Teaching Academy
Promoting, Recognizing and Supporting Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Newsletter (August 2025)

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Teaching Academy: Promoting, Recognizing and Supporting Excellence in Teaching & Learning

Welcome to our August newsletter! As campus awaits another burst of new-semester energy, we hope you find time to read and enjoy this month’s newsletter, which includes updates and multiple ways of staying connected with the Teaching Academy.

This month, we share a fall cornucopia of professional learning and community building opportunities for all disciplines, career stages and interests!  Join the Academy’s second annual Best Practices Showcase. Be among the first to register for the Teaching Academy’s Fall Retreat. Explore resources for TAs, workshops and virtual gatherings for language educators, professional development for STEM teachers, and a range of opportunities for clinical educators. Looking for something slower paced? Reflect on your own experiences with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring’s newest learning community, the Reflection Space. And…don’t forget to weigh in on (or volunteer for) governance of the Academy!

Questions or comments about the newsletter? Contact Dan Pell & Sarah Pultorak, Editors editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu 

Trouble viewing this email? Read the newsletter online: Teaching Academy August Newsletter

Upcoming Events | What’s happening in the Academy?

Share Ideas | Teaching Academy Best Practices Showcase 2025

Come together to share instructors’ best teaching and learning ideas you can apply in your own classroom! Join other Academy members and affiliates to share unique assignment ideas, active learning examples, interesting teaching methods, and other learning-by-doing activities that work well with students.

Questions about the Best Practices Showcase? Contact Jamie Henke jamie.henke@wisc.edu 

Fall Retreat | Navigating Challenges and Finding Common Ground: Teaching and Learning in Divided Times

  • Fall Retreat: Fri, Oct 3, 9am–1130am, DeLuca Forum (WID) & online | REGISTER

In an era of polarization, technological change, and evolving communication landscapes, how can educators foster genuine listening, bridge differences, and help students connect across diverse perspectives, disciplines, and experiences? Join us to reflect and build practices that foster resilience and reaffirm the vitality of education in divided times.

Questions about the Retreat? Want to volunteer? Contact Dan Pell dan.pell@wisc.edu 

Member FYI | News, Events, Training, and Learning Opportunities

Web Resource for Instructors Working with TAs

Compiled by the L&S TA Training & Support Team, this Web Resource for Instructors Working with TAs provides practical tips, instructor examples, and templates to help instructors work effectively with TAs throughout the semester.

Questions about these TA Resources? Contact Lynn Prost lprost@wisc.edu 

Language Institute | Fall Workshops & Townhalls

Sustaining and Strengthening Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) in the Big Ten in Precarious Times: A Grassroots Town Hall 

This grassroots town hall meeting is for faculty, instructional staff, advisors, and administrators at Big Ten universities who teach, support, or advocate for programs in less commonly taught and Indigenous languages (LCTLs) to come together to share innovative program models, information about institutional strengths, and interests in forming new inter-institutional partnerships to strengthen LCTL programs.

ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview Familiarization Workshop Series

All UW-Madison faculty, academic staff, and graduate teaching assistants who teach languages other than English at the university are welcome to apply for this 3-day workshop.

Questions about the Language Institute? Contact Jana Martin jcmartin4@wisc.edu 

WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows | Applications Opening Soon

Scientific Teaching Fellows

Are you a grad student or postdoc in STEM pursuing a career that includes college-level teaching? If so, we have two unique, year-long professional development programs that offer in-depth training and hands-on experience with inclusive, evidence-based teaching.

Madison College Teaching Fellows 

For those interested in teaching biology, chemistry, physics, math, or computer science. Get in-depth training and hands-on experience instructing a 4-credit course at Madison College.  | LEARN MORE

Questions about WISCIENCE? Contact Brigitte Boucher brboucher@wisc.edu 

Have something to share? Academy members work in diverse roles and learning environments across our university. If you have news, events, training, or opportunities you would like to share with the Academy, contact Dan Pell & Sarah Pultorak  editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu Messages received by the second Monday of the month may be included in that month’s newsletter.

From the ExComm | Leadership Opportunities & Proposed Updates to Bylaws

Searching for Academic Staff & Graduate Co-Chairs

The Executive Committee (ExComm) of the Teaching Academy seeks to fill two leadership positions:

  • Academic Staff Co-Chair
  • Graduate Student (Future Faculty Partner) Co-Chair

The Co-Chairs of the Academy are Faculty, Academic Staff and Graduate Students who share an equal role in leading and setting the agenda for meetings. Co-Chairs typically serve 2-year terms and help build relationships, uphold the Mission and Bylaws, and guide the direction of the Academy.  The UW-Madison Teaching Academy Executive Committee is composed of elected Fellows and Future Faculty Partners who actively work towards the betterment of teaching and learning. Academic Staff and Faculty are typically chosen from existing members of the ExComm. Graduate Students may join as an FFP and directly take the position of Co-Chair. Elections will be held in the weeks before the Fall semester. | LEARN MORE

Thank you to outgoing Co-Chairs Jeff Hennriques (Academic Staff Co-Chair) and Ailea Merriam-Pigg (Graduate Student Co-Chair)!

