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.
How Leaders Shape, Signal, and Build Cultures: A Discussion Guide for Academic Leaders and Their Teams
Among the many desired traits most prized in academic leadership, the ability to shape (or reshape) institutional culture is sometimes overlooked in favor of fiscal acumen, the ability to drive
Lisa Jasinski
May 4, 2026