University of Wisconsin–Madison

Vision, Mission, and Values

Our Vision

To foster and elevate a culture of effective teaching.

Our Mission

CTLM’s mission is to improve learning for all students by advancing the craft of teaching at UW-Madison.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to excellence and equity in teaching, learning, and mentoring. We advance evidence-based practices, identify and address barriers, and nurture communities that help instructors and mentors realize their highest potential.

We fulfill our mission by providing expertise, resources, coordination, and guidance to instructors at all career stages and to those who support instruction at all levels of the academic enterprise. Specifically, we:

  • Partner with and support instructors across the career span.
  • Design, develop, implement, and support instruction.
  • Work in partnership with schools, colleges, departments, and academic programs in pursuit of their teaching and learning priorities.
  • Advance initiatives to support the teaching mission of the university.
  • Coordinate research mentor training across campus and provision programming in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

As we carry out our mission, we practice our core values, both in our work within the Center and with the broader UW-Madison teaching and learning community.

Our Values

Inquiry

CTLM comes to our work with a mindset of inquiry. We practice curiosity when learning about campus partners and colleagues. We approach challenges as opportunities while embracing continuous growth and improvement.

Equity

CTLM commits to advancing equity in teaching and learning. We seek a deep understanding of the diverse strengths and needs of our students and instructors and cultivate spaces, capacities, and resources to support teaching and learning environments in which everyone can thrive.

Evidence

The evolving knowledge of teaching and learning animates our work. We draw purposefully from data, scholarship, lived experiences, and other forms of knowledge to benefit instructors and students of diverse backgrounds and in diverse settings.

Community

CTLM builds community in learning environments across campus. We support inclusive, human-centered practices and create opportunities for people with diverse perspectives to connect and learn with and from one another.