Proposed Changes to Bylaws | Comment Period Now Open

The Executive Committee (EC) invites your comments on proposed bylaw amendments.Use the comment form to share your feedback before Fri, Sept 3. The form is anonymous unless you choose to share your email address. | COMMENT FORM

Current Bylaws require that: “At least 48 hours prior to the vote, the final text of all amendments must be sent to all Academy Members with instructions allowing Members to comment to the EC. Such comments must be read at the EC meeting prior to the vote. Amendments or repeal require a vote by quorum of the EC.”

Questions? Interested in applying? Contact the ExComm teachingacademy@wisc.edu 

CTLM Updates | Engage with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring

Prepare to Teach: The all-in-one resource for Fall teaching

To make the start of semester less hectic, CTLM has organized some highly useful campus resources on the Prepare to Teach webpage, including:

  • New UW–Madison syllabus guide and template
  • Gradescope, a new tool to streamline grading
  • Practical, time-saving tips for providing flexibility to students during life events
  • Current campus guidance on generative AI in teaching
  • Pre-semester events, and more!

Join the Reflection Space | Enhance your teaching through reflective practice

New for Fall 2025:  Reflecting on your teaching is a powerful way to learn about your students and yourself.

The Reflection Space is a unique, new online learning community. You’ll be offered regularly updated reflections which encourage you to think about your teaching and your students’ learning from different perspectives. Respond at your own pace. Share your reflection and reply to others’ reflections. Build community to learn with and from other instructors.

The Reflection Space is open to instructors teaching in any discipline or modality, at all career stages. | LEARN MORE | JOIN

Questions about the Reflection Space?  Contact Dan Pell dan.pell@wisc.edu 

If you’re looking for a different kind of engagement or instructional support, please contact CTLM with your request – we look forward to working with you! To learn more about these programs or to register, visit the CTLM’s Professional Development Opportunities.

Clinical Teacher Learning Community: Network, Explore, Build. "Furthering Clinical Education"

Learning Community Update | Clinical Teachers’ Corner

UWSMPH Education Scholarship Retreat

The Office for Faculty Affairs and Development offers Education Scholarship Retreat. This annual event explores topics in education scholarship and provides an opportunity to learn, network, ask questions, and share experiences. This year a keynote speaker will address generative artificial intelligence—a theme that will be carried across other sessions.

  • Oct 29, 2025, 12–430pm, in Health Sciences Learning Center | REGISTER

Clinical Teacher Learning Community | Articles for Discussion

Participate in discussion of articles featured in the Clinical Teacher Learning Community. Topics include learner assessment, precision education, serious games, and medical education and artificial intelligence. This online community also offers connections, news, and resources for clinical teachers. | LEARN MORE

Courses | Education Essentials

Education Essentials is a collection of 7 modules aimed at developing key skills for all interprofessional health science teachers, in various teaching settings. Registration is free and these courses can be completed at your own pace. | REGISTER

Funding Opportunity

The Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education (SACME) issued the call for proposals for the Phil R. Manning Research Award in Continuing Professional Development. Funding up to $50,000 is available over two years for research projects addressing topics important to the field of continuing professional development/continuing education of healthcare professionals.

Explore

Questions? Topics you would like to see? Announcements for the next issue?  Contact Marianna Shershneva marianna.shershneva@wisc.edu

Join us! Honor a colleague! | The Academy is seeking new members

Now is the perfect time to honor a colleague or nominate yourself! For over 30 years, the Academy’s mission has been to promote, recognize and support excellence in teaching and learning among faculty, staff and students across campus and beyond. The Teaching Academy welcomes nominees who work in traditional classrooms, clinical practice, field instruction, or instructional support.

There are three types of membership: Future Faculty Partner (FFP), Fellow, and Affiliate. Learn how to become a Member. 

Questions about membership?  Are you an FFP who has moved on to another position in the University?  Contact uwta-membership@g-groups.wisc.edu

Get involved! | Ways to contribute to the Academy’s ongoing activities

Get Involved! in bold letters beside images of a pile of I Am UW stickers.

Fall and Winter Retreats

Join the Retreat Planning Committee to organize & facilitate campus-wide teaching development events. Contact Dan Pell dan.pell@wisc.edu 

Members+ Events

The Members+ Committee seeking Fellows who are interested in organizing one-per-semester roundtable discussions among members and guests on issues surrounding teaching & learning.  Contact Claire Barrett claire.barrett@wisc.edu 

Newsletter

Have ideas or events to contribute? Want to add someone to the mailing list? Contact Sarah Pultorak & Dan Pell editor-uwta-newsletter@g-groups.wisc.edu

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee seeks Fellows (Faculty & Academic Staff) and FFPs to help review nominations. Honor great campus educators & promote excellence by helping to review nominations. Contact uwta-membership@g-groups.wisc.edu 

U-CLaSS

Take part in U-CLaSS sessions to explore teaching and learning from the student perspective. Contact jamie.henke@wisc.edu