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ACUE at SHSU

The program certifies on average 20 instructors per year at Sam Houston State University.

What is ACUE?

The ACUE certification is an online, academic year-long course on Effective Teaching Practices that explores 4 themes in 24 modules:

  • Creating a Productive Learning Environment
  • Promoting Active Learning
  • Inspiring Inquire and Preparing Lifelong Learners
  • Designing Learner-Centered Courses

The program begins in September and concludes with a pinning ceremony the following September. Participants have the opportunity to meet periodically, in-person  with their cohort and facilitator.

Add meaningful connections to your network in this year-long course.

Why pursue ACUE certification?

  • Nationally-recognized program

    ACUE is the only nationally recognized certification in Effective Teaching and is endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE). Your ACUE certification sets a benchmark expectation of higher quality teaching with higher student success rates and satisfaction.

  • Proven Increased Student Success

    Instructors who complete the ACUE course on Effective Teaching Practices certification at SHSU show an improvement in mean IDEA scores from 4.22 to 4.39, and reduced mean DFQ scores from 12.87 to 10.48, clearly demonstrating the value and student satisfaction from ACUE-certified instructors over their non-certified peers. Our study was not influenced nor had financial incentives from ACUE, and was done with a large sample size compared to other studies. Become a part of next year's cohort by applying during the application acceptance period, January through July.

Student Testimonials

Following are some student testimonials for their instructors who were in the ACUE program, and how they felt about their classes.

Professor Jiang is one of the most passionate professors that I have ever had the courtesy of witnessing. His interest in the courses that he teaches genuinely made me more interested in them as well. I have never learned as much as I have had in other courses compared to the courses I took with Dr. Jiang. I was so intrigued that I decided that I wanted to do an independent study during a summer semester over cryptography and Network Security, with Professor Jiang as my mentor and he greatly accepted and was very encouraging on helping me choose a focus for the study. He is criminally underrated and deserves mass amounts of recognition for his teaching, for it was simple and he made sure EVERYONE understood before moving on.

Dr. Karki was a great instructor and often displayed great interest in his student's understanding of the material. He assigned fun projects over the course of the semester to encourage us to work with and familiarize ourselves with the content. Dr. Karki also gave us weekly understanding-check quizzes to make sure we interacted with the information well before the exam. He was always open to answer questions and discuss any confusion we had! Overall, I think he presented the information in the course (of which there was A LOT) in a way that was exciting and easy to digest. I am so thankful for his dedication to teaching, and his course is by far my most favorite I’ve ever taken.

Coming from a very science-based and empirical way of thinking, I initially found philosophy challenging. However, Dr. Meagher created an environment that encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and open discussion without making students feel intimidated. He consistently pushed us to think more deeply and approach arguments from multiple perspectives, which helped me grow both academically and personally.
 
What stood out most was his ability to make difficult material engaging and interactive. Even when I struggled, I always felt supported and encouraged to participate. His enthusiasm for philosophy was clear in every class, and that passion made students more invested in learning.
 
Dr. Meagher fostered a classroom atmosphere that was welcoming, respectful, and intellectually stimulating, and I truly believe I became a stronger critical thinker because of his course.
Dr. Ahmadu had a tremendous impact on my learning experience, especially in Public Budgeting and Finance and Program Evaluation—two subjects I honestly dreaded taking at first. Before entering her classes, I expected the material to feel overwhelming and difficult to connect to real-world practice. However, Dr. Ahmadu completely changed my perspective. 
She had a way of breaking down complex topics into understandable, practical concepts that made the coursework feel relevant and engaging. Her teaching style encouraged critical thinking while still making students feel supported and capable of succeeding. I especially appreciated how she connected budgeting and evaluation concepts to real public administration issues and real-life applications, which helped me become genuinely interested in subjects I once found intimidating.

What can I expect?

By the end of the year-long program, you will have the information necessary to implement teaching practices that promote student engagement, persistence, and academic success. By using a cohort model for the program, you are part of a community where you can share your successes and challenges while integrating effective teaching practices into your classroom.

 A $1,000 stipend will be awarded to each eligible participant upon successful completion. Refer to Sam Houston State University's stipend policy for eligibility requirements.

 For more detail on this course, go to Effective Teaching Practices | ACUE Framework for Faculty Development

 For access to our study, The Impact of the Association of College & University Educators (ACUE) Certification on Instructor Evaluations and Student Success Rates, see the publication at: https://celt.miamioh.edu/index.php/JECT/article/view/1224

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Mailing: The Teaching & Learning Center, Box 2390, Huntsville, TX 77341-2390

Call 936.294.2688

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