Teaching Academy | College of Arts and Sciences

The Teaching Academy recognizes and rewards exceptional teachers as critical to the university's mission. In biweekly meetings, the fellows co-create a restorative, constructive community centered around conversations about the evolving challenges and opportunities of teaching. Through creative and solution-focused discussion about essential issues in higher education, fellows promote concrete changes on campus and work to improve outcomes for both students and faculty.

Nine to twelve fellows serving three-year terms, with new fellows joining annually
Awarded a title during their term with a stipend in year three: "Donald Olson Fellow" for social science, "Paul Olson Fellow" for humanities, and "Gordon Woodward Fellow" for science

Decision Tree: Student Request for Flexibility

Develop College Teaching Expertise

EVERY YEAR

Collaborate with fellows on projects of interest to the group
Attend regular discussions with fellows

Lead and Engage

ONCE DURING YOUR TERM

Explore a topic related to teaching by attending a conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning or visiting a peer institution to discuss pedagogical approaches and observe classes. Financial support available through the Teaching Academy.
Receive a stipend in the final year.

Past Fellows Projects

CAS Faculty Survey on Teaching Challenges and Successes
Roundtable discussion with CAS Faculty (follow-up to survey)
Empathic Teaching presentation at the UNL Teaching Symposium Fall 2023
Developed recommendations for Peer Review of Teaching in CAS
Assisting the College in making the pivot to online and hybrid instruction during COVID

Past Uses of the Travel Stipend

Attend the Teaching Professor Annual Conference
“I used my funding from the Teaching Academy to attend the African Studies Association conference in San Francisco, CA in December 2023. I found the experience extremely useful as I got to speak with publishers and African studies colleagues about my recently published book Writing on the Soil: Land & Landscape in Literature from Eastern & Southern Africa (2023). I really wish all faculty were afforded similar resources to attend conferences without presenting a paper.” Ng'ang'a Wahu-Muchiri

Application Information

Who: Tenure-line, Professor of Practice, and research faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences, any rank, who have a record of sustained participation in pedagogical improvement initiatives, creative teaching activities, and an accomplished teaching record.

What: Submit a C.V. and letter of interest describing topics you would be interested exploring with the fellows and how they connect to work you have already done.

Be sure to discuss your activities involving teaching or curricular development as they incorporate the following five categories of strong teaching: critical thinking about teaching, use of best practices, student perceptions, ongoing self-improvement, and mentoring others. You might include publications, educational projects (funded or otherwise), participation in the peer review of teaching or similar activities, and relevant presentations, workshops, or talks that you have given.

The Teaching Academy works collaboratively; we encourage you to discuss past collaborations and the approach you take to ensure its success.

When: March 24, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Where: Email June Griffin at june.griffin@unl.edu

Contact

Julia Reilly
jreilly3@unl.edu
School of Global Integrative Studies

June Griffin
june.griffin@unl.edu
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Strategic Initiatives

Request a Teaching Coach

Would you like a fresh perspective on your teaching? Thinking about how to document effective teaching?

Request a Teaching Academy Fellow as a teaching coach for the semester/year. They offer confidential consultations about teaching that will help you to reflect on your work in the classroom and refine your teaching practices.

More About Coaching

Contact:
Kelly Kingsbury Brunetto
kingsburybrunetto@unl.edu
Spanish/Modern Languages and Literatures

Conversations: Your coach will provide individualized and confidential support through conversations about your teaching. Topics might include designing courses and assignments, difficult classroom situations, engaging learners, and making sense of end-of-semester evaluations.
In-class observation: valuable information and a space to reflect on your work as a teacher.
Coaching approach: you drive the conversation according to your specific goals and aspirations.