Faculty Teaching Certificate Program
The Faculty Teaching Certificate Program (FTC):
- Is open to all Cornell faculty.
- Offers two different certificates: a Teaching Scholar Certificate and a Teaching with Technology Certificate.
- Provides opportunities to interact with colleagues across campus and explore diverse, innovative, and timesaving teaching strategies while earning a professional development certificate.
*The FTC is also part of the inSPIRE Program.
How can you earn a Faculty Teaching Certificate?
To earn a teaching certificate, faculty members complete the following components within a two-year period:
- Attend one seminar from each of the eight focus areas listed for the certificate.
Printable overview of the Faculty Teaching Certificate - Seminars
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For times, dates, and locations of all faculty seminars, see the Faculty Seminar Series Schedule.
Faculty seminar series schedules offered by focus area:
Printable overview of the Spring 2013 schedule.
- Participate in a classroom teaching observation and feedback session.
Printable overview of the Faculty Teaching - Classroom Observation.
Also, see our web page on classroom observations. - Complete a project that involves applying a teaching concept or approach discussed in the program in a course.
Printable overview of the Faculty Teaching Certificate - Project
Requirements
Faculty Teaching Certificate - Overview
Registration Information
For more information on the Faculty Teaching Certificate Program, contact Amy Godert at ama36@cornell.edu or at 255-6409 or view the FAQs listed below.
Upon completion of the Faculty Teaching Certificate, participants will be able to:
- Identify new teaching approaches and concepts that can be implemented in their courses.
- Discuss teaching excellence with colleagues and teaching professionals across campus.
- Assess strengths and alternatives to current methods that are used in their teaching.
- Identify important aspects of classroom behavior that affect student learning.
- Apply new teaching approaches or concepts into courses and assess their effectiveness at improving student learning.
Information Sessions on the Faculty Teaching Certificate Program
For Spring 2013 Information contact Amy Godert at ama36@cornell.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are the two certificates different?
The Teaching Scholar certificate focuses on exploring pedagogical approaches, while the Teaching with Technology certificate focuses on the pedagogy of integrating technology tools in a course. Both certificates represent exploration and critical examination of teaching and student learning. Participants are exposed to new ideas and approaches and are encouraged to discuss and implement them in their classrooms to enhance teaching and student learning.
How do I participate in the Faculty Teaching Certificate Program?
You can participate in the Teaching Certificate Program by filling out the registration form and sending it back to the CTE, either electronically or through campus mail. The registration is available online on the teaching certificate webpage.
Is there an order for completing the components of the certificates?
We encourage participants to attend the majority of seminars in each of the eight focus areas before beginning the project. The seminars provide ideas and approaches that can be the basis of the project. The classroom observation can occur at any time.
How long do I have to complete the program?
Participants will have two full academic years. There is flexibility in this timeframe and if you would like additional time to complete the program, contact the CTE and we will work with you. How often are the seminars in each focus area offered? The seminars are offered throughout the academic year. At least one seminar in each focus area is offered every semester.
How often are the seminars in each focus area offered?
The seminars are offered throughout the academic year. At least one seminar in each focus area is offered every semester.
How do I get “credit” for attending a seminar?
Participants should sign-in on the attendance sheet and check the “FTC program?” column.
I am doing the Teaching Scholar Certificate. Can I use a seminar in the Teaching with Technology seminar series to fulfill a seminar focus area?
Although the eight focus areas of the certificates are the same, different seminars are offered for the Teaching Scholar and Teaching with Technology certificates. A maximum of two (2) Teaching with Technology seminars can be used to fulfill the requirements of the Teaching Scholar certificate.
Can I use seminars in the Teaching Scholar Seminar Series to fulfill a seminar focus area for the Teaching with Technology Certificate?
Yes, a maximum of two (2) Teaching Scholar seminars can be used to fulfill the requirements of the Teaching with Technology certificate.
I attended some seminars before signing up for the certificate program. Do those count?
Yes, you can use seminars you attended prior to enrolling in the certificate program from the current and previous semester. Simply provide a list of the titles and dates of the seminars.
Are there other ways to fulfill the seminar focus areas?
Yes. In addition to the seminars, other opportunities will be available to fulfill focus areas for the teaching certificate. Participants who are enrolled in the Faculty Teaching Certificate are automatically notified of these opportunities. These include the Course Design Institute and the Faculty Institute for Diversity, as well as the sessions that are part of our January Teaching Conference.
I want to schedule an observation, what do I do?
You can contact the CTE (cornellcte@cornell.edu) to schedule a classroom observation, mentioning that you are part of the teaching certificate program. Observations should be set up at least one month in advance to ensure adequate time for a pre-observation conference. Participants should suggest possible times and classes for the classroom observations as early as possible in the semester they would like to be observed.
How long does the observation take?
The total of amount of time will vary depending on the length of the class. The pre-observation conference is usually 20-30 min and the post-observation debriefing is generally 30-45 min.
I want to start the project, what do I do?
Participants should contact the CTE before beginning the project to discuss their ideas and to obtain the worksheet, which contains a series of questions to guide the process. CTE staff are available to support participants throughout the project.
Can I complete both certificates?
Yes. Participants completing both certificates attend a total of sixteen (16) seminars: eight (8) in the Teaching Scholar Seminar Series and eight (8) in the Teaching with Technology Seminar Series. They must also complete two (2) observations and two (2) projects that critically examine their teaching.
How will I know what seminars I have attended and what components I have completed?
Approximately twice a year, the CTE will send out updates on certificate progress. The periodic updates will show the focus areas fulfilled and whether or not the observation and project are complete. Participants are encouraged to track the seminars they attended. The updates are typically sent in January and June.
What happens when I am done with all the components?
You will be notified when the periodic updates are sent. The update will indicate that you have completed all the components of the certificate. A certificate of completion will be sent out shortly afterwards. In addition, you will receive a framed certificate that you will need to schedule a time to have delivered or to pick up.
I have a question that is not here, who do I contact?
Contact the CTE at cornellcte@cornell.edu or Amy Godert at ama36@cornell.edu.
