Early Bird

Student success and equity through effective teaching

Enroll in an ACUE Cohort and learn research-based practices proven to improve achievement and close equity gaps.

By Meredith Flynn

July 21, 2021

The Association of College and University Educators’ Course in Effective Teaching Practices brings faculty members together into cohorts to learn and implement approaches that improve student engagement and persistence and promote deeper learning. These approaches are also directly aligned with inclusive teaching practices that result in more equitable outcomes for students. Apply today to join one of these cohorts, which start this fall and run through the academic year. Applications are due Aug. 4.

In the past two years, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Design has facilitated the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices course for three cohorts of Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty (Cohorts A, B and C).  This fall, the CTLD is thrilled to join 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 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, or “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 well as affiliate faculty members who have taught at MSU Denver for more than one 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.

Faculty members in previous cohorts have been impressed with the course. In Cohort A, for faculty members who completed the final survey, 96% would recommend the ACUE course to a colleague; 100% reported that the modules were helpful in refining their teaching practice; and 100% found the content relevant to their work.  

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 its 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 its new partnerships and the launch of Cohorts D and E this fall. Meredith Flynn, Ph.D., associate director of Teaching and Learning, will be the ACUE facilitator, and you are encouraged to reach out to her with any questions.