The Health Sciences Deans Council, in collaboration with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), U-M’s teaching excellence and faculty development center, are delighted to offer the Health Sciences Teaching Academy (HSTA), a program designed to support faculty who are new to teaching at U-M. The academy is held each year as a synchronous online learning community plus personalized coaching from CRLT consultants to develop individual teaching skills and practices. There is also approximately 30 minutes of asynchronous work before and after each session. Together, these activities and resources will: 

• Deepen participants’ understanding of how students learn 
• Demonstrate strategies participants can use in various teaching contexts
• Provide opportunities for participants to learn from colleagues and educational experts
• Foster an interdisciplinary cohort of faculty engaged in teaching
• Increase participants’ access to university resources and support for effective teaching

The program has been offered annually since 2011 and consistently receives high ratings from participants. Faculty report that the Academy provides them with practical strategies and support for a broad range of relevant teaching contexts and offers them an opportunity to connect with new and experienced colleagues from across U-M’s health science schools and colleges.

If you are interested in learning more about HSTA, please contact Dr. Tazin Daniels, Associate Director, CRLT.  

Participant Feedback from 2026

"I wholeheartedly recommend the HSTA to my colleagues. It was such a meaningful experience that allowed me to connect with faculty from various disciplines, reflect more thoughtfully on my teaching methods, and deepen my understanding of equity-focused teaching. The academy provided practical, easy-to-implement strategies that I could put into practice right away... I left not only with useful resources and fresh ideas but also with a greater sense of confidence and purpose in my teaching. For any educator eager to grow, engage more intentionally with their students, and become part of a supportive learning community, I can't recommend it enough."

"I would recommend it highly. It was not too much of a time commitment, but I learned valuable and actionable items to improve as an educator. It was also helpful to consider teaching through an equity- and inclusion-focused lens. I appreciated meeting faculty from other clinical departments and learning from their experiences and perspectives."

"I would highly recommend it. It was very helpful to learn these techniques, especially since I do not think I would have been able to easily pick them up on my own. I also appreciated working with people from different backgrounds and specialties."

"My experience working with Dr. Daniels through both the workshops and coaching sessions was truly wonderful. She created a safe space for honest reflection on my strengths, areas for growth, and goals as an educator. Overall, working with Dr. Daniels was a meaningful and enriching part of my journey, leaving me feeling more confident in my teaching and more connected to CRLT as a supportive community resource."

2027 HSTA Curriculum

Winter coaching session (30 min, scheduled individually)

• Overview of the Academy
• Review of teaching history, strengths and weaknesses
• Setting individual goals for the academy 

Workshop 1: Equity-focused Teaching (1/26/27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Instructor identity and teaching approaches
• Student identity and development theory
• Creating inclusive learning environments

Workshop 2: Learner-Centered Course Design (2/2/27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Instructor-centered v. learner-centered teaching
• Backward design and curriculum design
• Writing student learning outcomes

Workshop 3: Assessment of Student Learning (2/9/27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Formative v. summative assessments
• Classroom assessment techniques
• Equitable grading and feedback practices

Workshop 4: Active Learning Strategies (2/16/27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Interactive and student-centered lecturing
• Presentation design for engagement and accessibility 
• Active learning techniques and liberating structures 

Workshop 5: Teaching Challenges (2/23/27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom)

• Setting up and facilitating inclusive discussions
• Addressing common facilitation challenges
• Dealing with conflict in the classroom and clinic

Spring Coaching Session (30 min, scheduled individually)

• Debrief of the Academy, including feedback on content and structure
• Review of lessons learned from the academy and lingering questions
• Setting individual goals and next steps for the year