Cohort Programs and Learning Communities
Build your teaching skills with a community of your peers.
New Faculty Teaching Academy
Monthly Tues. and Wed. | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Baker 805
A monthly cohort program for new faculty covering foundational teaching practices, evidence-based pedagogy, assessment, student engagement, and sustainable course design.
The Teaching Studio
Biweekly Wed. | 3 – 4 p.m. | Virtual
This learning community brings together non-continuing-track and teaching-track faculty — including NYC campus faculty — to build community and share teaching practices in a low-commitment, conversation-driven format.
Make It Yours: Custom AI for Your Classroom
Biweekly Thurs. | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Baker 805
Construct custom AI tools tied to your own course and students. This learning community offers hands-on build time and discipline-paired peer collaboration.
Workshops
Deep-dive into evidence-based teaching strategies with these 60- and 75-minute workshops.
Just-in-Time Workshop Series
Aug. 17–18 | 10:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Central Library Author's Room
A pre-semester series of practical, ready-to-use workshops designed to help faculty prepare for the upcoming fall semester.
Fast Fridays
Monthly Fridays | 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Virtual
This monthly virtual series offers faculty a focused, low-commitment opportunity to pick up one practical teaching strategy or tool before the weekend. Each session is 15 minutes and includes a brief Q&A.
Compelling Classroom Conversations
Aug. 31 | 10 – 11:15 a.m. | Baker 805
Learn to facilitate honest, open, and academically rigorous conversations even when the stakes feel high.
Active Learning Strategies for Your Classroom
Sept. 16 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Baker 805
Develop evidence-based active learning strategies that increase student participation, strengthen comprehension, and make class sessions more dynamic and student-centered.
Adapting Assessments in the Era of Gen AI
Oct. 1 | 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Baker 805
Bring an existing assessment and leave with a revised version ready to implement in an AI-enabled classroom. No technical experience required.
Building a Custom GPT for Your Course
Oct. 15 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Baker 805
Design, prompt, and test a custom GPT that you can deploy immediately—whether as a student-facing study tool, a feedback assistant, or a content generator. No prior technical experience required.
Orientation Programs and More
Explore our start-of-semester offerings for fall 2026.
Teaching at Vanderbilt
Aug. 20 | 2:30 – 5 p.m. | Buttrick Hall
Orientation for new faculty covering Vanderbilt's teaching culture, available resources, and foundational strategies for success in the classroom from day one.
Teaching Assistant Faculty Orientation
Aug. 24 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Baker 805
An orientation for faculty who supervise teaching assistants. Covers best practices for TA mentorship, oversight, and creating productive faculty-TA partnerships.
Drop-In Office Hours
Aug. 24–25 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Baker 805
Open drop-in consultations and support for faculty preparing for the start of the fall semester. No appointment necessary. Virtual and in-person modalities available.
For Graduate Students
Professional development in college teaching designed for graduate students.
Teaching Assistant Orientation
Aug. 11 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Wilson Hall
Orientation program to help new Vanderbilt Teaching Assistants prepare for their roles. Explore teaching strategies, learn about campus resources and hear from a panel of experienced TAs.
Academy of College Teaching
Weekly Tues. and Wed. | Various Times | Baker 805
Prepare for a future career in college-level teaching. Explore course design principles, classroom strategies and techniques for developing a teaching philosophy. Open to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Let's Connect
Our Teaching Development and Initiatives team welcomes suggestions for future educational development programs and events. Don't see what you're looking for? Just reach out!
