Adjunct faculty are integral members of our FIU teaching community. Every semester, more than 500 adjuncts teach at FIU, and it is CAT’s goal to provide faculty development and community-building opportunities for adjunct faculty through workshops, reading groups, consultations, and online resources. On this page, you'll learn about FIU’s commitment to teaching excellence, find the answers to many of your most pressing questions in our Adjunct Faculty Resource Guide, and access a host of other resources to support you and your teaching. If you don't find what you're looking for, please complete a consultation form and one of our team members will be in contact.
Teaching Excellence at FIU
At FIU, our vision of teaching excellence is characterized by learning-centeredness, evidence-based practice, and inclusivity. Learning-centered teaching focuses on optimizing student learning, growth, and development. Evidence-based teaching involves instructional practices informed by existing educational research and/or both quantitative and qualitative evidence collected during teaching. Inclusive teaching recognizes the value and connection of students’ lived experiences to their learning, as well as their academic, professional, and personal successes.
Together, these pillars of teaching excellence support a deeper understanding of how learning works-- recognizing that learning is a transformative process that results in lasting changes in knowledge, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. It is driven by students' active engagement and interpretation of their experiences both inside and outside the classroom. To explore these ideas further, we invite you to review the Foundations of Good Teaching: A brief guide to How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching or access the complete How Learning Works e-Book.
In addition to our reading groups, live workshops, and consultations, we offer several initiatives designed to support your professional development and teaching excellence..
Teaching Fundamentals & Innovations Hub
With the Teaching Fundamentals & Innovations Hub, you can access brief on-demand workshops and talks at your convenience, from anywhere at any time. This hub is designed to provide flexible, targeted professional development opportunities that align with FIU's pillars of teaching excellence.
Adjunct Mentorship Program
Our Adjunct Mentorship Program (AMP) aims to increase adjunct professors' access to increase adjunct professors' access to institutional knowledge, peer networks, and support systems that foster teaching success and professional belonging. Currently in its pilot phase with four select departments, the AMP will expand university-wide in the coming years. As part of this initiative, we have created the Adjunct Faculty Resource Guide which is available to all adjunct professors.
Teaching and Learning Quick Reads
The links below will take you directly to articles, book chapters, and web resources on teaching and learning.
- Introduction to Active Learning
- Interactive Techniques
- Sample Activities for Getting Feedback from Students
- Transparent Assignments Enhance Students' Success
- A framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Make Any Lesson More Culturally Responsive
- Cheating Lessons, Part 1
Teaching and Learning Videos and Podcasts
The links below will take you directly to videos and podcasts on teaching and learning.
- Teaching Fundamentals & Innovations Hub. Created by CAT.
- Learner-Centered Teaching. Presented by Terry Doyle, author of Learner-Centered Teaching: Putting the Research on Learning Into Practice (2013).
- Laptops And Phones In The Classroom: Yea, Nay Or A Third Way? Presented by NPR ED (2018).
- What Should I do When a Student Cheats? Presented by James Lang, author of Cheating Lessons (2013).
Additional Teaching and Learning Resources
Explore the links below for direct access to various teaching and learning support services.
- FIU Online: Supports all faculty in their use of Canvas the university's learning management system.
- Educational Technology Services (ETS): Part of the Division of Information Technology, ETS provides access and support for instructional technologies available at FIU.
- CAT Teaching and Learning Library: With over 500 titles on teaching and learning, our library invites FIU faculty, adjuncts, and faculty development partners to explore our collection of “CAT Favorites” and borrow books for up to 45 days.
- The Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity: Offers resources to promote both learning and academic integrity. Visit their webpage or the review the Adjunct Faculty Resource Guide to learn more about related policies, procedures, and teaching resources, including FIU's AI policy.