The Pennsylvania State University

Program Name Information
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
401 Grange Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
16802
Diane M. Enerson, Director, dme3@psu.edu
Kathryn M. Plank, Associate Director, kmp2@psu.edu
R. Neill Johnson, Programs Coordinator, rnj1@psu.edu
(814) 863-2599 PHONE (814) 863-8411 FAX

WWW Information http://www.psu.edu/idp_celt

Quick Reference Institutional Information The Pennsylvania State University Carnegie classification--Research I Public state-related

# of full-time equivalent (FTE) faculty = 3,422
# of part-time faculty = 245
# of FTE undergraduate students = 55,747
# of graduate students = 7,058

Program Information The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (formerly the Instructional Development Program) was established in 1981 and operates out of the Office of Undergraduate Education, which is headed by the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies. The Center's staff currently includes 3 full-time staff (a director, associate director, and programs coordinator), 2 full-time secretaries, 2 half-time graduate students, and 1 part-time (wage payroll) communications editor. The non-personnel budget is a small departmental allotment (for routine purchases and costs associated with local programs). The Center also administers $100,000+ a year funding opportunities for instructional projects.

Other faculty/TA development programs at Penn State include:

1. those offered by individual departments/colleges, many of which are deliberately designed to coordinate with the Center's activities;
2. Educational Technology Services (part of the Center for Academic Computing), which offers support and resources to help faculty use technology to enhance teaching and learning; and
3. the Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning, which promotes active and collaborative learning primarily through funding grants to support innovations in the classroom.

Program Goals and Activities The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching acts as a neutral catalyst for improving learning and teaching by providing programs, services, and information to faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants throughout the Penn State system.

These services include:

1. Publications on teaching and learning, including a handbook, The Penn State Teacher
2. Courses, including a 10-week Course in College Teaching
3. Workshops, seminars, and conversations, including a New Instructor Orientation and an ongoing program for teachers of large classes
4. Midsemester feedback activities and resources
5. Consultations, both with individual teachers and with departments, colleges, and campuses
6. Online resources (a Virtual Center on the WWW)
7. Funding opportunities for improving undergraduate education and teaching awards
8. Mentoring and support

The Center's goals are to help inform and structure conversations about teaching at every level (department/college/campus) throughout the Penn State system, increase awareness that teaching can be learned, provide resources to improve the culture for teaching and learning at Penn State, enhance knowledge and understanding of the teaching-learning process, and promote interdisciplinary conversations among teachers as well as among teachers and students.

Go Back to Guide

Go to Next Program Description (Queen's)