About

Vision

The Center for Teaching Excellence will support a university culture that values and rewards excellent undergraduate and graduate teaching.

Mission

At the Center for Teaching Excellence, we believe that every faculty member, instructor and teaching assistant has the power to be an excellent teacher. But staying committed to excellent teaching is not easy. That’s why we offer a variety of engaging programs and convenient resources, for novices and veterans, to be a helpful part of the teaching life of the University of South Carolina.

Goals

Activities of the CTE are guided by the following programmatic goals:

1. Enhance the pedagogical knowledge and effectiveness of all who teach at USC.

2. Help new faculty and instructors establish a foundation for a lifetime of excellent teaching.

3. Help graduate students who teach or who want to teach to be efficient and effective.

4. Enable the wise use of instructional technologies to enhance student learning.

5. Increase and leverage support for programs that promote teaching excellence.

History

The Center for Teaching Excellence was launched in January 2006. The following summer, four USC faculty members conducted research and planning activities to guide the Center's development. A report from their activities can be viewed here.

In September of 2006, the Center's offices officially opened for business in the Thomas Cooper Library building. Space included three offices and a community room (shown in the figure below). At that time the workforce included one full-time Program Coordinator, one part-time Program Coordinator, a Faculty Director assigned to the CTE on a ½-time basis, and a graduate assistant. From the beginning we have expanded our programs and services by starting small and growing smart to ensure we meet the real teaching needs of our constituencies.

A view of our Community Room from the Faculty Director's office.

In FY08, the Center for Teaching Excellence sponsored and cosponsored fifteen colloquia, seminars and workshops, eleven events for new faculty, five cohort programs, six teaching grant and technology loan programs, and dozens of other professional development events. These contribute to over 2633 hours of in-person professional development to faculty, instructors and graduate students.

In FY08, the CTE workforce included one full-time Program Assistant, a part-time Program Coordinator, a temporary non-classified employee and a graduate assistant. Faculty associated with the CTE include the Faculty Director assigned to the CTE on a 3/4-time basis and three Associate Directors, each assigned on a 1/4-time basis.

Questions or Comments?

Please contact us individually or use our electronic suggestion box.