ACUE Faculty Development Institute at Southern Miss

The ACUE experience on our campus has been transformative institutionally. Through the ACUE Faculty Development Institute participants support one anothers’ teaching and over all success as faculty members, resulting in new community connections across the university as well as powerful impacts in the classroom.

Dr. Amy Chasteen, Executive Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at Southern Miss

The ACUE Faculty Development Institute at Southern Miss is an intensive professional development program offered to enhance teaching practices. The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) was founded by leaders in higher education to advance instruction, support college educators, and promote student success. ACUE helps colleges and universities achieve their goals for students through innovative faculty development partnerships and a research-based Course in Effective Teaching Practices.

The ACUE Faculty Development Institute at Southern Miss includes four programs: 

• Effective Teaching Practices (ETP)—Three-semester program focused on evidence-based teaching practices in face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses. 
• Effective Online Teaching Practices (EOTP)—Three-semester program focused on evidence-based teaching practices and course design in online courses. 
• Advanced Certificate in Effective College Instruction—Following the initial earning of the Certificate in Effective College Instruction, faculty can earn the advanced certificate by completing two more semesters in the second program. 
• Fostering a Culture of Belonging (FCB)—The ACUE Fostering a Culture of Belong program (formerly called Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning) supports faculty and staff in creating community and a sense of belonging in curricular and extra-curricular experiences. Inclusivity takes intention, awareness of impact, and daily practice. The community of ACUE allows for open discussions with other educators on the following topics:
  • Managing Implicit Biases
  • Reducing Microagressions in Learning Environments
  • Addressing Imposter Phenomenon and Stereotype Threat
  • Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
  • Designing Equity Centered-Courses

The 10-week program allows for individual and collective reflection through ACUE modules and weekly facilitated meetings.

ACUE Faculty fellows invest time (1) individually working through online interactive modules, (2) exploring at least one technique in a class during the week, and (3) joining together each week as a group for a facilitated discussion on that week's topic. At the end of every course/microcredential, faculty fellows receive an ACUE/USM Certificate from the Center for Faculty Development as well as badges from ACUE, indicating their successful completion of that stage of training. 

Upon the successful completion of Effective Teaching Practices, Effective Online Teaching Practices, or the Advanced Certificate, faculty fellows earn the Certificate in Effective College Instruction, endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE), and are conferred the USM designation of ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar. 

Applications for spring 2024 ACUE opportunities will be available soon and due by November 15, 2023. ACUE Faculty Fellows that are selected to participate in the spring 2024 program will be notified on or before December 8, 2023.

ACUE Faculty Fellows

Be a part of the ACUE impact at Southern Miss