The Center for Teaching offers several programs, resources, and support for pre-tenure instructors (clinical-track, tenure-track, instructional-track, visiting, and adjuncts) in their first three years of teaching at the University of Iowa. Our goal is to help early-career instructors balance teaching with research and other obligations and employ effective and rewarding teaching pedagogies. 

Professional Development for Early-Career Instructors

Course Design Institute

The Center for Teaching hosts an annual Course Design Institute that may be of special interest to early career instructors. This intensive, interactive, multi-day program guides participants through the process of designing or substantially revising a course. Any instructor (clinical-track, tenure-track, instructional-track, visiting, or adjunct) at the University of Iowa who wishes to design or substantially revise a course is eligible to apply to be a part of the Course Design Institute. 

Early Career Faculty Academy

This faculty learning community is designed specifically for a cohort of first-year, tenure-track faculty who, with the encouragement of their DEOs, make a commitment to participate. The cohort explores various aspects of teaching and provides one another with support, accountability, and feedback in preparation for the third-year review. 

Roadmap for Teaching Success

This year-long roadmap of bite-sized activities is designed to help instructors implement effective teaching strategies and set practical goals for their first two semesters at Iowa. Faculty can use this guide to ease into their teaching role, invest in themselves, and set themselves up for long-term success.

Workshops and Events

The Center for Teaching offers a series of timely workshops (open to all early-career instructors) focused on good teaching practices, including events designed specifically with early-career instructors in mind.

Teaching Consultation

The Center for Teaching offers teaching consultations on a variety of topics from presentation skills, student engagement, and incorporating technology into coursework.

Classroom Observation

Classroom observations are a voluntary and confidential service provided upon an instructor's request. Center staff will attend a class to observe and provide feedback to instructors on topics such as student interaction with instructors, classroom delivery style, and use of teaching technologies.

Student Feedback

Student feedback can be gathered at any point during the semester and provides valuable information about students’ learning experiences in class that can be used to adjust current and future teaching practices.