A revamped campus resource hub is making its debut to offer support, resources, and tools for academic faculty and instructors. The Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) initiatives are co-designed with faculty and students to help educators create an engaging and innovative learning environment that better prepares students to succeed in their chosen fields of study. 

The Teaching and Learning Commons evolved from the Faculty Center to better focus its services on advancing the educational mission of the university. 

“To meet our retention and graduation goals, we must focus intently on our classrooms and labs, ensuring we're providing the best possible experience for our students. “It made sense to establish a dedicated center, allowing us to concentrate on the heart of our university, which is teaching and learning. We rebranded the Faculty Center and moved it from Faculty Affairs to Academic Affairs to be directly in line with teaching excellence and student success.”

The Teaching and Learning Commons, led by Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Innovation Beth Barrie, aims to be faculty-driven. With rotating faculty directors from various disciplines serving two-year terms, the TLC ensures its programs address faculty development from a wide range of perspectives. This multidisciplinary approach enables dynamic and highly motivated leaders to guide the center in maximizing its impact on teaching and meeting the needs of students.

“The goal of the Teaching and Learning Commons is to bridge the divide that sometimes exists between teachers and learners,” Barrie said. “We believe that by developing opportunities for listening to both groups and co-creating tools and resources grounded both in evidence-based practices and the lived experiences of our campus, every Rebel will be empowered to reach their potential.”

By focusing on the full spectrum of instructors — ranging from tenure-track and nontenured faculty to lecturers and graduate assistants — the center fosters an inclusive and comprehensive learning environment that supports instructors across all disciplines while increasing everyone's sense of value and belonging, promoting a growth mindset, and elevating the value of teaching practice for faculty. This includes advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusivity within the UNLV community and beyond.

The Teaching and Learning Commons provides a wide range of services to support faculty development and enhance teaching effectiveness. Faculty can participate in workshops, training, and programming covering areas such as supplemental instruction, course and syllabus redesign, and integrating technology in teaching. 

Additionally, the TLC offers guidance on best practices for online instruction, promoting equity and inclusion, student learning outcomes, and assessment. Faculty can also request peer reviews, classroom consultations, and writing support to refine their teaching strategies and ensure successful student engagement and learning outcomes.

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