Faculty Teaching Academy : Center for Teaching & Learning : UMass Amherst

Program Overview

The Faculty Teaching Academy provides professional development in teaching and learning for early-career tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty at UMass Amherst in a supportive, coordinated ecosystem that connects faculty to key teaching success resources, offices, and initiatives on our campus. The goals of the program are to enable you to:

Connect with a community dedicated to advancing shared knowledge of effective and equitable teaching;
Design, implement, and assess student-centered learning and instruction using evidence-based practices;
Engage in ongoing reflection to refine teaching practices for greater student success and engagement; and
Apply an inclusive and equity-minded approach to teaching and learning, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive in their academic pursuits.

Program Structure

Over 4 consecutive semesters (2026-28), you will:

Engage with online course content and complete assignments developed by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE);
Attend one community of practice meeting per semester facilitated by the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS). These meetings will help you synthesize ACUE modules, engage in cross-disciplinary discussion, and learn about local UMass resources and teaching support efforts. You will also be invited to a kickoff celebration to connect with peers and campus partners.

Why Join?

With access to ACUE's nationally recognized Certification in Effective Teaching and a local community of practice run by UMass teaching experts, participants will learn evidence-based teaching practices that enhance student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and support academic growth for all learners —all of which align with UMass Amherst’s institutional priorities. In addition, faculty who complete all the required components of the program will earn a nationally recognized credential from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) that can be included in their dossier for promotion and/or tenure.

Eligibility and Application Process

For the 2026-28 Program Pilot Cohort, we welcome applications from new or recently hired faculty. Interested faculty can access the application form to indicate their intent to participate by September 18, 2026. Space in the Teaching Academy is limited.

Important dates:

September 1, 2026: Info Session. Join us (on Zoom, 12 pm) to learn more about the online modules.
Watch the recording of the Info Session.
September 18, 2026: Deadline to apply.
October 19, 2026: Teaching Academy opens.
October 20, 2026: Teaching Academy Kickoff event (in person, 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm).

Apply now

Program Components and Timeline

Fall Semester 1: Creating a Productive Learning Environment (6 online ACUE modules; approx. 12.5 hours for the semester) and a 1-hour interdisciplinary community of practice meeting with 6-8 faculty peers.

Spring Semester 2: Designing Learner-Centered Courses (6 online ACUE modules; approx. 12.5 hours for the semester) and a 1-hour interdisciplinary community of practice meeting with 6-8 faculty peers.

Fall Semester 3: Promoting Active Learning (6 online ACUE modules; approx. 12.5 hours for the semester) and a 1-hour interdisciplinary community of practice meeting with 6-8 faculty peers.

Spring Semester 4: Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners (6 online ACUE modules; approx. 12.5 hours for the semester) and a 1-hour interdisciplinary community of practice meeting with 6-8 faculty peers.