Chapter 7: Teaching

The Report of the Commission on Teaching (1997) called for an affirmation of teaching excellence as one of Emory University's highest values. Teaching at various levels and in various forms is one of the central functions of the university and excellence in teaching is encouraged and rewarded. Teaching is defined as any activity undertaken by a faculty member within the formal academic programs of Emory University that contributes to the efforts of Emory students to acquire intellectual skills, to extend knowledge and understanding, or to develop attitudes and habits that foster continuing growth. Teaching can occur in lecture rooms, seminars, small discussion groups, libraries, studios, concert halls, galleries, and laboratories, in the supervision of theses, dissertations, performances, and exhibitions, at the bedside in medical school, and in the supervision and guidance of undergraduate and graduate students, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and hospital house staff. 

Faculty are expected to devote considerable time and thought to their teaching, to keep abreast of new scholarly works and cutting-edge interventions in their fields, to prepare carefully for their classes and the hands-on training experiences they supervise, and to be reasonably available to their students outside of the structured and planned academic programming. Faculty are expected to have demonstrated competence in and dedication to teaching and a capacity and a desire to maintain teaching effectiveness throughout their careers. They should evidence the capacity for continuing growth as a model of professional conduct for students and colleagues. Excellence in teaching draws continuously upon the teacher's ability as a scholar in the discipline. 

Given that teaching is a fundamental component of the university's existence and mission statement, Emory provides its faculty with resources and venues to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity. The Center for Faculty Development and Excellence (CFDE)  offers seminars, workshops, presentations, and services each year on a diverse set of topics focused on improving faculty teaching, writing, and research. A major priority of the CFDE is the development of teaching resources. Given the centrality of teaching to Emory's mission, a number of teaching resources are available to Emory faculty at the CFDE's website. 

In addition to all the Teaching Resources available through the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, other teaching centers at Emory are: 

Emory's Center for Digital Scholarship (ECDS): Emory's Center for Digital Scholarship, located in the Woodruff Library, provides consulting expertise, project coordination, and a technology-rich collaborative space for faculty, staff, and students to incorporate digital tools and methods into research, teaching, and publishing. 

Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunity Program (TATTO): The graduate school sponsors the TATTO program, which is designed to prepare graduate students in PhD programs at Emory to enter the profession as competent and effective teachers. The TATTO program includes a short course, departmental training, a carefully monitored initial teaching experience (teaching assistantship), and a teaching opportunity with greater responsibilities (teaching associateship). 

Faculty Resources for Inclusive Instruction: The Inclusive Instruction website for faculty offers information about disabilities, the law, and its application to higher education, and best instructional practices for students with (and without) disabilities. The Department of Accessibility Services part of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,  provides a number of services related to accommodations for a student with a disability. 

Emory offers a series of study abroad programs. One office on campus for faculty to be aware of related to study or practice abroad is the Office of International and Summer Programs (OISP). OISP is dedicated to fulfilling Emory College's commitment to internationalization through study abroad. In collaboration with Emory faculty, Study Abroad-OISP develops, promotes, and administers programming for undergraduate students that encourages both intellectual and personal growth through challenging scholarship and cultural immersion. Its services support students and faculty before, during, and after the study abroad experience in order to ensure that study abroad is an essential part of an Emory College education. Faculty seeking to become involved with study abroad and/or OISP should contact the Associate Dean for International and Summer Programs. Professional schools and colleges mount their own study abroad opportunities for students and faculty and are encouraged to contact the relevant personnel in their school/college.