About CTE

The primary purpose of the Center for Teaching Effectiveness is to assist the teaching staff of the University of Texas at Austin in providing instruction that is consistent with the best information on quality teaching and learning at the post-secondary level.

To accomplish this mission, the Center provides both basic and advanced information about the teaching/learning process through an array of formats, including group seminars, classes, self-study materials and individual consultation on specific questions.

CTE History

The Center was founded in the Fall of 1973 after a resolution by the Faculty Senate and University Council calling on the President to provides support services for teaching. The founding director was Dr. James Stice, who had until that time been the director of the Bureau of Engineering Teaching.

In consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Stice gathered an Advisory Board consisting of representatives from six colleges plus two students. The Board spent the Fall semester identifying priorities for the Center.

The original priorities were:

1. to provide courses in college teaching for faculty;
2. to provide courses in college teaching for graduate students;
3. to provide individual consultation on teaching for faculty and graduate students;
4. to conduct periodic workshops on topics of interest in teaching;
5. to serve as a resource on the latest in teaching theory and research at the college level; and
6. to conduct an audit of the general purpose classrooms and make recommendations.

The Center has continued to honor these commitments while adding additional programs. For example, the Center helps coordinate Teaching and Technology Seminars, a joint effort with ACITS (Academic Computing and Instructional Technologies Services), works with faculty who teach 398T (College Teaching course in each department), and a range of special projects as they arise.

Staffing History

During its initial years, the Center staff consisted of Dr. Stice and a number of part-time consultants, usually faculty getting release time from their departments. As time progressed it was obvious that there was a need for more continuity through the years.

As a result, Dr. Marilla Svinicki was selected to be the Assistant Director of the Center on a full-time basis. At a subsequent point the Center received a grant from the Exxon Foundation that allowed us to hire Dr. Karron Lewis as a Faculty Development Specialist. Supplementing these three individuals was a range of support staff, including an Administrative Assistant and a series of Graduate Research Assistants.

In 1989 the Center was given responsibility for overseeing the English Proficiency Program for international teaching assistants and assistant instructors. Dr. Ghislaine Kozuh was selected to be the Coordinator of that program. In addition to her position, there are currently two assistants, one the Assistant Coordinator, and one a classified staff member.

Also in 1989 Dr. Stice resigned from the Center to return to teaching in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Svinicki was made the Director, Dr. Lewis the Assistant Director. Dr. Erin Porter joined the staff the following year as the Faculty Development Specialist in charge of the Faculty Program and Dr. Lewis began coordinating the TA program.

Dr. Porter left the Center in 1997 to accept a full time faculty position in the Business School, and Dr. Lewis became Associate Director and Faculty Program Coordinator. Dr. JoyLynn Reed joined the staff half-time and assumed responsibility for the TA program.

Dr. Reed left in the Spring of 2000 and Ms. Joanne Holladay was hired full time to head the TA development program.