Mission Statement for Teaching Academy

Mission: The CSUSB Teaching Academy will support teaching and learning at all levels and in all contexts of university activity, and will serve as a focal point for the university's commitment to this end. In pursuing this goal, the Academy will enhance the intellectual climate, promote discourse among all members of the University community, and serve as an advocate for learning and teaching initiatives and innovations.

Activities will include:

Teaching/Learning - The Academy promotes excellence in teaching and learning at the individual, program and department and institutional levels.

Environment - The Academy works to influence policy decisions for the continuing development of organizational, physical and technological environments in which teaching and learning scholarship can prosper. The Academy encourages, coordinates, and markets activities that promote excellence in teaching and learning

Culture - The Academy works to develop a sense of common purpose and to foster cooperation among all members of the CSUSB community, including students, faculty, administrators and instructional staff

Promotion - The Academy promotes an environment for continuous learning; experimentation; and systemic professional, and personal change among all members of the University community. The Academy represents a model for educational leadership, learning innovation, and institutional transformation by advocating the importance of learning and teaching for local, national and international CSUSB programs and for individuals and groups working on teaching and learning initiatives.

The Teaching Academy will:

Encourage and pilot innovation and experimentation in teaching improvement

Serve as a "think tank" and sounding board for discussion of critical issues

Solicit/propose/receive fundamental questions regarding instructional effectiveness

Provide peer review and support of faculty teaching that is separate from RPT process and is confidential

Recommend projects and identify issues and areas of inquiry for the Teaching and Learning Research Institute

Report to and inform campus groups, such as curriculum, policy, budget and planning committees regarding issues related to teaching and learning