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Our Commitment to Teaching

Teachers can dramatically change the lives of students: They capture their imaginations, inspire them to pursue new fields and open a world of possibilities. In the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, teaching is one of our highest priorities. A Research 1 Institution where faculty are dedicated to investigation and scholarship, The University of Illinois is equally proud of its tradition of teaching distinction. To reflect this core value, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Academy (LASTA) was established. LASTA's mission is to offer faculty development programs and resources so that faculty excel in the classroom. Our vision is to create a thriving learning community for LAS faculty so that they can significantly impact student learning and development. Specifically, faculty development programs and resources are aimed at educating faculty in effective teaching techniques and in establishing a faculty learning community across the disciplines. To this end, LAS professors consistently rank among the University's best and are recipients of national teaching awards.

Effective Strategies for Teaching Success

The LAS Teaching Academy offer workshops, seminars, teaching circles, discussions and consultations, as well as this comprehensive website. A unique feature of LASTA is our one-on-one mentoring program, where seasoned senior faculty guide and offer counsel to junior faculty as they augment their skills in working with students. We value collaboration with LAS faculty and encourage them to be active participants in shaping LASTA programs. Our goal is to steadily expand the cadre of confident, creative teachers, among faculty at all stages in their careers, who engage students ever more effectively.