Mission and more

Mission

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) provides leadership and support for instructional improvement efforts on the Davis campus.  The ultimate goal of all of CETL’s activities is improved learning opportunities for undergraduates at UC Davis.  CETL activities are directed towards three related goals: enriching campus resources for teaching and learning, promoting effective teaching and assessment strategies, and facilitating campus discourse about teaching innovation and improvement. Consistent with these goals, CETL staff members facilitate inquiry-based instructional improvement efforts, authentic assessment of teaching and learning, and long-term collaboration among campus instructors with shared interests and varied expertise.

Campus Responsibilities

As part of its leadership responsibilities, the CETL administers the campus-wide TA Orientation, First-Year Seminar Program, Graduate Teaching Community, Seminar on College Teaching, TA Consultant Program, and Undergraduate Instructional Improvement Program (UIIP) grants and mini-grants for UCD faculty. The CETL also offers individual consultation to campus instructors and teaching assistants (including mid-quarter evaluations and classroom videotaping conferences), Scantron scoring services for exams and course evaluation surveys, and SPEAK assessments. Independently and in collaboration with other units, CETL staff design and offer a variety of workshops, online resources and training materials on teaching improvement issues.

Administration

Leadership for the CETL is vested in a half-time faculty director (currently Dr. Winder McConnell, professor of German) who reports to the office of the Vice-Provost of Undergraduate Studies. CETL staff members design and administer programs on their own and in collaboration with other campus units, including Academic Technology Services, the Office of Graduate Studies, Shields Library, and the University Writing Program.  CETL programs, services and projects are described throughout this website.

The Center emphasizes inquiry-based instructional improvement efforts, authentic assessment of teaching and learning, and long-term collaboration among campus instructors with shared interests and varied expertise.

Visit the CETL Staff page.

Get a translation of all of the CETL’s acronyms.