Charter Committee Annual Report to the Shared Governance Council

Committee: Council on Teaching
Report Year: 2025

Committee Chair(s)Matthew Arndt, Associate Professor of Music Theory
Committee MembersFaculty:
Matthew Arndt, Music (2022–25)
Erin Barnes, Counselor Education (2023–26)
Heather Dunn, Nursing (2024–27)
Amy Fletcher, Health and Human Physiology (Spring 2025 only)
Elke Heckner, German (2022–25)
Colin Kostelecky, Rhetoric (2024–27)
Marc Pizzimenti, Anatomy & Cell Biology (2024–27)
Michaela Ruppert, Sociology & Criminology (2024–27)
David Stewart, Mathematics (2023–26, except Spring 2025)
Michelle Fravel, Pharmacy (2023–26)

Staff:
Eric Ensley, UI Libraries (2023–25)

Students (three vacancies):
Bui, Harry (undergraduate)

Administrative Liaison: Tanya Uden-Holman, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the University College
Affiliated (non-voting): Anna Flaming, Director, Center for Teaching
Administrative Staff: Paige Busick, MAE, Administrative Services Manager, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
Committee Charge

The Council on Teaching

  • provides a forum for discussion of present and future needs in the area of teaching
  • seeks, evaluates, and selects candidates, and establishes guidelines for university-wide teaching awards
  • advises on development of proposals for outside funding to support the teaching and learning effort of the university
  • advises with respect to policies, priorities, and procedures on evaluation and development of teaching and learning and university-wide experimental education programs
  • advises on development of proposals for outside funding to promote teaching
  • serves in an advisory capacity for the Center for Teaching
Current Year Meeting Dates9/17/24
11/4/24
12/6/24
2/5/25
3/5/25
3/26/25
4/30/25
Please indicate the typical frequency of meetings (e.g., first Tuesday of month at 4 pm). If there are subcommittees, please indicate the frequency of those meetings, too.About once a month
Current Year Activities

The Council on Teaching sought, evaluated, and selected candidates for the following university-wide teaching awards:

  • Hubbard-Walder Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards
  • President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence
  • Teaching in Higher Education Conference Award

The Council revised its charter.
The Council received updates on the Center for Teaching from Anna Flaming.

Topics your committee anticipates addressing during the coming yearThe Council will again evaluate applications for the awards named above and select recipients. They will finish developing a rubric for the Hubbard-Walder Award. Other items will be discussed as suggested by members.
Other issues of concernNote that Eric Ensley is leaving after two years rather than three and will need to be replaced.
What should we tell applicants for this committee regarding expectations of members (anticipated workload, existence of subcommittees, etc.)?Applicants to the Council must understand the importance of its mission and the intensity of its workload and be dedicated to carrying out its functions. All members are expected to complete all assigned evaluations in a timely and professional manner and to participate in all meetings. Members must be ready to devise strategies for evaluating voluminous applications efficiently, fairly, and consistently. There are no subcommittees.
Recommendations, if any, to the shared governance groups.Only one out of four student members has been appointed for 2025–26; additional help would be very much appreciated. Students should be ready to commit. Students sometimes absent themselves from the Council.