CATE Catalog
Spring 2026
These are the events, services, and programs offered in Spring 2026 to UIC instructors.
We welcome full and part-time faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs to join CATE at any of our offerings.
EVENTS n SERVICES
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CATE’s Lori Mumpower leads a workshop at New Faculty Orientation
EVENTS
- Weekly Workshops – CATE hosts weekly workshops on timely, evidence-supported teaching practices. Workshops will be offered either on Zoom or face-to-face in our Teaching Excellence Building. Find a Spring workshop.
- Short Course – Short courses are three consecutive 50-minute sessions on a teaching and learning topic. This semester’s short course, Refreshing Your Assignments in the Age of AI, will be held on Zoom. →NEW←
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SERVICES
- CATE in the Colleges – Our team understands that teaching and learning can often look different from college to college, and even among departments in the same college. We are dedicated to working with departments or colleges directly to consult on the unique needs of units. Find your college’s CATE team member to begin the conversation.
- Mid-Semester Student Feedback – After a successful pilot, CATE is continuing to offer a mid-semester student feedback process to interested faculty. Research across higher education consistently finds that mid-course feedback can produce meaningful, timely improvements in teaching performance, student motivation, student engagement, and end-of-course evaluations. Read more about this feedback process and enroll.
- Consultations – Reach out to our staff for a consultation on whatever teaching and learning topic you choose. Our team provides high-quality, confidential consultations and follows the Ethical Guidelines for Educational Developers in support of our UIC teaching community. Complete a consultation request form.
- Teaching Guides – These guides are popular introductions to evidence-based teaching practices, providing practical guidance on how to implement techniques in different disciplines, course sizes, and course modalities. Instructors love our teaching guides for their attention to research and easy-to-adopt practices. Find a CATE teaching guide.
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PROGRAMS
- Large Courses Community of Practice – Whether you’re experienced with large course instruction or newly navigating this course format, this monthly community of practice provides support, practical ideas, and a candid space to learn with colleagues who understand the complexities of teaching at scale. Learn more and register for the Large Courses Community of Practice, which starts Wednesday, January 28. →NEW←
- Teaching Partners (Pilot Program!) – Teaching Partners is a peer observation program that offers colleagues the opportunity to observe each other’s classes and receive constructive feedback from both their faculty peer and a CATE teaching and learning expert. Read more about Teaching Partners and join this pilot program! →NEW←
- Inclusive Education Scholars Certificate Program (IESCP) – Developed in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Diversity, this semester-long program helps UIC instructors support student success and well-being through the development of an inclusive classroom. Learn more about the IESCP and complete the registration form by August 22, 2025 to join an IESCP cohort for Fall.
- Action Research Scholars – This year-long professional learning program is for UIC instructors who want to engage in data-driven, reflective teaching. Scholars participate in cross-disciplinary learning community meetings and workshops to develop, implement, and disseminate an IRB approved teaching research project. Learn more about the program which starts Fall 2026. The Call for Interest is due Monday, 2/2/26.
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A participant in CATE’s programs gives information to another interested instructor.
- Equity-Minded Course Design – CATE offers a fully-online course design program in Blackboard, which faculty can complete on their timeline. Based on the principles of the Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching, the course will guide faculty through the processes of designing a course that centers equity and engages faculty in creating significant learning experiences for students. There is no enrollment deadline. Learn more about the Equity-Minded Course Design program and enroll.
GRADUATE STUDENT AND POSTDOC OFFERINGS:
GRADUATE STUDENT AND POSTDOC OFFERINGS
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- TA Workshops – These workshops are designed to support UIC graduate TAs in their varied roles and duties. Workshops are facilitated by experienced graduate TAs and CATE staff and are held via Zoom beginning the week of January 5 and throughout the beginning of the semester. Learn more and register for TA workshops.
- Teaching Assistant Resources and Guides – We have resources to help support TAs in their teaching at UIC, including a series of TA Guides, which were developed by experienced TAs. Check out our TA Resources.
- Tea and Teaching: A Series for Graduate TAs – Monthly meetings for graduate students to connect with peers and discuss key aspects of teaching and life as a graduate teaching assistant. Conversation topics will include making the most out of your TAship, fostering student engagement and inclusion, supporting your own well-being as a student and instructor, and professional development. Hybrid meetings occur on Wednesdays from 2-3 pm in the Teaching Excellence Building room 107 and on Zoom. All UIC graduate students and postdocs are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be provided at the session. Learn more about Tea and Teaching.
- GC 591: Introduction to College-Level Teaching for Graduate TAs – Offered in partnership with the Graduate College, this 2-credit course provides essential training for new and returning grad TAs to lead, engage, and support their students with confidence. Grad students will learn evidence-based teaching strategies, discuss troubleshooting classroom scenarios, and cultivate a supportive community to share their successes. The course meets on-campus Tuesdays from 3:30 pm – 5:20 pm. To register, search for CRN: 48011. Learn more about how this course can impact your TA experience.
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- Inclusive Education Scholars Certificate Program (IESCP) – Developed in collaboration with the Office of Engagement, this semester-long program helps UIC instructors support student success and well-being through the development of an inclusive classroom. Graduate student TAs and instructors are encouraged to join our Spring 2026 cohort. Learn more about IESCP and complete the IESCP registration form by January 13, 2026 to join a graduate student and postdoc cohort.
- Foundations of College Instruction (FOCI) – This 3-course campus certificate is offered through the Graduate College in partnership with CATE and can appear on an official transcript. Students learn foundational knowledge in education research that supports effective, equity-minded college teaching, and they develop a teaching statement, course syllabus, and teaching portfolio they can use in their teaching at UIC and on the job market. The first course in the series, GC 592: Foundations of College Instruction is offered this Spring, and meets on-campus Mondays from 3:00-4:50pm. To register, search for CRN: 45675. Learn more about the campus certificate in the Foundations of College Instruction.
- CIRTL at UIC – UIC is a member institution of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning Network, which provides professional development – certificate opportunities and national online programming – for graduate students and postdocs that prepares them to implement effective teaching practices for diverse audiences. Participation in most of the programs in this catalog, online programs and events through the CIRTL Network, and UIC departmental teaching courses count towards certification. Read more about CIRTL opportunities for our graduate students and postdocs.
- Consultations – Request a one-on-one consultation for yourself, or request training or support on behalf of TAs in your department or program. Use this form to request a TA Consultation.