource for finding new ways to innovate and experiment in your classes. It's also a place of calm and inspiration. Oh, and their candy jar is always full.

CTE Quick Links

What are the stacks?

The stacks at Watson library are quite possibly one of our favorite hidden spots on Lawrence's campus. If you want to peruse an enormous selection of books, in KU's oldest and most beautiful (in our opinion) library, this is the place to explore! There are also carrels available for silent reading and study space within the stacks.

Our Getting Started with Canvas "how to" is coming up soon!

Additionally, register for our next "how to": A Walkthrough of your Faculty Insight Profile. Faculty Insight is the university's official database in which faculty record and update their research, teaching, and service activities. It feeds to the searchable public-facing database, Experts at KU, which connects faculty to collaborators, potential graduate students, grant opportunities, and awards.

Join us for one or both of our upcoming "How to at KU" sessions and please register ahead of time, so we can prepare!

Upcoming "How to at KU":

Thursday, August 1 from 10-11 a.m. (CST)

Topic: Getting started with Canvas

Monday, September 23 from 3-4 p.m. (CST)

Topic: Faculty Insight Walkthrough

Simple Syllabus is a centralized, template-driven platform that allows instructors to personalize and publish interactive class syllabi. When using the syllabus tool, syllabi are automatically populated with the language and components required by KU’s Syllabus Policy, and at the same time, provide accessible digital syllabi for students. The tool can easily sync Canvas assignment information, such as due dates, into the syllabus and provides reporting functions to instructors. 

IT will offer three Simple Syllabus workshops in August that will cover accessing, editing and submitting syllabi within the Simple Syllabus system. Visit their workshop calendar at this link to register for a training.

Register for New Faculty Orientation by Friday, August 9!

Our New Faculty Orientation is a full-day event that takes place on Monday, August 19. It serves as an opportunity to hear from campus leaders; learn more about KU’s students; and become acquainted with key units that support teaching and research, provide course design resources, help with grant writing and funding, and foster professional development. Most importantly, New Faculty Orientation will provide you with a chance to connect with each other. 

Additionally, we are hosting a New Faculty Orientation campus tour on the following Tuesday morning (Aug. 20). Join us in the rotunda of Strong Hall for coffee, donuts, and a guided tour to learn more about our beautiful campus.

Join us this fall for New Faculty Foundation Series events!

New faculty are welcome to join us for New Faculty Foundations 1.0 or 2.0. However, 1.0 sessions are tailored specifically for faculty in their first year at KU. 

Find all of our 1.0 and 2.0 upcoming events at this link. Registration for upcoming 1.0 sessions are also available by clicking the buttons below.