Newsletter (April 2026)

Spring Members+ Event

• What is learning? Competency-based education in an era of AI
• Fri, April 24, 11 am to noon | Join on Zoom
• …explore “learning” from a number of perspectives
• …critically appraise the use of competencies, skills, and professional readiness as learning outcomes
• …examine the use of AI and other technologies in support of these learning outcomes
• …propose indicators of learning that enhance professional identities
• Questions or comments about Members+ events?
  Contact: Claire Barrett claire.barrett@wisc.edu

Welcome our New Members!

• These individuals have been recognized for outstanding commitment to teaching and learning. Welcome to the Teaching Academy!
• Fellows:
  • Łukasz Wodzyński, German, Nordic, and Slavic+
  • LB Klein, Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work
  • Sam Pazicni, Chemistry
  • Brandon Bloch, History
  • Jessica Coburn, School of Nursing
• Future Faculty Partner:
  • Rachel Hutchins, Communication Arts

Seeking New Members | Join the Teaching Academy

• 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, academic staff and graduate students across campus and beyond. The Teaching Academy welcomes nominees who teach or support instruction for face-to-face, online, and hybrid classes, clinical practice, field instruction, and more.
• There are three types of membership: Future Faculty Partner (FFP), Fellow, and Clinical 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

Undergraduate Symposium | Engage with Undergraduate Research

• Friday, April 17, Union South and Discovery Building
• At the Undergraduate Symposium, more than 600 undergraduates from across campus will present their research, scholarly achievements, community-engaged projects, art, and creative pursuits. This event is a great opportunity to engage with undergraduate work and to connect with colleagues from across campus. Consider attending, and, if you’re interested, sign up to volunteer, moderate presentation sessions, or judge for the new Undergraduate Symposium Awards. | Learn more
• Questions about the Undergraduate Symposium?
  Contact Kelly Copolo: copolo@wisc.edu

The Delta Program

• Research Mentor Learning Community
• Want to be an effective and inclusive mentor, now and in the future? Summer registration is now open to join a Delta Program’s online or in-person Research Mentor Learning Community, for graduate students and postdocs.
• Multiple sections are held throughout the summer, May through August. | Learn more & register
• Questions about the Research Mentor Learning Community?
  Contact Jules Whitaker: jawhitak@wisc.edu
• Courses in Teaching & Mentoring
• Graduate students and postdocs: Considering a career in academia? Looking to build your skills as an instructor or mentor? Take a Delta Program course and/or begin your Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning! Summer and fall courses now enrolling, including:
  • Teaching in Science and Engineering: The College Classroom
    Develop foundational knowledge of effective and inclusive pedagogical practices, explore the literature in higher ed teaching and learning, and try new approaches in a supportive environment. | Register
  • Active Learning Laboratory
    Explore how to effectively use active learning, with opportunities to examine, experience, and try out various active learning instructional methods in the college classroom. | Register
  • Expeditions in Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning
    Use experiential learning to explore evidence-based and inclusive teaching approaches within different higher education learning contexts. | Register
  • View All Summer and Fall Classes
• Questions about the Delta Program?
  Contact Jess Maher: jessica.maher@wisc.edu

The Discussion Project

• The Discussion Project will be running the following courses in June and August at UW-Madison. | Register here | Learn more
• June 9, 10, 11, 8:30am-4:30 pm each day – open to all instructors: faculty, academic staff, and TAs
• August 12, 13, 14, 8:30am-4:30 pm each day – for faculty and academic staff
• August 18, 19, 20, 8:30am-4:30 pm each day – for faculty and academic staff
• August 18, 19, 20, 8:30am-4:30 pm each day – for TAs
• The Discussion Project is a professional learning course to support instructors in designing, implementing, and facilitating high-quality classroom discussion. The course is designed to support instructors teaching classes of up to 40 students although many instructors who teach large classes have taken the course and found it effective for considering how to run interactive lectures and how best to prepare their TAs to run effective discussion sections.
• Questions about the Discussion Project?
  Contact: discussionproject@education.wisc.edu

Summer Research Experience Opportunity for Undergraduates

• Are your students looking to get resume-building research experience in the area of biology/biomedicine? Consider this first-time summer offering of Tiny Earth antibiotic discovery – a fun and collaborative Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that is highly evaluated by students from previous spring and fall semesters. | Learn more
• For inquiries and enrollment permissions,
  Contact instructor and Teaching Academy fellow Josh Pultorak: pultorak@wisc.edu

Writing Across Curriculum

• Teaching with Writing? Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is here to help! WAC supports instructors who use writing in their teaching in any form: everything from longer, high-stakes papers and projects to low- or no-stakes in-class writing activities. Our online resource for UW-Madison instructors, Communicating Across the Curriculum is a Pressbook filled with chapters on topics that include, but are not limited to:
  • Teaching with writing in an age of AI
  • Designing low- and high-stakes writing assignments
  • Sequencing and scaffolding writing assignments
  • Providing feedback on student writing
• Our team also offers individual consultations (Zoom or in-person) upon request. | Ask a Question or Request a Consultation
• Questions about Writing Across the Curriculum?
  Contact: wac@writing.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.

Apply Now for CTLM Fall Teaching Fellowships

• Expand your knowledge of teaching and learning in the company of supportive colleagues and CTLM specialists. Each program is designed for a particular instructional audience:
  • CTLM Teaching Fellows is for academic and clinical instructional staff
  • Madison Teaching & Learning Excellence is for early career, tenure track faculty

2026 UW-Madison Teaching & Learning Symposium

• End the academic year on a high note at the Teaching & Learning Symposium on May 14 at Union South! Keynote speaker Sarah Rose Cavanagh, author of “Mind Over Monsters,” will share how to create learning environments of compassionate challenge.
• Breakout sessions and posters will highlight a wide range of topics, including:
  • Strategies for large-enrollment courses
  • Facilitating class discussions across diverse perspectives
  • Using games to promote student engagement and collaboration, and more!
• The day will close with a Teaching Academy member meeting and induction ceremony from 4–5pm in the Landmark Room (3rd floor). | Register now

Enhancing Online Education Summer Programs

• Enhancing Online Education helps instructors adopt evidence-based methods for successful online teaching. This summer’s topics are: Instructional Materials, Course Planning, Course Management, Fostering Community, and Cultivating Inclusivity.| Register now

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.

Save the Date: Medical Education Day

• 2026 Medical Education Day will take place May 28th, 2026 at the Health Sciences Learning Center, in Madison, Wisconsin. This free, in-person program will offer engaging learning sessions and networking opportunities for faculty and staff from around the state. | Learn more

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. | Join the discussions

Courses | Education Essentials

• Education Essentials is a collection of 8 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

Explore

• Clinical Teacher Learning Community
• SMPH Faculty Central
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (UW CIPE)

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

Induction Ceremony

• Want to help plan an event honoring our newest members?
• Contact Kate Rotzenberg: katherine.rotzenberg@wisc.edu

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 seeks 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: jamie.henke@wisc.edu