Centers & Institutes

Center for Teaching & Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning strives to empower Shaw University faculty and staff by providing professional, instructional, and curricular development with emphasis on communication, customer focus and problem-solving. The center is designed to allow both faculty and staff to take an active part in their professional development. Professional development is a vital part of an institution’s success and has been shown to yield better student retention rates and student performance. The center will provide opportunities for participants to identify and develop key competencies to help them excel professionally. Just as with many other professions, the development of excellence is a continuous life-long process. 

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Overview

Mission

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) strives to empower Shaw University faculty and staff by providing professional, instructional, and curricular development opportunities. With a commitment to learning, creativity, innovation and quality service, the center is guided by the principles of visionary leadership, data-driven decisions and continuous improvement.
The mission of the Center is fulfilled by:

  • Creating an office that provides opportunities and resources to help strengthen professional and technological skills of faculty and staff.
  • Providing funds for faculty and staff to attend conferences and workshops pertinent to teaching and the learning process, technological skills, as well as customer-focused training.
  • Organizing on-campus workshops and conferences related to evidence-based innovative pedagogy, integration and use of technology and other scholarly activities.
  • Instituting activities that help new employees quickly adjust and get assimilated into the institutional and professional arenas.
  • Providing a supportive and rewarding system for faculty and staff who are innovative and are recognized by their peers for their excellence.
  • Providing financial assistance in the form of mini-grant awards for activities and projects geared toward promoting and improving teaching effectiveness, scholarship, and enhancing student learning.
  • Providing a forum for faculty to dialog with one another, brown-bag seminars, sharing ideas, discussing issues that are pertinent to the overall teaching profession, individual research, and/or student learning, while also creating a sense of community.

Vision

In alignment with the vision of Shaw University’s Centers of Excellence, the Center for Teaching and Learning will become recognized as an office that (1) supports faculty in the areas of pedagogy, mentoring, research and leadership while utilizing evidence-based best practices to improve and sustain excellence in pedagogy and student learning and (2) provides services that meet the evolving needs of our clients, resulting in them choosing us first and recognizing us as their best choice. Additionally, through activities provided by the CTL, faculty and staff build partnerships and develop skills to strengthen not only their lives and our students but their communities as well.

Advisory Committee

Members have the responsibility of executing the mission of the center. Their specific duties include:

  • Assessing faculty and staff needs and interest for appropriate professional development opportunities.
  • Planning and implementing professional development activities at Shaw University.
  • Reviewing dossiers for sabbatical leaves and making recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
  • Reviewing dossiers and making recommendations for awards in teaching and professional excellence.
  • Reviewing proposals and making recommendations for mini-grant awards.
  • Reviewing applications for travel to conferences and workshops to enhance professional development for funding awarded through Title III.
  • Preparing a quarterly and annual report on professional development activities.

Committee members are nominated by their respective areas from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The committee consists of faculty members from the Academic Departments, members from Academic Support Departments and staff members along with a member of the Center for Teaching and Learning (Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning). The chair will be the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Each member other than office staff will serve a term of three years. In the event that a member cannot finish his/her term, another member will be nominated to serve for a renewed three years.

Awards of Excellence

Recognizing & Awarding Excellence

Accomplishment of Shaw University’s mission would be impossible to achieve without the hard work and dedication of its faculty and staff. It is for that reason that the administration at Shaw University annually recognizes the performance and achievements of outstanding faculty and staff who have gone above the call of duty, taken initiative in moving the university forward, and shown a deep commitment to our vision of excellence.

  • Each year, two faculty and one staff member will be the recipients of the following awards:

    1. Excellence in Academic Research Award (faculty)
    2. Excellence in Academic Teaching Award (faculty)
    3. Excellence in Academic Service Award (staff)

    The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) invites nominations (including self-nominations) each spring for each of the awards. Each nominee is contacted by the center with guidelines for submission of a their portfolios. The CTL Advisory Committee will review portfolios in April and vote on the three awards. Awardees are announced at the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation luncheon in May.

    • Three consecutive years of employment at Shaw University
    • Full-Time Employee
    • Copy of CV/resume
    • List of accomplishments that relate to the specified award
    • At least one letter of recommendations from a peer
    • At least one letter of recommendation from a student, alumna or alumnus
    • At least one letter of recommendation from your current or former supervisor

    Additional portfolio requirements will also be provided to nominees.

    • A reflective statement describing personal teaching philosophy, strategies and professional objectives
    • SIR II evaluations for the past 2 years
    • Description of any innovative teaching strategies/pedagogies attempted this academic year
    • List of current student advisees
    • List of any professional presentations or publications related to teaching along with supporting documentation such copies of publications, flyers or conference programs
    • Any awards received within 2 years for teaching excellence
    • One (1) page description of research undertaken at Shaw University this academic year
    • Full names and majors of student researchers mentored this academic year
    • List of any research presentations or publications along with supporting documentation such copies of publications, posters, books, or conference programs
    • List of grants/awards submitted this academic year for research including name of granting agency, amount of grant, submission deadline and award notification date
    • List of any current grants/awards received
    • One (1) page description of daily job responsibilities and duties
    • List of services or assistance personally  provided outside of your daily job duties
    • Description of at least one innovative work strategy or idea  personally attempted this academic year (within/outside of your unit)
    • Evidences of appreciation within the past 2 years (e.g., thank you letters, emails of recognition or acknowledgements for exceptional completion of tasks)
    • List of any professional development or skills training workshops or webinars attended this academic year

Skills Advancement Support (SAS)

Travel and training paid for by Title III funding are open to full-time employees for the purpose of professional development. Please keep in mind that Title III funds are limited. For that reason, preference is given to individuals who have not yet traveled, and whose justifications are best aligned with criteria outlined by Title III, the needs of the university, their programs or departments, and their professional development goals.

  • Sign and submit your application before the deadline. The Center for Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee reviews applications twice a year.

    • If you plan to travel between October 15 and March 14, please submit your request by September 8.
    • If you plan to travel between March 15 and October 14, please submit your request by February 1.

    Note: Download the application to your desktop to complete the editable PDF. Once completed, send the application along with supporting documents to SU-CTL@shawu.edu.

    Download SAS Application

  • Once awarded complete/submit:

    Before Travel

    1. Complete Profile Form
    2. Email the below forms and information to SU-CTL@shaw.edu:
    3. SAS Expense Report (Estimated Expenses)
    4. Conference Agenda/Schedule
    5. Request flight itinerary from a major airline
    6. Registration confirmation (Choose payment method- pay by check or P.O.)
    7. Hotel reservation with confirmation number (Reserve your room and payment will be changed to the university)
    8. Any other information

  • After returning complete/submit:

    1. SAS Expense Report Form (Actual Expenses)
    2. SAS Title III Trip Report
    3. Receipts (gas, reimbursement request)

Online Resources

Contact Us

Vonda L. Reed, Ed.D.
Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
Dorothy Cowser Yancy Building, Room 205
Email: su-ctl@shawu.edu
Phone: (919) 546-8625

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