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Center for Academic Development

The Center for Academic Development – Teaching Excellence serves as a central location for professional development and the collection and dissemination of information relevant to the promotion of excellence in teaching and learning at Liberty University. We offer a robust number of services for online and residential faculty.

Here’s What’s Happening:

ILLUMINATE Grants for the Improvement of Teaching

Submit your proposal now through March 31.

Faculty applications for ILLUMINATE Grants for the Improvement of Teaching are now open for the 2024-25  academic year. Deadline to apply is March 31. Priority will be given to applicants who have never received an ILLUMINATE Grant.

Full- and part-time residential faculty members, as well as online faculty teaching on-campus intensives, are eligible to apply. Departmental or interdisciplinary teams of two or three are also invited. Individuals may apply for up to $1500, teams of two up to $3000, and teams of three up to $4500 to implement new pedagogical techniques, classroom activities, technologies, class trips, and/or purchase materials that foster learner-centered experiences for students.

TO SUBMIT YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL: CLICK HERE

Faculty Showcase Week

You are invited to attend CTE’s Faculty Showcase Week, Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29, featuring CTE Faculty Fellow Dr. David Schweitzer. He is a previous recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. His classroom will be open to colleagues for peer observations during the following times. Please email him directly to schedule your observation. In your email, please include which class(es) you wish to observe.

  • David Schweitzer, Professor of Mathematics, deschweitzer@liberty.edu
    • MATH 126 – Elementary Calculus for Business and Science, Monday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 27, 12-12:50 p.m., DeMoss 4166
    • MATH 126 – Elementary Calculus for Business and Science, Monday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 27, 3:15-4:05 p.m., DeMoss 4164
    • MATH 402 – Linear Regression, Tuesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 28, 9:45-11 a.m., DeMoss 2064

CTE Spring/Summer Newsletter

The Spring/Summer 2024 edition of CTE’s newsletter is out now! This edition contains information about new initiatives and trainings, practical teaching tips and strategies, and significant professional development opportunities for residential and online faculty. Our prayer is that you take advantage of this information and these opportunities to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men, as Jesus did in Luke 2:52. Click here to read the full newsletter. 

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.” With a release date of Monday, Jan. 15, 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.”

 

Prayer Sessions (for Adjunct Faculty)

  • Spring D-Term, March 18, Noon-1 p.m. EST
  • Summer B-Term, May 13, Noon-1 p.m. EST
  • Summer D-Term, June 24, Noon-1 p.m. EST

Click Here to Join via MS Teams

 

CTE Open Virtual Office Hours (for Adjunct Faculty)

Every Tuesday, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 16, from noon to 4:30 p.m.

Click Here to Join via MS Teams

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.

  • Designing Authentic Assessments; Friday, March 1
    10:30–11:15 a.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 and MS Teams
  • How to Prepare Your RESDEV for Next Semester (for Residential Course Designers); Monday, March 4
    10:30-11:15 a.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 and MS Teams
  • In-Person Book Study: Every Day Matters (Meeting 2 of 3); Tuesday, March 5
    10-11 a.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066
  • CTE Open Virtual Office Hours (hosted for Adjunct Faculty); Tuesday, March 5, 12, 19 & 26
    Noon-4:30 p.m. No registration required. Log on: MS Teams
  • Accessing and Reviewing End-of-Course Surveys; Wednesday, March 6
    5-5:45 p.m.; MS Teams
  • Prayer Session: Spring D-Term; Monday, March 18
    Noon-1 p.m. No registration required. Log on: MS Teams
  • Interpreting the Faculty Assessment Report (FAR); Wednesday, March 20
    5-5:45 p.m.; MS Teams
  • Faith Learning Integration with Nirva Ready (Brown Bag Lunch); Thursday, March 21
    11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 and MS Teams
  • Using GradeAssist for Grading Efficiency; Friday, March 22
    10:30-11:15 a.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 and MS Teams
  • Top Five Canvas Features for Managing Your Course; Monday, March 25
    10:30-11:15 a.m.; DeMoss Hall, Room 3066 and MS Teams
  • Navigating the Faculty Portfolio; Wednesday, March 27
    5-5:45 p.m.; MS Teams
  • Online Book Study: Connecting in the Online Classroom (Meeting 3 of 3); Thursday, March 28
    Noon-1 p.m.; MS Teams

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 President’s Award Winners!

