Center for Academic Development

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) serves as a central location for faculty training, mentoring, professional development, and the collection and dissemination of information that promotes excellence in teaching at Liberty University. CTE offers services for online and residential faculty, including drop-in support, workshops, webinars, and teaching academies. Contact us: cte@liberty.edu

Here’s What’s Happening:

All-Faculty Orientation (AFO) – Wednesday, Aug. 7

Faculty, please plan to attend: ALL-Faculty Orientation, Wednesday, Aug. 7, Montview Alumni Ballroom
Breakfast served. Music and Worship begin at 8 a.m., followed by Main Program. This will be followed by a complimentary lunch.
No advanced registration needed. Tap in with Flames Pass at the event. This year’s theme will be “Faith and Flourishing”. 

Note- Part of this year’s training will take place in a Canvas shell, “All-Faculty Orientation: Fall 2024”. Faculty will be enrolled by Aug. 7. Following the live, in-person event, faculty will be asked to view the course materials and complete the Verification Quiz no later than Friday, Aug. 9.

New Faculty Orientation (NFO)

Monday, Aug. 5; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Location: DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 (Business Dress)
Tuesday, Aug. 6; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – Location: DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 (Business Casual)

NFO is reserved for new, full-time residential faculty and academic administration. If you are unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances, please notify your Dean AND contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at cte@liberty.edu. New, full-time, online faculty and academic administration who work on campus should also attend. Please bring your laptop and charger.

CTE Podcast: In Pursuit of Excellence

Liberty University’s Center for Teaching Excellence is excited to announce the launch of its new podcast, “In Pursuit of Excellence: Teaching in Christian Higher Education.” The weekly podcast will feature educators who are recognized for their exemplary, innovative, and inspirational teaching.

Targeted toward university faculty, this podcast aims to inspire and empower teachers in their quest for excellence, as they Train Champions for Christ. Listeners can expect to hear engaging stories, practical teaching strategies, and insights.

Tune in weekly on Spotify to “In Pursuit of Excellence: Teaching in Christian Higher Education.”

 

Faculty Workshops & Webinars

Optional faculty professional development brought to you by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Register via the Course Registration tool in myLU (Subject Code: PDCT). Email cte@liberty.edu with questions. For workshops/webinars held via Microsoft Teams, links will be sent to registered participants in advance.

• CTE Virtual Open Office Hours; Tuesday, July 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
  Noon-4:30 p.m. No registration required. Log on: MS Teams
• Teaching Military Student Learners; Wednesday, July 3
  Noon-12:45 p.m.; MS Teams
• Teaching Student Learners with Disabilities; Wednesday, July 10
  Noon-12:45 p.m.; MS Teams
• Teaching ESL Student Learners; Wednesday, July 17
  Noon-12:45 p.m.; MS Teams
• Teaching Adult Student Learners; Wednesday, July 24
  Noon-12:45 p.m.; MS Teams
• Online Book Study: Faith Positive (Meeting 3 of 3); Thursday, July 25
  Noon-1 p.m.; MS Teams
• A Deep Dive into MS Teams for Teaching, Meetings, and Office Hours; Wednesday, July 31
  Noon-12:45 p.m.; MS Teams

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 President’s Award Winners!

The award is recognized as the university’s most prestigious annual academic honor. Its purpose is to celebrate teachers who have promoted significant student learning- evidenced by creative and innovative approaches to teaching, the effective use of instructional technology, and exceptional pedagogical skill. Additionally, the recipients’ impact on student faith, thought, and character fully realizes Dr. Falwell’s vision of Training Champions for Christ. The award process involves a formal nomination, dean support, faculty input, and student contribution. The Center for Teaching Excellence oversees the adjudication and process. Winners are recommended by confidential Provost Scoring Committees, comprised of select staff, faculty, academic leadership, and past winners, and are affirmed by the Office of the Provost.

2023-24 President’s Award Winners

• Alexander Mason, College of Arts and Sciences
• Andrea Smith, School of Aeronautics
• Cynthia Goodrich, School of Nursing
• James Mashburn, School of Aeronautics
• Kevin Layell, College of Arts and Sciences

CTE Director’s Award for Excellence in New Faculty Mentoring 

This award recognizes seasoned faculty mentors’ extraordinary dedication to supporting new colleagues in the Koinonia Mentoring Program. Mentors meet monthly with their mentees, offering advice, support, and encouragement to new faculty members. Award recipients are selected based on length of service and determined by a scoring committee.

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2023-2024 Director’s Award for Excellence in New Faculty Mentoring, Dr. Cindy Goodrich.

Congratulations to the 2024-25 ILLUMINATE Grant Recipients!

