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As authors who were both trained at large, R1 universities, we also wish to acknowledge that our experiences may not be universal; both our CTLs were well-funded and offered a number of diverse programs. While most universities have CTLs with devoted staff who can direct students to their desired resources, graduate students looking for additional resources might investigate the public resources that larger CTLs offer. Some well-established CTLs offer training through online edX courses, and others have robust webpages, blogs, or training toolkits available. Graduate students might also seek similar professional development through the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL), which offers many webinars and collaborative opportunities for graduate students.
We’ll close by addressing a last major benefit to engaging with your university’s CTL: developing lasting connections with peers who are likewise invested in teaching. While the two of us initially met through mutual colleagues in the English department, we connected through our deep investment in the intersections between undergraduate and graduate education and teaching centers. CTLs were (and continue to be) a crucial part of both of our respective journeys and careers. It was this shared experience that catalyzed this collaborative piece. Teaching centers often occupy an unsung position in graduate development, but they are valuable resources that continue to grow and challenge graduate instructors. From evolving your pedagogy beyond your department to collaborations and research with established scholars in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, university teaching centers can deeply impact the teaching careers of early scholars.