Effective Teaching Practices Program | 2025-26

The ETP program offers professional development experiences that provide a deep dive into effective teaching principles and practices. It utilizes the curriculum of the Association of Colleges and Universities (ACUE) accompanied by support of Cal Poly faculty peer mentors. In the certificate program, faculty complete modules to earn the ACUE's Certificate in Effective College Teaching. We also on occasion have offered opportunities to earn an ACUE microcredential on a particular theme by completing a six-module workshop. And we have offered opportunities to continue progress using the ACUE curriculum in the ACUE: Year Two program. 

ACUE Certificate in Effective College Teaching

This is a challenging and rewarding deep dive into scholarship-informed course design principles and instructional practices that will pay dividends for years to come. The certificate is a year-long program that encompasses 25 modules grouped in four microcredentials and extends throughout an academic year. 

The purpose of this program is to provide an extended professional development experience that will establish a solid foundation for faculty success in their educator responsibilities. While especially suitable for early career faculty, participants at any stage of their teaching career will benefit.

Program Expectations and Schedule

To be successful requires participants to commit to the program throughout the academic year and to be willing (and able) to allocate 2-3 hours each week to each module: reading, viewing, implementing a selected teaching method, contributing to discussions and composing reflections. In recognition of demands on faculty time and energy from many sources, the program schedule offers some flexibility but consistency is essential for participants to gain the most benefits.

Curriculum

The ACUE curriculum includes 25 modules organized into four microcredentials, each composed of 6-7 individual topical modules:

• Promoting Active Learning
• Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment
• Designing Student-Centered and Equitable Courses
• Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners

Participants will begin the program the middle of 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 late 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
 

Participants' Feedback

Faculty who have completed this program reported on their experiences at the end of an academic year with consistently positive assessments:

• 94% reported that the modules were helpful in refining their teaching practices.
• 96% said that the content was relevant to their work.
• 89% would recommend the ACUE curriculum to a colleague.

• Designing an Effective Course and Class (38% at beginning, 93% at completion)
• Establishing a Productive Learning Environment (30% to 81%)
• Using Active Learning Techniques (31% to 78%)
• Promoting Higher Order Thinking (41% to 86%)
• Assessing to Inform Instruction and Promote Learning (46% to 90%)

They reported significant numbers of new teaching methods that they learned (or learned more about) and those that they implemented (or plan to implement):

• 42: Average number of new teaching practices learned
• 85: Average number of prior teaching practices that they learned more about
• 20: Average number of new teaching practices implemented
• 55: Average number of additional practices that they plan to implement

Program Cohort

All faculty will progress through the same curriculum, and the connections and mutual support from collaborating with cohort colleagues at similar career stages and with similar instructional challenges can enhance learning experiences and improve course redesigns.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are faculty -- including tenure-line as well as full- and part-time lecturers -- who are holding a minimum 1-year appointment during the program's academic year.  

Stipend

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).

ETP/ACUE Certificate Workshop Application Form | Closes Friday, Oct 3, 2025