Course Title: Academy for Future Faculty

Course Credit: CIRTL Associate Certificate (No University Course Credit)

Term: Fall 2018
Meeting days and times: See Schedule Below
Meeting location: See Schedule Below

Course Registration
To enroll in this certification program, please complete the online registration here:
https://tamu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eKDEc77fm1JB1hb

Course Description, Prerequisites, and Format

Description: Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) consultation and faculty mentoring in teaching;
professional development in teaching; syllabus design; learning outcomes and assessment; reflection on
teaching philosophy; reflection on teaching-as-research; diversity in learning environments; learning
communities

Format: The format of the course will be interactive lecture as well small group and large group
discussion. Videos and resources will be posted in the AFF eCampus (Only after successfully registering
will you be able to find “Academy for Future Faculty (AFF)” under “My Organizations” on eCampus. See
“Course Registration” above for registration information).

Prerequisites: Enrollment in a graduate program or Postdoc status at Texas A&M University

Course Facilitators
Yashwant Prakash Vyas - AFF Co-Director
aff@tamu.edu

Dr. Ra’sheedah Richardson- Program Advisor

979.845.0793 | ​sheedah@tamu.edu​ | 200G YMCA | Office hours by appointment

Keith Graham- CIRTL Programs Graduate Assistant

979.845.8392 | ​kmgraham@exchange.tamu.edu​ | 200F YMCA | Office hours by appointment

Course Learning Outcomes

The AFF Associate Certificate Program focuses on two major areas: content and process. The content
area consists of three components: evidence-based teaching, learning communities, and learning through
diversity. The process area centers on teaching-as-research. Specific learning outcomes of each
component are described below.

Evidence-Based Teaching
1. Describe and recognize the value of realistic well-defined, achievable, measurable and
student-centered learning goals.
2. Describe several known high-impact, evidence-based effective instructional practices and
materials and recognize their alignment with particular types of learning goals.
 3. Describe several assessment techniques and recognize their alignment with particular types of
learning goals.

Learning Communities
1. Recognize the value of and participate in local professionally-focused learning communities
associated with teaching and learning.

Learning through Diversity

1. Describe the scope of diversity in learning environments, of both students and instructor.
2. Describe the impact of diversity on student learning, in particular how diversity can enhance
learning, and how inequities can negatively impact learning if not addressed.
3. Describe several learning-through-diversity (LtD) techniques and strategies.

Teaching-as-Research
1. Describe how to access the literature and existing knowledge about teaching and learning issues,
in a discipline or more broadly.

Required Software
To maximize website compatibility, make sure you have the following software installed and that the
software is up to date. TAMU's on-campus computers meet these requirements.
● Java
● Windows Media Player, or QuickTime
● Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Firefox
● Shockwave Flash Plug-In
● Adobe Reader
● TAMU Email Accounts
● Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, & Excel): If you would like to purchase a copy of Microsoft
Office as a TAMU student, you can purchase one from​ ​the TAMU software store​.

Technical Support
You can receive technical support through​ ​Help Desk Central​; Email: helpdesk@tamu.edu; Phone:
979.845.8300.

Learning Experiences and Assignments

To fulfill the​ ​AFF certificate requirements, participants must complete five components: core sessions,
elective sessions, mentor selection, draft documents, and classroom observations. For the required and
elective sessions, a quiz and/or a reflection will be submitted after the session. More information about
these learning activities can be found on the AFF website in eCampus.

1. Core Sessions
Participants will attend and submit reflections on eCampus for all of the following workshops:
1) Learning Outcomes and the Course Development Cycle Workshop
2) Syllabus Design Workshop
3) Teaching Philosophy Statement Workshop
4) Writing a Curriculum Vitae
2. Elective Sessions
Participants will attend four approved elective seminars and submit reflections on eCampus. Elective
seminars are given on a variety of subjects relating to teaching and higher education. These seminars will
be delivered both in person (the more traditional seminar) and online. Topics will vary by semester.
Announcements for CTE and CIRTL seminars will be provided through AFF listserv emails and eCampus.

3. Mentor Selection
Each participant will select a mentor. The mentor should be a faculty member in any department, but
should not be the participant’s advisor. Participants will meet with their mentor several times over the
duration of the program to discuss various topics covered in the AFF program and the draft documents
listed below.

