[VPAAEtal] Signature Courses- deadline to apply 4/12

[Academic Affairs]

Reminder: Invitation to apply signature courses
Deadline 4/12

The University College seeks faculty (employed for at least one academic year) to teach engaging, dynamic courses on topics of the instructor’s choice for first-year students enrolled in Signature Courses. These courses should highlight the faculty member’s passion for the topic and communicate knowledge on that topic for a general first-year student. Ideal Signature Courses include interactive student engagement including, for example, group projects, oral presentations, group discussion, proposals/ sales pitches, and other active, experiential learning strategies.

Signature Courses must meet the following Core Curriculum objectives:

1.     In written, oral, and/or visual communication, students will communicate in a manner appropriate to audience and occasion, with an evident message and organizational structure.

2.     Students will be able to analyze, evaluate, or solve problems when given a set of circumstances, data, texts, or art.

3.     Students will demonstrate an understanding of societal and/or civic issues.

Signature Courses meet every M, W, and F at 10:00 AM. Signature Courses are capped at 100 students, and Graduate Assistants will be available to provide support as deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students enrolled in Signature Courses will participate in “The Lionizing,” a culminating semester-end event where they will present a project from the course in the genre of the instructor’s choice. No more than two faculty per college may teach a Signature Course per semester. We will offer six sections in Fall 2017 and six sections in Spring 2018.

Signature Course applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee made up of the five members of University Studies Council and five faculty members appointed by Faculty Senate who will evaluate the course based on:

1.     the extent to which Core Curriculum Objectives for Signature Courses are met by the proposal

2.     the extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the course will engage first-year students

3.     an evaluation of the applicant’s teaching from his or her department head.

To apply:

In a letter of application, please address the following:


·       Name and describe the topic of the Signature Course you propose to teach.

·       Describe assignments or activities you would utilize in this course.

·       Why are you interested in teaching a Signature Course?

·       What special skills, qualities, or experiences would you bring to a Signature Course designed to help engage first-year students?

·       Do you prefer to teach a Signature Course in the Fall or Spring semester, and what informs this preference?

In addition, include a short letter from your department head attesting to the quality of your teaching, especially regarding your ability to engage students.

Please submit these documents via e-mail to Tabetha.Adkins at tamuc.edu<mailto:Tabetha.Adkins at tamuc.edu> prior to April 12 for consideration for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Tabetha Adkins, PhD
Dean of the University College
Associate Professor of Literature & Languages
Tabetha.Adkins at tamuc.edu
P.O. Box 3011 | Commerce, TX 75429-3011
Tel. 903.886.5876

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