UTSA joins prestigious network for STEM education, graduate and postdoctoral development

MAY 11, 2023 — UTSA has been accepted into the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) Network, an organization that fosters future faculty who are committed to promoting instructional excellence in STEM disciplines in higher education. CIRTL also works to develop and implement innovative, evidence-based STEM teaching practices that support success for all learners.

Supported by the National Science Foundation, the CIRTL Network was established in 2006 and includes over 40 research universities from the U.S. and Canada. Each university in the network houses its own local CIRTL community with unique programs and special areas of expertise to cater to their student body.

The Graduate School will lead participation in UTSA’s local network community, CIRTL@UTSA. The network will allow the Graduate School to offer more courses and skill-building workshops to UTSA’s graduate students to prepare them for teaching roles. It will also provide postdoctoral students with opportunities to participate in structured mentoring and teaching programs with undergraduate students.

“We’re excited to join this community that’s dedicated to further improving STEM education and teaching methodologies.”

“Being accepted into the CIRTL Network will help us provide even more high-impact resources to better prepare our graduate and postdoctoral students on their journey to becoming faculty,” said Ambika Mathur, dean of the UTSA Graduate School. “Joining this community of research universities across the nation is a continuation of our efforts to produce outstanding future STEM instructors.”  

The Office of Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation (TLDT), a unit within the UTSA division of Academic Innovation, will also partner with CIRTL@UTSA. TLDT works with colleges and departments across campus to provide teaching support, course consultations and inventive academic solutions that faculty can use in the classroom. The TLDT unit also helps faculty tailor existing course designs to create new and dynamic learning experiences that promote student success.

“Our team has experience creating enriching learning environments for students across subjects and modalities. This partnership with CIRTL will not only help us to continue developing innovative programs for students here at UTSA, but also for students at universities across the CIRTL network,” said Marcela Ramirez, associate vice provost for teaching, learning and digital transformation. “We’re excited to join this community that’s dedicated to further improving STEM education and teaching methodologies.”

As a member of the network, UTSA will actively work to break down the silos that often exist in higher education—creating a collaborative space to share ideas, best practices and offer instructional support—and further expand the university’s involvement in cross-college teaching and learning communities.

Joining the CIRTL Network advances the university’s Graduate Student Success for Faculty Excellence Initiative, which seeks to advance graduate education at UTSA by enhancing value-added programming and postdoctoral education, recruitment, admissions and diversity, funding opportunities, graduate programs and faculty, and career outcomes.

The UTSA Graduate School is committed to advancing academic excellence in graduate and postdoctoral education and training. The school currently serves more than 4,500 students in more than 100 doctoral, master's and certificate programs.

— Chloe Johnson