The Graduate Teaching Academy (GTA) is a graduate student-led organization supported by the Office of Graduate Studies and the Center for Teaching Excellence. Our mission is to provide professional development opportunities to equip graduate students in the area of college teaching.
All GTA programs are FREE for graduate students enrolled at Texas A&M University. Postdocs and faculty members are also welcome to attend GTA events.
Flexibility of attendance: participate in any or all of the GTA programs as your schedule permits. For example, you may choose to attend one or any number of our Fall & Spring Seminar Series presentations. Or, you may choose to enroll in our one-year GTA Fellows program that can be entered into at the beginning of either the fall or the spring semester. Those who successfully complete the one-year program obtain a Certificate of Completion from the GTA and receive the designation of “Graduate Teaching Academy Fellow.” GTA Fellows are eligible to enroll in the GTA II Learning Communities program, become a GTA Steering Committee (GTASC) member, go on to become a GTA Senior Fellow, and apply for travel awards to the Wakonse South Conference held annually in Burnet, TX and/or national Wakonse Conference in College Teaching held annually in Stoney Lake, Michigan.
To find out more information about the GTA, please contact us...
...by email at gta@tamu.edu
...on Facebook
...by mail at:
Graduate Teaching Academy
Texas A&M University
533 Blocker
MS 4246 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-4246
...by attending one of our Monday evening seminars
This information is being updated for the 2009-2010 program.
Certificate Program Overview
Fall Seminar Program: GTA participants attend at least 7 of the 13 GTA seminars offered in the Fall semester. Videos of all of the seminar are taken and made available for viewing at the library. Participants may view up to two of these videos and write a summary of the video to assist in fulfilling the seven seminar attendence requirement. Participants then write reflective essays on two of the seminars.
Full guidelines for participants on main campus
Full guidelines for participants via distance
Spring Workshop Program: GTA participants attend two workshops on how to write a Philosophy of Teaching Statement and how to create a Teaching Portfolio. There may also be additional (optional) workshops offered in the Spring on other topics of interest to graduate students. The particpant is only required to complete a Philosophy of Teaching Statement, but may find the other workshops offered benefitical for their future career in college teaching.
Teaching Mentor Program: GTA participants choose a faculty teaching mentor (may not be their committee chair). This faculty mentor guides the graduate student in completing the GTA program. Participants will also complete five classroom observations of several professors and may discuss these observations with their mentor.
Professional Service: GTA participants complete a professional service activity of their choose to benefit Texas A&M University and/or our local community. Past participants have done a variety of professional service activities--mentored undergraduate students, served on Departmental Committees, volunteered as judges at Student Research Week, presented special seminars, tutored high school students, and much more.
Benefits of being a GTA Fellow
Leadership Opportunities (GTA Steering Committee including group leaders)
Eligible to apply for one of three Wakonse Conference or College Teaching Travel Awards given out each year.
Participate in GTA Reading or Writing groups. The Reading groups read and discuss books on teaching. The Writing groups pursue research projects in the scholarship of teaching and learning, and publish their findings.
Increased preparation for a career in college teaching.
Invaluable networking opportunities with speakers and other GTA Fellows.
More information coming soon!
Are you interested in professional development? Be a part of the GTA Steering Committee (GTASC), the student leaders who run the Graduate Teaching Academy. GTASC members set the tone and direction for each year with the help of the Center for Teaching Excellence. For more information about GTASC, please contact one of the current GTASC members below.
Eligibility - Completed requirements for GTA Fellows Certificate
Benefits - Professional development in event planning, budgeting, marketing, interpersonal skills, and helping the GTA continue to grow and develop. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of people who have a passion for excellence in teaching.
2008-2009 GTASC
Michelle Simms - Director
Andrew Cartmill - Group Leader (Orange)
Jennie Chen
Matt Elliot - Group Leader (Teal)
Omar Harvey - Group Leader (Pink)
Jiyeon Kim - Assistant Director of Programs
Tomasz Koralewski - Group Leader (Blue)
Gurlovleen Rathore - Assistant Director of Records, Group Leader (Purple)
Valerie Reiss - Assistant Director of Technology, Group Leader (Red)
Candace Seeve - Group Leader (Purple)
Matt Smith - Assistant Director of Alumni
Erica Sosa - Assistant Director of Evaluation
Hsiaohsuan (Rose) Wang - Group Leader (Blue)
Melanie Woods - Assistant Director of Speaker Coordination, Group Leader (Green)
GTA Resources:
Become a fan of the Graduate Teaching Academy Page on Facebook
Revisit GTA seminars or workshops through our video podcasts on iTunes U. (Note: this link will open your iTunes application. You may download the application for free via http://www.apple.com/itunes/download).
CIRTL Cafe (GTA Podcasts)
GTA Sponsors:
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL)
Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
Office of Graduate Studies (OGS)
Texas A&M University Resources:
Other Resources:
Teaching philosophy development
Teaching portfolio development
Professional development
