‘A hub for creativity, exploration and community’: Inside Marquette’s Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning offers a variety of resources, programs and professional development opportunities that support educators and strengthen the learning experience for students across campus. Through workshops, consultations, retreats and technology resources, the center works to foster teaching excellence while building a collaborative community among faculty and staff.

Located on the third floor of Raynor Library, the Center for Teaching and Learning serves as a hub for educators seeking to develop their teaching practices and connect with colleagues from across disciplines.

Supporting teaching excellence

Dr. Jennifer Maney, director of the CTL, says the center supports educators teaching in all formats.

"The Center for Teaching and Learning is rooted in Ignatian pedagogy, informed by the scholarship of teaching and learning, and spirited by a deep desire to support all educators teaching all students at Marquette," Maney says.

Maney oversees the day-to-day operations, which include digital media, course design, D2L support and service-learning initiatives. She also helps coordinate workshops, seminars and consultations for instructors across campus and collaborates with campus partners to integrate Ignatian pedagogy, inclusion strategies and emerging technologies into the classroom.

Dr. Melissa Shew, associate director of teaching excellence, works closely with faculty members to help them improve their teaching and navigate challenges in the classroom. She says she holds roughly 200 confidential consultations each academic year with instructors.

"I often say that teaching is very hard and scary - because it is," Shew says. "But it's also joyful and invigorating. The CTL helps educators recognize that teaching is something we grow in together."

Resources and programs for faculty

The CTL provides online resources, in-person and virtual workshops, retreats, faculty cohort programs centered on the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, and confidential coaching sessions.

Departments and colleges can also request customized workshops or presentations. The center also hosts new faculty orientations and a participating faculty symposium.

Faculty also meet one-on-one with CTL staff to discuss course design, student participation strategies and teaching technologies.

According to Shew, these conversations can help counter the isolation many educators experience.

"Faculty often teach in isolation, but the CTL creates opportunities for educators to connect, share ideas and learn from one another," she says.

Supporting students through better course design

While the CTL primarily supports faculty, its work also benefits students by treating instructors as professionals whose growth is valuable in itself, not just as a tool for student success.

Instructional designers in the center help faculty build fully online courses and improve the structure and accessibility of D2L course sites.

In addition, the center houses Marquette's Service Learning Program, which connects classroom instruction with community engagement. Each year, more than 1,000 students participate in service-learning courses.

Building community among educators

Beyond teaching tools and strategies, the CTL also focuses on building a supportive community among faculty and staff.

In recent years, faculty have shown strong interest in conversations about student engagement and participation, as well as the impact of generative artificial intelligence in higher education.

The center also hosts a diversity-focused faculty book club, which helps build faculty connections and community.

Faculty perspectives on the CTL

Faculty and staff who have worked with the CTL say it has had a significant impact on the teaching culture at Marquette.

Maxwell Gray, digital scholarship librarian at Raynor Library, regularly collaborates with the CTL through workshops and professional development programs.

"The CTL is the heart of teaching excellence and professional development for faculty on campus," Gray says. "It's where educators can encounter new approaches to teaching and reconnect with what inspires them about their work."

Dr. Ashley Deutsch, assistant professor of marketing in the College of Business Administration, says the CTL helped her redesign courses and become more confident in the classroom.

"The CTL has become my go-to resource for all things teaching," Deutsch says. "Whether it is a small issue or a complete overhaul, I know the team is there to support me."

Dr. Dinorah Cortés-Vélez, professor of Spanish, says the center's retreats and faculty fellowship opportunities have helped her build a strong community of educators committed to excellent teaching.

"The CTL functions as a hub for creativity, exploration and community engagement with a vibrant and dedicated group of passionate educators," she says.

Accessing CTL resources

Faculty can use the center's online resources, the drop-in D2L support that is available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or they can schedule a private consultation.

Maney says the CTL welcomes educators from every discipline and level of experience.

"If you are an educator in any discipline and in any way, you are welcome at the CTL," Maney says. "You might meet new people, learn a new strategy or discover new possibilities for your teaching."