Effective Teaching Practices Program | ACUE Certificates
The ETP program is a set of professional development experiences providing a deep dive into effective teaching principles and practices. It utilizes the curriculum of the Association of Colleges and University Educators (ACUE) accompanied by support of Cal Poly peer mentors. In various elements of this program, faculty can either complete 25 modules to earn the ACUE's Certificate in Effective College Instruction or complete six modules to earn an ACUE microcredential on a particular theme. This is the fifth year that the CTLT has offered the ACUE-grounded program at Cal Poly. This program is a component of Cal Poly's Graduation Initiative Equity Priority 5 Project.
Program Overview
Completing the ACUE's Certificate in Effective College Instruction is a challenging and rewarding professional development experience exploring and applying scholarship-informed course design principles and instructional practices. To be successful requires participants to commit to the program and to be willing (and able) to designate several hours each week throughout the academic year for each of the modules: reading, viewing, commenting in discussions and composing reflections. The program calendar offers some flexibility but consistency and staying up to date with peers is essential for participants to gain the most benefits.
In recognition of faculty investments of time and energy, a stipend ($1,000) is available as an incentive and to recognize the accomplishment of a successful completion. Faculty must be on a 1-year contract at minimum to be eligible for a stipend (See the CTLT's Stipend Eligibility Policy).
AY 2024-25 Participation
Participation in the ACUE teaching certificate this academic year is a component of Cal Poly's Graduation Initiative Equity Priority 5 Project. The EP5 is focused on student success (improving graduation rates and reducing Ds, Fs and withdrawal grades). A foundation of core principles and practices of effective teaching can benefit student success in majors across campus, especially those who face inequitable hurdles (e.g., first generation students, etc.).
ACUE Curriculum Overview
The ACUE curriculum includes 25 modules organized into four microcredentials, each (usually) composed of six modules:
- Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment
- Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses
- Promoting Active Learning
- Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners
The commitment is 2-3 hours a week for each module, and the work is whenever you have time in your weekly schedule -- all materials and communications are online, all course activities are asynchronous.
Participants will begin the program around mid-October and complete the first microcredential before Winter Break. Modules for the next three microcredentials are distributed across Winter and Spring Quarters. The program concludes in early June.
Program Design
The program is designed with elements that will foster connections among participating faculty, provide a supportive learning environment, facilitate faculty's successful progress through the curriculum and promote thoughtful and effective implementation of new knowledge and methods that benefit student success.
More on the ETP program design
Program Cohort
Participating faculty can include new and early-career faculty as well as seasoned faculty. Cohort members will progress through the same curriculum together, with flexibility when to allocate time to the workshop activities. The connections and mutual support from collaborating with cohort colleagues with similar instructional challenges can enhance learning experiences and improve course redesigns as well as expand peer support networks.
