Tomorrow's Professor Today

Tomorrow’s Professor Today (TPT) is a teaching certificate program for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The program supports participants in developing the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind needed to teach effectively both in their current roles as graduate student and postdoctoral instructors, and in their future faculty careers. Program activities such as multi-week seminars, interactive workshops, teaching observations, and designing course materials will prepare participants to become reflective, scholarly, intentional, and inclusive teachers. Ultimately, TPT’s overarching goals are to help participants build confidence in and enjoy their teaching, while cultivating a supportive community of educators committed to continuous learning and growth.

TPT is divided into tiers to serve the needs of participants at various stages in their development as teachers. In Tier 1, “Exploring the Foundations of College Teaching,” participants will begin to develop an authentic and values-based instructor identity, learn about the basics of active learning and lesson planning, and practice fundamental evidence-based teaching skills. In Tier 2, “Developing Expertise in College Teaching,” participants will deepen their understanding of evidence-based teaching and apply their growing expertise to the design of a new course using evidence-based, inclusive principles.

Across both tiers, participants will maintain a portfolio to record the evolution of their thinking and learning about teaching. The TPT portfolio primes participants to cultivate the skills of reflection and self-awareness, and serves as documentation of professional development in teaching.

By completing the TPT program, participants will be able to:

1. Develop foundational knowledge of learning-centered, evidence-based, inclusive, and accessible practices that they can implement in current or future teaching;
2. Reflect with self-awareness and nuance on their teaching goals, beliefs, values, and practices;
3. Set teaching goals that align with their values;
4. Confidently communicate their teaching philosophy;
5. Design courses and create course materials that incorporate learning-centered, evidence-based, inclusive, and accessible practices (Tier 2 learning objective)