4. Draft Documents
Participants will write and submit drafts of the following documents with the mentor’s signature:
1) Syllabus
2) Teaching Philosophy Statement
3) Curriculum Vitae

5. Classroom Observations
Participants will perform two classroom observations, only one of which may be from the participant's
mentor. Participants will answer questions on e-Campus reflecting on the classroom environment,
teaching methods used, and overall effectiveness of the class.

Course Grading
The course is graded as pass/fail. Student attendance and completion of learning experiences and course
assignments will be evaluated.

Schedule/Topics/Assignments and Due Dates

Core Seminars - Fall 2018

Date/Time Event Location Reflection Due Date

(M) September 10, Learning Outcomes and the Course Rudder October 10, 2018
2018 Development Cycle Tower 510
5:00 - 6:30 PM

(M) September 17, Curriculum Vita Rudder October 17, 2018

2018 Tower 501
5:00 - 6:30 PM

(Th) September 20, Teaching Philosophy Statement Rudder October 20, 2018
2018 Tower 501
5:00 - 6:30 PM

(Th) November 8, 2018 Syllabus Design Rudder December 8, 2018

5:00 - 6:30 PM Tower 501
 Eligible Elective Seminars - Fall 2018

Date/Time Event Location Reflection Due Date

(M) October 1, 2018 Effective Communication in an Rudder November 1, 2018

5:30 - 6:30 PM International Context: Part 1 Tower 510

(M) October 15, 2018 Effective Communication in an Rudder November 15, 2018
5:30 - 6:30 PM International Context: Part 2 Tower 510

(Th) October 25, 2018 Writing Effective Exam Questions Rudder November 25, 2018
5:30 - 6:30 PM Tower 510

(M) November 8, 2018 Micro-Teaching Rudder December 8, 2018

5:30-6:30 PM 510

(Th) November 15, Micro-Teaching Rudder December 15, 2018

2018 510
5:30-6:30 PM

* Additional approved Graduate Student Professional Development in Teaching (GSPDT) elective

seminars see eCampus.

Online Distance Policy

Graduate students enrolled at the Texas A&M campuses including Galveston, Qatar, Health Science
Center, and the School of Law are eligible to complete AFF online. All the requirements for certificate
completion are the same, but all seminars should be viewed on eCampus. To receive credit, participants
must complete the online quiz in the distance section of eCampus (not the seminar reflection form).

Students who are in their last semester who have a legitimate class conflict with AFF seminars or
extenuating circumstances may complete AFF as a distance student after obtaining permission via email.
Students should email a screenshot of their course schedule from Howdy or report their extenuating
circumstances to ​aff@tamu.edu​ with the subject line reading AFF Distance Option Request. The
committee will review your application and send you a confirmation email.

Attendance and Make-Up Policy

To be considered in attendance at a workshop, the participant must not have been more than 10 minutes
late and must have remained for the entire workshop. Failure to do so will result in no credit for the
workshop.

All AFF participants are permitted to view up to 2 prerecorded seminars (i.e., 2 core seminars; or 2
elective seminars; or 1 elective and 1 core seminar) via ecampus. ​Note: Synchronous elective seminars
(i.e., online seminars that require real-time participation) are considered as participating in person and will
not count towards students allotment to view two prerecorded online seminars.

To receive credit for seminars students must check-in and complete the seminar reflection form posted in
eCampus. Seminar reflection forms will be accessible for one month from the date of the seminar. Failure
to complete seminar reflection form will result in no credit. Distance participants must complete the online
quiz (not the seminar reflection form) in the distance section of eCampus to receive credit.
Participants in the certificate program have up to ​four long consecutive semesters (fall and spring
semesters)​ to complete the certificate. Core sessions will be offered every semester.

Electronic Communication and Response Time

Before sending an email, check the syllabus and directions on eCampus where you may find your
answers first. If you send an email, please place “Term + AFF + Inquiry” in the subject heading and
expect a ​48-hour​ window to receive a response. (Example: Fall 2018 AFF Elective Attendance)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact Disability Services, currently located in the Disability Services building at
the Student Services at White Creek complex on west campus or call 979-845-1637. For additional
information, visit​ ​http://disability.tamu.edu​.

Academic Integrity
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.”

For additional information visit​ ​http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu