Augusta University celebrates faculty commitment to teaching excellence

Augusta University’s Center for Instructional Innovation (CII) hosted a ceremony on April 30, honoring faculty for their exceptional commitment to student success, innovation in instruction and ongoing professional growth.

Faculty members were recognized for their active participation in programming that strengthens the life-saving and life-changing educational experiences in their classrooms.

This year, 53 faculty earned formal recognition by meeting participation requirements for CII’s structured certificate programs: Teaching Excellence for Student Success, Instructional Technology Essentials and Tech Savvy Teaching.

The Certificate in Teaching Excellence for Student Success program recognizes faculty who have dedicated time to studying evidence-based strategies. To earn this certificate, participants complete six workshops on topics ranging from cognitive science and critical thinking to academic integrity.

This program represents a commitment to applying current research to the classroom to better support student learning.

The Certificate in Instructional Technology Essentials is designed for instructors looking to master the core components of our digital learning environment.

Program participants complete a series of workshops focused on the effective use of the D2L Brightspace platform, including content creation, assessment design and gradebook management. Their work ensures a consistent and effective digital experience for students.

The Tech Savvy Teaching certificate focuses on strengthening digital literacy and exploring innovative tools for the modern classroom. This past year, program participants explored practical strategies for using ADA accessibility principles in course design and learned about the accessibility features on multiple applications.

Faculty who earn this certificate developed the necessary skills to create tech-forward and engaging learning experiences.

The CII team aims to provide new and innovative content in workshops embedded within the certificate programs each year, allowing returning participants to refine their skills and expand their knowledge.

“Our goal with CII’s faculty development certificate programs is to provide tools that can be immediately applied,” said Doug Blackburn, associate vice president of Instructional Services. “We’ve built each certificate around strategies that are grounded in evidence but immediately usable, leaving faculty with approaches they can apply the next time they step into their classroom or log into their course.”

Colleen Hergott, DPT, an associate professor of physical therapy in the College of Allied Health Sciences, received the Certificate in Teaching Excellence for Student Success this semester. She praised the work of the Center for Instructional Innovation, mentioning the incredible number of resources available to faculty as well as the unwavering support the team has for faculty campus wide.

“The CII faculty are so helpful and ready to support us as faculty however they can,” Hergott said. “The workshops are excellent; they’re super engaging and practical. I always come away with something to use in my classroom.”

The celebration underscored Augusta University and the Center for Instructional Innovation’s commitment to supporting teaching excellence and fostering academic environments where all students and faculty can thrive. CII directors JoAnn Edmond, EdD, Stacy Kluge, EdD, and Jeff Mastromonico, EdD, encourage all faculty to reach out for help if they see a need in their classrooms.

“The Center for Instructional Innovation provides practical certificates and resources that help faculty teach more effectively and use technology with confidence. These certificate programs are designed to save time, improve student engagement and support real classroom needs. Faculty do not have to figure it out alone, just reach out! The support is here and ready to use,” Edmond said.