Early Bird

Invest in excellent teaching

Apply by May 21 to join an ACUE cohort.

By Meredith Flynn, Ph.D., and Jeff Loats, Ph.D.

April 26, 2021

Applications to join the Association of College and University Educators Course on Effective Teaching Practices, which starts this fall and runs through the academic year, are due May 21. Join your colleagues across campus and learn together about evidence-based teaching practices that promote student engagement, persistence and academic success.

In the past two years, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Design has facilitated the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices course for three cohorts of Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty members (Cohorts A, B, and C). This fall, the CTLD is thrilled to join with two partners to co-sponsor two new cohorts. Both cohorts will address the core competencies that scholarship has identified help students succeed:

• Designing an effective course
• Establishing a productive learning environment
• Using active-learning strategies
• Promoting higher-order thinking
• Assessing to inform instruction and promote learning

Additionally, each cohort will explore a separate subtopic.

Cohort D – Equity and Anti-racism Cohort: The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is sponsoring one ACUE cohort that will include some additional discussion of inclusive teaching practices and anti-racist pedagogy. 

Cohort E – Career Preparedness Cohort: The Classroom to Career Hub is sponsoring one ACUE cohort that will incorporate additional discussion of integrating career guidance into classes and designing assignments that cultivate students’ career-ready, “soft” skills.

Each cohort will have fewer than 30 spots available, so apply soon using this quick online application form. You will have the chance to express your interest in a specific cohort or just apply generally.

All full-time faculty members (tenure-track and Category II) are eligible, as are affiliate faculty members who have taught at MSU Denver for more than a year and will be teaching 9 credits in fall. Faculty members who successfully complete the course receive a nationally recognized Certificate in Effective College Instruction endorsed by the American Council on Education.

Each ACUE course will start with a three-hour Course Launch that will take place sometime in the two weeks before fall classes start. Specific dates, times and formats are still being determined. After that, participants will commit to spending two to three hours per week to complete the course by the end of the spring semester.

MSU Denver instructors in previous cohorts have some impressive things to say about the ACUE course:

“I will now have a virtual plethora of innovative and advanced pedagogical techniques to draw upon, thanks to ACUE.” – Andy Traver, Criminal Justice and Criminology

“Overall, this was a great experience. I believe I benefited from this course. In particular, the sections on how to help underprepared students was eye-opening for me.” – Andrew Thangasamy, Political Science

“I learned a lot of tips and tricks that I think will make a difference in my courses.” – Cindy Krentz, Nursing

“It has been a wonderful experience.” – Adam Melnick, Management

Learn more about the ACUE program

• Preview any of the 25-plus modules.
• Read the American Council on Education piece on its partnership with ACUE and the background of the ACUE course.
• Watch this 90-second video from ACUE about the course.

These two ACUE cohorts represent an unprecedented investment by MSU Denver in the quality of teaching at the institution. The CTLD is incredibly excited about our new partnerships and the launch of Cohort D and E this fall. Contact Meredith Flynn, Ph.D., associate director of Teaching and Learning, ACUE facilitator, with questions.

Again, applications to join the ACUE Course are due May 21.