The Center for Teaching Excellence

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CTE group with D2L members accepting award at D2L Fusion conference.
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is committed to advancing the educational mission of Southern Illinois University Carbondale through a strategic plan that aligns with the university's Imagine 2030 vision. Our plan focuses on fostering teaching innovation, enhancing faculty development, and promoting a culture of excellence in education. By drawing on current research and technology best practices, we aim to empower educators with the tools and resources they need to deliver exceptional learning experiences to SIU students.
 
CTE's strategic initiatives prioritize student success and engagement, ensuring that our diverse student body thrives academically and gains practical skills for the workforce. We champion creating an inclusive environment that welcomes all stakeholders. Additionally, we strive to strengthen our branding and partnerships, positioning SIU Carbondale as a leader in educational excellence throughout the United States. Through our commitment to research and innovation, we support the discovery of new pedagogical practices. Finally, we embrace sustainability by teaching instructors how to use digital tools that reduce costs to students and printed resources.

How the Center of Teaching for Excellence Supports Campus

The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is the hub for instructional support at SIU. Here are just a few things we do:

  • maintain the Learning Management System (D2L Brightspace) and train instructors to deliver engaging in-person and online content.
  • design classrooms with accessible, easy-to-use technology.
  • offer spaces to create instructional videos and supporting material digitization for learners of all abilities.

This year, the CTE is focused on new training formats, instructional support, and technology for interactive teaching. Financial contributions from our alumni and friends enable the CTE to equip faculty with the latest tools.

 

How to Contribute

Your support can make a significant difference.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Become a sponsor and align your brand with excellence in education. Sponsoring CTE events and programs offers organizations and individuals a unique opportunity to showcase trrrr commitment to education and community development. Our sponsorship packages include:

  • Event Sponsorship: Sponsor one of our educational events and gain visibility among educators and community leaders.
  • Program Sponsorship: Support a specific program and help us expand our reach and impact.
  • Annual Sponsorship: Partner with us for an entire year and enjoy exclusive benefits, including recognition in our promotional materials and at events.
Donate

Your donations help us fund various initiatives that are crucial to our mission. Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to achieving our goals.

 

Impact of Your Support

By supporting CTE, you contribute to:

  • Innovative Educational Programs: Developing new teaching methodologies and tools to enhance student learning experiences.
  • Professional Development: Providing workshops, seminars, and resources for educators to continuously improve their teaching skills.
  • Research and Development: Conducting research to stay at the forefront of educational innovation and share findings with the broader educational community.
  • Student Success: Implementing programs that directly impact student engagement and success in their academic pursuits.
CTE Staff
Name Position Phone Email
Craig Engstrom Director 618-453-6208 craig.engstrom@siu.edu
Kelly Caringer Instructional Media Systems Engineer 618-453-1648 khcaringer@siu.edu
JP Dunn MyCourses Administrator 618-453-1046 jpdunn@siu.edu
Jeff Garner Specialist in Instructional Media & Web Design  618-453-1745 jgarner@siu.edu
Lucas Luper Instructional Media Systems Technician 618-453-1017 lucasluper@siu.edu
Priscilla Pimentel Digital Imaging/Materials Conversion 618-453-2946 ppimente@siu.edu
Abby Razer Instructional Designer/Technologist arazer@siu.edu 
Mickey Soltys Instructional Evaluations 618-453-1626 msoltys@siu.edu
Leticia Velasquez Instructional Development Specialist 618-453-5203 leticia.velasquez@siu.edu
Carroll Walker Video Conferencing 618-453-1025 cgwalker@siu.edu
Gregory Wendt Video Production/Photography/Design 618-453-3860 gwendt@siu.edu

 

CTE Graduate Assistants
Name GA Position Phone Email
Pingping Fu Instructional Design Support 618-453-2258 lindafu.101@siu.edu 
Golbahar Rafie Dehkordi PR/Marketing & Admin Support 618-453-2258 golbahar.rafiedehkordi@siu.edu