A Special Colloquium on Teaching Excellence to Foster Collegiality and Enhance Teaching at a Research University

Abstract

This article describes an annual three-day colloquium on teaching sponsored by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at the University of Wyoming. Deans and directors nominate participants for the colloquium. Plenary and concurrent sessions are led by a mix of external and internal speakers and panelists. Participants find the greatest benefit to be the collegiality fostered by the event. Consistent support from the president, provost, and deans makes the colloquium highly visible and helps to enhance teaching throughout the university.Although the task of reinforcing the institutional teaching mission and strengthening collegiality among faculty members is common to many campuses, it presents a special challenge to research universi-