Texas A&M University-Kingsville faculty members who completed a course from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) received pins and certificates from the association, which seeks to ensure student success through high-quality instruction.
Faculty who completed the year-long course and earned the certificate in "Effective Teaching Practices" were honored with a reception and award ceremony on Aug. 29 in the Memorial Student Union Building. Each faculty member received a pin from ACUE and a medallion from the Texas A&M University System.
Dr. Breanna Bailey, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, is one of the 15 faculty members who completed the course. She said the class served as an important refresh that discussed tools and techniques she had learned in previous workshops.
“The biggest impact the course has had on my teaching was to remember the importance of active learning in the classroom,” Bailey said. “Faculty are constantly balancing too much material in too little time, and it is tempting to speed through a topic in order to cover more in the class. ACUE was a reminder that our focus should not be on getting through the syllabus but on facilitating student learning.”
Faculty credentialed by ACUE have demonstrated comprehensive knowledge and skills across all of the core teaching competencies defined in ACUE’s effective practice framework, the association’s website states. Certificates are awarded in collaboration with the American Council on Education. These credentials distinguish faculty and institutions for their commitment to educational excellence.
Dr. Robert Vela, Texas A&M-Kingsville president and member of the ACUE Advisory Board, attended the ceremony.
“It ensures that our students are coming to this university with faculty who are committed to their success and ensuring that faculty are able to connect with our students and try different modalities and different techniques to get students engaged and help them feel like they belong in the class,” Vela said.
“These credentials are accepted and widely known all over the country from all major universities, so it’s a benefit not just for our students, but it’s a benefit for the faculty members who wish to continue to explore new learning opportunities for themselves.”
Faculty who completed the course include:
- Dr. Breanna Bailey, College of Engineering
- Dr. Colin Wark, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Colleen Ferguson, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Daniella Varela, College of Education
- Dr. Jieming Chen, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Kenneth Williams, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Marsha Sowell, College of Education
- Dr. Nazmul Rahmani, College of Engineering
- Dr. Norma Guzman, College of Education
- Dr. Patrick Faherty, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Sarah Lucas, College of Arts and Sciences
- Shawnda Kumro, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Soyoung Kwon, College of Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Xingang Fu, College of Engineering
- Dr. Zhuofan Zhang, College of Business
