Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
“WHO DARES TO TEACH MUST NEVER CEASE TO LEARN.” JOHN COTTON DANA
Delaware State University recognizes that faculty are an essential element in the success of our students. The core belief of The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Delaware State University is that when faculty thrive, students succeed. The CTL serves as the premier resource for faculty and adjunct professors, advancing teaching excellence in support of our institution’s strategic priorities, and is committed to advancing teaching excellence and student success by providing faculty with intentional, high-impact development opportunities.
The Center for Teaching and Learning operates under the University’s Title III Grant. Title III is a federal government assistance program given to historically Black colleges and Universities. Title III assures equity in educational opportunities for all students. CTL works in conjunction with the Title III office to ensure that university faculty are equipped with the tools and resources needed to enrich their teaching in order to increase student learning. All expenditures submitted to the Center of Teaching and Learning must be allowable under Title III federal guidelines.
MISSION
“Empowering Faculty Development to Strengthen Institutional Success”
The Center for Teaching & Learning strengthens academic programs by advancing excellence in teaching and learning across all modalities. We empower faculty through innovative professional development, evidence-based practices, emerging technologies, and meaningful assessment to enhance student learning and support continuous institutional effectiveness.
VISION
The Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) will be the university’s premier resource for faculty development, recognized for linking professional learning and assessment to measurable institutional improvement and fostering a culture of teaching excellence that drives student success and academic innovation.
GOALS
The Center for Teaching & Learning is a key resource for faculty and adjunct professors, supporting our strategic priorities by advancing teaching excellence. Guided by our mission, vision, and the INSIGHT®️ Framework, the CTL’s goals are centered on REACH 2026’s institutional goals.
GOAL ONE: Student Success: Create an exceptional learning environment that extends beyond the classroom to the commitment by the entire community to provide the wraparound supports that are essential to retention, persistence, graduation, and placement.
- Objective: 1.4 Student Retention and Graduation Rates- Increase student retention and graduation rates by creating a service-centric campus culture that includes training, mentoring, coaching, and modeling of quality service best practices.
GOAL TWO: Academic Excellence: Support and implement the highest level of academic excellence.
- Objective 2.1 Relevant Learning Objectives- Deliver relevant learning objectives that align with best-in-class industry standards to prepare students for career and graduate school readiness.
- Objective 2.2 Culture of Teaching Excellence- Create a culture of teaching excellence in which faculty participate in evidence-based and innovative pedagogy across all teaching modalities.
- Objective 2.3 Student Learning Outcomes- Improve student learning outcomes through engaging classroom and experiential learning opportunities.
- Objective 2.4 Continuous Improvement Model- Use a continuous improvement model to ensure academic excellence through a centralized assessment system to accurately track faculty productivity, student success, classroom technology, and other elements of academic success.
OBJECTIVES
The Center for Teaching and Learning is committed to advancing teaching excellence and student success by providing faculty with intentional, high-impact development opportunities aligned with the INSIGHT®️ Framework. In support of this commitment, the CTL will:
- Cultivating Teaching Excellence
- Design and Deliver Innovative Development: Continue to provide workshops that equip faculty with evidence-based, high-impact teaching strategies, directly fostering the “culture of teaching excellence”
- Integrate Technology Purposefully: Empower faculty to use emerging digital tools and platforms to enhance learning across all modalities, ensuring technology drives engagement rather than acting as a barrier.
- Scaling Student-Centered Success
- Embed Inclusive and Equitable Practices: Support faculty in creating learning environments that boost retention and student success.
- Foster Holistic Faculty Development: Provide the tools and consultations necessary to support faculty in modeling service best practices, thereby contributing to the “service-centric campus culture”
- Leveraging Data-Driven Improvement
- Align Classroom Efforts to Institutional Outcomes: Ensure that individual faculty development activities connect directly to institutional productivity and success metrics,
- Advance Evidence-Based Practice: Partner with academic departments to utilize assessment data, ensuring that teaching interventions are “need-based” and effectively address student learning gaps.
INSIGHT®️ Framework for Effective Teaching
The Center for Teaching & Learning programs, resources, and initiatives are intentionally designed around our INSIGHT®️ Framework for Effective Teaching. Each element of this framework reflects our commitment to faculty excellence and student success, and serves as a guiding principle for how we support teaching and learning across our institution.
