Skip to main content

ACUE

ACUE | Association of College and University Educators 

acue logo

About

The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) is dedicated to student success through high-quality instruction. In partnership with higher education institutions, we offer the only nationally recognized Effective Teaching certification, endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE), supported by a vibrant online community of practice focused on advancing teaching excellence. 

 

UHD Attains Grant Support for ACUE Faculty Development

The University of Houston - Downtown is fortunate to be one of the select institutions invited to participate in a Carnegie Corporation of New York initiative through ACUE, the Association of College and University Educators. This grant funds a new cohort of UHD faculty for a Spring 2026 - Fall 2026 course in Effective Teaching Practices. CTLE is accepting applications through January 12, 2026. Effective Teaching Practices Schedule.

By participating, UHD faculty receive:
  • Practical, evidence-based strategies to immediately strengthen classroom teaching, grounded in an expert-validated framework.
  • Comprehensive skill development across key areas - productive learning environments, active learning, inquiry-driven teaching, and learner-centered course design.
  • Nationally-recognized certification that enhances professional credibility, supports student success, and demonstrates commitment to effective teaching practices.

Effective Teaching Practices Certification 

ACUE’s nationally recognized Certification in Effective Teaching is built from an expert-validated framework. Taken as four pathway courses or a single comprehensive course, the certification empowers faculty to strengthen their teaching from day one. 

Effective Teaching Practices 

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

Register for Effective Teaching Practices

 

Deliberative Dialogue 

As a part of this ACUE partnership and the Carnegie Corporation of New York grant, all full- and part-time faculty at UHD will have access to ACUE Commons. This will grant faculty access to a series of Quick Study microcourses, including a category focused on Deliberative Dialogue, a key focus area of the grant. This series features five 1-hour flexible Quick Study courses with a proven framework to foster constructive conversations, encourage critical thinking, and equip students with the collaboration and problem solving skills they need in college, careers, and civic life. Stay tuned for an invitation to log in to the ACUE Commons resource and participate in the Deliberative Dialogue Quick Study series.
 
By Accessing ACUE Commons, UHD Faculy will:
  • Gain access to nationally recognized teaching strategies that strengthen dialogue and inclusion in the classroom
  • Join a community of educators committed to advancing respectful discourse and mutual understanding
  • Enhance student engagement while contributing to a campus culture of collaboration and civic readiness

ACUE has launched a five-part series on deliberative dialogue, offering short, flexible Quick Studies that provide faculty with practical strategies for embedding this approach across disciplines and course formats. Whether new to deliberative dialogue or seeking to refine existing practice, instructors gain ready-to-use tools to prepare students for meaningful conversations that advance learning and civic readiness. 

  1. What Is Deliberative Dialogue? 
    Explore how deliberative dialogue differs from traditional college classroom discussion and debate, and how it helps build students’ civic awareness of complex issues, critical thinking, and communication skills. 

  2. Integrating Deliberative Dialogue into Your Course 
    Incorporate deliberative dialogue into your course in a purposeful way by selecting timely topics, essential resources, and planning assessments to evaluate the learning. 

  3.  Preparing for Deliberative Dialogue Through Practice 
    Equip students for deliberative dialogue by setting community norms, teaching active listening, and creating low-stakes practice opportunities to build student confidence and communication skills. 

  4. Launching a Deliberative Dialogue
    Apply a structured framework to present relevant issues, revisit community norms, and outline multiple stances on complex issues to jumpstart productive classroom dialogue. 

  5.  Facilitating a Deliberative Dialogue 
    Guide students through deliberative dialogue by facilitating structured discussions, addressing common challenges, and using debriefing strategies.