Mission and History

Mission

The mission of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is to promote faculty development through a broad range of professional opportunities. By supporting faculty in their roles as teachers, scholars, and lifelong learners, the CTL reinforces the centrality of learning and discovery at UNC Asheville (adopted November, 2010). 

History

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) was founded as a result of a declaration by the UNC Board of Governors in 1993 that every state university “allocate a portion of its budget for faculty development,” targeting at least some of the funding “for the development of teachers and teaching.”  Institutions that did not already have designated teaching and learning centers were advised to establish them.  At UNC Asheville, Peg Downes, serving in the role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, helped form our present CTL in the 1994-1995 academic year.

The CTL was located in a single office in Ramsey Library for nearly ten years.  In 2004, John Myers, Instructional Technology Consultant, officially joined the Center, and operations were moved to a larger space in the newly opened Highsmith University Union.  In 2008, the CTL moved to its present quarters on the second floor of Lipinsky Hall, where it inhabits a suite containing three offices and a large meeting space.

Five faculty members have directed the CTL, serving in a half-time capacity while teaching a reduced load in their home academic departments:

• Fall, 1995 – Fall, 1998: Merritt Moseley, Professor of Literature & Language
• Spring, 1999 – Spring, 2002: Chuck Bennett, Professor of Physics
• Fall, 2002 – Summer, 2004: Pat McClellan, Assistant Provost for Academic Administration
• Summer, 2004 – Summer, 2010: Bruce Larson, Professor of Economics
• Summer, 2010 – present: Melissa Himelein, Professor of Psychology

• University Mission Statement