Teaching Assistants Scholars Certificate Program: 

Certificate of Teaching Excellence Development

The Teaching and Learning Resource Center invites applications for its Teaching Assistant Scholars Certificate Program.   The Program offers outstanding TAs from across the university an opportunity to receive advanced training and development in university teaching, leading to a Certificate of Teaching Excellence Development.   In the fall and spring, TASs participate in professional development programs in learning theory, advanced and interactive teaching techniques, and workshop design.   That aspect of the program consists of a series of workshops and independent work.  Each TAS then participates in an intern program in which they design and lead a series of workshops the following fall for a specific group of TAs (usually other TAs in the same department) at the annual fall workshops for new teaching assistants and in sessions through the year, giving the TAS valuable experience and the opportunity to receive feedback from the faculty of the certificate program. 

The Program does not require that you stay in Montclair for the summer.

Benefits of the program include:

• Develop advanced teaching abilities and understanding of current research on human learning and its implications for education
• Develop your own teaching scholarship, increasingly important in the academic job market
• Develop teaching abilities that are important for administrative, managerial, and scientific careers
• Receive advanced training and experience in instructional development
• Receive teaching letter of recommendation from the Center
• Obtain special assistance with the development of a teaching portfolio for the academic job market.
• Receive Certificate of Teaching Excellence Development upon successful completion of the program

Participants are selected for the program in a competitive application process that looks at demonstrated ability to excell as a teacher and educator.

Applications must include: 

• A letter of interest in the position that includes the following information: your department and progress towards degree, area of research, previous teaching experience (if any), and the reason for your interest in the Program
• Faculty letter of recommendation
• CV 

Applications will be enhanced by but do not depend upon

• Evidence of your teaching ability

Previous Teaching Experience is not required for admission, but successful experience will enhance the application.  Such experience might include responsibility for any activity that helped someone else learn, including grading, consulting, running review sessions, designing educational Web pages, and so forth.

Applications should be submitted to the Teaching and Learning Resource Center.  For questions about this program or other  Center services, contact the Center.

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