Why is it that you value teaching? Were you inspired by your favorite teacher? Is there something in your research that you want to share with the world? Either way, teaching is a key part of our work as grad students and potential future careers. Check out the top three reasons why YOU should apply for the Fall 2022 University Teaching Certificate (UTC) cohort.

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Pictured: We want YOU to apply for the UTC program.

1. You get to talk to peers about interdisciplinary teaching strategies. During your first quarter in the program, you will enroll in GDIV 301 (11:00 am MW). On Mondays, you will lead discussions and participate in a graduate seminar-style discussion about pedagogical texts geared toward university-level pedagogy. On Wednesdays, guest faculty and graduate resource speakers will talk to you about various topics including, but not limited to, the psychology of learning, diversity/inclusion/trauma-informed pedagogy, effective feedback, student motivation techniques, and much more! You will also have an opportunity to delve deeper into a pedagogy topic that interests you and present it to your peers during finals week.

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Pictured: You in the UTC seminars

2. You get to work on/get a head start on your teaching portfolio. In the second quarter of the program, you will create a teaching portfolio that can include a teaching statement, a syllabus, a reflection of your teaching strengths and weaknesses, a teaching careers week presentation, an advanced pedagogy essay, or an outline of an engaging teaching technique. You will have opportunities to get feedback from your peers on your materials before you submit them for the certificate, so you will have a MASSIVE head start on your teaching job market materials.

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Pictured: You working on that teaching portfolio

3. Five words: Personalized Teaching Letter of Recommendation. While enrolled in the UTC program, you will have the opportunity to have the current UTC coordinator or the Director of GradSuccess give you some feedback on your teaching. Once you do, the Director of GradSuccess will write you a letter of recommendation that captures all the great things you do in the classroom. Who doesn’t want future employers to know about that?!?

4. Bonus: If you complete the UTC program, you will be eligible to apply to coordinate it in the following academic year. Regardless, you will receive a beautiful certificate that will enhance the appearance of any wall, filing cabinet, or bookcase in your office!

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Pictured: Your future UTC letter of recommendation

Still not sure if you want to apply? Then read the testimonial below to learn how participating in the UTC Program helped me find success on the job market:

"As the past UTC coordinator, I attribute much of my success on the job market to this program. I have applied for several jobs and have had a handful of on-campus job interviews. I accepted a tenure-track position at Iowa Wesleyan University and was offered a teaching postdoc at the University of Florida. In each of my interviews, the UTC program stood out. Interviewers asked many questions about my teaching philosophy, classroom practices, course design, and advanced pedagogical training. In the UTC program, I had the opportunity to talk about these things and think ahead about how I might answer those interview questions. I also had a head start on the teaching portfolio and valuable feedback on its main components from my generous peers." -Brittany Carlson (Department of English), former UTC Coordinator 

If you don’t want to take it from me, check out this inspiring testimonial from a past UTC participant:

"I am incredibly indebted to the UTC program and your guidance. After graduating, I received responses to my teaching specific applications, and I was even offered two teaching focused positions: a teaching postdoc at NYU Shanghai and an education track position in Global Studies at the National University of Singapore. They were both my top choices and I accepted both (one after another). Despite having little lecturing experience, they were impressed with my teaching statement and class plans--both of which I developed during the UTC! The UTC really made all the difference for my post grad experience. -Shelley Guyton (Department of Anthropology)

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Pictured: All the love past UTC participants are showing us

There you have it. The UTC Program not only allows you to chat with your peers in various fields about teaching but also gives you the opportunity to build your teaching portfolio and strengthen your overall professionalization.  Apply for UTC today!

For more information about the UTC, please visit: https://tadp.ucr.edu/university-teaching-certificate.

Happy Applying!

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Pictured: Us welcoming you to the UTC program