About Us

TESVision

To be a national leader in redefining higher education by foregrounding exceptional teaching, where curiosity, creativity, and relevance drive every classroom experience.

Mission

SMU's Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is dedicated to enhancing the quality of teaching across the university by equipping faculty with up-to-date research, pedagogic innovations, and cutting-edge initiatives so that faculty members can effectively engage students.

Values

High Standards, Interdisciplinarity, Innovation, Curiosity, Creativity, Real-World Relevance, and Respect 

Values in Detail

  • Set high standards that challenge students to deepen their understanding and achieve ambitious learning goals. Clarify expectations with rubrics, provide constructive and individualized feedback, and help students use that feedback to improve.
  • Embrace interdisciplinarity by connecting course content with ideas and methods from fields relevant to students’ interests and goals. Help students combine these perspectives to explore complex questions and understand why your course matters.
  • Pursue innovation by reflecting on your teaching and testing approaches that improve learning. Use backward design to select active learning strategies, flipped classroom models, technologies, and innovative grading practices that serve your learning objectives.
  • Spark curiosity through compelling questions, current issues, and opportunities for discovery. Invite students to contribute to your research and to investigate their own questions through meaningful class projects.
  • Encourage creativity by giving students meaningful choices in how they demonstrate learning. Welcome original approaches and varied assignment formats while maintaining clear learning goals and assessment criteria.
  • Demonstrate real-world relevance through authentic problems and experiential learning. Help students apply course concepts to professional, civic, and everyday challenges so they recognize the value of their learning.
  • Model respect by valuing every person and encouraging free expression and thoughtful debate. Create an environment where students feel safe to ask questions, challenge ideas, and take intellectual risks.