Welcome to CTRE
Center for Teaching and Research Excellence
(CTRE) was developed by faculty and administrators to support teaching and research at Wichita State University. The CTRE was formally approved by the Kansas Board of Regents and established in 1999. The CTRE is administered by a Director and a Faculty Advisory Council composed of faculty representatives from each College and division of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Faculty Senate (2), and the Library.
The mission of the CTRE is to: (1) support teaching and research personnel as teachers, scholars, and professionals, (2) provide instructional enhancement at the levels of course, curriculum planning and student learning, and (3) be an advocate for organizational development to build university structures and resources which will be efficient and effective in supporting teaching and research.
The main goal of the Center for Teaching and Research Excellence is to support excellence in teaching and research at Wichita State University. To meet this goal, the CTRE will:
- support university teaching personnel as they discover, discuss, and implement ideas for improving students' learning;
- provide opportunities for teaching personnel to enhance their courses through the use of technology;
- offer course and program development assistance at all levels:
- planning, teaching, evaluating;provide opportunities for research enhancement;
- provide opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and discussion;
- support the Academy for Effective Teaching and recognition of effective and innovative teaching;
- enhance efforts of individual departments and colleges in faculty enrichment;
- support the integration of research/scholarship and teaching effectiveness;
- seek opportunities to increase resources for travel, equipment, and other needs related to teaching and research;
- facilitate and lobby for an institutional climate which values and supports teaching and research efforts;
- and foster the development of a campus-wide learning community.
"Research" as used here includes scholarship, research, creative activities, and librarianship.
Faculty Advisory Council
The Center for Teaching and Research Excellence is a program supported financially by the administration of Wichita State University, directed by a selected faculty member and advised by a council of faculty members, the FAC. The Center Director reports to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Research (APAAR) for faculty.
The FAC is comprised of one elected representative from each college and division of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the library, and two representatives from Faculty Senate with three staggered terms. The APAAR for faculty is an ex-officio member.
The role of the FAC is to:
- assist with the development of policy;
- Offer consultation and information helpful to the CTRE director's decision making;
- Provide information to the director about constituency needs;
- Provide feedback to the director about the CTRE and its programs and assist in year end evaluation by the APAAR;
- Recommend people with special expertise in areas of CTRE activity to be used as resources;
- Advocate for and promote the CTRE and its programs;
- and suggest creative, innovative ideas for programs, workshops and other CTRE sponsored activities.
Services of the CTRE are free and confidential. Information about specific individuals who participate in activities and utilize services provided by the CTRE is considered confidential by the Center staff. General data will be collected and reported anonymously to identify faculty needs or Center use patterns. The CTRE is fully in support of academic freedom.