Part-time faculty offer their subject-matter expertise, pedagogical skills, and support for DU’s students, advancing our mission to be a private university devoted to the public good. We cannot sustain transformative education or R1 “our way” without recognizing and developing our adjunct faculty members. Often in R1 institutions the perception of the adjunct professorial series an as institutional outsiders increased as research TT are valued more. DU has a committed pool of adjuncts necessary to the teaching enterprise and to our overall workforce. Investing in their success is important to retaining a high-quality adjunct faculty pool and engaging experts and professionals in the learning experience to help train the next generation of practitioners.

The Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence program, designed by the Office of Teaching and Learning and Faculty Affairs in the Office of the Provost, merges from our commitment to investing in the professional development of our adjunct series faculty. This program promotes growth as a scholarly and reflective teacher, offers opportunity for community building and integrative reflection.

Starting in September 2022, the program will launch with both synchronous and asynchronous options in six competency areas: UDL and Accessibility, Teaching with Technology, Inclusive Teaching Practices, Facilitation, Designing for Learning, and Professional Identity. This curated set of professional development opportunities is selected for part-time instructors. Faculty participants will have a year to complete this program and will receive a $250 stipend and a Teaching Excellence Certificate.

There will be 2 online events in September 2022 that are options for the “Professional Identity” category Part-time faculty orientation will be Thursday, September 8th from 7-8pm for new faculty. For those who’ve taught here, or elsewhere, there will be a session on Friday, September 9th from 12-1pm where experienced part-time faculty can exchange their best tips and tricks for starting the term off strongly in small structured discussions. 50 faculty per year can receive a $250 stipend upon completion.

If you already signed up, you should see the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Course appear in your Canvas. If it does not, contact Terese Rainwater to be added use the new form below. 

The certificate program is accessed through a Canvas course, which articulates the goals, learning outcomes, and requirements. 

• Start Date: We expect to launch in early September.
• Program: The program entails completing coursework in 5 competencies, each of which corresponds to a module in Canvas. 
• Synchronous/Asynchronous Offering: Each competency will have both synchronous and asynchronous offerings.
• Choice: Faculty choose from the menu of (at least) 2 offerings per competency or qualifying course.
• Time: We expect each offering to take 1 – 2 hours to complete. Anticipated total time commitment: 6-12 hours.
• OTL Courses: OTL offers more intensive courses that have larger time commitments (and are optional)  but that also will meet the Teaching Excellence Certificate requirements.
• Calendar: A calendar of competencies and qualifying courses is forthcoming.
• Stipend and Certificate: Faculty who complete the course will receive $250 and a Teaching Excellence Certificate.
• Celebration: The DU Community will gather in Spring ’23 to celebrate the inaugural cohort of faculty who completed the program.

FAQs:

Q. How do I sign up?
A. Click on the button below. You’ll be added to the Canvas course shortly which includes details about synchronous and asynchronous options being offered for Fall 2022.

Q. How do I indicate that I’ve completed an activity in each competency area?
A. Once you complete the assessment survey in Fall 2022, you’ll be enrolled into a Canvas course where you can review the options and submit a short reflection on each of the activities you complete.

Q. How long do I have to complete this program?
A. The goal is for 2022-2023 participants to complete the program by March 17, 2023, so that they can be awarded their stipend and certificate at the OTL Spring Showcase. However, we recognize that part-time faculty are not teaching every quarter, and will offer instructors the opportunity to “roll over” their progress to next year’s program.

Q. What if I am a remote faculty member?
A. No problem. There will be at least one virtual option in each competency.

Q. I’m doing a summer 2022 program through the OTL—like the Course Design Institute or one of the Teaching Online short courses—can those count?
A. Yes, most likely! When you are enrolled in the Canvas course, there will be the ability to indicate that you’ve completed these programs.

Q: How long will the certificate program be available?
A.The Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence Program will run for 2 years: AY ’22-’23 and AY ’23 and ’24.

Q. Who should I contact if I want more information?
Please contact Terese Rainwater at terese.rainwater@du.edu for more information.