Eligibility & Expectations

Before starting Level 1, all participants complete a brief orientation, which is offered each semester.

Purpose: Introduce faculty to the program’s goals, structure, and opportunities.

Requirements:

• Attend online orientation.
• Before leaving the kick-off orientation, create an exit ticket in the form of a tentative list of activities and a timeline for completing Level 1 requirements. This involves simply creating and uploading a bulleted list of anticipated activities.

Purpose: To build foundational knowledge, connect with colleagues, and begin applying new teaching practices.

Requirements:

• Participate in reciprocal peer observation or complete a CTE consultation. Then, submit a brief reflection (~200-300 words) describing the course improvement efforts you plan to undertake based on the observation/consultation feedback.
• Complete at least 4 hours of teaching workshops and then submit a brief reflection for each (~150-200 words). These may be opportunities through the CTE, your department or school, or beyond UVA. Upload a single document containing all the reflections for the workshops you attend. Each reflection should include at a minimum:
  • workshop title
  • date, length
  • your thoughts about how the workshop content will impact your teaching practice

*For new faculty, attending Spark does not count toward this total.

Purpose: To expand pedagogical knowledge through immersive learning and expanded community engagement.

Requirements:

• Complete the CTE's Course Design Institute (CDI) or c3Design program and upload revised syllabus. Past attendance in either program counts but you may also attend again.
• Participate in one substantial teaching-focused learning opportunity, such as a community of practice or learning community, a multi-meeting book group, an intensive seminar. These may be opportunities through the CTE, your department or school, or beyond UVA. Then, submit a brief reflection (~200-300 words) describing how the experience will impact your teaching practice. Include the following information:
  • title/description of experience
  • date, length
• Complete a second peer observation or CTE consultation. Then, submit a brief reflection (~200-300 words) describing the course improvement efforts you plan to undertake based on the observation/consultation feedback.

Purpose: To contribute to the broader culture of teaching excellence through continuous improvement, leadership, mentorship, or scholarly engagement.

Requirements:

Engage in one activity from the following list:

• Growth Pathway: Participate in one substantial teaching-focused learning opportunity
• Leadership Pathway: Serve as a teaching fellow, instructional consultant, or teaching mentor
• Scholarship Pathway: Engage in SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) or apply for and receive a teaching-focused grant (e.g., Thrive, LTi, Faculty Forward Teaching Sparks)

Then, submit a brief reflection (~200-300 words) describing what you did and how the experience impacted your teaching practice.