It started with a simple question: “How do we evaluate and document teaching?” What followed was not just an adaptation of a framework and evaluation tool but our own professional development with unexpected insights, shared experiences, and a renewed energy for teaching. With the goal of clarifying evaluation of teaching, we began to look at the Benchmarks for Teaching Effectiveness provided by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at the University of Kansas. The CTE Benchmarks have been developed as a comprehensive framework for evaluating teaching across seven dimensions: (1) Goals, Content, and Alignment; (2) Teaching Practices; (3) Achievement of Learning Outcomes; (4) Class Climate; (5) Reflection and Iterative Growth; (6) Mentoring and Advising; and (7) Involvement in Teaching Service, Scholarship, or Community.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
