Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation
Established in 2021, the Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation seeks to encourage and spotlight the many exemplary faculty, organizations, workshops, events, and resources on campus that promote educational excellence in all forms across campus, develop and translate innovative new resources, tools, and approaches that promote research-driven national best practices including promoting the value of DEI and active learning, and nurture collaborative cross-disciplinary communities for deep reflection, scholarly exchange, and connection around learning, teaching, and professional growth.
To realize this mission, the Center builds partnerships on and off campus to develop and offer a variety of innovative workshops, learning communities, resources, and opportunities, including:
See Current Workshops and Events
Do you want to learn something new?
We offer workshops on various topics, from research and service to pedagogical and practical teaching tips that empower others to strive for excellence and innovation. These free workshops are open to anyone in a full or part-time teaching position at UVA Wise. These workshops do not require any prerequisite or expectation for participants to attend a future talk or event. Note that some workshops may require advance registration when space limits or supplies are involved.
Find Teaching Resources
Do you want popular handouts, guidelines, tools, best practices, and other teaching tips? Go to our resource page to find the latest handouts, videos, and other materials compiled to help you with any teaching, service, or scholarship question you may face from syllabus design, active learning, DEI course teaching, best practices in community engagement, and many other issues.
For example, see our SCHEV spotlight video below and learn how we teach and assess Critical Thinking:
Learn About Current (FLC) Faculty Learning Communities
Do you want a deeper dive into an area of academic interest or concern?
Email Emily Dotson ead2y@uvawise.edu to find out how you can join a small community of fellow teachers in a Faculty Learning Community (FLC) that meets multiple times throughout the academic year. Participants sign up at the start of an academic year to attend multiple workshops and produce deliverable products that can be shared with the College. A FLC provides an opportunity to work longer, in greater depth, and in collaboration with other faculty who share your concerns.
Would you like individual assistance?
Do you want a fresh perspective on your teaching as it unfolds?
The Center offers various teaching handouts and materials on the resource page that you should feel free to download and customize. In addition, I can provide Faculty Mentors inside or outside your discipline to observe your class or survey your students at any point in the semester for you. I am also always happy to meet privately to discuss your pedagogical philosophy, solve a teaching challenge, or brainstorm ways to engage your students more meaningfully.
Do you want to learn more about faculty issues like tenure and promotion processes, work-life balance, or peer observations?
The Center offers various teaching handouts and materials on the resource page and several Faculty Learning Communities (New Faculty, Master Teacher, and Tenure and Promotion) to provide detailed information about these topics. I am also always happy to meet to discuss individual concerns or provide information on teaching, service, or scholarship expectations at the College.
Would you like to discuss a Human Resource Issue? We refer Human Resource issues to the Director of Human Resources, Stephanie Perry. See more information about UVA Wise Human Resources.
How is the Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation credentialed?
The Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation is a member of the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network, the largest international professional development organization for Educational Developers, the Virginia Higher Education Development Collaboration, and the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.
Fall 2021-Spring 2022 Report: https://uvawise.box.com/s/en1y75n40tk1qicbe0h82f64tfzkvjqq
Emily Dotson, the Center Director, is the SCHEV elected Representative for Virginia Public Colleges and Universities on the Virginia Higher Education Development Collaboration Executive Committee.
Contact Center for Educational Excellence and Innovation Director Emily Dotson ead2y@uvawise.edu for more information.