Faculty Development

We help faculty create high quality learning experiences, reflect critically on teaching practice, and adapt evidence-based teaching strategies to enhance learning for all students. Our areas of expertise include:

• Inclusive and equitable teaching

• Evidence-based best practices in teaching and learning

• Faculty vitality and well-being (e.g., preventing/managing burnout, finding/reclaiming joy in teaching, balancing responsibilities, time management, navigating higher education)

• Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) (e.g. IRB guidance and support, getting started with a SoTL project, analyzing data, preparing for publication, finding funding)

• Career planning for teaching excellence (e.g. teaching portfolio development, crafting teaching statements for promotion/tenure, interpreting IDEA scores, mid-semester feedback, teaching observations)

• Emergent issues in teaching & learning (e.g. generative AI, teaching during contentious times, alternative assessment)

Student Learning, Outcomes Assessment & Accreditation

We promote student success, improved learning, and continuous program improvement through program-level outcomes assessment and curricular innovation. Our areas of expertise include:

• Learning outcomes assessment for curricular improvement and program revision

• New academic program/certificate development and assessment planning

• General education curriculum improvement

• Engaging stakeholders around strategic assessment planning

• Programming centered on assessment and evaluation best practices

Academic Testing Center

The URI Academic Testing Center proctors assessments for students whose faculty request support with ADAAA/504 exam accommodations and University approved excused absences. Under the umbrella of the ATL, the Academic Testing Center also partners with faculty to support and sustain inclusive teaching and learning practices in their courses by offering a dedicated facility that administers student examinations. Our areas of expertise include:

• University-supported proctoring that promotes honesty, integrity, and equity by adhering to the best practices and standards of the National Collegiate Testing Association (NCTA)

• Accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive testing sessions that meet the needs of students, faculty, academic departments, and colleges (implementation of ADA/504/508 exams accommodations, proctoring practices that support sense of belonging for all students, and collaborative programming with the campus)

• Administration of 3rd party assessments including the American Councils Language Assessment Support System (ACLASS) online language placement exams for the Chinese Flagship Program, Prior learning assessments such the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and IAME exams)

Online Education & Instructional Design

We offer training and support for faculty designing and teaching online courses for both URI and URI Online, including workshops in Online Pedagogy and Online Design, as well as individual consultations in instructional design. Our areas of expertise include:

• Online trainings including Basic Brightspace, Online Pedagogy, Non-Designer Online Pedagogy, and Online Course Design

• Online/blended pedagogy best practices 

• Online/blended course design best practices 

• Creating video for online/blended courses 

• Quality Matters course review information