History of the Establishment of the Center for Teaching Excellence

In fall 1988 the Teaching Excellence Subcommittee of the Faculty Professional Development Committee adopted the mission statement of the Center for Teaching Excellence. During the fall of 1988 and spring 1989 the Subcommittee met to formulate plans for a concerted, coherent, and continuing effort to enhance teaching excellence at IUP. In developing its plans to achieve the goals listed above, the Subcommittee was guided by these basic beliefs:

1) faculty are the University's key resource;

2) IUP has a long history of excellence in teaching and its faculty are committed to maintaining that tradition;

3) teaching excellence comes from a cooperative relationship between faculty and students; and

4) teaching excellence is a multidimensional concept encompassing a diversity of approaches and philosophies.

In Fall 1989, the Center for Teaching Excellence was established to serve as a central location for resources and services related to the enhancement of teaching. The Center co-sponsored a fall conference on teaching styles and learning styles, critical thinking in science and math, and development of classroom-based research programs. The Center developed an orientation program for new IUP faculty, formal recognition of faculty for excellence in teaching, and programs focusing on teaching a culturally and ethnically diverse student population.

Last modified Thursday August 17 2006