Certification to help ASU graduate students, postdocs become future faculty

The Graduate College has announced the next phase of Arizona State University’s collaboration with the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. Undergraduate teaching certificates are now available to ASU graduate students and postdocs.

The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning is a learning community of diverse research universities engaged in the deliberate, systematic and reflective use of research methods to develop and implement teaching practices that advance STEM learning in undergraduate education.

Founded in 2003 as a National Science Foundation Center for Learning and Teaching in higher education, the core ideas of the center's network are to provide professional development graduate training through diversity, teaching as research and learning communities. The network now includes 42 member universities in the United States and Canada, including Yale, Stanford, UCLA, Penn State and Caltech.

Earning certificates 

ASU graduate students and postdocs wishing to become certified by the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning may do so at three tiered levels — associate, practitioner and scholar — representing certain benchmark achievements. Certification is recognized as a significant commitment to pedagogy and teaching in one's discipline by more than 40 research universities in the center network. The associate certificate is available now, while the practitioner and scholar certificates will be available later this spring.

“Earning professionalization certificates through CIRTL is one way for graduate students and postdocs aspiring to faculty positions to demonstrate their commitment to teaching excellence," said Tamara Underiner, associate dean of professional development and engagement at the Graduate College. “Because of the breadth of the CIRTL Network, these certifications will be recognized by many of the top research universities.”

MORE: ASU joins Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning to better prepare future faculty

Join the network

Through center membership, graduate students and postdocs have expanded opportunities for future faculty preparation, are able to connect with a national network of future and current faculty, and learn more about evidence-based research and teaching as research.

Interested ASU graduate students, postdocs and faculty should create an account.

Membership benefits 

All members of the ASU community are welcome to participate in any of the free center offerings, including events, courses and learning communities, as well as:

• Access to hundreds of teaching and learning resources in and outside of ASU.

• Opportunities to join (or start) learning communities on a variety of different topics.

• Professionalization credentials that improve job prospects.

While the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning initially started with a focus on STEM education, ASU does not limit participation to STEM students, and encourages all to participate. Join the center network.

Written by Jenna Nabors