Faculty Development for Online Teaching: The Excellence in Online Instruction Initiative

Online instruction is a trend that has been around for a while within academia. However, the pandemic exposed the notable difference between teaching an online course and doing so effectively. During the 2021-- 2022 academic year, faculty from various colleges and departments across the Winston-Salem State University community participated in the Excellence in Online Instruction Initiative. This initiative focused on credentialing faculty on evidence-based teaching practices for online instruction from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). Fifty-two faculty completed the course to become ACUE credentialed educators. Faculty completed surveys to identify their confidence in utilizing new teaching practices. Survey results include statistically significant increases in confidence in all course competencies. With a national course completion average of 83% for ACUE course participants, Winston-Salem State University excelled with a 98.9% course completion average. The impact of this experience and the efficacy of evidence-based teaching practices has ignited a renewed excitement for teaching excellence.