The purpose of the award is to recognize 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, their impact on student faith, thought, and character fully realizes Dr. Falwell’s vision of training leaders in all discipline areas. The award process involves a formal peer nomination, dean support, faculty input, and student contribution. Winners are determined by the Selection Committee and affirmed by the Provost. Faculty, Instructional Mentors, and other peers who have direct knowledge of a nominee’s qualifications and experience in demonstrating excellence in teaching may nominate a deserving full-time faculty member in the following categories: Undergraduate and Graduate. 

Liberty University Undergraduate

  • Crystal Passburg, School of Health Sciences
  • David Schweitzer, College of Arts and Sciences

Liberty University Graduate

  • Andrew Walker, College of Arts and Sciences
  • James Zabloski, School of Divinity
  • Melissa Stewart, Helms School of Government

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 mentee nominations and determined by a scoring committee.

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2022-2023 Director’s Award for Excellence in New Faculty Mentoring, Dr. Gary Isaacs.

Congratulations to the 2023-24 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 Tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Homes (Lisa Campbell and Kevin Layell; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Augmenting Fashion Design (Kim Cashman and Samantha Pearce; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Can You Understand Me Now? Interpreting Transmission Equipment for Future Interpreters (Andrew Milacci; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • North American Christians in Social Work Service-Learning Opportunity (Cheryl Nitz; School of Behavioral Sciences)
  • Enhancing Practical Applications for Assurance and Attestation Learning for Accounting Students (Charlene Geisler; School of Business)
  • Excellence in Human Performance: Conversing With One of the World’s Best Sports Performance Scholars and Practitioners (Andy Bosak, Jim Schoffstall, and Tate Fonville; School of Health Sciences and School of Engineering)
  • Exploring the Intersection of Public Health Policy (Jonathan Giles and Kahlib Fischer; School of Health Sciences and School of Government)
  • Floral Design Workshop (Chelsea Milks; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • History Through Experience: Historic Jamestown and Yorktown (Samuel Smith, Donna Donald, and Christopher Jones; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Holocaust Education: Exposing Students to the Holocaust (David Snead; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Intentional Engagement: Using Manipulatives and Cooperative Learning Tools in the Foreign Language Classroom (Alisha Castañeda and Stephanie Blankenship; College of Arts and Sciences)
  • Kingdom Advisors (Stacie Rhodes and Kurt Cornfield; School of Business)
  • LEARN 2 LEAD Through LUNCH & LEARN (Roger Mackey; College of Applied Studies and Academic Success)
  • Liberty University Apiary Project (Morgan Roth, Kyle Harris, and J. Thomas McClintock; School of Health Sciences)
  • Multidisciplinary Engineering Design: A Hands-on Robot Design (Howie Fang; School of Engineering)
  • Preparing for Excellence: A SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge Model Exploration (Tammy Brown; School of Business)
  • Social Welfare Policy: Social Work Field Trip to Richmond: Legislative Process and Cultural Education (Elke Cox and Aaron Wright; School of Behavioral Sciences)
  • UR LUved (Cindy Goodrich and Dana Woody; School of Nursing)

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 Ph.D. 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.

Dr. Brad Burgess
Associate Professor, Department Chair
College of Applied Studies and Academic Success

Brad Burgess serves as the Department Chair for the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success (CASAS). He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University, a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, and a Doctor of Education from Grand Canyon University. He currently works on the Faculty Hiring Committee, the Faculty Senate, and the Undergraduate Administrative and Curriculum Committee (UACC). In addition, he is the co-advisor for Omega Nu Lambda National Honor Society. He has been a part of Liberty for 19 years. We are honored to have Dr. Burgess as our 2023-24 CTE Faculty Fellow.


Center for Academic Development News

Visit the Faculty Workshops page for:

  • Workshop Calendar
  • Faith Integration Workshops
  • Faculty Book Studies

Helpful Links

How Can We Help?

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

 
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