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Graduate Teaching Certification
The Graduate Teaching Certification (GTC) is a year-long professional development program that provides graduate and professional students with the skills and knowledge necessary to teach successfully in a post-secondary classroom. Students will experience intellectual discussion of effective teaching strategies and gain insight on best teaching practices by completing a graduate seminar on college teaching, attending workshops, completing the teaching and evaluation experience, and more. The GTC is a collaborative effort between the Graduate College, Office of the Executive Vice Provost and Provost, UNLV Office of Online Education, GPSA, and a number of departments that offer teaching support.
This is a medallion-qualifying program for UNLV graduate & professional students. For additional information, please see the Graduate College Medallion Program website.
To be eligible to participate in this program, graduate students must:
- be currently enrolled and in good academic standing in their graduate or professional degree program.
- maintain a minimum 3.5 overall GPA.
Applications are only accepted once a year. We will accept applications between May 5 and August 4. There is no application fee.
The 2023-2024 Online Graduate Teaching Certification Application can be found on The Grad Rebel Gateway. Please log in to the Grad Rebel Gateway and click on The Grad Academy tab to apply.
Please be prepared to provide the following information when completing your Graduate Teaching Certification Application:
- CV/Resume
- Letter of Interest
- The Letter of Interest should discuss your teaching experience, what you hope to gain from the GTC program, how the GTC program will help you become a better teacher, and your career goals. Please limit the response to a single page.
- Endorser Names
- You will identify the name and email address of one faculty member. They will receive a form to endorse your participation in the program.
- Copies of teaching evaluations from 1 semester (if available) or evaluation of guest lecture (if available)
All program requirements need to be completed in full by the student in order to complete the program, receive a certificate of completion, and have the GTC completion noted on their UNLV transcript.
- Program requirements will be submitted through the Graduate Teaching Certification WebCampus Course. Participants will be added to the course in August.
- Students must attend all cohort meetings, which include: (1) an Introductory Cohort Meeting in August; (2) a Mid Cohort Meeting at the end of the Fall semester; (3) and, a Final Cohort Meeting at the end of the academic year. Please note that students will be put on program probation after one cohort meeting absence and the second absence may lead to program separation.
- Students must enroll in EDH 780 Seminar: Teaching in Higher Education (or an equivalent, approved class: normal tuition and fees apply). In order to determine if a class is approved for the GTC, please email a copy of the syllabus to gradacademy@unlv.edu.
- Students must complete the Teaching Observation Assignment. The Graduate Teaching Certification program's Teaching Observation Assignment is designed to help participants engage in professional learning to improve their teaching and enhance students' learning through this reflective practice. All 4 components of the assignment must be submitted by March 20, 2024. Please visit the Graduate Teaching Certification WebCampus course for assignment guidelines.
- Students must watch 1 mandatory GTC workshop and submit a one-page (single or double spaced) summary. Mandatory workshops will be available for viewing via WebCampus.
- Students must attend a minimum of 2 GTC workshops that are regularly scheduled in the fall and/or spring terms.
- Finally, GTC students must submit their teaching portfolios at the end of the spring semester (typically a meeting is held towards the end of April/ early May). GTC Participants will receive general feedback from a faculty member.
- Portfolios need to be submitted by: Friday, March 31, 2023
- Teaching Portfolio Example
- Complete all program assessments (surveys/feedback forms)
- Students must apply and be admitted before they can begin participating in the GTC.
- Once admitted, students must complete all program requirements in one academic year with their cohort.
- All cohort meetings are mandatory.
- If a student is not in good standing in their degree program, or if they create any problems as a participant in the GTC, they may be removed from the program at the discretion of the graduate college dean
All cohort meetings are mandatory unless you have a documented excuse that has been approved. If you miss a cohort meeting, without prior permission, you may be removed from the program.
Below are the meeting dates and times for the 2023-2024 GTC cohort:
- Intro Cohort Meeting: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 3:30-5 p.m.
- Mid Cohort Meeting: Monday, November 13, 2023, 3:30-5 p.m.
- Final Cohort Meeting: Monday, April 22, 2024, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
- The Grad Academy: Mixer & Trivia Night, Wednesday, December 6, 5-6:30 p.m., University Gateway Building, Room 268 (Optional but Highly Recommended)
- Join us to mingle with your fellow Grad Academy participants and compete in Trivia Night! Food and drinks will be provided. The winning team will earn prizes!
- The Grad Academy: End of Year Celebration, Tuesday, May 14, 5:00-6:30 p.m., University Gateway Building, Room 268 (Optional but Highly Recommended)
The below workshops will help fulfill the requirements for the Graduate Teaching Certification. You must RSVP for all workshops at least 24 hours in advance. To RSVP, please click on the workshop below. This will send you to the calendar entry page, which has the RSVP information. A full list of the workshops offered this semester can be found on the Graduate College Student Workshop Calendar.
The below workshops will help fulfill the requirements for the Graduate Teaching Certification. To receive credit for a workshop, click on the workshop recording you would like to watch, write a 1-page summary (single or double-spaced), and submit the summary via WebCampus.
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Negotiating your Job Offer
- The Importance of Gender Pronouns
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing for a Multiple Day Interview
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Etiquette, Communicative Competence, and Professionalism
- Resume vs. CV Workshop
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing your Application Materials
- Assignments & Discussions: Using Multiple Methods to Provide Meaningful Feedback
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing your Job Talk
- Academic Job Search Demystified Series: Preparing a Teaching Demonstration
- Course Organization: Creating an Inclusive and Interactive Online Course Syllabus
- Building Mentorship Skills for Academic Careers
- Professionalism 101
- Pedagogy & Building Courses Online
- Managing Conflicts or Concerns in Mentor-Mentee Relationships
- Time Management: Strategies for Success
- Difficult Conversations & Conflict Resolution
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae: How to Create Them and When to Use Them
- Inclusive Teaching Practices
- Academic Interviewing Strategies
- Facilitating Inclusive Online Discussions
- Public Speaking 101
- Tips & Tricks from Graduate Teaching Assistants
- Online Teaching Strategies
- Using Active Learning in Your Class & Assessing Student Learning
- Teaching Logistics: Planning and Managing a Class
- How to Run a Great Meeting
- Ethics & Professionalism
- Planning Lessons for Student Engagement & Retention
- Leadership During Crises
- Giving Great Virtual Presentations
- Service Learning
- Creating Short Lecture Videos
- Launching the Leader in You
- Mentoring Resource Panel
The Graduate College will be hosting Tuesday Talks: Your Questions Answered for current The Grad Academy program participants. Please drop by on any of the following Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m., to ask us any questions you might have or just to check your progress: