Faculty Share Their Experiences with TEI
What is the TEI?
The Teaching Effective Initiative (TEI) is a voluntary professional development program that provides recognition to instructors invested in growing their teaching practice. The TEI Program provides a structure to engage in developing teaching effectiveness through implementation, self-reflection, and growth, grounded in the evidence-based teaching practices of the CSU Teaching Effectiveness Framework (TEF). Participants can earn a Certificate of Achievement in each of the seven domains of the TEF upon completion of professional development experiences, integration and completion of a reflection equivalent to ten domain experience units (DEUs) as outlined in Domain Experience Units (DEUs) Equivalents by Professional Development Experience. Instructors can take either a “depth” approach and focus on earning only one domain at a time, or choose a “breadth” approach and engage in a variety of domain experiences. At this time, we are not able to offer the TEI for graduate teaching assistants or graduate students; we encourage all graduate students at CSU to participate in the Graduate Student Teaching Certificate of Completion Program.
Forms and Resources
- TEI Post Implementation Reflection Form (Download)
- Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Dashboard
- DEU Equivalents by PD Experience
- Reflection Rubric for TEI Domain Experience
- Sample experiences to earn a Teaching Effectiveness Initiative domain certificate of achievement
- Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Pre-Approved Professional Development
- Development & Annual Review of Teaching workflow
TEI By the Numbers
Since its launch, the Teaching Effectiveness Initiative (TEI) has seen steady and meaningful growth across the university, and faculty participation continues to increase each year. In the past year alone, dozens of new faculty have joined the TEI, contributing to a growing community committed to reflective, evidence-based teaching. Hundreds of CSU instructors have enrolled in the TEI, earning domain certificates and Domain Experience Units (DEUs) that recognize their commitment to teaching excellence.
As momentum builds, the TEI is gaining recognition from leadership at the highest levels for its role in elevating the quality of instruction across campus.
Colleges represented
Departments with TEI Participants
Instructors with all 7 domain certificates
Increase in faculty participation since AY 24-25
DEU's earned since TEI began in 2022
Step 1
Attend a professional development experience.
For ideas, review the TEI Pre-Approved Professional Development list and sample experiences to earn a TEI domain certificate of achievement list.
Step 2
Implement new (or revise existing research-based teaching practices) in the classroom based on professional development experiences related to a TEF domain.
Step 3
Complete the Post Implementation Reflection Form to describe and reflect on specific research-based teaching practices.
Step 4
Log into Bridge/My Learning to submit your reflection for approval.
Post Implementation Reflection Forms will be reviewed semi-annually by the TEI committee using the Reflection Rubric.
TEI 2025 Domain Certificate Recipients
Teaching Effectiveness Fellows
Teaching Effectiveness Fellows are CSU faculty who completed all seven TEI domain certificates — over 175 hours of professional development — demonstrating deep, sustained commitment to reflective, evidence-based teaching across the Teaching Effectiveness Framework.
Teaching Effectiveness Framework Achievement Certificates
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
CURRICULUM
CURRICULAR
ALIGNMENT
CLASSROOM
CLIMATE
FEEDBACK &
ASSESSMENT
STUDENT MOTIVATION
PEDAGOGICAL
CONTENT
KNOWLEDGE
INCLUSIVE
PEDAGOGY
Frequently Asked Questions
What is difference between the Teaching Effectiveness Framework and the Teaching Effectiveness Initiative?
The Teaching Effectiveness Framework (TEF) is comprised of 7 domains and the process associated with becoming a better teacher (goal setting, engaging in development, annual review, etc.). As departments use the TEF for annual review, faculty can consider choosing 1 of the 7 domains as a focus area for the year. Any professional development in that focus area can be used to earn domain experience units (DEU’s) as a part of the Teaching Effectiveness Initiative.
The Teaching Effectiveness Initiative (TEI) rewards faculty who participate in professional development related to the 7 TEF domains. The TEI encourages self-reflection that demonstrates progress towards becoming skilled teacher within a particular domain. Faculty can earn a Domain Certificate of Achievement for completing 10 DEU’s for each domain.
What types of professional development experiences count towards a Domain Certificate of Achievement?
Consider attending CSU professional development offerings from the Institute for Learning & Teaching (TILT), Training & Development (TOD), Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE), Adult Education & Training and others. Non-CSU professional development experiences will be considered dependent on demonstrated integration of teaching practices that align with a TEF domain. Sample experiences include but are not limited to:
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Teaching and learning workshops and courses, discipline-based education conferences, and TEN events
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Participating in TILT-facilitated peer observation program like the CSU Teaching Squares
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Professional reading related to research-based teaching practices of a TEF domain
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Designing and teaching a new course based on a TEF domain
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Publishing on teaching-related topics aligned with a TEF domain
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Participating in CSU Programs aligned with domains (e.g., Best Practices in Teaching, Intergroup Relations, First Four Weeks, Faculty Institute for Inclusive Excellence, Adult Education and Training, Service Learning mini-grant, etc.)
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Serving on a teaching committee or collaborating on a CSU or disciplinary teaching-related effort
I have taken professional development courses in the past, can I earn domain experience units for participating in past professional development?
TILT started aligning professional development (PD) experiences with the TEF in May 2019. Faculty who have made changes in their teaching practices after completing a PD experience can submit a Post Implementation Reflection form for courses conducted in May 2019 or later.
How long do I have to earn a domain? Do I have to work on only one domain at a time?
Participants can take either a “depth” approach and focus on earning only one domain at a time, or choose a “breadth” approach and engage in a variety of domain experiences. There is not a time limit for earning a domain.
Why should I participate in the Teaching Effectiveness Initiative?
Upon completion of engaging and reflecting* on professional development equivalent to ten professional development units, faculty can earn a Domain Certificate of Achievement for the associated domain. Participants are encouraged to earn a Domain Certificate of Achievement for each of the seven domains. Beyond the Domain Certificate of Achievement, faculty can earn:
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Letter of Commendation jointly issued by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence for completing the Inclusive Pedagogy domain.
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Letter of Commendation signed by Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs for faculty finishing three domain requirements (one must be Inclusive Pedagogy).
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Letter of Commendation signed by the Provost for faculty completing five domain requirements (one must be Inclusive Pedagogy).
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Letter of Commendation signed by the Provost plus a small stipend or award for faculty finishing the requirements for all domains.
*The Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Committee will review the materials to ensure that they meet the criteria and issue the Domain Certificate.
I have attended professional development off campus, can I use this towards the TEI?
Yes, faculty can complete a Post Implementation Reflection form related to the integration of research-based teaching practices as defined by the CSU Teaching Effectiveness Framework.
Can I use this for my annual evaluation or promotion and tenure application? If so, how?
Yes! TEI materials can be used to fulfill annual review requirements to document teaching effectiveness effort and outcomes; they may also help prepare you to write CV SECTION 3: EVIDENCE OF TEACHING AND ADVISING EFFECTIVENESS of the Promotion and Tenure Application template.
I'd like to share my expertise related to the TEF, can I get credit towards a TEI domain certificate?
Yes, please contact [email protected].
I am leading a workshop on/off campus that aligns with a TEF domain. Can I use this toward the TEI?
Yes, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Post Implementation Reflection Exemplars
Wonder what an accomplished reflection looks like? Curious about what other faculty are doing in their classes and how students respond to the changes? Download the exemplars to see the types of evidence-based practices that have been implemented at CSU.
Instructional Professional Development Opportunities
Contact Info
Tonya Buchan
Senior Faculty Developer & Teaching Effectiveness Initiative Program Manager
Instructional Innovation and Engagement