Seminars for Excellence in Teaching
Since 2008, the Academy for Teaching and Learning has hosted a series of one-hour Seminars for Excellence in Teaching (SET) to help colleagues meet the historic expectations of excellence in teaching at Baylor. For new Teachers of Record (TOR), SET satisfy SACS requirements for professional development in teaching. For more experienced TOR, SET facilitate the sharing of ideas and insights about teaching and learning today and encourage participants to renew their commitments to inspirational teaching. SET are also a valuable resource in the preparation of graduate student Teachers of Record.
All members of the Baylor community are invited to attend SET in accord with our core commitments to seek learning and apply knowledge and to pursue excellence through continuous improvement.
SETs are recorded as noted below; if you cannot attend but would like to view the recording, please register, and a link to the recording will be sent to you
Fall 2026 SETs
Ian Grigsby (Mathematics), Nadine Welch (Communication Sciences and Disorders), Lauren Weber (Theatre Arts)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
In this session, a diverse set of faculty panelists will share what they find joyful about teaching, how to maintain (or rediscover) joy in teaching, and reflect on how teaching joyfully can be an act of resistance, a journey to wholeness, and a method of effective pedagogy.
Mary Herridge (Enrollment Management), Marcie Moenke (Arts & Sciences)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
Each institution has its distinct student population. And although each student is unique, the students in our classrooms (and online) at Baylor have many shared traits, backgrounds, and experiences. Teaching effectively often means understanding and accounting for these characteristics. In this session, we’ll hear from Baylor professionals involved in recruitment and enrollment as they describe Baylor students and discuss implications for your teaching.
Regan Gurung (Oregon State University)
In person: Moody Library 104 (Active Learning Lab)
This session is a special event featuring author, psychologist, and pedagogical expert Regan Gurung, as he discusses his new book, Teach Like a Champ: The Psychology-based Guide to Effective and Efficient Teaching.
David Corey (Honors College)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
Amy James (Libraries), Megan Alstot (Academy for Teaching and Learning)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
Kevin Villegas (Intercultural Engagement)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
Baylor is a Christian University, but what does that mean for our students’ faith lives and the implications for teaching? This session will survey the major trends and highlights of Baylor students’ religious lives with special attention to the often-hidden variety of Baylor students’ belief, behavior, and belonging. Finally, participants will explore the implications of Baylor students’ faith for teaching, learning, and student-instructor interactions.
Amy Achenbach (Academy for Teaching and Learning)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
Instructors don’t always know if students appreciate their teaching, let alone what about their instructors they are thankful for. This session presents results from the ATL’s ongoing “Thank an Instructor” campaign, sharing an emerging “taxonomy of gratitude” from students’ notes of thanks that can inspire and challenge instructors.
Dan Watkins (History)
Online only: Zoom link will be sent to registrants - session will be recorded for later viewing
What if your students’ work didn’t end at your desk and exist solely for you? This session explores how to design authentic assignments that connect classroom learning to real audiences, real purposes, and potentially the world beyond the university. Drawing on examples from the digital humanities, we’ll focus on practical, adaptable strategies you can use right away to redesign existing assignments. The emphasis will be on creating less busywork and more meaningful work -- fewer forgotten papers and more projects that last. And, yes, it might even make grading easier too.