Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL)

Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL)

Mission

Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL) provides leadership and support for new academic initiatives and faculty development that promote Virginia Wesleyan University's strategic institutional commitments to students' intellectual inquiry, active learning and engagement. 

About INTEL

INTEL supports the core capacities necessary for experiential learning both in and outside of the classroom in various ways. It promotes academic culture and community engagement in the classroom, encourages innovation with technology, and supports faculty excellence.

Promotes Academic Culture

INTEL hosts "Talk About Teaching" sessions and the Love Liberally Series and co-sponsors "Life Matters."  Through these venues, faculty are able to enhance their teaching, learn about their colleagues' research and share best practices about teaching techniques that work in their courses. Additionally, INTEL has provided transportation and funding toward housing for faculty who attend the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy at Virginia Tech. VWU faculty who present a poster or session at the conference also receive funds to support their registration fee. Finally, INTEL offers two $1000 INTEL grants to faculty, which encourage and advance a culture of innovation and engaged learning-related activities. Through a peer-reviewed competitive process, two grants are awarded each year to full-time Virginia Wesleyan faculty.

Promotes Community Engagement in the Classroom

The director of Wesleyan Engaged, serves as an ongoing member of the INTEL committee. INTEL strives to support Wesleyan Engaged to increase community engagement in the classroom through collaboration and discussion during INTEL meetings, programming, and The Pharos Community Engagement category.

Encourages Innovation with Technology

INTEL sponsors regular technology workshops throughout the academic year in many formats—scheduled, full-day, pop-up, and via Zoom. INTEL also provides a Blackboard course for faculty that houses technology and teaching support to develop faculty skills.  

Supports Faculty Excellence

The director of INTEL edits a monthly publication that recognizes faculty accomplishments, such as publications, conferences, organization positions, and community engagement course experiences. The publication, "The Pharos" is distributed to both inside and outside audiences. INTEL also organizes the "Feathers in Your Cap" event at the end of the academic year to celebrate faculty accomplishments.

For more information, please contact Takeyra (Collins) CoatsChair of Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning.