Beginnings: Practical Topics in Teaching for New Faculty

Apply for 2025 cohort (deadline Sept. 24)

Join us for "Beginnings: Practical Topics in Teaching for New Faculty," an in-person weekly series organized around key ideas to consider as you prepare and teach your UO courses. This series is hosted by the Teaching Engagement Program (TEP), UO Online, and the Office of the Provost. Together, we’ll focus on syllabus creation, Canvas course design, planning and leading class, and more. We'll also offer the opportunity to build teaching community with your faculty colleagues as well as with academic leaders and educational developers. We hope this program will help faculty feel even more prepared, confident, and connected as you teach your first courses here.  

Faculty sitting at a small table talking and laughing together

If you are interested in this program, are in your first three years of teaching at UO, and can attend all sessions in person*, you meet the program requirements. We use applications only to ensure we have enough space, that you are able to commit to attending all nine sessions, and to learn more about your needs and interests. 

UO has a vibrant teaching culture, and we can’t wait to welcome you to it!

Apply for Beginnings by Sept. 24

*We know that an important subset of UO faculty are not in Eugene or would need a remote option to participate; while we are unable to offer a hybrid experience this year, we hope to in future years, and we are always available for remote individual consultations.

Program details:

  • When: Wednesdays, from 1-2pm (with the option for individual consultations from 2-2:30 if desired), starting week 1 of the term and ending week 9. Dates include:
    • October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
    • November 5, 12, 19 (skipping the week of Thanksgiving)
    • December 3
  • Where: The "DreamLab" in Knight Library, room 122
  • What we'll focus on includes:
    • Learning objectives and "backward design"
    • Canvas course design
    • Course policies  
    • Syllabus design
    • Transparent assignments
    • Giving feedback
    • Community building
    • Active learning
    • Lesson planning 
       

Feedback from past participants:

We first offered this program in 2024. Our thanks to the faculty who participated in it and shared such useful feedback. For those who are considering applying, here are some of the things we hear from last year's cohort that they valued about the experience:

  • "As someone new to the UO community this was a great way to be in the broader community :)"
  • "The small group/table discussions were everything! I really appreciated being able to discuss ideas, questions, concerns with my colleagues in a small group setting—thank you for not seating us in a “lecture” or “auditorium” arrangement."
  • "I have appreciated the opportunity to reflect in small groups, see examples, and the opportunity to connect with the team."
  • "Building community, having conversations with faculty across campus about teaching and learning, and the introduction to UO resources."
  • "Gaining familiarity w/ resources and faculty consultants was very helpful. Deep diving on topics like student engagement was also helpful towards learning new tips/tricks."
  • "Opportunities to learn about what the UO asks of us in teaching, inspiration for incorporating evidence-based teaching into classes"
  • "Getting to see many of the strategies in action"
  • "I feel fortunate to go through the course and have already been implementing content in my teaching"