Washington State University tenured, tenure-track, and career-track faculty with at least three years of teaching service at WSU or another institution are invited to apply through March 22 to be members of the WSU Teaching Academy, the university’s premier organization dedicated to teaching excellence.
Faculty from every college and campus are eligible.
“Members are committed to ideas, pedagogy, innovation, and service that will energize the academy and serve the university and its students in the best ways possible,” said Kara Whitman, academy chair.
Apply online
“This is our first invitation for new members since 2020, and we anticipate receiving applications from, and nominations of, many exceptional educators,” said Sarah Whitley, academy membership committee chair.
Detailed information and an online application form for Teaching Academy membership are available to make the process easy, said Whitley. Anecdotes about one’s teaching experience, a summary addressing teaching effectiveness, and two letters of recommendation must be submitted by the March 22 deadline. Questions about the organization and the call for new members should be directed to Whitley at whitley@wsu.edu. New members will be inducted this spring.
Opportunities of membership
WSU Teaching Academy membership is “permanent recognition of one’s teaching excellence” and a commitment to actively participate in the organization’s mission. That is to provide advocacy for fellow faculty and graduate students who teach, share expertise, be a resource to enable WSU faculty to involve students in transformative learning experiences, and to promote a university culture that values and rewards excellence and scholarship in teaching.
Members are active in faculty support, shaping university policy, grant and award review, cross-disciplinary peer evaluation, informal mentorship, and professional development efforts, among other opportunities. Members must attend some organization meetings during the academic year.
The WSU Teaching Academy was envisioned as part of WSU’s 2000–2002 strategic planning process. In spring 2004, 12 faculty were selected as its inaugural members. Today, there are dozens of active members, with many serving on committees and in leadership roles.