The ILLUMINATE Grants for the Improvement of Teaching are designed to encourage faculty to enhance instruction through the introduction of new pedagogical and active learning techniques, activities, and/or learner-centered experiences. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Confidential scoring committees evaluate applicants on the grant’s purpose, student engagement, higher-order thinking, and potential to impact student learning.

• A Continuation of Latent Blood Detection and STR Analysis of Samples Collected from an American Civil War Field Hospital; The Authenticated Surgical Table Used for Surgery (Kristin Mosse and James McClintock; School of Health Sciences)
• AFROTC Detachment 890 VR Flight Simulator Project (David Gupton, Timothy Robles, Jason Bell, and Shamika Woodruff; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Applications of Wildlife Photography to Support Natural History Investigations (Kyle Harris, Sherrie Welfel, and Matt Becker; School of Health Sciences)
• Christian School Enrichment Initiative (Michele Worley, Esther Alcindor, and Harvey Klamm; School of Education)
• Clear View Catheter Insertion Simulator (Lori Dominie, Kristen Oakley, and Bichundo Lambert; School of Nursing)
• Community Health Assessment for Underserved Populations (Linnaya Graf and Oswald Attin; School of Health Sciences)
• Expanding Cultural Competence: Social Work Diversity Experience in DC (Elke Cox, Rhonda Turner, and Alex Lagos; School of Behavioral Sciences)
• Good Grief for Nursing Students (Lindsey Frett, Deidra Simpson, and Diane Bridge; School of Nursing)
• Hands-On History: Learning Through Experience (Donna Donald; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Homeless for the Homeless: A Collaborative Poverty Simulation Experience for Nursing Students (Lisa Foote, Tara Smith, Becky Webb, and Dana Woody; School of Nursing)
• Implementing Laboratory Instruments to Increase Active Learning in Human and Animal Physiology Laboratory Exercises (Vhuthuhawe Madzinge, Cory Goff, and Ersilia Mirabelli; School of Health Sciences)
• Instructional Supplies for Coffee Course (Maria Garcia; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Kingdom Advisors Conference (Stacie Rhodes, Kurt Cornfield, and Erin Mills; School of Business)
• Making Learning Sticky: An Investigation of the Results for Positive Reinforcement Via Stickers for Graded Papers and Lab Behavior in Chemistry (Nancy Richardson; School of Health Sciences)
• Microsoft Excel Certifications (Angela Holt, Alison Pettit, and Miranda Dyer; School of Business)
• Music Education Enrichment: Sound Equipment (Stanley Harris and Rebecca Watson; School of Music)
• Practical Learning (Yevgeniy Dovgalyuk; School of Music)
• Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Protocol for Laboratory Learning (Jing Xu; School of Health Sciences)
• Showcasing Play Adaptations of Literature for Children and Young Adults (Virginia Dow; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Showcasing Student Work (Lisa Campbell; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Strengthening Understanding of Sheet Metal Processing Concepts Using Hands-On Activity (Ephraim Zegeye; School of Engineering)
• Tracing the Footsteps of Our Past: A Journey Through Central Virginia’s History (Alexander Mason, Samuel C. Smith, and Christopher Sneeringer; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Wings of Wisdom: Preparing Students for Landing in the Dynamic World of Airport Management (Amber L. Wilson; School of Aeronautics)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for Future Educators (Monica Huband, Laurie Rice, and Michelle Goodwin; School of Education)

CTE Faculty Fellow Program

As part of its commitment to best practices, the Center for Teaching Excellence seeks Faculty Fellows to draw upon their talents. Many CTE Faculty Fellows are past winners of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The CTE Faculty Fellow role is an opportunity for distinguished faculty to become featured speakers at CTE’s January Conference and during semester workshops. Additionally, Faculty Fellows are recognized at various events throughout the academic year. This program involves a competitive application process.

Meet our 2023-24 Faculty Fellows:

Dr. David Schweitzer
Professor, Mathematics
College of Arts & Sciences

David Schweitzer was a 2023 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and a 2020 recipient of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Research Mentorship. Holding a Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Houston and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University, he serves as a Professor of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences and as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Engineering. Schweitzer is invested in the integration of math and technology, developing software tools to aid mathematical expression in various learning environments. He is the Program Director for Liberty’s Applied Mathematics and Statistics Degree, where he develops curriculum and serves as an advisor to the Actuarial Club, actively contributing to and managing the club’s resources. We are honored to have Dr. Schweitzer as our 2023-24 CTE Faculty Fellow.

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Center for Academic Development News

Visit the Faculty Workshops page for:

• Workshop Calendar
• Faith Integration Workshops
• Faculty Book Studies

Helpful Links

• Course Registration Tool

How Can We Help?

Have questions about who we are or the services we provide? Contact us at cte@liberty.edu.