Tuition Assistance for Certificate in College Teaching Courses

The Certificate in College Teaching (CCT) program, operated by the Colleges of Worcester Consortium (COWC), offers formal preparation in teaching for graduate students and faculty. It is based upon the premise that effective preparation for the college classroom involves more than a solid base of knowledge in a discipline; it requires a systematic inquiry into the pedagogies and processes that facilitate learning.

The 2-credit Seminar in College Teaching provides an excellent overview of basic principles and theories of education and instructional practice that apply across numerous disciplines. The Seminar can be taken alone without intention of pursuing a certificate, or students may proceed with additional courses to earn the 6-credit certificate. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. For details on course offerings and schedules, go to the Certificate in College Teaching website.

Partial or full tuition assistance for CCT courses is available for many WPI faculty and staff and for a limited number of graduate students:

Tuition Assistance for Faculty Members and Staff

New faculty with little teaching experience who take the Seminar in College Teaching are likely to be better prepared to assume their teaching duties and, consequently, be more productive in developing their research programs. Similarly, more experienced college faculty can also benefit from CCT courses, as they may be very well prepared in their disciplines, but desire formal training in the pedagogy of teaching. Staff members who have teaching roles have also taken CCT courses. Many WPI faculty and staff members are eligible to receive 75% reimbursement for CCT courses offered by the Colleges of Worcester Consortium. Consult the tuition assistance portion of the Human Resources Benefit Summary Plans for eligibility and procedures.

The Center for Educational Development and Assessment will provide the remaining 25% of tuition assistance for full-time tenure track faculty members who successfully complete the Seminar in College Teaching. Interested faculty members should contact Chrys Demetry, Director of CEDA, before enrolling in the course.

Tuition Assistance Opportunity for Graduate Students

Research has shown that graduate students with some formal preparation in college teaching have a substantial advantage in the academic job market. CCT courses also benefit TAs who would like to become more effective in their roles. Following are some testimonials from WPI students:

The Seminar in College Teaching course is just what I needed to learn the techniques and skills involve in college teaching. With this on my resume, I was able to land my first teaching job for the fall semester. The department head that interviewed me said that she was confident about giving me a chance because I participated in this course. --Rosa Croughwell

Taking the seminar in college teaching has made me a better TA by teaching me about the differences in learning styles. When I get up in front of the students I am more confident in my ability to teach them, and to handle any problems. --Emily Evans

Thanks to a generous gift from WPI's Class of 1957, a limited number of WPI graduate students are eligible to receive full tuition reimbursement for CCT courses. Procedures are as follows:

Check with your department head as to whether a CCT course will count towards your degree. (If it does not, you can still transfer the credit to WPI, and you will still have the recognition of completing the course(s).)
Complete and submit the application form (pdf file or Word file) to Prof. Chrys Demetry (CEDA) in order to be considered for tuition assistance. WPI has limited resources for reimbursement, which will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Normally, a maximum of two graduate students in each department are supported in a given semester. Note that the COWC requires payment of a $30 enrollment fee and tuition ($290 per credit for 2008) by credit card up front. The application form explains two ways that can be done: one where students use their own credit card and one where WPI pays on your behalf. Please review carefully the two options for registration and payment, and contact Prof. Demetry if you have questions.
Students are typically notified within 2-3 working days whether their application has been accepted.

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Last modified: Jul 24, 2008, 08:09 EDT